The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-16

notonous slopes were relieved by dormer
windows. IL was in the shape Of the letter
l H." the two main parts OF the building
l being connected by a cross gallery thirteen
l feet long and fifteen feet wide, and carried
up to the height OF the other parts OF the
house.
Upon the centre OF this gallery YVES "A
cupola. rising above the roof, inside Of
which was a clock, and upon which was
flagstaff The entire structure was covered
| with cypress shingles, usually STEPPED In
pitch before being put on. The hrst floor
| was laid in stone tagging; those OF the up.
per stories were supported by heavy girders
covered with the best pine timber. The
appearance Of the building was well set oil
| by ample p0rticos. iron balconies, and elab-
| crate cornices Of richly carved wood. A
| substantial enclosure of brick protected the
| stately pile and premises, the entrance 10
| which was through "heayy iron folding
| gates" At that early day there were very
| few skilled workmen in the colony; hence
we lind that all the material used In the
new Capitol, excepting the bricks, was
brought from England. The ironwork. the
glass. paint, and even the stone tor the
lower floors, halls, and steps were imported.
| The building when finished was considered
| as near fire-prO0f as could be, considering
| the material and means at hand for the
| construction. Every was tahth
| for its preservation, and because "the State
House, jamestown. and the College" had
been burned down, the use OF FIRE. candles,
and tobacco" was prohibited in the new
Capitol. The grounds Immediately around
the house were studded with trees and
adorned with turf From the front Of VIII
liam and Mary College looking east, and
exactly three-quarters of mile on, the new
and elegant Capitol presented an imposing
appearance at the other end Of Duke OF
Gloucester street. We may imagine with
what pride the inhabitants OF the new seat
Of government regarded "this noble, beau
tifll, and commodious pile"
1t would be pleasing task to dwell upon
the events that subsequently made the new
Capitol famous, from the time Of Edward
Mott the amiable Governor under whose
auspices IL was built, all through the bril-.
liant career of Alexander spotswOod, down
TO the end Of Gooch's administration, when
il. too, fell victim 10 deyOuring flames.
For more than forty years the Burgesses had
met under It's roof. There the courts OF the
Colony bad established principles Of law
which TO this day are feyered for their wis
dom and respected as authority. Within It's
sacred halls the representative OF the Crown
had held in state his semi-regal court. and
issued from time TO time the mandates
adopted in council. In 'public tines
about its pOrtIcOs and halls might be seen
numbers of "hands0m, well-dressed. and
compleat gentlemen" who were either at
tending upon business at the Capitol or
PLAYING the gallant upon the fashionable
highways that ted TO the college and the
Governors palace.
The destruction OF the first Capitol at
Williamsburg took place In June. TAG. IL
was supposed 10 be the work OF an incen-
diary, for whose detection large reward
was offered by the Governor in council, but
the author Of the deed was never found.
| This unfortunate occurrence opened the
door TO an excited state OF the public mind
and led % violent debates in the House OF
| Burgesses. Ever since the discovery Of the
beautiful country beyond the mountains by
SpOtswOOd the tide OF emigration had set
| that way. and the region that WAS then "A
wilderness had now become thick with
thriving settlements. Immediately amer
the loss OF the building In which
they had 80 long been assem-
| bling, the Governor called session
of the House, 10 be held In the college, In
order 10 be prorogued in due form. Th.s
furnished the opportunity long desired by
the advocates Of a change in the location Of
the seat Of government. Many OF the
deputies were from the region west Of the
mountains, as well As from what II now
known as the Piedmont country. They
complained that the distance from the
capital made IL an announcement and tedious
Journey Ia attend upon their duties. and
urged that il would be much more Ia the
interest Of all the inhabitants II the seat Of
government were nearer the heart Of the
country than at its extreme eastern border.
The advocates Of the scheme grew stronger
Ia numbers and influence as the subject
was discussed. The debates increased In
heat day by day, and when at last the vote
was taken the bill tor removal was passed,
but was finally choked of In the council by
the vested power OF the Governor and his
advisors.
The position taken by the advocates OF
the removal was signaily prophetic.
They drew vivid pictures as TO how,
at nc distant day, the new capital would
be the centre Of a. great and prosperous
community; that IL would be unwise In the
extreme TO spend money upon a new pub
lie building which must soon be abandon.
ity made proyidential by the recent
lire should not be thrown away. The
opposition was chiefly 10 be found
among those who held property in vii.
liamsburg. wealthy citizens Of the neigh
borhood, the college interests, members Of
the council, and even the Governor himself
In the meantime, until other quarters could
! he provided, the Burgesses held their SEES
sions in the halls Of William and Mar,
College. When and by what means the,
assembled in another Capitol will DE told a
a future time. Il.
4 FRO BE CONCLUDED.