[Illustration: DESIGN OF THE CAPITOL, BY THORNTON, 1800] When the seat of government was moved from Philadelphia to Washington in the year 1800 there had been erected for the purposes of the Government a small rectangular building, familiarly known to-day as the Supreme Court section of the Capitol, and in this building were housed the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, the courts of the District of Columbia, and the library, now known as the Library of Congress. South of this building was a large vacant space, practically the extension of East Capitol Street. Through this area people from the western and eastern parts of the city passed to and fro. Conveniently located in that section now occupied by the central portion were two wells, which for many years furnished water to citizens residing in that vicinity, for the Capitol Grounds were then occupied by residences. South of this vacant space were the foundations of another building, equal in area and intended to compare in cubic contents with the portion already erected and occupied. For some time after the inauguration of President Jefferson but little was done toward the erection of the southern building, now known as the Statuary Hall section, except that the foundation walls progressed slowly, and within the area of these walls there was built a 1-story elliptical-shaped building of brick construction, known to the people of that period as “The Oven,” designed for the accommodation of the House of Representatives and occupied until 1807, when the Hall of the House of Representatives was completed. In 1800 there were 32 Senators and 106 Members of the House. [Illustration: THE CAPITOL, FROM PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, 1830] [Illustration: CAPITOL, FROM THE WEST, SHOWING THE TRIPOLI COLUMN] Thomas Jefferson sought the assistance of the best talent of the country to complete the Capitol, and on March 6, 1803, appointed Benjamin H. Latrobe, whose fame as an architect had caused his services to be in such great demand in several cities that he could not immediately take up his residence in Washington. But he arranged to assume the duties of Architect of the Capitol by personal visits to the city and made a thorough study of the plans for the Capitol. The plans for the Hall of the House of Representatives as developed by Mr. Latrobe required sculptural decoration, and this was made the subject of an interesting letter on March 6, 1805, addressed to Philip Mazzei, an Italian physician, asking for assistance in selecting a sculptor: By direction of the President of the United States I take the liberty to apply to you for your assistance in procuring for us the services of a good sculptor in the erection of the public buildings in this city, especially the Capitol. [Illustration: SENATE CHAMBER, 1830] [Illustration: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CHAMBER, 1830] [Illustration: EARLY VIEW OF THE WHITE HOUSE]