Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-11
The National Metropolis.

| never perhaps, mas mere Deen such d u 10
play Of industry about the public buildings
as at the present time. Sc extensive wert
the appropriations Of the late Congress, ou
of full treasury, that employment is giver
TO hundreds upon hundreds of men, many
of whom are happy thus to be able to sup
port .heir families.
At the Department of the Inte:ior-gen.
orally called the Patent Office, because there
the first deposit was of patents we find
nearly completed marble building or per-
feet Grec:an beauty. Il is Of magnificent
proportions covering a whole square. On
three sides are beautiful perticoes with
Doric columns, the effect of which is indeed
most impressive. If ma n could pass with
telegraphic speed, on some lovely morning,
from the ruins of Athens or Rome 10 the
squares and :riangles of Washington where
the ancient forms Of architecture are re-
produced with such freshness and beauty,h he
would obtain vivid idea of the rising
glories of our Western Republic, not to be
obscured, we trust, by the dark spirit of dis
union. Indeed, the materials going into
the construction of these buildings, spread
about over acres of ground, being of the
most durable quality, suggest like so many
symbols, the perpetuity of the Union. Who
has male any proposal to stop the progress
of these erections, as if they would not be
wanted here ior an indefinite future! Not
one. l am more and more convinced that
all this clamor about dissolving the Union
is for political effect. While Congress was
appropriating millions for improving this
Federal city and its vicinity, why did no
Que rise and object. Because there is a
general expectation that this is to continue
"forevet" TO be the metropolis of united
country. ORe long gallery in the above
mentioned building is appropriated from all
quarters of the world; among them the fruits
of the exploring expeditions ordered by the
Government. Some few relics of Wash
ington and Franklin are here preserved
The "sword of Washington and the cane of
Franklin," the veritable, visible realities,
grasped by those stupendous right hands,
are gazed on by thousands with an eDthusi
asm o. veneration almost lido iatrous. Well,
there's FranklIn's press, too, very,,diferent
thing | assure you, from Hoes last fast"
but mighty engine for all that. These
sights do awaken a world of thought for
those men under God, changed Inc face of
tine world.
A thousand men are at work on the Cap
tol alone. That will be wonder when
completed. 1t is unsightly now, for the old
dome is broken off and they are just now
laying the foundations for the new and more
splendid one Seventy-two iron brackets,
weighing between two and three tons each,
have been lifted to the summit of the build
ing by the aid of steam power, and are to
constitute the framework of The base. The
fi1ted columns, large and long, now lying on
the ground, will soon be raised 10 their
places, and the proportions Of the magnifi-
cent superstructure will begin to appear by
the time the travellers go by for the White
Sulphur Springs Of Virginia. Waller the
architect is ambitious to erect for himself
monument at the same time, on the principle
of Sir Christopher Wren's CircumSpice.
Latrobe's S old dome had its day of admira-
tion and vituperation. as has .Greenoughs
clutuC vi w lLC CholSlH
Park of the Capitol, but it has disappeared.
Randolph's sarcasms will endure as long as
the statues and paintings at which they are
levelled and she memory of the originals
longer than either. Nothing can exceed
the beauty of Crawford's works, most OF
which are in shops adjacent to the Capitol;
some in an unfinished state, the Italians be-
ing at work upon them from the plaster
models. Among them are the genius Of
America, robed in a starry mantle, the
Genius of War, of Peace, of Industry Of
knowledge, &c. All these works are des-
tined to adorn some portion of the Capitol
extension, while the interior rooms are
growing beautiful under the skill OF the
pictorial artists. Indeed this building will
of itself be vast museum open to the
grafuitous inspection Of the people of the
people of the United States and OF the
world, and without money and without price.
The rustic Representative from the far in
terror, where arts and cities are unknown,
will open his eyes and mouth in wonder, as
he looks upon the gorgeous works Of art
destined to decorate the Capitol. In truth,
such is the proiusion of sym5olical orna-
ment the Italian painters are putting on the
walls of the committee rooms ! that most
persons will require an interpreter to bring
them within the understanding. All this
seems hardly compatible with the simplicity
OF our Institutions; but what shall the Gov
ernment do with its suDerabundant money!
Not far from the Pptent Office building
is soon to |be erected Roman Catholic
church, of the Gothic order in the place ol
an old structure that has stood fifty years.
y meeting of the leaders of the scongrega-
ton was held this eek, layman called to
the chair, the priest being present and ad-
vising. 1t was resolved to erect church
becoming the perpetual historic grandeur of
our holy faith Its steady digniied progress
in this free country, and w.i!e at the same
time it will be in keeping the well sustain
ed efforts of tie whole country TO ador our
Federal Metropolis. The intention is to
build spacious church, capable Of seating
5000 people; length of the nave to be 2ll
feet, width IS; transept ia feet, and IS
wide; extreme altitude of the front eleva-
ton 3l2 feet. The space of ground cover
ed by the edifce will be 33,SS0 square feet.
But little more than 81 900 was subscribed
to commence this great enterprise. They
proposed however TO employ five years in
the work, aud there will be the most as
s:duous and protacted solicitation of moneys
from our citizens until the work shall be
Completed. Foreign aid will no doubt be
obtained, for the Catholics are persevering,
and allow no distress of debt to force u sale
of any OF their churches.- Correspondence
Of Journal Of Commerce.
APrEA ARANcEs.-A coat that has marks OF
use upon ii, is Recommendation to people
of sense; and u hat with too smooth nap
and too high luster, is a derHgatory cir