Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-13
WASHINGTON, March 4th, 1929.

The ides OF March are come--aye, and al
most gone TOO; and though am tired, and more
81 for the couch than for my wiring chair,
must redeem my pl omise by giving YOU some
.croun, Of the Coronation. Washington has
| exhibited busy and various picture Tor the
| las, week; it has not been so crowded since the
memorable days Of the Missouri Question; nor
did it ever, probably, contain so various, VIII
no, say, so motley, population. here Is
one particular in which this city resembles Lon
don, and other grea capitals IN Europe: 1t Cls'
plays all the varieties OF personal appearance
which distinguish the different portions OF the
nation itself, with some o. those which mark
the inhabitants OF foreign lands. Here you see
the sunburnt visage, sparkling eye, & free reck.
less carriage Of the South, chastened, however,
with an air Of urbanity and polish the poler
COMPLEXION, the thoughtful look, the keen far
seeing eve, aud cold manner Of The North & the
Fast. with the bold, confident, half educated,
and demanding manner oil the West, softened
sy sa4h tF5shsssd By his LATER variety
of the american man,-in all Its shades OF di
ference, from the shaggy hunter of the rocky
mountains, to the Kentucky bully, aud The large
linibed, noble looking, hardy subduer of the TO.
rest, who once welded his own axe, and now
enjoys the independence he has so hardly earn
ed Grea, numbers Of young men, some Of whom
look as if they had footed i, all the way from
Tennessee, are seen walking arm in arm, and
gazing on all around them with the vacant
stare Of undisguised curiosity and wonder. In
the Hobbies Of the House OF Reprcsentatives you
STE a superior ORDER VI these. mep-the leading
politicians and The dauntleSs heroes Of The last
war,-scmr e them with locks as white as
snow all with risages which mark them as
richly gifted by raiuie and able 10 shape their
own fortune On one sofa you will recognize
Gem raj Mc.Arthur-his honest, open, benevo-
lent lace BIZ aiming kndn. SIS, but always terrible
TO his country's enemies: On another, Governor
Clarke, with his high piled forehead, searching
eye, and lis grey hair confined in a ribbon be-
hind on ano her but it is endless to particu
larize, and besidrs you wanr all accoun Of the
Coronation. Well, the morning dawhed pro-
pitiously, and the air, all sof,ness, seemed as
lonIshed at the roar Of cannon which rudely
shook its stiffness.
The President was not 10 be inaugurated till
twelve, yet it was scarcely ligh, before the
streets began 10 be alive with moving groups.
This may be, in part accounted for by the in
stinct which sets men on foot whenever any
great public event rouses their minds from its
wonted inaction, and partly from the fact that
travellers are always early risers, and the city
is full Of travellers,
To Washing,onians, however, an inaugura>
tion is nothing very new strange, and /
took my coffee with all my usual comfor, and
composure, notwi,hs anding some gentle sug-
ges,ions from the female part Of the circle that
we should be too late to get good places. Ac-
cording to the arrangement of the committee,
the ceremony was to take place in the portico
Of the eastern from, Of the Capitol. This por-
,ico, you know is OF a level with the second |
floor Of the building-il extends along the cen,
trail part Of it, Exclusive of the wings, and
rests upon rusticaled arches below, being app
preached in front by an immense flight Of stone
steps, said to be the largest now in existence
This noble flight Of steps is supported On each
side by large abutmeuts, square and solid, and
exhibiting at the top large level space, (des.
tined one day TO be adorned by groupes of SOUL
ture) affording very favorable post of obser-
va.ion, which was early occupied on the present
OCCASION In front Of this poffco, there is
wi6e open STAGE, extending TO the circular iron
ratings which enclose the great square, piece
of ground containing about seven acres, sur
rounded without by beautiful promenade plan.
ted with trees, aud oraamented within with
shrubbery. Between the two central columns
Of he 2or;ico were placed two seats, Ole for the
Presiden, -elect, and the other for the Chief JUS
tice. On either side Of these were sofas for
the senator's, and chairs for the members of