ced. This however is, or rather was, an edifice
of some beauty. It stood, where its ruins now stand, upon a mound
called the Capitol Hill, and near a trifling stream named the
Tiber; from which circumstances these modern republicans are led
to flatter themselves that the days are coming when it will rival
in power and grandeur the Senate-house of ancient Rome
herself. It was built entirely of freestone, tastefully worked
and highly polished; and, besides its numerous windows, was
lighted from the top by a large and handsome cupola. Perhaps it
could not be said to belong to any decided style of architecture;
but its central appearance was light, airy, and elegant. After
traversing a wide and spacious entrance-hall, you arrived at the
foot of a handsome spiral hanging staircase; on the right of
which were two spacious apartments, one above the other, which
were occupied as sitting chambers by the two houses of
representatives. From these branched off several smaller rooms,
fitted up as offices, and probably used as such by the various
officers of state. On the right of the staircase, again, were two
other apartments equal in size to those on the left, with a like
number of smaller rooms branching off from them. These were
furnished as a public library, the two larger being well stocked
with valuable books, principally in modern languages, whilst the
others, filled with archives, national statutes, acts of
legislature, &c., were used as the private rooms of the
librarians.

The President's house, on the other hand, though likewise a
public building, was remarkable for nothing except the absence of
taste exhibited in its structure. It was small, incommodious,
and plain; in no respect likely to excite the jealousy of a
people peculiarly averse to all pomp or parade, even in their
chief magistrate. Besides these, there were also a custom-house,
several banking-houses, and a school or college, all claiming to
themselves the destruction of public works; but in them there was
a plainness amounting almost to coarseness, and a general air of
republicanism, by no means imposing. With respect to the number
of inhabitants which Washington contained, I confess that I
cannot pretend to give an opinion: but if any judgment may be
formed from the extent of ground covered by what is considered as
the town, I should say that they amounted to somewhere about
sixty thousand. George Town, the quarter where the President's
hous