Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-06-27
THE CAPITOL SQUARE IN RICHHoND-THE CAPI
TOL-WORKS OF ART, ETC.

We copy the following portions of an inteIslting let
ter from Bohemian" to the Mobile Register, datet
Richmond Is h inst
0ue Of tie most delightful places in Richmond, dur
ing The heat Of summer, the Capitol sqiare. orgi
ally this Was q rugged piece OF ground, With mar
rocks and hill sides with little stony cliffs and minia
ravnes, in which grew alk wild weeds, and thro
Ehoh trickled tiny streams rude, dark pot too ster
lie for cultivation and too rough for building purposes
Now, however, the scene lie different. The hsdes are
:oppled into the ravres the rocks are cleared away
green glssplAs slope gracefully from the summit ard
loble Gins shade hard and wellkept walks. Toe Csp
o stands upon the terrace, in is the Gov
srnors mansion, and opposite, diagonsly across the
Square, is the "beliry," or FIRE tower These blildrg
tOod when Richmond was little more than hug, AND
are now looked on fine relics Of the past. The
chaos OF this plot OF ground reduced order by
Ffenchmal named 6odefro who made 1t very beautiful
although stiff and formal. Deriving biz ideas Of LAND
scape gArieas from the style OF Louis XIV, he believed
Gotnne 70 pleasing straight line, and his visas
swo rows Of trees shading perfectly straight and re.
gulsr walk. All his paths we're laid out with geometrc
pracis.:1 in parallel lines, right and acute anged til
angles. This gave stiff appearance TO the spot-but
n. Godefro was delighted He did not dream that his
plans demanded all the msgni6cence Of surroundings
that characterz ID France under the ancient or
perhlps he dreamed that day, before the elm
wigs had grown TO tfees, the splendor OF the R.
ubic would eclipse that Of France, 10 its most glorious
period. Criticism was OF no avail with n. Godefroi I;
tor he could see no faults In bic work. and when obi
tions me 10 bs ear he only shrugged his shoulders
aud took snuff from box set with brisnts. Alter a
cime public tastes underwent change. The Stiffness
and a5gulary Of the old school of landscape gardening
Was doue sway WITH aud in its place substituted the
graceful curve and seeming disorder Of nature. Nc.
Notman, Of Philadelphia, proposed to modernixs the
work Of GIdero, and he was allowed 10 begin his Ia
nors on one eide OF the fquare. The hill was evenly
-
Fitn the straight walks were gently curvedS the trees
thrown into different positions, aud beautiful or Amer
cal fountains located The Improvement wonderful
and much more suited to the nature Of the place.
To me- either by day or night the place has end
legs wealth of entertainment and instruction. By day
watch the merry sports OF the chdrent,e girls skip
ping ropes and funding hoops; little boys playing
catch.penny marbles spinning June bugs in unaffected
gee. BY night watch the many pleasant scenes beside
The trSk1g fountaiu and with my friend the Psofes.
sor" smoke cigar, thankful TO ind amid all the excite.
ment OF times OF war tpot OF happiness AID quiet
How often am reminded Of & verse in Horscs IA
7halaroktpa, Carmen * book )-Shsl translate l.,
Literally then IL may be read
''Now seek the Campus uortus or the pax,
And WsndCriog through the twilight alleys, mark
How lovers meet and murnur In The dark"
Thus the Professor" and wander through the square
by night pickrg up mary romance and story OF life
70 store away in the inner onsubera Of the heart
About the capitol 1t Is sn;e-Rsv lu,ionary build.
ing, made from pisrs sent from France by Mr.. Jefferson.
Toe architecture ia Grecan aud the noiel was ta4en
rom the celebrated MaiIon Carre, of Nsues, which
my ira yelled readers will remember. The original copy
of the plan Is IN the hands OF Mr.. WJrne, Of this
city Outside the building pIastertd 10 q neat and
durable 10 front ia foe Grecian porco with
heavy coonnAdes and broad terraces. Unfortunately
In respect the plans not followed and the sys
of architecture dsEegarded Instead Of the broad aod
gently scpng sATs leading up 70 tho portioo and
race in 'front.' doors have been tho sides and
steep hgt: of s!ons steFs substituted Tie projection
look very much like wheehou1ss to steamboat and de
s,roy the symmetry aud beauty Of tho buldh g. Insde
are the usual nuHber Of assembly and comutee e,
occupied BY tho Confederate Congress and Senate when
in session. Doe portion Of the upper sorJ Il sat SIst
for the State bry, where are several thou,and vel
umes Of rare ard Interesting hooks Thu place b one
of my fsVorites many hours being pleasantly open: in
the shadows Of some of its l,ovea
Standing 10 the centre Of the ro.unds |, Houdon's
celebrated aus of Washington taken from life. IL Is
said to be fne work Of srt but OF fret u does NOT
please the eye Tbsfe seems 70 be too little life about
L.; too much Of the aanisnt Grssisa syh Of sAtnsI-