Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-01-21
THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY Fl, IsaI.
From The National Intallissncer.

n
Curiosity led me 10 pay visit, the
other day, 10 the new Pa,cn, Office build.
ing, Of the architectural beauty of which
had heard a good deal said. approach.
ed it along Eighth street from the Avenue,
which affords view of the poriico only,
but, as you advance, the whole facade
makes II appearance. This fine edifice
is situated on F, between Seventh and
Eighth streets west, on public square,
which, contrary TO the plan Of all the other
reservations in this city, projected some
distance into the street, for the purpose, II
is thought, ofaiford.ng room for portico
or colonnade in front. The portico of
this building, so far as extends, is CO.
pied from the Parthenon, or Temple Of Nil
nerva, nj Athens. The columns, in
double row, of the Doric order, are of
lree.stone, eighteen feet IN circumference,
and of course very massive. The pedl-
ment is not yet completed. The base
ment story Of this edtice and the steps
leading to the s.ylobate ofthe portico, are
Of granite, and the superstructuro, two
stories high, is of freostone. The facade
is ornamenied with pilasters, or antr,
which separate the windows, and the roof
is covered with copper. According 10
the architect, the building is intended TO
be carried around the square, presenting
fronts on each of the four streets, and
forming spacious court in the centre.
You enter the eastern door of the base
ment story into spacious passage, rum
ming from east 10 west the whole length
of the building, through which large
wheeled machines can be drawn. On
each side Of this passage are rooms for
the deposte of fuel, large and heavy mod.
els, &c. In the centre springs semi
circular staircase, consisting OF two flights
| of stairs, which continues TO the second
and last story. The passage in the first
story, into which you enter through the
portco, is like the one below, and on each
side east Of the hall are commodicus apart
ments for the accommodation of the Com
missioner Of the Patent Office, his clerks,
examiners, draughtsmen, &c. The pas
sage opens into a spacious and beautiful
model. room, in which the varIons models
and specimens of American ingenuity are
deposited in glass cases placed opposite
the windows on each side, aud so arrang.
cd as to be easily seen or examined, II ne
cessary. But decidedly the most magnil.
icent apartment in the building is the ex.
hbiton. room, which occupies the whole
of the secord story, aud, for It's architec.
ture, simplicity, and beauty, and the pur.
pose for which it was designed and con.
strucied, is perhaps surpassed by no other
IN the world. Standing at one extreaiiiy,
and looking down to the other, through n
long vista, 274 feet in extent, the perspec.
tive is most beautiful. 1t consists Of
double row Of stone columns, which sup.
port succession OF brick arches finely
proportoned, and corresponding in depth
with the rooms below. The floor is paved
with tesselated stone, the columns and
stone work are painted white, an the light
is admitted through the numerous windows
on either side and at the end of the build
ing, and small lantern in the centre lets
in the light from above The apartment.
is intended far the exhibition Of the vari-
Gus specimens Of manufacture, &c. made
in This country, and which certainly could
be nowhere seen to greater advantage
| than here.
The pitch of the roof is very low, and
from its top one ofthe most splendid pam
oramic views presents itself that can well
be imagined.
The gentleman who furnished the very
mertorious design Of this fine building, is
| Mr.. WV. p. ELLIOT, at present Survey.
| or of the city of Washington, to whom
Congress appropriated small and very
inadequate sum as compensation. The
plan was executed by Mr.. MILLS, Arch.
lect Of the Public Buildings, who may
have made some alterations in the origin.
al plan Of the interior, but 70 what extent
am not apprized. The whole building
is fine specimen Of American architec-
ture, and admirably suited to The purpose
for which il was erected.
wAsHIN6TONiAN