Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-01-01

carried, mat Dill on TIC same SUBJECT,
which has been prepared by the Commits
sioner ofthe Land OfEce, be also sent TO
the same committee.
The report Of the committee having been
received, the ayes and nays We're called
for when the decision was 50 in the affirm
alive and 81 in the negative; the Speaker
voted in the negative. the motion was
therefore lost.
Mr. Ficklin, Of H., moved that the bill
be cngrossed and read a third time; and
the prcviousquestion was called for. which
in the view Of the Speaker, cut of all de-
\ bate.
| Tins decision was appealed against but
the appeal was ordered to be laid on the
! table.
A motion was made to ad journ and lott.
The Bin was lhcn read a, length
Mr.. Cabcll, Of Florida moved that when
the House adjourn it adjourn over I'LL Fri
day.
The remainder Of the day was spent
upon the Bounty Land Bill.
Destruction orsiac library OF Con-
i.rcss by Fire.
Yesterday morning, between seven and
eight o'clock, our citizens were startled by
the alarm that the Capitol was on fire
A moments reflection, however, Induced
not few To believe TINT this was false
report, conceiving that the cdifcc was
proof against such destructive agency
However, smoke was first seen issuing
from the library, and tie guard who was
then on duty effected an entrance by break
ing through panel Of the door. A table
in the room was discovered in flames which
extended TO the shelves in the alcovcs on
the northeast side. By the time assistance
arrived, the room was SO dcnscly filed
with fire and smoke. that those who had
entered were forced TO retire, bringing with
them only, We have been Informed. four or
FIVE Of the portraits of the Presidents
which adorned the walls. The contents Of
the library were, therefore, left TO the ac-
ton of the FIRE. 1t was not long before the
flames darted through the ceiling, which
was of wood, stucsoed, aal soon extend
ed to The roof which was Of the same ma
terial, sheahed with copper.
Papers and documents i. the commit
tee rooms adjoining, and the original man
uscripts Of tie House Of Representatives
in the vicinity, were quickly removed 10
places of safety, and guards placed over
them.
Shortly after The alarm tl.erc we're thou
sands Of persons on The ground, many Of
them rendering assistance by passing up
buckets, which were filed with water at
the fountain on the west front Of the Cap
tol, a company Of marines, ordered from
the barracks, likewise were actively en-
ployed. The frcmcn, notwithstanding
their excessive fatigue and exposure to one
Of the (perhaps) coolest mornings of the
season at the fire Of the Franklin House,
uobIy came to the rescue. a section was
brought into the rotundo, and an engine
placed on the east portico, which were
worked. The water, in the carly part Of
the day, frozc as it reached The ground, and
cakes of ice were discernible on many a
coat.
The library, situated in the centre Of the
west front, was constructed with great
taste and beauty. The room, nincty-two
feet in length, thirty-iour in width, and
thirty-six in height, having alcovcs over
which were two galleries extending
throughout the apartment. The room was
handsomely ornamcntcd, and the light was
admitted both from ample windows and
from three skylghts above Paintings,
marble busts, and cabinets, were part Of
the attractions in addition 10 the ELEGANT
folios Of colored prints, and choice col
| of I'll
cd countries, and from international ex-
changes. One Of the cabinets had recent
ly been placed in the library. The frame
work was Of mahogany, and in the maple
panels, covered with glass, were inserted
choice bronze medals, commemorative Of
events IN ancient times, and which were
deposited through the agency Of NJ. Waite
| mare.
Mr. Jcficrson's library, embracing about
seven thousand volumes, was purchased
IN 1919 for twenty-ihrec Thousand dallars:
and this, we believe, formed the nucleus of
the fifty five thousand volumes hich have
since accumulated. Congress las, for
series OF years, annually appropriated five
or SIX thousand dollars for the purchase Of
books and papers; and it is estimated that
these have cost the Government, in adj
ton to the Jefferson purchase, about two
hundred thousand dollars.
However, many Of these volumes, we
learn, were kept in two small rooms adj
joining The library. Among them were
eight thousand law books, and twclvcthou-
sand other works. These, it IL reported,
were saved; if, SO, tie number Of volumes
destroyed is thity-fve thousand: some Of
winch cannot be replaced.
We rel eat, that the contents Of the main
library room, with the triling exceptions
already mentioned, were entirely DESTROY
ed; as was Likewise the roof ofthat por-
ton of the building. The exterior of The
wall Oh the west front is considerably
blackcacd by the action Of the FIRE, and
several cracks are disccrnible, which may
| render It necessary to rebuild the parts
which have been thus injured
While the library was in flames there
was a serious apprehension that the fire
Would extend to the dome, the spiral stair
| way leading 10 which was considerably
charrcd. Had this event occurred, the
damage must have been more considerable.
and perhaps the two chambers Of Congress
would have been so damaged as 10 require
Congress to remove into temporary quar-
tiers elsew here.
We noticed on the premises the Prcsi-
dent Of the United States, with several Of
the heads of Departments; who evidently
evinced much interest with regard to the
preservation Of the public property.
la the evening number OF marines
We're placed in various parts Of The Capitol
as guards.
There can scarcely he doubt chat an
investigation viii be made al to the origin