The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-05-22

Maghihcent distances, and yet 1t may sur
fise for a birds eye view of its most noticea.
Die features.
GENERAL ASPECT.
There IS not so much change apparent in
Washington as the notable events of the
past year would lead one to suppose, or at
least It did not seem SO to us. It is true the
Grand Army Of the Potomac has gone, but
then, one naturally expcc, to see more tan.
gible signs Of war at the Capital than are
apparent to the eye of the casual VISITOR
There are scores Of men in uniform about
! Willard and other Hotels, and in the streets.
and mounted Dragons will be noticed at the
corners OF the streets, and that is about all.
The War Department even, from which en-
mates all the orders which move and control
an army of 100000 men, scattered over
line Of 1000 miles, is as quiet spot as can
be found in the world The same NAV be
said ofall the departments externally. With
in is hustle and business men laborinr A.
for dear life, directing the affairs of CONT
nent, but without all is calm as summers
evening.
Alphabetically CONSIDERED.
Archltecturally, Washington City is a
failure. The Capital. the Treasury, the
Post-Ofice, the Patent Office, and the Smith.
son'an buildings are magnificent and irnpo
sing structures, costing an immense amount
OF money but it would be hard to cypber
ont upon what, if any. plan they were built.
Inc Capital and the Smithsonian perhaps
may be exceptions, but the inpressiveness
OF the three others, is greatly marred by the
positions they occupy, and the want of cor.
rect perspective. The dome of the Cauital
has had some work done upon it the past
year, but is yet unfinished.
TIE WHITE HOUSE AND GROUNDS
The Presidents House, the surrounding
grounds, and Lafayette Square on the north
ok attractive, perhaps more 80 than usual
The grass, trees, shrubs, conservatory. foun-
tains, Jefferson's and Jackson's Statues. are
all there, and beautiful as ever. The public
are admitted to all public grounds the Pres
idents included, at all times. 1t is an inter
estlng sight to look in upon the grours as
semblcd here on a pleasant evening. partic-
u'arly the Juveniles, of whom there il gene.
rally good supply. The President some.
times comes out for walk when the weather
IS favorable, at least he did so the evening
we were there. Mrs. Lincoln and sister
and little boy Of the President, some five
years OF age, accompanied. him. Nobody
speaks to or seems to notice the President
on such occasions. We noticed Int one ner-
son speak to him, and he came in apparently
lor the purpose. Perhaps it was Secretary
stanton. They conversed earnestly some.
time. The President seemed to walk slight.
ly lame, and stopped more than usual His
air and manner were grave and thoughtful
as if care and responsibilities of grave sig.
,n'ficance weighed upon his mind. We were
too distant to distinguish his countenance
Mrs. L. and sister were in deep mourning
Tor little Willie. No public receptions have
been held at the White House since his
death.
- THE DEPARTMENTS
Why the departments in Washington were
located where they are, it would be hard to
say. They are all distant from the Capital.
and generally iso'ated from each other. The
State and War Departments, old barn look
ing buildings, stand sentinels one on each
side OF the Presidential Mansion. The Treas
nry building. next to the Capital the finest
building in Washington, is directly back of
the State Department, fronting in the oppo-
site direction, to the east If it had been
dropt down accidentally, it could hardly
have lighted W ere its proportions would
have been more perfectly concealed. It NAV
SAID to De at the western extremity of the
avenue, the Capital being at the other, one
mile distant, but it is rather in than on the
avenue. standing at an angle of perhaps 45s
to It. 1t is yet unfinised, but thry are at
work upon it.
The Patent and General Post Offices. two
large, massive buildings occupying about
square each, are on opposite sides of the
pe street, and isolated from all the other
~. buildings. The former is full of curt
I'd would well repay weeks study.
r"ost cordial greeting from
lung friend, Talbot, formerly
an, at Wintersett, at present
bile position in the Patent
Office was the most in
Ttments to Us. and we
re on each side of long
ices or bureaus, among
heimmease and multi
post important de.
over by an officer
Elble for everything
lar branch of the
sgt EN-. Whatever
Pey can dispose of
aether your locality
be Department is
Ne management
e of the rebellion.
This quite as serious
lInent, the postal affairs
Ia . healthy, and even
hon. Hon. John A. Kas
were there, was setting Post
Judge Blair being absent at