The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-24
FOR THE MADISONIAN.
Mr.. EDITOR

Mr. EDITOR:
presume you did not intend, in your notice of
Morisons Strangers Guide" is called to do
any INJUSTICE to another work, entitled ga New Guide
to Washington - by Mr.. Watterston, when you say
that 60 many minor publications, similar in character
to the one under consideration, have, from time to
time made their appearance, but like Congressional
Directories, seemed endowed with vitality only for
the season which gave them birth" You cannot,
presume intend to include the very full and satisfac-
tory guide of Mr.. W., which every one who has read
it has pronounced to be such work both strangers
and citizens required. All the descriptions of the
public buildings institutions, societies, schools &c.
&c., as permanent as are these buildings, &c.
themselves and the history and topography of Wash
ngion satisfactorily given, because they have been
furnished by one who has long been resident, and
who has, from his boyhood as he truly states, noted
its progress changes, and improvements with great
accuracy. 1t has nothing of the character of Con-
gressional Directory but is permanent as the works
and objects it describes. The work you mention
may be, perhaps, superior as a picture book, to any
that has yet been pubshed but the visiter and citi
zen want something more solid useful, and interest
ing than mere engravings, no matter with what skill
they may have been executed. The public are, how
ever perfectly competent to decide on the merits of
EACH and every will, of course, consult his own
taste and fancy in the purchase. My object, in these
remarks, is to prevent the publisher of the " New
Guide" from sustaining any injury from the notice
you have published in your paper of Monday, with
out any design, am sure, to make any nvidous
comparison In Justice to the author and publisher,
would ask you to insert the following very correct
of Mr. Ia from fha National Inteli-
gencer
From the Daily National htelligencer, Feb IL, 1912.
A NEW GUIDE TO WASHINGTON, BY GEO.
WATTERSTON.
This is the title of a work, published by Mr..
Farnham MIR. Watterston is extensively known
writer of much experience, facility, and taste. Our
own community too well acquainted with his
merits and capacity, for them to require any notice to
recommend either to their approval; but this work
appeals to the patronage OF many, to whom, stran
gers he may be unknown. AS an old resident Of
Washington, he is master OF large variety OF local
knowledge of great interest respects Washington
and its envrons for which may search in vain in
books, and which must soon perish with those in
whose memories alone it is recorded.
This work imbodies many cherished recolections
of our bygone history 1t treats of the works of art
of the Metropolis, in candid sensible, and discrimi-
mating manner Nor is this all 1t is most eminent
ly useful in its character not to the stranger only, but
to resident population 1t contains the history OF
the public works here and in the vicinity, highly vau
able for constant reference 1t contains brief
mary of the laws which bear upon all, and affect their
interests more largely than at first sight they may be
led to suppose. Indeed, it is useful and agreeable
book and sincerely hope that the laborious enter
prise of the author in the original composition OF ma
ny of its pages and judcious compilation of the mat
ter constituting the other may meet reward in the
sale of the work. proportioned to the actual benefit
which he has conferred upon the public by its pro-
duction. H.