Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-06

and instead OF the DuSy pushing uusie VI neh'
shutting on to sale of "dry goods" or "Prime
broad stufs,' you see very well dressed person
ages lounging leisurely up and down PennsyiVa-
| MIA Avenue.
Mr.. Plshey Thompson. the English booksellers,
with his pretty collection OF all sorts OF pretty
literature, fresh from London, and Mr.. Some.
body, the jeweIer, with his brilliant shop full of
,rnkets, are the principal points Of attraction and
business. What contrast to all other Amerl-
can cities! The members, who pass several
months every year in this lounging easv way.
with no labor but little talking and with the
douce,r of eight dollars day to pay them for 1t,
must feel the change sadly when their term OF
public service is over.
There is another circumstance which renders
the evening parties at Washington extremely
unlike those of other places in the Union; this Is
the great majority Of gentlemen. The expense,
the trouble, the necessity OF ruling eye at
home, one or all Of these reasons, prevents the
members ladies from accompanying them to
Washington; at least, heard Of very few who
had their wives with them. The female society
is chiefly to be found among the families OF the
foreign ministers, those of the officers OF state,
and of the few members, the wealthiest and most
aristocratic of the land, who bring their families
with them. Some few independent persons re-
side in or near the city, but this is class so thin
y scattered that they can hardly be accounted a
part of the population.
But. strange to say, even here theatre cannot
be supported for more than few weeks at time.
| was told that gambling is the recreation OF the
gentlemen, and that it is carried to very conslde-
rable extent; but here, as elsewhere within the
country, it is kept extremely we'll out OF sight
do not think l was present with pack OF cards
dozen times, during more than three years that
renamed in the country. Billiards are much
PLAYED, though in most places the amusement Is
illegal 1t often appeared 10 me that the OLD wo-
men Of state made tho laws, and the young
men broke them.
Notwithstanding the diminutive size OF the
city, we found much to see. and to amuse Us.
The patent office is curious record OF the Ter
tility Of the mIEd Of man, when left to IFS own
resources; but it gives ample proof also that IT'S
not under such circumstances it is most usefuly
employed. This patent Office contains models OF
all the mechanical inventions that have been pro.
duced in the Union, and the number is enormous.
asked the man who showed these, what proper
ton Of them had been brought into use; he said
about one in thousand, be told me, also, that
they chiefly proceeded from mechanics and agr.
cuturists settled in remote parts OF the country,
who had begun by endeavoring to hit upon some
continuance to enable them to get along without
sending some Thousand and odd miles Tor the
thing they wanted. If the Contrivance succeed
ed they generally became so fond OF this offspring
Of their ingenuity, that they brought 1t to ashlnS-
ton for a patent.
At the Secretary of States office We were shewn
autographs Of all the potentates with whom the
Union were in alliance; which, believe, pretty
well includes all. To the parchments bearing
these royal signs manualwere appended, OF course,
the official seals of each, enclosed in gold or sill
yer boxes of handsome workmanship: was anus
ed by the manner in which one Of their own, just
prepared for the Court Of Russia, was displayed
to Us, and the superiority Of their decorations
ponted out. They were superior, and III much
better taste than the rest, and only wish that
the feeling that induced this display would spread
70 every corner Of the Union, and mix itself with
every act and with every sentiment. Let Anne.
RIGA give fair portion of her attention to the arts
and the sraces that embeish life, and | will make
her another visit, and write another book as un-
like this as possible.
Among the royal signatures, the only ones
which much interested me, were two from the
hand of Napoleon. The earliest OF these, when
he was first consul, was most llleglble scrawl,
and, as the tradition went, was written on horse
back; but his writing improved greatly after ne
became an emperor, the subsequent signature De.
ing fimly and clearly written.- longed to steal
both.
The purity of the American character, form
ed and founded on the purity OF the American
government, was made evident to our senses by
the display of all the offerings Of esteem and re.
gard which had been presented by various sover-
egns to the different American ministers VINO
had been sent to their courts. The object OF The
law which exacted this deposit from every inht-
vidual so honored, was, they told US, to prevent
the possibility Of bribery being used to ,s corrupt
any envoy of the Republic. ! should think It
would be better way TO select for the office such
men as thew felt could not be seduced by
sword ora snuff: box. But they doubtless kno"
their own business best.
The bureau for Indian affairs contains soom
IF great interest: the walls entirely covered
with original portraits Of all the chiefs who, from
time to time, have come to negotiate with their
great father, as they call the President These
portraits are BY Mr.. King, and, it cannot be
doubted, are excellent likenssses, as are all por-