BUILDINGS. 
85 
have it finished with the utmost expedition. 
It is any thing but beautiful. The capitol, at 
the same period, was raised only a very little 
way above the foundation. 
The stone, which the president's house is 
built with, and such as will be used for all the 
public buildings, is very similar in appearance 
to that found at Portland in England; but I 
was informed by one of the sculptors, who 
had frequently worked the Portland stone in 
England, that it is of a much superior qua¬ 
lity, as it will bear to be cut as fine as mar¬ 
ble, and is not liable to be injured by rain or 
frost. On the banks of the Patowmac they 
have inexhaustible quarries of this stone ; good 
specimens of common marble have also been 
found; and there is in various parts of the 
river abundance of excellent slate, paving stone, 
and lime stone. Good coal may also be had. 
The private houses are all plain buildings ; 
most of them have been built on speculation, 
and still remain empty. The greatest num¬ 
ber, at any one place, is at Green Leafs 
Point, on the main river, just above the en¬ 
trance of the eastern branch. This spot has 
been looked upon by many as the most con¬ 
venient one for trade; but others prefer the 
shore of the eastern branch, on account of the 
superiority of the harbour, and the greatdepth 
of the water near the shore. There ar& 
