The country seats of the United States of North America

Designed and Published by W. Birch, Enamel Painter, Springland near Bristol, Pennsylv.^a 1808.

DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA, TO WIT:

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twentieth day of January, in the thirty-third year of the Independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1809, William Birch of the said District, hath deposited in this Office, the Title of a Book, the Right whereof he claims as Author, in the words following, to wit:

“The Country Seats of the United States of North America, with some Scenes connected with them.”

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, intituled, “An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies during the Times therein mentioned.” And also to the Act, entitled, “An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled, “An act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies during the Time therein mentioned,” and extending the Benefits thereof to the Arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other Prints.

D. CALDWELL, Clerk of the
District of Pennsylvania.

The Fine Arts are, as to the American Nation at large, in their infancy; to promote them in propagating Taste with the habit of rural retirement, supported by the growing wealth of the Nation, will be to form the National character favourable to the civilization of this young country, and establish that respectability which will add to its strength.

The comforts and advantages of a Country Residence, after Domestic accommodations are consulted, consist more in the beauty of the situation, than in the massy magnitude of the edifice: the choice ornaments of Architecture are by no means intended to be disparaged, they are on the contrary, not simply desirable, but requisite. The man of taste will select his situation with skill, and add elegance and animation to the best choice. In the United States the face of nature is so variegated. Nature has been so sportive, and the means so easy of acquiring positions fit to gratify the most refined and rural enjoyment, that labour and expenditure of Art is not so great as in Countries less favoured.

It would be impossible to do justice in a work, such as this is intended to be, without appropriating some plates to the sports of wild unregulated nature: the Woods, Lawns, broken Precipices and Crags: the curious and sublime of the Forest Trees: the Cataracts and Rivers: the blue Capt Mountains, and the deep, retired, and darksome Vallies.

Such scenes which decorate the grounds, and form the choicest Pictures of themselves, and which cannot be brought into the same Plate with the Villa, will be given separately, as highly necessary to form a full and correct idea of the American Country Residence.

HOBOKEN,

Is seated upon a prominent rock on the North River; and commands an extensive view, embracing New-York, Long Island, Staten Island, Governor’s Island, and the Bay to the Narrows, and, on the other hand, a perspective of North River.

HAMPTON,

Stands on a spherical rise of ground, from whose valley emerges a wide amphitheatre of elegant inland country.

LANDSDOWN,

Lies upon the bank of the Pastoral Schuylkill, a stream of peculiar beauty, deservedly the delight and boast of the shores it fertilizes. The house was built upon a handsome and correct plan by the former governor Penn.

ECHO,

An elegant situation on the bank of Schuylkill, near the suburbs of the city: rich in every wild luxury which nature can afford to the plastic hand of art. The house is of no note, and its scite not well chosen. It derives its name from the reverberations given from the opposite shore—particularly by a rock memorable for having been in the revolution the place of encampment for the British, while Gen. Washington and his army were on this spot.

MOUNT VERNON,

This hallowed mansion is founded upon a rocky eminence, a dignified height on the Potomac. During the French war, Admiral Vernon, who commanded the British fleet on this station, frequently made visits to his friend the father of Gen. W. and thence is derived its name. The additions of a piazza to the water front, and of a drawing room, are proofs of the legitimacy of the General’s taste. It is now the residence of Judge Washington.

FOUNTAIN GREEN,

On the Schuylkill, highly favored by nature, and capable of vast improvement. Upon the half ascent of the bank from the river, the new canal will pass the house and if ever finished, will become a great ornament to the place.

SOLITUDE.

Here a pleasing solitude at once speaks the propriety of its title. Upon further research the solitary rocks, and the waters of Schuylkill add sublimity to quietness. The house is built with great taste for a bachelor, by the former Governor John Penn, since the revolution.

DEVON,

An airy and pleasant situation on the Pennsylvania shore of the Delaware, fourteen miles from Philadelphia. The house was built by Mr. Jos. Anthony.

MOUNT SIDNEY,

Derives its honorable name from the patriot Algernon, who died in the reign of Charles II. a martyr to liberty. Its sylvan scene mingle with the romantic wilds of Sedgely.

THE SEAT OF Mr. DUPLANTIER,

Exhibits a style of building familiar to the West Indies, and well adapted to the warm climate of our newly acquired territory. The situation is verdant, and throughout the year, the air is fragrant with the perfume of orange groves. In the distance is descried the port and shipping of New Orleans.

MONTIBELLO,

Handsomely seated amid the woods, a few miles from Baltimore, and commanding a prospect of the Chesapeake and Baltimore Bays. The house was built by Gen. S. Smith, from a plan and elevation designed by Mr. W. Birch, the proprietor of this work, and is generally approved.

WOODLANDS.

This noble demesne has long been the pride of Pennsylvania. The beauties of nature and the rarities of art, not more than the hospitality of the owner, attract to it many visitors. It is charmingly situated on the winding Schuylkill, and commands one of the most superb water scenes that can be imagined. The ground is laid out in good taste. There are here a hot house and green house containing a collection in the horticultural department, unequalled perhaps in the United States. Paintings &c. of the first master embellish the interior of the house, and do credit to Mr. Wm. Hamilton, as a man of refined taste.... It is about a mile from the city of Philadelphia.

SEDGELY.

This beautiful gothic structure, which so happily graces the luxuriant banks of Schuylkill, is in the neighbourhood of Landsdown, which is seen in the distance on the opposite side of the river, whose gentle stream courses lowly and humble, amidst romantic woods, gently descending lawns and caverned rocks. The house was erected by Mr. Crammond, from a design by that able architect, Mr. J. H. Latrobe.

BELMONT.

It is impossible for the artist, who has fixed his attention upon the various beauties of Schuylkill, to leave the study of its charms. Here you pass from the wild romantic scene; the rugged stone with wood and water bound to expand the sight from this high lifted lawn, to view in open space the world below, the riches of the richest state; the big metropolis in the woods, the chequered country with her merchants’ seats; the bustle of agriculture, and the verdant banks of the fluid mirror that reflects the sky; and further on to view Mount Holly mingled with the air in Jersey. The whole a soft and visionary scene.

YORK ISLAND.

This view is taken from the piazza of the seat of General Stevens on Long Island, near that extraordinary channel called Hell-gate, on the East river, or sound. The view was taken in the morning at the rising of the sun, when a glow of light from the arch of Heaven, exhibited to the view almost innumerable seats, spread over an extensive country which glittered as the sun arose, like so many stars in the firmament, upon the face of this beautifully variegated Island. The scene extending across the North river to the Jersey shore.

MENDENHALL FERRY.

This beautiful spot close upon the falls of Schuylkill, and central to the neighbouring seats of Philadelphia, is one of nature’s choicest retreats. Mr. Mendenhall, to accommodate the citizens, has opened his house for public entertainment. The two seats on the bank, are those of Mr. Joseph Sims, and the justly celebrated Dr. Physick, the latter is called very appropriately Fairy Hill.

CHINA RETREAT.

An airy and pleasant situation on the Delaware, 17 miles from Philadelphia. The house was built by Mr. Van Braam, late ambassador from Holland to China. It was here he prepared for the press his account of that embassy together with the manners and characters of the Chinese, and which was published at a great expense in London. Now the summer residence of the family of Mr. Manigaull, of S. Carolina.

SPRINGLAND.[1][2]

This spot chosen by the artist for the exercise of his taste in retirement has peculiar beauties from nature. Art has added much to it, and the cottage is embellished with a small, but very fine collection of paintings by some of the first masters. This volume with his other works may be had at this place.

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The Project Gutenberg eBook of The country seats of the United States of North America

The
Country Seats OF THE UNITED STATES OF North America,
with some Scenes connected with them.

AMERICAN SEATS.

HOBOKEN,

HAMPTON,

LANDSDOWN,

ECHO,

MOUNT VERNON,

FOUNTAIN GREEN,

SOLITUDE.

DEVON,

MOUNT SIDNEY,

THE SEAT OF Mr. DUPLANTIER,

MONTIBELLO,

WOODLANDS.

SEDGELY.

BELMONT.

YORK ISLAND.

MENDENHALL FERRY.

CHINA RETREAT.

SPRINGLAND.[1][2]

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

The Project Gutenberg eBook of The country seats of the United States of North America

The Country Seats OF THE UNITED STATES OF North America, with some Scenes connected with them.

AMERICAN SEATS.

HOBOKEN,

HAMPTON,

LANDSDOWN,

ECHO,

MOUNT VERNON,

FOUNTAIN GREEN,

SOLITUDE.

DEVON,

MOUNT SIDNEY,

THE SEAT OF Mr. DUPLANTIER,

MONTIBELLO,

WOODLANDS.

SEDGELY.

BELMONT.

YORK ISLAND.

MENDENHALL FERRY.

CHINA RETREAT.

SPRINGLAND.[1][2]

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

The
Country Seats OF THE UNITED STATES OF North America,
with some Scenes connected with them.