The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-30

bell was finally transferred 20 the Tor
OF this and remained there until the
fall OF Richmond in 1885. Whether this
was the bell identical with that OF 1880 we
cannot say But there are many persons
now living who remember its clangoripg
call TO delinquent legislators in former
years and its still more startling notes
when, In the dead Of night, IL sounded the
dread fire alarm. From the spring OF 1851
10 April, 1865. its duty was 10 sound the
stern alarums 81 grim-yisaged war;" until
at last, worn With service and years: ~
iron tongue gave such discordant notes from
having been cracked, that 1t was taken
down and relieved from further duty.
APPROACHING COMPLETION.
In 1892 the rev Capitol was rapidly
approaching completion. Late In thai
year further appropriation OF money tc
| the amount OF about 5000 Of the present
currency was made towards discharging
certain debts due. and for finishing the in
side OF the building, and for erecting the
necessary steps and platforms, etc.; ana on
the 10th Of December, 1873, another sum OF
s.. 900 was allowed for making change IL
the roof and giving the finishing touches tc
the now-completed Capitol. The change
lust referred TO must have been the substi.
tuition Of copper for the leaden covering OF
former years. The latter had been found
too heavy and destructible, and II De
come necessary 10 lind some other ma
terial, better suited 10 the protection OIL
a building now become the pride OF the peo'
ple and the Government. Time and erpe.
rience proved that even this latter could
not be depended upon. IL had often To be
patched and repaired and reapplied to pre-
vent leaks. The useful and comparatively
cheap form Of tin roofing now so common
had not at that time become known, and II
was not until the year 1852 that the copper
was removed TO be replaced by the covering
Of tin which has ever since protected tht
roof Of a building under which so much o.
historic value has in the meantime beer
collected and now rep0ses in doubtful secu'
rity, if not imminent peril.
FIRST SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY.
Although far from being ready TO receive
the several departments OF the Government
the General Assembly held its first session
i'm the Capitol on the 18th Of October, lIS9
the eighth anniversary OF the surrender o
Lord Corn wallis. This was happy coin
cidence, if not in accordance with prear
ranged programme. AT that time the dele
yates living near the seat OF Government
rode into town on horseback, hitcbed theil
steeds II h0rse-racks, one on each side O
the Capitol, and entered the building by 9
temporary stairway leading up 10 tht
porticO. The grounds through which
they bad ridden were still in th'
most primitive condition. The land wat
for the most part poor and bare Of vegeta
ton, excepting thin growth of broom
sedge, small-pnes, and chinquapin bushes
The grounds were intersected by roads anC
washed into gullies, were unenclosed, ant
therefore OyeTrun by such esiray animal
as could find scant living upon the gravel!
hill-sides and among its ravlnes. Upon tn
highest summit Of this bare and bleak ele
walton was now standing the unfinished
outlines OF what in time was to become
famous building in the midst Of his
tOric capital. In the imperfect sketcl
here given of this, the fifth public building
officially occupied by the several govern
ments Of the Colony and state of Virginia
no reference has been made TO the event
which have made it famous. At anothe
time this may be done. For the present
enough 10 remind the reader that ours
the Odes, Capitol left standing in the Unite
states Of Americas that in itself are so EN-
balmcd the memories Of the past, that al
though but the reflection Of their sacre
temples, it may yet be held as
above all Greek, above I'll Roman fame.