Evening star., 1902-08-21
Road to Washington.

Road to washington.
31st-We took stage and visited the fort
took a view of the city from Federal Hill.
The next morning set out for Washing
ton and arrived in time for a late dinner.
The first evening delivered my letters to
Mr.. Samuel Smith and DR. Thornton, and
took tea with Mr.. Smith. The next morning
/ waited on the President, who advised me
to take lodgings at the city tavern, that
We might be nearer him and more in the
center of the places we should visit. After
breakfast l accompanied the baron and the
other gentlemen to wait on the President,
who had known before the high reputation
of the baron as philosopher and ingenious
observer of nature After leaving the
Presidents our company walked to George
town and called at Mr. Pimpon's French
consuD, who Is very polite man, and his
lady an accomplished woman. The Pres
ident sent us an invitation to dine with
him at half-past the next day (Monday).
Our party were invited to take tea with
Mr. and Mrs. Smith; ~ where we found a
yard and went on board one of the frigates
were handsomely received by the officers
who obligngly showed the different
parts Of the ship and offered us refresh
mentS.
Leaving this unpleasant memento of
death and destruction We proceeded to the
Capitol to examine the several apartments
where the great national councils sit to
frame laws for the government of the
United States The wing of the stupendous
and elegant building is yet unfinished and
the center part not begun. The other wing
now under the hands of the workmen was
raised few feet above the ground. We
first went to the library. where Mr.. Becliley
received with politeness and accompa-
MED US through the other apartments. The
library is a spacious and handsome room,
and, although lately organized, already
contains a number of valuable books in
the best kind of binding. We next visited
the chamber where the Senate sits. 1t is
elegant room, with very lofty gallery
adorned with large and massive pillars.
| This room is warmed by fues from fires
made beneath it. Went to the top of the
Capitol and had a delightful view of all
the surrounding country. This building Is
| magnificent and also that allotted for the
President, and the fine, broad streets with
| the pavement, particularly Pennsylvania
avenue, which has four rows of trees, two
on each side of the carriageway. One of
these footways is paved with fiat, square
! stones and the other handsomely graveled.
1t IS one mile in length from the Capitol
to the Presidents house. The other public
| buildings are large and not destitute of
| beauty, taking into view that every year
forwards the completion of a great city.
Already many good buildings are finished
! for the accommodation of the officers Of
| the government. In order to make the seat
| of government as agreeable as possible
great national college will be very soon
| projected All these circumstances made
| me- at this moment, think 1t very probable
| that some provision will be made to induce
| me 10 remove my museum TO TINS city. /
| think the time not far distant that some
| proposal will be made for that purpose. We
| had an elegant dinner at the Presidents
and what pleased me much-not a single
| toast was given or called for, or politics
| touched on; but subjects of natural his
| tory and improvements of the conveniences
| of life, manners of different nations de-
| scribed or other agreeable conversation
| animated the whole company. Mr.. Madi-
| son invited US to dine with him the follow
| ing day.
| Visit to Mount Vernon.
| DR.. Collin told that after 1 left the
| company had agreed to spend the next day
in visit to Alexandria and Mount Vernon;
| they had ordered early breakfast and
| carriages to be ready. We crossed the
| ferry at Georgetown and Travelled hilly
| road, that frequently gave US view or
| the river Potomac, and reaching AleXan-
| dria at IL o'clock. While the horses were
eating We took walk through the town
1t had increased considerably since my last
visit during the revolutionary war. 1t was
| then composed OF a few scattered buildings,
| chiefly along the river. The houses are
mostly Of brick. and many of them in a
| good style of architecture. Expecting that
we could not get dinner at Mount Vernon
| as Judge Washington was not at home,
| We ordered some refreshments by the time
we returned to the tavern 1 alone partook
| of them. as they thought 1t too early: but
they were very hungry at Mount Vernon,
and begged piece of bread. I felt very
| comfortable! They were delighted with the
| prospect before this venerable seat.
| To me 1t was a mixture Of pain to reflect
that in this room l ate and drank with Col.
| Washington, his lady, son and daughter
| in-law. l remember many conversations
! we had while I was painting the portraits
of the family, as we used to walk together
| to enjoy the evening breeze, and where we
danced to give exercise to Miss Custis,
who did not enjoy good health; she was
| subject to fits, and Mrs. Washington never
suffered her to be a minute out of her
sight. She died in short period after.
Mrs. Washington's son by her former hus-
band was young at that time. He did not
take any part in the revolutionary war
but IN the beginning Of It he married a
daughter of Benedict Calvert, a fine and
most accomplished young woman. Both of
them are now dead and have left family.
l inquired for the old servants Of the gen
eral They told me they were all dead,
except William. his faithful attendant
through the war. I went to the quarter
Gan outbuilding so-called). where / found
him making shoes: he is now a cripple In
an extraordinary manner; both Of his knee
pans were removed from their places some
inches higher up. This accident happened
to him from falls at different periods, the
last when he was with the general sur
veying land and being heavy, the fall was
severe. William has thirty dollars left to
maintain him by the general. He says /,
is regularly paid once a year.
4 Danger Of Negro Revolt.
1 Sana lfffla TINA Dnst nff uos