WASHINGTON. BALTIMORE. 123 



begins to resemble England. The farm-houses are substan- 

 tial, the fields often enclosed with thorn hedges, the wheat and 

 sown grass a lively green. After traversing some extent of 

 woodland country we reached Washington in the evening. 



This city, which is the seat of government, has been laid 

 out on a scale of magnificence, the first outline of which will 

 not soon, if ever, be filled up. It is not a place where busi- 

 ness is likely to centre, and the President has no court to at- 

 tract the residence of the wealthy. Thus, except when Con- 

 gress is in session, there are few people of consideration in 

 the city, except the President and his ministers, the heads of 

 departments, and foreign ambassadors. Standing on the dome 

 of the capitol the fine broad streets are seen radiating in 

 straight lines, but all terminating abruptly in the primeval 

 forest. The capitol is a building of great magnificence, two 

 wings of white marble having recently been added to it. The 

 two branches of the national legislature occupy each wing, 

 and ornament is very lavishly bestowed in the decoration of 

 the interior of both. Each member has a desk in front of his 

 seat, with his name affixed to it, the seats being drawn for by 

 lot at the commencement of every new Congress. The Smith- 

 sonian Institute, the Observatory, and the Patent Office, are 

 the three other public buildings in Washington most worthy 

 of inspection. 



The country between Washington arrd Baltimore is undu- 

 lating and wooded, but the soil all the way is either a wet 

 clay or sand, a poor country for man or beast. 



The city of Baltimore, with a population of 170,000, lies 

 low* on a bay of the Chesapeake. . The whole country here is 

 indented with bays, which are both picturesque and conven- 



* Baltimore is built on several hills. The business part only is along 

 the river most of the city being elevated. AM. ED. 



