USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > Historical sketches of the ten miles square forming the District of Columbia : with a picture of Washington, describing objects of general interest or curiosity at the metropolis of the Union. > Part 10
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
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'the Capitol -- Library.
This extensive collection of books, contains, at present, about fourteen thousand volumes, in va- rious languages. The Library is well chosen .- The classical department, in particular, compri- ses many rare books. Mr. Jefferson's arrange- ment of them is still preserved. founded, it is pre- sumed, on Bacon's classification of science; and they are divided into chapters, according to the subjects to which they relate. Several volumes of gazettes, from the different states, have been handsomely bound.
In Mineralogy and Botany, there is yet a great deficiency; and additions in these branches of science, it is boped may soon be supplied. The resources of our country can never be ascertain- ed, but by their cultivation. The gold mines, so recently discovered in North Carolina and Virgi- nia, show how little has been formerly done to acquire a knowledge of the mineralogy of the country.
The stores of mineralogy, observes a forcible writer, drawn from the grandest resources of & country, ore in themselves perfectly and inimita- bly beautiful, or those which are fitted to our near- est wants, and our most just and polished taste. Mineralogy carries in its casket, the diamond of regal crowns. the gems of princely magnificence, and at the same time, ministerw to the comfort of
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The Capitol-Library.
the poor and lowly. In every attempt to deve- lope and make known its supplies, thereis merit; for what benefaction can be greater than some of its discoveries? What would England be without its coal and iron? What Italy without its mar- ble? And what may not this country be with all ils gifts of mineralogy?
A very good likeness of Columbus, sent from Spain by Mr. Rich, placed at the Southern end of the Library room; but in rather too elevated a position to gratify the spectator.
The first Congressional Library, which was col- lected under the direction Mr. Gallatin, Dr. Mit- chell, and others, consisted of about 3,000 vols., and was burnt by the British at the close of the last war. It had been gradually increasing for nearly fourteen years, and was much resorted to at the early period of our city, as a place of relaxa. tion, in consequence of the want of other sources of amusement, and the absence of those dinner parties and soirées which are now so frequent in our metropolis during the winter. The total loss of the Library induced Mr. Jefferson to offer his valuable collection to Congress, which was immediately purchased, though an objection was made to the infidel character of some of the vo- lumes, and the too great number of bibles it con- fained. It has since been considerably Increased
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The Capitol-Library-Medals.
by successive appropriations under the direction of the joint Library committes, the chairman of which, for a number of years, was Gov. Dicker- son, a gentleman who devoted a considerable por- tion of his time and attention to this arduous but agreeable duty. The chairman on the part of the House of Representatives is Mr. Everett. Works of science and general literature, have been con- stantly and regularly added to the Library, till it now ranks, in point of numbers, with perhaps the fourth class of libraries in this country.
* The joint committee on the Library, at present, consist, on the part of the Senate, of Messrs. Robbins, Woodbury, and Grundy.
On the part of the House, of Messrs. Everett, Mass., Ver- planck, and Wayne.
LIBRARY MEDALS.
There are deposited in the Library, in a-large bor, 142 medals in bronze, beautifully and exqui- sitely executed.
'They were cast by order of the French govern- ment, except twenty-five, and were designed and directed by M. Denon. This splendid series, commences in the year 1796, and terminates in 1815, and of course embraces all the battles and memorable events which occurred during the emperor. Bonaparte's reign. Among these is one commemorating his return from Elba, which, in consequence of the smallness of the number cast.
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The Capitol-Library -- Medals.
and the destruction of the die, is considered, in- dependently of its beauty, as very valuable. The whole series did not cost less than 5,000 francs in Paris, which renders it a present as creditable to the donor's patriotism as to his liberality.
The most remarkable events and persons inten- ded to be commemorated by this series of medals, are the following --
The battles of Montenotte, Mellisimo, Maren- go, Austerlitz, Jena, Freedland, Essling, Wa- gram, Moskow, Lutzen, the surrender and cap- ture of Mantua-Conquests of Upper and Lower Egypt-Passage of the Great St. Bernard-Death of Dessaix-Peace of Amiens-Le Musse Napo- leon-Legion of Honor-The School of Mines- The Code Napoleon-The Coronation at Paris, 4; The Distribution of Eagles-The Tomb of Des- saix-The School of Medicine-The Capture of Vienna and Presbourg-The Three Emperors --- The Conquest of Venice, Istra, Dalmatia, and Naples-Connfederation of the Rhine-The Occu- pation of the three Capitals-Peace of Tilsit- The Marriage of the Emperor-Birth of the King of Rome-The French Eagles upon the Wolga and Borristhenes-Foundation of the School of Fine Arts-Return of the Emperor-The Empress Ma- ria Louisa -- The Princesses Eliza and Paulina- the Queen of Naples, the Queen Hortensia, &c.
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The Capitol-Library-Medals.
The most of the designs of this series are very appropriate and singularly beautiful, and in all the execution is fine and bold. The likenesses are said to be accurate, and are certainly well ex- ecuted; in short, the whole of this splendid col- lection does great credit to the taste, genius, and skill of the French nation.
They are tastefully arranged in seven horizontal slides, covered with green cloth, and neatly put up in a box made for the purpose. In the col- lection are many female heads, celebrated for .talents and beauty. Also several of the Empe- ror's generals, who were the most distinguished in his campaigns. His partiality in his favorite Desaix, is discoverable in the frequent honore that were paid of his achievements and military fame.
In a smaller box, also presented by Mr. Er- ving, and labelled with the appropriate motto from a Latiu poet, " Pasi ingentia facta Deorum intempla recepti:" -- there is another slide con- taining seven American medals in Parisian bronze, George Washington occupies the centre, with the Latin inscription-" Supremo duci ex- erci'uum assertori libertates." Around the Fiber of his country. are the heads of Columbus, FrankEn. Kosciusko, Paul Jones. William Washington, and Col. Howard, On the reverse
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The Capitol-Library-Medals.
of the latter medal, is the following inscription in Latin-" Quod in nutantem hostium aciem su- bito irruens præclarum bellica virtutis specimen dedit, in nuigna ad Cowpens."
Belonging to this collection, are two metallic medals struck at the mint of Philadelphia-the one in honour of General Gates, and the other of Captain Hull On the face of the former is a likeness of the General, with the inscription, " Horatio Gates, duci strenuo." The reverse contains a representation of the surrender of Burgoyne, with the words at top, " Salus regian- um septentrional ;" and beneath, the legend, " Haste ad Saratogam in deditionem accepto." On the other medal, there is a good likeness of Captain Hull, with the motto, - Perilos urte superat certamine fortis." The reverse exhibits the action between the Constitution and Guerri- ere, with the classical inscription -.. Horse mo- mento victoria."
The Library committee, we rejoice to learn, has recently passed a resolution, authorising the Librarian to procure copies of all the medals struck, naval and military, by a resolve of Con- gress, executed by M. Furst, to be purchased and placed in the national Library.
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The Capitol-Supreme Court.
The apartment for the accommodation of the Supreme Court, on the basement story of the North wing, immediately below the Senate room. is of a semicircular shape, with the windows to the east to admit the light, which enters awkward- ly and feebly, at the backs of the judges, on the bench. 'The arches, in the ceiling diverge like the radii of a circle, from a point over the justice seat, to the circumference. On the wall is an emblem of justice * holding her scales, in bold re- lief, and also a figure of Fame, crowned with the rising sun, and pointing to the Constitution of the
* It is a remarkable circumstance in this allego rical repre- sentation, that the bandage is removed from the eyes of Jus- tice, and her hand, instead of pointing to the scales, firmly grasps the beam in such a way as to prevent the balance from vibrating, whatever may be the weight thrown into either scale. This grotesque device, intended as an ornament to the court-room, gave rise to the following jeu d'esprit, which appeared in the Intelligencer-
A naked nondescript, upon whose head The sun is pouring his unsparing rays; Whose two huge wings in vain he strives to spread For shelter from so bold and broad a blaze.
'Graved by the lithographie art, on stone, The statesman's play thing dandled in his arm,
Obliterate all, but the bare name alone In which exists its all sufficient charm.
Next him sits Justice, ever broad awake, (For here they have not thought fit to blind her) Who, with an arm too large for weight to break, Thrusts the scales forward-while she looks behind her.
Next her, the nation's Eagle lifts his claws, And boldly tramples on the laws.
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The Capitol -- Supreme Court.
United States. The members of the bar are con- veniently accommodated with seats and desks in the body of the apartment; and the visitors are furnished with rows of benches on the right and left wings of the centre of the Court.
The Chief Justice sits in the centre of the six associate Justices-all clothed in black gowns or robes.
The want of a law library in the Court for immediate and convenient reference, for the use of the members of the Court, is certainly a defect. The room, though small in comparison to the principal apartments of the Capitol, is large enough for the business of the Court. There are, however, occasions when an interesting question or a popular orator, attracts a concourse of citi- zens, who in that case, may find some difficulty in procuring seats.
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The Capitol-East Front.
EAST FRONT-TYMPANUM.
The GENIUS OF AMERICA occupies the centre of the group. Her figure, like that of all the others, is colossal, and fully, (perhaps too fully,) covered with drapery. She stands on a broad unadorned plinth, and her right hand holds a shield, inscribed in the centre with the letters U. S. A. surrounded with a glory. The shield, which is of an oval form, rests on a slender altar, on the front of which is an oaken wreath in bas relief, with the words "July 4, 1776," within it. Behind her rests a spear. Her head, crowned with a star, is turned over her left shoulder to- ward the figure of Hope, to whose animated ad- dress she seems to be listening with attention, but with calm selfpossession. HOPE is an enchant. ing, airy figure, full of fire. She gazes upon the Ge- nius with smiles, lifts her right arm and hand into the air, as in an attitude of delighted antici- pation, while she seems to be dwelling on the ri- sing glories and all the halcyon prospects of the republic. Her left elbow rests on the stock of an anchor. and the left hand is bent upwards, grasp- ing in her eagerness, a part of her drapery. But the Gestes, to whom she speaks, instead of catch- ing her enthusiasm, points with emphatic dignity
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The Capitol-East Front-Tympanum. 155 to the object on her right. This is Justice : a cold chastened figure, with eyes raised toward Heaven, holding in her right hand an unrolling scroll, on which the words " Constitution of the United States" appear in raised letters of gold. Her left arm is elevated, and bears the scales .- She has neither bandage nor sword; for in our free and happy country Justice is clear sighted, and stands with open face, respecting and com- paring the rights of all; and it is in this, rather than in her punitive energies, that she is the ob- ject of the veneration of freemen. The moral of the whole is just and striking. However Hope may flatter, America will regard only that prosperity which is founded on public right and the preservation of the Constitution .- Such is the design : and the execution is worthy of it. The figures have grace and elevation : much of the "mens divinior" which is about the works of the ancients. The artist at first contemplated giving more of nudity; but he was warned that the public sentiment in this country would not adınit of it, and in his caution, he has gone into the opposite extreme. The head of Justice is co- vered with a fold of her mantle, which projects in a graceful form, and which, could the sun reach these figures when at the necessary eleva- tion, would cast a fine shadow on the upper part
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The Capitol-East Front-Tympanum.
of the countenance. But it happens, unfortu- nately, that this can never take place : as, before be climbs to that angle, the pediment is either partially shaded by the cornice, or, together with the whole Eastern front of the building, deserted by his rays altogether. The Eagle, which is at the feet of the Genius, and between her and the figure of Hope, is one of the most masterly fea- tures in the design. Not only is the general out- line of the bird strikingly true to nature, but the finish of every part of it beautiful in the ex- treme. Its head is raised. and turned upward toward the countenance of America, while its wings are partially expanded, in act to rise, as if ready and eager to fly at her command.
To point out defects is an invidious task, and one of the least welcome duties of criticism .- There is so much of excellence; the general idea, (which was suggested by Mr. Adams, after up- wards of forty designs had been offered and re- jected,) has been so fully and so happily express- ed, that strictures on the drapery or on the exe- cution of particular limb- in the figures have an ungracious bearing. We will mention but two
faults which strike the eye. The arm of the Genius which rests upon the shield, is somewhat constrained; she seems to be holding the shield that it may be looked at, rather than reclining her
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The Capitol-East Portico-Cupola.
arm upon it with unconscious ease. And the right arm of Hope, which is elevated, appears to be too wide at the wrist, a fault which im- pairs the lightness and delicacy that character- ize the residue of the figure. But these slight defects are overlooked among the many beauties which surround them.
All the figures of the group are colossal. being about 73 feet in height. A perfect symetry has been given to the form, and the attitudes are at once graceful and expressive. Viewed with the oye of an anatomist, the minuter parts of the hu- man structure are developed with a distinctness and truth which, while it displays the labor which the artist has directed to the production of these details, exhibits also the extent and correctness of his scientific acquirements. In the draperies of the figures there is great felicity of execution; the fullness, the folds and flow of the mantle, exhibit surpassing excellence.
The eastern entrance to the Rotundo, from the floor of the Portico, is ornamented with two light and beautiful figures, in stone, in the act of crown- ing with laurel the bust of Washington, placed immediately above the door.
The rotundo is topped by a cupola and balus- trade, accessible by means of a stair case passing between the roof and ceiling. From this elevation
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The Capitol-Crypt.
the prospect which bursts upon the eye is splen- did: Three cities are spread before you: the Po- tomac on one side, and the Eastern Brauch on the other, running and rolling their waters to the ocean; a range of hills extending in a magnificent sweep around you, and displaying all the richness and verdure of woodland scenery, with here and there beautiful slopes in cultivation-the whole colored by the golden beams of the setting sun, burnishing the reposing clouds, and gilding the tops of the trees, or giving light and shade to the living landscape-form a scene which few por- tions of the earth can rival, and which none can surpass. The dome of the centre, though nearly a semicircle, does not please the eye of a stranger it wants greater or less elevation to contrast agree- ably with the domes of the wings.
Besides the principal rooms above mentioned, two others deserve notice, from the peculiarity of their architecture-the round apartment under the Rotundo, enclosing 40 columns supporting groind arches, which form the floor of the Rotun- do. This room is similar to the substructions of the European Cathedrals, and may take the name of Crypt from them: the other room is used by the Supreme Court of the United States-of the same style of architecture, with a bold and curi- ously arched ceiling, the columns of these rooms
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The Capitol-Casemate Arches.
are of a massy Dorick imitated from the temples of Postum. Twenty-five other rooms, of various sizes are appropriated to the officers of the two houses of Congress and of the Supreme Court, and 45 to the use of committees; they are all vaulted and floored with brick and stone. Three principal stair cases are spacious and varied sin their form; these, with the vestibules and numer- ous corridors or passages, it would be difficult to describe intelligibly: we will only say, that they are in conformity to the dignity of the building and style of the parts already named. The build- ing having been situated originally on the declivi- ty of a hill, occasioned the West front to show in its elevation one story of rooms below the general level of the East front and the ends; to remedy this defect, and to obtain safe deposites for the large quantities of fuel annually consumed, a range of casemate arches has been projected in a semicir- cular form to the West, and a paved terrace formed over them: this addition is of great utili- ty and beauty, and at a short distance exhibits the building on one uniform level-this terrace is faced with a grass bank, or glacis, and at some distance below, another glacis with steps leads to the level of the West entrance of the Porter's Lodges-these, together with the piers to the gates at the several entrances of the square, Are
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The Capitol.
in the same massy style as the basement of the building; the whole area or square is surrounded with a lofty iron railing, planted and decorated with forest trees, shrubs -- gravel walks and turf.
Note .- As the dimensions of the columns of the western loggia have been severely criticised, the following on archi- tectural proportions, seem to justify their apparent want of symmetry -
"The Tuscan, Doric, Ionic and Corinthian order, are claim- ed by the Greeksas their invention. The lonians are said to have borrowed the proportions of the Ionic column, from the proportion of an lonian girl, the flutes of the shaft from the folds of her clothes, and the volutes, of the capital from her head dress. And the invention of the Corinthian cap is ascri- bed to the accidental sight of a basket which had bre placed upon the leaves of the acanthus. But these were not the t ue origin of these orders: and we are disposed to believe with St. Pierre, that the various proportions of the palm tree were the true basis of the different architectural orders. The di- ameter of the palm tree remains the same during the whole period of its existence, and whatever may be the elevation of its stem. Among the ruins of Persepolis may be seen nume- rous imitations of this tree. It will be recollected that the various proportions of the different orders, which in the Tuscan in seven times its diameter light, the Dome eight times, the lonic nine, the Corinthian ten, bave been described to the difference of proportion in a young woman at different ages. It is said her stature has, in infancy, seven times the breadth of the face when more advanced eight tines; when still older nine times; and when arrived at perfect maturity ten times. " Is it not more likely," says St. Pierre, " that the trunk of the palin tree afforded the first model of a pillar by its perpendicular attitude and the equality of its diameters, as well as that it suggested the cylindrical tambours in the Tuscan order, by its annual rings. I am inclined likewise, to look for the first nation of fluting the shafts in the vertical crevices of the bark which serve to conve, to the root the rain that f Is on its leave -.- I am further inclined to trace the volutes of the Fonte capital to the first circles of the sheather; the Corinthian capit. I to the leaves of its palms; the proportions of the different orders to the height of its trunk at different ages; and finally, the plan of' arranging columns together, to the manner in which palm trees are found grouped by the hand of nature."
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The President's House-Position.
THE PRESIDENT'S HOUSE.
On the 14th of March, 1792, the Commission- ers of the City of Washington offered a premium, by advertisement in the public papers, for a plan for the President's house, and another for a de- sign for the Capitol, to be presented on the 15th July.
The plan for the President's house, presented by Capt. James Hoban, was approved, and on the 15th October a procession was formed for laying the corner stone of that building.
The President's house was wholly constructed after the designs and under the direction of Capt. James Haban, and the interior was rebuilt by him, after it had been destroyed by the enemy in 1814. Is situated at the westerly part of the city, at the intersection of Pennsylvania, New York, Connec- ticut and Vermont avenues, which radiate from this point as centre.
It stands near the centre of a plat of ground of twenty acres, at an elevation of 44 feet above the usual high water of the river Potomac. The en- trance front faces North, upon an open square, and the garden front to the South, opens to an exten- sive and finely varied view of the Capitol and most improved part of the city, of the river
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The President's House-Saloon.
and Potomac bridge, and of the opposite Virginia and Maryland shores. The building is 170 feet front and 86 deep; is built of white free stone, with Ionic pilasters, comprehending two lofty stories of rooms, crowned with a stone balustrade. The North front is ornamented with a lofty porti- co, of four Ionic columns in front, and projecting with three columns. The outer intercolumniation is for carriages to drive into, and place company under shelter; the middle space is the entrance for those visitors who come on foot; the steps from both lead to a broad platform in front of the door of entrance. The garden front is varied by hav- ing a rusticated basement story under the Ionic ordonnance, and by a semicircular projecting co- lonnade of six columns, with two flights of steps leading from the ground, to the level of the prin- cipal story.
In the interior, the North entrance opens im- mediately into a spacious hall of 40 by 50 feet, furnished simply, with plain stuccoed walls. Ad- vancing through a screen of Ionic columns, appa- parently of white marble, but only of a well exe- cuted imitation, in composition: the door in the centre opens into the oval room, or saloon, of 40 by 30 feet-the walls covered with plain crimson flack paper, with deep gilded borders. The mar- ble chimney piece and tables, the crimson silk
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The President's House-East Room.
drapery of the window curtains and chairs, with the carpet of French manufacture, wove in one piece, with the arms of the United States in the centre, two large mirrors an I a splendid cut glass chandelier, give the appearance of arich and con- sistent style of decoration and finish. On each side of this room, and communicating therewith by large doors, is a square room of 30 by 22 feet. These three rooms form the suit of apartments in which company is usually received on parade oc- casions. To the west of these is the company dining room. 40 by S0, and on the N. W. corner is the family dining room. All these rooms are finished handsomely, but less richly than the oval room; the walls are covered with green, yellow, white and blue papers, sprinkled with gold stars and with gilt borders. . The stairs, for family use, are in a cross entry at this end, with store rooms, china closets, &c., between the two dining rooms. On the cast end of the house is the large banquet- ting room. extending the whole depth of the buil- ding, with windows to the north and south, and a large glass door to the east, leading to the terrace roof of the offices. This room is 80 by 40 feet, and 22 high; it is finished with handsome stucco cornice. It has lately been fitted up in a very neat manner. The paper is of fine lemon colour, with a rich cloth border. There are four mantels of
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