MDDM Ch. 28 Summary

[John Bailey]

Chapter 28

The chapter opens with an extract from the Rev’s Spiritual Day-Book, in 
which the near-feudal ways of the American pioneers are condemned. This 
opening makes explicit several points regarding politics, real estate, and 
slavery, which are in fact the major themes of the chapter.
Most of the chapter is dialogue (most of the book, really, compared to 
earlier works...), set at the Mt. Vernon home of Col. George Washington and 
his wife Martha. Col. Washington is economically (though adeptly) described, 
but his ‘character’, much like Franklin’s, becomes more difficult to pin 
down as the chapter progresses. After some preliminary how-do, the three 
gents settle down on Washington’s ‘white-column’d’ (hmmm...) porch for some 
punch and a pipe of the Col.’s own homegrown dope. Talk is of real estate 
and speculation, finances and their inextricable connections with local and 
international politics, religion, war and race. Washington’s servant 
Gershom, a professional stand-up comic, provides quips, whilst Martha, upon 
arrival, provides munchies for the increasingly stoned fellows. Doper’s 
humour abounds.
The conversation bisects itself, leaving Mason conversing with Martha upon 
the topic of astronomy and its usefulness in the ‘real’ world, and Dixon 
listening to George prattle on about the Ohio Company’s history. The two 
strands of conversation connect again at Martha’s mention of the 
Transit-of-Venus, and this causes the Washington’s to launch into a popular 
local ditty upon said topic. After the song comes some comedy, courtesy of 
Gershom, who relates some ‘King-Joaks’ poking fun at the current leadership.
Washington concludes by describing the placement of lead plates at the 
mouths of local rivers, by which the French asserted their claim to 
surrounding lands, thus giving rise to ‘the Dispute’. The lead plates 
signify different things to Mason and Dixon, the forming thinking of the 
political meanings which could be ascribed to the act, the latter to 
telluric and mystic significances. Washington ‘dug a few of ‘em up’ and now 
brings them out for show. M&D are surprised to find Chinese characters upon 
the reverse of each plate, which occasions Washington’s revelation of his 
Masonry, and a discussion of possible Sino-Jesuit connections, as well as a 
description of a possibly mythical ‘Jesuit Telegraph’ capable of instant 
communication.



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