The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-11-23
COMMUNICATIONS.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10Th, 1868.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10Th, 1868.
TO the Editor Of the Press:
Somehow or other strange and nexplica-
ble impression has obtained in some minds
that the more active virtues do not flourish
under the shadow OF the Capitol at least be-
tween sessions. All must admit however who
have had chance to witness, that this stately
edifce has presented for some weeks past Il
very stirring and business like appearance
The work OF fitting new carpets and renovat-
ing old ones, the replacing OF the desks radiant
with well polished varnish in the Senate cham
Der and the House from whence they have
been removed since the adjournment aud va
rious other preparations for the speedy reaS-
sembling OF Congress, have caused no little
hustle and upstir. The beautiful! stucco work
OF the halls and lobbies, stained in some places
by the water which owing to the unfinished
state Of the building has sometimes penetrated
the walls and marred in others by the pencils
of loafng scribblers has in the Senate cxten-
sion been undergoing light aud tasteful
fresco painting. In the other end of the Cap
itol the great bronze door executed at Munich
in 1860 has been set with no little trouble i'm
the passage leading from the old Hall of Rep
resentatiyes to the new. The old Hall from
which the statuary designed for the pediment
of the north extension and temporarily placed
here has been removed strikes me more than
ever as noble piece of architecture equal in
some respects to the new one The work up
on the exterior Of the Capitol goes on briskly
but will still require along time for its COM
pletion. The dome will soon be done and will
cost nearly one million dollars which is within
about five per cent of the original esti-
mate. The extensions however, have already
cost as am Informed about twice as much
as was expected, and in general the bills upon
government works seem TO have an unlortu-
nate but very decided propensity 10 be double
or quadruple the amount of~first estimates
The east portico Of the north extension is near
ly done and is or will be when derricks and rub
bish are removed really magnificent. Much
progress has also been made during the pastsea-
son upon the corresponding portico of the
southern extension and in various other places.
Nothing since that famous party of Mrs.
Lincoln's which caused so many heartburn
ings among the unnvited aud called ont so
many sharp criticisms. has caused such a SEN
sati0n In the aristocratc circles OF the metrop-
oils as the marriage of the accomplished daugh-
ter OF our worthy Secretary of the Treasury
to the honorable Senator from Rhode Island
The lovers of gossip have already doubtless
feasted their fill upon the particulars and de-
tails Of this great event in the fashionable
world.
The news lately received of tic capture of
Fort Brown and the city OF Browns ville,by the
Texas expedition is most welcome. With
somewhat different feelings did we learn of
our late success upon the Rappahannock. Al
most simultaneously with the arrival of the
rebel prisoners came the mangled forms of
our own brave boys, the desperate wounds of
many evincing the close and obstinate nature
OF the fight. Nine are reported to have eX-
pired on the way; not a few have since died,
nor can we hope that all who yet remain will
recover. On Sunday last seven Maine SOL
diers were buried from Armory Square Hos
nit Thot
William Wharton, Thomas Tebbitts. of the
9th regiment, B. Norton, Alonzo Elder, G. H.
Hamilton and Elliott Moore, OF the 5th Regt.
large number of the citizens of Maine as
sembled to participate in the solemn services
OF the occasion, anxious to pay some tribute
OF respect to the brave men Of their own
State who had laid down their lives SO glori-
ously In the good cause. The collins were
placed side by side, ,overspread by the flag they
had perished to uphold. The funeral service
was read by Mr.. Ashby of Maine, who was
followed in some remarks by Chaplain Jack
son OF the hospital, who was succeeded by
Hon. Mark Dunnell. The concluding PRAYER
was offered by the chaplain; the funeral cortege
consisted OF an escort of the Invalid Corps and
twenty coaches and ambuances flled-if not
with kith and kin at least with sincere mourners
The bodies were inferred in the cemetery upon
the grounds OF the Soldiers Home, about four
miles from the city. Side by side with their
brave comrades who have pershed in this
war we laid as was beftting the dust of our
heroes in their last repose and turned sadly
towards the city grieying, not so much for the
noble dead covered as they were with glory. as
for the hearts that must bleed and pine for
them among their native hills.
The conservation Of the National Cemetery
at Gettysburg has attracted many from this
city The President left last evening TO be
present at the ceremony. Four regiments OF
the Invalid Corps were reviewed by him on
Tuesday and made a fine appearance. Thi.
corps now numbers about nineteen thousand
men. General Meade, who had been in tho
city Tor short time previous, left on the same
day Tor the front Various and conflicting rtl
mors, sometimes of winter quarters and some
lines Of active operations, reach us from hi.
Army' T.S. r.