Mon 1-19-09

George invited us to tour his digs on the Potomoc. MAHHH     VA LUS!!  The decorator must be commended. There was an imposing portrait of King Louis XVI, a great ally and financier of the Revolutionary War prominently placed in the formal dining room.  In the front vestibule was, to my delight and amazement, a key to the Bastille ( displayed in a protective shadow box) which had been presented to President Washington by Marquis de Lafayette as a momento of the common bond of liberty that the French and the Americans share.  The French influences were everywhere!

The Kitchen was noteworthy for its spacious root cellar and game drying hooks. the cooking fireplace was large enough to host a family of loyalists ( which of course would never be done!)  

Patrick Henry rode through the property and stopped briefly in greeting. 

Overall it was a splendid morning: brisk, refreshing and the company was grand.

  

National Archives

A new addition to the National Archives "Charters of Freedom" display was a 1287 version of the famed Magna Carta, the agreement between King and Subject that started the ball of liberty rolling.  This particular document had been purchased from a collector by Ross Perot (of 1992 Presidential campaign fame) for $2M.  Ross 'golden touch' Perot then resold the document to its current owner for $22M. It is on loan to the National Archives for all to ogle over. 

At least one member of our troupe was speechless in his awe of the history before us, when we viewed the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights.  If that were not enough, the Supreme Court's Marbury v. Madison decision was also on view. such a far reaching decision handwritten on such a small piece of paper. I just teared up at the power of the written word. 

--Janet