Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-17

arrogant speculation and premature ruin and the few
ranges Of houses which begun years have
remained long and unfinished that they
for the most part dilapidated."
This description of our city towards the close of
the year 1903 can hardly be said to have been ex-
aggerated. Whatever there may be in the poetry,
there is resort to the poetic license in the prose
Of the author. The hotel he speaks of was the
large building situated where the General Post Of
flee now stands, then commonly known by the name
of "Blodget's Hotel" 1t had been intended as
one of the high prizes in what was called Blod-
gets Lottery" but the scheme failed and the build
ing remained unfinished. Even SO late as 1907 it
was occupied, as it had been in 1903, by the
European employees ON the public buildings.
Every room in it, from the attic to the cellars, was
the home of different family. 1t We afterwards
purchased by the Government and fitted up for the
temporary accommodation of Congress after the
burning of the Capitol, and before the larger and
more convenient edi6ce put up by private enterprise
on Capitol Hill could be made ready for their re-
ception. Its further history need not be traced.
The " rude pale" which "encircled" the Presi-
dents House might have been called, without
pun, stylish when compared with the aoorna.t fence
which enclosed the Capitol then and for several
years thereafter We may fancy what the Poet
would have said of the Sage of Monticello" if
he had seen him, as we have often seen him, ride
up unattended to this fence, hitch his horse to
of the stakes, and either walk into the building to
hold familiar chat with some of his many friends,
or amuse himself by looking at the slow progress Of
the workmen saving or trimming the stone.
The City Post Office at the early period of which
we are speaking, was small wooden structure of
one story, consisting of single room about 10 by
II feet, situated on the southwest corner of the
square opposite the eastern enclosure, as it now
stands, of the Capitol 1t was placed there for the
convenience of members of Congress, who consti-
tuted large majority of those who held correspon
dence with other parts of the Union. To accom-
modate the citizens the greater part of whom lived
at distance varying from one to three miles from
the Post Office, penny-post was employed, who
performed the duty of delivery on horseback, and
such was frequently the miry state of the various
streets or roads over which he obliged to travel
that he was sometimes two days in accomplishing
the task. He made money enough by his Office to
build several good houses, which still standing
as monuments to his industry and economy.
! In the life of JOHN CoTToN SMITH, distn-
guished member of Congress from Connecticut, at
/" the second session of the sixth Congress, which
was by law directed to commence at the city of
| Washington on the 18th November, A. D. 1S00"
we find letter from him giving most interesting
and graphic description of his entire journey from
L b,+, 81
that portion of it relating to the inchoate cond
ton of Washington" we shall confne our extracts
from his letter to SO much of it as will 90 to con-
firm the truth of what has already been given from
other sources:
sour approach to the city," says Mr. SMITH, /" was
accompanied with sensations not easily described One
wing of the Capitol only had been erected which, with
the Presidents House, mile distant from it. both
structed with white sandstone shining objects
dismal contrast with the around them. Instead of
recognising the and streets portrayed the
plan Of the city, not visible, unless except
road, with two buildings each side of it, called the
New Jersey The Pennsylvania, leading, as laid
down paper, from the Capitol the Presidents Man
son then nearly the whole distance deep morass
covered with alder bushes, which through the
width Of the intended during the then ensuing
winter. Between the Presidents House and Georgetown
block Of houses had been erected which then bore and
may still bear as it does to THIS day the Of the
Sir Buildings There also two other blocks consist
ing of two three dwelling houses in different drec
TONS and now and then insulated wooden habita-
ton the intervening spaces, and indeed the surface of
the city generally, being covered with s5oak bushes
the higher grounds, and the marsby soil either
trees sort Of shrubbery. Nor the desoate
aspect Of the place little augmented by number of
unfinished cdifces at Grcenlegfs Point and an emf
short distance from it, commenced by an ind
funds compelled him to abandon them, not only unnsh
ed bnt in ruinous condition. There appeared to be
but really comfortable habitations in all respects
within the bounds Of the city, Of which belonged
DUDLEY CARROLL Esq. and the other to MOTLEY YOUNG
who the former propreors Of large portion Of the
appropriated to the city, but who reserved for their
own accommodation ground sufficient for gardens and
other useful appurenances. The roads in every drec
ton muddy and unimproved. A sidewalk was at
tempted in instance by covering formed of the
chips Of the stones which had been hewed for the Capt.
toll. 1t extended but little way, and was Of little
value for in dry weather the sharp fragments
Shoes and in wet weather covered them with white
tar. In short, it new settlement The houses,
with two three exceptions, had been very recently
erected and the operation greatly hurried in view Of the
approaching transfer of the National Government A
laudable desire manifested by what few citizens and
residents there to render condition pleasant
circumstances would permit One of the blocks Of
buildings already mentioned was situated the east