MISCELLANIES. 



3 



Washington City. — The city 

 of Washington, which forms an 

 important section of the district 

 of Columbia, was selected by Ge- 

 neral Washington, from whom it 

 takes its name, as the metropolis 

 of the United States ; nnd no se- 

 lection could have been more ju- 

 dicious or excellent. Its central 

 situation — the romantic and pic- 

 turesque beauty of its site — the 

 salubrity of its climate — and the 

 excellence of its watei' — all com- 

 bine to render it the most desira- 

 ble spot in the United States. It 

 comprises a square of four miles 

 in extent, and is watered by the 

 Potomac and Anacustia rivers, 

 which add to its natural beauty, 

 and will contribute to the facility 

 of its commerce. There are on 

 each side of those rivers, and, in- 

 deed, in almost every possiljle di- 

 rection, the most beautiful ekna- 

 tions, calculated for the residence 

 of private gentlemen, of those 

 who may wish to retire IVom 

 the turmoil and bustle of the 

 town. These heights connnand 

 extensive and variegated ])ros- 

 pects of the district, of the sur- 

 rounding country, and of the me- 

 anderings of the Potomac, as 

 far as the eye can reach : while 

 their convenience to the neigh- 

 bouring towns of the district en- 

 ables them to afford every advan- 

 tage and pleasiu'e that can rosidt 

 from a union of town and co-.ni- 

 try. The city is divided into 

 scjuares by street.^ running north 

 and Foutli, east and west ; hut to 

 destroy the sameness and insipid- 

 ity which tliis plan would proihicc 

 there are diagonal streets, or ave- 

 nues, leading from one puljlic. 

 place to another, which tend to 

 diversify and variegate prospects 



naturally elegant. 'I'he avenues 

 are called after the different states 

 v.hich constituted the union at the 

 time the city was laid out, and are 

 from 130 to 160 feet wide, inclu- 

 ding a pavement of 10 feet, and a 

 gravel wall; of 30 f/et, planted on 

 each side with trees. The other 

 streets are fiom 90 to 110 feet 

 wideband aie named numerically 

 when they run from north to 

 south, and alphabetically when 

 from east to west. The Eastern 

 Kranch, or Anacostia river, aflbids 

 from the depth of its channels, 

 and its security from storms, one 

 of the safest and most commodi- 

 ous harbf)urs in the United .States, 

 and w ill unquestionably become, 

 from the convenience which the 

 canal, now nearly comjjleted, will 

 afford, the most commercial por- 

 tion of the nictiopolis. 



The capitol is a lai'ge and mas- 

 sy edifice of free-stone, built ac- 

 ct-rding to the Corinthian order, 

 and situated on a beautiful eleva- 

 tion of ground, equidistant from 

 the Eastern Branch and the Pre- 

 sident's house. But two wings of 

 this eleguiit edifice have yet been 

 conqjleted, and tlicse were un- 

 fortunately rery nuich injured 

 by the rude hand of our late 

 foe. They are, however, in a fair 

 way to be .speedily repaired, and 

 re.-toied to more than thrir pris- 

 tine beauty and L'legance : wiiich 

 will be augmented when the ca- 

 ])itol p(|uare, lately authorized to 

 1)0 graduated, shall have been laid 

 o!f iiitn walk-^, planted with trees, 

 and decorated with taste. The 

 Avail around the square is neaily 

 completed ; thv.' coping of stone 

 is now on one third of it, and a 

 jKntion of the iron-railing Avill go 

 on this season. A delightful ave- 

 nue 



