Looks like a couple more books there our current ‘Resident’ hasn’t read…
..and more wealth… I’d spent a day at Mt Vernon recently, really looked it over.. I again came away thinking wealth, and forget how many slaves Martha brought to their marriage. So often our ‘founding fathers’ are portrayed as self-made men … when in reality, they began with substantial advantages. But with that, perhaps their measure is their legacy, as most could have become real tyrants … like the one we’ve currently got..
Truly self-made men are rare, especially in politics. At least Washington was benevolent, and proved himself brave and capable in first the British Army and then the Virginia army. This present one dodged all military service and seems to have no sense of social responsibility.
Interesting. Where was it again?
Washington, originally called Wessyngton, is in the area of Greater Durham, in the North of England.
Washington Old hall has become a National Trust property, and is preserved as a place of historical interest. (Much of the cost of restoring and preserving it was thanks to some very generous donations from the USA.) Being in the North-East of England it is off the beaten track of the usual tourist route. However, if a visitor combines it with a visit to Beamish, a huge replica village of life in early 20th century Britain, and a visit to Cragside hall, built by William Armstrong. (It was the very first house in the world to be lit using hydro-electric power - using light bulbs designed by his friend Joseph Swan, in 1860. - Long before Edison, by the way!) This is a fascinating manor house, with many innovations from 150 years ago, including hydraulically powered lifts. It too, is now a National Trust property.
@Petter Wow. Sounds like an interesting place to visit. Maybe someday.