Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-01-02
Correspondence Of the Lewisrown Gazette.

Correspondence Of the Lewsrown Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29th, 1851.
MR EDIroR :-Presuming that lew hhes
now and then from the seat OF government
would be acceptable to your'el ana re1ueIs'
and having nothing else TO do at present take
the liberty of inditing few dIsJoInted para
graphs.
Congress is doing nothing, and is expected to
perseyere in the same until alter the holidays,
when il is thought they viii have their hands
full, if they do half they ought to, and continue
to do so much they ought not to do. great
MANY of the members have left the city, the
Senate not being able to raise quorum on Fri
day and Saturday, in consequence. OF so many
being absent. On Friday the House adjourned
over until Tuesday, when they VIII doubtless
dourn again until Friday, and so till Monday
again MIR. FoorE has left the Senate, and gon
home preparatory to assuming the gubernatorial
chair Of Mississippi His departure was looked
to with great satisfaction by many persons here,
and I believe the members of the Senate feel
that they are rid Of a great pest IN his absence.
There is another person. however, whose ao-
sence creates other and different feelings. The
brightest star in that body-and to say what
think, the brightest star in the galaxy Of Ameri-
can statements fast waning, and diminishing
in splendor almost to extinction. allude 10
tho Hon. HENRY CLAY, who, al last accounts,
was thought to be in condition never to return
to the Senate. His absence from the delIoeTa-
tions of that body Is much regretted ny It's mem
bers, and by the people generally, who feel that
in him they lose wise and valuable counsellor.
The papers say he has rendered his resignation
to the kentucky Legislature, though have seen
no official notice TO that effect.
The general topic of conversation at present
is the anticipated visit Of LEWIS kossUTH TO
this city He is expected here on Monday next
and suppose, will be, if not detained at BaIti-
more. | am not aware of any particular arrange
ments being made for his reception beyond
what Congress has dOne-merely extending TO
him a " cordial welcomen as the Governor OF
Hungary. His speeches, since his liberation,
have altered the opinion Of the American peo-
pie in regard TO him 10 great extent, and he
viii not receive that universal admiration that
he would, had he spoken and acted differently.
In fact | was surprised TO hear such expressions
Of opinion towards him as have heard, although
| myself have admired him less for some time
than did when he was at the head Of the Hun
garian revolution. His course is calculated to
lniure him and his cause with the mass Of the
people OF this country, who are generally op-
posed TO being drawn into difficulties when they
can avoid it. However, he will be the lion Of
the day wherever he appears, so long as he
mains with Us, and carry with hum when he
leaves hearty g God speed from thousands,
but beyond this DO not think he will succeed
Wednesday, December oath, 1851, will be
long remembered by the people Of Washington.
About one O'Clock in the morning the city was
disturbed by the cry OF fire, OccasOned by the
burning Of a tavern and eating house on the
corner of 9Th and ID streets. This building con-
tinued burning until daylight, and while atten-
ton drawn in that quarter the astounding
news circulated that the Capitol was on
fire; Few persons believed it, and before suffi-
cient help could be obtained, the Congressional
Library was envelopcd IN a sheet Of flame be-
yond redemption Everything contained in the
main room was entirely destroyed, and it was
only by the strongest exertions that the adjoin-
ing rooms and their contents and IN fact the
Capitol itself, were saved from sharing the same
fate Ii was indeed Ptiable sight to see one
shelf after another of valuable books and papers
tumble down into the flames beneath, and burn
to ashes without being able to save one-and
why Because water could not be got to sup
ply the engines in time to make them seryiceable.
1t, however, gave the fremen chance 10 begin
the celebration of Christmas, which they did by
having a bit of row in the afternoon on Penn
sylyana Avenue.
Christmas was considered dull day here
except to some, who abused it by getting drunk
and rowdying, which gave the police work TO do
saw three four marched off to the watch /
house, and many more that ought to have been
on the same road-naybe they were before
morning
Sunday was a miserably disagreeable day in
Washington. Having rained all night, it was
wet, and the rain freezing on the pavement, ii
was sippy-so that it was wet and siippy all day I
1t was almost impossible to navigate the pave
ment the distance of square without your up
per person coming in contact with the ice in /
very rude and unceremonious manner. The nu- /
merous irregularities in the pavement made the |,
street preferable, so that nearly all foot passen-
gers would not pretend to walk the pavement /
but took the middle Ct the street for it. The /
weather has been unusually cold here for the /
past ten DAYS or more, the Potomac being frozen /
so as to stop the boats from running for some
DAYS Considerable snow remains on the ground
in this region, which is not a common occur
renee, especially so early in the season.
But as | have already extended this letter be-
yond what | intended when commenced, viii
conclude by wishing you and your readers a
Happy New Year, and many returns Of the
same.
Yours, &c, }.