A new guide to Washington:

Introduction

The first edition of this work appeared in 1840, and, though got up in haste, and consequently imperfect, it was found to be popular. The want of such a guide to our city had long been felt, and the author having been from childhood an inhabitant of Washington, wa? induced to undertake it, from his intimate ae- Ajuaintance with all its localities, improvements, progress, public and private institutions, and whatever concerned it. Much, however, from the haste with which it was prepared, was necessarily omitted, and to supply this deficiency a new edition is now issued.

The present is almost a new work. The former edition did not contain one-third of the matter which this volume embraces. It has been greatly enlarged ; every thing of a temporary character has been thrown out, and that only which may be considered as permanent, retained.

4 INTRODUCTION,

The Metropolis must necessarily be an object of great interest to every American, whether a resident or not; and he cannot but feel anxious to know every thing that belongs to it. The information, therefore, which the author has endeavored to furnish, is as full, minute and accurate in relation to it, both as a city and as the seat of the Federal Government, as could be given, or perhaps desired ; and the work will not only serve as a complete guide to all who visit Washington, but make the reader at a distance well acquainted with the history, topography, condition of, and every thing of interest in the National Metropolis. It will be of great use to the stranger, by directing his attention to the principal objects of curiosity and interest to be found in Washington, and guiding him from place to place, with a knowledge of its localities.

The author acknowledges his obligation to Mr. Robert Mills, Architect of the Public Buildings, and to Mr. Peter Force, for the information he has derived from them, and which he has embodied in this little volume.

Index

Alms House or Asylum .- IJi^

American Historical Society 11^

Appendix : list of Executive Officers, «fec 213

Apprentices' Library 101

Arsenal 8(!

Assessment of property 15S

Attoi-ney General's office 196

Auditor, First, duties of, &c , 188

Second, do 183

Third, do 184

Fourth, do 184

Fifth, do 185

Bank of the Metropolis 133

" Patriotic 133

" of Washington 133

Baptism of Pocahontas 47

Benevolent Societies 132

Boards of Aldermen and Common Council 150

Board of Appeal 153

Board of Health 164

Boon and the Indians, conflict of, alto relievo.., 3b

Bridges Htl

Buildings, public, expenditures on 148

Page.

Building Regulations, abstract of. 170

Burgoyne, surrender of, painting 41

Caiial, Chesapeake and Ohio 88

" Washington 86

Capitol 20

Census of the District of Columbia 19

" of the United States 220

Churches 96

Clergy of the city 138

Columbian Institute 112

Columbian Horticultural Society 112

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company 88

Corporation of Washington, Charter, &.c 149

City Hall 81

Circulating Libraries 101

Colleges 107

Convent of Visitation 109

Columbia Typographical Society 120

Charges d' Affaires 218-19

Clork's office, House of Representatives 31

Coal and Wood 154

Collector of Taxes 154

" office of. 85

Cabs, &c., law relative to 159

Comptroller's office, First 182

Second 182

Crypt of the Capitol 24

Carusi's Saloon 145

Commissioner of Patents 176

Page.

Congress, number of sessions and extra sessions of.. 203

" Speakers of the House 203

" How constituted 203

Cornwallis, surrender of, painting 43

Court, circuit 82

" criminal 84

«' orphan's 85

Commissioner of General Land Office 186

Court Room, Supreme Court 33

City of Washington, history and description of. 13

Committees of the Senate 206

of the House 207

Department of State 175

" of Treasury 180

of War 188

" of Navy 194

Dogs, tax on 155

Declaration of Independence, picture of. 39

District Court 83

Executive Department of Government 172

Engineer do. do 189

Extract from the rules of the Senate 205

Expenditures of the Corporation 152

Epitome of the Population of the United States.... 220

Flag of the United States 69

Franklin Insurance Company 135

Firemen's do 135

Fire Companies .., 136

Finances of the Corporation ,., 151

Franking privilege, «&c 200

Foot walks, law relating to 158

Factories 92

Free Negroes and Mulattoes 156

Funeral customs 141

Foreign Consuls in the District of Columbia...., 218

Gaming 159

Guardians of the Poor 110

General Post Office Building 63

General Land Office 186

House of Representatives, Hall of. 24

Howard Society 132

Hackney Carriages, law, fare, &c 159

Hawkers and Pedlars 164

Health, Board of. 164

Hogs, law relating to 165

History of Washington , 13

Insurance Companies 135

Jail, new 82

Justices of the Peace 147

King's Gallery 102

Library of Congress 28

" of House Representatives 27

Landing of the Pilgrims 27

Literature and Science 97

Legal and Medical Professions 98

Literary and scientific works 103

Lunatic Asylum Ill

List of the Presidents of the United States 174

List of Executive and Legislative Officers 213

Marine Barracks 70

Military Companies 136

Market Houses 87

INDEX. y

Page.

TOT, office of. 86

" howelected 150

" compensation of. 153

" list of, and how chosen 152

Magazines and Pamphlets 199

Medical Department 193

Ministers, American 218

" foreign 217

Monument Society, Washington » 112

Navy Depai-tment, building 61

Duties of the Secretary 194

Navy Yard 68

Navy Yard Beneficial Society 132

Navy Magazine 71

Naval Monument 55

Navy Yards in United States, cost of. 69

Navy, historical sketch of. 194

Newspapers, periodicals, «Scc 103

National Institution 114

Non-resident Merchants 1 65

Nuisances 165

Original proprietors of the city 14

Officers of the Navy, how classed 69

Orphan's Court 85

Office of Treasurer 185

" Register J85

Ordnance Office l90

Order of Odd Fellows, description of. 121

Order of business in House of Representatives 208

Preservation of Captain Smith, alto relievo 36

Population of Washington 19

INDEX.

ra,q:e.

Population of tlie District 19

" of the United States 220

Patent Office, building 65

Patents, law relating to 176

Penitentiary of the District 80

Penn's Treaty with the Indians, alto relievo 39

President's House, description of, &c 57

Public Schools ^ 106

Poor, infirm and diseased Ill

Peace and War, statues of. 21

Police Officers of the city 166

Post Office, city 85

Pumps, Wells, Hydrants, &c 167

President United States, powers and duties of 172

Public Lands, laws relating to 187

Purchasing Department, office of. 192

Paymaster General's Office 192

Potomac Bridge 86

Public debt of the city 152

Provident Association of Clerks 132

Public and private property of the city 147

Taxation on 119

Valuation of private property 149

Patriotic Bank 133

Postmaster General's Office 196

Postage, rates of. 196

Queen of Portugal 15

Quartermaster General's Office 190

Rotundo, description of. 23

Resignation of General Washington, picture of. 45

Register of Wills, office of. 85

Page.

Register of the Corporation, office of.... 85

Recess of Congress 144

Registers and Receivers of public moneys 186

Senate Chamber, description of. 32

Sculpture of the Rotundo.... 36

Surrender of Burgoyne, picture of. 41

" of CornwalHs, do 43

Statue of Washington 51

State Department, building 62

Supreme Court, powers of, Sec 33

Surveyor of the city, office of. 85

Slaves, law relating to 158

Shooting, do , 167

Secretary of State, his duties, &c 175

Subsistence office 192

Society of Washington 138

Sessions of Circuit Court 84

" Criminal Court , 84

Statues of War and Peace 21

Secretaries of Legation 219

Standing Committees of the House Representatives. 208

" " Senate 206

St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum 143

Treasury Department, building........... 62

Treasury Department, Secretary's duties, &c 180

Tiber 88

Tympanum of the Capitol ,. 20

Taxes 168

Trees, law relating to 170

Temperance Societies , 131

Union Literary Debating Society..... , 130

Page,

Usages, customs, etiquette, &c 140

Vice-President of the United States, powers and duties of. 174

War Department, building 61

Washington Orphan Asylum 148

Washington Canal 86

Washington Library 100

Washington Assembly Rooms 145

Washington National Monument Society 112

Washington Benevolent Society 132

Wards, division of. 151

Work-houso of the city 110