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 11
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162 The President's House-East Room.
black marble with Italian black and gold fronts, and handsome grates; each mantle is surmounted with a mirror, the plates of which measure 100 by 58 inches, framed in a very beautiful style, and a pair of rich ten-light lamps, bronzed and gilt, with a row of drops around the fountain; and a pair of French cepina vases, richly gilt and paint- ed with glass shades and flowers. There are three handsome chandeliers of 18 lights each, of cut glass of remarkable brilliancy, in gilt mountings, with a number of gilt bracket lights of 5 candles each. The carpet, which contains nearly 500 yards, is of fine Brussels, of fawn, blue and yel- low, with red border. Under each chandelier is placed a round table of rich workmanship of Its- lian black and gold slabs-and each pier is filled with a table corresponding with the round tables, with splendid lamps on each of them. The cut-
tains are of light blue moreen with yellow drape- ries, with a gilded eagle, holding up the drapery of each. On the cornices of the curtains in a line of stairs, and over the semi-circle of the door, be- sides large gilded and ornamented rays, are 24 gilded stars, emblematic of the States. The so- fas and chairs are covered with blue damask sa- tin. All the furniture corresponds in colour and style. The principal stairs on the left of the en- trance hall, are spacious and covered with Brus-
The President's House-Cabinet Room. 163
sels carpeting. On ascending these, the visitor to the President is led into a spacious anti-room, to wait for introduction in regular succession with others, and may have considerable time to look from the South windows upon the beautiful pros- pect before him; when in course to be introduced, he ascends a few steps and finds himself in the Far corner chamber, the President's Cabinet Room, where every thing announces the august simplicity of our government. The room is about 40 feet wide, and finished like those below. The centre is occupied by a large table, completely covered with books, papers, parchments, &c., and seems like a general repository of every thin_, chat may be wanted for reference; while the Pr sent is seated at a smaller table near the fire pl. ce, covered with the papers which are the subs er of hi- immediate attention; and which, by their com- ber, admonish the visitor to occupy no more of his time, for objects of business or civility, than ne- Or-sity requires. The other chambers are appro- priared to family purposes.
Some persons, underevery administration, have objected to the style of the President's mansion, s. bordering on unnecessary state and para'- bur we are of a different opinion. It is th. L. use. provided by the people for the residence of the thief magistrate of their choice, and he is the te-
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164
The Public Offices.
nant at certain seasons for four, or at most eigist years, it hardly equals the seats of many of the pobility and wealihy commoners of England, sadf bears no comparison with the residences of me petty princess of Germany or the grand duke's. of Italy: itexhibits no rich marbles, fine status nor costly paintings. It is what the mansion ds the head of this Republic should be, large enough for public and family purposes, and should be fix. ished and maintained in a style to gratify every wish for convenience and pleasure. The state ofs the grounds will not meet this description; thef have an unfinished and neglected appearance : uze hope they will not long remain so rude and uncul- tivated.
THE PUBLIC OFFICES
At the distance of about 200 yards, on the ess of the President's house, are situated two building for the departments of State and of the Treasury and at the same distance on the West, are Topo others for the War and Navy departments. These buildings are all of the same dimensions and icon. struction; they are 160 feet long and 55 wide. &# brick, two stories in height; they are divided t their length by a broad passage, with room, de
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The Public Ofices-Indian Portraits. 165 each side and a spacious staircase in the centre. The two most northerly buildings are ornamented with an Ionic portico of six columns and pedi- ment; and every observer must be convinced that the two other buildings require some such finish on their south fronts, to make them complete .- The grounds about these offices have been gradu. ated and planted, of late years; and the shubbery begins to present a pleasing appearance.
In walking through these offices, a reflecting visitor cannot fail to be impressed with favorable Hleas of the system and order with which the af- Girs of this great people are conducted. The heads of departments, with 250 clerks, of every grade, occupy these buildings. They exhibit no sinecure places, but all are engaged in the busi- Ness of their employments, and with as little of relaxation as is compatible with a due attention to health.
Attached to the War Department, is the office af Indian Affairs, with the duties of which Col. McKenney is charged. This office possesses much Interest, perhaps more than any other in the Go- Vernment. In it are arraved, in tasteful order, Be likenesses of one hundred and thirty Indian thiefs, in their native costume. These likeness- «, having been taken from life, (with a few excep- lions) by King, of this city, are not only fine spe-
166 The Public Offices-Indian Curiosities.
cimens of the art, but in point of exact delinca. tion, and spirited, and close resemblance to the originals, they are perfect. Great care has been taken to preserve the relative proportions of the head-and the central hemispheres have not been for otten, in which are supposed to lie these go- verning powers which lift man so far above the lower orders of beings, and to distinguish his re- lative grade, and characteristics of mind and in- tellect. Care has also been taken to preserve the costume of each tribe. Nineteen tribes are re- presented, viz: Chippewas, (or Ojibwa); Sieux; Menomines; Winnebago: Saux; Fox; Oto; Panes; Maha; Kansas; Senecca; Shawanese; Delaware; Creek, (or Muscogee); Cherokee; Choctaw, (or Chata); Seminole, and Uchee.
These paintings are on wood, (except the full lengths, of which there are five,) in gilt frames. 18 inches by 14, in size.
Besides these likenesses, there are various col- lections made by Col. McKenney, in his travels over a vast extent of the northwest, and among our southern and western Indians, consisting of . Indian dresses ornaments, petrefactions, mine- rals, &c., &c. all suited to a place of this sort where, long after the original owners of this coun. try shall have mingled with the dust of their mountains, the curious will delight to repair, to
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The Public Ofces-Indian Gallery.
study the appearance of the native owners of this continent, and indulge in reflections on these scenes which are past, as to the men of this gene- ration, and those which are now present to us; in which our posterity will remark upon the jus- tice or injustice, the liberality or illiberality, which may distinguish the councils of the nation in the crisis which has arrived in the affairs of this most interesting people. It is time they had a home. It is time they were put to rest and pro- tected, and improved, and if possible, saved .- We are among those who believe it impossible for them to remain, and exist, in our states. Then we hope to see ample provision made for them in the west for the future.
But for this gallery, our posterity would ask in vain-" what sort of a looking being was the red man of this country?" In vain would the inqui- rers be told to read descriptions of him-these never could satisfy. He must be seen to be known. Here then is a gift to posterity. It is, moreover, a means of connecting another link in the long chain of the history of man. Our spe- cies has yet to be analized; and our positions as- signed to us, from the Caucasian to the African: we have to fill up the intermediate chasis, and show, that although man is so diversified, he may be, a . Lawrence has endeavored to prove, the same in origin.
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The Public Offices-Indian History.
We are among those who attach much interest to this collection. The public curiosity is alrea- dy awakened, we know; and many of our citi- zens and strangers, and foreigners, call to enjoy a view of what stands alone in the world.
How deeply interesting would it be, were Col. McKenney to embody all he knows of the histo- ry and biography of these Indians, thus represen- ted in his office; and intersperse it with the anec- dotes which relate to so many of them. We have learned, and hope it is true, that this gentleman is now engaged in a work of this sort, in aid of another part of a plan which is in contemplation by Mr. Bradford, of Philadelphia, to publish this interesting gallery, for the gratitude of the mil- lions who can never see the original. Such a work would be applauded by the civilized world. We trust it is designed to furnish it. And we take this notice of it beforehand, as expressive of our sense of its importance.
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Public Ofices- Department of State.
MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTS.
In the DEPARTMENT OF STATE are deposited our treaties with foreign powers, which may be examined by visitors. The definitive treaty of Peace between Great Britain and the U. States, of the 3d September 1785; the French treaty ce- ding Louisiana to the United States, signed by Bonaparte, are among others, objects worthy of inspection by the curious. The original of the Declaration of Independence, and the commission of Gen. Washington, are also lodged here, and may be viewed, on application, during office hours.
The Library of the Department of State is well selected, and contains a very valuable and exten- sive collection of books, generally suited to the duties of the office: on Diplomacy, care has been taken to procure the best authorities, ancient, as well as modern. In this department authors de- posite their copy-rights, for which they receive a receipt, without any fee being required.
The laws and reports of the several states, com- prising the union, and a great number of newspa- per files, are carefully and regularly preserved, bound, and lodged in this library.
Attached to the. Department of State, is the PATENT OFFICE, kept in the 2d story of the Gen- eral Post Office. It would require a year of 12
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170
Patent Office.
close study to investigate and describe the machi- nery here deposited for the benefit and curiosity of the public. It may be denominated a temple for the useful arts. In a collection of models, a- mounting to nearly four thousand in number, there is apparently every possible modification of motion, by a combination in some shape, of every principal in mechanical philosophy. All the great agents of nature, such as fire, water, air, steam, animal strength, the gravitation and elasticity of' matter. aided by the artificial powers of the in- clined plane, lever, screw, wedge, and pulley, have been put in requisition, and applied with al- most infinite variations, to the purposes of life.
Mechanical ingenuity is one of the most strik- ing, as well as the most useful and creditable traits in our national character. It has been both the parent and nurse of our enterprise. Nor are its objects and pursuits inferior in dignity to those of abstract science and literature. Among the patriots, priests, and poets, who inhabit the Ely- sian fields, and whose brows are entwined with the fillet, Virgil has very properly placed those who have polished life by the invention of arts:
Inventas aut qui vitam excoluere per artes, Quique sui memores alois fecere merendo.
Inventive genius, whether it be applied to the useful or fine arts, or to literary composition, is
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Military Medals -- Trophies.
one of the highest species of intellectual endow- ments, and it certainly requires a greater stretch of mind to look through a complicated machine, than to solve a mathematical problem or polish a period.
In the WAR and NAVY DEPARTMENTS, are de- posited a collection of copies of the gold and sil- ver medals, presented to the officers of the Army and Navy, agreeable to resolutions of Congress; they are all executed by M. Furst, in a superior style of workmanship. As a medallic history of the late war, they are well worth inspection. -- The reader will perceive, in page 149, that the Library of Congress may shortly possess copies of them.
NATIONAL TROPHIES.
'The Banners of the principal victories of the revolution and the late war, yetremain in the pos- session of the government, in the military bureau of the War Department. There has yet been no national pride to induce Congress to place them in a proper situation. They should be suspend- ed from the Dome of the Rotundo, in the Capitol, where, as long as a shred remained, they would be preserved in a most appropriate situation.
The flags taken at Saratoga, the Cowpens and York, are among the most interesting trophies of this bureau.
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172 National Trophies-French Ftag.
On the reduction of the army, after the late war, the flags of the distinguished regiments were col- lected, and deposited in this office. A drummer of an Albany volunteer company, commanded by Capt. Mahan, was the intrepid captor of one of the banners.
The flags under which Scott and Jesup and their brave companions fought and conquered, are lite- rally riddled through with the shot of the foe; the flag, with an elegantly worked eagle in silk, pre- sented to Pike by the ladies of Philadelphia: one of the revolutionary flags, under the notorious Butler, on the Wyoming-a British bunting about 25 yards long, taken at Fort George by Winches- ter and Boyd, torn from the staff by a sergeant, are also among these trophies.
FRENCHI CIVIL FLAG.
There is also lodged in this office a civil flag, presented to the United States in the summer of 1795, from the committee of public safety, by Mr Adet, which was accompanied with a letter ad- dressed to Congress! It was some time back re- moved from the Department of State to where it is now placed. It is striking in design and beau- tiful in execution. It was given in return for the flag of the United States, presented by Mr. Mon- rue to the National Convention. Adet, in his let-
173
French Hag.
ters, written in France, after his unsuccessful mission in America, gave a vivid account of the fact, which is well worth quoting, as a revolution- ary reminiscence of the times:
" What joy," says he, " did not the American Rag inspire, when it waved, unfurled, in the French senate? Tcars trickled from each eye- every one looked at it with amazement. There, said they, is the symbol of the independence of our American brethern-behold there the pledge of their liberty! May victory always attend it-may it lead to glory none but a free and happy people!":
To answer the ani nated speech of Mr. Adet on his presenting the colours to the U. S., required address-The occasion required something affec- tionate and complimentary to the French nation; and yet the guarded policy of Washington forbade the utterance of any sentiments which might be im- proper in the chief magistrate of a neutral coun- try, when addressing the representative of one of the belligerent powers. Impressed with this double view, the President made the following reply ;
" Born, sir, in a land of liberty; having carly learned its value; having engaged in a perilous conflict to defend it; having, in a word, devoted the best years of my life to secure its permanent establishment in my own country; my anxious recollections; my sympathetic feelings; and my best wishes, are irresistibly attracted, whenshev-
174
French Flag.
er, in any country, I see an oppressed nation uli- furl the banners of freedom. But above all, the events of the French revolution have produced the deepest solicitude, as well as the highest ad- miration. To call your nation brave, were to pronounce but common praise. Wonderful peo- ple! ages to come will read with astonishment the history of your brilliant exploits. - I rejoice that the period of your toils and of your immense sacrifices is approaching .- I rejoice that the in- teresting revolutionary movements of so many years have issued in the formation of a constitu- tion designed to give permanency to the great object for which you have contended. - 1 rejoice that liberty, which you have so long embraced with enthusiasm: liberty, of which you have been the invincible defenders, now finds an asylum in the bosom of a regularly organized government; a government, which, being formed to secure the happiness of the French people, corresponds with the ardent wishes of my heart, while it gratifies the pride of every citizen of the United States by its resemblance to their own. On these glo- rious events, accept, sir, my sincere congratula- tions.
" In delivering to you these sentiments, I ex- press not my own feelings only. but those of my fellow-citizens, in relation to the commencement, the progress, and the issue, of the French revo- lution; and they will certainly join with me in purest wishes to the Supreme Being, that the ci- tizens of our sister Republic, our magnanimous allies, may soon enjoy in peace that liberty which they have purchased at so great a price, and all the happiness that liberty can bestow.
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Naval Trophies.
" I receive, sir, with lively sensibility, the symbol of the triumphs and of the infranchise- ments of your nation, the Colours of France, which you have now presented to the United States. The transaction will be announced to Congress, and the colours will be deposited with the archives of the United States, which are at once the evidence and the memorials of their freedom and independence. May these be per- petnal! and may the friendship of the two repub- fics be commensurate with their existence!"
NAVAL FLAGS, &c.
. Between thirty and forty national flags, trophies of battle struck to " the bit of strip'd bunting," decorate one of the rooms of the Navy Commis- sioners' office. They are judiciously arranged and labelled, shewing the names of the vessels to which they once belonged. Some of thom bear evidence of the strife which took place before they were struck to the stars and stripes, having nume- rous holes through them, perforated with grape and other shot. In the same room, are the plans of our Navy Yards, with the improvements here- after to be made in them, with a view to afford fa- cilities in building and repairing the ships of our Navy; also models of the various classes of ves. sels of war now belonging to the Navy.
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176
The Navy Yard,
NAVY YARD.
The Navy Yard in this city was established and organized by the act of Congress, approved 27 March, 1804. It contains within its limits about 28 acres; and is enclosed by a high brick wall, with an entrance from the north, through an arched gateway, on each side of which are ac- commodations for the marine officer and guard, attached to the Yard. The buildings for the offi- cers are commodious, and appropriate quarters for the Commandant, Master Commandant, Lieu- tenant, Sailing Master, Surgeon, and Boatswain: For store houses, shops, &c. are a Navy Store, with a sail loft in the second story; Iron store, with a rigging loft in the second story; Comman- dant's, and other officers; laboratory for the pre- paration of ordnance fixtures and stores, in the second story of which is a beautiful and well ar- ranged armory. An armorer's shop for repairing small arms; an iron foundery; a brass and com- position foundery; a chain cable, and camboose shop; an anchor shop, smithery, and plumber's shop; a block maker's shop, a saw mill, and rooms for machinery work, &c. two timber sheds on arched columns, one with a joiner's shop, and the other with a mould loft in the second story;
177
The Navy Yard.
two ship houses over foundations, and ways for buildings and launching ships of any size. All the buildings are large and of substantial con- struction, and afford every convenience for build- ing and equipping vessels for sea. There is in the Yard a fresh water dock for seasoning timber, &c.
All the vessels that were afloat at the com- mencement of the late war had been thoroughly repaired at this Yard; and for that purpose the frigate Adams, the ship Hornet, the brigs Enter- prize and Vixen, and other smaller vessels, were hauled upon the wharf on ways. There have heon built at this Yard the following named ves- sels, before the war :- Ships Wasp and Argus; brig Viper, frigate Essex, and twelve Gun Boats. Since the war the Columbus of 74 guns; frigates Potomac and Brandywine, each 44 guns, schoo- ners Shark and Grampus, each 12 guns; the sloop of war, St. Louis, 24 guns. The frigate Column- bia, of 44 guns, now on the stocks, The model, strength of construction, and general equipment of these vessels would vie with the vessels of our own or any other navy.
For the purposes of the Navy there are some valuable manufactories established in the Yard; and for it generally, are made anchors, chain ca- bles, cambooses, blocks, ordnance fixtures, and
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178
The Navy Yard-Steam Engine.
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stores of every kind; brass and composition cast- ings, &c. To facilitate the operations in the manufacture of these articles, much labour-saving machinery has been erected; the principal of which is a Steam Engine, computed of 14 horse power, by which there is kept in continual motion 489 feet of shafts, with their ordinary wheels, drums, &c. to the weight of 40 tons, 8 cwt. 1 qr. Ibs.
By power derived from the operation of the above shafts, a requisite power and motion is conveyed to two saw gates, each capable of re- ceiving and working any number of saws suffi- cient for converting a log to any dimensions by one passage through the gate. Two hammers for forging anchors, &c. two large hydraulic bellows, two circular saws, one turning and boring lathe, which when required, can be converted into a machine for boring steam engine cylinders; nine turning lathes, five grind stones, four drill lathes for boring sheaves, &c. with other machinery, required to facilitate the operations of the seve- ral departments in the adjoining buildings.
There is also, situated in the South East corner of the Yard, a machine for - proving rope and chain cables; the purchase of which is so power- ful, that two men can part a cable suitable for a ship of the largest size. Considerable as a strain
170
The Navy Yard-Magazine, &.c.
inusi ba, sufficient to part a 24 inch cable, upon the index, situated at the other end of the ma- chine, or with a strain of one hundred tons, such is the accuracy of the operating of the index, that two ounces thrown into the scale suspended from the end of the lever, will sensibly affect the index, thereby affording an opportunity of calcu- lating the strain on the cable with the greatest precision.
About a mile above the Yard is a large powder magazine, and a ware house for the storage of salt petre, &c.
There is generally employed in the Yard for the manufactories, and as labourers, about two hundred men; when ships are building or repair- ing, the number is proportionably increased by the employment of carpenters, caulkers, boat- builders, mast makers, gun carriage makers, sail makers, coopers, &c. The Yard is beautifully situated on the right bank of the Eastern Branch; the channel of which affords an easy navigation . for small frigates, sloops of war, &c. There is in the Yard a beautiful marble monument, erected by the officers of the navy, to the memory of their brave associates who fell in the Tripolitan war. It is a small doric column with emblematical em- bellishments, and crowned with an eagle in the act of flying. Its base is sculptured in basso re .
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The Navy Yard-Monument.
lievos, representing Tripoli-its fortresses-the Mediterranean and our fleet in the foreground. and on each angle stands an appropriate marble figure. The one represents Columbia directing the attention of her children to History, who is recording the daring and intrepid action of the American heroes; the third represents Fame, with a wreath of laurel in one hand and a pen in the other; and the fourth, Mercury, or the God of Commerce, with his cornucopia and caduceus.
Mr. Cooper in his "Notions of the Ameri- cans," thus notices this monument at the Navy Yard :---
" This monument was erected to commemo- rate the deaths of the officers who fell in the war with Tripoli; a war to which the United States' marine owes its present high and merited charac- ter. It is a simple column, wrought in Italy at the expense of the survivors, and erected on this spot under the impulse of that stubborn feeling of independence which distinguishes this people. The high-spirited contributors to the little work. thought the Congress did not pay a suitable res- pect to their petition for a site in a more public situation. They were masters of the Navy Yard, and in disgust they caused their modest memori . al to be put up in the centre of its erea. It may be doubted, after all, if any other situation s"
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