The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-08
FIRST OF MAY.-cAPIToL GROUNDS.

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The last two months have been characterized by cold
wet, windy and disagreeable weather. Never in this
climate to recollection has winter contended
fercely against the advances of spring. We have
had succession of snow storms, rains heavy clouds
and high winds. The earth has been wet and cold
the buds and blossoms have come slowly forth and
late-the seeds sown by the husbandman have been
chilled and rotted in the EARTH and in parts of
country fearful apprehensions and actual distress
have been produced among the farmers We have
known gardens made early in March, even farther
North than this Now, it has not been deemed pru-
dent prepare the gardens here and the frat of May
is past
May-day, hitherto SO gay and joyous, has come and
gone, and no Flower Queen is seen. The elements
have dealt rashly with her subjects. Such ar have
ventured FORTH are chilled and dropping, and others
have hidden their heads till the sun shall begin to
drive away the wintry damps and the Queen of May
shall come forth in new life and beauty. Then will
the tulip and the hyacnth the lily and the rose, vie
with each other for the favor Of their queen and the
face Of nature will begin glory in the beauty of tho
flowers and the whole air become redoisnt with their
delightful perfumes Sad weather; how have you
stunned the flowers, and disappointed their fair lady
patronesses. Surly dog; we trust the sun and the
earth will triumph you yet and, in their rccpro
cal achievements, give US assurance that, although
| clouds and darkness may endure for time, yet sun
shine and joy come at last. K. ..
If the King of Day" should condescend to show
himself for any length of time again to admiring
world commend the ladies, who love to promenade,
to the envrons Of the Capitol There are few spots
in the world beautiful than those green arbors,
tasteful flower BEDS jet deaux, grassy slopes, monu
ments artificial lakes, and pleasant shades. There is
delightful mixture of works of art, though few and
the sweetest productions of nature. When time shall
have matured the plan of the Government it will be
perhaps the most beautiful artificial enclosure in the
Union 1t is becoming more and more frequented in
the morning and evening walks of our citizens, by
ladies and gentlemen and is the only public en-
closure suitable for promenading, it will finally become
to Washington, though on a smaller scale, what the
Mall is to Boston, or what the Regents Park is to
London. But the mere mention of Regents Rark, or
the Battery or the Boulevards are, of course sui-
cient to excite the envy Of Washingtonian. The
Capital Of the United States has public enclosures,
except such as necessary to hem in the Govern
ment Buildings, and they only large enough to
keep the world outside at convenient distance when
the gates are closed.
But the vegetation and the weather at the present
moment are at least four weeks behind their time"
II is stated in our exchange papers, that there was
,leighing few days ago in the State of New York.
effects produced, it appears to us, by the immense
quantities of ice which have drfted down in noun
famous masses from the polar regions. The Great
Western arrived last week at New York, reports that
size coasted along some seventy miles of ice islands,
some of them more than tapo hundred feet high of
New Foundland.
The packet ship South America from Liverpool. re-
ports the same fact. .
u This unwecome neighbor has been pouring in upon
us for some weeks past succession Of N +. winds
and storms, which the terror of the invalid and tho
annoyance of the healthful.