324 CITY OF WASHINGTON. 



WASHINGTON the city of magnificent distances has 

 been often described. That the original plan of its pro 

 jectors will never be completed, and the magnificent 

 streets radiating from the capital filled up, it would be 

 hasty to say. Government offices, churches, hotels, city- 

 buildings, and national institutions of various kinds, will 

 gradually dot over the large space comprehended in the 

 grand design ; but there are circumstances connected with 

 the state of society in Washington, as the seat of the 

 United Government, which will long stand in the way 

 of its acquiring the distinction of a great capital, similar 

 to that enjoyed by London, Paris, Vienna, or the other 

 capitals of Europe. 



The permanent inhabitants of Washington are com 

 paratively few in number. The President and his Cabi 

 net retain office for four years, at the end of which time, 

 unless the President be re-elected, there is generally a 

 total change in all the official appointments, descending 

 much lower down among official people than is usual upon 

 a change of Administration among us. The Senate holds 

 office for six years, but the House of Representatives 

 only for two. Thus there is a constant change in the 

 persons whose public duties call them to reside at Wash 

 ington, and they have no inducement to make it a per 

 manent home for themselves and their families. 



Besides, the public officers and members of Congress 

 are generally more or less dependent upon their Govern 

 ment allowances for the means of subsistence. Of the 

 300 representatives and senators, a large proportion are 

 not in circumstances to enable them to incur the expense 

 of a long yearly residence at Washington, while they, 

 at the same time, neglect their own business at home. 

 But their allowance of 8 dollars about two guineas 

 a-day is insufficient to maintain a family and household ; 

 and hence hotels and boarding-houses are the usual resi 

 dences of members of Congress. Were they all wealthy 



