Congress to the subject of providing a proper place for the statue 

 of Washington, and of encouraging the fine arts by connecting 

 with it a national gallery for paintings, statuary, and architectural 

 designing. 



I have urged the expediency and policy of rescuing the Mall 

 from its present state of degradation, and of ornamenting it at least 

 with the different trees of this countiy, and protecting it with a 

 decent enclosure. This would be performing a part at least of the 

 duties which Congress owe to the people at large and this city, in 

 the matter of the public grounds and buildings. And although I 

 trust the day is not far distant when that beautiful reservation will 

 be made a worthy ornament of the national metropolis by the erec- 

 tion of statues, the digging of reservoirs, the construction of foun- 

 tains, and making of avenues and walks, yet we would be content 

 for the present with the provisions on the subject in Mr. Pratt's re- 

 port first referred to. Having given facts and indulged in specula- 

 tion on all these interesting subjects, I concluded my last letter by 

 brief sketches of the Depot of Charts and Instruments, and the 

 Observatory at Georgetown College, both of which establishments 

 are in the highest degree worthy of public notice and support, and 

 add so much to the attractions of the District. 



I hope that the discussion of these matters has not been found 

 unnecessarily protracted, and that some light has been cast by my 

 humble instrumentality upon topics which should interest more or 

 less every intelligent and patriotic citizen of the Republic. If I 

 have succeeded in giving any information or pleasure in aiding the 

 march of mind, it matters not how little, I have been more than 

 rewarded. My object has been purely to suggest something which 

 might benefit my native city, and thus be of service ultimately to 

 the country. My hopes are not great, my expectations by no 

 means sanguine. But I know that truth is powerful and must pre- 

 vail. I bide my time, and cast my bread upon the waters, having 

 no other interest in the subject than that which every true citizen 

 should feel. 1 feel that the realization of my hopes is not so quix- 

 otical or improbable as at first I was induced to imagine. Public 

 men, in high places, are moving in the matter, and I please myself 

 with the anticipation of the time when most of these things shall 

 come to pass, and Washington be made what it was intended to be 

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