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BOHN'S 
 
 OP 
 
 WASHINGTON. 
 
 BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED WITH 
 
 STEEL ENORAVINQS 
 
 OF ALL THE 
 
 33ul)ltc SSuilfiinfls anU tlje €5^ob£rnment Statuary. 
 WITH A SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 PREPARED BY CHARLES LAX.AIAN, Esq. 
 
 WASHINGTON: 
 PUBLISHED BY CASIMIR BOHN. 
 
 SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS. 
 
 1860. 
 
 M^S 
 
r 118 
 
 3 4 7g 
 
 Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year eighteen 
 hundred and fifty-six, by CASIMIR BOHN, in the Clerk's 
 Office of the District Court of the United States for ths District 
 <rf Columbia. 
 
^ff 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 The Seatof Government 5 
 
 The Capitol 12 
 
 The Executive Mansion 31 
 
 The Executive Departments : 
 
 Department of State 35 
 
 Treasury Department 37 
 
 "War Department 38 
 
 Navy Department 39 
 
 Department of the Interior 39 
 
 Post Office Department 41 
 
 Office of the Attorney General 42 
 
 The National Observatory.... 42 
 
 The Washington Arsenal 46 
 
 The Navy Yard 50 
 
 The Smithsonian Institution 54 
 
 The Washington Monument 56 
 
 The National Medical College 58 
 
 The Columbian College 62 
 
 The Military Asylum 63 
 
 The Coast Survey Office 64 
 
 The National Cemetery 67 
 
 The City Hall 69 
 
 The Public Schools 70 
 
 Mr. Force's Library , 70 
 
IV CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGJ' 
 
 The National Institute 11 
 
 The Churches of Washington 12 
 
 The Fine Arts in Washington V3 
 
 Associations and Societies 74 
 
 Washington Hotels 16 
 
 Official Salaries 11 
 
 Official Receptions 18 
 
 The Markets of Washington . .» 80 
 
 The Climate of Washington 81 
 
 Specific Duties of Executive Officers 82 
 
 Georgetown 103 
 
 Georgetown College 104 
 
 Academy of Visitation 106 
 
 The Female Seminary 101 
 
 The Aqueduct 108 
 
 The Georgetown Cemetery , 109 
 
 The Little Falls 110 
 
 The Great Falls 110 
 
 Arlington House 112 
 
 Alexandria 114 
 
 Mount Vernon 116 
 
 Bladensburg 120 
 
 Supplement. 
 
 The New Hall of Representatives 121 
 
 The New Senate Chamber 123 
 
 The New Dome 124 
 
 The Washington Aqueduct 126 
 
 Medical Department of Georgetown College 132 
 
laitb-^ooli of Slto^ingtoH. 
 
 THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT. 
 
 The object of this little volume is simply to 
 supply Strangers, who may visit the National 
 Metropolis on business or pleasure, with all the 
 information of a local character, calculated to be 
 of service to them. But before proceeding with 
 details, it will be proper to give the leading facts 
 connected with the establishment of the present 
 Seat of the General Government. The idea of 
 locating it on the Potomac was originally sug- 
 gested by General George Washington , after long 
 and mature deliberation, and the Act of Congress, 
 which created the territory of the District of Co- 
 lumbia, was passed on the 16th of July, 1790 ; — 
 in the Senate by a vote of 14 to 12, and in the 
 House of Representatives of 32 to 29. The law 
 provided, however, that the Government should 
 not be removed from Philadelphia to Washington 
 until the year 1800, and that the intervening 
 « 1* 
 
b HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 time should be employed, under the direction of 
 Commissioners appointed for the purpose, in pre- 
 paring suitable buildings at the latter point for 
 the accommodation of Congress, and of the Presi- 
 dent, and for the Public Offices. The quantity of 
 land set aside for National purposes was one hun- 
 dred square miles, forming a square of ten miles, 
 and spaning the Potomac River at the head of 
 ship navigation : and the States which ceded to 
 the Nation the necessary portions of their domain 
 were Maryland and Virginia. The corner-stone 
 of the District of Columbia was laid at Jones' 
 Point, near Alexandria, on the 15th April, 1791, 
 by Daniel Carroll and David Stuart, with all the 
 Masonic ceremonies usual at that time ; and the 
 corner-stone of the Capitol was laid, with similar 
 honors, by General Washington, on the 18th 
 September, 1793. The design of the city was 
 executed by Major L'Enfant, under the direction 
 of Washington himself; and the streets were 
 chiefly laid out by A. EUicott, and two gentlemen 
 by the name of King. The limits of the city 
 extend from north-west to south-east, about four 
 miles and a half, and from east to south-west 
 about two miles and a half. The streets, which 
 vary from seventy to one hundred and ten feet in 
 width, run from north t<D south, and from east tP 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 7 
 
 west, crossing each other at right angles, with 
 the exception of fifteen noble avenues, which point 
 to that number of States, which were the first to 
 enter the Union. The soil of Washington City 
 and surrounding country is generally of a light 
 clay or sand, and is cultivated at considerable ex- 
 pense ; and while bilious and intermittent fevers 
 prevail in certain localities in the fall of the year, 
 as a general thing the place is as free from epi- 
 demical diseases as any other in the country. Laid 
 out as the city was, on an extensive scale, there 
 is always a free circulation of wholesome air, and 
 the best of water is to be found in all directions. 
 The climate, for many years past, has been be- 
 coming gradually more moderate and salubrious 
 than it was in the olden times, and upon the 
 whole may be pronounced as agreeable and healthy 
 as that of any other section of the United States. 
 The circumference of the city according to Mr. 
 Wallerston is 14 miles, the aggregate length of 
 streets 199 miles, and of the avenues 65 miles 
 The avenues, streets, and open spaces, contain 
 3,604 acres; and the public reservations, 10, 11 
 and 12, since disposed of for private purposes, 513 
 acres. The whole area of the squares of the city 
 amounts to 131,684,176 square feet, or 3,016 
 acres; one-half of which, 1,508 acres, was re- 
 
8 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 served for the use of the United States, and the 
 remaining half assigned to the original proprietors ; 
 1,536 acres belonged to the United States. 
 
 A more beautiful site for a city could hardly 
 be obtained. From a point where the Potomac, 
 at a distance of 295 miles from the ocean, and 
 flowing from north-west to south-east, expands to 
 the width of a mile, it extends back upon a level 
 plain, hemmed in by a series of gradually slop- 
 ing hills terminating with the heights of G-eorge- 
 town ; the plain being nearly three miles in length, 
 from east to west, and varying from a quarter 
 of a mile to two miles in breadth. It is bounded 
 on the east by the Eastern Branch of the Potomac, 
 where are now the navy-yard and congressional 
 cemetery, and on the west by the Hoek Creek^ 
 which separates it from Georgetown. The small 
 stream from the north, over which the railroad 
 bridge now passes, on entering the City, emptied 
 into a bay or inlet of the Potomac about 400 feet 
 wide, which jutted in from the west, to within a 
 quarter of a mile of Capitol Hill, and nearly 
 divided the plain. Not far from the head of this, 
 and south of Capitol Hill, a small stream 
 took its rise in a large number of springs, and 
 emptied into the river, at a place now called 
 Greenleaf s Point, formed by the intersection of 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 9 
 
 the Eastern Branch with the Potomac, and was 
 known as James Creek, There is a stream above 
 Georgetown which has always been called Goose 
 Creek ; but, from a certificate of a survey now 
 presei-ved in the mayor's office, at Washington, 
 dated 1663, it appears that the inlet from the 
 Potomac was then known by the name of Tiber, 
 and probably the stream from the north emptying 
 into it bore the same name ; so that Moore did 
 injustice to the history of the place, and confound- 
 ed streams, when he wrote the well-known line ; 
 
 "And what was Goose Creek once, is Tiber now." 
 
 By the same survey, it appears that the land, 
 comprising Capitol Hill, was called Rome, or 
 Room, two names which seemed to have fore- 
 shadowed the destiny of the place. Mr. Force, 
 of Washington, suggests that they probably origi- 
 nated in the fact that the name of the owner of 
 the estate was Pope, and, in selecting a name for 
 his plantation, he fancied the title of " Pope of 
 Rome."* 
 
 The Commissioners reported that the public 
 buildings would be ready for the reception of the 
 government in the summer of 1800. Accord- 
 
 • * Joseph B. Yarnum. 
 
10 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 ingly, the Executive were, in the month of June 
 in that year, removed from Washington to Phila- 
 delphia, and Congress commenced its session there 
 on the third Monday of November following. 
 On this occasion in his opening speech, President 
 Adams said-: — "I congratulate the people of the 
 United States on the assembling of Congress at 
 the permanent seat of their government ; and I 
 congratulate you, gentlemen, on the prospect of 
 a residence riot to be exchanged. It would be 
 unbecoming the representatives of this nation to 
 assemble for the first time in this solemn temple 
 without looking up to the Supreme Ruler of the 
 universe, and imploring his blessing. It is with 
 you, gentlemen, to consider whether the local 
 powers over the District of Columbia, vested by 
 the Constitution in the Congress of the United 
 States, shall be immediately exercised. If, in 
 your opinion, this important trust ought now to 
 be executed, you cannot fail, while performing it, 
 to take into view the future probable situation of 
 the territory, for the happiness of which you are 
 about to provide. You will consider it as the 
 capital of a great nation, advancing with unex- 
 ampled rapidity in arts, in commerce, in wealth, 
 and in population, and possessing within itself 
 those resources,, which, if not thrown away, or 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 11 
 
 lamentably misdirected, will secure to it a long 
 course of prosperity and self-government." 
 
 The Senate in their reply said: — "We meet 
 you, sir, and the other branch of the national 
 legislature, in the City which is honored by the 
 name of our late hero and sage, the illustrious 
 Washington, with sensations and emotions which 
 exceed our power of description." 
 
 The House of Representatives in reply, said: 
 — "The final establishment of the seat of na- 
 tional government, which has now taken place in 
 the District of Columbia, is an event of no small 
 importance in the political transactions of our 
 country. Nor can we on this occasion omit to 
 express a hope that the spirit which animated the 
 great founder of this city, may descend to future 
 generations ; and that the wisdom, magnanimity, 
 and steadiness, which marked the events of his 
 public life, may be imitated in all succeeding ages. 
 A consideration of those powers which have been 
 vested in Congress over the District of Columbia, 
 will not escape our attention ; nor shall we forget 
 tliat, in exercising those powers, a regard must 
 be had to those events which will necessarily at- 
 tend the capital of America." 
 
12 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 THE CAPITOL. 
 
 As before intimated, the Ibuilding of this edifice 
 was commenced in the year 1793, with Mr. Hallet 
 as architect, who was succeeded in that capacity 
 by Mr. Had field, Mr. Hoban and Mr. Latrobe. 
 During the Embargo and the accompanying war 
 the work was suspended, and as the British sub- 
 sequently demolished much of what had been 
 accomplished by the above named gentlemen, the 
 government in 1815 found it necessary to recon- 
 struct the Capitol, when it was finished as it now 
 stands, chiefly under the superintendence of Mr. 
 C. Bulfinch. It is situated on an area enclosed by 
 an iron railing and including thirty acres. The 
 building stands on the western portion of this plat, 
 and is so elevated as to command a view of the 
 entire City of Washington, including the heights 
 of Gleorgetown, the windings of the Potomac and 
 the City of Alexandria. 
 
 The exterior exhibits a rusticated basement of 
 the height of the first story, the two other stories 
 are comprised in a Corinthian elevation of pilas- 
 ters and columns ; these columns which are thirty 
 feet in height form an advancing portico, on the 
 east, one hundredi 'and sixty feet in extent, the 
 centre of which is crowned with a pediment of 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 13 
 
 eighty feet span; while a receding loggia one 
 hundred feet in extent, distinguishes the centre 
 of the west front. The building is surrounded 
 by a balustrade of stone and covered with a lofty 
 dome in the centre and a flat dome on each wing. 
 The dimensions of the building are length of 
 front 352 feet 4 inches, depth of wings 121 feet 
 6 inches, and height to the top of centre dome 
 145 feet. The cost up to 1828, when it may be 
 said to have been completed was nearly Jl,800,- 
 000. During the last session of Congress appro- 
 priations were made for the further enlargement 
 of the Capitol by the addition of two new wings 
 of 238 by 140 feet each wing, and when these 
 are completed, the whole Capitol, including the 
 space between the wings and the main building 
 will cover an area of four and one-third acres. 
 The corner-stone of the extension was laid by 
 President Filhuore on the 4th of July, 1851, 
 with Masonic ceremonies, on which occasion the 
 Hon. Daniel Webster delivered a brilliant oration. 
 In further describing the Capitol we shall speak 
 of its various leading features separately, and in 
 the following order : — The Senate Chamber, the 
 Hall of Eepresentatiwes, the Fotundo, the Con- 
 gressional Library, Chamber of the Supreme 
 Court, together with the Capitol Grounds. 
 
14 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 And first as to the Senate Cliamber. This is 
 in the second story of the north wing, of a semi- 
 circular form, seventy-five feet long, and forty- 
 five high; a screen of Ionic columns, with capi- 
 tols, support a gallery to the east, forming a 
 loggia below — and a gallery of iron pillars and 
 railings of a light structure, projects from the 
 circular walls, and the dome ceilings are enriched 
 with square caissons of stucco. The walls are 
 partially covered with drapery, and columns of 
 hreccia, or Potomac marble support the eastern 
 gallery. The chamber upon the whole is a hand- 
 some afiair ; but it is now felt to be too small for 
 the comfort of so large a body as that which 
 annually convenes there, and the access to it is 
 notoriously inconvenient. The only painting 
 which adorns the Senate Chamber is a portrait of 
 Washington. TUis JTranch of the National Leg- 
 islature consists of sixty- two members. 
 
 The Hall of Representatives is also of a semi- 
 circular form, and of course much larger than 
 the Senate Chamber. It is in the second story 
 of the south wing, ninety-six feet long and sixty 
 feet high. It is surrounded with twentj^-four 
 columns of the variegated I^tomac marble, with 
 Capitols of white Italian marble of the Corinthian 
 order, and surmounting a base of freestone, and 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 15 
 
 the dome of the Hall is painted in imitation of 
 that of the Pantheon of Rome, From the cen- 
 tre of the dome hangs a massive gilt chandelier, 
 and high over the Speaker's chair, which is ele- 
 vated and canopied, is placed the model of a 
 colossal figure of Liberty supported by an eagle 
 just ready to fly, the work of Italian artists named 
 Causici and Yalaperti, the last of whom is thought 
 to have committed suicide soon after accomplish- 
 ing this work. In front of the chair and im- 
 mediately over the main entrance stands a statute 
 in marble representing History recording the 
 events of the nation. She is placed on a winged 
 car, rolling around a globe, on which are delinea- 
 ted the signs of the Zodiac, and the wheel of the 
 car is the face of the clock of the Hall ; and this 
 is also the work of a foreign artist named Franzoni. 
 Two full length portraits, one of Washington 
 and one of La Fayette, adorn the walls on either 
 side of the chair, and in every direction are dis- 
 played ample folds of crimson drapery. The 
 galleries of this Hall are so extensive as nearly 
 to encircle it, and the general arrangement of the 
 room is such as to render the members and the 
 audience as comfortable as possible. The number 
 of Representatives is two hundred and thirty-four. 
 
16 HAND-BOOK OP WASHINGTON. 
 
 And here it occurs to us, we ought to mention 
 a few of the regulations which appertain to the 
 Senate Chamber and the Hall of Representatives 
 during the sessions of Congress. The gentleman 
 whose duty it is to preside in the former is the 
 Vice-President of the United States; but the 
 Speaker of the House is elected to that position 
 from its own body, and serves during all the 
 sessions of one Congress. The only persons, bo- 
 sides members, admitted to the floors of the two 
 chambers, are the President and his Secretary, 
 the Heads of the Departments and Bureaus, the 
 Diplomatic Corps, all Governors of States, and 
 all the ex-members of Congress, ex-Presidents 
 and ex-Governors, &c. &c.; as a privilege how- 
 ever, the members can in person convey any friend 
 to a seat in the lobby of the -Senate or House. 
 The regular business hours in the legislative halls 
 during the sittings of Congress, are from 12 to 
 3 o'clock ; but when there is a pressure of busi- 
 ness, towards the close of a session, it is customary 
 to sit both day and night, — for many hours con- 
 tinuously. Both houses of Congress are abun- 
 dantly supplied with competent officers and clerks, 
 under whose management all things usually go 
 on like clock-work, and to any of whom every 
 stranger may apply with perfect propriety for 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 17 
 
 what information respecting the Capitol they may 
 reasonably desire. 
 
 The next interesting feature of the Capitol that 
 we would describe is the Rotundo. It occupies 
 the centre, and is ninety-six feet in diameter, and 
 the same number of feet high. The dome is 
 hemispherical and filled with large plain caissons ; 
 the room in its circuit is divided into eight panels, 
 intended for paintings, all of which are already 
 filled; and stationed between these panels are 
 four bas relievos of historical subjects ; one re- 
 presenting the Preservation of Captain Smith hy 
 Pocahontas, one the Landing of the Pilgrims on 
 Plymouth Pock, one the Conflict hetween Daniel 
 Boone and the Indians, and the other Penn's 
 Treaty ivith the Indians. In addition to these 
 specimens of sculpture are also displayed, encir- 
 cled with floral wreaths, the heads of Columbus, 
 Paleigh, La Sale, and Cabot ; — all these produc- 
 tions of the chisel being from the hands of Cau- 
 sici and Capellano.^ Of the paintings four are 
 by Col. John Trumbull, one by Weir, one by Van- 
 derlyn, one by Chapman, and one by Poivell. 
 The subjects of Trumbull's pictures are first, the 
 
 * Iji niches on the outside of the east door are also two-> 
 statues of colossal size representing Peace and War, fronii 
 the chisel of Persico. 
 2* 
 
18 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON- 
 
 '^Declaration of Independence,''^ the essential ob- 
 ject of which was to preserve the portraits of the 
 men who were the authors of that Declaration. 
 As Col. Trumbull was one of the aids of Greneral 
 Washington in the Revolutionary "War, he had 
 the best of opportunities for obtaining the por- 
 traits from the living men, and the consequence 
 is that we have authentic likenesses in this picture 
 of the following personages : 
 
 1. — George "Wythe, Virginia. 
 
 2. — William Whipple, New Hampshire. 
 
 3. — Josiah Bartlett, New Hampshire. 
 
 4. — Benjamin Harrison, Virginia. 
 
 5. — Thomas Lynch, South Carolina. 
 
 6. — Richard Henry Lee, Virginia. 
 
 7. — Samuel Adams, Massachusetts. 
 
 8. — George Clinton, New York. 
 
 9. — William Paca, Maryland. 
 10. — Samuel Chase, Maryland. 
 11. — Lewis Morris, New York. 
 12.— William Floyd, New York. 
 13. — Arthur Middleton, South Carolina 
 14. — Thomas Hayward, South Carolina. 
 15. — Charles Carroll, Maryland. 
 16. — George Walton, Georgia. 
 17. — Robert Morris, Pennsylvania. 
 18. — Thomas Willing, Pennsylvania. 
 19. — Benjamin Rush, Pennsylvania. 
 .20.--Elbridge Gerry, Massachusetts. 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 19 
 
 21. — Robert Treat Payne, Massachusetts. 
 22. — Abraham Clark, New Jersey. 
 23. — Stephen Hopkins, Rhode Island, 
 24.— William Ellery, Rhode Island. 
 25. — George Clymer, Penns^'lvania. 
 26. — William Hooper, North Carolina, 
 21. — Joseph Ilewes, North Carolina. 
 28. — James Wilson, Pennsylvania. 
 29. — Francis Hopkinson, New Jersey. 
 30. — John Adams, Massachusetts. 
 31. — Roger Sherman, Connecticut. 
 32. — Robert R. Livingston, New York. 
 33. — Thomas Jefferson, Virginia. 
 34. — Benjamin Franklin, Pennsylvania. 
 35. — Richard Stockton, New Jersey. 
 36. — Francis Lewis, New York. 
 3Y. — John Witherspoon, New Jersey. 
 38. — Samuel Huntington, Connecticut. 
 39. — William Williams, Connecticut. 
 40. — Oliver Wolcott, Connecticut. 
 41. — John Hancock, Massachusetts. 
 42. — Charles Thompson, Pennsylvania. 
 43. — George Reed, Delaware. 
 44.-^John Dickinson, Delaware. 
 45. — Edward Rutledge, South Carolina. 
 46. — Thomas l\IcKean, Pennsylvania. 
 41. — Philip Livingston, New York. 
 
 The second of Trumbull's pictures represents 
 the ''Surrender of General Burgoj/n&." To the 
 intelligent spectator it will tell its own story, and 
 we shall therefore content ourselves with simply 
 
20 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINOTON. 
 
 giving the names of those distinguished ojffieers 
 whose portraits appear upon this canvas, which 
 are as follows : 
 
 1 . — Major Lithgow, Massachusetts. 
 
 2. — Colonel Cillj, New Hampshire. 
 
 3. — General Starke, New Hampshire. 
 
 4. — Captain Seymour, Conn., of Sheldon's horse. 
 
 5. — Major Hull, Massachusetts. 
 
 6. — Colonel Greaton, Massachusetts. 
 
 7. — Major Dearborn, New Hampshire. 
 
 8. — Colonel Scammell, New Hampshire. 
 
 9. — Colonel Lewis, Q. M. G., New York. 
 10. — Major-General Philips, British. 
 11. — Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, British. 
 12. — General Baron Reidesel, German. 
 13. — Col. Wilkinson, Deputy Adj't General, American. 
 14. — General Gates. 
 
 15. — Colonel Prescott, Massachusetts Volunteer. 
 16. — Colonel Morgan, Virginia Rifleman, 
 n. — Brigadier-General Rufus Putnam, Massachusetts. 
 18, — Lt. Col. John Brooks, late Governor of Mass. 
 19. — Rev. Mr. Hitchcock, Chaplain, Rhode Island. 
 20. — Major Robert Troup, Aid-de-Camp, New York. 
 21, — Major Haskell, Massachusetts. 
 22, — Major Armstrong, Aid-de-Camp, now General. 
 23. — Major-General Philip Schuyler, Albany. 
 24, — Brigadier-General Glover, Massachusetts, 
 25, — Brigadier-Gen, Whipple, New Hampshire Militia. 
 26. — Major Matthew Clarkson, Aid-de-Camp, New York. 
 27. — Major Ebenezer Stevens, Massachusetts, Command- 
 ing the Artillery 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 21 
 
 The third of the Revolutionary paintings re- 
 presents the ''Surrender of the British Army, 
 commanded hy Lord Cornwallis, at Yorkfown, in 
 Virginia." This picture contains the portraits 
 of the principal officers of America, France and 
 England, and their names are as follows : 
 
 1. — Count Deuxponts, Colonel of French Infantry. 
 
 2. — Duke de Laval Montmorency, Colonel of French 
 Infantry. 
 
 3. — Count Custine, Colonel of French Infantry. 
 
 4. — Duke de Lauzun, Colonel of Cavalry, French. 
 
 5. — General Choizy. 
 
 6. — Viscount Viomenil. 
 
 1. — Marquis de St. Simon. 
 
 8. — Count Fersen, Aid-de-Camp of Count Rochambeau. 
 
 9. — Count Charles Damas, Aid-de-Camp of Count Ro- 
 chambeau. 
 10. — Marquis Chastellux. 
 11. — Baron Viomenil. 
 12. — Count de Barras, Admiral. 
 13. — Count de Grasse, Admiral. 
 \4:. — Count Rochambeau, Gen. en Chef des Francais. 
 15. — General Lincoln. 
 
 16. — Col. Ebenezer Stevens, of the American Artillery, 
 IT. — General Washington, Commander-in-Chief. 
 18. — Thomas Nelson, Governor of Virginia. 
 19. — Marquis La Fayette. 
 20. — Baron Steuben. 
 
 21. — Colonel Cobb, Aid-de-Camp to Gen. Washington, 
 22. — Colonel Trumbull, Secretary to Gen. Washington. 
 
22 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 23, — Major-General James Clinton, New York. 
 
 24. — General Gist, Maryland. 
 
 25. — General Anthony Wayne, Pennsylvania. 
 
 26. — General Hand, Adjutant General, Pennsylvania. 
 
 2*7. — General Peter Muhlenberg, Pennsylvania. 
 
 28. — Major-Gen. Henry Knox, Commander Artillery. 
 
 29.— Lieut. Col. E. Huntington, Acting Aid-de-Caaap of 
 
 General Lincoln. 
 30. — Col. Timothy Pickering, Quarter Master General. 
 31. — Col. Alexander Hamilton, Com'dg Light Infantry. 
 32. — Col. John Laurens, of South Carolina. 
 33,— Col. Walter Stuart, of Philadelphia. 
 34.— Col. Nicholas Fish, of New York. 
 
 The fourth and last of Trumbull's paintings 
 represents the ' •Resignation of General Washing- 
 ton at Annapolis ;" a^id the following named por^ 
 traits are here collected ; 
 
 1. — Thos. Mifflin, Pa., President, Member of Congress. 
 
 2. — Charles Thompson, Pennsylvania, do. 
 
 3. — Elbridge Gerry, Massachusetts, do. 
 
 4. — Hugh Williamson, N. Carolina, do. 
 
 5. — Samuel Osgood, Massachusetts, do. ^ 
 
 6. — Ed. McComb, Delaware, do. 
 
 7. — George Partridge, Massachusetts, do. 
 
 8. — Edward Lloyd, Maryland, do. 
 
 9. — R. D. Spaight, North Carolina, do. 
 
 10. — Benjamin Hawkins, N. Carolina, do. 
 
 11. — A. Foster, New Hampshire, do. 
 
 12. — Thomas Jefferson, Virginia, do. 
 
 13. — Arthur Lee, Virginia, do. 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 23 
 
 14. — Darid Howell, Ehode Island, Member of Congress. 
 
 15. — James Munroe, Virginia, do. 
 
 16. — Jacob Reid, South Carolina, do. 
 
 17. — James Madison, Virginia — (Spectator.) 
 
 18. — William Ellery, Rhode Island, Member of Congress. 
 
 19. — Jeremiah Townley Chase, Maryland, do. 
 
 20. — S. Hardy, Virginia, do. 
 
 21. — Charles Morris, Pennsylvania, do. 
 
 22. — General Washington, do. 
 
 23. — Col. Benjamin Walker, Aid-de-Camp. 
 
 24. — Col. David Humphreys, do. 
 
 25. — General Smallwood, Maryland, Spectator. 
 
 26.— Gen. Otho H. Williams, Maryland, do. 
 
 27. — Colonel Samuel Smith, Maryland, do. 
 
 28. — Col. John E. Howard, Baltimore, Md., do. 
 
 29. — Charles Carroll and two daughters, Md., do. 
 
 30. — Mrs. Washington and 3 grand children, do. 
 
 31. — Daniel, of St. Thomas Jenifer, Maryland, do. 
 
 The subjects of the remaining pictures in the 
 Kotundo are the ' ' Emharcation of the Pilgrims 
 from Leyden,^^ by Weir, the ''Landing of Colum- 
 bus," by Yanderlyn, the ''Baptism of Pocahon- 
 tas,^' by Chapman, and " Discovery of the Missis- 
 sippi hy Be Soto,'' by Powell. As these illustrate 
 scenes connected with the very earliest history of 
 our country, none but the leading figures are to 
 be considered in the aspect of authentic portraits, 
 and we therefore deem it unnecessary to particu- 
 arize the various personages delineated. And as 
 
24 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 r" 
 
 our object in this book is simply to give facts, it 
 cannot be expected that we should play the part 
 of a critic, and we shall therefore leave the spec- 
 tator the rare privilege of forming his own opinion, 
 not only of the pictures, but of every thing else 
 that we may describe. 
 
 We now come' to speak of the Congressional 
 Library which was, before the fire of 1851, one 
 of the chief attractions of the Capitol. The prin- 
 cipal Room, of which there were three, faced the 
 west, and was a large and handsome affair, nine- 
 ty-two feet long, thirty-four wide and thirty-six 
 high : divided into twelve alcoves, ornamented 
 with fluted pilasters ; and in every direction were 
 displayed portraits and busts, cases of medals and 
 other interesting works of art. The number of 
 volumes which it contained was about 50,000, and 
 the Catalogue, which was arranged on the system 
 of Lord Bacon, comprised the following table of 
 chapters : Ancient History, Modern History, of 
 all the countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, and 
 America, American Newspapers, Ecclesiastical 
 History, Natural Philosophy, Agriculture, Chem- 
 istry, Surgery, Medicine, Anatomy, Zoology, Bo- 
 tany, Mineralogy and Conchology, Occupations 
 of Man, Technical Arts, Ethics, Religion, Com- 
 mon Law, Reports in every department of Learn- 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASniNGTON, 25 
 
 ing and Legislation, Politics, Mathematics, As- 
 tronomy, Q-eography, Fine x\rts, and all the 
 Standards in Polite Literature, with many valua- 
 ble Original Manuscripts. The original Library, 
 which was collected under the direction of Mr. 
 Gallatin and Mr. Mitchell, in 1800, was destroyed 
 by fire during the last war, and that which lately 
 enriched the Capitol, was founded upon one which 
 was purchased by Congress, in 1814, of Thomas 
 Jeiferson, for $23,000.* So much for the past. 
 We would now describe the Congressional Library 
 as it is and will be when entirely completed. It 
 will embrace, when the two wings of the Capitol 
 are completed, the entire western projection of the 
 present Capitol ; and while the main room is 91 
 feet long, 34 wide, and 38 high, the second and 
 third are each 29 feet wide by 70 long, and of the 
 same height as the preceding. These rooms are 
 all fitted up with iron cases, and iron ceilings, 
 roofed with copper, laid on iron rafters, and lighted 
 by ornamental sky lights. In addition to the 
 above there are also two smaller rooms opening 
 therefrom, which are employed by the Senators 
 and Representatives as reading and conversation 
 
 *The yearly average increase is about 1,800 volumes. 
 The sum of $5,000 is annually appropriated by Congress 
 for Miscellaneous Books, and $1,000 for Law Books, 
 3 
 
26 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 rooms. Of the books in the old library, some 
 20,000 were saved, while the special appropria- 
 tions of Congress have been so liberal that a large 
 part of the works destroyed, excepting the valua- 
 ble manuscripts, have been replaced. The main 
 library room, as it now appears, embraces the 
 space occupied by the old library before the fire. 
 On both sides of the room are three stories of iron 
 cases, each nine feet six inches in height. The 
 lower story consists of alcoves projecting eight 
 feet six inches into the room, with cases on each 
 side of the projections. The second story has 
 similar alcoves, excepting that their projection is 
 but five feet, which bears a platform of three feet 
 six inches in width, resting on the cases below, 
 and which constitutes a commodious gallery. A 
 similar platform is constructed on the alcoves of 
 the second story, forming a gallery to approach 
 the upper cases ; thus making three stories, re- 
 ceding as they ascend. These galleries are con- 
 tinued across the ends of the room, where they 
 are supported by massive brackets. The alcoves 
 are nine feet eight inches in width, with an orna- 
 mented pier forming the head of each projection. 
 The architraves which cross the alcoves are fin- 
 ished with shields, crowning bands and orna- 
 ments. The shields are designed as tablets to 
 
HAND-BOOK OP WASHINGTON. 27 
 
 receive the names of the general subjects on which 
 the book in the respective alcoves treat. The 
 galleries are all floored with cast iron plates, and 
 protected by pedestals and railings ; they are ap- 
 proached by two semi-circular stairways of cast 
 iron, recessed in the end walls of the room. The 
 ceiling is wholly composed of iron ; it is suspended 
 from strong iron trusses, which likewise constitute 
 the support of the roof; it rests on twenty-four 
 massy consoles, ornamented with foliage, fruits, 
 and scrolls. Each of these consoles weighs nearly 
 a ton. Their projection from the face of the walls 
 is five feet six inches, their height five feet four 
 inches, and their width twenty-one inches. The 
 entire ceiling is divided into deeply sunken panels, 
 and embellished with ornate mouldings and fo- 
 liated pendants. The room is lighted, in addition 
 to the five windows in the western front, by eight 
 sky-lights, in the ceiling, each six feet square, 
 filled in with ornamented glass, and protected by 
 an upper sky-light of seventy-seven feet in length 
 by ten feet six inches in width, placed on a cor- 
 responding angle with the roof, and covered with 
 thick plates of glass. The roof is covered with 
 copper, secured by copper wire to the iron rafters. 
 It is heated by hot water pipes. 
 
 The afi'airs of the Library are indirectly in 
 
28 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 charge of a Library Committee,, consisting of mem- 
 bers from the two houses of Congress, but the 
 immediate superintendents are a Librarian and 
 two assistants, viz : John S. Meehan, E. B. Stelle, 
 and C. H. W. Meehan. The public in general 
 are privileged to visit the Library and examine 
 books on the spot, but members of Congress and 
 the officers of the Executiv^e Departments are all 
 who enjoy the privilege of taking away any books 
 that they may desire. The Library is open every 
 day during the sessions of Congress, and during 
 the recess on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 
 of each week, from nine o'clock until three. 
 
 The apartment for the accommodation of the 
 Supreme Court is an ill- arranged, inconvenient 
 and badly lighted room, in the basement under 
 the Senate Chamber. It is semi-circular in shape, 
 with manifold arches ; and on the wall is an em- 
 blem of Justice, holding her scales, in bold relief, 
 and also a figure of Fame crowned with the rising 
 sun, and pointing to the Constitution of the 
 United States. The members of the bar are ac- 
 commodated with seats and desks in the body of 
 the room ; and the Justices occupy a row of ele- 
 vated seats, and appear in their official capacity 
 clothed in black silk gowns or robes. The Bench 
 of the Supreme Court, as it now stands, is com- 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 29 
 
 posed of the following gentlemen : — Roger B. 
 Taney, Chief Justice, John McLean, James M. 
 Wayne, John Catron, John McKinley, Peter V. 
 Daniel, Samuel Nelson, Benjamin B. Custis, 
 Robert C. Grier : the Clerk of the Court and 
 Deputy being William T. Carroll and D. M. Mid- 
 dleton, and the Reporter, B. C. Howard. 
 
 In addition to the apartments of the Capitol 
 already specified, it should be mentioned that there 
 are also a large number of ordinary, but well 
 furnished rooms, which are occupied by the Vice- 
 President, the Speaker of the House, and other 
 Officers, by the Postmasters of Congress, the 
 Public Documents, and the Committees of the 
 two houses. 
 
 In regard to the Capitol Grounds we have only 
 to say, that they are not only extensive, but are 
 kept in the very neatest order, constituting one 
 of the very pleasantest and most popular resorts 
 for promenading to be found in the Metropolis. 
 They command most charming prospects of the 
 surrounding country, are adorned with a great 
 variety of American trees, fountains and basins 
 of pure water enliven them in various parts, and 
 an air of superior refinement is given to them, 
 by a number of pieces of statuary, the most at- 
 tractive specimens being a Statue of Washington; 
 3* 
 
30 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 by Greenough, and a pair of Columbus and an 
 Indian Woman, by Persico, with his statues of 
 Peace and War, the former occupying the centre 
 of a square east of the Capitol, and the others 
 appropriate places on the eastern portico. On 
 this side of the Capitol, moreover, is to be seen the 
 lately completed colossal group of Statuary, called 
 Civilization, executed by the lamented Grreenough. 
 It was finished in 1851, and occupied the artist 
 eight years, besides a delay of four years, occa- 
 sioned by his not being able in all that time, to 
 obtain a block of Serravezza Marble suitable to 
 his purpose. It consists of four figures, a mother 
 and child, an American Indian and the father. 
 The object of this group is to illustrate a phase in 
 the progress of American Civilization, viz : the 
 unavoidable conflict between the Anglo-Saxon and 
 aboriginal savage races. 
 
 Near the Western entrance to the Capitol stands 
 a Monument erected by the Officers of the Navy 
 to the memory of their brother Officers, who fell 
 in the War with Tripoli. It is of marble, rises 
 out of a pool or basin of water, and is forty feet 
 high. On one side of the base is a view of 
 Tripoli and the American Fleet; on another the 
 words, "To the Memory of Sommers, Caldwell, 
 Decatur, Wordsworth, Dorsey, Israel;" and on 
 
WHff 
 
 iiiiiiiiilllSSiiiiiiif' 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 31 
 
 another side, a brief but comprehensive history, 
 At the base of the column are four marble emble- 
 matic figures, Mercury, Fame, History, and 
 America : the column has also appropriate embel- 
 lishments, and is surmounted by an Eagle. 
 
 Bii*^ before leaving the Capitol it is proper that 
 we should speak of it as it will appear after the 
 wings now in course of erection shall have been 
 completed. The dimensions of the two new 
 wings are each 238 by 140 feet, so that when 
 finished this national edifice will cover an area of 
 about four acres, and will be, without exception, 
 as it should be, the most splendid specimen of 
 architecture in the United States. 
 
 (See Supplement.) 
 
 THE EXECUTIVE MANSION. 
 
 The plan of this building was made by James 
 Hoban, and the corner-stone was laid on the 13th 
 of October, 1792 ; but having been partially de- 
 stroyed during the last war, the same architect 
 was employed to rebuild it in 1815. It is situated 
 at the ' ' west end" of the city, at the intersection 
 of Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and 
 Vermont Avenues. It occupies the centre of a 
 plat of ground containing twenty acres, and at 
 
82 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 an elevation of forty-four feet above the waters 
 of the Potomac. For several years past the 
 grounds both in front and in the rear of the Presi- 
 dent's House have been in a neglected condition, 
 but under the management of competent persons 
 the grounds lying south of the Mansion are being 
 transformed into a magnificent park, which when 
 completed, will afford a fine carriage drive of 
 three or four miles, the Potomac at one end, and 
 the Capitol at the other ; the Smithsonian Insti- 
 tute and the Washington Monument being situa- 
 ted in its midst. Besides this, the same persons 
 are planning the improvement of La Fayette and 
 Franklin Squares into fine pleasure grounds. 
 In the centre of La Fayette Square has been 
 placed Mr. Mills' colossal equestrian statue of 
 General Jackson. 
 
 The Mansion in question is 170 feet front and 
 86 deep, is built of white freestone with Ionic 
 pilasters comprehending two lofty stories of rooms, 
 crowned with a stone balustrade. The north 
 front is ornamented with a lofty portico, of four 
 Ionic columns in front, and projecting with three 
 columns. The outer inter-columniation is for 
 carriages to drive under, and place company under 
 shelter: the middle space is for those visitors 
 who come on foot ; the steps from both leading to 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 33 
 
 a broad platform in front of tlie door of entrance. 
 The garden front is varied by having a rusticated 
 basement story under the Ionic ordonnance, and 
 by a semi-circular projecting colonnade of six 
 columns, with two flights of steps leading from 
 the ground to the level of the principal story. 
 
 The interior arrangements of the Executive 
 Mansion are of course elegant and convenient, 
 well adapted to the various purposes for which 
 the building was designed ; and as the rooms, 
 both public and private, are newly furnished with 
 the coming in of every new Administration, we 
 deem it unnecessary to trouble the reader with 
 elaborate descriptions. All the public rooms may 
 be examined by strangers at any time, but His 
 Excellency the President can only be seen during 
 those hours which he is pleased to designate. 
 During the sessions of Congress the President 
 usually has two reception evenings, on which 
 occasions the public at large are privileged to pay 
 him their respects and promenade the famous East 
 Room. In addition to this it is generally ex- 
 pected of him that during each winter he will 
 entertain at dinner all the members of both Houses 
 of Congress and the Diplomatic Corps, so that 
 official dinners, have to be given by him as often 
 as twice a week. The grounds immediately 
 
34 HANB-BOOK OP WASHINGTON. 
 
 around the Mansion are quite beautiful in them- 
 selves, but they present a particularly fine appear- 
 ance during those summer afternoons when the 
 citizens of Washington assemble there by hundreds 
 and thousands for the purpose of enjoying the 
 music of the Marine Band and the pleasures of a 
 fashionable promenade. 
 
 In the centre of the small square immediately 
 in front of the President's House, stands a bronze 
 statue of Thomas JeflFerson, executed by whom 
 we know not, but presented to the Government 
 by Capt. Levy of the United States Navy, the 
 present proprietor of Monticello, the former abode 
 of Mr. Jefferson. It is a handsome piece of 
 statuary, and in its present position has quite a 
 commanding appearance. A resolution of accep- 
 tance however, was never passed by Congress, so 
 that this statue may be considered as still the pri- 
 vate property of Capt. Levy. Directly across 
 Pennsylvania Avenue from the above mentioned 
 square, is La Fayette Square, which, as before 
 intimated, has recently been laid out in fashiona- 
 ble style, and planted with new shrubbery. Mills' 
 Equestrian Statue of General Jackson, occupies 
 its centre, and is a work of superior merit. It is in 
 bronze, and was cast from certain cannon captured 
 by General Jackson in some of his military en- 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 35 
 
 gagements. The cost of this statue was $50,000, 
 and a duplicate was ordered to be executed for 
 the city of New Orleans, v/hich commission has 
 been duly executed by the successful artist. 
 
 THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS. 
 
 The number of these is seven, and their official 
 titles are as follows: the Department of State, 
 the Treasury Department, the War Department, 
 the Navy Department, Department of the Interior, 
 the Post Office Department, and the office of the 
 Attorney General. 
 
 The State Department, which stands north- 
 east of the President's House and within the same 
 enclosure, is a plain brick building, two stories 
 high, 160 feet long and 55 wide, with a broad 
 passage on both floors, and containing in all 32 
 rooms. It contains a handsome library of books, 
 maps and charts, numbering perhaps some 15,- 
 000 distinct works, which are indispensable in 
 the performance of the extensive and varied duties 
 of the department. In addition to this collection, 
 the Copyright Bureau contains some 10 or 12,000 
 volumes published in this country, which are kept 
 with care as part and parcel of the archives of the 
 
86 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Government. The total number of persons em- 
 ployed in this Department consist of the Secretary, 
 nineteen clerks, two messengers, and five watch- 
 men. It is the department through which alone 
 the diplomatic corps and all foreigners can hold 
 any intercourse with the Government of the United 
 States, and is of course the head-quarters of all 
 the American Ministers and Consuls. And in 
 this place it may be well to mention the countries 
 which were represented in Washington at the 
 commencement of the present year by accredited 
 ministers, which were as follows: Kussia, Argen- 
 tine Republic, Spain, Chili, Mexico, Brazil, Great 
 Britain, France, Portugal, Prussia, Denmark, 
 Austria, Netherlands, the two Sicilies and Parma, 
 Sardinia, Belgium, Chili and Peru. With regard 
 to American Ministers and Consuls, it were enough 
 to say, that they may be found scattered to the 
 four corners of the earth, in every place where 
 they would be likely to do good. In this depart- 
 ment are deposited all our Treaties with foreign 
 powers, the original of the Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence, the commissions given to General Wash- 
 ington with many of his most interesting letters, 
 and also one of the most complete files of news- 
 papers to be found in the country, all of which 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 37 
 
 may be examined by strangers, on application, 
 during office hours. 
 
 The Treasury Department stands at the east- 
 ern extremity of the President's Square, (so 
 called) and is a stone edifice, painted white, 340 
 feet long and 170 wide, but when the northern 
 and southern wings are added it will be 457 feet 
 in length. In front is an imposing colonnade, 
 stretching the entire length of the building, and 
 the architect of the whole was Robert Mills. It 
 has three floors upon which business is transacted, 
 on each of which are nearly fifty apartments. 
 This is the department where all the financial and 
 commercial affairs of the country are attended to, 
 and the amount of labor performed here at times 
 is immense. The persons employed in this de- 
 partment are the Secretary, one Assistant Secre- 
 tary, two Comptrollers, six Auditors, two Trea- 
 surers, one Register, one Solicitor, one Commis- 
 sioner of Customs, about three hundred clerks, 
 fifteen messengers, and twelve watchmen. A 
 good legal library is attached to this department. 
 An extensive addition to this already large build- 
 ing is now in course of erection, and it is only to 
 be regretted that such a costly and imposing 
 building should not have attached to it appropri- 
 ate grounds. 
 
;38 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 The War Department building occupies tlie 
 north-west corner of the President's Square, and 
 is precisely simik-r in design to the State Depart- 
 ment. It is the head-quarters of all the officers 
 of the Army, and the main-spring of all the 
 military movements. This department comprises 
 in its economy the War Office proper, the Quar- 
 termaster's Department, the Engineer's Depart- 
 ment, Bureau of Topographical Engineers, Ord- 
 nance Office, Subsistence Department, Pay De- 
 partment, Medical Department, Office of Adjutant 
 General and the head-quarters of the Major Grene- 
 ral or military Commander-in-Chief of the Army. 
 The number of persons employed in this depart- 
 ment exclusive of the Secretary and Officers of 
 the Army is as follows: — clerks, 92 ; messengers, 
 10 ; and watchmen, 5. Besides the many ac- 
 complished and distinguished officers connected 
 with the departments already mentioned, are those 
 also employed in the field, belonging to the 1st 
 and 2d Begiments of Dragoons, to the Regiment 
 of Mounted Biflemen, to the 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th 
 Begiments of Artillery, and to the 8th Begiment 
 of Infantry. The War Department is furnished 
 with a valuable library of some 10,000 volumes, 
 where may be seen, by the curious in such mat- 
 ters, an interesting collection of American medals 
 
iii:? 
 
HAND-BOOK OP WASHINGTON. 39 
 
 and a great number of war trophies from the 
 battle fields of the Ee volution, of the last war and 
 of Mexico. 
 
 The JSTavy Department building lies directly 
 west of the President's House, and in the rear 
 of the War Department, It has five Bureaus, 
 exclusive of the Secretary's office, viz : — Bureau 
 of Navy Yards and Docks, Bureau of Construc- 
 tion, Equipment and Repair; Bureau of Pro- 
 visions and Clothing, Bureau of Ordnance and 
 Hydrography, and Bureau of Medicine and Sur- 
 gery, Besides the Secretary, the persons em- 
 ployed in them, are forty-two clerks, and seven 
 messengers. Scattered throughout this depart- 
 ment are to be seen authentic portraits of many 
 of our naval heroes, also a collection of medals 
 struck to their honor at different times, together 
 with a large collection of national flags and other 
 trophies which have fallen from time to time into 
 the possession of our commodores. 
 
 The Department 05' the Interior, or Home 
 Department is the most extensive connected with 
 the Government. The building which it occupies 
 is one of the most extensive and most interesting 
 in the Metropolis. A portion of it is occupied by 
 the Patent office, and also by the museum of the 
 National Institute. The titles of the Bureaus 
 
40 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 connected with the Interior Department are as 
 follows: — Land office, Patent office, Indian office 
 and Pension office. Exclusive of the Secretary 
 and the Heads of the Bureaus, the persons employ- 
 ed are clerks, about one hundred and fifty, messen- 
 gers and watchmen, about twenty-five. As its 
 name indicates, this department has to do exclu- 
 sively with all those matters bearing upon the 
 internal economy of the United States, and is of 
 course increasing in importance with every suc- 
 cessive year. A library of some five thousand 
 volumes is attached to this Department. In the 
 second story of the building now occupied by the 
 Patent office are the invaluable relics of Wash- 
 ington, including his camp chest, the original 
 Declaration of Independence, the gifts presented 
 from time to time to the Government by foreign 
 powers, Franklin's printing press, a collection of 
 Indian portraits by King, the treasures of the 
 National Institute, interesting memorials of the 
 late James Smithson, and the extensive and rare 
 treasures secured by the U. S. Exploring Expe- 
 dition under Capt. Wilkes, in almost every de- 
 partment of national history and human ingenuity . 
 Everything here is open to the inspection of the 
 public, and the Hall is one of the most interest- 
 ing for the stranger to visit^ to be found in the 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 41 
 
 Metropolis. In tlie first story of the same build- 
 ing are collected all the models of the machines 
 which have been patented since the foundation of 
 the Government. From the Patent office have 
 emanated a number of interesting documents 
 bearing directly upon the mechanical and agricul- 
 tural interests of the country, and a large quantity 
 of seeds, domestic and foreign, are annually dis- 
 tributed gratis to all persons who choose to profit 
 by the liberality of the Government. 
 
 One of the handsomest buildings in Washing- 
 ton is that occupied by the Post Office Depart- 
 ment. It was designed and built by Mr. Mills, 
 of white marble and after the Corinthian order. 
 It is three stories high, two hundred and four 
 feet long, and one hundred and two deep : it con- 
 tains twenty-seven rooms on each floor, making 
 eighty-one in all. It occupies a central position 
 in the city, near the Department of the Interior, 
 both of which are about half a mile from the 
 President's Square and the other departments. 
 The employees are a Postmaster-General, three 
 assistants, fifty clerks and six messengers. Con- 
 nected with this department is the Dead Letter 
 office which is an interesting place to visit, 
 The number of unclaimed letters annually sent 
 
 here is enormous. All the letters received are 
 
 4* 
 
42 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON . 
 
 opened by tlie clerks, and only read wlien found 
 to contain money or other valuables, after which 
 they are all consumed. 
 
 The city Post Office is an unpretending build- 
 ing adjoining the Greneral Post Office on seventh 
 street. 
 
 With regard to the Office of the Attorney 
 General, which we have classed with the Exec- 
 utive branches of the Government, we have only 
 to say that it derives its chief attraction from 
 the person who may occupy it, who must be of 
 necessity, a man of distinguished ability. Rooms 
 are assigned to him in the Treasury building, and 
 it is to him that all knotty questions, in all the 
 departments, are submitted for final settlement. 
 Within a few years past the power to appoint all 
 marshals and district attorneys has been transferred 
 from the Department of State to this office. 
 
 I 
 
 THE NATIONAL OBSERVATORY. 
 
 The National Observatory is situated on the 
 banks of the Potomac, in an oblique direction 
 from the President's House, towards Georgetown 
 The site is a beautiful one, having a commanding 
 view of Washington and Georgetown, of the 
 

 
 ih 
 
 ^0r 
 
 l~ 
 
 "^ 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 43 
 
 Potomac River, and surrounding country, as far 
 down as fort Washington, opposite to Mount 
 Vernon. 
 
 It is a Naval Institution under the control and 
 management of Lieut. M. F. Maury, U. S. 
 N. The force employed at it consists principally 
 of Naval Officers. 
 
 Besides the Astronomical duties of the estab- 
 lishment, here are kept all the nautical books, 
 charts and instruments belonging to the Navy. 
 
 The apartment in which the Chronometers are 
 kept is a very interesting one. Before one of 
 these instruments is purchased by Government, 
 it h required to be put on trial by the Superinten- 
 dent of the Observatory, for one year; during 
 which period it is compared daily with the Great 
 Astronomical Clock of the Observatory, which 
 regulates the time for the whole City. The tem- 
 perature of the room in which it is kept is also 
 carefully observed, and recorded every day. The 
 test is a severe one, and in case the instrument 
 fails to come up to it, it is returned to the maker 
 at the end of the year. 
 
 The observations on the temperature in con- 
 nexion with the performance of the Chronometer, 
 enable the maker to improve the instrument, and 
 
44 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 on a second trial of another year it rarely fails 
 to pass. 
 
 There are from 60 to 100 Chronometers al- 
 ways in this room, all of which are daily wound, 
 and compared and treated in the manner described. 
 Thus a complete and minute history is kept of 
 each one. 
 
 Here also are conducted the celebrated re- 
 searches connected with the ' ' Wind and Current 
 Charts;" the habits of the Whale, and a variety 
 of phenomena connected with the great deep. 
 
 The National Observatory of Washington oc- 
 cupies a high rank among the Observatories in 
 the world, there being but one — that of Russia 
 — superior to it. 
 
 The largest telescope, called the Equatorial, is 
 ti 14 feet Refractor, with an object glass of 9 
 inches. It is mounted in the revolving dome on 
 the top of the main building, and is so arranged 
 with clock work and Machinery, that being di- 
 rected to a star in the morning, it may be left 
 alone, when on returning to it in the evening, it 
 will have followed the path of the star so exactly, 
 that it will be found still pointing to the star, and 
 the star will be visible through it. With its 
 powers the stars are visible at mid-day. 
 
 In one room below are the Meridian and Mural 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 45 
 
 Circles. In another, the Transit instrument ; in 
 another, the Prime Vertical Instrument ; and in 
 another yet, the Great Refraction Circle invented 
 by the Superintendent. It was made by Ertel & 
 Son, Munich, and taken altogether is, perhaps, 
 one of the finest instruments any where to be 
 found. Such is the delicacy of its construction, 
 and such the accuracy of its adjustments, and the 
 nicety of its performance, that the heat of the 
 observer's person, as he approaches it to make an 
 observation, is found to be one of its principal 
 sources of error. 
 
 But perhaps the most wonderful object at this 
 interesting Establishment is the Electro-Chrono- 
 graph, invented by Dr. Locke, of Cincinnati. 
 
 It is in the room with the Transit Instrument, 
 and is so arranged, by its connexion with an electri- 
 cal battery in the building, that its ticks may be 
 heard in any part of the country to which the 
 magnetic wires lead, provided they be put in con- 
 nexion with it. Thus it may be made of itself 
 to record the time, and in such a manner, that 
 the astronomer in Boston, New Orleans or else- 
 where will know it, and tell the time of day by 
 this clock, as well as one who stands before it 
 and reads the hands on its face. 
 
 The Observatory regulates the time for Wash- 
 
46 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 ington and Georgetown by the falling of a ball. 
 At ten minutes before mean noon every day, a 
 large black ball is hoisted to a flag staff, standing 
 on the top of the dome. This is to give warning 
 for those who wish to get the exact time of day 
 to look out. Precisely at twelve, the ball drops. 
 Thus the whole City is informed of the exact time. 
 
 John Q. Adams, who was a devoted friend of 
 the Observatory, and who used to visit it fre- 
 quently in the last days of his life, has been known 
 to walk all the way up to the Observatory from his 
 lodgings, to see the ball fall. 
 
 The Office hours at this Establishment are from 
 9 A. M. to 3 P. M. — within those hours, visitors 
 will always find an officer ready to receive them 
 and to show them every attention that politeness 
 can bestow. 
 
 THE WASHINGTON ARSENAL. 
 
 The Arsenal occupies a fine position on the 
 extreme southern point of the City, (called Glreen- 
 leaf's Point,) at the junction of the Eastern 
 Branch with the Potomac, commanding a beau- 
 tiful and extensive view, over a broad expanse 
 of water, towards the Cities of "Washington and 
 

 A 
 
 w 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASIHNOTON. 47 
 
 Greorgetown on the North and Alexandria on the 
 South. The channels of both rivers running 
 near the Arsenal shore, afford all requisite facili- 
 ties for receiving and shipping Ordnance and 
 other Military Stores. 
 
 Although this site was originally reserved for 
 the purpose of an Arsenal, it was not occupied 
 by any building of importance until after the 
 peace of 1814, when the building of the present 
 establishment was commenced under the direc- 
 tion of the late Col. George Bomford. From 
 the small square embraced in the first plan the 
 buildings have been gradually extended until 
 they occupy nearly the whole reservation, and 
 form one of the principal Arsenals of Construc- 
 tion in the United States. 
 
 The work-shops contain much useful and inge- 
 nious Machinery, propelled by Steam, for manu- 
 facturing Grun Carriages and Equipments for Ar- 
 tillery, and for preparing ammunition of all kinds. 
 Among these may be noticed particularly the 
 Machines for planing and boring iron and wood, 
 those for tenoning and mortising the spokes and 
 hubs of wheels. Blanchard's ingenious lathe for 
 turning irregular forms in wood, such as spokes, 
 axe handles, &c. , the machinery for making leaden 
 Bullets by pressing them out of the bar lead 
 
48 HAND-BOOK OP WASHINGTON. 
 
 instead of casting them ; and above all, the beau- 
 tiful machine for making and charging Percussion 
 Caps, for small arms, invented by Mr. George 
 Wright, a workman at the Arsenal. By this last 
 mentioned machine, a sheet of Copper being in- 
 serted on one side and some percussion powder 
 put in a hopper on the other, the finished Caps 
 are produced without any further agency of the 
 workman 
 
 In the spacious Storehouses- of the Arsenal are 
 to be seen Arms and Equipments for the troops ; 
 also a large number of Gun Carriages and other 
 apparatus for the service of the Artillery in the 
 forts and in the field, from the ponderous Colum- 
 biad for the defence of the coast, to the little 
 mountain howitzer, which may be transported, 
 with its miniature smith's forge, on the back of a 
 mule. 
 
 The Model Office contains a collection of 
 models or patterns of the various arms and military 
 Equipments used in our Service, and also of such 
 of those used in the Armies of other nations as 
 have been obtained by the Ordnance Department. 
 Here may also be seen some specimens of old and 
 new inventions, repeating Arms, Revolvers, &c., 
 which have been suggested, at home or abroad, 
 by the organ of destructiveness. 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 49 
 
 In the Gun lot are arranged many pieces of 
 Ordnance and piles of Balls, mostly of heavy 
 calibre for the armament of the forts. 
 
 In front of the old Arsenal Square a small col- 
 lection of foreign Brass Cannon will attract the 
 notice of the visitor, who will perceive by the in- 
 scriptions that some of them are trophies of the 
 success of our Arms at Saratoga, Yorktown, 
 Niagara, and Vera Cruz. The Guns and Car- 
 riages of Duncan's Field Battery, which performed 
 distinguished service on nearly every field of battle 
 in the Mexican War, are likewise preserved at 
 the Arsenal, as a saluting battery. 
 
 On the West side of the Arsenal Grounds, near 
 the river, are two pyramidal structures which 
 often attract the curiosity of visitors and of persons 
 passing by the Arsenal. These buildings contain 
 an apparatus called a Ballistic Pendulum, which 
 is used for testing the force of Gunpowder when 
 fired in heavy Ordnance, and also for trying many 
 other interesting experiments in Gunnery. 
 
50 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 THE NAVY YARD. 
 
 The Navy Yard is situated on the Eastern 
 Branch or '' Anacostia," a branch of the Potomac 
 river, at the southern termination of Eighth street, 
 East. It was established in the year 1800, on the 
 public reservation No. 14, to which Squares No. 
 883 and 884 were subsequently added. Commo- 
 dore Tingey was ordered to the command, and to 
 him was assigned the duty of superintending the 
 construction of the several vessels ordered to be 
 built here, and also the general arrangement of 
 the grounds, with a view to furnishing increased 
 accommodation for the future construction and 
 equipment of large Ships of War. 
 
 The area covers about twenty acres, and is en- 
 closed by a substantial brick wall, having a prin- 
 cipal entrance at the foot of Eighth street, through 
 a handsome arched gateway, designed by the late 
 celebrated architect, Benjamin H. Latrobe, Esq. 
 
 Several comfortable residences have been erect- 
 ed for the accommodation of the Commodore, the 
 Executive officer, the first Lieutenant, Surgeon, 
 Sailing-master, Boatswain and Gunner, whose 
 official duties require their constant attendance in 
 the Yard. 
 
 The mechanical operations of this Establish- 
 

 1 ' 
 
 II 
 
 ^ Hilt- 
 
 NAVY Y 
 
 1 
 
 > 
 
 O 
 
 L' 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 51 
 
 ment are various and extensive, and the skill of 
 the workmen and the excellence of the materials 
 employed have been satisfactorily tested in every 
 sea. Anchors of all sizes, for the Naval service, 
 are manufactured by the use of two heavy steam- 
 hammers, (termed the "Nasmyth Hammer,") one 
 of which weighs 3,600 pounds, the other 2,240 
 pounds. The forges for this work are kept in 
 blast by a fan blower attached to the steam engine 
 in the Machinist's department. There is also in 
 operation, in the Anchor department, a Direct 
 Action Steam-hammer (called the "Kirk Ham- 
 mer,") in connexion with a blast furnace for work- 
 ing up, into blooms and bars, all the scrap iron 
 of the Navy. The massive chain cables, are 
 made in another Shop, which is provided with a 
 powerful Hydrostatic Press for testing their 
 strength. These cables are highly esteemed for 
 their superior finish, great strength and durability. 
 From sixty to eighty men are ordinarily employed 
 in this department. 
 
 Another department is engaged in the manu- 
 facture of Galleys, Cabooses, and copper Powder- 
 tanks, and of the various kinds of brass work 
 appertaining to Ships of War. The different 
 machines employed in making these articles, are 
 driven by a Steam Engine of about fifteen horse 
 
52 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 power. A Brass Foundry is connected with this 
 range of buildings, on the eastern side of the 
 Yard. 
 
 A large and extensive Iron Foundry has re- 
 cently been erected, of sufficient capacity and 
 with the necessary facilities for moulding and cast- 
 ing the heaviest work ; connected with this foundry 
 are the machines for boring, turning and planing 
 the Steam Cylinders and other massive machinery 
 required for the Naval Service. Adjoining the 
 Iron Foundry are the Ordnance and Boiler-mak- 
 ing departments, which are provided with a Steam 
 Engine of about twelve horse power. The Ord- 
 nance department is engaged in the fabrication 
 of light brass Ordnance, Howitzers for boat and 
 land service, of Shot and Shells, Percussion Caps, 
 Musket and Pistol Balls, &c. Some of this ma- 
 chinery is very ingenious and highly interesting. 
 The Boiler Shop contains all the machinery neces- 
 sary for the construction of Boilers. 
 
 Close by this range of buildings, is a very ex- 
 tensive Machine Shop, in which are placed all 
 the tools required in the manufacture of Steam 
 Engines and machinery of every description. 
 When completed it will afford room for the em- 
 ployment of from one hundred and fifty to two 
 hundred workmen. Attached to this Shop is an 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 53 
 
 engine of sixty horse power, which also gives 
 motion to the Blockmaking machinery and to the 
 Fan-blowers of the Anchor-making department. 
 
 On the Western side of the Yard is the Pyro- 
 technical Laboratory, in which are prepared all 
 the articles for the Navy appropriate to this de- 
 partment. 
 
 A Kolling Mill is also here which is furnished 
 with an engine of two hundred horse power, to- 
 gether with the necessary machinery for manufac- 
 turing all the bolt, sheathing, brazier's and boiler 
 copper for the use of the Navy ; also, a Rolling 
 apparatus, &c., for working up the bloom iron, 
 made by "Kirk's Faggoting Hammer," into bolts 
 and bar iron 
 
 There are two large Ship Houses, for building 
 Ships, under one of which is about to be con- 
 structed a Marine Railway for hauling up steam- 
 ers, for repair. 
 
 In the Yard there are ordinarily employed from 
 four hundred to four hundred and fifty Mechanics 
 and laborers, but since the keel of the frigate 
 Minesota was laid the workmen employed in the 
 yard have averaged about twelve hundred. TIio 
 grounds are beautifully laid out ; the avenues 
 shaded with fine trees; the plats neatly enclosed, 
 and the whole preserved in handsome order. 
 5« 
 
54 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 
 
 This Institution was founded upon a bequest 
 of more than half a million of dollars, made to 
 the United States by an Englishman named James 
 Smithson, a man of good family, and of sufficient 
 learning to have published in the Transactions 
 of the Royal Society and other Journals no less 
 than twenty-four scientific treatises, the majority 
 of which were on Mineral Chemistry. The object 
 of the bequest, according to his will, was ' ' To 
 found at Washington, under the name of the 
 Smithsonian Institution, an Establishment for the 
 increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." 
 On the 1st of July, 1836, Congress solemnly 
 accepted this important trust, and the money was 
 paid into the Treasury of the United States in 
 1838. The Act of Congress establishing the 
 Institution as it now exists, was passed in 1846. 
 By this Act, the President, Yice President, all 
 the Members of the Cabinet, the Chief Justice, 
 the Commissioner of the Patent Office and the 
 Mayor of Washington, during the time for which 
 they should hold their offices, were made the per- 
 sonnel of the Institution ; and they are to be 
 assisted by a Board of Regents, who were to be 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 55 
 
 empowered to elect a Chancellor, a Secretary, 
 and an Executive Committee. 
 
 The Institution is situated on the Mall below 
 the Capitol, and though the edifice is yet in an 
 unfinished state, it presents a noble appearance, 
 and is unquestionably one of the great attractions 
 of the Metropolis. The style of the Architecture 
 is the Romanesque, the material a reddish free- 
 stone of fine gra-in, its extreme length is four 
 hundred and fifty feet, its width one hundred and 
 forty feet, and it has nine towers varying in height 
 from seventy-five to one hundred and fifty feet. 
 The grounds which surround it are very extensive, 
 and are now in progress of being beautified by 
 Mr. Downing. 
 
 The Secretary of the Institution is Professor 
 Joseph Henry, who has the reputation of being 
 one of the most accomplished scientific men of the 
 age, and the property of the Institution and its 
 general operations are in his charge, and among 
 his assistants are several gentlemen of high scien- 
 tific and literary acquirements. 
 
 To describe minutely the interior economy of 
 this important establishment is not our intention 
 in this place. We can only say that its beneficial 
 influence upon the world at large has already 
 been felt ; it has already printed and circulated a 
 
56 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON . 
 
 number of valuable volumes, acquired collectious 
 in the way of natural history and scientific as well 
 as general literature which are very valuable and 
 very interesting, and engaged distinguished men 
 to deliver lectures. The great library room when 
 completed will be capable of holding one hundred 
 thousand volumes. The building is supplied with 
 a lecture room, which will scat twelve hundred 
 persons ; and its Museum, when completed, will 
 be two hundred feet long, and filled with the 
 wonders of nature and art from all parts of the 
 world ; its rooms for Chemical experiments will 
 be more spacious and convenient than any to be 
 found in the country : and in the western wing 
 which is one hundred and twenty feet long, will 
 hereafter be located a gallery of Art. The col- 
 lection of Indian pictures now on exhibition there 
 is the property of Mr. Stanley the artist. 
 
 THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT. 
 
 As this Structure is not yet finished, we will 
 not describe it as it is, but as it will be when com- 
 pleted, according to the design adopted by the 
 Board of Managers. It stands on the Mall, be- 
 tween the President's House and the Potomac, 
 
WASHINGTON MONUMENT 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 57 
 
 and embraces the idea of a grand circular colon- 
 naded building two hundred and fifty feet in 
 diameter, one hundred feet high, from which 
 springs an obelisk shaft seventy feet in diameter 
 at the base and five hundred feet high, making a 
 total elevation of six hundred feet. 
 
 The vast rotundo, forming the grand base of 
 the Monument, will be surrounded by thirty col- 
 umns of massive proportions, twelve feet in diam- 
 eter and forty-five feet high, elevated upon a base 
 of twenty feet in height and three hundred feet 
 square, surmounted by an entablature twenty feet 
 high, and crowned by a massive balustrade fifteen 
 feet in height. The terrace outside the colonnade 
 will be twenty-five feet wide, and the walk within 
 the colonnade twenty-five feet. The front portico 
 will be adorned with a triumphal car and Statue 
 of the Illustrious Chief; and over each column 
 around the entire building will be sculptured es- 
 cutcheons, coats of arms of each State of the 
 Union, surrounded by bronze civic wreaths, band- 
 ed together by festoons of oak leaves, while the 
 centre of the portico will be emblazoned with the 
 coat of arms of the United States. Around the 
 rotundo will be stationed statues of the Signers 
 of the Declaration of Independence: in niches 
 prepared for the pui'pose, statues of the Fathers 
 
58 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 of the Revolution conteraporary with Washington ; 
 and directly opposite to the entrance will be placed 
 a statue of Washington himself. The interior 
 of the shaft will be embellished with a great va- 
 riety of inscriptions ; at one point it will be orna- 
 mented with four of the leading events of Wash- 
 ington's career sculptured in hasso 7'eUevo, above 
 which will be placed a single star, emblematic of 
 the glory which the 'name of Washington has at- 
 tained ; and in the centre of the Monument will 
 be placed the Tomb of the Father of his country. 
 
 THE NATIONAL MEDICAL COLLEGE. 
 
 The National Medical College, instituted in 
 1823, is now in successful operation. It was 
 until a few years past known as the medical de- 
 partment of the Columbian College, from which 
 institution it derives its authority to confer Degrees 
 under an act of incorporation from the Congress 
 of the United States. 
 
 In assuming its present name it was newly or- 
 ganized, and its facilities for instruction greatly 
 extended. 
 
 In addition to the usual advantages afforded for 
 the prosecution of medical study within the insti- 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 59 
 
 tution, its location at tlie seat of the General 
 Government, offers collateral advantages not to be 
 found elsewhere. The Library of Congress, the 
 Library and Lectures of the Smithsonian Institu- 
 tion, together with the various scientific collections 
 and the scientific departments connected with the 
 Government are all (without charge) accessible to 
 students. 
 
 The Lecture rooms of the College are in the 
 building of the Washington City Infirmary, uniting 
 the advantages (after the manner of most Euro- 
 pean medical schools) of public lectures, within 
 the Hospital building where clinical instruction 
 may be secured without loss of time or comfort to 
 the student. 
 
 The edifi-ce is conveniently situated in a central 
 part of the city — equally distant from the Capitol 
 and President's House — near the principal hotels 
 and boarding houses — and at the same time se- 
 cluded from the noise and bustle of business. 
 
 Clinical lectures are given daily at the bed side 
 of patients, where students have an opportunity 
 of seeing disease not only correctly diagnosiae, 
 but of observing for themselves the results of 
 therapeutic and dietetic treatment. The wards 
 of the Hospital being well filled with patients, 
 presenting any variety of disease both acute and 
 
60 HAND-BOOK OP WASHINGTON. 
 
 chronic^ furnish ample means for rendering this 
 method very efficient and thorough. There is an 
 Anatomical and Pathological Museum, containing 
 a collection of jDreparations, models and drawings, 
 to which the students have daily access, and which 
 the Faculty are constantly enlarging. 
 
 The advantages for the pursuit of Practical 
 Anatomy are not surpassed by those of any other 
 medical school. 
 
 There are seven professorships which are as 
 follows : 
 
 Professor of Anatomy and Physiology. 
 
 Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women 
 and Children. 
 
 Professor of Materia Medica, Therapeutics and 
 Hygiene. 
 
 Professor of the Principles and Practice of 
 Surgery 
 
 Professor of Pathology and Practice of Medi- 
 cine. 
 
 Professor of Microscopical and Pathological 
 Anatomy. 
 
 Professor of Chemistry and Pharmacy. 
 
 Prosector and Demonstrator. 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 61 
 
 The Lectures of this Institution commence on 
 the first Monday of November annually, and con- 
 tinue until March. 
 
 The entire expense for a full course of Lec- 
 tures^ by all the Professors, is . . .$95 
 Practical Anatomy, by the Demonstrator, . 10 
 Matriculating Fee, payable only once, . . 5 
 
 G-raduating expenses, 25 
 
 Good board can be procured at from two fifty 
 to three dollars per week, and the Janitor will 
 refer such students as may apply to him upon 
 their arrival, to boarding houses of this description. 
 The requisites for graduating are, that the can- 
 didate shall have attended the lectures of each 
 Professor two full courses, or one full course in 
 this school, and one full course in some other re- 
 spectable Institution. He must have a fair moral 
 character, and he shall have dissected during at 
 least one session. He shall have entered his name 
 with the Dean of the Faculty as a candidate for 
 graduation, and delivered to him an Inaugural 
 Dissertation upon some medical subject, thirty 
 days before the close of the session, and pass a 
 satisfactory examination. 
 
 All persons who have attended two full courses 
 of lectures in this school are entitled to attend 
 succeeding courses free of expense. 
 
Uj HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 THE COLUMBIAN COLLEGE. 
 
 This Institution, which was incorporated in 
 1821, is beautifully situated on an eminence, 
 adjoining the City Corporation on the North, and 
 on 14th street West. It is a fine brick edifice, 
 four stories high, and overlooks the City, Capitol, 
 and other Public Buildings; and commands a 
 fine view of the Potomac, with the surroundino- 
 country, for many miles in extent. In beauty 
 and healthfulness of position, it is unsurpassed ; 
 and its local advantages are such as no other 
 situation in the country can afi'ord. 
 
 Its proximity to the National Metropolis gives 
 to young men the opportunity of observing dis- 
 tinguished public characters ; of becoming ac- 
 quainted with the nature and operations of our 
 Government; and of witnessing the highest ex- 
 hibitions of talent, in the halls of Congress, and 
 in the Supreme Court of the U. States. This is 
 a great advantage, especially to those who are 
 destined to public life; and its practical efi"ects 
 are seen, in the number of its Alumni who are 
 now filling important and useful stations in society. 
 
 The College has a good Library, a valuable 
 Philosophical Apparatus, and other means and 
 facilities for pursuing a thorough and liberal course 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 63 
 
 of studies. The last Catalogue, (1850,) embraces 
 a President, aud twelve Professors and Teachers 
 — including those of the National Medical Col- 
 lege, which is under the same Corporation — one 
 hundred students ; and between two and three 
 hundred Alumni. 
 
 The expenses of a student, including board, 
 tuition, and all College charges, are about $180 
 per annum ; for those who do not board in the 
 College, it is about $65 or $70 per annum. 
 
 THE MILITARY ASYLUM. 
 
 The worthy establishment known by this name 
 occupies a commanding hill on the northern limits 
 of the city, and is a comfortable home for disabled 
 soldiers and sailors. The buildings are all that 
 could be desired for such an institution, and so 
 are the adjoining lands, the whole of which was 
 formerly the property of the well known banker, 
 George W. Riggs, Esq. The drives leading to 
 this retreat are among the most agreeable in the 
 District, and upon one of them, is the country 
 residence of the venerable and universally ad- 
 mired Joseph Grales, Esq., whose collection of rare 
 books and works of art is one of the most valua- 
 
64 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 « 
 
 ble in the land. After Congress had appropriated 
 the money for founding the Military Asylum, the 
 honor of selecting the site was awarded to Gene- 
 ral Scott, so that the citizens of Washington are 
 indebted to him for gathering within the limits 
 of the Metropolis the remnants of our military 
 glory. 
 
 THE COAST SURVEY OFFICE. 
 
 The buildings occupied for the uses of the 
 United States Coast Survey are situated on the 
 West side of New Jersey Avenue, about a sixth 
 of a mile from the Capitol. They consist of four 
 old houses, in a block, presenting a decidedly 
 rusty exterior, and in no way looking like public 
 buildings. 
 
 The room of the Superintendent, Prof. A. D. 
 Bache, is at the North end, and that of the As- 
 sistant in charge of the Office is at the South end. 
 At present this place is filled by brevet Major J. 
 J. Stevens, U. S. corps of Engineers. The office 
 of Mr. Samuel Hein, Disbursing officer of the 
 Survey is in the South middle building. Most 
 of the rooms in the upper stories are appropriated 
 to computers, draughtsmen and engravers. The 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 65 
 
 fire proof building South of the office, contains 
 the Archives, or Records of Observations, the 
 Library, the Standard Weights, Balances and 
 Measures, the Instruments not in use, and the 
 engraved copper plates. 
 
 The Office proper includes all the Departments 
 necessary for working up the materials, both as- 
 tronomical, topographical, and hydrographic, sent 
 in by the various observers. All these are under 
 the general direction of the Assistant in charge, 
 and under the special direction of their particular 
 heads. The Departments are those for Compu- 
 ting, Drawing, Engraving, Electro typing, Print- 
 ing, Publishing, Instrument making, and Ar- 
 chives. When the computations are completed, 
 the materials of the plane table and hydrographic 
 sheets are worked up in the Drawing Department, 
 for the Engravers. The engraved copper-plates 
 are electrotyped, and the printing is done mainly 
 from these, the originals being preserved. The 
 printed sheets are distributed for sale to agents 
 in the principal cities. 
 
 The Coast Survey Office, being essentially an 
 office for work, presents but scanty attractions for 
 visitors. Persons wishing to examine any of the 
 methods or processes employed, or desiring in- 
 
66 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON- 
 
 formation about matters of the Survey, should 
 apply to the Assistant in charge. 
 
 As the construction of Standard Weights and 
 Measures is carried on in the same buildings with 
 the Coast Survey Works, and is under the same 
 Superintendent, it ought to be mentioned that a 
 visit to this department will greatly interest the 
 visitor. Here may not only be seen much in the 
 way of curious scientific operations but also a 
 finished set of Standard Weights, Balances, and 
 Measures, such as are furnished to the States and 
 Custom Houses of the Union. The Assistant and 
 Foreman of the department of Weights and Mea- 
 sures is Mr. J. Sax ton, who always takes pleasure 
 in treating strangers with politeness and attention. 
 The gentleman under whose superintendence all 
 the complicated affairs of the Coast Survey are 
 carried on, is Prof. A. D. Bache, whose reputa- 
 tion as a man of science is co-extensive with the 
 civilized world. He is assisted in his arduous 
 duties by some thirty-five assistants and quite a 
 large number of Navy Officers ; and it is a re- 
 markable circumstance that the Superintendent 
 has lost two brothers, both of whom were officers 
 of the Navy, but employed upon the Coast Sur- 
 vey, — one of them having perished in the waters 
 of Pacific, and the other in those of the Atlantic. 
 
HAND-BOOK 0¥ WASHINGTON. 67 
 
 THE NATIONAL CEMETERY. 
 
 The National or Congressional Burial Grround 
 is situated about one mile east of the Capitol, 
 embraces about ten acres, commands an extensive 
 view of the country, is well enclosed with a brick 
 wall, laid out with taste, and beautified with trees 
 and shrubbery. It was located in 1807, and ever 
 since been in the keeping of an incorporated 
 company. The Monuments are manifold and 
 many of them beautiful ; and in addition to sev- 
 eral private vaults is one spacious and well con- 
 structed, enclosed by a neat railing, built by the 
 order and at the expense of Congress, as a place 
 of deposite, for the dead whose remains it may 
 be the purpose of friends subsequently to remove. 
 
 Measures have recently been adopted to en- 
 large this Cemetery, and some twenty additional 
 acres will soon be brought within its limits. The 
 number of interments which have taken place up 
 to the present time is six thousand. 
 
 A visit to the ' ' City of the Dead" cannot but 
 prove interesting to the stranger visiting the Me- 
 tropolis, and among the few and picturesque 
 monuments which will attract his attention, are 
 those to the memory of George Clinton, Elbridge 
 
68 HAND-BOOK OP WASHINGTON. 
 
 Gerry, Major General Jacob Brown, Joseph 
 Lovel, Commodore Eogers' son, A. P. Upsher, 
 Commodore Beverly Kennon, Lieut. G. M. Bache, 
 Capt. B. A. Terrett, the wife of Peter von Schmidt, 
 Judge Pendleton Barbour, and Peter Lenox. 
 Quite a large number of Members of Congress 
 have been buried here, and there is a mournful 
 interest in wandering among the monuments which 
 commemorate their names. 
 
 ''Glenwood Cemetery" is the name of another 
 Cemetery which has recently been laid out by 
 the citizens of Washington. It contains 90 acres 
 at a cost of $10,000, and lies li miles north of 
 the Capitol, the most direct way to it being by 
 north Capitol street. Thirty acres are now pre- 
 pared for interments, and a handsome framed lodge 
 or gateway has been built, the front of which, is 
 ornamented with figures of Time, Penitence, and 
 Love. A large and beautiful mausoleum also, 
 capable of containing 100 bodies has been erected 
 at a cost of not less than $10,000. Its serpen- 
 tine walks extend about four miles, and the sum 
 of $35,000 has already been expended in beau- 
 tifying the spot. 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 69 
 
 THE CITY HALL. 
 
 This large and handsome edifice, the ofl&cial 
 home of the City Fathers, was commenced in 
 1820 and finished in 1850, it having remained a 
 kind of ruin during most of the intervening time. 
 It occupies a commanding position on Judiciary 
 Square, is 200 feet in length, and after the stucco 
 style of architecture. The Circuit and Criminal 
 Courts hold their sessions in this hall ; also the 
 members of the City Councils. The Mayor has 
 his office here, and so also have a large number 
 of the city Attorneys. 
 
 In this connexion it may be well for us to give 
 the Judiciary of Washington which is as follows : 
 
 Circuit Court of the District. — Chief Judge, 
 James Dunlop. Associate Judge, James S. Mor- 
 sell. Clerk, J. A. Smith. ^ 
 
 Criminal Court for the District. — Judge, Thos. ^^ 
 H. Crawford. Clerk, John A. Smith. 
 
 Orphans^ Court. — Judge, Wm. F. Purcell. 
 Register, Edward N. Roach. 
 
70 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
 
 The Schools of Washington are quite nume- 
 rous : Of free public schools there are four, with 
 quite a large retinue of primary schools, which 
 are carried on at an annual expense of about $12, 
 000. Select schools and seminaries for the edu- 
 cation of both sexes, also exist in dijBferent parts 
 of the City, several of them of a high and estab- 
 lished character. Public attention has been 
 strongly directed to these institutions, and per- 
 haps in no other city are there to be found supe- 
 rior advantages of education, which are annually 
 on the increase. There are also several excellent 
 boarding schools in Washington, and two or three 
 in Georgetown. 
 
 MR. FORCE'S LIBRARY. 
 
 Although this is exclusively a private establish- 
 ment, its reputation will warrant us in making a 
 passing allusion to it. The number of volumes 
 which it contains cannot be less than 50,000, 
 comprehending a larger collection bearing upon 
 the History of the United States, than can be 
 found elsewhere under one roof, in this or any 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 71 
 
 other country. Some of the rooms attached to 
 it, are also enriched with works of Art of almost 
 every description, and it is just one of those places 
 where the lover of old and rich books cannot fail 
 to spend many pleasant hours. Col. Force is 
 always at home, and takes great pleasure in treat- 
 ing with attention those who may call upon him, 
 provided they can appreciate the compliment and 
 the privilege. 
 
 THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 
 
 The Institution was founded in 1840, and has 
 for its object the promotion of Science in all de- 
 partments. It holds its meetings and has its 
 headquarters at the Patent Ofl&ce, and the Presi- 
 dent is Peter Force, Esq. It has a miscellaneous 
 library of nearly 4,000 vols., pamphlets, maps 
 and charts, with a few interesting manuscripts ; 
 and in the cabinet are many medals and coins. 
 The Library is always open to the inspection of 
 the public. 
 
72 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 THE CHURCHES OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 The Metropolis is well supplied with Churches, 
 and considering its extent is quite as well supplied 
 with eloquent preachers, as any city in the Union. 
 Of Baptist Churches there are four, one on Tenth 
 street, one on E, and two on Virginia Avenue ; 
 their Congregations are all large and their pastors 
 popular. Of Roman Catholic Churches there are 
 four, St. Matthew's, on H street, St. Peter's, on 
 Second, St. Patrick's, on F, and St. Mary's on 
 Fifth. Of Episcopal Churches there are five, 
 viz. Christ Church, on Gr street, St. John's, on 
 H, Trinity on Third, Epiphany, on G-, and As- 
 cension, on H. The Trinity Church edifice is one 
 of the handsomest, devoted to religion, in the 
 City — it is after the Gothic style of architecture. 
 It is the Church where Mr. Webster and Mr. 
 Clay were in the habit of attending, when in 
 Washington. In this Church, as indeed in all 
 the other Churches of the City, a certain number 
 of pews are assigned to strangers. St. John's 
 Church stands directly in front of the President's 
 House, and when the President happens to attend 
 there, is considered the meeting place of the ton. 
 There is also one Quaker meeting held in the City, 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 73 
 
 on I street; and two Lutheran Churches, the 
 English on H street, and the Glerman on Gr street. 
 Of Methodist Churches there are seven in the 
 City: one on 4th, one on 14th, one on 5th, one 
 on Massachusetts Avenue, one on Maryland Ave- 
 nue, one on 9th street, and one on Virginia 
 Avenue. Of Presbyterian Churches there are 
 six, one on F street, one on 8th street, one on 
 4|- street, one on H, and two on 9th street. 
 There is also one Unitarian Church in the City, 
 on D street; and of colored Churches there are 
 some half dozen scattered about the City. 
 
 In Georgetown there are two Episcopalian 
 Churches, one Presbyterian, one Roman Catholic, 
 and several Methodist and Baptist Churches. 
 
 THE FINE ARTS IN WASHINGTON. 
 
 In regard to its pictorial treasures the city of 
 Washington may boast of some creditable things. 
 In one of the rooms of the Smithsonian Institution 
 may be seen a large and very interesting collection 
 of Indian portraits and Indian Scenes from the 
 pencil of Mr. Stanley. At the studio of the 
 veteran artist Mr. King may also be found many 
 interesting portraits of men and women who have 
 1 
 
74 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 figured in Washington societies during the last 
 thirty years. In the way of private galleries, 
 which, through the liberality of their owners, are 
 occasionally thrown open to the public, those of 
 W. W. Corcoran, Esq. and J. C. McGruire, Esq. 
 are the most interesting and extensive. In the 
 former are represented such men as Cole, Hunt- 
 ington, Gignoux, Leutze, and Fisher of the 
 American school, Robbe of Dusseldorf, Moreland 
 of the English school, and Mengs and Salvator 
 Rosa of the Italian masters ; while the presiding 
 genius of the place is the original Greek Slave 
 of Powers. In the latter gallery are two small 
 pictures, said to be by Rubens, one by Wouver- 
 man, one by Edmonds of New York, and a goodly 
 number of others by talented artists. 
 
 ASSOCIATIONS AND SOCIETIES. 
 
 Op these, there is so great a number in Wash- 
 ington that we can only give their titles without 
 any comments or particulars. Of Masonic Lodges, 
 there are no less than seven, viz : Federal Lodge, 
 Naval Lodge, Potomac Lodge, Lebanon Lodge, 
 New Jerusalem Lodge, Hiram Lodge, and Grand 
 Lodge. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
 
5 
 
 W:3^^oo/^^^^a/^^;y>°irs^a^>^/3v>^v^>^^lX>a/3^3^ 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 75 
 
 have a very fine Hall, where 17 Lodges and En- 
 campments are in the habit of meeting ; of the 
 Order of Red Men, there are four Tribes and one 
 Council; of the Sons of Temperance 12 Divisions ; 
 and of United Brothers of Temperance 4 Associa- 
 tions. The Washington Asylum is a large brick 
 building near the Congressional burial ground, 
 with a large garden cultivated by the inmates. 
 It is under the management of a Board of Commis- 
 sioners, an intendant, matron and other necessary 
 agents, all of whom are appointed by the Mayor 
 and the Board of Commissioners. The City In- 
 firmary is near the City Hall and is a resort for 
 unfortunate strangers. The Orphan Asylum was 
 erected twenty years ago, on what is called Mau- 
 soleum square, owing its existence mainly to the 
 generosity of the late Mrs. Van Ness. A society 
 of Ladies was formed in 1815 to give protection 
 and aid to orphans, and Mrs. Madison was ap- 
 pointed first directress. Mrs. Yan Ness was her 
 successor, and for several years devoted herself 
 to its interests. The association was incorporated 
 by act of Congress in 1828. On this square, 
 too, stands a mausoleum copied from tbe Temple 
 of Yesta at Rome, erected by General John P. 
 Yan Ness, for his familj and that of his wife's 
 father, David Burns. Tlie St. Vincent^ Orphan 
 
76 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Asylum, at tlie intersection of Gr and lOth streets, 
 has been rebuilt on a noble scale, and is liberally 
 sustained by the Roman Catholics. The miscel- 
 laneous societies of the city are the Columbian 
 Typographical Society, Washington Library, Vini 
 Lyceum, three Benevolent Societies, the Free- 
 man's Vigilant Total Abstinence Society, and the 
 Young Men's Christian Association. 
 
 The Banks of Washington are the Bank of the 
 Metropolis, Patriotic Bank, and Bank of Wash- 
 ington; the Banking Houses, Riggs & Co., 
 Chubb & Co., and Sweeney, Rittenhouse, Fant 
 & Co.; and in Georgetown the Farmers and Me- 
 chanics Bank is the only one of character. 
 
 WASHINGTON HOTELS. 
 
 Hotels are quite numerous, but not sufficiently 
 so, even now, to accommodate the public. With 
 one or two unimportant exceptions, they are all 
 situated on Pennsylvania Avenue. The names 
 of the principal ones are the National Hotel, 
 Brown's Hotel, Willard's Hotel, the United States 
 Hotel, the Kirkwood House, the Washington 
 Hotel, (formerly Gadsby's,) and the American 
 Hotel. All these hotels are supplied with the 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 77 
 
 best of a first rate market, and with numerous 
 and generally accommodating servants. From 
 the doors of each, the stranger may at almost 
 any moment step into a convenient and elegant 
 omnibus, and go to almost any part of the city 
 he may desire. The prices charged for board 
 are not uniform, but the expenses generally, are 
 by no means lower than in such cities as Phila- 
 delphia, New York and Boston. Of private 
 boarding houses there are a great number, and 
 by lovers of quiet these are frequently preferred 
 to the more public establishments. The Wash- 
 ington Club have their quarters in a spacious 
 building on President Square. 
 
 OFFICIAL SALARIES. 
 
 As "Washington is reputed to be a place where 
 people meet to intrigue for ofiice and money, we 
 have deemed it proper to allude to the salaries 
 received by the leading ofiicials. The annual 
 compensation of the President is J25,000, that 
 of each member of the Cabinet, of whom there- 
 are seven, J8,000, that of the Vice-President 
 $5,000, that of the Chief Justice of the Supreme? 
 Court $6,500, and the Associate Justices 6,000) 
 
78 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 each. All members of Congress receive eight 
 dollars per day and mileage, while the Speaker 
 of the House receives sixteen dollars per day. 
 All heads of Bureaus receive §3,000, and the 
 Clerkships range from §2,500 to §750. As a 
 general thing, the first of every month is pay day. 
 
 OFFICIAL RECEPTIONS. 
 
 Few strangers ever visit Washington during 
 the sessions of Congress without being invited by 
 a friend to a reception, and it is therefore proper 
 that we should briefly allude to them. What we 
 have already said of those held by the President, 
 where the only "entertainment" consists of good 
 music by the Marine Band, is only partly true, 
 when applied to the receptions held by the various 
 members of the Cabinet. On one evening in 
 each week do the Secretaries throw open their 
 houses to the public, and though all strangers, 
 when properly introduced, are cheerfully welcom- 
 ed, it is not customary for residents to attend 
 who do not receive cards of invitation, but these 
 are always sent to all persons who have previously 
 taken the trouble to leave their own complimen- 
 tary cards. Some of the Judges of the Supreme 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 79 
 
 Court, and many of the more hospitable members 
 of Congress, also, hold receptions at stated times, 
 but as these usually partake of the character of 
 private parties, they are attended only by special 
 invitation. A species of entertainment called 
 the Hop has lately been brought into vogue by 
 the leading hotels, and better occasions than they 
 afford for the thinker to study character, or for 
 the young and joyous to have a good time gene- 
 rally, are seldom met with anywhere. 
 
 In this connection it may be well to add a few 
 remarks on the etiquette of- Washington generally. 
 On the assembling together of Congress a sys- 
 tematic exchange of calls takes place between the 
 members of the Cabinet, members of Congress 
 and the President. For strangers to call upon 
 the President or the Secretaries upon business 
 before or after the regular business hours is con- 
 sidered improper, although this breach of etiquette 
 is constantly committed to a great extent. As is 
 usual in other American cities, it is customary 
 here for those who have attended any private 
 entertainment by invitation, to call upon the giver 
 of the party on the second or third day thereafter. 
 With regard to the minor customs of polite society 
 in the Metropolis, it is only necessary to state 
 that all such matters here, as is the case in other 
 
80 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 enlightened communities, are directed by the 
 simple precepts of good breeding. 
 
 THE MARKETS OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 From hotels the transition to the markets of 
 'the town is natural. Of market houses there are 
 four, but the largest and most important is Centre 
 market on Pennsylvania Avenue. In 'describing 
 this, we describe them all. A greater variety of 
 good things can no where be found collected un- 
 der one roof, than may at all times be found in 
 Centre market. The highlands of Maryland and 
 Virginia supply it with beef and mutton, that 
 cannot be excelled, while the adjoining country 
 pours into it a variety of vegetables that makes 
 one wonder where they all come from. In the 
 way of fish, the Potomac yields a great variety, 
 the shad, rock fish or basse and the oysters, hav- 
 ing no superior in the country : — and no market 
 is better supplied with venison, wild turkey, orto- 
 lon, reed-birds and the famous canvas back ducks. 
 And then again, although the Centre market 
 building is by no means a classical one, yet no 
 market in this land has been frequented by so 
 many illustrious men, — such men for example as 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 81 
 
 Marshall and Jackson, Webster, Clay, and John 
 Quiucy Adams ; and those who take pleasure in 
 studying the peculiarities of an interesting negro 
 population cannot fail to be amused by a morning 
 walk in and about the Centre market when busi- 
 ness is in full blast. 
 
 THE CLIMATE OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 An erroneous opinion has for many years pre- 
 vailed respecting the healthfulness of this city, — 
 the grave yard records having conclusively proven 
 the fact that there are very few more healthy 
 localities in the Union. The climate resembles 
 that of the adjoining States of Maryland and 
 Virginia, and may be denominated as temperate. 
 Many winters come and go without bringing a bit 
 of snow, although the winter of 1855-6 will ever 
 be remembered for its many severe snow storms 
 and its excessive coldness. The summers are long 
 and oftentimes oppressive, but the air is kept pure 
 by frequent thunder storms. During the autumn, 
 on the immediate banks of the Potomac, bilious 
 and intermitting fevers prevail to a considerable 
 extent, but the malarian influences do not last 
 long, and those who have been acclimated are 
 
82 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 seldom subject to these diseases. The magnificent 
 distances of the city have often been ridiculed, 
 but the broad streets and avenues are undoubtedly 
 of great service in admitting to every dwelling a 
 free circulation of wholesome air, which, with good 
 water, may be considered invaluable blessings. 
 
 • SPECIFIC DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. 
 
 With a view of facilitating the views of persons 
 visiting Washington on business, we think it 
 proper to mention the executive officers and to 
 specify their several duties. 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF STATE. 
 
 The whole machinery employed to conduct the 
 business arising out of our foreign relations with 
 all the powers of the world is far more simple 
 than is generally conceived. The number em- 
 ployed in the Department of State of the United 
 States is only seventeen, as follows : One Secre- 
 tary of State, one Assistant Secretary of State, 
 one chief clerk, twelve clerks, one translator, 
 and one librarian. 
 
 Diplomatic Branch. — This Branch of the 
 State Department has charge of all correspond- 
 ence between the department and all diplomatic 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 83 
 
 agents of the United States abroad, and those of 
 foreign powers accredited to this government. 
 In it all diplomatic instructions sent from the 
 department, and communications to commission- 
 ers under treaties of boundaries, &c., are pre- 
 pared, copied, and recorded ; and all of like char- 
 acter received are registered and filed, their con- 
 tents being first entered in an analytic table or 
 index. 
 
 Consular Branch. — This branch has charge of 
 the correspondence, &c., between the department 
 and the consuls and commercial agents of the 
 United States. In it instructions to those officers, 
 and answers to their despatches and to letters 
 from other persons asking for consular agency, 
 or relating to consular affairs, are prepared and 
 recorded. 
 
 The Disbursing Agent. — He has charge of all 
 correspondence and other matters connected with 
 accounts relating to any fund with the disburse- 
 ment of which the departmrnt is charged. 
 
 The Translator. — His duties are to furnish 
 such translations as the department may require. 
 He also records the commissions of consuls and 
 vice consuls, when not in English, upon which 
 exequaturs are issued. 
 
84 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Cleric of Appointments and Commissions. — He 
 makes out and records commissions, letters of 
 appointment, and nominations to the Senate ; 
 makes out and records exequaturs, and records, 
 when in English, the commissions on which they 
 are issued. Has charge of the library. 
 
 Clerk of the Rolls and Archives. — He takes 
 charge of the rolls, or carolled acts and resolu- 
 tions of Congress, as they are received at the de- 
 partment from the President ; prepares the au- 
 thenticated copies tliereof which are called for ; 
 prepares for, and superintends their publication, 
 and that of treaties, in newspapers and in book 
 form ; attends to their distribution throughout 
 the United States, and that of all documents and 
 publications in regard to which this duty is as- 
 signed to the department ; writing and answering 
 all letters connected therewith. Has charge of 
 all Indian treaties, and business relating thereto. 
 
 Clerk of Authentications and Copyrights. — He 
 has charge of the seals of the United States and 
 of the department, and prepares and attaches 
 certificates to papers presented for authentication; 
 receives and accounts for the fees. Has charge 
 of publications transmitted to the department 
 under the laws relating to copyrights; records 
 and indexes their titles ; records all letters from 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 85 
 
 the department, other than the diplomatic and 
 consular. 
 
 Clerh of Pardons and Passports. — He prepares 
 and records pardons and remissions ; and registers 
 and files the petitions and papers on which they 
 are founded. Makes out and records passports ; 
 keeps a daily register of all letters, other than 
 diplomatic and consular, received, and of the dis- 
 position made of them ; prepares letters relating 
 to this business. 
 
 ATTORNEY GENERAL's OFFICE. 
 
 The ordinary business of this ofl&ce may be 
 classified under the following heads : 
 
 1. Official opinions on the current business of 
 the government, as called for by the President, 
 by any head of department, or by the Solicitor 
 of the Treasury. 
 
 2. Examination of the titles, of all land pur- 
 chased, as the sites of arsenals, custom-houses, 
 light-houses, and all other public works of the 
 United States. 
 
 3. Applications for pardons in all cases of con- 
 viction in the courts of the United States. 
 
 4. Applications for appointment in all the ju- 
 dicial and legal business of the Government. 
 
 8 
 
86 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 5. The conduct and argument of all suits in 
 the Supreme Court of the United States in which 
 the government is concerned. 
 
 6. The supervision of all other suits arising in 
 any of the departments when referred by the 
 head thereof to the Attorney General. 
 
 To these ordinary heads of the business of the 
 office are added at the present time the following, 
 viz : 
 
 First. The direction of all appeals on land 
 claims in California. 
 
 Second. The codification and revision of the 
 laws of the District of Columbia. 
 
 INTERIOR DEPARTMENT. 
 
 Has one Secretary, and its clerical force con- 
 sists of one chief clerk, one disbursing agent, and 
 ten other regular clerks ; and to its supervision 
 and management are committed the following 
 branches of the public service : 
 
 1st. The Puhlic Lands.' — The chief of this 
 bureau is called the ' ' Commissioner of the Gren- 
 eral Land Office." The Land Bureau is charged 
 with the survey, management, and sale of the 
 public domain, and the issuing of titles therefor, 
 whether derived from confirmations of grants 
 made by former governments, by sales, donations, 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. bi 
 
 of grants for schools, military bounties, of public 
 improvements, and likewise the revision of Vir- 
 ginia military bounty land claims, and the issuing 
 of scrip in lieu thereof. The Land Office, also, 
 audits its own accounts. Its principal officers are 
 a recorder, chief or principal clerk of public lands, 
 principal clerk of private land claims, and prin- 
 cipal clerk of surveys — all of whom are appointed 
 by the President and confirmed by the Senate — 
 besides a draughtsman, assistant draughtsman, 
 and some 106 clerks of various grades. 
 
 2d. Pensions. — The Commissioner is charged 
 with the examination and adjudication of all claims 
 arising under the various and numerous laws 
 passed by Congress granting bounty land or pen- 
 sions for military or naval services in the revolu- 
 tionary and subsequent wars in which the United 
 States have been engaged. He has one chief 
 clerk, and a permanent corps consisting of some 
 seventy other clerks, to which Congress, to ena- 
 ble him to meet the extraordinary requirements 
 of the new bounty-land law, has added a tempo- 
 rary force of about fifty clerkships of different 
 denominations. 
 
 3d, Indians. — The Commissioner of Indian Af- 
 fairs is provided with a chief clerk and about 
 fifteen other subordinate clerks. 
 
88 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 4tli. Patent Office. — To this bureau is com- 
 mitted the execution and performance of all ' ' acts 
 and things touching and respecting the granting 
 and issuing of patents for new and useful discov- 
 eries, inventions, and improvements ;" the col- 
 lection of statistics relating to agriculture ; the 
 collection and distribution of seeds, plants, and 
 cuttings. It has a chief clerk — who is by law 
 the Acting Commissioner of Patents in the ab- 
 sence of the Commissioner — ten principal and ten 
 assistant examiners of Patents, besides some dozen 
 other subordinate permanent clerks. 
 
 Besides these four principal branches of this 
 new executive department, the organic act of 
 1849 transferred to it from the Treasury depart- 
 ment the supervision of the accounts of the United 
 States marshals and attorneys, and the clerks of 
 the United States court ; the management of the 
 lead and other mines of the United States, and 
 the affairs of the penitentiary of the United States 
 in the District of Columbia ; and from the State 
 Department the duty of taking and returning the 
 censuses of the United States, and of supervising 
 a.nd directing the acts of the Commissioner of 
 Public Buildings. By recent acts of Congress, 
 also, the hospital for the insane of the army and 
 navy and of the District of Columbia is under 
 
IIA^■D-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 89 
 
 the management of this department ; and by as- 
 signment from the President, it has added to its 
 long list of duties the survey and demarcation of 
 the unsettled boundary lines between the States 
 and Territories and bordering nations. 
 
 This department is at present very inconveni- 
 ently separated and located, and should be appro- 
 priately and permanently provided for. The Sec- 
 retary's office occupies a portion of the new Pa- 
 tent Office building, the General Land Office a 
 portion of the Treasury building, and the Pension 
 Office a portion of "Winder's building," now the 
 property of the government, whilst the Indian 
 Office is located in premises not fire-proof, and 
 rented of their private owners. 
 
 TREASURY DEPAETJIENT. 
 
 The Treasury Department consists of the Sec- 
 retary of the Treasury, two comptrollers, com- 
 missioner of the customs, six auditors, treasurer, 
 register, solicitor, light-house board, and coast 
 survey . 
 
 The following is a brief indication of the duties 
 of these several offices and of the force employed 
 therein respectively : 
 
 Secretary's Office. — Secretary of the Treasury; 
 Assistant Secretary ; one engineer in charge ; one 
 8* 
 
90 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 architect, and three draughtsmen temporarily 
 employed, and twenty-three clerks. The Secre- 
 tary of the Treasury is charged with the general 
 supervision of the fiscal transactions of the gov- 
 ernment, and of the execution of the laws con- 
 cerning the commerce and navigation of the 
 United States. He superintends the survey of 
 the coast, the light-house establishment, the ma- 
 rine hospitals of the United States, and the con- 
 struction of certain public buildings for custom- 
 houses and other purposes. 
 
 First Comptroller's Office. — Comptroller, and 
 fifteen clerks. He prescribes the mode of keeping 
 and rendering accounts for the civil and diplomatic 
 service as well as the public lands, and revises 
 and certifies the balances arising thereon. 
 
 Second Comptroller'' s Office. — Comptroller, and 
 seventeen clerks. He prescribes the mode of 
 keeping and rendering the accounts of the army, 
 navy, and Indian departments of the public ser- 
 vice, and revises and certifies the balances arising 
 thereon. 
 
 Office of Commissioner of the Customs. — Com- 
 missioner, and eleven clerks. He prescribes the 
 mode of keeping and rendering the accounts of 
 the customs revenue and disbursements, and for 
 the building and repairing custom-houses, &c., 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON, 91 
 
 and revises and certifies the balances arising 
 thereon. 
 
 First Auditor^ s Office. — First Auditor, and 
 nineteen clerks. He receives and adjusts the ac- 
 counts of the customs revenue and disbursements, 
 appropriations and expenditures on account of the 
 civil list and under private acts of Congress, and 
 reports the balances to the Commissioner of the 
 Customs and the First Comptroller, respectively, 
 for their decision thereon. 
 
 Second Auditor^ s Office. — Second Auditor, and 
 twenty-one clerks. He receives and adjusts all 
 accounts relating to the pay, clothing, and re- 
 cruiting of the army, as well as armories, arsenals, 
 and ordnance, and all accounts relating to the 
 Indian department, and reports the balances to 
 the Second Comptroller for his decision thereon. 
 
 Third Auditor's Offi'Ce. — Third Auditor, and 
 seventy-eight clerks. He receives and adjusts 
 all accounts for subsistence of the army, fortifica- 
 tions. Military Academy, military roads, and the 
 Quartermaster's department, as well as for pen- 
 sions, claims arising from military services pre- 
 vious to 1816, and for horses and other property 
 lost in the military service, imder various acts of 
 Congress, and reports the balances to the Second 
 Comptroller for his decision thereon. 
 
92 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Fourth Auditor's Offi.ce. — Fourth Auditor, and 
 sixteen clerks. He receives and adjusts all ac- 
 counts for the service of the Navy Department, 
 and reports the balances to the Second Comptroller 
 for his decision thereon. 
 
 Fifth Auditoi'^s Office. — Fifth Auditor, and 
 six clerks. He receives and adjusts all accounts 
 for diplomatic and similar services performed un- 
 der the direction of the State Department, and 
 reports the balances to the First Comptroller for 
 his decision thereon. 
 
 iiixth Auditor's Office. — Sixth Auditor, and 
 one hundi*ed and one clerks. He receives and 
 adjusts all accounts arising from the service of 
 the Post Office Department. His decisions are 
 final, unless an appeal be taken in twelve months 
 to the First Comptroller; and he superintends 
 the collection of all debts due the Post Office 
 Department. 
 
 Treasurer's Office. — Treasurer,, and thirteen 
 clerks. He receives and keeps the moneys of 
 the United States in his own office, and that of 
 the depositories created by the act of the 6th of 
 August, 1846, and pays out the same upon war- 
 rants drawn by the Secretary of the Treasury, 
 countersigned by the First Comptroller, and upon 
 warrants drawn by the Postmaster General, and 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 93 
 
 countersigned by the Sixth Auditor, and recorded 
 bj the Register. He also holds public moneys 
 advanced by warrant to disbursing officers, and 
 pays out the same upon their checks. 
 
 Register's Office. — Register, and twenty-nine 
 elerks. He keeps the accounts of public receipts 
 and expenditures ; receives the returns and makes 
 out the official statement of commerce and navi- 
 gation of the United States ; and receives from 
 the First Comptroller and Commissioner of Cus- 
 toms all accounts and vouchers decided by them, 
 and is charged by law with their safe-keeping. 
 
 Solicitor's Office. — Solicitor, and six clerks. 
 He superintends all civil suits commenced by the 
 United States, and instructs the United States 
 attorneys, marshals, and clerks in all matters re- 
 lating to them and their results. He receives 
 returns from each term of the United States 
 courts, showing the progress and condition of 
 such suits; has charge of all lands and other 
 property assigned to the United States in pay- 
 ment of debts, and has power to sell and dispose 
 of the same for the benefit of the United States. 
 
 Light-House Board. — This board directs the 
 building and repairing of light-houses, light-ves- 
 sels, buoys and beacons, contracts for supplies of 
 oil, &c. 
 
94 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 The duties of the Coast Survey have already 
 been described. 
 
 NAVY DEPARTMENT. 
 
 The Navy department consists of the Navy 
 Department 23roper, being the office of the Secre- 
 tary and of five bureaus attached thereto, viz : 
 Bureau of Navy-yards and Docks, Bureau of 
 Construction, Equipment, and Repair, Bureau of 
 Provisions and Clothing, Bureau of Ordnance and 
 Hydrography, and the Bureau of Medicine and 
 Surgery. 
 
 The following is a statement of the duties of 
 each of these offices and of the force employed 
 therein : 
 
 Secretaries Office. — Secretary of the Navy : 
 chief clerk; and eleven clerks. The Secretary 
 of the Navy has charge of everything connected 
 with the naval establishment, and the execution 
 of all laws relating thereto is intrusted to him, 
 under the general direction of the President of 
 the United States, who, by the constitution, is 
 commander-in-chief of the army and navy. All 
 instructions to commanders of squadrons and 
 commanders of vessels, all orders of officers, com- 
 missions of officers both in the navy and marine 
 corps, appointments of commissioned and warrant 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 95 
 
 officers, orders for the enlistment and discharge 
 of seamen, emanate from the Secretary's office. 
 x\ll the duties of the different bureaus are per- 
 formed under the authority of the Secretary, and 
 their orders are considered as emanating from 
 him. The general superintendence of the marine 
 corps forms, also, a part of the duties of the 
 Secretary, and all the orders of the commandant 
 of that corps should be approved by him. 
 
 Bureau of Navy Yards and Docks. — -Commo- 
 dore, chief of the bureau, four clerks, one civil 
 engineer, and one draughtsman. All the navy- 
 yards, docks and wharves, buildings and machine- 
 ry in navy-yards, and everything immediately 
 connected with them, are under the superinten- 
 dence of this bureau. It is also charged with the 
 management of the Naval Asylum. 
 
 Bureau of Cojistruction , Equipment, and Re- 
 pair. — Chief of the bureau, eight clerks, and one 
 draughtsman. The office of the engineer-in-chief 
 of the navy, is attached to this bureau, who is 
 assisted by three assistant engineers. This bu- 
 reau has charge of the building and repairs of all 
 vessels-of-war, purchase of materials, and the 
 providing of all vessels with their equipments, as 
 sails, anchors, water-tanks, &c. The engineer- 
 in-chief superintends the construction of all ma- 
 
96 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 rine steam engines for the navy, and, with the 
 approval of the Secretary, decides upon plans for 
 their construction. 
 
 Bureau of Frovisions and Clothing. — A pur- 
 ser United States navy, chief of bureau, and four 
 clerks. All provisions for the use of the navy, 
 and clothing, together with the making of con- 
 tracts for furnishing the same, come under the 
 charge of this bureau. 
 
 Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography. — Com- 
 modore, chief of bureau, four clerks, and one 
 draughtsman. This bureau has charge of all 
 ordnance and ordnance stores, the manufacture or 
 purchase of cannon, guns, powder, shot, shells, 
 &c., and the equipment of vessels-of-war, with 
 everything connected therewith. It also provides 
 them with maps, charts, chronometers, barome- 
 ters, &c. , together with such books as are furnished 
 ships-of-war. "The United States Naval Obser- 
 vatory and Hydrographical Office" at Washington_, 
 and the Naval xVcademy at AnnapoHs, are also 
 under the general superintendence of the chief 
 of this bureau. 
 
 Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. — Surgeon 
 United States navy, chief of bureau, one passed 
 assistant surgeon United States navy, and two 
 clerks. Everything relating to medicines and 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 97 
 
 medical stores, treatment of sick and wounded; 
 and management of hospitals, comes within the 
 superintendence of this bureau. 
 
 POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 The direction and management of the Post 
 Office Department are assigned by the constitution 
 and laws to the Postmaster General. That its 
 business may be the more conveniently arranged 
 and prepared for his final action, it is distributed 
 among several bureaus, as follows: The Appoint- 
 ment Office, in charge of the First Assistant 
 Postmaster General ; the Contract Office, in 
 charge of the Second Assistant Postmaster Gene- 
 ral ; the Finance Office, in charge of the Third 
 As>sistant Postmaster General ; and the Inspection 
 Office, in charge of the chief clerk. 
 
 Appointment Office. — First Assistant Postmas- 
 ter General, and nineteen clerks. To this office 
 are assigned all questions which relate to the 
 establishment and discontinuance of post offices, 
 changes of sites and names, appointment and re- 
 moval of postmasters and route and local agents, 
 as, also, the giving of instructions to postmasters. 
 Postmasters are furnished with marking and rating 
 stamps and letter balances by this bureau, which 
 is charged also with providing blanks and station- 
 9 
 
98 HAND-BOOK OP WASHINGTON. 
 
 ery for the use of the department, and with the 
 superintendence of the several agencies establish- 
 ed for supplying postmasters with blanks. To 
 this bureau is likewise assigned the supervision 
 of the ocean mail steamship lines, and of the 
 foreign and international postal arrangements. 
 
 Contract Office. — Second Assistant Postmaster 
 General, and twenty-six clerks. To this office is 
 assigned the business of arranging the mail ser- 
 vice of the United States, and placing the same 
 under contract, embracing all corresjDondence and 
 proceedings respecting the frequency of trips, 
 mode of conveyance, and times of departures and 
 arrivals on all the routes ; the course of the mail 
 between the different sections of the country, the 
 points of mail distribution, and the regulations 
 for the government of the domestic mail service 
 of the United States. It prepares the advertise- 
 ments for mail proposals, receives the bids, and 
 takes charge of the annual and occasional mail 
 lettings, and the adjustment and execution of the 
 contracts. All applications for the establishment 
 or alteration of mail arrangements, and the ap- 
 pointment of mail messengers, should be sent to 
 this office. All claims should be submitted to it 
 for transportation service not under contract, as 
 the recognition of said service is j&rst to be ob- 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 99 
 
 tained through the Contract Office as a necessary 
 authority for the proper credits at the Auditor's 
 Office. From this office all postmasters at the 
 ends of routes receive the statement of mail ar- 
 rangements prescribed for the respective routes. 
 It reports weekly to the Auditor all contracts 
 executed, and all orders affecting accounts for 
 mail transportation ; prepares the statistical ex- 
 hibits of the mail service, and the reports of the 
 mail lettings, giving a statement of each bid; 
 also of the contracts made, the new service origi- 
 nated, the curtailments ordered, and the additional 
 allowances granted within the year. 
 
 Finance Office. — Third Assistant Postmaster 
 General, and twenty-one clerks. To this office 
 are assigned the supervision and management of 
 the financial business of the depai-tment, not de- 
 volved by law upon the Auditor, embracing ac- 
 counts with the draft offices and other depositaries 
 of the department, the issuing of warrants and 
 drafts in payment of balances reported by the 
 Auditor to be due to mail contractors and other 
 persons, the supervision of the accounts of offices 
 under orders to deposite their quarterly balances 
 at designated points, and the superintendence of 
 the rendition by postmasters of their quarterly 
 returns of postages. It has charge of the dead- 
 
100 HAND-BOOK OP WASmNGTON. 
 
 letter office, of the issuing of postage stamps and 
 stamped envelopes for the pre-payment of postage,, 
 and of the accounts connected therewith. 
 
 To the Third Assistant Postmaster General all 
 postmasters should direct their quarterly returns 
 of postage ; those at draft offices, their letters re- 
 porting quarterly the net proceeds of their offices, 
 and those at depositing offices, their certificates 
 of deposite ; to him should also be directed the 
 weekly and monthly returns of the depositaries 
 of the department, as well as all applications and 
 receipts for postage stamps and stamped envelopes, 
 and for dead letters. 
 
 Inspection Office. — Chief clerk, and seventeen 
 clerks. To this office is assigned the duty of re- 
 ceiving and examining the registers of the arri- 
 vals and departures of the mails, certificates of 
 the service of route agents, and reports of mail 
 failures ; of noting the delinquencies of con- 
 tractors, and preparing cases thereon for the ac- 
 tion of the Postmaster Gleneral ; furnishing blanks 
 for mail registers, and reports of mail failures; 
 providing and sending out mail-bags and mail- 
 locks and keys, and doing all other things which 
 may be necessary to secure a faithful and exact 
 performance of all mail contracts. 
 
 All cases of mail depredation, of violation of 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 101 
 
 law by private expresses, or by the forging or il- 
 legal use of postage stamps, are under the super- 
 vision of this office, and should be reported to it. 
 
 xVll communications respecting lost money, 
 letters, mail depredations, or other violations of 
 law, or mail-locks and keys, should be directed 
 " Chief Clerk, Post Office Department." 
 
 All registers of the arrivals and departures of 
 the mails, certificates of the service of route 
 agents, reports of mail failures, applications for 
 Wank registers, and reports of failures, and all 
 complaints against contractors for irregular or 
 imperfect service, should be directed "Inspection 
 Office, Post Office Department." 
 
 WAR DEPARTMENT. 
 
 In the Secretary's office proper there are one 
 chief clerk, seven subordinate clerks, two mes- 
 sengers, and four watchmen. The following bu- 
 reaus are attached to this department : 
 
 Commanding General' s Ojfice. — This office, at 
 the head of which is Lieutenant General Scott, is 
 at New York. 
 
 Adjutant GeneraVs Office. — Col. Samuel Coo- 
 per, Adjutant General . Assistants — Lieut. Col. 
 W. G. Freeman, Major George Deas, and Cap- 
 tain Seth Williams. Judge Advocate, Major 
 John F. Lee. Nine clerks and one messenger. 
 
102 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 In this office are kept all the records which refer 
 to the personnel of the army, the rolls, &c. It is 
 here where all military commissions are made out, 
 
 Qaartermaster GeneraVs Office. — Gren. Thomas 
 S. Jesup, quartermaster general ; Charles Thom- 
 as, assistant quartermaster general ; Captain M. 
 M. Clark, district quartermaster; Major H. C. 
 Wayne, in charge of clothing branch; eleven 
 clerks and one messenger. 
 
 Paymaster GeneraVs Office. — Col. B. F. Larned, 
 paymaster General; Maj. St. Clair Denny, district 
 paymaster ; eight clerks and one messenger. 
 
 Commissary GeneraVs Office. — Gen. George 
 Gibson, commissary general ; assistant, Captain 
 A. E. Shrias; six clerks and one messenger. 
 
 Surgeon GeneraVs Office. — Gen. Thomas Law- 
 son, surgeon general; assistants, Dr. R. C. Wood 
 and Dr. Richard H. Coolidge ; three clerks. 
 
 Engineer Office. — General Joseph G. Totten, 
 chief engineer; assistant, Lieutenant John D. 
 Kurtz ; five clerks and one messenger. 
 
 Topographical Bureau. — Col. J. J. Abert, 
 colonel of the corps; assistant, Lieut. M. L. 
 Smith ; four clerks and one messenger. 
 
 Ordnance Bureau. — Colonel H. R. Craig 
 colonel of ordnance ; assistant. Captain Wm 
 Maynadier ; eight clerks and one messenger. 
 
GEORaETOWN. 
 
 No stranger at the Seat of Government should 
 ever think of omitting a visit to Georgetown, 
 which is on the Potomac above Washington, and 
 only separated from it by a charming stream call- 
 ed Rock Creek, It was formerly a place of con- 
 siderable commercial importance, and is even now 
 a thriving and busy place. It is connected with 
 the Coal region of Cumberland by the Ohio and 
 Chesapeake Canal, and with New York, Boston, 
 and the West Indies by lines of sailing packets. 
 The brands of flour exported from this city uni- 
 formly command the highest prices in the north- 
 ern markets, and much the largest amount of 
 sugar consumed by the people of the District of 
 Columbia is imported directly to this city in 
 vessels belonging to its leading merchants. 
 
 The lofty eminences that overlook the town 
 from the North and West are known as the 
 Heights of Georgetown. Along these elevations 
 gentlemen of wealth have built their dwellings, 
 and cultivated beautiful and extensive gardens. 
 Here, when he was Secretary of War resided 
 Mr. Calhoun, here also resided Mr. Bodisco the 
 Russian Minister, and the Diplomatic Represen- 
 103 
 
104 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 tatives of the French and English Governments 
 reside here at the present time. 
 
 The prospects from these Heights, of the great 
 Valley of the Potomac and of the entire City of 
 Washington, have been considered by travellers 
 as unsurpassed in point of grandeur and beauty 
 by any thing of the kind in the United States 
 Among the attractions of Georgetown are the 
 College, the Convent, the Female Seminary, the 
 Aqueduct, the Cemetery and the Little Falls. 
 
 GEORGETOWN COLLEGE, D. C. 
 
 Georgetown College is situated on the north- 
 ern bank of the Potomac at the west end of 
 Georgetown, and commands a full view of George- 
 town, Washington, the Potomac, and a great part 
 of the District of Columbia. Its situation is 
 peculiarly healthy. 
 
 In the year 1785, five gentlemen, the principal 
 of whom was the Rev. John Carroll, afterwards 
 the first Catholic Archbishop of Baltimore, for- 
 med a design of building ' ' An Academy at 
 Georgetown, Potowmack River, Maryland." In 
 1789, the first house was built; in 1792 the 
 schools commenced, and in 1798 we find it " The 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 105 
 
 College of G-eorgetown, Potomac River, State of 
 Maryland." In May, 1815, Congress raised it 
 to the rank of an University. In May, 1851, 
 ' ' The Medical Department of Georgetown Col- 
 lege" was opened in Washington, D. C. 
 
 The College buildings are spacious, and contain 
 a fine Library of 25,000 volumes, an extensive 
 Philosophical Apparatus, and a neat Museum of 
 Natural History. An Astronomical Observatory, 
 sixty feet long by thirty wide and furnished with 
 Instruments of the first class, stands three hun- 
 dred yards West of the College. 
 
 The Academic year begins on the 15th of Sep- 
 tember, and ends on the last of July. The col- 
 legiate Course of Studies occupies generally seven 
 years, inclusive of the preparatory classes, which 
 last four years, unless the proficiency of the Stu- 
 dent authorize an abbreviation of that term. The 
 English Department, for those who cannot devote 
 the time to the collegiate Course, embraces all the 
 branches of a thorough English education. Math- 
 ematics, and Natural Philosophy, together with 
 French, included. 
 
 The Public are admitted at all hours of the day 
 
 to see the Establishment, and the President or 
 
 some of the Professors, themselves, generally 
 
 wait on visitors. 
 
 (See Supplement.) 
 
106 HAND-BOOK OP WASHINGTON. 
 
 ACADEMY OF THE VISITATION. 
 
 This Academy, founded in 1799, is in a heal- 
 thy and airy situation, on the Heights of George- 
 town in the District of Columbia, contiguous to 
 the eastern margin of the Potomac. The win- 
 dows command a view of this magnificent river, 
 and at a distance of the City of Washington. 
 The ladies who are entrusted with the direction 
 and care of the studies, are members of the Re- 
 ligious Order, founded in 1610, by St. Francis 
 de Sales, and directed at the commencement by 
 St. Jane Frances Fremiot de Chantal. Meek- 
 ness, benevolence, and a moderate indulgence 
 constituted the character of those venerated bene- 
 factors of society, in their direction of youth. It 
 is the study of their daughters to display these 
 virtues, in the fulfilment of the high obligations 
 imposed upon them by the confidence of their 
 friends. 
 
 The course of instruction comprises Orthogra- 
 phy, Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Grammar, 
 Ancient and Modern Geography, the use of the 
 Globes, Prose and Poetical Composition, Sacred 
 and Profane History, Mythology, Rhetoric, As- 
 tronomy, Moral and Natural Philosophy, Chem- 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 107 
 
 istrj, Mineralogy, Botany, Oeometry, Algebra, 
 Book-keeping, French, Spanish, Italian, German, 
 and Latin Languages, Music on the Piano, Harp, 
 Guitar, and Organ, Vocal Music, Drawing, 
 Painting in Water Colors, in Oil, and on Velvet, 
 Plain and Ornamental Needle Work, Tapestry, 
 Lace Work, Bead Work, &c. 
 
 A public distribution of premiums takes place 
 on the last Wednesday of July. 
 
 The annual vacation commences on the last 
 Thursday of July — the exercises re-commence 
 on the first Monday in September. 
 
 As regards the exact observance of rules, polite 
 deportment, and zeal for advancement, the young 
 ladies are divided into two circles. A crown and 
 gold medal are awarded to the first in the Senior 
 Circle, and a crown is awarded to the first in the 
 Junior Circle. 
 
 Strangers are permitted to visit the Academy 
 every day excepting Sunday ; the most conveni- 
 ent hours are from 11 until 2 o'clock. 
 
 THE FEMALE SEMINARY. 
 
 This occupies an extensive building in the 
 centre of the town, and is under the superinten- 
 
108 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON, 
 
 dence of Eev. W. J. Clark, but the founder of 
 the school was Miss Lydia English. The insti- 
 tution has long been considered one of the best 
 in the Union of the kind, the teachers are numer- 
 ous and highly accomplished, and the young 
 ladies who attend here, are taught not only all 
 the ordinary branches of education, but also all 
 the elegant accomplishments of the day, Music, 
 Drawing, and the Languages. Pupils have been 
 sent from this Seminary into all parts of the 
 Union, enriched with the knowledge and adorned 
 with the graces, which it has ever imparted with 
 remarkable success. 
 
 THE AQUEDUCT 
 
 Which spans the Potomac at Greorgetown, ig 
 a stupendous work, and has attracted the atten- 
 tion of European as well as American architects 
 and men of science. It was constructed by Ma- 
 jor Turnbull, of the Topographical Engineers, 
 and cost nearly ^2,000,000. It has nine piers, 
 whose foundations, which are of granite, are no 
 less than thirty-six feet under icater; it is fourteen 
 hundred and forty-six feet long, and rises above 
 the water about forty feet. It connects the Ohio 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 109 
 
 and Chesapeake Canal with Alexandria. The 
 scenery of the river at this point, is varied and 
 interesting. 
 
 THE GEORGETOWN CEMETERY 
 
 Is located on the heights of the town, and is 
 one of its chief ornaments. It was laid out at 
 the expense, and under the direction of the 
 wealthy and very noble-hearted Banker, William 
 W. Corcoran, Esq., as a tribute of his affection 
 for the place of his birth. The situation directly 
 on Rock Creek is romantic to a great degree, and 
 the best taste has been displayed in its arrange- 
 ment. It has a porter's lodge, a receiving tomb, 
 and a beautiful Gothic chapel, which combine to 
 make a visit to the spot quite ent-ertaining. 
 
THE LITTLE FALLS. 
 
 These are about three miles above Greorgetown, 
 and at the head of tide water. The great Poto- 
 mac is here so greatly contracted that a stone can 
 be easily tossed from one shore to the other ; the 
 fall of water is about fifteen feet ; the surrounding 
 scenery is wild and exceedingly picturesque ; and 
 the spot is particularly famous as a resort for the 
 followers of the gentle art. The principal game 
 fish caught here are the rock fish or striped basse, 
 and the spot is sometimes visited by the anglers 
 of places as remote as Baltimore and Charleston. 
 The fame of the little falls has been somewhat 
 increased of late years, by the fact that it was a 
 favorite angling haunt of the Hon. Daniel Web- 
 ster, and continues to be a favorite fishing and 
 sketching place with his personal friend the Hon. 
 John F. Crampton the British Minister. 
 
 THE GREAT FALLS. 
 
 The Great Falls of the Potoinac, which are 
 well worth visiting, are about ten miles further 
 up the river, and may be reached by carriage or 
 110 
 
HAND-BOOK OP WASHINGTON, 111 
 
 canal boat. When the Potomac is full the aspect 
 of these falls is exceedingly grand, and the deep 
 cuts or gorge through the solid rocks which abound 
 in their vicinity are exceedingly picturesque and 
 interesting. From this point it is that the water 
 is to be conveyed to the metropolis at the expense 
 of the General Government by means of the 
 Washington Aqueduct, which, when finished will 
 rival the great affair which is now the wonder 
 and pride of New York city. The diversity and 
 beauty of the scenery between the Great Falls 
 and Georgetown is worthy of all praise. A more 
 interesting region for the exploration of the 
 Geologist or Painter can hardly anywhere be 
 found. 
 
AKLINGTON HOUSE. 
 
 By this name is the mansion of George Wash- 
 ington Park Custis designated. It occupies a 
 commanding position on the Virginia side of the 
 Potomac, nearly opposite Greorgetown, The edi- 
 fice is extensive, elegant and imposing, two hun- 
 dred feet above the water, and commands a very- 
 fine view of the Capitol. At this place are care- 
 fully preserved many rare and valuable pictures 
 and other relics, descended from the ancestors of 
 Mr. Custis, and some of them once in the posses- 
 sion of Gen. Washington : for example, the Mount 
 Vernon Plate, and the Bed and Bedstead of Wash- 
 ington on which he expired. Among the pictures 
 are portraits by Vandyke, Kneller, Stuart, and 
 Trumbull, which are alone worth a pilgrimage to 
 the place, where the accomplished proprietor is 
 always happy to see his friends, who annually 
 pay him their respects by thousands. When 
 Gleneral La Fayette made his last visit to this 
 country he was a frequent guest at Arlington 
 House, and he pronounced the view which the 
 front porch commands, one of the most beautiful 
 he had ever seen ; and in a conversation on the 
 surrounding woods that he had with Mrs. Custis, 
 112 
 
. HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 113 
 
 on one occasion, he is reported to have made this 
 remark — "Recollect, my dear, how much easier 
 it is to cut a tree down, than to make one grow." 
 On the Arlington estate, near the Potomac 
 river and at the foot of a massive old oak is the 
 Custis Spring, a spot resorted to by thousands 
 during the summer months. Small houses have 
 been erected by the liberal proprietor, for the 
 benefit of visitors, and being a cold water man, he 
 supplies all who call there on sultry days with an 
 abundance of ice. And in this connection it may 
 not be deemed out of place to mention the fact 
 that for many years past, Mr. Custis has been in 
 the habit of printing in the National Intelligencer, 
 on the anniversary of General Washington's birth 
 day, a chapter of personal reminiscences respect- 
 ing the illustrious chief. 
 
 P. S. — Since the above was written, Mr. Custis 
 has died, and while the Mansion is still occupied 
 by members of his family, the Spring Property 
 has been fitted up as a resort for persons in need 
 of recreation. 
 
ALEXANDRIA. 
 
 Although no longer within the District of 
 Columbia, yet this City is deserving of a passing 
 notice on account of its venerable age and its 
 attractions as a commercial town. It is on the 
 southern bank of the Potomac, about six miles 
 below Washington, and is accessible both by 
 steamboats and omnibuses. Like its rival in 
 commerce, Georgetown, it can look back upon 
 the vicissitudes of over one hundred years. That 
 it was early a place of some note, is shown by 
 the fact, that five Colonial Governors met here 
 by appointment in 1775, to take measures with 
 General Braddock respecting his expedition to 
 the West, and the said expedition started from 
 ithis place. But the reminiscences which the peo- 
 ple of Alexandria mostly cherish are those which 
 associate their town with the domestic attachments 
 ;and habits of General Washington, in whose let- 
 ters may be found a number of kindly allusions 
 to his friends residing in this town. His friendly 
 interest was manifested on various occasions, and 
 especially so by bequeathing to the inhabitants a 
 legacy of £1,000 for a free Public School. The 
 stranger in Alexandria is still pointed to the 
 114 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 115 
 
 Church of which he was a Yestryman, to the 
 pew which he customarily occupied, and many 
 striking memorials of his life are preserved with 
 care. 
 
 In the neighborhood of this City is the Theo- 
 logical Seminary of the Episcopal Church of Vir- 
 ginia, with a number of very able and distin- 
 guished Professors. 
 
 It is also supplied with the somewhat peculiar 
 attraction for a southern City, of a Museum. It 
 comprises many personal relics of General "Wash- 
 ington, and also a large and valuable collection 
 of specimens in Natural History. Its other at- 
 tractions are interesting but not especially peculiar. 
 
MOUNT VEKNON. 
 
 Of all the spots associated with the National 
 Metropolis, Mount Vernon is beyond all question 
 the most interesting and attractive. It is situated 
 on tho southern branch of the Potomac, fifteen 
 miles from Washington and eight from Alexan- 
 dria. Heretofore the most usual mode of visit- 
 ing it has been by Steamboat to Alexandria and 
 the balance of the way by carriage, but within 
 the past year a Steamboat line has been established 
 directly to tho spot itself. The entire plantation 
 contains several hundred acres of land ; and the 
 mansion is of wood, two stories high, ninety-six 
 feet in length, and with a portico extending the 
 entire length. The Central part of the house 
 was built by Lawrence Washington, brother to 
 the General, but the wings were added by the 
 General himself, and the whole named by him 
 after the famous Admiral Vernon, under whom 
 Lawrence Washington had served. It occupies 
 an elevated position from which may be seen a 
 reach of some twenty or thirty miles of the noble 
 Potomac, extending both to the eastward and to 
 the westward. The present proprietor of the 
 place is Mr. John Augustine Washington. The 
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HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 117 
 
 trees whicli surround the house are quite nume- 
 rous, and those which are known to have been 
 planted by Greneral Washington have been care- 
 fully preserved, and are objects of great interest 
 to the visitors. The Library room of the man- 
 sion remains very much as when occupied by the 
 Father of his Country. Beautiful walks are spread 
 out in every direction, but terminate at a summer 
 house which commands a charming prospect of 
 the neighboring river. On a hill side some two 
 hundred yards west of the summer house, and 
 thirty yards from the mansion itself, is situated 
 the vault where repose the remains of Washing- 
 ton. The lid of his Sarcophagus is wrought with 
 the arms of his Country, and his only epitaph his 
 name ; — and what an epitaph is that ? By his 
 side in a corresponding tomb are the ashes of 
 "Martha, consort of Washington." When La 
 Fayette the noble and well tried friend of Wash- 
 ington was in this country in 1825, he visited the 
 tomb, descended alone into the vault and was 
 melted to tears, and as he was about to depart, 
 Mr. Custis who had accompanied him to the spot 
 presented him with a ring containing some of the 
 hair of his illustrious friend. La Fayette exam- 
 ined the mansion with great interest, and among 
 the relics of the place, discovered the Key of the 
 
118 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON, 
 
 Bastile, which had been sent to Washington many 
 years before by himself, and which continues to 
 be one of the attractions of the place. 
 
 To one accustomed to the plantation system and 
 habits of Virginia, this estate may have much in 
 common with others ; but to persons unused to 
 this economy, the whole is new and striking. Of 
 things peculiar to the place, are a low rampart of 
 brick, now partly overgrown, which Washington 
 had built around the front of the house, and an 
 under ground passage leading from the bottom of 
 a dry well, and coming out by the river side at 
 the foot of the mount. On the west side of the 
 house are two gardens, a greenhouse, and — the 
 usual accompaniments of a plantation — seed-houses_, 
 tool-houses, and cottages for the negroes — things 
 possessing no particular interest, except because 
 they were standing during Washington's life, and 
 were objects of his frequent attention. Along 
 the walls of the room hang engravings, which 
 are mostly battle or hunting pieces. Among 
 them will be noticed a print of Bunker Hill, but 
 none of any battle in which Washington himself 
 was engaged. The north room was built bj 
 Washington for a dining room, and for the meet- 
 ing of his friends and political visitors. The fur- 
 niture of the room is just as when he left it, and 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 119 
 
 leads one back to the days when there were met 
 within these walls the great men of that genera- 
 tion who carried the States through the Revolu- 
 tion, laid the foundations of the government, and 
 administered it in its purer days. The rooms of 
 the house are spacious, and there is something of 
 elegance in their arrangement ; yet the whole is 
 marked by great simplicity. All the regard one 
 could wish, seems to have been shown to the sa- 
 credness of these public relics, and all things have 
 been kept very nearly as Washington left them. 
 Money made in the stocks can purchase the bedi- 
 zenry of our city drawing-rooms ; but these ele- 
 vating associations, which no gold can buy, no 
 popular favor win, which can only be inherited, 
 these are the heir-looms, the traditionary titles 
 and pensions, inalienable, not conferred, -which a 
 republic allows to the descendants of her great 
 servants. 
 
 P. S. — Since the above was written an arrange- 
 ment has been made by which Mount Vernon 
 will become the property of the people, and the 
 man who has done more than any other to bring 
 about this desirable end, is the Hon. Edward 
 Everett. 
 
BLADENSBUEa 
 
 Is a village which is famous for its warllko as- 
 sociations, lying about five miles eastward of the 
 Capitol. It was formerly a place of some com- 
 mercial importance, but its present attractions are 
 the fields where a "famous victory" was won, or 
 rather a bloody battle fought, and the celebrated 
 Duelling Ground, where Decatur and many other 
 smaller men have fallen to satisfy a sanguinary 
 Code of Honor. 
 
 120 
 
SUPPLEMENT 
 
 THE NEW HALL OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 The new Hall of Kepresentatives is 139 feet 
 long, 93 feet wide, and 36 feet high. 
 
 It is in form a parallelogram, with galleries on 
 three sides, affording room for 1200 persons, 
 comfortably seated. Upon the floor are seats 
 for 260 Representatives, arranged upon a semi- 
 circular plan, the seat and desk of the Speaker 
 of the House being at the centre of the semicircle^ 
 and in the middle of the south side of the Hall, 
 which is one of the longer sides of the room. 
 
 The ceiling is of cast-iron, with large skylights. 
 The cast-iron ceiling is deeply coffered with sunk 
 panels, relieved with enriched mouldings. A 
 richly decorated cornice along the upper part of 
 the wall, above the galleries, unites the wall 
 and ceiling. 
 
 The skylights are glazed with an ornamented 
 
 glass, having in the centre of each skylight the 
 
 arms of a State or Territory, emblazoned in 
 
 colored glass. 
 
 The room is lighted at night by raeuus of about 
 11* 121 
 
122 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 1500 jets of gas, which are placed above the glass 
 of the ceiling, and which throw down a soft and 
 agreeable light, scarcely to be distinguished from 
 that of a bright day. 
 
 The area of this room is 12,927 square feet. 
 It contains 465,372 cubic feet of space. About 
 five thousand persons could stand in it if crowded, 
 as is not uncommon in public meetings. 
 
 The room is ventilated by numerous openings 
 in the walls and floor, through which air, warmed 
 in cold weather, by steam pipes in the basement, 
 is forced by a revolving fan of sixteen feet in 
 diameter. This fan is driven by a steam engine, 
 and is capable of supplying one hundred thousand 
 cubic feet of air per minute, and thus of renewing 
 the whole of the air in the Hall every five minutes. 
 
 This engine and fan are placed in the cellar 
 under the northwest corner of the south wing of 
 the Capitol. The steam pipes, of which ten 
 miles are used, in order to be able at any time, 
 in the severest weather, to control the temperature 
 of the Hall, are placed in a room behind the 
 western stairway of the south wing. 
 
 The boilers are in vaults under the western 
 terrace, outside of the building. These things 
 are well worth a visit, and the persons em- 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 123 
 
 ployed by the House to manage them and keep 
 them in order^ will always be found ready and 
 obliging in giving any information or explana- 
 tion in regard to them. 
 
 The decoration of the Hall is yet far from 
 complete. Panels on the gallery fronts have 
 been provided, which it is expected will be filled 
 with pictures of American History, under the 
 orders to be given by Congress ; and the upper 
 part of the walls is filled with niches, empty as 
 yet, but which will, at some future day, be ten- 
 anted by the efl&gies in marble of our worthiest 
 citizens. 
 
 The walls and ceiling of the Hall have been 
 •richly colored, and, when the panels arc filled 
 with paintings, and the niches with statues, the 
 room will have a much more finished appearance 
 At present, the design of the architect being 
 incomplete, the effect he arrived at can scarcely 
 be appreciated. 
 
 THE NEW SENATE CHAMBER. 
 
 The new Senate Chamber is built on the same 
 general plan as that of the Representative Chamber. 
 It is in the north wing, in the centre of the second 
 
124 HAND-BOOK OP WASHINGTON. 
 
 or principal floor. Like the other, it is ceiled 
 with iron and glass, lighted from above, and sur- 
 rounded by galleries, under which are cloak and 
 hat and dressing rooms for the use of Senators. 
 
 The style of decoration is rich, but in lighter 
 color than those used in the Kepresentative 
 Chamber. 
 
 Panels for pictures, and niches for statues, as 
 yet empty, occupy the walls. 
 
 The lighting, heating, and ventilation are 
 arranged upon the same general plan as those of 
 the House. 
 
 The size of the room is 80 feet 7 inches by 
 113 feet 3 inches; the height is 36 feet. The 
 galleries seat comfortably 1200 persons. 
 
 The heating and ventilating apparatus is under 
 the southwest corner of the north wing, and is 
 approached by a small staircase under the princi- 
 pal western stairway. The boilers are under the 
 exterior western terrace. 
 
 THE NEW DOME, 
 
 The old Dome of the Capitol was built of wood. 
 The outer and inner shells were not concentric, 
 and while the inner was, in proportions, a copy 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 125 
 
 of that of the Panthoon of Agrippa at Rome, 
 though much inferior in size, the outer dome was 
 higher in proportion than that of the Pantheon. 
 
 Its inflammable nature, and its narrow escape 
 at the time the library was burnt, in 1851_, called 
 attention to it, and it was finally resolved to re- 
 place it by a Dome of iron, entirely fire-proof. 
 
 The new Dome, in its proportions, resembles 
 the modern rather than the antique structures of 
 this character. Instead of the low and flat out- 
 lines of the Pantheon of Rome, and the Saint 
 Sophia of Constantinople, we see in the design a 
 light structure, decorated with columns and 
 pilasters, rich cornices and entablatures, spring- 
 ing up towards the sky, and supporting, at the 
 height of three hundred feet above the ground of 
 the eastern square, and 372 feet above the western 
 gate of the park, a colossal statue of Freedom in 
 bronze, from the studio of the lamented Crawford. 
 
 The interior diameter of the Dome is 96 feet. 
 The height from floor of rotunda to the ceilings 
 which closes it in, is 220 feet in the clear. 
 
 Galleries at various heights will afibrd fine 
 views of the interior and of the exterior. The 
 views stretching many miles down the Potomac. 
 
 The structure is double and between the exte- 
 11 
 
126 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 rior and interior shells, a staircase winding spirally 
 around the whole, will afford access to the very 
 summit. 
 
 The general outline of this structure resembles 
 that of the Dome of St. Peter's of Rome ; of St. 
 Paul's of London, and of St. Genevieve and of the 
 Invalides of Paris, and of the last great work of the 
 kind erected in modern times, that of the Russian 
 National Church, the Cathedral of St. Isaac's at 
 St. Petersburg^ which is also partly built of iron. 
 
 The interior diameter of the Dome is as above 
 stated 96 feet. The exterior diameter of the 
 peristylian circular colonnade is 124 feet 9 J inches. 
 The height of the whole 300 feet above the 
 ground^ or 230 feet above the roof of the Capitol. 
 
 The height of the statue of Freedom which 
 will crown the pinnacle, is 20 feet. 
 
 The columns of the peristyle are 27 feet in 
 height, and weigh about 12,0001b each. 
 
 THE WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT. 
 
 The Washington Aqueduct is a conduit of 
 masonry^ circular in form and 9 feet in internal 
 diameter. 
 
 It is built of stone or bricks set in hydraulic 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 127 
 
 cement or water lime, which in time becomes as 
 hard as the brick itself. 
 
 The whole length of the work from the Great 
 Falls of the Potomac, to the Distributing Reser- 
 voir above Georgetown, is 12J miles. 
 
 The capacity of the work is to supply 67;596;,400 
 gallons of water every 24 hours. 
 
 New York has a supply of about 30,000,000 
 gallons 
 
 The greater part of the work is under ground, 
 many hills have been tunneled; many ravines 
 crossed by embankments with culverts for the 
 passage of the streams beneath the Aqueduct; 
 but it is only at a few bridges that the Aqueduct 
 itself can be seen^ as all else is carefully covered 
 with earth to protect it from frost or from decay, 
 and the Aqueduct looks like an abandoned rail- 
 way route from which the rails have been re- 
 moved. 
 
 The first structure to be seen in connection 
 with the Aqueduct, is the bridge by which the 
 water pipes are carried over Rock creek, which 
 separates the cities of Washington and George- 
 town. 
 
 This is an arch of 200 feet clear span, com- 
 posed of two immense cast iron pipes, four feet 
 
128 HAMD-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 in internal diameter, which in the form of an arch 
 springing from massive abutments of sandstone, 
 support a horizontal roadway, and at the samo 
 time convey the water of the Aqueduct across 
 the stream. 
 
 Passing through Georgetown, and following 
 the road along the hank of the canal, we find 
 just above the City another bridge, in which, by 
 a similar cast iron arch of 1120 feet span, the 
 pipes cross the basin known as College branch, 
 from the college upon the hill above it. 
 
 About one mile above Georgetown upon the 
 brow of the table land over-looking the Valley of 
 the Potomac, and at an elevation of 145 feet 
 above tide, we find the Distributing Eeservoir, 
 an oblong sheet of water containing about 10 
 acres. 
 
 It is nearly a mile long, and a quarter of a 
 mile in width. 
 
 Here the Aqueduct proper of masonry ends ; 
 below this point, the water being conveyed in 
 cast-iron pipes to send through the Cities. 
 
 The embankment of the Aqueduct forms a 
 level road, and a pleasant drive through the 
 beautiful scenery of the Potomac Yalley. 
 
 Two miles from the Distributing Reservoir wo 
 
HAND-BOOK OP WASHINGTON. 129 
 
 reach the Receiving Reservoir, in which the 
 water, retained by an immense embankment 65 
 feet in height and several hundred feet in length, 
 spreads out among the hills in an irregular shape 
 resembling a mountain lake. 
 
 Its extreme length is about seven-eighths of a 
 mile. Its surface contains 52 acres, and its ex- 
 treme depth is 40 feet. 
 
 Here are stored up above the level to which 
 the water could be drawn down in case of acci- 
 dent, or while clearing out the Aqueduct from 
 the falls, 100,000,000 gallons of water. 
 
 The two Reservoirs would supply, in case of 
 any such emergency, or the interruption of the 
 Aqueduct by a hostile force, 200,000,000 gallons 
 of water. 
 
 The gate houses, which regulate the flow and 
 supply of water here and at the other Reservoir, 
 are built in a massive and durable style, as though 
 intended to last for ages. 
 
 The height of the water in this Reservoir is 
 regulated by a waste channel, excavated through 
 the solid rock to a great depth. The materials 
 taken from this excavation were used in the con- 
 struction of the embankment which retains the 
 water and forms the lake or Reservoir. 
 
130 HAND-EOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 The Aqueduct enters this Reservoir by a tun- 
 nel 800 feet in length through solid rock. 
 
 Passing over the Reservoir, we find again the 
 level road on top of the Aqueduct, which winds 
 through a bold country for two miles further to 
 the Cabin John Bridge. 
 
 This is a stupendous arch of granite, spanning 
 a ravine by a single leap of 220 feet. The depth 
 of the ravine below the top of the bridge is 101 
 feet. 
 
 This is the largest masonry arch in the world. 
 The famous Grrosvenor Bridge of Chester, in Great 
 Britain, being of 20 feet less span. 
 
 The width of the bridge is only 20 feet ; its 
 thickness at top 14 feet 6 inches; its extreme 
 length 482 feet. 
 
 The conduit, or water channel through it, is 9 
 feet in diameter, lined with bricks and asphaltum, 
 
 The whole of the masonry is laid in hydraulic 
 cement. 
 
 The country grows wilder as we proceed, and 
 about IJ- miles above Cabin John Bridge the 
 Aqueduct crosses the Mountain Spring Brook by 
 a graceful elliptical arch of masonry of 75 feet 
 span. 
 
 At the end of this bridge it plunges into the 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 131 
 
 mountain, and in the space of half a mile passes 
 through two tunnels. 
 
 The two bridges above this point are small ; but 
 there are many tunnels, and the scenery is very 
 wild and beautiful. 
 
 At the Great Falls, 16 miles from the Presi- 
 dent's House, a dam of stone crosses the river, 
 and a massive construction in cut stone guards the 
 head of the Aqueduct, which here admits the 
 water to its channel, passing under the Chesapeake 
 and Ohio Canal. 
 
 A gate-house contains the gates and valves by 
 which the water is regulated in its flow towards 
 the city. 
 
 The first turf of this work was dug by Presi- 
 dent Pierce, on the 8th November, 1853, in pre- 
 sence of members of the Cabinet, of Congress, and 
 the municipal authorities of the District cities. 
 
 Appropriations were not given with regularity, 
 and the work did not therefore proceed with the 
 speed desired by the engineers. But, on the 3d 
 of January, 1859, the day before the Senate occu- 
 pied its new Chamber for the first time, the water 
 brought from the Receiving Eeservoir burst from 
 the fountain at the foot of the Capitol, and rose 
 with a jet of 99 feet in height. 
 
132 HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 The work is now — May^ 1859 — nearly com- 
 pleted to the Falls ; the whole of the conduit is 
 built, but about 150 feet of the largest tunnel 
 near the Falls remains to be excavated, and though 
 the arch of Cabin John Bridge is completed, the 
 failure of an appropriation will prevent the entire 
 completion of the bridge for the passage of water ; 
 at all the other bridges the water might now pass. 
 
 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF GEORGETOWN 
 COLLEGE. 
 
 This Institution was organized by the Presi- 
 dent and Faculty of Georgetown College in May, 
 1851, under the authority of the law of Congress 
 passed in March, 1815, conferring upon George- 
 town College the rights and privileges of a Uni- 
 versity. The Professorships in the Medical De- 
 partment are as follows : 
 
 Professor of Principles and Practice of Medi- 
 cine. 
 
 Professor of Surgery. 
 
 Professor of Anatomy. 
 
 Professor of Medical Jurisprudence and Hy- 
 giene. 
 
HAND-BOOK OF WASHINGTON. 133 
 
 Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women 
 and Children. 
 
 Professor of Chemistry and Physiology. 
 
 Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics. 
 
 Demonstrator of Anatomy. 
 
 The College Buildings are owned by the 
 Faculty, and are situated at the intersection of F 
 and 12th sts., and have a central and command- 
 ing location. They contain Lecture Kooms of 
 large size and approved construction ; a well 
 furnished Museum ; a convenient and well lighted 
 Dissecting Room ; together with all the other 
 apartments found in well arranged College build- 
 ings. 
 
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