Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-12-27
From the National Inteligenc6f, Dec 2s
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY DESTROYED
BY ElREI

THE NATIONAL LIBRARY DESTROYED !
BY FIRE
The hves which occurred Yesterday merning in our
lily will loug be remembered with dislincness OF
recollection Tar beyond ordinary conhagrstions. The
rst IN point OF time broke out little past o'clock
the franklin Hotel, at the northeast corner of d
nod Eighth streets, kept by Mr. Thomas Baker. 1t
vas communicated, as We learn, from the bedroom
ot lodgerin the upper story and had got great
lod OF the building befre the engines could be brought
10 bear upon it, that by efforts could the house be
saved, though the chief part of the furniture hap
PLY rescued from the devouIug element. The build
ing was owned by MIR Patrick Kavanagh, and was in
sured
The second fire, in point Of time, but by far the
most considerable in magnitude and importance, took
place about quarter 10 eight o'clock, in the spa
cious and beautiful main LibrarysR Dom of the Capitol
whereby about thirty FIVE thousand volumes OF most
choice and valuable books destroyed, together
with precious collections OF manuscripts, paintings,
maps charts medals statuary, aud articles of vertu,
the property of the Government and People Of the
United States. The origin OF the fire is developed in
mystery, which we hardly think will ever be cleared
up. From the best information have been able to
obtain, it appears that smoke fame, or BOTH were
observed through he windows from without. Imme-
diaely upon this Mr.. no W. JONES' one Of the guards
in charge of the Capitol, with another person a Mr.
Hollohou, forced their way into the Library by the
principal entrance and found that the large table at
the north end OF the room was on fie, together with
portion OF the shelving aud books in the alcoves on
the right northeast and between the table and the
door at the north end Ut the leading 10 the law
library.
At this time Mr.. Jones says that half dozen buck
cts OF water would have sufficed to extingush The fire.
His companion and himself, perceiving this, mmedi
aey ran below for the purpose of bringing the equsite
fluid, but the draught which their entrance had neces
sarily produced lent such vgor 10 the flames that by
the time they returned the whole was irrecoveY-
ably won to the power OF the destroying element
The flames seemed to glide aud above the gallery
il its material were OF the most combustibe char.
acter; for scarcely any apprecable time was occupied
n WHOI0 Vaued hal n RI val.
umes OF smoke and fire.
At the earliest possible moment the fire cornanies
OF the city repaired to the scene, the Columbia. as
think being the first; but its hose being in fozen
con ditou, from its few hours before at the fire
on Eight street, with the thermometer at zero had 10
be taken to the new gas factory the canal, TO be
th8wed. Five mGuteS atterwared the Anacosua en-.
CINE arrived and, its apparatus being in good working
condition, it was the first TO act with effect. In quick
succession seven engines the ground gallant.
Iy vlelng with each other 10 render service.
Very a body of United States Marines from The
Navy Yard we're ordered up to assist in bearing water,
Keeping order and protecting property; and very useful
indeed did they prove throughout the day A large
engine drawn up The ste s of the East Porco and
snotherrun into the Rotunda and from thence suppped
jet OF water of great power and efficiency. This
was done, we believe, without any injury being sus.
tanned by The great historical paintings around The Ro-
tunda walls.
Notwithstanding the fortunate circumstance that the
walls OF the Library rose so high as, in measure to
separate that department OF the Capitol edifice from
the rest, at least to the extent OF giving it distinct
roof it was found that fire had communicated 10 the
main root which was, however, stopped by the gal ant
members OF the Anacosa Company, who cot away
with their axes 80 much Of the root seemed to be in
harms way. La like manner, portion OF the stairway
leading TO the top of the dome having taken fire. as
extingulshed by the same devoted band.
The heat from the fire at the distance OF the pillars
10 front OF the Library, tor the fire itself never
reached them3 was SO great as to scale them off IN
places quarter OF an inch thick, taking not merely
the paIntln g but the stone under it.
We have stated above that about tiliry-6ye thOu-
sand volumes of books were destroyed; this is es-
mated from the supposed number saved. which is
twenty thousand the original contents of the Library
beng about htty-tlve thousand volumes in all The
contents only of the principal hall were consumed the
north room and Law Library not having been visited
by the fire. owing TO the thickness OF the intervening
walls.
Besides the books, number of superior paintings,
hanging around the Library walls and between the
alcoves, were included In the destruction. OF these
We can call to mind Stnarts paintings of the first FIVE
Presidents; original portrait Of Columbus; Sc
cond portrait OF Columbos an original portrait of
Peyton Randolph; port ait of Bolivar; portrait of
Baron Steuben by Pyne, an English artist of merit;
OF Balon De Kalb; one of Cortez and one of
Judge Hanson Of Maryland, presented the Library
by his family. Between eleven and twelve hundred
bronze medals of the Vattemare exchange, some of
them more than ten centuries old. and exceedingly
perfect amongst the yaluabes destroyed OF the
statuary burnt and rendered worthless recollect
statue OF Jefferson; Apollo ia bronze BY Mills; a
very superior bronze likeness of Washington; bust
Of Gen. Taylor by an Italian artist; and bust of La
We have only heard of three books saved from the
Principal Library, namely, the Librarians Register,
an account book, and an odd volume of Lord Kings
bury's magnificent work on the Antiquities of Mex
ico
We must say that we consider the system adopted
by the Government for the protection of the pubic
buildings and property as essentially defective
as the various CONGREGATIONS which have taken place
first of the War Office building. next of this verv
Library part of the Capitol in 1926, then of the Ttea
sury building, next OF the General-Post Office edfce
and aow the. Congressional Library again-musl
prove.
We must express our unqualified admiration for
and warm thanks to the ffemen and other citizens,
who, In such freezing night turned out to save from
destruction, If possible, the property of their fellow
citizens, and with an energy and perseverance beyond
all praise, continued their exerons till the next
day, when the fire at the Capitol was at length sub
dued, and they permitted to seek rest at home-n-
deed, the engines were, as late as P M yesterday
still throwing water into the burnt hall and upon its
immense mass OF charred and smoking steaming rub
bish, to ensure the entire extinction of the fire.
A strong guard of Marines from the Navy Yard
with body of the City Police, were posted last eve
ming around the Capitol, TO be ready in any new
emergency should arise. Congress- at its resumption
OF business on Friday, will doubt take measures
by which searching investigation into all the cir
cumstances of this sad CONFEDERATION will be had