Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-06-08
WOODSTOCK, VIRGINIA.:

leauge, Dr.. WArsoS, of Bo:e'ourt,
both deleg ates to the Convention, we
went forth to witness the glory and
grandeur of the nation. To represent
10 those of our readers, who have new
er visited Washington, the architectu-
raj magnifcence of Uncle Sans pro-
per'y,-their marble columns, unriva|-
led sculpture and paintings, towering
domes, and symetrical structure
would require skill in descriptive
writing, to which we lay no claim
Let few general remarks, therefore,
suffice. The Capitol is situated on a
beautiful knoll, near the centre of the
public grounds, which embrace an en-
closure of about twenty-five acres.-
East of the capitol, perhaps fifty yards,
is a marble statue, elevated few feet
from the ground, in sitting posture;
al,ho' :hls statue exhibits the highest
degree of perfection of skill, yet we
did not admire the design, or character
Of the statue: one is more forcibly re-.
minded of the fabulous deities in hea-
then anthology, than the illustrious Fa.
Their of his Country, GEORGE WASH
1NGToN, whom it is intended 10 repre-
sent. TWAS his career as military
chieliain that placed him high above The
rest of his countrymen, in the eyes Of
the world, and therefore we think that
he should have been represented in a
standing posture, in full military CO.'S
tune, blended with such devices as
should indicate the full measure of his
fame as a civilian. But we will not
urge our opinion on this point; it may
be more the result of want of taste in
us, thar. lack of appropriateness in the
design of the statue.-The next statue
that attracts the strangers attention, is
that of the reputed discoverer of Amer
lea, CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, near
the entrance to the Rotunda; it is al
mos: in front of that of WASHINGTON,
and is master piece; it is in a stand
! ing posture, bending forward, with the
left arm thrown out at full length, ele.
waited TO level with the face: in the
palm of the hand is ball about six in.
ches in diameter; while viewing this
ball, we were fogcibly reminded of the
declaration of the great Missouri Sena-
tor, "Solitary and alone, I put this ball
in notion" On the right side of this
statue is a figure representing an Indian
maid, in STOPPING position, with her
face little averted from that of the
former; this latter is we'll executed, yet
we do not exactly admire the manner
in which the drapery falls in the rear.
Here, again, our taste may be at fault;
the man who schiselled' it no doubt un.
derstood his business.
10 stranger in Washington, the
collections at the Patent Office present
extraordinary attractions. He has be-
fore him specimens of skilful work.
manship and genius, in every branch
Of mechanical science, not only of his
own country, but of the known world !;
the whole animal kingdom, embracing
the largest and the smallest f; the whole
feathered tribe; the tenants ofthe seas,
the lakes, the rivers; minerals, shells,
fossils; fruits of every kind; meet the
astonished gaze of the visiter. Here
he sees the military dress of WASHING
TON, his saddle, his sword, his spurs !;
eloquent mementos of other Gays; there
is Franklin's old Ramage press, his
cane; and a thousand relics Of the days
that 'tried mems souls. '-In the same
enclosure with the Patent Office, is the
Botanical Garden. Here are al de.
scriptions of shrubbery, tropical fruits;
coffee andtea growing; medical plants;
ho:- productions, SC. &c. 1t is
worth visit TO the d. c. to witness
these splendid collections.
Among the buildings in Washing.
ton, next to the capitol, for magnif.
cence, are those occupied by the Post
Office and Treasusy Departments; the
former is constructed of white granite.
Indeed all the public buildings reflect