Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-05-09

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The CAPITOL BUILDING IN RICHMOND. -
The following interesting sketch Of the Capito
building at Richmond, from the New York
Post, is by Mr.. John r Thompson, now con
uected with that paper:
The appalling disaster which has shroudel
Richmond 10 gloom, and sent thrill OF pain
throughout the country lends vivid momen
tary interest to all that is connected with the
occurrence and the scene.
The State House, or, as it is called, the
Capitol of Virginia, Is an old building, stand
ing on the highest point of ground in the city.
in the centre OF park of thirteen acres,
known as the Capitol Square. Tho grounds
were some years ago laid out with taste by
hoffman, Of Philadelphia, and adorned with
some Of the best statuary in America. The
great monument to Washington, designed By
Crawford, surmounted by his colossal eques
TRAN statue OF the Pater Part;r and nankcd by
heroic statues of Patrick Henry, Marshall, j. Ell
terson and other Virginia worthless, occupies a
position but short distance from the Capitol
building and in another part OF the grounds
there Is marble statue OF Henry Clay from
the ci,,s,! of Hart, erected by the women OF
Virginia
The Capitol was kuiIt Immediately at the
close Of the Revolution. The mod.l chosen
ior it was tho we'll known Maison Carree at
Nismcs, q miniature pattern OF which was sent
over from France by Mr.. Jefferson, but the
architect made many dcviatiops from the
model, whereby the effect Of the building was
greatly impaired. 1t was always an ugly,
inconvenient structure in the interior though
from distance it has an imposing appearance,
and even looks like the Parthenon.
Its historical associations arc of the most
interesting kind. In The basement story,
where the Chanccry Court vas held 10 the
old time, Henry Clay begun lilo as a deputy
clerk under Chancellor Wythe. the George
Wythe of the Declaration OF Independence.
In its halls sat the memorable Constitutional
Convention OF lS29-3O, which numbered
among its members John Randolph, John
Marshall, James Madison, James Monroe,
and many other men scarcely less illustrlous.
Twenty three years before, the trial OF Aaron
BUR- for treason had been conducted there
From the southern portico OF the building 1t
was that Daniel Webster delivered, In Octo.
her. 1910, standing beneath an October sun,
the political speech which has been thought
one of the finest popular expositions OF the
Constitution.
In the war of the Secession, upon the re
moyal Of the Confederate government from
Montgomery to Richmond, 1t became necessary
70 fl M apartments in the building for the &C
commodation OF the Confederate Congress, and
GREAT changes were made in consequence IN It's
interior arrangements. The building, which
was originally strong, was thereby greatly
weakened BY the removal OF supports and grid
ers. The court room which hasjust gwen way,
eptaiing so fearful loss OF human lie, was
made by throwing two apartments into one,
and was occupied By the Confederate Senate
throughout the war The floor had swaye1
much from the true level, and settled from the
sides towards the centre, 10 such an extent that
an examination was ordered into It's security,
and it was not until report was made by mas
ter carpenters that it was safe, hat the Senate
consented to occupy the chamber Had the
examination been more thorough the alarming
insecurity of the floor would have been dcctect
cd, and this recent heartrendiDg disaster have
heeu avoided. The Superintendent OF Public
Buildings In charge OF the Capitol at that time,
died but few days ago.
Directly beneath the court room was the
hall of The Virginia House Of Delegates, and in
the Rotunda adjacent thereto is the marble
statue of Washington by IIoudon. Had the
courtroom given way IN hour later the HAL
and Rounda would have been filled with peo.
pie and the consequences would have been yet
more terrible.
This calamity differs from the we'll remember:
I'd horror of the burning OF the hchmond
Thcat1e in 1871 in the fact that all OF the VIC
inns were of the male sex, whereas in the dc.
struction of the theatre mary of the falres
women of Virginia lost their lives. In view
ing the dcsoation that reigns in Richmond al
the present moment, all other feelings will be
merged in sympathy for the sufferers and sorro"
tor the dead.
P1crUnEs.-On the breaking out OF the
French revolution Steire was great banker lc
Antwerp. His picture gallery was renowned
Rembrants, Cuyps, Van Dycks, and other erca
masters OF the Flemish school. Alarmed D!
the state OF, Europe. Steire emigrated to Amer
ca with his family, his fortune and his pictures
The lstc George Calvert, of Bladensburg, grand
son OF Mrs. Washington, married daughter. Q
Mr. Stcirc, and the collection of his father IN
law was lett for many years IN his housc-t1'a
large, antique mansion visible from the railway
about a mile north of Bladensburg, on the RICH
hsnd coming out of Washington.
When Rufus King Was in the Senate, Col
Lee and himself messed together at the oft
Union Hotel in Georgetown. On q tine day Il
May hlr King proposed that they should irlv
out to Calverts and see the pictures The
went and were highly gratiied. MIR. King pre-
pourced the collection one Of the best he ha
ever seen outside OF the gallery OF the LOUVRE
The pcacc of Europe being restored. Nj,
Steire returned to Antwerp, and subsequent
sent Tor his collie ion. Alter his death h
,>;,,,rcs WY, oolI and some of them are no