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 shroudei
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. The 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 bis coloss Al eques
trian statue of the Pater Parl;r, and tlankcd by
heroic sta:ues of Patrick Henry, Marshall, JET
terson and other Virginia worthless, occupies
position but a short distance from the Capitol
building, and in another part of the grounds
there is marble statue OF Henry Clay from
the chst! OF Hart, erected by the women ot
Virginia
The Capitol was kuiIt Immediately at the
close OF the Revolution. The modrl chosen
inr it was tho well. known Maison Carrec at
Nismes, miniature pattern OF which was sent
over from France by Mr. Jefferson, but the
architect made many dcviations from the
model whereby the effect Of the building was
greatly impaired. 1t was always an ugly,
inconvcnient structure in the Interior though
from distance it mas 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 deputy
Wythe of the Declaration OF Independence.
In its halls sat the memorable Constitutional
Convention OF lS29-3O. which numbered
among lis members John Randolph, John
Marshall, James Madison, James Monroe,
and many other men scarcely less llustrious.
Twenty. three years before, the trial OF Aaron
Burr for treason had been conducted there
From the southern porlico OF the building 1t
was that Daniel Webster delivered, In Octo
ber, lS4O "standiOg beneath an October sun,
the political speech which has been thought
one of the finest popular exposltions OF the
Constitution.
In the war of tue Secession, upon the re
moyal Of the Confederate government from
Montgomery to Richmond 1t became y necessary
70 fit IN apartments in the building tor the &C
commodation OF the Confederate Congress, and
GREAT changes were made in consequence in lts
interior ARRANGEMENTS. The building, which
was originally strong, was thereby greatly
weakened bv the removal OF supports and GRID
ers, The court room which has just given way,
entaiIing so fearful loss of human lille, 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, TO 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 sale, that the Senate
consented to occupy the chamber, Had the
examination been more thorough the alarming
insecurity Of the floor would have been dectect
cd, and this recent heartrending disaster have
heen avoided. Tho Superintendent OF Public
Buildings in charge OF the Capitol at that lime,
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 lIoudon. Had the
courtroom given way an hour later the Hail
and Rotunda would have been filled with peo.
plc 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 Richmond
Theat1e in 1871 in the fact that all OF the VIC
Tins were of the male Sex, whereas IN the dc.
struciop of the theatre many OF the farcsl
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"
for the dead.
P1crUnEs.-On the breaking out OF the
French revolution Steirc was great banker i1
Antwerp. His picture gallery was renowned
throughout Europe for its Tcnicrs, Ruben'
Rcmbran,s, Cuyps, Van Dycks, and other erea
masters of the Flemish school. Alarmed D!
thc state of Europe. Stere emgrated to Amer
lea with his family, his fortune and his pictures
The late George Calvert, OF Bladensburg, grand
son OF Mrs. Washington, married daughter Q
MIR. Stcrc, and the collection of his tashcr,ln
law was lett Tor many years 10 his houseItha
LARGO, an,ione mansion visible from the railway
about mile north of Badensburg, on the r'gh
hsrd coming out of Washington.
When Rufus King was in the Senate, Cot
Lee and himself messed together at the Oft
Union Hotel in Georgetown. On tinc day II
May Mr. King proposed that they should ariv
out to Calvcrts and see the pictures The
went and we're highly sraliied. MIR. King prc
uounced the collection one OF the best he ha
ever seen outside OF the gallery of the Louvre
The peace of Europe being restored. MI
Steire returned to Antwerp. and subsequent
sent for his collcc ion. After his death h
pictures were sold. and some Of them are no
in New York. Mr. George Calvert, OF New
port, grandson Of MIR. Steire, hos vivid r
collection of these iucStimable treasures OF ar
wbon c,;.o , ,o,,h in bis f,ther' house. The