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fid from the banks. The situation of the upper 
town is very pleasing; it stands on an elevated 
spot and commands a fine prospect of the Falls 
of the river,, and of the adjacent country on the 
opposite side. The best houses stand here, and 
also the capitol or statehouse. From the op¬ 
posite side of the river this building appears 
extremely well, as its defects cannot be ob¬ 
served at that distance, but on a closer in¬ 
spection it proves to be a clumsy ill shapen pile. 
The original plan was sent over from France 
by Mr. Jefferson, and had great merit; but Ills 
ingenious countrymen thought they could im¬ 
prove it, and to do so, placed what was in¬ 
tended for the attic story, in the plan, at the 
bottom, and put the columns on the top of it. 
In many other respects, likewise, the plan was 
inverted. This building is finished entirely with 
red brick ; even the columns themselves are 
formed of brick ; but to make them appear like- 
stone, they have been partially whitened with 
common whitewash. The inside of the build¬ 
ing is but very little better than its exterior 
part. The principal room is for the house of 
representatives; this is used also for divine 
service, as there is no such thing as a church 
in the town. The vestibule is circular, and very 
dark; it is to be ornamented with a statue of 
General Washington, executed by an emi¬ 
nent artist in France, which arrive# while I 
