Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 1 of 2]Weld, Isaac
History
Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 1 of 2]
Weld, Isaac
Canada -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; United States -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
one of these states may wish to erect to the memory of great men that
may appear in the country. On a small eminence, due west of the capitol,
is to be an equestrian statue of General Washington.
The capitol is now building upon the most elevated spot of ground in the
city, which happens to be in a very central situation. From this spot
there is a complete view of every part of the city, and also of the
adjacent country. In the capitol are to be spacious apartments for the
accommodation of congress; in it also are to be the principal public
offices in the executive department of the government, together with the
courts of justice. The plan on which this building is begun is grand and
extensive; the expense of building it is estimated at a million of
dollars, equal to two hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds sterling.
[Sidenote: ERECTIONS.]
The house for the residence of the president stands north-west of the
capitol, at the distance of about one mile and a half. It is situated
upon a rising ground not far from the Patowmac, and commands a most
beautiful prospect of the river, and of the rich country beyond it. One
hundred acres of ground, towards the river, are left adjoining to the
house for pleasure grounds. South of this there is to be a large park or
mall, which is to run in an easterly direction from the river to the
capitol. The buildings on either side of this mall are all to be elegant
in their kind; amongst the number it is proposed to have houses built at
the public expense for the accommodation of the foreign ministers, &c.
On the eastern branch a large spot is laid out for a marine hospital and
gardens. Various other parts are appointed for churches, theatres,
colleges, &c. The ground in general, within the limits of the city, is
agreeably undulated; but none of the risings are so great as to become
objects of inconvenience in a town. The soil is chiefly of a yellowish
clay mixed with gravel. There are numbers of excellent springs in the
city, and water is readily had in most places by digging wells. Here are
two streams likewise, which run through the city, Reedy Branch and Tiber
Creek.[13] The perpendicular height of the source of the latter, above
the level of the tide, is two hundred and thirty-six feet.
Footnote 13:
Upon the granting possession of waste lands to any person, commonly
called the _location_ of lands, it is usual to give particular names
to different spots, and also to the creeks and rivers. On the original
location of the ground now allotted for the seat of the federal city,
this creek received the name of Tiber Creek, and the identical spot of
ground on which the capitol now stands was called Rome. This anecdote
is related by many as a certain prognostic of the future magnificence
of this city, which is to be, as it were, a second Rome.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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