. Philadelphia and its environs . is eminent services as Secretary of the Board of War during the Revolution, Represent-ative in Congress subsequently, and Judge of the United States District Court for nearly half hislife, will not soon be forgotten. Brilliant as have been the assemblages of distinguished guestsat the many hospitable country-seats now included within the bounds of Fairmount Park, the 78 PHILADELPHIA AND ITS ENVIRONS. associations connected with Belmont Mansion outshine all the rest. Washington was afrequent visitor; so was Franklin ; so were Rittenhouse the astronomer, Bartram
. Philadelphia and its environs . is eminent services as Secretary of the Board of War during the Revolution, Represent-ative in Congress subsequently, and Judge of the United States District Court for nearly half hislife, will not soon be forgotten. Brilliant as have been the assemblages of distinguished guestsat the many hospitable country-seats now included within the bounds of Fairmount Park, the 78 PHILADELPHIA AND ITS ENVIRONS. associations connected with Belmont Mansion outshine all the rest. Washington was afrequent visitor; so was Franklin ; so were Rittenhouse the astronomer, Bartram the eminentbotanist, Robert Morris, Jefferson, and Lafayette,—of whom a memento still remains in theshape of a white-walnut-tree planted by his hand in 1824. Talleyrand and Louis Philippeboth visited this place; Tom Moores cottage is just below, on the river-bank ; and manyother great names might be mentioned in connection with Belmont, if we had room for , alas ! the historic mansion has degenerated into a FALLS BRIDGE, SCHUYLKILL RIVER. The view from the piazza of the house is one which can scarcely be surpassed in engraving, though drawn by one of the first landscape painters in the country, gives buta faint idea of its beauty. It is one of those grand effects of nature and art combined whichman must acknowledge his inability to represent adequately on paper. Leaving Belmont, the road passes through a comparatively uninteresting section to Cha-mouni, with its lake and its concourse, and the northern limits of the Park. Near the lakeit intersects the Falls road, and this takes us down to the Schuylkill, which we cross by abridge, and continue up the east bank of the river to its junction with the Wissahickon. PHILADELPHIA AND ITS ENVIRONS. 79 One of the most beautiful walks in the Park extends from this point through Belmont Glen tothe Reading Railroad and the banks of the Schuylkill. It debouches at the offices of the ParkCommission, where
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookpublisherphila, bookyear1876
