he years of Fairfax occupancy, this mansion was one of the
social and cultural centers of the town; the Fairfaxes were the
important noble family of the "upper reaches of the Potomac." They
intermarried with the Carlyles, Washingtons, Herberts, and Carys. Their
contribution to Alexandria cannot be overrated, for in their personal
lives and public service, they set an example of chivalry and courage.
They have been distinguished by handsome men and beautiful women, by
gentleness and courtly bearing. They have had great wealth and used it
generously; have lost great wealth and borne it nobly. The family is
represented in England today by Thomas Brian, Thirteenth Lord Fairfax,
great-great-grandson of Thomas, Ninth Lord Fairfax.

Let us return to William Yeaton, builder of the mansion on Cameron
Street. It is of vital interest that he was the designer and contractor
for the inclosure of the Tomb of the _Pater Patriae_.[185] The archives
at Mount Vernon contribute a number of papers dealing with this
construction. Here is the proposal which Yeaton addressed to Major
Lawrence Lewis, of Woodlawn, General Washington's nephew and the
executor who supervised the work:

Alex April 4th 1835.

Dear Sir

I have sent you a sketch of the wall & have anticipated a _Gate_ way
on one of the sides which I expect will be necessary.

If you wish the Gate, one something like the sketch will be
appropriate, you may have the gate made solid--or open as you prefer,
to releive the dead wall, between the arch and copen there may be
placed a slab of stone 4 Feet long & one foot wide, or a pannell may
be formed in the wall.

I will engage to have the wall erected and find all materials, say
Forty Five Feet square, ten Feet high, from the bottom of the
foundation, which is to be two Bricks thick 2 feet high, the peirs to
continue the same thickness to the copen, the pannells between the
piers to be one brick & one half thick, the copen to be formed with
best Brick three courses above the square--the Gateway & Gate similar
to the sketch the work to be well done, & materials of the best
quality--For Six hundred dollars,--

Very respectfully
Your Obed Servt

W. YEATON

This addition was completed by the end of the year at a cost just
slightly in excess of the original six-hundred-dollar estimate. Designed
primarily as a protective wall