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distance from the chances of popular excitement and control. The 

 improvements in internal communications, whereby the expense 

 and duration of travel from every quarter of the Union are dimin- 

 ished almost to an incredible extent, more than counterbalance the 

 enlargement of the limits of population, and confirm the assertion 

 of Dr. Patterson, of the United States Mint, at Philadelphia, in his 

 interesting- address on the "Centre of Population," before the late 

 Scientific and Literary Convention of the National Institute in this 

 city, that " the choice of Washington as the Capitol of the Union 

 was judiciously made." Such being the case, such the advantages 

 resulting from that judicious selection, let us be cautious how we 

 disturb the subject, and raise a storm difficult, to allay. Let the 

 spot hallowed by the name of Washington, and foreshadowed as 

 the seat of Government for the Great Republic of the West by its 

 primitive names of Rome and Tiber, be deemed a holy thing, pro- 

 tected against political pollution by all the best feelings of our 

 nature as lovers of liberty and order. 



Yours, truly, &c., J. C. B. 



(1.) The survey here referred to being deemed of sufficient interest 

 to be inserted, I have thought it proper to give an authentic copy 

 made from the original manuscript in the Mayor's office at the City 

 Hall. It is as follows : 



The following is an authentic copy of the original manuscript in the Mayor's office, 

 being the survey thus referred to : 



JUNK 5th, 1663. Laid out for Francis Pope, of this Province, gentleman, a parcel of 

 land in Charles county called Room, lying on the east side of the Anacostia river, beginning 

 with a marked oak standing by the river side, the bounded tree of Capt. Robert Troop, and 

 running north by the river for breadth and length 200 ps., to a bounded oak standing at the 

 mouth of a bay or inlet called Tiber; bounding on the north by the said belt, and line drawn 

 east for the length of 320 ps., to a bounded tree standing in the woods; on the east, with a 

 line drawn south from the end of the former line, until you meet with the exterior bounded 

 tree of Robt. Troop, called Scotland Yard ; on the south, with the said land ; on the west, 

 with the said river, containing, and now laid out for, 400 acres, more or less. 



JUNE 5th, 1663. Laid out for Cap. Robt. Troop, of this province, a parcel of land in 

 Charles county called Scotland Yard, lying on the east side of the Anacostia river, begin- 

 ning at a bounded hickory standing by the river side, and running north by the river for 

 breadth the length of 250 ps., to a bounded oak ; bounding on the north with a line drawn 

 east into the woods for the length of 320 ps., to a bounded oak ; on the east, with a line 

 drawn south from the end of the former line, until you intersect a parallel line drawn from 

 the first bounded hickory ; on the south, with the said parallel ; on the west, with said 

 river, containing, and now laid out for, 500 acres, more or less. 



Below is written : Valuable and ancient documents in relation to the taking up of the 

 tract of land called Rome, on the site of which now stands the city of Washington, respect- 

 fully presented to the Mayor and Councils of the city by 



ROB. Y. BRENT. 



APRIL 26, 1837. 



