The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-02-05
From our New York Cores
pendent.
NEw YoRK, January %, 1913.

Two day \ VISIT nt washington una ~ no CIV
sees new things and feels interested in then
without desire to talk about them, PROPOSE
to give you a short account of what came un
der my observation while at the Capital.
As your correspondent 81, p. F.' has 81
recently given you an interesting and faithful
description of things in Congress- will con
fine myselfto other objects of interest in the
City.
The City of Washington is situated on the
Potomac, about 40 miles southwest of Bnlti'
more, on n site which was first pointed out by
the Father ofour Country as desirable spot
for the national metropolis. The City is laid
out on an extensive plan--too extensive for
convenience las il requires too much travel to go
from one point to another; the streets are spa
cious-so wide as to seem more like public
squares than thoroughfares. The Pennsylva-
MIA Avenue, running from the east to the west
end, is at least 400 feet wide; at the east end
of, and overlooking this avenue is the Capt.
tol--at the west end, and about two miles from
the Capitol is the Presidents or White House
The public buildings belonging to the differ
ent departments of Government are at great
distance apart the State Treasury, and War
Departments are not far from the Presidents
House; the General Post Office and the
Patent Office are about n mile from
the Capitol. No wonder that the City Of
Washington is called the Getty Of magnificent
distances"
The Post Office is a splendid edifice built of
white marble and presents an imposing APP
pearance. The Patent Office less dazzling
but rich, is built of brown sand stone or free
stone, and with the exception of the Capitol,is
the chief centre of attruction in Washington.
On the first floor of this spacious building,
are deposited for public exhibition, models of
all machines or improvements which have
been patented in the United States; and one
may spend days and weeks in examining yam
kee notions and still find something new
The second story is occupied by the Museum
of the National Institute, where are deposited
the collections of curiostics which have been
gathered from all parts of the world by the
Exploring Expeditions which have been out
under the auspices of Government. The
presents too which have been made to our
Presidents by foreign Sovereigns are placed
in this Museum. In one case we sec many ar
Ices formerly belonging to Gen Washington
tho sword which he used in the Revolution
airy service; the cane bequeathcd to him by
Franklin; and the coat and buckskin brecches
worn by him when he resigned his commission
in the army. (Speaking of these breeches-
there has recently been discovered a letter of
the old Generals which was read at the last
meeting of the New York Historical Society,
II. g tlao ,tl,n
He writes to n friend in England, requesting
him to order ofhis tailor pair of leather
brooches of the most approved fashion, and
we'll made; and to give particular directions TO
have them made "roomy in the scat.')
In other parts of the hall are collections of
minerals, shells, stuffed animals, birds, fishes
and reptiles, Indian and heather curiosities,
sc. Among the latter set of human
teeth with this descriptive account:-"A set
Of teeth presented to Purscr w. by one o. the
Chiefs of s. Wood Bay, taken by the latter
from the head of one of his enemies, whom he
had killed and eaten. three days previous--July
%, 1870" By the side ofthese was beautiful
necklace made of human teeth.
In the basement of this building is placed
the Sarcophagus--a huge stone coffin-which
was presented by Commodore Elliot to Gen.
Jackson, but refused by him, because, as his
worshippers say, he wished to return TO the
dust like true republican But perhaps it is
not too far-fetched to imagine his fear to have
been, that some centuries hence his remains,
if posted in this box, might be disturbed by
a degenerate ,down-trodden posterity, who had
been ground to the earth by long line of IL
surpers, of which he himself formed the head,
when he declared 81 take the responsibility"
disturbed, l say, by this degenerate race
who in prowling about, might by chance dis
cover and pounce upon the Sarcophagus, sup
posing it TO be the strong box of the old Sub
Treasury. Poor fellows-to see them raise the
lid and look do,on! Sub-TreasuIy there-but
,chore's the jinglc9
Among the visitors now at Washington, Mr.
Clay is decidedly and deservedly the most
conspicuous. He holds public levees daily at
his hotel from II to ~ clock, when all who
are DESTROYS of paying their respects to him
can do so. l availed myself of this privilege
yesterday lin company with one or two friends,
and as l am sure that this Statesman holds n
firm seat in the hearts of most of your readers,
they will perhaps excuse me if give n pnrtic-
ular account, approaching almost to gossip, of
this my first interview with him.
In approaching for the first time so distin-
guished parsonage one whose fame has
become world wide, and whose whole life has
entitled him to the veneration e. respect of his
country, person naturally expects to be a.
Dashed, if not completely overawed In meet
ing Mr. Clay, however, these feelings are very
| soon dsnelled by the gentle snavitv of his