Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-05-18
Editorial Correspondence.
pwiLLAAD's norEl,WAsmIx0roN,l
A9y l1th, 1860.

DEMOCRAT AND News IL have been
in the nest of the famous American
Eagle for the space oftwo days. During
full seven-eights of that time, it has
raincd without ceasing, and consequent
~ the Avenue has not presented that
gay and animated appearance usually
noticed here during this season. For
two mortal days scarce yard of crino-
line has been seen on the fashionable
promenadcs- scarce a smiling counte-
nance has been visible in the metropolis.
But the undersigned" has managed,
through the agency Of buses, umbrel.
las and rubters, to keep circulating
and gain view of the leading features
of the city.
You will very naturally wish to know
what / think of this city. My opinion
can be stated in few words. Washing
ton, like Davenport, will be great city
,c/.en 1t Is finished. The public build
ings are, Of course, the leading features,
but of them all there is scarcely one tina:
is completed. 1t will require years to
finish some of them. But when that
time shall have arrived, no nation on
the face of the earth will possess better.
l do not say so unadvisedly or in a
spirit of national gIorification, but upon
the strength of the authority of those
who have made actual comparison. |
thought / possessed a tolerable fair idea
of the substantial magnifcence and
noble grandeur Of the Capitol building,
but my preconceptions were as far be-
low the standard, as is pale moonlight
to the resplcndcnt gIories of the noon
day sun. 1t would be useless for me to
particularize with reference to this noble
edfice, which / have viewed with much
care; SO [ might as well leave it, and
speak of other things. To-day | have
visited that noble institution, the Smith
sonian Institute. The building is a
model OF beauty, but to have the pleas
IRE Of examining the ten thousand rare
curiosities 10 be found within its walls,
was to me JOY unspeakable. The Curl
osities of all climes-all nations-kin-
bred, kind, color and tongue are here
on exhibition. Rarast birds and insects
in fact, birds, insects and reptiles-of
almost every kind, are here in good pres
ervation. Domestic and warlike instru-
ments of the different nations andtribes
of the earth have been collected and
put on exhibition. Many pieces of rare
statuary are placed there, prominent
among which is the celebrated chez
d 'oupre,-thc "Dying Gladiator" 1t
is truly the most complete-the most
: artistic piece of Giving marble" have
{ ever seen. Then the "Indian paintings
: several hundred in number--repre
a senting all the leading characters ant
t the various phases OF Indian life, as j
t was in North America, constitutes ;
/. leading feature. The "Apparatus room
5 contains many wonders which would re
! quire more scientific pen than mine t.
d describe
: The patent office has claimed shar'
: Of my attention. To pass through il
r and examine every machine there exhib
, tied, would render my wife single wo
man many months. The whole worlt
outside of the United States combined
) after having existed for thousands upo'
: thousands Of years, cannot produce al
equal number of inventions. The inven
; tive skill Of the American people is in
deed astonishiug-and it can never b
fully appreciated by any person who ha
not visited the United States Paten
Office,-relics of the Revolution ant
early days of the country abound il
: great profusion.
The Japanese Embassy is the priuci
pal topic of conversation here now in al
circles. The fair sex, however, exhibi
the greatest amount of curiosity. Tha
is natural, l suppose. At this hotel
(Willard's) the entire commission is t.
stop while in Washington. Through
the poiiteness of Mr.. Willard l have
just now been shown the seventy five
splendid apartments fitted up and dedi
Gated to their especial use. Thes'
apartments comprise nearly all the room
on the second floor. The proprietors o
this house have spared no expense in re
fitting their gorgeous parlors for the &C
casion. The Embassy will arrive here
on Tuesday next. 1t will be grand gal:
Gay in Washington. The House refused
to adjourn over for the occasion, bu
Will probably do SO.
= Before closing l will devote word O
i two to political matters. The genera
i impression here seems to be that At tb
j. Baltimore Convention on the 18th @
!, June, the delegates will settle upo,
: some National man, and that Mr.. DONG