The sitting room is in the care of the Vice-Regent for Georgia. The card table and mirror are original Washington articles of considerable interest. The silver candlestick was owned by Col. William Washington, a nephew of the General. It was presented by Mrs. Georgia Page Wilder, late Vice-Regent for Georgia. The four prints representing the siege of Gibraltar are those which hung at Mount Vernon in the days of Washington. The window curtains and hangings are of the type of that period. A mahogany chair, presented to Washington by Lafayette, is a recent acquisition. One of the candles moulded for the illumination of Yorktown in 1776 is a relic of unique character. A couch which once belonged to Nellie Custis has recently been added.
Library
This is one of the rooms General Washington added. It was designed for his study, as shown by the old book shelves built in the wall. Back of opposite doors were shelf rooms for his maps and manuscripts. The bulk of Washington’s library he bequeathed to Judge Bushrod Washington, from whose nephews the books were purchased by a syndicate (1848) and deposited in the Boston Athenæum, where they still are. Some scattered volumes recovered by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association include several bearing the genuine signature of George Washington. The names of his mother and members of his family appear upon others. An ancient Bible presented to Washington by the Bishop of Sodor and Man, together with twenty volumes of French History of Travel, sent him by Rochambeau, besides many duplicates of Washington’s books, give interesting character to the present collection. Mrs. Washington’s Prayer Book, and a Family Bible with record of George Washington’s birth and baptism, have lately been acquired.
The “tambour desk” and chair, which Washington used in this room, and left by his will to Dr. Craik, were purchased and restored to Mount Vernon in 1905.
An original mahogany bookcase and a globe are valued relics. The pictures, tambour desk and articles of old-fashioned furniture have been assembled by the Vice-Regent for Massachusetts.
A map of Mount Vernon, and of one of Washington’s plantations, carefully platted by himself, are to be seen here, likewise “rubbings” of brasses on tombs of the Washingtons in England.