MISCELLANIES. 



6\5 



eviriosity of literature which it 

 possesses. The national library, 

 formerly the library of Mr. Jeffer- 

 son, is an object calculated to at- 

 tract the attention and gratify the 

 curiosity of the enlightened tra- 

 veller. It contains almost all the 

 rare and valuable works in litera- 

 ture and suience ; and though 

 much has been objected to it by 

 ignorant men, it is not perhaps 

 surpassed in literary value, selec- 

 tion and arrangement by any in- 

 stitution of the same character 

 and extent in Europe. This li- 

 brary was purchased of Mr. Jef- 

 ferson for a sum trifling in com- 

 parison with the real value of the 

 collection, to supply the loss of 

 the former library of Government, 

 destroyed by the British. While 

 the liberality of Congress was so 

 munificently extended to them- 

 selves, it ought not to have esca- 

 ped them, that an institution like 

 this, so beneficial in its moral and 

 intellectual tendencies, was enti- 

 tled to their most serious atten- 

 tion. Jt became them, in a pecu- 

 liar manner, as a body of enlight- 

 ened men, to foster and encou- 

 rage, by every possible means, an 

 establishment calculated to re- 

 flect so much honoui- on the coun- 

 try : and, instead of the petty ap- 

 propriation now made, at least 

 five thousand dollars should have 

 been animally bestowed, in order 

 to inciease the establishment, and 

 render it worthy of a free and en- 

 lightened nation. 



It rests with us now to make a 

 few remarks on the prospects of 

 future greatness, prosperity, and 

 permanence held out to this city. 

 It has been said, that much good 

 often originates from much ap- 



parent evil ; and the truth of this 

 aphorism is exemplified by the 

 late calamity which tha city ex- 

 perienced from the invasion of the 

 late enemy. Great prejudices had 

 existed in the legislative branch 

 of tlie Government against this 

 place, and many powerful efforts 

 had been made to remove the seat 

 of Government without success. 

 The shock it received by its re- 

 cent destruction had a tendency 

 to further the object of its ene- 

 mies. An attempt was therefore 

 made with every prosjject of suc- 

 cess ; but that attempt also fail- 

 ed, and now there scarcely re- 

 mains a single doui)t of its stabi- 

 lity, or of the disposition of Con- 

 gress to abandon every effort that 

 may lead to the removal of the 

 seat of Government. The inva- 

 sion and destruction of the city, 

 though an event in itself to be de- 

 plored, has yet been productive of 

 much benefit, by begetting a con- 

 fidence in the permanency of the 

 seat of Government, and produc- 

 ing a disposition, on the part of 

 Congress, to afford it every assist- 

 ance and encouragement within 

 their power. It is not necessary 

 to look far forwaid to see this the 

 most fiouiishing city in the Uni- 

 ted States. From the rapidity 

 with which it has I'ecently in- 

 creased, in the value of its pro- 

 perty, the number and respecta- 

 bility of its population, and ex- 

 tension of its internal commerce, 

 we cannot avoid beholding the 

 brilliant destiny to which it is 

 hastening ; and in its progress to 

 that elevation to which it is cer- 

 tain, at no distant period, to at- 

 tain, it has our warmest and most 

 cordial wishes. 



JOURNEY 



