Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-07-02

FRENCH OPINIONS.

From Mr.. WALsH's last Letter to the Journal If
commerce we extract the annexed passages
Inc last published Promenade of NJ AmpERr The ami;
nent French writer consists chiefly Of his visit 10 th
City Oh Washington 1t was merely mentioned IN ~.
episte Of last week. Perhaps something more ~ = ny
De acceptable to your readers The accomplished and
lively gentleman entered Washington towards the end 81
December, when its whole surface was covered with
snow ana the effect as cityperspectve was rather
usmal The negroes presented contrast with the gene
raj white pail The Capitol pleased him SO the statuary
=, ureenough lie was agreeably disappointed in the
OF the sngs of the Senate and the House Of
they less unruy than he had been
taught to expect When the Kossuth affair occasoned
some agitation on the floor and in the galleries Of the
OF representatives, he overheard this remark from
an American auditor, sWe have French bouse H. day
lie observes incidentally that as some parts Of the Union
are not entirely civilized it is surprising that some
uncouth morals deputed to Congress- sncb "a The
mountains Of Corsica might elect for the French Lera
tive body He approves the regulation for ora
tory and opines that it would not be an evil for the
Ampere dwells on the nervous stvle and nrom;s;nc
capacity Of Mr. DOUGLASS Mr. CLAY he calls the Arisdes
of the Republic. He admitted to the aoor ~ the
House 81 representatives, and member most politely
gave up his seat to the stranger who only
that he might be counted among the ayes and nays
Eight or ten pages of the Promenade are allotted to
American politics and desnies. The distinctions of Fe-
deralists and Republicans Democrats and Federal Re-
pubcans, Wings and Democrats are historically traced
and the several Presidents passed inreview Ampere
characterizes each. ~ y After the maiestic
Inquire OF Washington, but far below stands out 6gure
rather wild but yet great, the original energetic
Jackson a Sfff
America M Ampere fears, is growing extravagant;
the young Democracy thirst for territorial expansion and
conquest ana the rectcaton European
affairs This new passion for ACKNOWLEDGMENT conflicts
with the Democratic doctrine of State sovereignty since
every of territory and population aug
ment the power the General Government The traveller
could discover real anmosty between the political
parties except the topic negro slavery He quotes
Charming copiously. Kossuth arrived at Washington
during his sojourn. The Hungarian hero was partly
shorn Of his beams. He had dwindled. The man at
washington not the the French spectator had
contemplated at New York in his first trumphs and ha-
rangues They met at the dinner table of President
fiimore and Webster Cass, Scott and Seward were of
the company Nothing said of Hungarian wrongs or
Austrian desposm. Kossuth seemed out Of his element
de was restricted in his talk to history and languages
general His black velvet mantle gave him theatrical
air. He excited no enthusiasm The five rival candi
dates for the Presdentshp chatted with each other in the
most familiar and amicable way NJ Ampere was present
also at the New Years reception the White House. He
had been told that the crowd usually rude and gro
tesque singular tents of vulgarty related to him.
lie remained an hour and witnessed no grossness no
indecorum whatever On his exit indeed he robbed
Oh his purse and he cautions accordingly all foreign
guests such occasions He describes the Smithson
Institution in detail, and contests Mr. OWENS theory Of
American Republican architecture He pays earnest
tribute to Professor Henry and his scientific merits NJ
Amperes celebrated father first suggested the appca
ton Of magnetism to the transmission of nte-
gence to great distances testified Professor Henry in
the Morse Patent before the Courts The traveller
surveyed the Patent Office the contents however curious
are not well arranged suitably displayed The OBJ
servatory gratfed him exceedingly he dwes Lockes
electrical clock and Lieutenant Maurys most sagacious
and audabe photographed studies and performances
he quotes Humboldts lofty opinion of them; adding,
These maritime charts must be deemed one Of the
blest and mostusefu results of nautical science He
particularly inspected the establishment over which Pro-
fessor Bache presdes with ndeatigable seriousness
and profound knowledge He celebrates the excellence
Of the charts and the general value of the Coast Survey
The Smthson Institution, he says, the operations Of
the Observatory and the other establishment the abors
OF aury and Bache constitute ensemble of scientific
activity of Importance and grandeur They must
be held OF large account in any impartial estimate of
American cultivation"