148 ESTABLISHMENT OE A NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN. 



to have been forgotten, and the selection of the identical tract for 

 the United States Botanic Garden 13 years later would, therefore, 

 appear, so far as shown by any of the records now available, to have 

 had no relation to its former occupation by the Columbian Institute. 



Capitol Square at the time of the founding of the institute, in 1816, 

 was of limited extent, but soon after the rebuilding of the Capitol 

 had been started, following the visit of the British troops, a begin- 

 ning was made toward providing a park around that building. The 

 improvements were carried on under appropriations granted from 

 year to year. Excellent walks were constructed, trees, shrubbery, 

 and flowers were planted, and stretches of laAvn were laid out, under 

 the superintendence of John Foy, the first gardener, whose services 

 were also occasionally availed of in the botanic garden of the in- 

 stitute and whose place, after his death in 1833, was taken by John 

 Mayer. The adornment of the grounds at that time had already 

 begun to attract attention, though the improvements had only in part 

 been accomplished. 



As early as January 21, 1829, Charles Bulfinch, architect of the 

 Capitol, recommended to the House Committee on Public Buildings 

 the improvement of the grounds directly west of the Capitol, in- 

 cluding the site of the botanic garden, in the following words : 



The Capitol being now finished with the exception of these particular 

 objects, 1 beg leave to suggest that the public grounds immediately adjacent 

 should conform in some degree to the importance and high finish of the build- 

 ing. To bring them into such state, I propose that the triangular space be- 

 tween i he Pennsylvania and Maryland Avenues, and as far as Third Street 

 at the bend of the canal, should be permanently fenced in. This would se- 

 cure the improvement of the ground and render it practicable to form the 

 foni walks cm the avenues, one of which lias not been brought into form, and 

 the other is only paved one-half of the required width. 



While regarding this work as necessary to the betterment of the 

 public grounds in the immediate vicinity of the Capitol, and as such 

 likely at some period to be sanctioned by Congress, the committee 

 did not think it expedient to recommend it at that session. 



In the House of Representatives on June 7, 1831, a bill making ap- 

 propriations for the public buildings and grounds being under con- 

 sideration. "Mr. Vinton moved to extend the square west of the 

 Capitol to the foot of the slope, and to extend the Botanic Garden 

 to the canal, but the motion did not succeed." In the same connec- 

 tion Edward Everett proposed to amend the bill " by removing the 

 naval (Tripoli) monument from its present situation (on the west 

 terrace) to the square east of the Capitol, but. on a suggestion of 

 Mr. Watmough, modified the motion to remove it to the Botanic 

 Garden; but after some desultory discussion the motion was re- 

 jected." This monument remained on the west terrace of the Capitol 

 until 1860, when it was removed to Annapolis, Md. 



The " act in addition to the act entitled 'An act making appropria- 

 tions, in part, for the support of the Government for the year 1836, 

 and for other purposes.* " approved July 1. 1836, contained the fol- 

 lowing provisions: 



For extending the Capitol Square and improving the grounds within and 

 adjacent to the same as far west as the first street intersecting the Pennsylvania 

 Avenue from the east, the sum of $25,000. 



For conveying the surplus water of the Capitol to Botanic Gardens, making 

 a basin, and purchasing a fountain of Hiram Powers, $5,000. 



