, 1863-10-15

Correspondence Of tho Cincinnati Gazette.1
WAsnrsoros. Oct. Q, 1861.
Work goes rapidly forward on the capitol,
and every effort fs being made to have It a.
tar advanced as possible before the mee!ing Of
Congress-. Nj. Walter, tho architect In
charge, IL completely wrapt up in the pro-
g1eEs Ct the building, and 30 comolete Is his
devotion 10 this one Idea Of nts ife, that hts
friends have begun to doubt whether hs has
sonr out get tnat war il raging In the 1a2d.
War or 10 var, the work go5s steadily on.
1t has Eeen theme to Hn1l. tho historian
into raptures that, after disastrous defeat,
tie ola RomAns* at al auction Ia the forum.
eagerly eft1ed lIghur prices THAI it had ever
con mai ded before, for the very ground On
which the victorious enemy was encamped
beneath their wa1ls. Ho v can 1t be less in
spnipg That, in the midst Of fearful civil
var, whether her armies are defalted or her
haEies rcpulsed. the nation goes calmly OF,
rearing the marble porticoes and sculp:ured
pediuents and lofty dome, Of the unfinished
capitol, in proud indifference to the yictori-
Gus fots Who hare sometimes pushed their
banners to Its very gates?
II the supervising architect had been able
to carry out bis original Intention, Crawfurd'B
colossal bronze statue Of the Goddess Of Lib.
c1ty would have been rising to its place to
ration was thrilling at once with the glories
# Gettysburg, and the memories Of that ear
lisT d1 I'd that first established what Gattys.
burg secured. But the difficulties Of finishing
the dcme increased as the work Advanced,
and it wes found not only impossible to ele-
err to carry out the plan then formed to
raite it On TIC 1st Of October. It Is now in
tended to have the ftame work OF the donna
completed. and the .etatne fixed in its place,
Dy the first OF November, md It Is at any rats
Yuite certain that 1t viii be done before he
lLeetiEE Of Congress.
TIE outer oznamentation of 1he dome will
not be completed this winter. The elevation
Is 60 Ereat, and the exposure to the winter
winds SO complete, that 1t rould be ue1t to
question as to what color the dome shall b9
lalLted ragea. It cannot well be nade white,
both becauEc thu. No1ld seem like IN ltte npt
to make its iron work pass for marble, aud
because tie iron rust would eoon cover the
RElte surface with stains. It has been pro-
Iosea to make y llght brenzs color, but to
that there are ohjectiong, on the score Of gen
eral effect, and the matter renaios Undecided.
The upper curve, or" Tholus,'' of the dome
consists Of four sections One Of these is
already completed, and the Others are well
advanced. The Eachinery for hoisting the
tmmepsc mass Of metal In the bronze statue
1as been tonnd inadequate, or arrangements
would BY this time have been com 2lescd to
elevate 1t within fhe next week or two.
The series of marble ktatuary By Csa If ,rd,
which for tie last year or two has attracted
SO much attention from visitors In the old
bali Of the House, has been removed, and
placed In Its position IN the pedlment over the
front Of The Senate Wing. This series en-
braces b9 far the best works Jet contributed
by either native or foreign AIT to adorn the
Capitol. The portico Of the Senate wing is
ALTO at last complete.
The famous doors by Rogers, cast In bronze
at Munich, and replted the finest works Of
ri ha%%a
They we're originally intended to be placed
ut tie main entssnce to tha Rotupda. from
the center portico, but they could not be seen
in tia. position, Us the doors there arc re-
quiIed to be almost always open; and 60 1t
ilas been decided to place them batween tbs
poEed that somewhat similar ones will event
ua1ly be ordered tor the corresponding pas
sage from the Rotunda to the House wing,
In the interior, preparations are IN aEing
for the meeting # Corg'efs. The Chambers
Of The House and Senate are being renovated,
aud the 1cbbies painted, md the traces Of the
occupation Of the building a. hospital more
thoroughly removed. The ftescoes Ia the
Senate wing are prcgressing, the medsll1ous
in The Vice Pretiden1's room are receiving
the last touches, and in general the begun but
u1lnised decoration is being completed. Lit
undertaken.
Letter From Spencer Kellogg Brown.
the Martyr
The following letter from Spencer Kellogg
Brown was written but few days previous
to Lis execution by the rebels:
Castle THUNDER, Va, Sept. %, 1868.
DEARFA1uER:-Byp permission and through
the ecu1ttsy ef Captain Alexander, T am en-
tbied to write yon a fen lines. You who be-
fc1e this hsve heard from me- in regard to my
situation here, can, trust, hear 1t when
tell you that my days on earthare soon ended.
Last Satuid day wes court martia!ed, and this
GyeLing, short time slac&, I received n3tica
OF NY sentence, by Captain Alexander, who
has since shown me cyt1J kirdness consistent
with his duty.
Writing to my dear parents feel there can
be no EoGre comfort after such hdings than to
tell Jou That trust, by the mercy Of our
Heavenly Father, to Gle the death Ct Chris
tan. For more thAn yetr since the CON.
neEcement Of my confinement, have been
trying to serve Him Ia my poor feeble way,
and do not fear to 60 to Hin. would have
loved to zee you all again; God saw best not,
Why should re mourn? Comfort your hearts,
my Gear IaIents, ny thought Of Gods mercy
unto your son, ard bow with reverence be-
zea:h tbs hzId Of Elm "Hho doeth all things
wcll" hare but little butinees to dispose
Of: Yourself end uncle Cozzens at st. Louis,
viii plea1e draw my rs7 from the government
and invest It In United States bonds It pres
anIpsl)y to my wife. r. r i
Ieeor rlrg TO my wife By = clergyman,
Monday last; I s,eo cent telegram to your.
eelf. hich will arrive too Late. Is the time Of
my execution is set for day after tomorrow,
Friday, September a5th. will Try to send d
short letter to my wife, accompanying this.
r Capt. Alexander, conmaudsnt
ofthe prison, deserves yonr respect and CRATE
ful Remembrance for his kindness to your son
IN hie la.t hours
DEAR PARrsrs:-There are but few more
momt1ts left NE. win try to think cften
cf5cu. God bless and comfort you. Re-
member me Kindly auu respectfully to au my
dear 5rfenos e-d relatives. Tell Kitty hope
to meet her again. Take care Of Freddy for
me put him often in remembrance Of me.
DEAR No1HEn:-Gcod bye! God comfort
you, py mother, AID bless Tcu With the love
Of happy childrecl Farewell, my father! We
meet 9gain By Gods mercy!
SPENCER KELLOGG.