CENTENNIAL HISTORY 
 
 OF THE CITY OF 
 
 WASHINGTON.D.C. 
 
 WITH FULL OUTLINE 
 
 NATURAL ADVANTAGES, ACCOUNTS OF THE INDIAN TRIBES, SELECTION OF THE SITE 
 FOUNDING OF THE CITY, PIONEER LIFE, MUNICIHAL, MILITARY, MERCAN- 
 TILE, MANUFACTURING, AND TRANSPORTATION INTERESTS, THE 
 PRESS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, SOCIETIES, PUBLIC 
 BUILDINGS, Etc., Etc., To THE PRESENT TIME. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 DAYTON, OHIO: 
 
 Published for H. W.^rew by the 
 
 UNITED BRETHREN PUBLISHING HOUSE, 
 
 W. J. SHUEY, Publisher. 
 
 1892. 
 
lOAR 5UC< 
 
 CllPYRKiilTED, 1,S!I2 
 liY 
 
 H. W. CREW. 
 
Cvt 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 This Centennial History of Washington has beon written almost exclusively by 
 Hon. William B. Webli, of Washington, District of Columbia, and J. Wooldridgc, of 
 Cleveland, Ohio, although a.ssistanoe has been received by each writer from numerous 
 individuals in Washington who have taken an interest in the work. The chapters 
 written by Mr. Webb are Chapter III., " Washington Becomes the Capital"; Chapter IV., 
 "Permanent Capital Site Selected"; Chapter V., "Pioneer Life"; Chapter VII., "Growth 
 and Imi)rovement of the City"; and Chapter XXII., "The Bench and Bar." He also 
 rendered valuable assistance in connection with Chapter XXIII. , "The Prosecution of 
 Claims Against the Government." The other chapters in the work were written l)y Mr. 
 Wooldridge, assisted to some extent, especially in Chapter XI^^ and Chapter XVI., by a 
 gentleman of considerable exjierience in this kind of writing. But in all of his other chap- 
 ters, as well as in these, he was assisted in many ways by numerous citizens of Washing- 
 ton, who, from their relations to certain institutions or enterprises, or special features of 
 the history of tlie city, were better qualified than others to supply the data necessary to 
 wTite these particular portions of the history. This was also, to a greater or less extent, 
 the case with Mr. Webb. No one can write even a local history without numerous 
 consultations with many of the citizens of the place. And it has been the experience 
 of both writers of this History of Washington that the great majority of those whom 
 it was neces.sary to call upoii for assistance in this way were more than usually 
 courteous and obliging, and perfectly willing to aid to any extent in their power in the 
 preparation of a work which they hoped would be at lea.st creditable to those con- 
 cerned in its compilation and its iiublication, as well as to the city of Washington 
 itself. And inasmuch as the individuals who have given assistance in the ways referred 
 to in the above 'sentences have been so numerous, it is believed that they will be 
 satisfied if only the smallest possible number are named in this preface. Cf those 
 whom it would be impossible to omit with any degree of justice, the first is Dr. J. M. 
 Toner, whose advice and a.ssistance were always cheerfully and freely given, and always 
 as freely and cheerfully accepted. The only regret in this connection, on the part of 
 
iv PREFACE. 
 
 either of the writers, is tliat it was Iduml iiupniclicable, on account ot the jjeculiar 
 exigencies of the enterprise, to consult witli Ijini as fully witli reference to several of 
 the chapters as it wiis earnestly desired to do; and it is also proper to say that wherever 
 such omission was unavoidable, the work has suflTered to that extent. The other gentle- 
 man wlioni it is also not only a duty, but at the same time a pleiisure, to recognize in 
 this way, is ^Ir. David Hutcheson, assistant librarian in the Congressional Library. Mr. 
 Hutclieson was, during the w'hole time of the writer's labors in that library, always 
 courteous and oliliging, going beyond the rei|nirenients of his position in making valu- 
 able suggestions and referring to newspapers and books containing necessar)' informa- 
 tion; his extensive knowledge of the contents of the liln'ary peculiarly i|ualifying hinj 
 for the performance of these acceptable services. 
 
 That the w'ork is without mistakes is not to be expected. Kveu Mr. Bancroft's 
 great "History of the I'nited States" is sometimes referred to as "merely an exhibition 
 of the idio.syncrasies of its author"; and if such a criticism can be passed upon the 
 greatest of American historians, how can the least hope to escape, even when writing 
 under the most favorable auspices, winch was far from being the case in the pieparation 
 of this work? But it is not designed or desired to dwell upon this particular, further 
 than to say that a great deal of matter of greater or less value was prepared which was 
 necessarily excluded from the work in order to avoid the production of an exceedingly 
 unwieldly volume. But even as it is, it is believed to jiossess some ujerit ; how much, 
 must lie left to the kind and considerate judgment of the reader. 
 
 While upon this subject of value, it may not be inappropriate to call attention to 
 a few of the errors in standard works corrected in this work ; for it is well known to 
 all intelligent readers of history that even standard histories contain numerous errors, 
 and that one of the objects of a careful writer is to correct the errors of his predecessors. 
 In Barnes's ".School History of the United States" it is stated that the first public 
 messages sent over the telegraph wires between Washington and Baltimore in 1S44 
 were in reference to the nomination of James K. Polk for the Presidency. On page 
 4(i6 of this work this is shown to be an error, the tirst public messages passing on the 
 L'.5th of May, 1S44, while the announcement of the nomination of Mr. Polk for the 
 Presidency was not made until the 29th of that month. In "Tlie Story wf Washing- 
 ton," liy Charles l'.\irr Todd, it is stated on page :'.s that "This account is taken fi'om 
 the Wasbiuiiton letters in the State Oeiiartmeiit, and settles the much controverteil 
 point as to the authorship of the plan of the Capitol.'' Ily this, Mr. Todd means that 
 in the text of his work he has established the fact that Mr. Hallett's plan of the 
 (Japitol was selected instead of Dr. Thornton's. In this supposition Mr. Todd is in 
 error, and his assumption proves that he did not read all the correspondence on tile in 
 the State Department between President Washington and the conniussioners, for that 
 correspondence shows that while at one stage thereof it was thought best to adopt 
 Mr. llalli'tt's plan, yet, after furtlier consideration, Ih-. Tliorntou's plan was in th<' 
 
PREFACE. V 
 
 main arlopte<l, hut mnditied somewliat liy Mr. Ilallett's ideas. Otlier papers and ilni'- 
 nments established the same point. Anciidingly, in tlie chapter on "(iovernment 
 Bnildings," this fact is so stated. To what extent, if to any extent, Dr. Thornton 
 appropriated Mr. Hallett's ideas, is not discussed, that ]iart of the controverBy between 
 those two arcliitects being left to some future liistorian. These two instances are men- 
 tioned merely as illustrations of the effort made to write with accuracy. 
 
 H. W. CREW. 
 
 PtTTiLISHF.I:. 
 
LLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Wasiiin<;ton, (inomiE, - - - - Frontispiece 
 
 Bkitton, Alexander T., ---------- - Facing 401 
 
 Clark, William E., - - Facing 398 
 
 Clakke, Daniel I!., - - - Facing 391 
 
 Emery, Matthew (j.,- - Facing 394 
 
 Glover, Charles C, - - - - - Facing 389 
 
 Hall, James C, Facing (iOl 
 
 .ToiixsTON, William P., Facing 003 
 
 Lincoln, Nathan S., Facing (iOS 
 
 McIlhenny, (teokc.e a., --.--- Facing 433 
 
 Mattingly, William F., . . - - Facing 753 
 
 Morgan, James E., - - _ _ . . . Facing 005 
 
 NoRMENT, Samuel, ..-------... Facing 397 
 
 NoYES, Crosby S., _ . . Facing 459 
 
 Parker, Myron M., ........... Facing 705 
 
 Prentiss, Daniel W., - Facing ()12 
 
 Ross, John W., -.-._ Facing 159 
 
 Shepherd, Alexander R., ._.... Facing 199 
 
 Tallmadge, Theodore W., --.-- Facing 758 
 
 Thomas, Ammi A., Facing 43G 
 
 Thompson, John W., Facing 350 
 
 Toner, Joseph M., Facing 009 
 
 Webb, William B., Facing 751 
 
 Wilson, Jesse B., ------------ Facing 402 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 (mAPTEK I. 
 
 NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 
 
 Situation and Natural Surroundings of the City — The District of Columbia — Prime 
 Meridians of the AVorld — Design of Making and Attempts to Make the Merid- 
 ian of Wafihington a Prime Meridian — History of the Efforts to Determine the 
 Latitude and Longitude of Washington — Efforts to Establish an Astronomical 
 Observatory at Washington — William Lambert's Work — Andrew Ellicott's Work 
 
 — Errors in Mr. Lambert's Work--R. T. Paine's Work — Sears C. Walker's Work 
 
 — Latitude and I-^^ngitude of the Four Corners of the District of Columbia, of the 
 Washington Monument, and of the Naval Observatory — Ellicott's Azimuth Mark 
 
 — Other Original Landmarks — The Center Stone — The Center of the District of 
 Columbia — The Climate of Washington — Thermoraetrical and Barometrical Eleva- 
 tions — The Potomac River — .Jefferson's Description of the Confluence of the Poto- 
 mac and Shenandoah Rivers — The Great Falls — Captain John Smith's Exploration 
 of the Potomac — The Potomac Fisheries — Theoretic Geology of the Vicinity of Wash- 
 ington — Economic Geology — The Botany of the District of Columbia 17-"m 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 INDIAN HISTORY. 
 
 First Exploration of Chesapeake Bay and Us Tributaries — Tribes of Indians upon the 
 Bay — The Powhatans, the Manahoacs, and the Monacons — The Moyaones, the 
 Nacotchtants, and the Toags — The Shawanese — The Susquehannocks, the Tock- 
 wocke, and the Nanticokes — The Delawares — Indian Fishing Ground — Indian 
 Tradition as to Greenleaf's Point — Formation of the Indian Names of Rivers — 
 Fate of the Delaware Indians — Resemblance between Indians of Maryland and 
 Virginia — Massacres of and by Indians — Marriage of Pocahontas — The All-Con- 
 quering Iroquois — The Changing Fortunes of the Aborigines — The Descendants 
 of the Powhatans Embrace Mormonism .56-6.S 
 
 CHAPTEK III. 
 
 WASHINGTON BECOMES THE CAPITAL. 
 
 The First American Congress — Circular Letter to the Colonies — The Sjiirit of Inde- 
 pendence — The Necessity of a Permanent Seat of Government — The Attack upon 
 Congress in Philadelphia — Its Effect — Offers from States for a Site for a Perma- 
 nent Residence — Views of Individuals — Discussions on the Subject in Congress — 
 
X CONTENTS. 
 
 The Plan of Two FediTal Towns — Tlie Convention of 17S7 — The Nature of 
 Control over the Seat of Governnient Sought by Congress — History of the 
 Movement to Settle the Question of a Permanent Seat of Governnient — The 
 Question Finally Set at Rest — The Act of July, 1790, Authorizing the President 
 to Locate the Federal District — The Removal of the Federal Offices to the City of 
 Washington G4-8(i 
 
 CIIArTEK IV. 
 
 PERMANENT CAPITAL SPTE SELECTED. 
 
 The Act of Congress Approved July llj, 17i.iO — A].ipointment of Commissioners — Presi- 
 dent Washington's Proclamation — Location and Surroundings of the District Chosen 
 under Above Act — Description of the Site by John Cotton Smith — Extract from 
 the JLcrald — Canollsburgh and Hamburgh — The Agreement with the Proprietors 
 — The Act of INIaryland — Conveyance of Lands to Trustees— Major Pierre Charles 
 L'Enfant Selected to Prepare a Plan of the City — His Plan Approved — Thomas 
 JeflTerson's Part in This Matter — The Name, "City of Washington," Conferred 
 — The Plan of the City Discussed — Major L'Enfant's Dismissal — Act of Congress 
 Compensating L'Enfant for His Services — Andrew Ellicott Succeeds L'Enfant — 
 Completes the Survey of the District of Columbia — Close of the Rule of the 
 Commissioners — Dithculties with the Original Proprietors — Washington's Letter 
 in Reference Thereto — David Burns Still Obstinate — Finally Yields — Extracts 
 from New York Daily Advertiser — Estimate of the ^'aluc of the Work of Those 
 Who Selected the Site of the National Capital 87-107 
 
 CHAPTEli V. 
 
 PIONEER LIFE. 
 
 The Karly Settlers of the District of Columbia — Daniel Carroll, of Duddington — David 
 liurns — Marcia Burns — John P. Van Ness — Notley Young — Benjamin Oden — 
 Robeit Peter — The Removal of the Government to Washington — Officers Who 
 Came Here at That Time — Samuel Meredith — Thomas Tudor Tucker — Joseph 
 Nourse — Richard Harrison — Peter Hagner — John Steele — Gabriel Duval — William 
 Simmons — Thomas Turner — Abraham Bradley, Jr. — Thomas Muuroe — Roger C. 
 Weightman — Stephen L. Hallett — Dr. William Thornton — George Hadfield — Ben- 
 jamin Henry Latrobe — Pierre Charles L'Enfant — Samuel Harrison Smith — Andrew 
 Ellicott — Benjamin Bannecker 108-121 
 
 CIIArTEK VI. 
 
 MUNICIPAL. 
 
 The Municipal Government of the City of Washington — The Acts of Maryland and 
 Virginia Ceding Territory — The Connection of the Location of the Capital with 
 the State Debt Ciuestion — Thomas Jefferson (Juoted — The Amended Act Relating 
 to the District — President Washington's Letters and Proclamations — The First 
 Comndssioners — The Setting of the Corner Stone of the District — Difficulties with 
 the Proprietors — The Agreement with Them — Major L'Enfant's Instructions — His 
 
CONTENTS. xi 
 
 Agreement with Jolin Gibson — He Demolishes Daniel Carroll's House — His Course 
 Approved by a Portion of the Proprietors — The First Counuissioners in full — The 
 First Charter of Washington — The First Election under It — Subsequent Elections 
 
 — Incidents in the Political History of the City— The Charter of 1.S20 — The 
 Mayors of the City — Congressional Legislation as Affecting the District — Indig- 
 nation of the Citizens — Congress Comes Near Abolishing Slavery in Washington 
 
 — Election Riots in 1857 — Know-Notliingism — Mayor Berret Arrested — Richard 
 Wallach Becomes Mayor — M. G. Emery Elected Mayor — The Territorial Govern- 
 ment — Alexander R. Shepherd's Work — The Government by Commissioners — The 
 Police Department — Soldiers on tlie Force — The Water Department and Great 
 Aqueduct — The Fire Department — The City Post Ofhee ]22-17ii 
 
 CIIAPTEU VII. 
 
 GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE CITY. 
 
 The Grandeur of the Plan of the Capital — Early Inhabitants — Early Attempts to 
 Improve the City — Locality of First Improvements — Noted Residences in Wash- 
 ington — Quotation from Benjamin O. Tayloe — John Sessford's Statistics — About 
 the Removal of the Capital — Work under the Charter of 1820 — Improvement on 
 Pennsylvania Avenue — Senator Southard's Report — W. W. Seaton's Report — 
 Statistics of Buildings Erected in Recent Years — Census and Debt of the District 
 
 — Progress Since the War — Change in Form of Government — The 14,000,000 Loan 
 
 — Sewerage Built — Street Improvements — Governor Shepherd's Work — Area of 
 Public Parks — Extent of Paved Streets 180-201 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 MILITARY HISTORY. 
 
 The Causes of the War of 1812-1') — The Embargoes — Tammany Society of AVashiugton 
 to President Jefferson — War in Prospect — President Madison Convenes Congress- 
 Congress Declares War — Recruiting in Washington — Reorganization of the Militia of 
 the District — Military Organizations — British Ships in the Potomac — Excitement in 
 Washington — General Winder Arrives in Washington — The Battle of St. Leonard's 
 
 — The Battle of Bladensburg — President Madison's Proclamation — Peace through 
 the Treaty of Ghent — The War with Mexico — Annexation of Texas by Treaty 
 or Joint Resolution — Organization of Troops for the War — Peace with Mexico 
 
 — The War of the Rebellion — Brief Statement of its Causes — The Insurrection 
 at Harper's Ferry — Ratification Meetings — Attack on the Republican Headquarters 
 
 — Meeting of Southern Senators to Further the Secession of Their States — The 
 Peace Convention— Mr. Lincoln's Arrival in AVashington — His Inauguration- 
 aiilitary Companies — Proclamation Calling for Seventy-five Thousand Men — First 
 Troops to Arrive in Washington — Military Department Created — Militia Officers 
 Commissioned — Battalions Organized — Crossing the Potomac — Colonel Ellsworth 
 Killed — Fortifications Around the City — First War Dispatch from a Balloon — 
 Battle of Bull Run — The Army Bakery — Troops in Defense of Washington — War 
 Meeting in the Capitol — Second Battle of Bull Run— Battle of A ntietam — Hos- 
 pitals in Washington — Proclamation of Emancipation — Drafts in the District 
 
 — Ladies' Relief Association — General Early Attacks Washington — Surrender of 
 
xii CONTENTS. 
 
 Rirhmond — Lee's j^iirrender — Assassinatinn of President I-inrn1n — Confisration 
 of Property — The (irand Review — Alwlition of Slavery in the District of Col- 
 umbia L'02-2S4 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 rHANiil'OR TA TIOX. 
 
 The First Exploration of the Potomac River — The Potomac Company — The Chesa- 
 peake and Ohio Canal Company — The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company 
 
 — The Metropolitan Railroad Company — The Baltimore and Potomac Railroa<l 
 Company — The Washington and Alexandria Railroad Company — The Washing- 
 ton and Potomac Railroad Company— The Washington and Chesapeake Railroad 
 Company — The First Bridge across Rock Creek— The Chain Bridge — The Long 
 Bridge — The Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company — The Metropolitan 
 Railroad Company — The Columbia Railroad Company —The Anacostia and Poto- 
 mac Railroad Company — The Capitol, North O Street, and South Washington 
 Railroad Company — The Rock Creek Railroad Company — The Eckington and 
 Soldiers' Home Railroad Company — The Georgetown and Tennallytown Railroa<l 
 Company — The Xorfolk and Washington Steamboat Company — The Mount Ver- 
 non and Marshall Hall Steamboat Company— Other Steamboat Companies 285-350 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 HISTORY OF BANKING. 
 
 The Bank of Columbia — The Bank of the United States — Office of Discount and De- 
 posit in Washington — "The Produce Bank of the Potomac" — The Bank of the 
 Metropolis — The National Metropolitan Bank — The Bank of Washington— The 
 National Bank of Washington — The TTnion Bank of Georgetown — The Central 
 Bank of Georgetown and Washington — The Farmers and Mechanics' Bank — The 
 Patriotic Bank — Confusion of the Finances — The Second National Bank — John 
 C. Calhoun on the National Bank — Directors of the Branch Bank in Washington 
 
 — President Jackson's Animosity to the National Bank — Suspension of Specie 
 Payments — Extension of Charters of the District Banks — Troubles with the Cur- 
 rency — President Tyler's Vetoes — The Banks of the District Practically Extin- 
 guished—The Freedman's Saving and Trust Company — Riggs & Company — First 
 National Bank — Merchants' National Bank — National Bank of the Republic — 
 National Savings Bank — National Safe Deposit Company — National Capital Bank 
 of Washington — Second National Bank — Citizens' National Bank — Washington 
 Safe Deposit Company — Columbia National Bank — Washington Loan and Trust 
 Company — American Security and Trust Company — Lincoln National Bank — 
 West End National Bank — Traders' National Bank — Ohio National Bank — Private 
 Banking Institutions 351—105 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 MERCANTILE HISTORY. 
 
 Early Business Firms — Prices of Nails — A Commercial Company Established — Business 
 Firms in 1803— A Fair in Washington — Regulations for Making Bread — Piano- 
 fortes First Imported — The City in 1816 — The Coal Trade in isr)4— .Merchants' 
 
CONTENTS. xiii 
 
 Exchange Organized — Timber Shipments — Steamship Companies — Another Mer- 
 chants' Exchange — Changed to a Board of Trade — Tlie Present Board of Trade 
 
 — The Markets — Till- Culuinbian ExjKisition 400-421 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 MA N UFA C T UR ING. 
 
 Early Establishments — A Nail Factory — A Hat Factory — The Steam Engine — Thresh- 
 ing Machine — The Columbia Manufacturing Company — Foxall's Foundry — Manu- 
 factory of Fire Engines — The Columbia Rolling Mills — Paper Mills — Pope's 
 Threshing Machine — Romford's Flouring Mill — George Page, Shipbuilder — Steam 
 Marble and Brown Stone Works — George Hill, Jr.'s Paper Mill — William Stick- 
 ney's Envelope Manufactory — The Washington Gas Light Company — The United 
 States Electric Lighting Company — Summary of Manufacturing Establishments in 
 Existence at the Present Time 422-439 
 
 CllAl'TEK XIII. 
 HISTORY OF THE PRESS. 
 
 The Washington Gazi'ttf- — The Nuliunal Inliltiyiriici r — The Washington Daily Gazette — 
 The Washington Fcdendkl — The Washington RepubUcan — The Weekly Messenger 
 
 — The Washington Mirror — The United Stales Telegraph — The Globe — The Madi- 
 sonian — The Xalire American — The Columbian Star — The Columbian Gazette — The 
 Washington Union — The Republic — The Spectator — The National Era — The Federal 
 Republican — The American Telegraph — The Washington Sentinel — The Constitutional 
 Union — The American Organ — The Sunday Morning Chronicle — The National Repub- 
 lican — The Daily Patriot — The Erening Star — The Washington Post — The Wash- 
 ington Cnlic — The Capital — The Ptiblic Serrice — The Home Magazine — The Sunday 
 Herald — The Republic — The Washiugton Sentinel — The Natiorml Tribune — The 
 National View^The American Farmer — The American Anthropologist — The Vedette 
 
 — Kate Field's Washington — Public Opinion — The Congressional Record — Other 
 Papers — The Electric Telegraph — Press Agencies 440-46S 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 ED UCA TIONA L HIS TORY. 
 
 Early Schools — John McLeod — Laucasterian School — Private .Schools — Colored Schools 
 
 — Public Schools of Washington — Georgetown College — Columbian University — 
 Howard LTniversity — National University — The Catholic Universit^• of America 
 
 — American University — Gunzaga College — Columbia Institution for the Deaf and 
 Dumb — St. John's College — The Academy of the Holy Cross — .St. Cecilia's Acad- 
 emy — The Spencerian Business College — Glen Echo Chautauqua — National Bureau 
 of Education — Norwood Institute — Wood's Commercial College — Wayland Semi- 
 nary — The Ivy Institute — Mount Vernon Seminary — Columbia College of Com- 
 merce — Libraries in Washington 469-51S 
 
xiv CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 LITERATURE AND ART. 
 
 Wank'ii's ami Elliott's Works — Other Authors — Literary Writers of Washington — 
 G. A. Townsend — Ben: Perley Poore — Mrs. Southworth — Professor Baird — Gen- 
 eral II. V. Boynton — Dr. J. M. Toner — George Bancroft — Mrs. Burnett — Scien- 
 tific Writers— William B. Webb — J. W. Powell— W. J. McGee — Architects — 
 Hallett - Hadfield — Hoban — Latrobe — Bulfinch — Mills — Walter — Clark — Cluss 
 
 — Schulze — IMullett — Hill —Pago — Poindexter — Frazier — Corcoran Gallery of Art 
 
 — Artists oll)-5o:! 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 CHURCH HISTORY. 
 
 Trinity Catholic Church — St. Patrick's Churcli — St. Peter's Church — St. Matthew's 
 Church — St. Mary's Church — St. Dominic's Church — St. Aloysius' Church — 
 Other Catholic Churches — St. Paul's Ei>iscopal Church — Christ Church — St. 
 John's Church, Georgetown — St. John's Church, Washington — Other Episcopal 
 Churches — Dunbarton Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, Georgetown — Fourth 
 Street Church — Foundry Church — Wesley Chapel — Ryland Chapel — Other iNIeth- 
 odist Episcopal Churches — Methodist Protestant Churches — West Street Presby- 
 terian Church, Georgetown — First Chui'ch — F Street Church — Second Church 
 
 — New York Avenue Church — Fourth Church — Other Presbyterian Churches 
 
 — Congregational Churches — First Baptist Church — Second Church — E Street 
 Church — Other Baptist Churches — German Evangelical Lutheran Church — St. 
 Paul's English Lutheran Church — Trinity Chuich — St. John's (Johannes') Church 
 
 — Other Lutheran Churches — The Ecformed Churches — United Brethren Church 
 
 — Unitarian Churches — Vermont Avenue Christian Church — Ninth Street Church 
 
 — The Washington Hebrew Congregation — The Adams Lsrael Congregation — The 
 Church of the Holy City .')34-5S8 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 MEDICAL HIS TOR Y. 
 
 Introductiim of Vaccination in the District of Columbia — Early Physicians — Healthful- 
 ness of Washington — Board of Health — Cholera Epidemic — Its Prevention by 
 the Board of Health — Deaths from Cholera — Sketches of Physicians — Medical 
 Societies SS9-f)17 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 PJ'BLIC AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 The Smithsonian Institution — United States Naval Observatory — The Congressional 
 Library — The Navy Yard — The Soldiers' Home — National Asylum for the In- 
 sane — Providence Hospital — Columbia Hospital — Washington Orphan Asylum — 
 St. Vincent's Female Orphan Asylum —Garlicld Memorial Hospital — Oilier Public 
 and Charitid)le Institutions (ilS-lioT 
 
CONTENTS. XV 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 oovehnment buildings and public monuments. 
 
 Tlie Capitol — The President's Mansion — The City Hall — The Treasury Department — 
 Tlie Patent Office — Department of Agricalture — Pension Building — The Bureau 
 of Engraving and Printing — The State, War, and Navy Department Building — The 
 New Congressional Library Building — Washington National Jlonument — Green- 
 ough's Statue of Washington — The Jackson Statue — Mill's Statue of Washington 
 
 — Mrs. Hoxie's Statue of Farragut — The Lincoln Statue — The Scott Statue — The 
 Rawlins Statue — The "Emancipation" Statue — The Statue of Peace — The Mc- 
 Pherson Statue — The Greene Statue — The Thomas Statue — The Franklin Statue 
 
 — The Marshall Statue — The Garfield Statue — The Henry Statue — The Dupont 
 Statue — The Luther .Statue — The Lafayette Statue 658-69.5 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 cemetehies. 
 
 First Burying Ground — Congressional Cemetery — Oak Hill Cemetery — Kock Creek Cem- 
 etery — Glenwood Cemetery — Arlington Cemetery — Other Cemeteries {i96-70l 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 societies. 
 
 Masonry — Its Introduction into the United States — In Georgetown — Federal City 
 Lodge, No. 1.5 — Potomac Lodge, No. 43, and No. 5 — Lorenzo Dow and Masonry 
 
 — Masonic Hall in Georgetown — Ma,sonic Hall Association in Washington — 
 Ma.sonic Temple — Grand Ma.'^ters of the District of Columbia — Ma.sonic Lodges 
 
 — Knights Templar — Other Organizations— Odd Fellowship Introduced into the 
 United States — First Lodge in Washington — Grand Lodge in the District of Col- 
 umbia—Odd Fellows' Hall — Lodges in Washington — Grand United Order of Odd 
 Fellows — Knight,s of Pythias — Washington Library Company — Washington Bible 
 .Society — Young Men's Christian Association — Women's Christian Association — 
 Patriotic Orders — Scientific Associations 702-715 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 THE BENCH AND BAR. 
 
 The Peculiar Character of the District of Columbia — Laws of the States of Virginia 
 and Maryland Continued in Force Therein — Eights Preserved — Appeals to the 
 Supreme Court — The Circuit Court — The Orphans' Court — Police Court — District 
 Marshal — The .Jurisdiction of the Courts — Kendall rersus the United States — 
 Chief Justices of the Circuit Court — Thomas .Johnson- William Kilty — William 
 Cranch — George W. Hopkins — James Dunlop — Associate Justices — James Mar- 
 shall — Nicholas Fitzhugh — Allen E. Duckett — Buckner Thruston — James S. Mor- 
 sell — William M. Merrick — The Supreme Court of the District of Columbia — 
 David K. Cartter — Edward F. Bingham — Abraham B. Olin — George P. Fisher 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 — Amliow Wylic — D. V. llniupliries — Aitlmr JMcAitliui- - A. B. Hagner — Walter 
 S. Cox — Charles P. James — Martin V. Montgomery — Andrew C. Bradley — The 
 Criminal Court — Thomas Hartley Crawford — The Police Court — Celebrated Cases 
 in the Courts of the District of Columbia — The Lawrence Case — The White Case 
 
 — The Gardiner Case — The Herbert Case — The Sickles Case — The Assassination 
 of President Lincoln — Hallett Kilbourn — The Guiteau Case — The Star Route Cases 
 
 — Members of the Early Bar — Francis S. Key — William L. Brent — Philip R. Fen- 
 dall — Richard S. Coxe — Joseph H. Bradley — James M. Carlisle — Henry ;\Iay 
 
 — The Present Bar 716-753 
 
 CUAl'TKU XXII r. 
 
 CLAIMS. 
 
 Prosecution of Claims Against the Government — Claims Growing Out (if the Wars 
 of the Country — The Board of Commissioners on Mexican War Claims — Nature 
 of These Claims Requires Lawyers of the Highest Standing and Ability — The Court 
 of Claims — Amounts Paid Out in Pensions — Importance of the Profession — 
 George E. Lemon's Building — Names of Some of the Attorneys Engaged in the 
 Prosecution of Claims 754-759 
 
History of Washington. 
 
 CHArTER I. 
 
 NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 
 
 Situation and Natural Surrouniiiugs of the City — The District of Columbia — Prime 
 Meridians of the World — Design of jMaking and Attempts to Make the Merid- 
 ian of Washington a Prime Meridian — History of the Efforts to Determine the 
 Latitude and Longitude of Washington — Efforts to Establish an Astronomical 
 Observatory at Washington — William J>ambert's Work — Andrew EUicott's Work 
 
 — Errors in Mr. Lambert's Work--R. T. Paine's Work — Sears C. Walker's Work 
 
 — Latitude and Ixingitude of the Four Corners of the District of Columbia, of the 
 Washington Monument, and of the Naval Observatory — EUicott's Azimuth ]Mark 
 
 — Other Original Landmarks — The Center Stone — The Center of the District of 
 Columbia' — The Climate of Washington — Thermometrinal and Barometrical Eleva- 
 tions — The Potomac River — Jefferson's Description of the Confluence of the 
 Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers — The Great Falls — Captain John Smith's Explo- 
 ration of the Potomac — The Potomac Fisheries — Theoretic Geology of the Vicinity 
 of Washington — Economic Geology— The Botany of the District of Columbia. 
 
 THE tirst question to be asked about a place is as to its situation ; and 
 usually tins lias reference to its latitude, longitude, elevation above 
 the sea, and natural surroundings. In answering such questions as 
 these with regard to Washington, the Capital of the United States, it 
 is proper to begi.i with its latitude and longitude, and the history of 
 the determination thereof, although these \Vere not determined even 
 approximately until some years after its selection as the site of 
 the Capital of the Nation. However, it may be briefly stated that 
 Washingtor. is situated on the north side of the Potomac River, about 
 one hundred and sixty miles from its mouth. It is within the District 
 of Columella, which, as originally laid out, was in the form of a 
 square, tt.n miles in length on each side, and hence containing one 
 hundred square miles of territory. The sides of this square extended 
 at an an ^le of forty-iive degrees with the meridian line, so that the 
 several corners of the square pointed respectively to the north, east, 
 
18 H/STORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 soiitli, and west. The soutli corner, or point, was at tlie north cape of 
 Hunting Creek, was known otherwise as Jones's Point, and was on the 
 right bank of the Potomac River, just below Alexandria. The north 
 corner is about a mile from Rock Creek, in Maryland. The west corner 
 was near the Four-mile Road, in Virginia, and the east corner is about 
 two miles east of the Eastern Branch, near Bladensburg, Marjdand. 
 
 Inasmuch as it is necessary to introduce an account of the 
 establishment of the meridian of longitude passing through Wash- 
 ington, it is deemed appropriate to present in the same connection 
 brief mention of the various first meridians of the world. The earliest 
 astronomer to determine longitude by astronomy was Hipparchus, of 
 Rhodes, who chose for his first meridian that of Rhodes, where he 
 observed. This island is on the dividing line between the ^gean and 
 the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. Ptolemy adopted a meridian 
 running through the Insulic Forfunat(E, as being the farthest known 
 land toward the west; wiiilc the Arabs adopted the meridian of the 
 Straits of Gibraltar. In the eleventh century, Alphonso X., of Castile, 
 adopted the meridian of Toledo. After the discovery of America 
 by Columbus, and the voyages of the Portuguese navigators, Pope 
 Calixtus caused the adoption of the meridian thirty-five degrees west 
 of Lisbon; but later on, the first meridian was set back two degrees 
 toward the east. Meanwhile, Protestant nations remained refractory 
 to any action in this respect taken by Rome. The Dutch adhered to 
 the meridian of I^tolemy until they changed it to that of the peak 
 of Teneriffe; but a scientific congress, assenihled by Richelieu, at 
 Paris, in 1630, selected the mei'idian passing through the island of 
 Fcrro — one of the Canary Islands — for this purpose. Other famous 
 first meridians have been that of Uranieraberg, and that of San 
 Miguel, one of the Azores, twenty-nine degrees a'ld twenty-five minutes 
 west of Paris. These continued to be used for tiv long time, yet the 
 meridian of Ferro, authorized by Louis XIII., April I\5, 1634, gradually 
 superseded all the others. In 1724, the longitude ot'.Paris from the 
 west coast of Ferro was found by Louis Feuillee, 'sent there bj' 
 the Paris Academy, to be twenty degrees, one minute, iXnd forty -five 
 seconds; but upon the proposition of Guillaume de Lisle, i'he meridian 
 of Ferro was assumed to be precisely twenty degrees west of the 
 Paris observatory. The English held to the meridian of London, and 
 added that of Jamaica, which island they had just conquered. During 
 the first half of the seventeenth century, Mercator traced his first 
 meridian through the Azores, his choice being determined by the 
 circumstance that, in his time, at that longitude, the magnetic needle 
 
NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 19 
 
 invariably pointed to tlie iiortli. Mercator, however, was unaware of 
 the taet tliat tlie magnetic meridian undergoes a constant but imper- 
 ceptible oscillation, and that its extreme positions varj- b}' many 
 degrees. 
 
 Since the establishment of the meridnin passing through the island 
 of Ferro by Louis XIII., in 1634, each nation has held to the meridian 
 passing through its principal metropolis, the three most in use since 
 that time being that of this island, that of Paris, and that of Green- 
 wich. The proceedings of the Washington Meridian Conference, held 
 in 1884, with the view of establishing a first meridian of the world, will 
 be detailed in their proper place. 
 
 The liistory of the determination of the longitude and latitude of 
 the city, or rather of the Capitol building, is briefly as follows: 
 
 On October 20, 1804, Mr. William Lambert made observations on 
 the occultation of Alcyone, one of the Pleiades, by the moon, from a 
 position near the President's House. This was on Saturday evenino-. 
 On Tuesday, November 14, 1809, Mr. Lambert prepared an abstract 
 of calculations made for the purpose of determining the longitude of 
 Washington from the observatory at Greenwich, England. In the 
 introduction to this abstract of calculations he said: 
 
 "By the plan of the city of Washington, in the Territory of 
 Columbia, the Capitol in that city is intended as a first meridian for 
 the United States of America; but iij order to establish it as such, the 
 distance between it and some known meridian in Europe or elsewhere, 
 measured or estimated on a parallel to the equator, and referred to 
 the center of the earth under the respective meridians for which the 
 computations may be made, should be ascertained on correct principles 
 and with due precision. As many of our navigators and geographers 
 are in the habit of taking their departure, or reckoning their longitude, 
 from Greenwich Observatory, England, it will not, it is hoped, be 
 considered as an instance of unpardonable presumption for attempting 
 to extricate ourselves from a sort of deprecating and nnnecessar\- 
 dependence on a foreign nation, by laying a foundation for fixing a 
 first meridian of onr own." 
 
 Thus, from the fir-st, it is evident that besides the object of 
 finding the longitude of the city of Washington, another object was 
 likewise entertained, namely, that of establishing a first meridian for 
 the United States, in order that this country might be independent 
 of other nations astronomically as well as politically. Of course it 
 will be expected by no one that the details of Mr. Lambert's 
 calculations will be presented here. The reader will desire to be 
 
20 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 instructed niainl}' as to the results of tliose observations and calcula- 
 tions. After presenting the rules for obtaining most of the elements 
 necessary in the computation, Mr. Lambert collected and arranged 
 the results obtained as follows: "Latitude of the Capitol in Wash- 
 ington by observation, thirty-eiglit degrees, fifty-two minutes, and 
 thirty-seven seconds; latitude of the Capitol, reduced (334 to 333), 
 thirty-eight degrees, forty-two minutes, and fifty-two and nine hundred 
 and thirty-nine thousandths seconds; latitude of the Capitol, reduced 
 (230 to 229), thirty-eight degrees, thirt3'-eight minutes, and nineteen 
 and four hundred and sixty-five thousandths seconds; estimated longi- 
 tude from Greenwich, live hours, seven minutes, and thirty-six 
 seconds, or seventy-six degrees and tift^'-four minutes west." But 
 with reference to the longitude, Mr. Lambert closes as follows: "Sup- 
 posing the error of the watch and the apparent times of immersion 
 and emersion to have been exactly as they are here stated, the 
 longitude of the Capitol in the city of Washington from Greenwich 
 Observatory, by actual calculation, is determined as follows: Without 
 reduction of latitude with the moon's horizontal parallax, seventy-six 
 degrees, fifty-six minutes, and eleven and seventy-seven hundredths 
 seconds; reduced (334 to 333), seventy-six degrees, fifty-four minutes, 
 and four and one hundred and twenty-five thousandths seconds; reduced 
 (280 to 229), seventy-six degrees, fifty -three minutes, and six and 
 ninety- three hundredths seconds." 
 
 By the first process above, the form of the earth was assumed to 
 be a perfect sphere; and in the second and third, it was assumed 
 to be an oblate spheroid, with the ratio in the second between the 
 equatorial and polar diameters of 334 to 333, and in the third, with a 
 ratio of 230 to 229. Ujion the assumption of a ratio of 282 to 281, 
 the longitude of the Cai)itol was found to be seventy-six degrees, 
 fifty-three minutes, and thirty-five and five hundred and twenty-seven 
 thousandths seconds. 
 
 On March 9, and April 2, 181U, Mr. Lambert submitted other 
 calculations. On March 28, Mr. Pitkin, from the committee on 
 Mr. Lambert's memorial, snbmittcil to the House of Representatives 
 a report closing as follows: 
 
 "■^Resolned, Tliat it is expedient to make provision by law author- 
 izing the President of the United States to cause the longitude ot 
 the Cajtitol in the city of Washington from the observatory' at Green- 
 wich, in England, to be ascertained with the greatest degree of 
 accuracy, and also authorize him, for that pui-pose, to procure the 
 necessary instruments." 
 
NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 21 
 
 July 3, 1812, President Monroe submitted to Congress the report 
 of his Secretary of State approving the project of establishing a first 
 meridian for the United States, and on January 20, 1813, Hon. Samuel 
 L. Mitchill, M. D., reported in favor of the establishment of an astro- 
 nomical observatory at the city of Washington. Some time in 1815 
 Mr. Lambert revised his original calculation by another method of 
 computation, assuming the ratio between the equatorial and polar 
 diameters of the earth to be 320 to 319. Afterward he obtained 
 observations founded on an occultation of Aldebaran, which occurred 
 in January, 1793, the result being that the longitude of the Capitol 
 was seventy-six degrees, forty-six minutes, and seventeen and fifty-five 
 hundredths seconds, and by tiic t)bservations of October 20, 1804, 
 it was seventy-six degrees, fifty-four minutes, and twenty-seven and 
 seventy-three hundredths seconds. From observations on an eclipse 
 of the sun, September 17, 1811, the longitude was found to be seventy- 
 seven degrees, five minutes, and twenty -three and seventy -seven 
 hundredths seconds. From observations on the occultation of Gamma 
 (;') Tauri, which occurred January 12,. 1813, the longitude was found 
 to be seventy-six degrees, fifty-five minutes, and fifty-two and fifty-five 
 hundredths seconds, and from the solar eclipse of August 27, 1821, it 
 was seventy-six degrees, fifty-five minutes, and twenty-eight and 
 sixty-five hundredths seconds. 
 
 Collecting all these results in the form of a table, we have the 
 following: 
 
 stated in report. As corrected. 
 
 From occultation, January 21, 1793 76° 46' 17.8.5" 76° 46' 17.5.5" 
 
 From occultation, October 20, 1804 76° .54' 26.97" 76° .54' 27.73" 
 
 From solar eclipse, September 17, 1811. ..77° 5' 23.88" 77° 5' 23.77" 
 
 Occultation of January 12, 1813 76° 55' .52.85" 76° 55' 52.,55" 
 
 Solar eclipse, August 27, 1821 76° 55' 28.20" 76° 55' 28.65" 
 
 Mean result 76° 55' 29.99" 76° 55' 30.05" 
 
 The variance between the stated and corrected results was, there- 
 fore, six hundredths of a second, or about five feet, nine inches of 
 linear measurement. 
 
 A joint resolution was adopted by the two Houses of Congress 
 March 3, 1821, authorizing the President of the United States to cause 
 to have astronomical observations made by methods which, according to 
 his judgment, might be best adapted to insure a correct determination 
 of the longitude of the Capitol in Washington from Greenwich, or 
 from any other known meridian in Europe. Under authority of this 
 resolution, on the 10th of April following he selected Mr. Lambert 
 
22 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 to make the necessary observation, by lunar observations, observations 
 of lunar oceultatious of fixed stars, by observations of solar eclipses, or 
 any other approved method adapted to ascertain the longitude of the 
 Capitol in the city of Washington from Greenwich, and requiring him 
 to return the data, with accurate calculations founded thereon, to the 
 President to be laid before Congress at its next session. Mr. Lambert 
 thereupon resigned tiie inferior clerkship which he then lield in the 
 Pension Office of the War Department, on the 30th of April, moved 
 to the vicinity of the Capitol, and selected Mr. William Elliot, a well- 
 known teacher of mathematics in Washington, to make the transit 
 and other necessary observations. The instruments required were 
 obtained from the Government, consisting of a transit instrument, a 
 circle of reflection, an astronomical clock, and a chronometer. A true 
 meridian was first established by means of concentric circles on a large 
 platform nineteen feet west of the original line through the center of 
 the Capitol, marked by Andrew EUicott in the earlier history of the city. 
 The daily rate of the chronometer was ascertained with due precision. 
 Some years before, Mr. Andrew Ellicott had obtained the latitude 
 of Washington, to the nearest minute of a degree, to be thirty-eight 
 deo'rees and fifty-three minutes north. The method of obtaining the 
 latitude of the Capitol by Mr. Lambert was by altitudes of tlie sun 
 on the passage of his eastern limb over the meridian at the south 
 wing of the Capitol, sixty yards from the center of the building, and it 
 was found to be thirty-eight degrees, fifty-two minutes, and forty-five 
 seconds. On June 6, 7, and 8, 1821, the longitude of the Capitol was 
 again sought for, and found to be west from Paris seventy-nine 
 degrees, fifteen minutes, and twenty-seven and twenty-four hundredths 
 seconds, from which, by deducting the longitude of Paris east from 
 Greenwich, two degrees, twenty minutes, and eleven and fifteen hun- 
 dredths seconds, the longitude of Washington west from Greenwich 
 was found to be seventy six degrees, fifty-five minutes, and sixteen 
 and nine hundredths seconds. On the 2'2d of June, the longitude of 
 Washington was found to be seventy-six degrees, fifty-five minutes, 
 and nineteen and' eighty-four hundredths seconds. Numerous other 
 oliservations were made during the summer and autumn of that year 
 with the view of securing the greatest possible accuracy, with a 
 nrniinuun result of seventy-six degrees, fifty-five minutes, and fourteen 
 anil eigiity-one hundredths seconds, and a nnixiinum result of sevcnty- 
 si.\ degrees, fifty-five minutes, and forty-three and tiiirty nine hundredths 
 seccjiid-. The result of all the observations nniy be summed up as 
 follows: 
 
NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 23 
 
 From Paris. From Greenwich. 
 
 From observations prior to March :;, 1S21..79° 15' 41.46" 76° 55' 30.31 " 
 
 Transit observations 79° 15' 42 " 76° 55' 30.85" 
 
 Solar eclipse of August 27, 1S21 79° 15' 41.60" 76° 55' 30.45" 
 
 Mean result 79° 15' 41.69" 76° 55' 30.54" 
 
 The President's House is north seventy degrees west, one and ii 
 half miles and fifty feet, or seven thousand nine hundred and seventy 
 feet, from the center of the Capitol, and hence the longitude of the 
 President's House is as follows: 
 
 From Paris. From Greenwich. 
 
 Longitude of the Capitol 79° 15' 41.69" 76° 55' 30.54" 
 
 Difference of longitude 1' 34.79" 1' 34.79" 
 
 Longitude of the President's House...79° 17' 16.48" 76° 57' 05.33" 
 
 In concluding his report, Mr. Lambert said: '-The greatest vari- 
 ance in the result, allowing ninety-four thousand eight hundred and 
 six yards to a degree of longitude in our latitude, was fourteen yards 
 and eight inches, from which, if nineteen feet be deducted, — the 
 distance of the transit from the Capitol center, — there are left seven 
 yards, two feet, and eight inches. If we compare the mean result of 
 all the observations with that which has been recorded in the abstracts 
 of calculations heretofore furnished the two Houses of Congress, and 
 allow the same deduction, the variance nearlj- vanishes, and does not 
 amount to eleven inches of our admeasurement. If we admit the dif- 
 ference in the meridians of Paris and Greenwich to be two degrees, 
 twentj- minutes, and fifteen seconds, as stated in Coiiiidissance des Temps 
 for the present year, instead of two degrees, twenty minutes, and 
 eleven and fifteen hundredths seconds, apjilied to the results of the 
 transit observations which have been made, the variance would still be 
 less than the length of the Capitol; namely, one hundred and twenty 
 yards. Under all the circumstances in which the foregoing result can 
 be viewed, allowing a small error to have been made in ascertaining 
 the reduction of longitude from a sphere to a spheroid according to the 
 ratio of three hundred and twenty to three hundred and nineteen, and 
 to the distance of the meridians of Paris and Washington, it is not 
 believed that it differs one-fourth of a minute of longitude from the 
 truth." 
 
 Mr. Lambert then added, that it was in his opinion the duty of 
 Congress to establish an astronomical observatory at Washington, in 
 order that the right ascension, declination, longitude, and latitude of 
 the moon, planets, etc., might be ascertained with sufficient accuracy, 
 
24 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 and thus it would be possible to compute a nautical almanac or 
 astronomical ephemeris for ourselves, and then, but not before, we 
 should be independent of the labors of European men of science. 
 
 "With reference to the accuracy of the results as obtained up t(^ 
 tills time (1821), it siiould be observed that Mr. Lambert used, all 
 the way througb, the lunar tables of Biirg, which contained errors 
 sufficient to throw the longitude of the Capitol to the eastward too 
 far by about twenty-five seconds of arc, or about five statute miles. 
 These errors had been pointed out by Dr. Bowditch, but Mr. Lambert 
 had omitted to make the necessary correction of his work. Some 
 time afterward, a German mathematician named Wurm, by using 
 Mr. Lambert's observations, arrived at the same result as that of 
 Dr. Bowditch. Then, too, with reference to the accuracy of the 
 longitude of the Capitol as determined by Mr. Lambert, D. B. Warden, 
 in his " Chorographical and Statistical Description of the District of 
 Columbia," published in 1816, makes the following observation: 
 
 "A celebrated astronomer, the Baron Lindenau, to whom we 
 communicated this calculation, was pleased to favor us with the 
 following observations concerning it: 
 
 "'On the 20th of October, 1804, the immersion of Eta (7) Pleiades 
 was observed at Washington at nine hours, twenty-two minutes, and 
 thirty-six and thirty-two hundredths seconds [true time]. From tiiis the 
 calculator deduces the conjunction of the moon and star at ten hours, 
 forty-two minutes, and fifty-nine and two hundred and seventy-seven 
 thousandths seconds. Calculating the place of the moon by tables, he 
 finds this 6 or conjunction for Greenwich at fifteen hour!=, five minutes, 
 and thirty-five and five hundred and fifty-six thousandths seconds; and 
 hence the western longitude of Washington equal to five hours, seven 
 miuutes, and thirty-six and two hundred and seventy-nine thousandths 
 seconds. This calculation is perfectly just; nevertheless, the longitude 
 which results from it remains uncertain, and may be defective by 
 several minutes of the arc. 
 
 "'1. The calculator supposes the right ascension of Eta ('/) Ple- 
 iades fifty-three degrees, fifty-nine minutes, and six and twenty-seven 
 hundredths seconds, the declination twenty-three degrees, twenty-nine 
 minutes, and forty -five and fourteen hundredths seconds; whereas the 
 catalogue of Piazzi, generally considered as the best, gives the right 
 ascension fifty-three degrees, fifty-eight minutes, and thirty and 
 nino-tcnths seconds, and the declination twcnty-thrcc dogrces, twenty- 
 nine minutes, and thirty-four and tive-teuths seconds. 
 
NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 25 
 
 '"2. Tlie conjunction for Greenwich havin,^ been calculated, not 
 l)_y real observations, but by the places of the moon, taken from the 
 tallies of Mason, perhaps incorrect by from ten to tifteeii minutes, an 
 error may result, from twent}' to thirty-six minutes, in the time of 
 this conjunction, and also in the longitude of Washington. Uufortu- 
 natei}', I have not been able to tind an observation in Europe 
 corresponding with this, which would have enabled me to repeat 
 the calculation and establish the longitude of Washington above 
 mentioned. 
 
 '"From the observatory of Lieberg, October 10, 1812. 
 
 '" J3. LlNDENAU.'" 
 
 The solar eclipse of February 12, 1831, was observed at Wash- 
 ington b}: F. R. Hassler. His observations were reduced by Robert 
 T. Paine, and the difference of time between Greenwich and Wash- 
 ington found to be five hours, eight minutes, and seven and two- 
 tenths seconds. This difference of time gives for the longitude of 
 Washington seventy-seven degrees, one minute, and forty-eight sec- 
 onds, which is six minutes and seventeen and forty-six hundredths 
 seconds of longitude more than Mr. Lambert's average result. 
 
 It was ou account of the errors in Mr. Lambert's calculations 
 that, in December, 1841, a memorial was presented to Congress, signed 
 by Peter S. Du Ponceau and forty-three other citizens of Philadelphia, 
 and a similar one signed by W. A. Duer, president of Columbia 
 College, and eighteen other citizens of New York, among them 
 Theodore Frelinghuysen, John W. Draper, and Charles Authon, praying 
 that measures be taken for ascertaining the precise longitude of the 
 Capitol. These memorials were presented to Congress by Hon. W. W. 
 Boardman, of Connecticut, May 12, 1842. 
 
 Retracing our steps a little, it may be said that, in 1838, Mr. R. T. 
 Paine, editor of tlie "American Almanac," determined the position of 
 the Capitol from observations upon the eclipse of the sun, which was 
 nearly central there. In coming to Washington, three chronometers 
 made the difference between the meridian of the Capitol and that of 
 the statehouse in Philadelphia, seven minutes and twenty-five and 
 four-tenths seconds, and in returning to Philadelphia, seven minutes 
 and twenty-six and five-tenths seconds. The mean of these two, 
 added to the longitude of Philadelphia, five hours and thirty-nine and 
 six-tenths seconds, gave for the longitude of the Capitol at Washing- 
 ton, five hours, eight minutes, and five seconds. By observations upon 
 the annular eclipses of 1791, 1811, 1831, and 1838, the longitude was 
 
26 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 iive hours, eight minutes, and six uiul tive-tenths seconds. An error, 
 therefore, of two or three seconds in this determination, Mr. Paine 
 thought, was an improbability, and there being but little doubt that 
 there was an error of six miles in those maps of this country in the 
 construction of which the longitude of the Capitol was supposed to be 
 five hours, seven minutes, and forty-two seconds, the quantity reported 
 by an individual' acting under the authority of a resolution of Con- 
 gress. 
 
 In the annual report of the Coast Survey for 1851, the latitude of 
 the Capitol was given as thirty-eight degrees, fifty-three minutes, and 
 nineteen and eighty-nine hundredths seconds, and the longitude, seventy- 
 seven degrees and fifteen seconds, a value derived geodetically through 
 the triaugulation connected with Cambridge, Massachusetts, the longi- 
 tude of Cambridge being assumed as correctl}' ascertained, four hours, 
 forty-four minutes, twenty-nine and five-tenths seconds. This same 
 value is given in the "American Almanac" for 1861. In an important 
 paper, Mr. Sears C. Walker, assistant in the Coast Survey to the 
 superintendent, gives the longitude of the Capitol at Washington as 
 five hours, eight minutes, and eight hundred and fifty-three thousandths 
 seconds, which in angular distance is seventy-seven degrees and one 
 and two thousand seven liundred and ninety-five ten-thousandths 
 seconds. 
 
 When the transatlantic cables were utilized for the determination 
 of longitude, a new value for longitude was introduced. Again, in 
 1880, a change was made by substituting Clarke's spheroid- for that of 
 Bessel,-' previously employed for the development of the triangnlations. 
 By these operations the observed ditierences of longitude between 
 Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Washington, District of Columbia, was 
 twenty-three minutes and forty-one and forty-one thousandths seconds, 
 which, added to the longitude of Cambridge, above given, gives five 
 hours, eight minutes, and ten and five hundred and forty-one thou- 
 sandths seconds for the longitude of the Capitol, which, expressed in 
 angular distance, is seventy-seven degrees, two minutes, and thirty- 
 eight and one hundred and fifteen thousandths seconds; or for the 
 dome of the United States Naval Observatory, as given in the United 
 States Coast Report for 1884, page 423, five hours, eight minutes, and 
 
 ' Williaui Lambert. 
 
 = Equatorial radius, 6,:)78,20t).4 meters, equal iiO.liL'djOdS feet; Polar radius, (v'>''5iv"'0o.8 
 meters, equal 20,855,121 feet. 
 
 ■' Ecjuatorial radius, 0,377,397.15 meters, eijual 20,!lL':;,404.(il feet; Polar radius, 
 0,35(i,079.11 meters, equal 20,853,462.91 feet. 
 
7° 
 
 
 33.54 
 
 7° 
 
 
 35.25 
 
 7° 
 
 ■y 
 
 7.78' 
 
 7° 
 
 2' 
 
 27.01 
 
 7° 
 
 2' 
 
 28.48 ■ 
 
 ■6° 
 
 54' 
 
 33.94 
 
 7° 
 
 10' 
 
 21.19 
 
 NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 27 
 
 twelve and thirty - ei.sjht thousandths seconds, equal in degrees to 
 seventy-seven degrees, three minutes, and iifty-seven seconds. 
 
 •'The following table contains the positions of some prominent 
 objects in the District, according to the latest geodetic data of the 
 survey. 
 
 "United States Capitol, head of tlie Statue 
 
 of Liberty 38° 53' 23.25" 
 
 Old monument, supposed meridian stone '.38° 54' 44.45" 
 Washington ilonument, apex of obelisk. ..38° .53' 22.02" 
 District of Columbia south corner stone, 
 
 Jones's Point 38° 47' 25.15" 
 
 District of Columbia north corner stone..38° 59' 45.38" 
 District of Columbia east corner stone.. ..38° 53' 34.23" 
 District of Columbia west corner stone.. 38° 53' 35.60" 
 United States Naval Observatory, center 
 
 of small dome, main building 38° 53' 42.27" 77° 3' fi.lO" 
 
 "From these positions it will be seen that the boundary lines of 
 the District are somewhat longer than ten statute miles; also, that 
 the southwest line (and its parallel) is somewhat longer than the 
 southeast line (and its parallel), which inequalities throw the north 
 corner slightly to the west of the south corner, and the west corner 
 slightly more north than the east corner." - 
 
 In connection with this valuable information furnished by the 
 gentlemen named, through the kindness of Dr. T. C. Mendenhall 
 
 'This is "Ellicott's Azimuth Mark," or what is otherwise sometimes called the 
 "North Meridian Stone." It is located, according to Mr. C. H. Sinclair, assistant in the 
 United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, "to the west of the prolongation of North 
 Capitol Street, just beyond Boundary Street, and near the beginning of Lincoln Avenue. 
 The monument consists of six blocks of sandstone placed on top of each other; the two 
 Ijottom stones are twenty-eight by twenty-eight inches, and extend to the height of 
 forty inches. The next stone has a base of twenty-four by twenty-tour inches, and 
 taijers, as do all the others, to the top of the monument. The monument is fifteen 
 and five-tenths feet above the ground. In the top stone, south face, are three vertical 
 lines about one-half an inch deep and one-half an inch wide, the center one terminated 
 l)y a horizontal line. Near the top of the fifth stone is a horizontal line, cut deeply like 
 llie others. This bench mark (?) is on the south face of the bottom stone. The stone 
 next to the bottom has a similar piece of iron on the east face, about four inches below 
 its top (or three feet above the ground). The monument leans slightly to the north. 
 
 "While in Salt Lake City in July, 1890, I met Major Wilkes, son of Admiral 
 Wilkes, who told me that this stone was placed by his fathei- in the meridian of the 
 transit of the old oljservatory that stood on the north side of Capitol Ilill." The date 
 of this monument is about 1838. 
 
 2 From a letter to the writer by Assistant Charles A. Srhott, in charge of Com- 
 puting Division, Coast and Geodetic Survey. 
 
28 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Superintendent of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, it 
 may not be without both interest and value to note briefly a few facts 
 about other original landmarks, established by the early surveys of the 
 District of Columbia. In another chapter may be found an account 
 of the setting of the corner stone of the District, at Jones's Point. 
 Tlie initial stone, at this point, was about two feet liigh and one 
 foot square. It stood isolated until the United States built the wall 
 enclosing the lighthouse, and it now forms part of this wall on the 
 south. From this initial stone the meridional center line of the 
 District was located by Andrew Ellicoti. This meridian center line 
 extended through the President's House, north along the center of 
 Sixteenth Street, and thence over Peter's Hill, afterward called Merid- 
 ian Hill, to the intersection of the diagonal lines at the north point 
 of the District of Columbia, about one mile due west from Silver 
 Springs, Maryland. Upon this line, about eighty yards south of the 
 present unsightly and unutilized standpipe, near the brow of the hill. 
 Commodore David Porter had a mansion, the entrance door of which 
 was due north of the center door of the President's House. The farm 
 upon which this mansion stood, was long known as the "Meridian 
 Hill Farm." On the edge of the south lawn, in close proximity to the 
 mansion, was placed the " Meridian Stone." This meridian stone was 
 nearly two feet across and two feet high. The north edge of it 
 was circular, and upon it was afterward placed a brass sundial. From 
 this stone "Meridian Hill" received its name, and hence "Meridian 
 Hill Farm.'' This stone remained in its original position until about 
 the time of the opening of Sixteenth Street extended, when it was 
 removed to its present place, at the southwest corner of Fourteenth 
 and R streets, where it is used as a carriage step. 
 
 The line crossing this meridian line at a right angle near the 
 Washington Monument, extends west across the Potomac, passes near 
 old Fort Corcoran, and on to the intersection of the diagonals at the 
 west corner of the District of Columbia, near the village of Falls Church, 
 in Virginia. Eastward, it extends through the rotunda of the Capitol, 
 and on to the intersection of the diagonals at the east point of the 
 District, about three miles east of Bennings Bridge. 
 
 At the crossing of these lines, near the Washington Monument, 
 should be found the precise center of the District, and at this 
 intersection was placed, in 1792, a stone to mark the center of the 
 District. It was called the Jefterson Stone, or Center Stone. Its 
 precise position is not now visible, but it was about one hundred and 
 tifty yards northwest from the present Washington Monument, ou the 
 
NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 29 
 
 bank of the old Tiber Creek. It had a blue rock foundation, which 
 was six feet high on the creek side. It was covered b}- a huge sand- 
 stone cap, about five feet square and eight inches thick. This cap 
 stone and part of tiie foundation w'ere removed in 1872, b}' order of 
 General Babcock, the Commissioner of Public Buildings and Grounds, 
 through a mistake as to its identity, and wliat remained was covered 
 up by earth several feet deep wlien the roadway was made. It is on 
 the east side of the road, between ttie lakes and tlie intersection of 
 Virginia Avenue. 
 
 There is still one other stone a remembrance of the location of 
 which should be preserved. Tliis was called the "Capitol Stone," and 
 stood a little south of the Washington Monument, and about eighty- 
 five yards to the west. This was a rough-hewn freestone, projecting 
 al)out three feet above tlie sun-ounding earth, and one foot in diameter 
 on the earth line and eight inches across on the top. The distance 
 between this and the Center Stone corresponded with half the length 
 of the old part of the Capitol building. These three objects, therefore, 
 the Monument, the Center Stone, and the Capitol Stone, would, if all 
 were visible, mark a triangle, two sides of which would be of the 
 lengths given above, and the other perhaps about one hundred and 
 seven yards. But for all practical purposes the Washington Monument 
 may be considered the center of the District of Cohimbia. 
 
 The longitude and latitude of a place, espei'ially the latitude, have 
 much to do with its climate. And it may be naturally inferred from 
 the low latitude of Washington, when coupled with its slight elevation 
 above the level of the sea, that its climate in the summer time is very 
 warm. Actual observation and experience prove the correctness of the 
 inference. The winters, too, are found to be much milder than those 
 of more northern cities, and even milder than some winters in earlier 
 times. In January, 1772, the snow, in what is now the District of Col- 
 umbia, was nearly three feet deep on the level, and in places it drifted 
 to from ten to twelve feet in depth. In 1780, according to Mr. Jeffei-- 
 son, the Chesapeake Bay was frozen solid from its head to the mouth 
 of the Potomac, and at Annapolis, where it is five and a fourth miles 
 between the nearest points of land, the ice was from five to seven 
 itiches thick, so that loaded carriages went across. But in later years, 
 as the country became more thickly settled, cleared, and better cultivated, 
 the climate of winter became much milder. But mollification of the 
 climate by the clearing away of the forests and better draining of 
 the land is not unique in the United States. In the times of Julius 
 Cfesar neither the olive nor the vine was grown upon the Rhine. 
 
30 
 
 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Now, with rare exceptions, one of these exceptions being tlie winter of 
 1890-91, wliich was a most remarkable winter in Europe, the winters 
 of France are both mild and pleasant. The improvement in the 
 climate of Rome, the mountains near which eit^- were, in the days of 
 Horace, covered with snow, and the great change in the climate 
 of German}- from settlement, clearing away of the forests, drainage 
 and cultivation of the land, and the great changes in our own West- 
 ern States, all tend to show the natural results of civilized man's 
 occupation upon the land which he inhabits. Heretofore, and now, the 
 vicissitudes of temperature are often distressing, mainly, perhaps, 
 because of the suddenness of the changes which occur. However, even 
 if there should be a gradual and steady mollification of the weather, 
 extremely cold winters and hot summers will occasionally come. In 
 the United States, the winter of 1855-56 was like that of 1890-91 in 
 France, excessively severe. 
 
 The following table shows the temperature of the city of Wash- 
 ington for each month of the five years, 1823, 1824, 1825, 1828, and 
 1829, the data for the first three years being extracted from The 
 Washington Gazette, published by S. A. Elliott in 1826, and those of 
 the other two years from other sources: 
 
 
 1823. 
 
 1824. 
 
 1825. 
 
 1828. 
 
 1829. 
 
 Month. 
 
 g 
 
 3 
 
 a 
 
 s 
 
 3 
 
 g 
 is 
 
 i 
 
 a 
 3 
 
 g 
 
 66 
 69 
 62 
 76 
 80 
 88 
 90 
 84 
 80 
 71 
 61 
 62 
 
 g 
 1 
 
 "S 
 
 
 1 
 s 
 
 cs 
 
 50 
 57 
 66 
 77 
 82 
 93 
 95 
 94 
 85 
 87 
 69 
 54 
 
 g 
 
 3 
 
 g 
 
 '3 
 
 i 
 
 a 
 
 3 
 
 g 
 
 cS 
 
 66 
 66 
 78 
 69 
 84 
 94 
 94 
 97 
 92 
 80 
 70 
 62 
 
 s" 
 
 '3 
 
 a 
 
 38 
 44 
 49 
 49 
 60 
 
 76 
 77 
 69 
 54 
 50 
 39 
 
 g 
 ^a 
 
 % 
 
 55 
 50 
 (i6 
 85 
 85 
 90 
 TO 
 90 
 86 
 70 
 62 
 62 
 
 a 
 
 3 
 
 a 
 "b. 
 § 
 
 10 
 10 
 22 
 32 
 42 
 60 
 57 
 62 
 47 
 35 
 28 
 27 
 
 CO 
 
 January... 
 February .. 
 
 March 
 
 April 
 
 (!2 
 <)" 
 7(i 
 90 
 SYi 
 91 
 92 
 87 
 76 
 60 
 59 
 
 28 
 29 
 29 
 ■43 
 50 
 58 
 65 
 6:! 
 42 
 34 
 24 
 26 
 
 42 
 35 
 47 
 59 
 66 
 74 
 78 
 76 
 OS 
 54 
 41 
 37 
 
 20 
 11 
 28 
 34 
 49 
 52 
 67 
 63 
 58 
 31 
 27 
 24 
 
 38 
 34 
 33 
 55 
 65 
 73 
 79 
 75 
 69 
 57 
 43 
 40 
 
 19 
 16 
 34 
 
 46 
 54 
 64 
 62 
 46 
 34 
 25 
 10 
 
 35 
 39 
 48 
 56 
 65 
 76 
 79 
 76 
 68 
 60 
 44 
 36 
 
 10 
 
 20 
 30 
 36 
 60 
 58 
 60 
 47 
 29 
 30 
 10 
 
 30 
 44 
 
 58 
 63 
 
 June 
 
 July 
 
 August 
 
 September 
 October.... 
 November 
 December 
 
 73 
 76 
 66 
 52 
 45 
 44 
 
NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 
 
 31 
 
 The following table shows the barometric elevations for the year> 
 1828 and 1829: 
 
 
 1828. 
 
 1829. 
 
 Month. 
 
 g 
 
 3 
 
 a 
 
 "a 
 
 a 
 % 
 
 a 
 
 5 
 
 a 
 a 
 
 'a 
 
 a 
 
 Jimuary 
 
 31.03 
 30.81 
 30.63 
 30.42 
 30.45 
 30.21 
 30.65 
 30.90 
 30.25 
 30.75 
 30.72 
 30.89 
 
 29.75 
 29.37 
 29.63 
 29.62 
 29.56 
 29.77 
 29.65 
 29.72 
 29.10 
 29.70 
 29.90 
 29.87 
 
 30.39 
 30.09 
 30.18 
 30.02 
 30.00 
 29.99 
 30.15 
 30.31 
 29.07 
 30.25 
 30.31 
 30.38 
 
 30.93 
 30.61 
 30.45 
 30.52 
 30.38 
 30 20 
 29.90 
 29.83 
 .30.15 
 30.95 
 30.33 
 30.80 
 
 29.66 
 29.33 
 29.35 
 29.35 
 29.65 
 29.24 
 29.05 
 29.39 
 29.10 
 29.43 
 29.50 
 29.30 
 
 30.29 
 
 30.17 
 
 
 30.10 
 
 April 
 
 29.93 
 
 May 
 
 30.01 
 
 
 29 72 
 
 Jnlv 
 
 29.47 
 
 
 29.61 
 
 
 29.(i5 
 
 
 30.19 
 
 
 29.91 
 
 
 30.05 
 
 
 
 With reference to the healthfnlness of the elimate, early writers 
 have made numerons comments. Warden, in his "District of 
 Colnmbia," elsewhere qnoted from, in connection with his remarks on 
 the longitnde of the city, says, "It is scarcely possible to imagine a 
 situation more beautiful, healthy, and convenient than that of Wash- 
 ington." In another place he says: "It is a prevailing opinion 
 throughout the United States that the climate of the District of 
 Washington is unhealthy; but the opinion is formed on prejudice, for 
 it is certain tliat in no season is it visited bj' habitual or endemic 
 diseases. The best proof of the salubrity of the place is the longevity 
 of its inhabitants; and we recollect to have seen several natives, always 
 residents of this District, whose features and general appearance in- 
 dicate a very advanced age. Mr. Blodgett has, we know not from 
 what data, estimated the annual deaths in Washington City at one to 
 48 to 50 persons; in New York, at one to 44 to 50; at Baltimore, at 
 one to 43 to 49; at Charleston, at one to 35 to 40; from which it 
 results that of all these places Washington is the healthiest. And 
 in this respect it has evidently an advantage over the great cities of 
 
32 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Europe, where the annual deaths are one to 23, and in towns as one 
 to 28. . . . It nia}' be remarked that during autumn bilious fever some- 
 times prevails; but at this season it is common to other parts of the 
 United States." 
 
 In the "History of the Ten Miles Square," published in 1830, by 
 Jonathan Elliott, tlie following table of deaths for the ten years 
 preceding was given: In 1820, 327; 1821, 335; 1822, 296; 1823, 350; 
 1824, 290; 1825, 225; 1826, 283; 1827, 252; 1828, 254; 1829, 304; which 
 was an average of one deatli to every 53 of the inhabitants, or, as tlie 
 ratio would now be stated, of 19 to each 1,000, which, if it were 
 intended to include the black race, was a very low ratio indeed. Further 
 remarks will be made about the health of the city in another chapter. 
 
 The Potomac River forms the greater part of the boundary' line 
 between Maryland and Virginia. It rises near the Back Bone Moun- 
 tain, and in its descent to the Chesapeake Bay, passes the District 
 of Columbia about three hundred miles from the Atlantic Ocean. 
 Tide water in the Potomac reaches a point about three miles above 
 Washington, the rise and fall of the water in the river being about 
 four feet. In its course from its source to the sea it receives the 
 waters of several minor streams on either side, the largest of these 
 being the Shenandoah River, which rises in Augusta County, Virginia, 
 two hundred and fifty miles above its. junction with the Potomac at 
 Harper's Ferry, where the latter i><isses through the Blue Ridge. 
 
 In this connection, although perhaps not strictly within the scope 
 of this volume, it may not be amiss to introduce Mr. Jefferson's descrip- 
 tion of the confluence of these two streams, in which description may 
 be clearly seen the play of his imagination. "The passage of the 
 Patowmac through the Blue Ridge is, perhaps, one of the most stupen- 
 dous scenes in nature. You stand on a very high point of land. On 
 your right, comes up the Shenandoah, having ranged along the foot of 
 the mountains an hundred miles, to seek a vent. On your left, ap- 
 proaches the Patowmac in quest of a passage also. In the moment 
 of their junction they rush together against the mountain, rend it 
 asunder and pass oft" to the east. The first glance of this scene hur- 
 ries our senses into the opinion that this earth has been created in 
 time, tliat the mountains were formed first, that the rivers began to 
 flow afterward, that in this place particularly they have been damned 
 up by the Blue Ridge of mountains, and have formed an ocean which 
 filled the whole valley; that continuing to rise, they at length broke 
 over at this spot, and have torn the mountain down from its summit 
 to its base. The piles of rock on each liaml, but particularly on the 
 
NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 33 
 
 Shenaudoah, the evident marks of their disrupture uiid avulsion from 
 their beds by the most powerful agents of nature, corroborate the 
 impression. But the distant finishing which nature has given to the 
 picture is of a vtMy different character. It is as placid and delightful 
 as that is wild and tremendous. For tlie mountain being cloven asun- 
 der, she presents to your eye, througli the cleft, a small catch of 
 smooth blue horizon at an infinite distance in the plain country, invit- 
 ing you, as it were, from the riot and tumult roaring around, to pass 
 through the gulf and participate in the calm below. Here the eye 
 ultimately composes itself, and then away to the road happens actually 
 to lead. You cross the Tatowniac above the junction, pass along its 
 side through the base of the mountain for three miles, its terrible 
 precipices hanging in fragments over you, and within about twenty 
 miles reach Fredericktown and the fine country around that place. 
 This scene is worthy of a voyage across the Atlantic. Yet here, as 
 in the neighborhood of the Natural Bridge, are people who have passed 
 their lives within half a dozen miles, and have never been to survey 
 these monuments of a war between rivers and mountains, which must 
 have shaken the earth itself to its center." 
 
 Volney, the celebrated traveler, visited Harper's Ferry in 1796, and 
 wrote a description of this same chasm. Volney was much more of a 
 scientist than was Mr. Jeft'erson, and his description has much more 
 interest from a geological standpoint, but we must content ourselves 
 with referring the reader to Volney himself. 
 
 Forty-seven miles below Harper's Ferry are the Great Falls of the 
 Potomac, where the river breaks through a granite ridge which stretches 
 across its pathway. Here tlie river gradually narrows itself, until it 
 approaches tbe shute, to about one hundred yards in width, when the 
 entire mass of water is precipitated over a fall of about forty feet in 
 height. It then sweeps along with great velocity for three or four 
 miles, when it subsides into a gentle, placid stream. About ten miles 
 below the Great Falls are the Little Falls, which are, in fact, but 
 rapids. Their descent is about twenty feet, and below the falls is a 
 bridge across the river. From this point to Georgetown is two and a 
 half miles, the fall of the river in this distance being about thirty- 
 seven feet. 
 
 The Eastern Branch, or Anacostia, is the main branch of the 
 Potomac River, and enters the latter at Greenleaf's Point. This stream 
 was formerly navigable for good-sized vessels to the once flourishing- 
 town of Bladensburg. In later years, the navigation of the river has 
 been impeded by the washings from the adjacent soil and sand banks, 
 
34 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 and vessels now ascend it only a short distance above the Navy Yard. 
 Tiber Creek, which iu ancient times wound through the heart of the 
 city, entered the Potomac near where stood the Van Ness mansion, 
 and was navigable for boats carrying lumber and firewood to the 
 Central Market, and thence by the canal to the Eastern Branch. 
 
 Fifty miles above Washington, the Monocacy, which is navigable 
 for about thirty' miles, enters the Potomac. Couogocheague and 
 Patterson creeks enter the Potomac about forty miles above Washing- 
 ton; Opequon Creek, about twenty-live miles above; Cape Copeon 
 Creek, about twenty miles above; and Rock Creek, between Washing- 
 ton and Georgetown. 
 
 Jeiferson, in his notes on Virginia, gives the breadth and depth 
 of the Potomac at ditierent points as follows: At its mouth, the 
 breadth is seven and a half miles; at Nomony Bay, four and a half 
 miles; at Acquia, three miles; at Hallooing Point, one and a half miles; 
 and at Alexandria, one and a fourth miles. At the mouth, he gives 
 the depth at seven fathoms; at St. George's Island, five fathoms; at 
 Lower Matchodie, four and a half fathoms; at Swan's Point and 
 at Alexandria, three fathoms; thence to the falls, — thirteen miles 
 above, — ten feet. 
 
 Bancroft, in his account of Captain John Smith's exploration of 
 the Potomac, says: "The Patapsco was discovered and explored, and 
 Smith probably entered the harbor at Baltimore. The majestic 
 Potomac, which at its mouth is seven miles wide, especially invited 
 curiosity; and passing beyond the heights of Vernon and the city of 
 Washington, he ascended to the falls above Georgetown. Nor did he 
 merely explore the river and inlets. He penetrated the territories, 
 established friendly relations with the native tribes, and laid the 
 foundations for future beneficent intercourse. The map which he 
 prepared and sent to the company' in London is still extant, and 
 delineates correctly the great outlines of nature. The expedition was 
 worthy the romantic ages of American History." General Washing- 
 ton's first exploration of the Potomac will be narrated in another 
 chapter. 
 
 It will be seen, therefore, that the Potomac is navigable for vessels 
 of a large size, and would be utilized for that purpose to a greater 
 extent than it is, were Washington, like New York, Philadelphia, and 
 Baltimore, a commercial city. As it is, the river has always been use<l, 
 for the most part, by different kinds of passenger steamboats, plying 
 between this city and the various otiier cities on the Chesapeake and 
 on the rivers running into it. Further mention of the river steamboats 
 
NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 35 
 
 will be made in the cliapter devoted to the transportation facilities 
 of this region. 
 
 The shad, herring, and other fisheries of the Potomac and its 
 tributaries were, in former days, of greater vahie than at present, 
 though they are by no means valueless now. It was i-ecognized very 
 early in tlie history of both Virginia and Maryland that laws were 
 necessary to protect the fish in the streams, and hence, in 1768, an act 
 was passed by the Legislature of Maryland prohibiting the destruction 
 of young fish by weirs or dams, the penalty for a violation of this law 
 being £20. This law became a permanent one in 1798. In 1796, an 
 act was passed to prevent persons from visiting the Patuxent River 
 with cords or poles from the commencement of February to the 
 beginning of June, the penalty being £100 for a white person, and, if a 
 slave, it was ten lashes on the bare back, unless the slave were redeemed 
 by his master's payment of £10. 
 
 In the early days, many thousands of fish were taken each season, 
 and sometimes extremely large hauls were made. This season usually 
 lasted from five to seven weeks, beginning about the last of March 
 and ending early in May. Early writers on this subject say that a 
 million barrels of herring was not too high an estimate for the 
 number of that kind of fish taken in a season. Also, with reference 
 to the flavor of the fish taken in the Potomac, these same writers say 
 that next to the small and delicate Nova Scotia herring, the herring 
 of the Potomac was by far more nutritious than any others in the 
 waters of the United States. The shad, rockfish, and sturgeon, accord- 
 ing to epicures, also had a flavor superior to any others in the Union. 
 In 1830, when Jonathan Elliott wrote the "Ten Miles Square," tine 
 shad were worth $5 per hundred; Falls shad, $12 per linndred; her- 
 ring, %\ per thousand; rockfish, from %2> to $4 per thousand; and 
 sturgeon, 3 cents per pound. The weight of each kind of fish found 
 in the Potomac River was given by him as follows: 
 
 Sturgeon, 40 to 120 pounds; rockfisli, 1 to 75 pounds; shad — Clujwa 
 
 alosa, 6 pounds; white, ; tailor, 3 pounds; gar, 6 pounds; eel — 
 
 fresh water, 3 pounds; common, IJ pounds; carp, 3 pounds; herring, 2 
 pounds; pike, 2 pounds; perch — white, 1 pound; yellow, 1 pound; 
 naullet — fine scaled, 1 pound; coarse scaled, i pound; smelt, . 
 
 About thirty miles below Washington was located the noted 
 fishery of General Mason, culled Sycamore Landing. At this fishery, in 
 perhaps the year 1825, at one draught of the seine, four hundred and 
 fifty rockfish were taken, the average weight of each fish being sixty 
 pounds. It was then, and is now, of course, a habit of many species 
 
36 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 of fish to annually ascend the Potouuic and other Atlantic rivers to 
 fresh water, to deposit their eggs, thus providing at the same time for 
 the continuation of their species and an abundant supply of nutritious 
 food for man. The principal kinds of these migratory fish thus 
 ascending the Potomac and other rivers veere, and are, the shad, her- 
 ring, and sturgeon, the first two kinds ascending the rivers to fresh 
 water annually, and the latter kind making two visits, one in May and 
 the other in August. The sturgeon, in early days, was taken in great 
 quantities between Georgetown and the Little Falls. He is sometimes 
 of very large size, weighing from seventy-five to one hundred and fifty 
 pounds. One remarkable fact about this fish, according to the early 
 writers, was that while it was considered a great delicacy in the James, 
 the Potomac, and the Hudson, yet in the Delaware it was considered 
 of but little value, and was scarcely eaten. The sturgeon was caught 
 with floating nets with large meshes, or with an ingeniously contrived 
 hook, not provided with bait for the fish to swallow, but by a curious 
 device prepared in such a way as to pierce him in the body so deeply 
 as to surely hold him and bring him in. This method ot fishing for 
 sturgeon was at one time peculiar to the Potomac fisheries. 
 
 The great fisheries for herring, in earlier times, were situated 
 between the city of Washington and the mouth of Acquia Creek, fifty 
 miles below the city. The principal fisheries for shad were confined 
 to yet stricter limits — between the mouth of the Occoquan River on 
 the right bank of the Potomac and the shores just above Fort Wash- 
 ington on the left bank of the river; that is, say, from fifteen to 
 thirty-five miles below Washington. Many herring, it is true, are 
 caught both above and below these limits, but not nearly so many as 
 within them. Some of the finest shad are caught in drop nets, — two 
 or three at a time, — at the foot of Little Falls, which, on account of 
 its remarkable agility, this fish sometimes contrives to ascend, the fall 
 of the water here being only about thirty feet in three miles, and the 
 fish, having surmounted the falls, are then found up to the Great Falls. 
 
 Herring, however, do not get above the Little Falls. Of this kind 
 of fish from one hundred to three hundred thousand were often taken at 
 a single haul of the seine, and of shad, according to later writers, from 
 ten thousand to fifteen thousand were occasionally drawn at a time. 
 The seines, however, were very large, being from six hundred to twelve 
 hundred yards long, and were hauled in by means of long, stout ropes 
 and capstans fixed on shore. The seines used at the best shad land- 
 ings were constructed of such large meshes that the herring escaped, 
 thus saving time and expense by separating ttie two kimls of fish. 
 
NATURAL ADl'ANTAGES. 37 
 
 Herring are not generally eaten when fresh, but when cured they 
 keep remarkably well, and are most highly flavored when two years 
 in salt. While the Potomac River can boast of the largest and best 
 shad fisheries in the country, the herring fishing is participated in by 
 other Southern rivers, and there is an equal amount of herring taken 
 in the Susquehanna River. 
 
 Referring to statements found in older writers about the shail and 
 herring fisheries of the Potomac, tbe publications of the Fish Com- 
 mission of the Government, wiiich are prepared by experts, say that 
 this river has always been celebrated for the excellency and value of 
 its shad and herring fisheries. Reports of their magnitude have 
 come down to us from early days, and from them we must gather 
 that the productions then, as compared with oui- own day, have been 
 simply fabulous. The fisheries of this river annually decreased in 
 value and production up to the time of the War. The intermission 
 which then ensued in fishing operations, on account of those of a 
 martial character, allowed the fisheries to recuperate, so that, in the 
 years immediately subsequent to the War, it was found that they had, 
 in a measure, recovered from their former depletion. In 1878, the 
 minimum of production was attained, during which season less than 
 two hundred thou^^and shad were taken in tiie entire river. In 
 1879, the result of artificial propagation first manifested itself, and 
 there was a considerable increase in the run of shad, from which time 
 up to 1880 there were taken nearly six hundred thousand shad. 
 
 The early fisheries on the Potomac were prosecuted almost entirely 
 by means of haul nets, but in 1835 gill nets were introduced from the 
 North, which steadily grew in favor, and u[) to about 1875 were almost 
 exclusively employed. In tliis latter year, pound nets were introduced, 
 and these rapidly superseded the gill nets, as the gill nets had previously 
 superseded the haul nets or seines. 
 
 According to the Government report above referred to, the Potomac 
 fisheries, in 1880, employed 1,208 men; 230 boats, valued at $30,750, 
 and having an aggregate of apparatus and fishing houses worth 
 $209,550. The products of these fisheries that year were as follows: 
 Shad, 2,040,052 pounds, worth $60,201; herring, 6,291,252 pounds, worth 
 $62,912; sturgeon, 288,000 pounds, worth $2,880; miscellaneous, 1,317,- 
 030 pounds, worth $39,510. 
 
 In 1886, Gwynn Harris made a report of the shad and herring 
 fisheries of the Potomac as follows: Number of shad landed at Wash- 
 ington from March 19, 1886, to June 10, 1886, 180,175; number at 
 Alexandria, Virginia, 34,847; number shipped by steamer Sue to Bal- 
 
38 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 tiniore, 48,000; number shipped by steamer W. W. Corcoran, 5,600; sold 
 on the different shores, 6,800; total [number of shad taken, 275,422. 
 Tlie number of herring landed at Washington was 7,315,473; the 
 number landed at Alexandria was 3,979,324; the number shipped by 
 steamer Sue to Baltimore was 850,000; the number sold on the ditier- 
 ent shores and at the trap nets was 1,400,000; total number of herring 
 taken, 13,544,797. 
 
 About June 10, 1885, an Atlantic salmon was caught in the Poto- 
 mac River, which was probably the first that was ever seen in the river. 
 
 According to the report of Colonel Marshal McDonald, Commis- 
 sioner of Fish and Fisheries, there were planted in the Potomac 
 River from November 4, 1885, to January 5, 1886, 5,500 German 
 carp. The number of shad planted in the same river for 1886 was 
 1,282,000. The number of vessels employed in the Potomac fisheries 
 from March 31, to May 31, 1886, was 31, with 78 men, and an aggre- 
 gate tonnage of 457.7. The number of shad sold at Alexandria during 
 the season of 1886 was 34,847, and the number of herring, 3,979,324. 
 
 The crawfish of the Potomac are in great abundance, in front of 
 and below the city of Washington, but tliey are not taken to supply 
 the markets of the city, as they find no ready sale. The business, in 
 1880, was entirely in the hands of a few parties who fished during a 
 short period in the spring, and sent nearly all their catch to New 
 York, where they brought about ^2 per liundred, whereas in previous 
 years they had sold as high as from $4 to $6 per hundred. 
 
 Oysters from the Potomac are troublesome, because the}' are mixeil 
 with numerous obnoxious mussels, and in addition to this they do not 
 grow well in this river. During the spring of 1879, Captain Samuel 
 M. Travers, of the oyster police force, directed his deputy commanders 
 to board all vessels loading plants for Northern markets, and obtain 
 the number of bushels taken. Through them he found that the total 
 mimber of bushels was 2,178,750, of which 625,000 bushels were from 
 the Potomac River and its tributaries. 
 
 The Potomac fisheries are prosecuted by citizens of Maryland, 
 Virginia, and the District of Colundjia. The average number of men 
 emi)loyed in recent years has been about 3,700; the capital invested, 
 aijout $270,000, while the product reaches an average yield of more 
 than half a million dollars. The fish trade of the District of Colum- 
 bia during the four years ending in 1890, averaged nearly 6,000,000 
 pounds of fish, received from the river and bay, besides 03'sters, 
 crabs, clams, and turtles. In 1890, it amounted to 6,393,974 pounds 
 of fish, 6,182,700 clams in number, 779,300 crabs, 376,875 bushels of 
 
NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 
 
 39 
 
 oysters, and 107 turtles. The shad and herring are the most impor- 
 tant of the tish brought to this market. 
 
 The nature of the Potomac fisheries has greatly changed within 
 the past twenty years. So long ago as the beginning of this period, 
 the catch of shad and herring by haul seines was not made at the 
 spawning grounds of the fish, the entire run of both kinds reaching 
 their spawning grounds in the river. Under these conditions, fishing 
 in the river was prosperous. With the introduction of the pound net, 
 the site of the fisheries was transferred to the Chesapeake Bay, the 
 capture of shad beginning at the capes, all the shad reaching the river 
 having to run the gauntlet of the pound nets, which are set all tlie 
 way up the river, from its mouth to the District of Columbia, across 
 their path. The result is that eighty per cent of all the shad are taken 
 outside of the rivers and in the Chesapeake, or in the river's lower 
 estuaries. Under these conditions, it will readily be seen that a decline in 
 the river fisheries has been unavoidable, and the opportunities afforded 
 for natural production are entirely inadequate to keep up the supply. 
 The fisheries are now under conditions mainly artificial, and their main- 
 tenance to this extent is dependent upon artificial propagation. 
 
 In connection with artificial propagation, it must be borne in mind 
 that fish planted in the Potomac remain therein a few months and 
 then descend to salt water, and only a small porportion of those which 
 survive and mature can run the gauntlet of the pound nets and find 
 their way back into the river. The eftect of ai'tificial pi'opagation 
 upon the fisheries of the Potomac cannot, therefore, be properly meas- 
 ured or estimated by the actual production of the fisheries of tliis river 
 from year to year, for the reason that the larger projiortion of the 
 fish wliich would enter the Potomac, and be taken by the seines and 
 gill nets in the river, are captured in the bay and at the mouth of the 
 river by the pound nets. Hence it is, that to get a fair estimate of 
 the results of artificial propagation, the Chesapeake basin must be 
 dealt with as a whole. 
 
 The following table shows the production of the shad fisheries of 
 the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for the years given : 
 
 Ye.\r. 
 
 No. OF Fish. 
 
 Value of Fish. 
 
 Year. 
 
 No. OF Fish. 
 
 Value of Fish. 
 
 1880 
 1885 
 1886 
 
 1,500,100 
 1,632,800 
 2,009,742 
 
 $201,900 
 228 592 
 281,364 
 
 1887 
 1888 
 
 2,860,2.35 
 3,960,.305 
 
 $411,874 
 580,185 
 
40 
 
 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 The following is a statement of the deposits of shad fry in the 
 Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries by tlie United States Fish Com- 
 mission, from 1880 to 1891, both years inclusive: 
 
 Year. 
 
 Deposit. 
 
 Year. 
 
 DeI'OSIT. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Deposit. 
 
 1880 
 
 23,428,000 
 
 1885 
 
 19,632,000 
 
 1889 
 
 52,225,000 
 
 1881 
 
 53,755,000 
 
 1880 
 
 52,835,000 
 
 1890 
 
 22,627,000 
 
 1882 
 
 14,885,000 
 5,948,000 
 
 1887 
 1888 
 
 70,199,000 
 84,136,000 
 
 1891 
 Total 
 
 24,777,000 
 
 1883 
 
 432,716,000 
 
 1884 
 
 8,219,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 The following numbers of shad were confined in the carp grounds 
 until they were seven months old, and then released into the Potomac 
 River: In 1888, 750,000; in 1890, 1,750,000; in 1891, 800,000; total 
 number, 3,300,000.^ 
 
 The various geologic formations east of the Appalachian Moun- 
 tains are thus classified in a rare and valuable pamphlet prepared by 
 Professor W. J. McGee for the "International Congress of Geologists," 
 which convened in Washington in 1891. Of the Pleistocene period, 
 there are two formations, the alluvium and the Columbia, tlie latter 
 being from 5 to 40 feet; of the Neocene period, there are two forma- 
 tions, the Lafayette, from 5 to 50 feet thick, and the Chesapeake, from 
 10 to 125 feet thick; of the Eocene period, there is but one formation, 
 the Pamunkey, which is from 3 to 100 feet thick. These all belong 
 to Cenozoic time, or to the Mammalian age, and the Neocene and 
 Eocene belong to the Tertiary period. Below tliese is the Cretaceous 
 period, to which belong the Severn and the Potomac formations, the 
 former being from 2 to 25 feet thick, and the latter from 5 to 500 
 feet. The Cretaceous period belongs to the Reptilian age, or Mesozoic 
 time, as also do the Jurassic and Triassic periods. But it is doubtful 
 whether any portion of even the Jurassic period is exposed in this 
 section of the country. Still beneath the Mesozoic are the Paleozoic 
 and Azoic times; the former comprising the Reptilian, Devonian, .and 
 Silurian ages; from which it appears that the exposures of the earth's 
 crust in the vicinity of Washington consist of a very meager portion 
 of geologic formations, and represent a very brief period of geologic 
 history. 
 
 'St.atistiiw kiniUy supplieil 1)y Colonel M. McDonald. United States Fish C'onmd.s- 
 
NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 41 
 
 Pursuing the description of tliese formations from the Potomac 
 upward, the Severn "consists of fine black, micaceous and carbonaceous 
 sands, sometimes glauconite, and ratlier poorly fossiliferous." South- 
 ward from the city, this formation gradually becomes thinner, and finally 
 fails altogether; nortliward, it increases in thickness and expands. 
 
 The Pamunkey formation consists of a liomogeneons sheet of sand 
 and clay, with occasional calcareous layers. It commonly abounds 
 in characteristic Eocene fossils. It lies in a gentle anticlinal, the great 
 body inclining toward the sea. 
 
 The Chesapeake formation is separated from the Pamunkey below 
 and from the Lafayette above, by strong unconformities. It consists 
 of a heavy bed of fine sand and clay, sometimes containing more or 
 less abundant glauconite and infusorial remains and characteristic 
 Miocene fossils. This formation extends eastward to the ocean, and 
 northward and southward for perhaps hundreds of miles. 
 
 The Lafayette formation consists of well-rounded, quartzite gravel, 
 and a red or orange-tinted loam. The gravel predominates in the 
 northwestern exposures, and the loam toward the interior of the Coastal 
 plain. The pebbles are derived from the earlier members of tiie 
 elastics, and the loam from the residua of the Piedmont crystallines. 
 The deposits of the Lafayette formation may be distinguished from 
 those of the younger Columbia by having finer pebbles, more completely 
 water-worn, and more largely quartzite; and they may be discriminated 
 from the older Potomac deposits by the smaller size and better round- 
 ing of the pebbles, by the dearth of arkose, etc. Despite its local 
 diversity, it is remarkably uniform throughout the two hundred thou- 
 sand square miles over which it has been recognized; "indeed, though 
 the youngest member of the clastic series, this formation is at the 
 same time more extensive and more constant in aspect than any other 
 American formation." 
 
 "The Lafayette formation overlaps unconformably all the older 
 members of the Coastal plain series in such a manner as to indicate 
 that all were extensively degraded anterior to its deposition; yet the 
 floor on which the formation rests is more uniform than its own upper 
 surface, indicating that, while the antecedent erosion period was long, 
 the laud stood low, so that it was planed nearly to base level, and 
 seldom deeply trenched. During the Post-Lafayette elevation, on the 
 contrary, the land was deeply trenched and not planed, indicating a 
 higher altitude than during the earlier one, but a shorter period of 
 stream work. This record, within the Coastal plain proper, coincides 
 with a georaorphic record found in the Peidmont and Appalachian 
 
42 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 zones. Tlirougljout these zones the major and most of the minor 
 rivers iiow in broad and deep yet steep-sided gorges, excavated in a 
 base-level plain. The Potomac gorge belonging to this category ex- 
 tends from Washington well toward the sources of the river. It is 
 within this gorge that the newer Washington Great Falls Caiion is 
 excavated. The same ancient gorge is admirably displayed at Great 
 Falls, and again at the continence of the Shenandoah, at Harper's 
 Ferry. Moreover, the ancient gorges of this category are best devel- 
 oped in the northern part of the Middle Atlantic, where the Lafayette 
 formation is most extensively degraded. Now, by the concordance of 
 history thus recorded in plain and plateau, the degradation epochs of 
 the adjacent provinces may be correlated, and the ancient gorges of the 
 Piedmont plateau and of the Appalachian zone as well may be referred 
 to the period of high level immediately following deposition. While 
 the positive evidence for this correlation is hardly conclusive, the neg- 
 ative evidence is more decisive: the Coastal plain deposits yield no 
 other record of continent movement of sufficient amplitude and extent 
 to account for this wide-spread topographic feature." 
 
 The Columbia formation consists of brown loam or brick clay, 
 grading downward into a bed of gravel or bowlders. Toward the 
 mouths of the large rivers the loam generally becomes thinner, and 
 the bowlder bed thicker, and in the several parts of the formation its 
 constituents vary greatly in quantity. As a general thing, the deposit 
 represents littoral and estuarine deposition. The materials difter from 
 those of the alluvium in the greater size of the bowlders, in greater 
 coarseness of sediments in general, and in the less complete trituration 
 and lixiviation of the elements. These dilferences indicate long, cold 
 winters, with, of course, heavy snow fall and tliick ice, but do not 
 indicate glaciation during this period. 
 
 "Traced northward, the formation is found to pass under the 
 terminal moraine and the drift-sheet it fringes; at the same time, the 
 size of the bowlders and other indications of contemporaneous cold 
 multiply, and an element of ice-ground rock flour occurs in the upper 
 member, from which it was long inferred to represent an early episode 
 of glaciation, and during the present summer Salisbury has found it 
 to pass into a premoruinal drift-sheet in Northern New Jersey. From 
 the relative extent of erosion and degree of oxidation, the Columbia 
 formation and the corresponding drift-sheet are inferred to be live to 
 Kfty times as old as the later glacial deposit, and a rude but useful 
 measure of the duration of the Pleistocene is thus obtained." 
 
 The Middle Atlantic slope is to a great extent destitute of alluvium. 
 
NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 43 
 
 What is called the "fall line" is the common boiuulary of two strongly 
 distinguished provinces. To the west of this "fall line," the land is 
 rising so rapidly that the rivers are unable to cut their channels down 
 to base level; while to the eastward of it, the land is sinking so rapidly 
 that deposition does not keep pace with the sinking. 
 
 "Anterior to the vaguely limited period which may be assigned 
 to alluvium deposition, the land stood higher than now, for the ante- 
 cedent formations are deeply trenched by the Potomac, the Anacostia, 
 and other Coastal plain rivers; but whether it was the entire region, or 
 only the now sinking Coastal plain that formerly stood higher, is not 
 certainly known. It seems probable, however, that both Peidmont and 
 Coastal provinces were elevated after Columbia deposition; that both 
 were subsequently depressed to some extent, and that, while the down- 
 ward movement of the Coastal plain continues, the movement of the 
 Piedmont plateau was long since reversed." 
 
 The following extract from the "Guide to Washington and its 
 Scientific Institutions," shows the latest estimates as to the length of 
 time which has elapsed since the Potomac formation, and also since 
 the Carboniferous era: 
 
 "This Sub-Potomac unconformity gives some indication of the 
 relative position of the Potomac formation in the Mesozoic period, as 
 well as of the relative duration of the several Coastal plain periods 
 of deposition and degradation. Let Post-Columbia erosion represent 
 unity; then Post-Lafayette degradation may be represented by 1,000, 
 and the Post-Potomac and Pre-Lafayette base-level period may be 
 represented by 100,000; then, using the same scale, the Post-Newark 
 and Pre-Potomac erosion must be measured by something like 10,- 
 000,000, and the Post-Carboniferous and Pre-Newark degradation by 
 20,000,000 or 50,000,000. These ligures are but rude approximations; 
 they are, moreover, in one sense, misleading, since degradation undoubt- 
 edly proceeded much more rapidlj- during the earlier eons, yet they 
 give some conception of the relative importance of a long series of 
 episodes in continent growth, and indicate definitely the wide sepa- 
 ration of the Newark and Potomac periods." 
 
 The following extract from Mr. McGee's article, already quoted 
 from, clearly shows the chronological relation borne by prehistoric to 
 historic times: 
 
 "In the later geology of the Middle Atlantic slope, three episodes 
 stand out so strongly as to overshadow all others. The first is that 
 represented by the Potomac formation; the second is that of the first 
 ice invasion and the deposition of the Columbia foruiation; the third 
 
44 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 is the shorter ice invasion, during wliicli tlie earliest known relics of 
 men were entombed in aqueo-glacial deposits; and then follows the 
 present, by which these episodes of the past are interpreted and meas- 
 ured. In the archaeology of the Potomac Valley, there are three salient 
 and distinct stages, the first nearly coinciding in time with the last 
 geologic episode. The first stage is that of the origin and develop- 
 ment of the unknown ancestor of the race; the second stage is that of 
 the human prototype, who manufactured and used rude implements in 
 an unknown way and for unknown purposes; the third stage is that 
 of the dominance of savage races, whose homes, habits, and imple- 
 ments and weapons are known; and there is the present stage of 
 multifarious characteristics, one of which is the desire to interpret and 
 elucidate the earlier stages. The common ground of the archaeologist 
 and geologist lies about where the series of stages in the development 
 of man overlaps upon the series of episodes in the development of the 
 earth." 
 
 Following is a description of the economic geology of Washington 
 and vicinity, prepared especially for this work, at the request of the 
 writer of this chapter, by Professor W. J. McGee, of the United States 
 Geological Survey. 
 
 "There are in the District of Columbia and immediately adjacent 
 territory eight formations or groups of rocks, each of which yields 
 materials of economic value. The formations and the more important 
 resources found within each are as follows: 
 
 Age. Formation. Economic Materials 
 
 Pleistocene Columbia.. Brick clay.s, building sand, gravel, and cobbles. 
 
 ^ J Lafayette Gi'avel and cobble.s. 
 
 1 Chesapeake Infusorial earth. 
 
 Eocene Pamunkey Green sand or gliuiconitic marl. 
 
 ■ J Severn Building sand and molding sand. 
 
 [^Potomac jBrick clays, pottery days, building sand, gravel, cob- 
 
 1 bles, building stone, and iron ores. 
 
 Archa'an Piedmont gneiss...Building material, macadam, gold, and steatite. 
 
 Jura-Trias Newark Brown stone, Potomac marble. 
 
 "The Columbia formation is a sheet of brick clay, or loam, with a 
 bed of sand, gravel, or bowlders at the base. It lies on both sides of 
 the Potomac River below Georgetown up to altitudes of one hundred 
 and forty or one hundred and fifty feet above tide, practically the 
 whole of the city being founded upon it. Over the eastern part of 
 the area occupied by the city, particularly between the Capitol and the 
 city jail, and between Graceland Cemetery and the Pennsylvania Rail- 
 
NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 45 
 
 way, the upjier portion of the deposit is a valuable brick clay. South 
 of the river the brick clay layer is even more extensive, stretching 
 from Jackson City westward to Arlington Cemetery and southward to 
 Alexandria, and in this tract the brick clay is quite thick, often 
 reaching from ten to tiftecn feet. The clay makes an excellent red 
 brick, from which most of the buildings of the city have been con- 
 structed. It is also used to some extent for pressed brick. The 
 deposit is similar, not only geologically but in composition and in the 
 character of the product, to that of the well-known ' Phihidelpliia 
 brick clay.' 
 
 "South of the Potomac, a bed of excellent building sand is found 
 beneath the brick clay, and a corresponding sand bed is sometimes 
 found in the eastern part of the city of Washington. In the western 
 part of the city, a bed of gravel or of cobble stones and bowlders, 
 which are largely used for guttering, for the foundation of asj)halt 
 pavements, and for other purposes, is frequently found below the 
 brick clay or loamy member in a position corresponding to that of 
 the sand bed. 
 
 "The Lafayette formation, as developed in the vicinity of Wash- 
 ington, consists of a bed of well-rounded quartz gravel, imbedded in 
 a matrix of red sand. The gravel is coarsest and most abundant west 
 and northwest of a line passing through the Capitol, and on some of 
 the eminences in the direction of Tenallytowii the deposit consists 
 almost wholly of gravel, the sandy matrix being quite scant. South- 
 east of that line, the gravel is finer and less abundant, and toward 
 Marlborough becomes inconspicuous, the formation consisting almost 
 wholly of the sandy element. Tbis gravel has been largely used as a 
 foundation for asphalt pavements and as macadam, but its value for 
 these purposes is not fully appreciated. It is within limits to saj' 
 that no better material for road making exists in the world than this 
 quartz gravel of the Lafayette formation. Considered as a geologic 
 deposit, this formation ouce extended continuously from a line passing 
 through Tenallytown and somewhat east of Falls Church eastward to 
 Chesapeake Bay, and also extended northward and southward for 
 hundreds of miles; but the greater part of this ancient deposit has 
 been washed away by tlie rivers and streamlets, so that it now exists 
 only in the form of remnants, generally crowning the higher lands 
 back from the rivers. The most valuable deposits are found in the 
 vicinity of the Soldiers' Home, about Silver Springs, in the neighbor- 
 hood of Tenallytown, over Wesley Heights, and along tiie upland 
 scarp stretching from Fort Myer to beyond Alexandria. 
 
46 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 "Tlie Cliesapeake formation consists of tine materials, mainly sand 
 with some clays, together with layers of a tine mealy substance which, 
 under the microscope, is found to consist of the siliceous shells of 
 minute organisms known as Infusoria. The infusorial earth of this 
 formation has long been known at Richmond, and recent investigations 
 by the Geological Survey indicate that the Washington beds are quite 
 as extensive and valuable as those of Virgiina. The material is used 
 as a polishing powder (sometimes under the name tripoli ) and foi' 
 various mechanical purposes. It crops out in almost all of the roads 
 of the eastern part of tlie District and contiguous portions of Maryland. 
 
 "The Paniunkey formation is composed of fine green sand mixed 
 with varying amounts of organic matter and clay, and usually con- 
 taining a considerable proportion of the mineral glauconite. In certain 
 parts of the formation, the glauconite is so abundant as to give the 
 deposit the character of the well-known natural fertilizer of this and 
 other countries usually called green sand or green-sand marl. At 
 Upper Marlborough, at Fort Washington, and indeed generally on the 
 portion of the western shore of Maryland contiguous to the District 
 of Columbia, the principal green-sand bed is fifteen to thirty feet in 
 thickness, while the other beds of which the formation is composed 
 are also glauconitic to a greater or less extent. Green sand has been 
 mined and shipped for use as a fertilizer in a small way; but the 
 value of the material is not yet adequately appreciated. In New 
 Jersey a similar natural fertilizer, derived from the same f rmation, has 
 been extensively employed, with the result of transforming the barren 
 wastes of early days into the splendid fields and vegetable gardens 
 from which the metropolis of New York is supplied. There is no 
 doubt that eventually the sterile fields and naked hillsides sometimes 
 seen in the vicinity of Washington will be similarly transformed by 
 the use of this material. 
 
 "The Severn formation is commonly a thin bed of black micaceous 
 sands found in the eastern part of the District and in contiguous 
 portions of Maryland. The quartz sand of this formation is com- 
 monly sharp, and when found in sufficient purity, as is the case in 
 several localities in Maryland, forms an excellent building sand. Some 
 of the finer parts of the formation are used to a slight extent as 
 molding sand. 
 
 "The Potomac formation consists of a variety of materials, includ- 
 ing various kinds of clays and several grades of sand, besides beds of 
 gravel and cobble stones. The finest clays are suitable for the manu- 
 facture of pottery, hut have not been utilized for this purpose in the 
 
NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 47 
 
 vicinity of Washington, except at Terra Cotta. There the material is 
 emplo3-e(l in tlje manufacture of the so-called terra cotta or pottery 
 tubing used largely in the city for sewers, drain pipes, culverts, etc. 
 In New Jersey, the pottery clays of the same formation are extensivelj' 
 used in the manufacture of fire Ijrick, and other varieties are used for 
 the finer grades of porcelain for which this country is now becoming 
 famous. 
 
 "Another variety of clay sometimes found in the Potomac formation 
 is of too low grade for pottery use, yet is suitable f .r the manufacture 
 of common or pressed brick. This matei'ial has thus far been exten- 
 sively used onl}' at the Columbia Brick Works, but other works using 
 the same material might well be establisiied in sufiicient number to 
 supply local and other demands. 
 
 "Some of the sand beds of the fornuxtion yield an excellent grade 
 of sharp sand, the best building sand, indeed, of the District. In grad- 
 ing the northern part of the city, it has long been a common practice 
 to remove the entire thickness of the Columbia formation (using the 
 upper part for brick making, screening the lower part for sand and 
 for gravel, and removing the bowlders and cobbles for street making) 
 and then carry the excavation several feet or yards beneath the grade 
 level for the purpose of extracting the valuable building sands of the 
 Potomac formation, and finally filling these sand pits with the refuse 
 from both torn)ations. 
 
 " West of a line passing through the Capitol and the town of 
 Laurel, the Potomac formation contains considerable quantities of well- 
 rounded qnartzite pebbles and cobblestones, which are often accumu- 
 lated in considerable beds. These, like the similar materials of the 
 Lafayette formation, form tlie best of road material, and have been 
 largely used for that purpose. The roadside gutters of the Soldiers' 
 Home, Arlington, and other public parks and reservations, and of many 
 suburban streets and country roads, are lined with cobblestones taken 
 from this formation. 
 
 "In the early history of Washington, the formation now known as 
 the Potomac was well known as a source of building stone. The 
 principal quarries lie beyond the limits of the District, near the mouth 
 of Acquia Creek, a tributary of the Potomac from the Virginia side. 
 The formation here consists of a peculiar sand consisting of quartz 
 crystals, feldspar crystals, scales of mica, and other minerals derived 
 from the disintegration of granitoid rocks, the whole forming the mate- 
 rial which geologists call arkose; this arkose being locally cemented 
 or lithitied in such manner as to form a firm tough rock known 
 
48 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 coniniercially as the Acqiiia Creek sandstone. The central portion of 
 the Capitol and many others among the older huildings of Washington 
 are built of this material. Of recent years it has not been extensivel}' 
 used, partly by reason of the development of the brick industry and 
 parti}' by reason of increased transportation facilities, but it remains 
 a valnable resource. In some other localities witliin and near the 
 District, the sands ami gravels of the Potomac formation are cemented 
 by ferruginous solutions so as to form sand ironstone, sometimes ot 
 considerable exteut and of sufKcient firmness to form a strong and 
 durable building stone. The greater part of the wall surrounding the 
 grounds of St. Elizabeth's Asylum is built from the sand ironstone of 
 this character; and the same material is extensively used in tlie eastern 
 part of the District and contiguous portions of Maryland for founda- 
 tions, bridge abutments, etc. 
 
 "In the neighborhood of Baltimore, the clays of the Potomac form- 
 ation have long been known as the source of the famous iron carbonate 
 ores of Maryland. These ' ore banks,' as they are locally' known, have 
 long been wrought, and workings extend almost to the District line, 
 and, recently, prospecting has been commenced in the southern exten- 
 sion of the formation, below Washington, in Virginia. This ore is one 
 of the finest in the world, but hitherto has generally been extracted 
 only iu limited quantities, for the purpose of mixing with lower grade 
 ores from other parts of the country. 
 
 "The Newark formation, or Triassic red sandstone, occupies a con- 
 siderable area in Maryland and Virginia a few miles west of the 
 District boundary. It is the same formation as that yielding the 
 brown stone so extensively used in jSTew York, Philadeljihia, ami 
 other Northern metropoles, and the quality of the rock in this latitude 
 is fully equal to that of the New Jersey and Connecticut brown stone. 
 The largest quarries thus far opened are at Seneca, nine miles above 
 Great Falls. The material is unlimited in quantity. Within the past 
 decade it has been largely used in Washington, and migiit easily be 
 shipped to Baltimore and other cities of Eastern Maryland and 
 Virginia. 
 
 "A few miles further westward the same formation contains great 
 beds of peculiar limestone conglomerate known as 'Potomac marble,' 
 which forms an effective building material, particularly for interior 
 decorative work. The columns in the rotunda of the Capitol are made 
 from it. The same material is also extensively used about Leesburg, in 
 Virginia, and Barnesville, Maryland, as a source of lime; for it is often 
 of sulHcicnt purity for burning into lime, and yields a superior product. 
 
NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 49 
 
 "The eastern part of the District and contignoiis parts of Maryland 
 and Virginia are underlain by tiie crystalline rock known as the Pied- 
 mont gneiss. This formation usually consists of micaceous schists, 
 sometimes running into steatite (or soapstone) on the one hand, or 
 granite on the otlier; and, in addition, it contains dykes of the pecul- 
 iarly hard and tough rock known as gabbro, and numerous veins of 
 crystalline quartz. The formation extends southward through Virginia 
 and the Carolinas into Georgia and Alabama, and northward through 
 Maryland, and Pennsylvania, and Northern New Jersey into New 
 York. 
 
 "The granitic portions of tlie formation yield granites which have 
 been recently worked in a small way near Cabin John Bridge, just 
 beyond the District limits. Thus far the workings here and elsewhere 
 in the vicinity are not sufficiently extensive to fully indicate tlie 
 quality and quantity of the material. Further southward, the forma- 
 tion yields the well-known Kichmond granite. 
 
 "Within the District, as well as beyond its limits, the steatites (or 
 soapstones) of the formation were wrought by the aborigines, and, to 
 some extent, by the early white settlers; but of recent 3'ears the mate- 
 rial has not been largely worked. The most extensive opening is on 
 the line of Connecticut Avenue extended, in the northwestern part of 
 the District. There are others in the National Zoological Park, and 
 other openings, as well as unwrought veins, are known to occur. 
 
 "The common phase of the Peidmont gneiss, known to the trade 
 as blue stone, is extensively quarried, particularly along the southern 
 bank of the Potomac, between Georgetown and Little Falls, for use as 
 I'ubble, etc. The harder variety, known as gabbro, is also used for 
 common masonry'. It forms an exceedingly strong and durable rock, 
 but, by reason of its hardness, is expensive to work. 
 
 "The crystalline quartz, found in veins intersecting the Piedmont 
 gneiss in great number, has long been worked for macadam and for 
 other road-making purposes. It is one of the most durable of mate- 
 rials, and, unlike the softer rocks, is not ground or disintegrated into 
 dust, but remains clean and lirm for years. In Pennsylvania, this 
 material is ground for use in the manufacture of liint ware or delf. It 
 has not yet been thus atilized in the vicinity of the National Capital. 
 
 "In certain portions of the Piedmont gneiss the vein quartz is 
 auriferous. The gold mines of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and 
 Virginia, are in the quartz veins of this formation, and it seems prob- 
 able that one of the richest parts of the entire belt is that crossing 
 the Potomac River near Great Falls. In the early history of the 
 
50 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 country, this belt was partially prospected, and many workings were 
 begun; but the discovery of gold in Califdrnia and in the Rocky 
 Mountains diverted attention from the eastern mines, and the}' were 
 abandoned. Recently they have begun to again attract attention, and 
 several mines have been opened, and works erected near Great Falls." 
 
 What is written in this volume in reference to the flora of the 
 vicinity of Washington, is derived maiul}' from that excellent work of 
 Professor Lester F. Ward, entitled, "Flora of Washington and Vicin- 
 ity," published in 1881 as a " Bulletin of the United States National 
 Museum." To this book the reader is referred for fuller details upon 
 this subject. The territory included is limited by the Great Falls of 
 the Potomac on the north; b}- the Mount Vernon estate on the south; 
 and the east and west limits extend only a few miles in each direction. 
 
 In the early day, there was an organization known as the Wash- 
 ington Botanical Society, which was dissolved in 1825, and was 
 followed by the Botanic Club, organized the same year. The Botanic 
 Club left a catalogue, entitled, "Florre Columbians Prodromus." The 
 "Prodromus" contained a description of 919 distinct names of species 
 and varieties of p)lants in the vicinity. Of these names, 59 are mere 
 synonyms for the same plant, leaving 860 distinct plants. Of these 
 860 plants. Professor Ward had, at the time of the publication of the 
 bulletin, succeeded in identifying 708 as among those now found, and 
 he thought six others probably belonged among them, leaving 14G 
 enumerated in the "Prodromus" not found in recent investigations. 
 
 Of these 146 species, it is not to be inferred that all had disap- 
 peared or become extinct, but, instead, were accounted for as follows: 
 
 1. The early botanists made mistakes in naming plants to the 
 number of 43. 
 
 2. There were introduced into the catalogue the names of 12 
 plants not belonging to the flora of this vicinity. 
 
 3. The range was so unduly extended as to include 10 plants not 
 belonging to this vicinity, and, 
 
 4. There were 81 indigenous plants actually extinguished. 
 Belonging to the fourth class are the following plants: The white 
 
 baneberry, the cucumber tree, the American barberry, the water 
 chinquapin, the Mexican poppy, whitlow-grass, the sweet white violet, 
 milkwort, catchfly, corn spurrey, the knawt'l, herb Robert, indigo plant, 
 the vetch, trefoil, butterfly pea, hawthorn, alum root, mitrewort, stone- 
 crop, Diamorpha pusilla, deergrass, wild sarsaparilla, sunflower, tick- 
 seed, groundsel, plumeless thistle, Lobelia Nuitallii, bcilflower, black ash, 
 Indian hemp, poke-iuilkweed, Maryland pink-root, American century 
 
NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 51 
 
 plant, American columbo, heliotrope, gromwell, false gromwell, hedge 
 hyssop, Gerardia quercifoUa and auriculata, blue curls, mountain mint, 
 horse-mint, skulleaii, false dragon-head, wild ginger, strawberry' blite, 
 glasswort or saltwort, knotweed of the Buckwheat family, red bay, 
 spurgewort, three-seeded mercury, sugar berr}^ American aspen, downj- 
 poplar, Calla paluslris or water arum, pondweed, arrowhead, Arethusa 
 bulbosa (named for the nymph Arethusa), Pogonia pcndula and dicari- 
 cata of the Orchis family, lady's slipper, flower-de-luce. Allium striatum 
 of the Onion family, birthroot, yellow-eyed grass, pcepcdanthus or dust 
 flower, galingale, nut-grass, Arundinaria viacrosperma (a large reed or 
 cane), joint grass, a species of millet, the white cedar, club-moss, and 
 a certain water plant. 
 
 The extinction of this large number of plants is due, in part at 
 least, to the fact that, in 1880, previously and after, a considerable 
 extent of country was under cultivation which in 1830 belonged to 
 the primeval forest. However, the "Prodromus" was not a complete 
 record of the flora of its time, which, according to Professor Ward, 
 must have reached as high as fourteen or fifteen hundred vascular 
 plants. "It would appear, therefore, that only a little over half the 
 plants actually existing were discovered by the early botanists. If the 
 proportion of disappearance could be assumed to be the same for 
 species not described as for those described b}- them, this would raise 
 the aggregate number to considerably above one hundred — perhaps 
 to one hundred and twenty-five. 
 
 "The great number of present known species not enumerated in 
 the 'Prodromus," some of them among our commonest plants, and 
 amounting, in tlie aggregate, to five hundred and thirty-five species, is 
 another point of interest, since, after due allowance has been made for 
 mistakes in naming them, it remains clear on the one hand that their 
 researches must have been, compared with recent ones, very superficial, 
 and on the other that, not to speak of fresh introductions, man^' plants 
 now common must have then been very rare; otherwise the}' would 
 have proven too obtrusive to be thus overlooked." 
 
 The places around Washington which are of botanic interest are 
 as follows: The Rock Creek region, the Upper Potomac region, the 
 Lower Potomac region, the Terra Gotta region, the Reform School 
 region, and the Holmead Swamp region. 
 
 Rock Creek Valley, forming the boundary between Washington 
 and Georgetown, is still finely wooded for some distance back from 
 the creek, and thus aflbrds a rich field for botanical research. This 
 region is divided into six sections, the first embracing the series of 
 
52 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 groves between Georgetown and Woodley Park, including several 
 ravines. Many plants are found liere tliat are rare elsewhere, as the 
 ChamiKlirinni Carolinianum or blazing-star, the Cypripedium pubescent or 
 tlie large yellow hidy's slippei", the Hesjjeris matronalis or rocket or 
 dame's violet, the Lipnris Losellli or twayblade, an orchidaceous plant. 
 There is here also a grove of Aralia spinosa, angelica tree or Hercules' 
 club. On the the left bank of the creek lie the Kalorama Heights 
 and some fine open woodland. Several interesting plants are to be 
 found in Woodley Park, including the Obolaria Virginiea (so named 
 fnini the Greek word o/JoAoC, a snu^U coin,) or pennywort, and the 
 Spirtfa Aruncus or goatsbeard. At the iiead of one of the ravines 
 above this is a magnolia and sphagnum swamp, where may l)e found 
 the following species of plants: The Veratrum rlriile or American white 
 hellebore, a plant containing veratrine, an acrid and poisonous princi- 
 ple; Syniploccayus faiu/us or skunk cabbage, so named for its odor; the 
 (jlo)iulobus obliquus, a twining plant with a greenisli flower; the Polem- 
 on'niiii reptans, a blue ornamental water plant. Near Pierce's mill may 
 be found the Aralia. spinosa mentioned above, Xantlioxylum Americanutn, 
 Northern prickly-ash or toothache-tree, a shrub with yellowish-green 
 flowers appearing in spring before the leaves; the Acer saccharinuni or 
 sugar or rock maple, the Piniis Strobiis or white pine, the Carya alba or 
 shellbark or shagbark hickory. Below the mill may be found the Pop- 
 (dii.s alba or white poplar, the Acer dasycarpum or white or silver maple. 
 
 From Broad Branch to the Military Road is the fifth, and perhaps 
 the most interesting, section in this region. Here are found the 
 Opidoi/losstini vulgatum or adder's-tongue, Anyclda dichofnma or forked 
 chickweed, the Perilla ocimoides, which appears to have no English 
 equivalent, and the Tipularia discolor or the crane-fly orcliis. On a 
 bluff above Blagden's mill grows the Gaidlheria procumbens or creep- 
 ing wintergreen, and half a mile farther up staiid a few of the Pinvs 
 puvgens or table-mountain pine. 
 
 In the sixth section, extending from the Brightwood Road to the 
 north corner of the District of Columbia, the low hills are covered 
 with a second growth of the Pinus inops or scrub pine, and Quercus 
 niijra or black-jack. Above the Claggett estate lies the largest forest 
 in the vicinity, and this was the first extensive tract found for the 
 Lycopodiam complanatum or ground pine, a long, creeping, evergreen 
 plant with a resinous odor. The fame of this foi-est, however, now 
 rests mainly upon its hybrid oaks, llei'c, also, arc found Pyrola elUp- 
 tica or shin-leaf, and the Pyrola secunda, another member of the Heath 
 family; and the Microstylis ophioylossoides or adder's-mouth. 
 
NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 53 
 
 Above Georgetown if, a broad and low striji of country, formerly 
 known as tbe Carborry Meadows, between the canal and the river, 
 about three and a half miles long. Conspicuous among the plants of 
 this locality arc the following: The Polygonum amphibium or knot- 
 weed, the "hindering knotgrass" of Shakespeare, so-called because it 
 was once thought that an infusion of it would stop the growth of an 
 animal; the Isanthus carnktis or false pennyroyal; the Herpestis nigres- 
 cens, a creeping plant, apparently without an English name; the 
 Brasenia pellata or water-shield, a plant having floating, shield-shajicd 
 leaves; the Cyperus virens or galingale, and the Nesaa vcrticillata or 
 swamp loosestrife. 
 
 Below Ead's mills are found the following: The Ammannia 
 hiimilis, the Salix cordata or heart-leafed willow, and the SalLn longi- 
 folia, another species of willow; Spiranthes latifoUa or ladies'-tresses; 
 the Samolus Valerandi, American variety, or water pimpernel. Between 
 Ead's mills and the chain bridge are the following: The Paronychia 
 'Hchotoma or whitlowwort, the CEixothcra fruticosa or evening-primrose, 
 the Ceanothus ocatvs or red-root or New Jersey tea, the Bannncidas 
 pusillus, a plant of the Crowfoot family; the Ulrictdaria yihba, a plant 
 of the Bladderwort family. 
 
 High Island is, however, much richer in varieties than the low 
 lauds, and here are to be found the Jcffersonia diphylla (named in honor 
 of President Jefferson) or twin-leaf, and in some places called rheuma- 
 tism-root; the Caidophyllam thaliclroides, sometimes called pappoose- 
 root; the Erigcnia bidbosa or harbinger-of-spring, the Silene nicea or 
 catchHy, the Valeriana pauciflora or valerian, named either after an 
 illustrious Roman named Valerius or derived from the Latin word 
 valere, to be strong; the Erythronium albidam or white dog-tooth-vio- 
 let, and the Iris crislala or crested dwarf-iris. 
 
 Above the feeder of the canal is a series of islands, as Feeder Dam 
 Island, Box Elder Island, Larkspur Island, Sugar Maple Island, etc., 
 tlie names of which are suggested by the principal plants that are 
 found upon them. On the Virginia side of the Potomac, the flora, 
 though less rich and varied, is yet interesting, and includes the Rhodo- 
 dendron maximum or great laurel, which is very common on the 
 Atlantic slope from New York to Georgia; the Iris cristata mentioned 
 above, the Scutellaria saxatillis of the Mint family, the Pycna.nthemwm 
 Torreyi or mountain mint, the Solidago rupestris, a variety' of golden- 
 rod; the Solidago virgata, another variety of the golden-rod. On the 
 Maryland side of the river, above the uppermost point thus men- 
 tioned, is Cabin John Run, which is celebrated more by the botanist 
 
54 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 tor the walking-fern or Camptosorus rhaoplnjllus, than for its world- 
 rt'iiowncd arcli tliat spans the run. 
 
 In tiie Lower Potomac region, the localities of special interest are: 
 First, Curtis Run, opposite the Arlington estate, where are found the 
 following: S'ujiftaria pusiUa or arrowhead, the Discoplenra capiUacea 
 or mock bishop-weed, the Cjjperus arythrorhizos or galingale, a species 
 of the Sedge family. Second, Roach's Run, where arc found Scrophti- 
 laria nodosa, a member of the Figwort famii}'; Tripsacuni dadyloides or 
 sesame grass, the Pycnanthemum lanccolatum, a species of mountain 
 mint. Third, Four Mile Run, where are found the Clematis ochroleuca, 
 a member of the Crowfoot family; Asclepias quadrifoUa, a species of 
 milkweed or Virginia silkweed. Fourth, Hunting Creek and its tribu- 
 taries, where are found the Clematis ochroleuca, the Gonolobus hirsutas, a 
 member of the Milkweed family; the Itea Virginica, Ilea being the 
 (ireek name of the willow; the Geranium columbinum or long-stalked 
 cranesbill, the Micranthemum Nuttallii, a minute Hower; the Habcnaria 
 vircscens, a member of the Orchis family; the Quercus macrocarpa or 
 burr-oak, the Carex, a member of the Sedge family; the Geum striatum, 
 a member of the Rose family; the Galium asprellum or rough bed- 
 straw, a member of the Madder family, and also many others. On the 
 left bank of the lower Potomac River, below the Government Hospi- 
 tal, is a rich botanical field, which yields the Carex pubescens and 
 tetanica, members of the Sedge family; Gonolobus hirsutus mentioned 
 above, Silene arenaria, a member of the Pink family ; the Parietaria 
 Pennsylvania, a wall plant; the Myosotis arvcnsis or forget-me-not, the 
 Scutellaria nervosa or skullcap, a member of the Mint family. At 
 Marshall Hall is found the Asplenium angustifolium, a fern; opposite 
 Fort Foote, Myriophyllum spicatum or water-milfoil; and opposite Alex- 
 andria, the Plantago cordata or ribwort, a member of the Plantain 
 family. 
 
 The Terra Cotta region surrounding Terra Cotta Station, three 
 miles from Washington, on the Metropolitan Branch of the Baltimore 
 (Jt Ohio Railroad, furnishes the following on the dry ground: The 
 O)wsmodium. Virginianum or false gromwell, the Clitoria Mariana or 
 butterfly-pea, and the Habenaria lacera or ragged fringed orchis; while 
 in the swamp are found the Aster oestivus, oraster, the Solidngo striata 
 or golden-rod, the Woodivardia Virginica or chain fern, the Asclepias 
 rubra, a milkweed; and the Poterium Canadense or Canadian burnet, a 
 member of the Rose family. 
 
 In the region of the Reform School have been found the Phlox 
 maculata or wild sweet-william, the Melanthium Virginicum or bunch- 
 
NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 55 
 
 fluwer, a member of the Lily family; tiie BarlonUi tcnella or screw- 
 stem, the Lcsjicdeza Sdivei or bush-clover, the Desmodium Slariland- 
 ieum or tick-trefoil, a member of the Pulse family; the Buchncra 
 Americana or blue-hearts, the Fimbrisfylis capillaris, a member of 
 the Sedge family; the Qiurcus prinoides or chestnut oak, the Carcx 
 bullata, a member of the Sedge family; the Habenaria ciliaris or the 
 yellow fringed orchis, and the Gentiana oehroleuca or gentian. 
 
 In the Holmead Swamp region, which occupies the ravine leading 
 to Piney Branch from the east, at the point where the continuation of 
 Fourteenth Street crosses the stream, may be found the Ludwiqia 
 hirsuta or bastard loosestrife, the Drosera rotundifolia or round-leaved 
 sundew, the Asclepias rubra, a milkweed; Xyris flexuosa or yellow- eyed 
 grass, the Fuirena squarrosa or umbrella grass, the Rkynchospora alba 
 or beak rush, the Coreopsis discordia or tickseed, and the Calopogon 
 pulchellus or grass pink, the Greek and Latin name meaning a beauti- 
 ful little beard. 
 
 There are otlier regions where are many rare and beautiful plants, 
 but want of space forbids further detail. 
 
ClIAl'TEi; II. 
 
 INDIAX niSTdllY. 
 
 First Kxploiatiou of Chesapeake Bay ami its Tributaries — Tribes of Indians upun tlie 
 Bay — Tlie Powhatans, the Mauahoats, and the Monacons — Tlie Moyaones, the 
 Naeotchtanls, and the Toags — The Shawanese — The Susqueliaunocks, the Tnck- 
 wotks, and the Nanticokes — The Delawares — Indian Fishing Ground — In<lian 
 Tradition as to Greenleaf's Point — F'ormation of the Indian Names of Rivers — 
 Fate of the Delaware Indians — Resemblance between Indians of Maryland and 
 Virginia — Massacres of and by Indians — Marriage of Pocahontas — The All-Con- 
 quering Iroquois — The Changing Fortunes of the Aborigines — The Descendants 
 of the Powhatans Embrace Mormonism. 
 
 THE Iiidiiiu histofy of tlic city of VVasliington, and indeed of the 
 District of Columbia, if confined rigidK' to the city or to the Dis- 
 trict as such, would be very brief indeed. In fact, it might be coin- 
 prised in a paraphrase of that famous chapter "Concerning Snakes," 
 in "The Natural History of Iceland," by Niels Horrebov, reading, "No 
 snakes of any kind are to be met with throughout the whole island"; 
 but, inasmuch as this woi'k carries the reader back many years beyond 
 the legal formation of the District, or the establishiuent of the city of 
 Washington, in other chapters, — notably that on the settlement of this 
 region, — it would seem at least proper, even if it be not required by 
 the scope of this work, to notice briefly the various tribes of red men 
 that iidiabited the southern part of Maryland and the northern part 
 of the State of Virginia, in the vicinity of the District of Columbia. 
 The first exploration of the Chesapeake and its tributary streams 
 was made by Captain John Smith, accompanied by fourteen compan- 
 ions, — a physician, six gentlemen, and seven laborers, — on a June day 
 ill 1608. Upon entering the bay, they crossed to the eastern side, and 
 there saw two stout and grim savages upon Cape Charles, with long 
 poles, like javelins, headed with bone, who boldly demanded who they 
 were, and what they were about. Having satisfied these tierce warriors 
 of tiieir peaceful intentions, they continued some distance up the bay, 
 and, returning along the western shore, they ascended the Potomac 
 River. But the great Chief Powhatan was o})posed to this exploration, 
 and so ordered the little band of explorers to be cut ofi"; and in conse- 
 quence of this o[iposition, they found themselves generally the objects 
 
INDIAN HISTORY. 57 
 
 of marked hostility at several points as they ascended the river. Tiieir 
 exiilorations were coiitiiuied, notwithstanding, as far np the river as 
 Little Falls, — about live miles above the present site of the city of 
 Washington, — and then, unable to proceed farther, the river at that 
 point being impassable for boats, they retraced their steps to James- 
 town. 
 
 At the time of tliis exiiloration, there were about tliirty tribes, 
 principal and subordinate, living upon the shores of the bay in Mary- 
 land and Virginia. The chief of these principal tribes were the 
 I'owhatans, the Manalioacs, and the Monacons. The Powhatans inhab- 
 ited the shores of the Chesapeake Bay as far north as the Patnxent, in 
 .Maryland, and the other tribes mentioned lived on the territoi-y con- 
 tiguous to the York and the Potomac rivers. The Manalioacs and 
 tiie Monacans, who were continnonsl}- at war with the Powhatans in 
 Virginia, inhabited the present District of Columbia. The former of 
 these two tribes, after being greatly decimated by war, pestilence, and 
 spirituous liquors, deserted their countr}' in Virginia, about 1712, and 
 migrated to the West, joining either the Irocpiois or the Tuscaroras. 
 
 Some of the smaller tribes which had settlements at the time of 
 Captain Smith's exi)loration mentioned above were the Moyaones, the 
 Nacotchtants, and the Toags. These showed Smith and his companions 
 all possible friendship. Each was a distinct tribe, and had a settlement 
 of its own named after itself. The settlement of the Toags was at, or 
 near, Mount Vernon, appears on Smith's map of Virginia as "Taux- 
 enent," and was about seventeen miles below the present city of 
 Washington. The settlement of the Mo^-aones appears, from the same 
 map, to have been directly opposite, in Maryland, just below the 
 mouth (^f the Piscatawa}', while Nacotchtant, or Nacochtank, was on 
 the same side with the Moyaones, just below the Eastern Branch, and 
 within the present limits of the District. 
 
 The Shawnees, or Shawanese, as they were called at an earlier 
 time, are believed to have inhabited that part of Maryland between 
 the Patnxent and I'atapsco rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay and the 
 Allegheny Mountains. The Susqnehannocks, or Susquehannas, lived on 
 the banks of the Susquehanna River, in Maryland, toward the west, 
 extending considerably into Pennsylvania. The Tockwocks and the 
 Nanticokes lived in Kent, Queene Anne, and Talbot counties, from 
 the Sassafras River to the Choptauk; the Xanticokes also inhabited 
 Dorchester and Somerset counties. 
 
 According to Heckewelder, the Lenai Lenape, or Delaware, Indians 
 covered all that part of the seacoast from the "Potowmack" River 
 
58 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 to the Hudson, and Mr. Boznian, in his excellent history of Maryland, 
 says: "There is indeed strong presumption, from the great extent of 
 the Lenape language, together with the traditions of that nation, that 
 their territory might formerly have extended from the tide water on 
 the Hudson, near Alhan^^ to those of the Patomack and Patuxent; 
 and if the Nanticokes were one of the tribes of the Lenapes, and their 
 language a dialect of the language of that nation, the Lenape territory 
 might also liave comprehended ail the eastern shore of Maryland, and 
 the several tribes thereof. It is stated in Smith's 'History of Vir- 
 ginia,' that the part of the peninsula of the eastern shore which was 
 then deemed, and is still, as a part of Virginia, formed also a part of 
 Powhatan's territories, and that the Aecomacks and the Accohan- 
 nocks, the two tribes who occupied the present counties of Northamp- 
 ton and Accomac, were of the Powhatan nati(jn, and spoke that 
 language." 
 
 And again: "As to the extent of the Lenape territory on the 
 western shore of Maryland, being bounded by the tide water of the 
 Patovvmack, as stated by Mr. Heckewelder, this receives some confirma- 
 tion from the circumstance mentioned in Pory's travels as hereinbefore 
 stated. When Pory went, in 1820, to settle the secretary's lands on the 
 eastern shore of Virginia, he there met with Namenacus, king of a large 
 tribe on the Patuxent River, in Maryland, called Powtuxauts. Namen- 
 acus had come to the eastern shore in order to meet one Thomas 
 Salvage, an Englishman, who, when a boy, having been presented to 
 the Emperor Powhatan in exchange for Nomeutacke, au Indian boy, 
 had long lived with the Powhatans, and having completely learned 
 their language, was in the habit of occasionally acting as interpreter 
 between the Indians and the English. Meeting with Pory and Salvage 
 at Accomack, Namenacus invited them to visit him at Patuxent. Pory 
 accordingly went, and was attended by Salvage, who acted on all 
 necessary occasions as interpreter. If, then, the Indian language which 
 this interpreter had learned when a boy with the Indians was the 
 Powhatan language, as we must necessarily suppose it to have been, 
 from his learning it with and under the Emperor Powhatan, it seems 
 to follow that the several tribes of Indians on the Patu.xent, with 
 whose language Salvage, tlie interpreter, seems to have been familiar, 
 spoke the Powhatan language, and might, therefore, be considered as 
 among the confederate tribes who belonged to Powhatan's empire." 
 
 Mr. Bozman presents other correspondences and confirmations, 
 which appear to strengthen this position, but it is not deemed necessary' 
 to follow them further in this work. 
 
INDIAN HISTORY. 59 
 
 It is stated, on the authority of the early settlers of Marylaiul, that 
 the valley at tlie foot of Capitol Hill, in the city of Washington, for- 
 merly drained hy the Tiher Creek, the Potomac, and the Eastern 
 Branch, was for some years periodically visited hy the Indians, who 
 named it their "fishing ground," to distinguish it from their hunting 
 ground, and that in the spring of the year especially did they assemble 
 there in great numbers to procure fish. The principal camp of the 
 Indians and the residence of their chief were at Greenleaf's Point, and 
 their councils were held among the various tribes thus gathered to- 
 gether. This, if not strictly historical, is at least traditional, and it is 
 supposed by some writers that General Washington was informed of 
 this tradition, and the inference is intimated that this fact had some- 
 thing to do with his determination to locate the Capitol of the Nation 
 he was establishing on the same spot of ground. 
 
 According to Schoolcraft, the Indian tribes, in most cases, dwelt 
 on the banks of the rivers, and the Indian geographical names are 
 at once appropriate and euiihonic. The rivers were denoted by an 
 inflection to the root form of the name; as, annah, annock, any, hany, 
 ghany, etc. Thus came the names Alle-ghany, Rappah-a?nioe/;, Susqueh- 
 annock, etc. In different languages there were of course different 
 terminal inflections. The Delawares, or Lenapes, used the term ittuk 
 for the same purpose; hence, in their language, Lenapeh-«V/(?/; meant 
 the Lenape River, or the Delaware River. In the fifth volume, 
 however, Schoolcraft saj^s: "This term, ' Lenapeh-i/<H^-,' is composed 
 of Lenajn, the name given themselves, and ittak, which geographical 
 term is equivalent to the English word domain or territory, and is 
 inclusive of the specific sepu, their name for river. After the successful 
 planting of the colony in Virginia, the coasts became more subject to 
 observation than at prior periods by vessels bound to Jamestown with 
 supplies. On one of these voyages, Lord De la Ware put into the capes 
 of the river, and hence the present name of this river and the tribe." 
 
 According to the same authority, the name "Lenape" was prob- 
 ably used nationally in the sense of "men"; for these Indians had 
 regarded themselves as having held au eminent position for antiquity, 
 valor, and wisdom. This claim appeared to be recognized b}' other 
 tribes of this region, who applied to them the term "grandfather," 
 while to the Iroquois they applied the term "uncle," which was 
 reciprocated by the latter by the .term "nephew." The other tribes 
 of the Algonquin lineage the Delawares called "brother," or "younger 
 brother." 
 
 But the fate of the Delawares, like that of most of the tribes of 
 
60 nrSTORY OF WASH/XGTOX. 
 
 red men tliat once inhabited tliis fair land, was a melancholy one. 
 Like the Mohicans, the Algoncjnins, the Eries, tlie Andastes, and the 
 Snsquehannas, the Delawares were compelled to leave the countiw 
 which had for many years been their home. Abont the year 1744, by 
 the command of Canassatego, the chief of the powerfid and relent- 
 less Iroquois, they were ordered to leave this section of the country 
 and remove to the banks of the Sus(|ucliunna. They accordingly quit- 
 ted forever the banks of their native and beautiful Delaware, the scene 
 of many memories and the resting place of the bones of their ances- 
 tors, turning their faces, with emotions that may be imagined, to the 
 west. 
 
 Mr. James Mooney lent the writer of this brief chapter valuable 
 assistance. According to him, "on the Virginia side, directly across 
 the Long Bridge, opposite Washington, was another settlement, called 
 Nameroughquena, and between it and Tauxenent (Mount Vernon) 
 were two others, known respectively as Assaomeck (about Alexandria) 
 and Namassingakent (below Alexandria). Several other small settle- 
 ments existed about the mouth of the Piscataway on the Maryland 
 side. . . . Nacochtank, which was the residence of a chief and con- 
 tained eighty warriors, was the principal settlement within or adjoining 
 the District. The Jesuits, who came out later with Lord Baltimore, 
 Latinized the name as Anacostaii, whence we get Anacoslia, the 
 modern name of the Eastern Branch at Washington, and of the post 
 office at Uniontown on its southeastern bank, and perhaps also Ana- 
 loslan, the name of the island opposite Georgetown.'" 
 
 The Indians of Maryland and those of Virginia closely resembled 
 each other. Those of the former State were descendants of the same 
 race with the Powhatans, and spoke dialects of the great Algonquin 
 language. Powliatan himself claimed jurisdiction over the Patuxent, 
 but it is doubtful as to whether he ever enforced his clann. The name 
 of Chesapeake Bay is, in all probability, of Algonquin origin. As a 
 general thing, the accounts of the Maryland Indians represent theni 
 as a simple, open, appreciative, and confiding people, tilled with won- 
 der at the appearance of their European visitors. Father White, who 
 accompanied Calvert, says they were endowed with an ingenious and 
 liberal disposition, and an acuteness of sight, and smell, and taste that 
 even surpassed the Europeans, and that they lived mostly on an article 
 of food which they called "pone," or hominy, etc. 
 
 The Susqnehannas claimed the territory between .the Potonnic and 
 the Snsf(uohanna rivers, when Jamestown was settled, as their hunting 
 gniuiid, ami it marked the ])i>undary between their lands and the 
 
A\Y)/.LV HISTORY. 61 
 
 Powhatanic kingdom. Subsequently they moved their council tire 
 down the western shore to the Patuxent to avoid conflicts with the 
 Iroquois; but, on the other hand, they came in contact with a class of 
 white people from whom they contracted the habit of using alcoholic 
 liquors, which pi-oved a more powerful, even if a more insidious, eneni}^ 
 tlian the Iroquois. Like the coast trilies of Virginia, they exchanged 
 all the available products of their streams and forests for the means 
 of indulgence, and when they were gone the}' sold their lands; and 
 besides, they sometimes engaged in war with neighboring tribes, so 
 that it was not long before they were without the power of self- 
 defense. The white people of Virginia, in order to avenge a supposed 
 murder of one of their number, made war u[ton them and killed a 
 good many of the Susquehanuas, wiio accused the Senecas of having 
 committed the murder; but who the perpetrators were, was never known. 
 Other massacres followed, however, and the people of Maryland, raising 
 a force of one thousand men, marched against the Susquehanuas, under 
 the command of Colonel John Washington, great-grandfather of Gen- 
 eral George Washington; and afterward, by other wars upon them, the 
 Susquehanuas were driven to the necessity of uniting with the Canas- 
 togas, an original Oneida tribe of Indians. Thus were the Susquehanuas 
 reduced from the proud position of a leading and conquering tribe to 
 a subordinate one within another tribe, to be ultimately swallowed up 
 and entirely obscured. 
 
 Besides the Powhatans in Virginia, there were the Iroquois and 
 the Chickahonuuies. The Powhatans were won over to the English 
 especially by the marriage of Pocahontas to Mr. Rolfe, and the power- 
 ful Chickahominies themselves desired the friendship of the English; 
 but the marriage, though a remarkable event in history, was nothing 
 more. The blending of the English and Indian races, which some 
 fondl}- hoped and believed the}' saw foreshadowed by this marriage, 
 was, in reality, an impossibilit}'. In social aft'airs, and more particularly 
 in marriage, there must, from necessity, be a community of thought, 
 and feeling, and taste, much of wliicli comes from heredity, which 
 cannot be found in individuals of races differing so widel}' in habit of 
 thought and feeling as do the white and Indian, or white and negro. 
 This important fact, which is the essential basis of happiness in the 
 married relation, was entirely unknown to those honest people who 
 opposed the abolition of slavery on the ground that such abolition 
 must soon be followed by an indiscriminate marriage of whites and 
 blacks. It is now everywhere recognized that no argument against 
 justice was ever more absurd. 
 
62 H/STORY OF U'ASH/NGTOy. 
 
 Ill closing this brief iiientioii of tiie Indian races that lived in this 
 region up to and during a portion of the time since the country has 
 been occupied by the white race, it is believed that we cannot do 
 better than to introduce the following extract from Mr. Mooney's 
 article on the same subject heretofore quoted from: 
 
 "The Susquehannocks continued their inroads upon Indians and 
 whites alike until 1652, in which year a treaty was made, only to be 
 broken in 1676, when the pressure of the terrible Iroquois on the north 
 drove the Susquehannocks themselves from their ancient homes, and 
 forced them down upon the frontiers of Maryland and Virginia, which 
 they ravaged from the Patuxent to the James, until defeated ami 
 almost exterminated by Nathaniel Bacon in a decisive battle at tlie 
 present site of Richmond. Tlie result was a treaty of peace in 1677, 
 by which all the Indians as far as the head of Chesapeake Bay were 
 brought under tribute to the wliites. 
 
 "Between the upper and nether millstones, the original proprietors 
 of the Potomac region had been well-nigh ground out of existence, 
 and the miserable remnant was still pursued with unrelenting hatred 
 by the conquering Iroquois. Tlie Tauxenents joined the few survivors 
 of the Virginia Powhatans, who retired to the Pamunkey River, where 
 about fifty mixed bloods still remain, about twenty miles east of Rich- 
 mond. The Maryland tribes gradually consolidated under the name 
 of the Piscataways, and removed about the year 1700 to a new settle- 
 ment on the lower Susquehanna, near Bainbridge, Pennsylvania. Here 
 they became known as the Conoys, and under this designation they 
 afterward moved higher up the river and settled at Chenango, under 
 the protection of the Iroquois, about 1740. In 1765, they numbered 
 only about one hundred and fifty souls. Still later they removed to 
 the Ohio Valley, where they joined their kindred, the Delawares. 
 They made their last appearance as a separate tribe at a council held 
 at Detroit in 1793. 
 
 "While on a visit to the Cherokee Reservation in North Carolina 
 in the summer of 1887, the writer accidentally obtained some additional 
 information which has never before appeared in print, and which illus- 
 trates, in a striking manner, the shifting fortunes of the aboriginal 
 tribes. A young Cherokee, named Samuel Owl, had married a woman 
 of the Catawbas — once a powerful tribe, but now reduced to a feeble 
 remnant of about a dozen families, living on the river of the same 
 name in South Carolina. In talking one day with tiiis woman about 
 her own people, she mentioned that a number of Indians formerly 
 lived with them who were different from the Catawbas, and were called 
 
/.y/)/.L\' HfSTORY. G3 
 
 ' Pamiiiiks.' Oil further questioning, slie stated that the}' were all 
 descendants of, or related to, an Indian named John Mush, wlio had 
 come from Virginia about fifty years before. They were unquestion- 
 ably some of the Pamunkeys, alread}- mentioned as still existing near 
 Richmond. On asking her what had become of them, she said that 
 they were constantly quarreling with the Catawbas, — for the old tribe 
 hatred still lives on, — until some Mormon missionaries from the West 
 arrived in that vicinity a few years ago, when tlie 'Famunks,' glad of 
 an opportunity to escape from their persecutors, embraced the new 
 doctrines, and followed their deliverers to the far-distant land of Utah, 
 where the last descendants of the lordly Powhatans now read their 
 lonely destiny in the waters of the Great Salt Lake." 
 
ClIAPTEU III. 
 WAsnixarox becomes the capital. 
 
 The First American Congress — Circular Letter to tlie Colonies — The Spirit of Inde- 
 pendence — The Necessity of a Permanent Seat of Governnient — The Attack upon 
 Congiess in Philadelphia — Its P^ffect — Oilers from States for a Site for a Perma- 
 nent Residence — Views of Individuals — Discussions on the Subject in Congress — 
 The Plan of Two Federal Towns— The Convention of 17S7— The Nature of 
 Control over the Seat of Governnient Sought by Congress — History of the 
 Movement to Settle the Question of a Permanent Seat of Government — The 
 Question Finally Set at Rest — The Act of July, 1790, Authorizing the President 
 to Locate the Federal District- The Removal of the Federal Ottices to the City of 
 Washington. 
 
 IT i.s evident, from a .study of the early history of our eountry, that 
 the stability of its government was dependent upon no one circum- 
 stance more than the permanency of the seat of that government. Tlie 
 lirst American Congres.s, or rather Convention of the Colonies, for the 
 purpose of organized opposition to the measures adopted b}' the parent 
 country deemed oppressive to tlie colonies, was held in Xew York. 
 Delegates were present from nearly all of the colonies, and tlie matters 
 considered were the Stamp Act and other grievances, from whicli the 
 colonies considered that they suffered great wrong and oppression. 
 The call for this Congress — the reason for whicli it was assembled — 
 was "to consult together on the present circumstances of the colonies, 
 and the difficulties to which they are, and must be, subjected by the 
 operation of the acts of Parliament for levying duties and taxes on 
 the colonies, and to consider a general and united, dutiful and humble, 
 representation of their condition to his Majesty and the Parliament, 
 and to imi>lore relief." This Congress was not without some good 
 results. The Stamp Act, the principal ground of grievance, was re- 
 pealed. Other causes of grievance, however, continued, and a second 
 Congress was called, to meet at Philadelphia. The only known result 
 of this Congress, which sat with closed doors, was that it was resolved 
 that another Congress should be called, unless redress of grievances 
 fniiii which the colonies suffered should be first obtained. It was rec- 
 ommended that the session should also be held at Philadelphia. This 
 Congress was opposed by the King and his advisers, and the secretary 
 
U-AS/f/XCTOX BECOMES THE CAPITAL. (55 
 
 for the colonies sent to all tlie governors of the colonies a circular 
 letter, as follows: 
 
 "Certain persons, styling themselves delegates of his Majesty's 
 colonies in America, having presumed, without his Majesty's authority 
 or consent, to assemble together at Philadelphia, in the months of 
 September and October last [1774], and having thought tit, among 
 other unwarrantable proceedings, to resolve that it will be necessary 
 tiiat another Congress should be held in tlie.same place in May next, 
 unless redress for certain pretended grievances be obtained before that 
 time, and to recommend that all the colonies in North America should 
 choose deputies to attend such Congress; I am commanded by the Xing 
 to signify to you his Majesty's pleasure that you do use all your utmost 
 endeavors to prevent any such appointment of deputies within the 
 country under your government, and that you do exhort all persons to 
 desist from such unwarrantable proceedings, which cannot but be 
 highly displeasing to the King." 
 
 This proclamation, however, had but little or no effect. The spirit 
 of independence had already taken root. In May, 1775, the third 
 American Congress met at Philadelphia, and from that time America 
 has never been without a Congress. The Declaration of Independence 
 soon followed, and after the adoption of the Articles of Confederation, 
 annual sessions of Congress were, by its provisions, held at such times 
 and places as were determined upon. 
 
 The members of the Congress thus assembled were designated, in 
 the credentials issued to them, as members of the "American Con- 
 gress," aod the "General Congress." Its meetings were held in Phil- 
 adelphia during the whole period of the War of the Revolution, except 
 when prevented by the exigencies of that war, or when that city was 
 held and threatened by the enemy, at which times it met at Baltimore, 
 from December 20, 1776, to February 27, 1777; at Lancaster, Pennsyl- 
 vania, on the 27th of September, 1777, and at Yorktown, Pennsylvania, 
 from September 27, 1777, to June 27, 1778. 
 
 During all this time it does not seem that any attempt or sugges- 
 tion even was made toward the establishment of a permanent seat of 
 government, or iixed residence of Congress. This may have been 
 owing somewhat to the unstable and weak character of the government 
 of the Confederation, or it may have been due to other circumstances. 
 However this may have been, it became apparent tliat unless some 
 Iixed and determinate habitation was decided upon for tlie residence 
 of Congress, it would be idle to hope for anything like a permanent 
 government. It was when matters were in this condition, after the 
 
66 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 cessation of hostilities with the mother country, aud after her col- 
 onies, which had declared themselves independent States, had assumed 
 authority to treat for peace and a recognized nationality, that the 
 Congress then sitting in Philadelphia was threatened hy a mob of 
 dissatisfied soldiers. 
 
 This event took place in June, 1783, and was the cause of great 
 excitement and controversy. Its importance in the history of the coun- 
 try is great, for from it may be dated the first decided intimation of a 
 fixed and permanent seat of government; in other words, the necessity 
 of a National Capital City, under the sole and exclusive control of the 
 Congress, and independent of all State government and influence. Its 
 immediate ett'ect was the removal of Congress from the city of Phila- 
 delphia; and though the Confederation continued to exist for five years 
 longer, and every effort was made by the authorities of Pennsylvania to 
 induce it to resume its sessions within her domain, Congress persistently 
 refused to return to that city. Sessions were held at Princeton, Annap- 
 olis, Trenton, and New York, but never again in Philadelphia during 
 the continuance of the Confederation. It is true that before the 
 occurrence of the events detailed above the idea of the establishment 
 of a permanent seat of government had been suggested. A motion 
 was made tliat Congress should hold o[ien sessions, the postponement of 
 the consideration of which was urged until Congress "shall have fixed 
 upon some place where it may be proper to continue its residence, and 
 where it may have some kind of jurisdiction without being exposed 
 to the influence of any particular State." New York oft'ered to cede 
 the town of Kingston, and Maryland the city of Annapolis, as places 
 for the seat of government, and upon the report of a committee these 
 offers of the two States mentioned were transmitted to the other 
 States, and a day was assigned for their consideration. By these means 
 the subject of a "permanent residence" for Congress was brought 
 to the attention of all the States, and four months were allowed for 
 reflection, examination, and offers before any action was proposed to 
 be taken. But it must be evident, notwithstanding all this, that nothing 
 so clearly presented the necessity of the determination of a place of 
 permanent residence for Congress, and likewise tlie necessity of an 
 exclusive jurisdiction over the place so selected, as the events whicli 
 drove the Congress from the city of Philadelphia, and made that city 
 and other cities which could be controlled by mob influence unsafe as 
 a place for such permanent residence as Congress was seeking. It may 
 be interesting in this connection to note some of the reasons urged, 
 not only in Congress, but by citizens of different sections of the 
 
W.ASH/XGTON BECOMES THE CAPITAL. 67 
 
 country, for the location of the seat of government in the places of 
 their special selection. 
 
 A gentleman, writing from Philadelphia June 3, 1783, sa3's: "The 
 Legislature of Maryland has passed a resolution in which they bid 
 high for the residence of Congress. They ofter the city of Annapolis 
 and its precincts, to be solely and exclusively under the jurisdiction of 
 Congress; the statehouse and all other public buildings for their use 
 and the use of the diplomatic corps; the Governor's house for the res- 
 idence of his Excellency, the President of Congress; and to build 
 houses for the delegates of each State, for which purpose they appro- 
 priate a sum not exceeding £30,000 specie (dollars at six shillings 
 each). This ofJ'er is for the permanent residence of Congress. Mary- 
 land has far exceeded the proposals of New York. What think you 
 of this kind of auctioneering?" 
 
 The following article in favor of Williamsburg, Virginia, is from 
 the newspapers of that day: 
 
 "Overtures have 'been made to Congress by the States of New 
 York and Maryland, by which the former has offered to cede the 
 township of Kingston in said State as the future seat of Congress, 
 together with an exclusive jurisdiction therein and the establishment 
 of such jurisdiction as Congress shall think proper. The State of 
 Maryland has ofl'ered the city of Annapolis (with the unanimous con- 
 currence of the inhabitants to subject themselves to the jurisdiction of 
 Congress), the assembly house for the session of Congress, the Gov- 
 ernor's house for the President, and to build a hotel for each State at 
 the expense of Maryland, provided it does not exceed £30,000, together 
 with a jurisdiction of whatever nature and extent Congress may deem 
 necessary, over the city and three hundred acres of the adjoining land. 
 The advantages which will accrue to an}' State in which Congress 
 shall establish the seat of their future sessions will, we doubt not, be 
 fully weighed by the legislature of the State, and the convenience 
 which at first view presents itself in favor of the city of Williamsburg 
 for that purpose, in which there are large, elegant, commodious public 
 buildings now vacant, and a considerable tract of public lands thereto 
 adjoining, when added to the superior advantages of its central situa- 
 tion to all America, will certainly counterbalance the liberal oft'ers of 
 the States of New York and Maryland, or any other State." 
 
 The following is an extract from a letter from a gentleman in 
 New Jersey, where Congress was then sitting, to his friend in Provi- 
 dence, Rhode Island, dated August 26, 1783, recommending a western 
 location for the seat of o;overnment: 
 
68 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 "Where will Congress establish their residence? is a question much 
 agitated. It is a question of great importance, no less to tlie United 
 States in general, than to the particular State that may obtain the 
 lionor. It seems the general voice of the people that large cities are 
 to be avoided; for this opinion a variety of reasons are assigned, too 
 obvious to need enumeration. A small State, nearl}' central, ought to 
 be preferred to an opulent State, either northward or southward, which 
 miglit hazard a competition of interest. On this account New Jersey 
 has many voices. Whatever disadvantages hereafter mingle themselves 
 with the emoluments attending the permanent residence of Congress, 
 it is not to be doubted that the real estate in the vicinity, and even 
 throughout the State, will instantaneously receive a great additional 
 value. 
 
 "For tliese reasons I submit to 3-ou a proposition entirely new, and 
 which cannot fail to be acceptable to your State, as you are largely 
 interested in the public credit and can entertain little or no hope of 
 seeing Congress established in your island, however delightful and 
 commodious that situation might be. By the treaty of peace and \>y 
 the cessions of the claims of some of the States made and to be made, 
 the United States are and will be in possession of an immense extent 
 of territory lying southward of the lakes, eastward of the Mississipjii, 
 and westward of the Allegheny Mountains. 
 
 "A late calculator in a Boston paper scruples not to assert that 
 these lands at sixpence an acre would extinguish the whole of our 
 national debt. On the proposition, therefore, that Congress sliould 
 establish their residence (suppose for a term of only thirteen j'ears) at 
 some of those commodious and young settlements, as Detroit, Louis- 
 ville, Kaskaskia, St. Vincent's, Sandusky, etc., etc., what an amazing 
 value would be added to that important territory! how iucredulouslj- 
 would it accelerate the rapidity of its settlement and population! Lost 
 at first view you should sneer at the proposal, or condemn it at once 
 as chimerical, I pray you to consider the subject for a moment in a 
 serious light. Is not the establishment of a national credit an object 
 of tirst magnitude? Ought any practicable means to obtain it (con- 
 sistent with our liberties) to be left unattempted? But you will ask. 
 Has Congress moneys to expend for buildings, etc.? I answer. Perhaps 
 one quarter of the lands in the compass of twenty miles square fixed 
 on for the residence of Congress, whereby they would be amazingly 
 appreciated, would be amply sufficient to erect buildings suitable for a 
 republican court. But you will, in fine, demand a security against 
 the inconvenience of savage insurrections, etc., etc. To this I answer. 
 
U'.-IS/f /xerox BECOMES THE CAPtT.U.. 69 
 
 Congress may there assume plenary jurisdiction, or model their gov- 
 ernment on the most perfect plan of modern refinement, and lands 
 in their vicinity being allotted to those brave officers and men who 
 have served in the late glorious war, in lieu of their certificates, they 
 would plant themselves around their patrons as an impregnable 
 bulwark against the natives, and Congress would be safe as they ever 
 were in the city of Philadelphia." 
 
 By a resolution of Congress then in session at Yorktown, Penn- 
 sylvania, passed June 4, 1783, it was resolved "that copies of tlie act 
 of the Legislature of Maryland, relative to the cession of Annapolis 
 to Congress for their permanent residence, and also copies of the act 
 of the Legislature of New York, relative to the cession of Kingston 
 for the same purpose, together with the papers which accompanied 
 both acts, be transmitted to the executives of the respective States, and 
 that they be informed that Congress have assigned the first Monday in 
 October next for taking said ofters into consideration." This resolu- 
 tion brought the whole subject before Congress for consideration. It 
 was evident that the matter was deemed in every way of the first im- 
 portance. The great State of New York generously oflered one of its 
 most thriving towns, beautifully situated on the romantic Hudson, and 
 Maryland offered its capital, already distinguished for the charm of its 
 climate and the culture and elegance of its inhabitants, as jjlaces fit for 
 the permanent residence of Congress. These offers were coupled with 
 the further grant to Congress of the exclusive, unlimited authority of 
 the General Government over such places. This was all that could be 
 required, and it seemed an easy matter for Congress to determine upon 
 one or the other as the future residence of the infant government. 
 Indeed, Congress went so far as to appoint a committee "to consider 
 what jurisdiction may be proper for Congress in the place of its per- 
 manent residence." The importance of this had been rendered manifest 
 by the condition of affairs at Philadelphia at the time of the mutiny, to 
 which reference has already been made. This committee recommended 
 in its report, made on the 5th of September, that Congress "ought to 
 enjoy an exclusive jurisdiction over the district which may be ceded 
 and accepted for its permanent residence, and that the district so 
 ceded ought not to exceed the contents of six miles square, nor to be 
 less than three miles square." 
 
 Subsequently this report was considered, but no conclusion reached. 
 When the time fixed for the formal consideration of the subject by 
 the resolution of June arrived, ofters had been made by several other 
 States, and it was determined to consider the whole matter in the 
 
70 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 order of the thirteen States tlieii composing the government of 
 tlie United States. This was in October, 1783. By a resolution passed 
 on tiie 6tli of this month, it was ordered that the question be taken, 
 in which State buildings shall be provided and erected for the residence 
 of Congress, beginning with New Hampshire, and proceeding in the 
 order in which they stand; and it was finally determined "that build- 
 ings for the use of Congress be erected on or near the banks of the 
 Delaware, jirovided a suitable district can be secured on or near 
 the banks of said river for a Federal town; and that the right of soil 
 and an exclusive or such other jurisdiction as Congress may direct, 
 shall be vested in the United States." It was further determined that 
 the place should be near the falls of the Delaware, and that a com- 
 mittee should repair to that place, view the situation, and report a 
 proper district for carrying out the design of the resolution. An 
 eliort was made to reconsider this action of the Congress with the view 
 to change the location so selected, but it jaroved fruitless. Thus as 
 early as October, 1783, Congress had apparently settled the question 
 of the location of tlie Capital City, and nothing seemed to be needed 
 but the execution of the details to that end to secure a final deter- 
 mination of this much mooted question. Subsequent events, however, 
 prove how fallacious such conclusions were. 
 
 While the location of the permanent residence of Congress was 
 apparently thus early and easily decided, the fact was soon manifested 
 that this action of Congress, instead of settling the matter, was but 
 the introduction to a long and exceedingly difficult contest. It is inter- 
 esting, particularly in view of the final determination of the question 
 of the selection and establishment of the Capital of the Nation, to 
 follow the Continental Congress in its varied and ever-changing leg- 
 islation on this subject. While we know now of how little import 
 that legislation was; how weak and indefinite was every action of 
 a government that was without a single essential of sovereignty, the 
 men wlio controlled the counsels of the Nation in those days were so 
 distinguished in every way, and their discussions manifest so surely 
 what was meant by the establishment of the seat of government, what 
 was the significance in the minds of those early legislators of the final 
 conclusion to build a capital, — not to make one of a city already con- 
 structed, — that a history of the city of Washington cannot be complete 
 without a review of this legislation, cursory and incomplete as it ma}- 
 be, but sufficient to show what was done. The discussion was long, and 
 the projects offered and considered various. It commenced imme- 
 diately, liesolutions were offered declaring that the retention of the 
 
IVASHfNGTON BECOMES THE CAPITAL. 71 
 
 territory near the falls of the Delaware was not satisfactor}' to a large 
 number of the citizens of the States; that the purposes of the govern- 
 ment would be better effected by the providing of buildings for the 
 accommodation of Congress in two places, in which alternate sessions 
 could be held. This proposition was deliberately considered, and with 
 some immaterial amendment was adopted. It was determined that the 
 alternate places of residence of Congress should be on the banks of 
 the Delaware, as already provided, and on the banks of the Potomac, 
 near the lower falls of that river, and that until buildings suitable for 
 their residence should be erected at the places designated, such resi- 
 dence should be temporarily, alternately, at equal periods of not 
 more than one year and not less than six months, at Trenton and 
 Annapolis. It is interesting to remark how speedily this proposition 
 tor alternate residences of Congress followed upon the adoption of 
 the resolutions fixing that residence on the banks of the Delaware. 
 Nothing is needed more than this to show how unstable any determi- 
 nation of the question was. Fortunately, the experiment of holdino- 
 temporary sessions of Congress at Trenton and at Annapolis soon 
 proved a failure, and the impracticable scheme of having two permanent 
 seats of government was not carried into effect. No effort was made to 
 erect buildings either at the falls of the Delaware or on the Potomac. 
 
 Mr. Force, in his history of the permanent seat of government for 
 the United States, from which much of what is here written is derived, 
 says: 
 
 "Much sport was made in the newspapers of the plan of having 
 two Federal towns. One writer, in alluding to the resolution of Con- 
 gress of the 7th of August, to erect 'an equestrian statue of General 
 Washington at the place where the residence of Congress should be 
 established,' remarks, that some persons suppose there may be difficulty 
 in carrying out this resolution if two seats of government should be 
 established. But he suggests, that so far from there being any difficulty, 
 it is easy, 'not only to comply with the spirit of the resolve respecting 
 the equestrian statue, but to make that very resolve conducive to the 
 scheme of the two Federal towns.' And in a lengthy communication 
 he describes how this may be done. 'The spirit and intention of the 
 resolve respecting the equestrian statue,' he observed, 'was nothing 
 more than this: that the said statue should always be where the House 
 should sit. To effect whicli, nothing was necessary but to adjourn the 
 statue whenever and wherever they should adjourn the House, which 
 might easily be done by mounting it upon wheels. But this was not 
 all; for if the horse should he constructed of a large size, and framed 
 
72 H /STORY OF \\:tS///XGTON. 
 
 with timbers like the hull of a ship, it would become a most conven- 
 ient and proper vehicle to transport the members themselves, with 
 their books, papers, etc., from one Federal town to anotlier.'" 
 
 lie alluded, also, to the enormous expense of building two Federal 
 towns, where one might be sufficient for the purpose. To obviate this, 
 he proposed "that there should be two permanent places of alternate 
 residence, agreeably to the late resolve, and but one Fetleral town; 
 which town should be built upon a large platform mounted on a great 
 number of wheels, and be drawn by a great number of horses." 
 
 This fun of the olden times has been repeated in more modern 
 days, and the project of an enterprising citizen who proposed the 
 removal of our proud Capital City has been caricatured in very much 
 the same spirit that is exhibited in the extract from the newspaper of 
 1783. A procession of the Capitol and the several department build- 
 ino-s, mounted upon wheels, and drawn by horses over the mountains 
 in a journey to the far West, illustrated the derision with which a 
 project to remove the Capital from its present residence was regarded 
 by the people of to-day. 
 
 This failure of the project to establish alternate residences of Con- 
 gress resulted finally in an abandonment of all such schemes. But 
 before this was effected, Congress, in response to resolutions to that 
 effect, appointed commissioners to visit the falls of the Delaware and 
 the Potomac, and to report suitable places for the erection of the 
 contemplated Federal buildings. These commissioners made report, but 
 nothing more was done under the resolutions referred to. It may not 
 be out of place to remark here, that the commissioners appointed 
 to examine and report upon the site near the falls of the Potomac, 
 in their i-eport use the following language: "At Georgetown, how- 
 ever, a little to the northward of the buildings, is a rising ground 
 somewhat broken, but pleasantly situated, and commanding good water 
 as well as other prospects. At Funkstown, about a mile and a half 
 below Georgetown on the river, there is also a district which com- 
 mands fine prospects. Some part of this is low, but the residue is 
 high and pleasant. The committee have ordered a plan of each of 
 these districts to be taken and transmitted to Congress." This is very 
 nearly what afterward became, and to-day is occupied as, the site of 
 the National Capital. 
 
 Again, Congress, by an ordinance of December, 1784, determined 
 upon the selection of a place upon the Delaware River for the permanent 
 residence of Congress, and commissioners were appointed to make a 
 selection. This seems to have been all that was done, and the question 
 
U:iSH/XGTON BECihVES THE CAPfTAL 73 
 
 of tlie iiormaiioiit sent of government wus left still undetermined. It 
 is not wortii while to deal any further with the many motions made 
 toward the settlement of this much mooted question. No one matter 
 seems to have occupied so much of the attention of Congress, nor to have 
 heen the subject of so much discussion. Nothing was so often submitted 
 to the members of Congress for tlieir votes, so often decided, and so 
 often reconsidered. There was no subject about which so many plans 
 were devised and abandoned, and about which the separate States 
 developed so many conflicting interests, as the single subject of the 
 permanent residence of Congress. It is not deemed necessary, in tiiese 
 pages, to go into the details of the legislation of which we have 
 records on this subject, because such legislation is not of itself im- 
 portant, and because the results were for the most part of so little 
 consequence. What has been said on this subject gives tlie only 
 important measures that reached anything like a conclusion, while the 
 unending motions, discussions, and votes upon the subject are left 
 unnoticed because they are of little or no consequence. 
 
 After the ordinance of December, 1785, nothing was done of any 
 importance. Matters remained undisturbed, except by a few spasmodic 
 efforts to direct the attention of Congress to a matter of which it had 
 evidently become tired, and the whole subject was postponed to the care 
 of the government that was to liave charge of affairs under the new 
 Constitution. What has been said will serve to show that, throughout 
 the whole of the history of this Congress of the Confederation, or the 
 "Continental Congress" as it is frequently called, it was manifest, that 
 great consequence was attached to the question of the selection of a 
 permanent seat for the government — a Capital City, and that over such 
 place or territory, which should be ample for the purposes for which it 
 was designed, Congress should have and exercise exclusive jurisdic- 
 tion, entirely exempt from the authority of any State ceding such 
 territory. The matter of exclusive jurisdiction was always insisted 
 upon, and no project was considered that did not involve the conces- 
 sion of such jurisdiction. Though there was no provision on this 
 subject in the Articles of Confederation, there can be no doubt that, 
 had a permanent seat of government been then established, Congress 
 would have assumed exclusive jurisdiction. It was offered bj' the sev- 
 eral States, and the proceedings of Congress show clearly that it would 
 have been accepted. All this tends to show what was uppermost in 
 the minds of the men of that day upon this subject of a Capital City, 
 and as we proceed to the time wlien the various details of our free 
 government found their consummation in our Constitution, it is inter- 
 
74 rf IS TORY OF W.AS/ffXGTOIV. 
 
 esting to observe what were tlie evident intention and meaning of 
 the men who framed that Constitution, with respect to this particular 
 matter. The idea of a great central Capital City was early developed, 
 and its consummation was certain, and in keeping with the grandeur 
 of the Nation. 
 
 In 1787, the Federal Convention, called "for the express purpose 
 of revising the Articles of Confederation, and reporting such alterations 
 and provisions as shall reader the Federal Constitution adequate to 
 the exigencies of government and the preservation of the Union," met 
 at Philadelphia. This convention was composed largely of the men 
 who had before served in the Continental Congress, and it was there- 
 fore not surprising that early in its deliberations we find this matter 
 of a permanent Capital the subject of earnest consideration and dis- 
 cussion. Nor is it to be wondered at that men who had so long had 
 the subject under discussion should tind little ditiiculty in reaching a 
 conclusion aliout it. We lind that in the draft of a federal govern- 
 ment submitted by Mr. Pinckney, of South Carolina, provision is made 
 that the legislature of the United States shall have power "to provide 
 for the establishment of a seat of government for the United States 
 not exceeding ten miles square, in which they shall have exclusive 
 jurisdiction." Again, in a proposition referred to a standing com- 
 mittee of eleven members was a proposition to confer upon Congress 
 "the exclusive right of soil and jurisdiction over the seat of govern- 
 ment," and iinally a report from that committee as among the powers 
 of Congress, "to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoevei' 
 over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as may by cession 
 of particular States, and the acceptance of the legislature, become the 
 seat of government of the United States." This last proposition of 
 the committee was accepted by the Convention and passed without 
 dissent, and is found in the final revision of the Constitution, as it was 
 referred to the States, and by tliem ratified and confirmed. The exact 
 language of the Constitution, as finally adopted, and ratified by the 
 States, is found in Article I., Section 8, of that instrument, and is 
 in the following words: 
 
 "The Congress shall have power to exercise exclusive legislation 
 in all cases whatsoever over such district (not exceeding ten miles 
 square) as may, by the cession of particular States and the acceptance 
 of Congress, become the seat of government of the United States, and 
 to exercise like authority over all places purchased, by the consent of 
 the legislature of the State in which the same shall be, for the erection 
 of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards, and other needful buildings; 
 
U'lSI/rXGrON RECOAfES THE CAPfTAf.. 75 
 
 and to eiitict all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying 
 into execution the foregoing powers and all other powers vested by 
 this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any 
 department or officer thereof." 
 
 Having thus determined, as part of the Constitution., in this positive 
 manner, that there should be a permanent seat for the government, over 
 which Congress should have exclusive jurisdiction, the only question 
 remaining before Congress was where this seat of government should 
 be located. This was a very grave question, and gave rise to much 
 and very serious debate. Some difficulty was at first experienced in 
 determining where the Congress of the new government should hold 
 its first meetings. This was, however, soon determined, and on the 
 first Wednesday in March (the 4th), 1789, the day api)ointed for 
 "commencing proceedings" under the Constitution, several members 
 of both Houses assembled in New York; but there was no quorum 
 until the 8th of April, when the votes for President and Vice-President 
 were counted. On the 21st of April, Vice-President Adams took his 
 seat as President of the Senate, and on the 30th of April General 
 Washington was inaugurated the first President of the United States. 
 Thus the government under the new Constitution was established upon 
 a firm and certain basis. 
 
 It was feared by many that the convening of the Congress at 
 New York and the inauguration of the President at that city, which 
 had offered for the accommodation of the government most commo- 
 dious, convenient, and elegant accommodations for the various Federal 
 offices, would result in the permanent establishment of the seat of 
 government in that city. This was to be deplored, because a very 
 large preponderance of opinion was opposed to tlie selection of a large 
 city as the seat of government, but of New York particularly, as too 
 remote from the center of the then existing Union. Early in the 
 session, however, one of tlie Representatives from Virginia presented 
 to the House a resolution of the legislature of that State, passed in 
 December, 1788, offering for the acceptance of the Federal Govern- 
 ment ten miles square of territory, or any lesser quantity, in any part 
 of that State which Congress might choose, to be occupied b^' the 
 United States as the seat of the Federal Government. About the same 
 time an act of the Legislature of Maryland was presented, in wiiich 
 the State offered for the acceptance of Congress ten miles square of 
 territory, anywhere within its limits, for the seat of government. 
 Before the close of the session, memorials were presented from the 
 inhabitants of Trenton, in New Jersey, and Lancaster and Yorktown, 
 
76 H/STORY OF WASH/NGTON. 
 
 in Peniis3lvaiiia, praying that tlie seat of government might be 
 estabiislied in those towns. These several acts and memorials were 
 ordered to lie on the table tor future consideration. It was evident 
 that the selection of a site for the permanent seat of government had 
 lost none of its interest and importance, and it soon became apparent 
 that it was the intention of the new Congress to bring the matter to a 
 speedy and satisfactory determination. Wiien the question was tiiially 
 presented to Congress as to wliicli of the many places suggested should 
 be determined on, a debate full of interest ensued, and many and vari- 
 ous projects were offered and submitted to the votes of the members 
 of the Senate and House. This whole matter is of so great interest, 
 and is so important as showing how the final selection of the present 
 site of the Capital City was brought about, that it cannot be amiss to 
 spread at large on these pages a summarj- of the debates ui)on it, even 
 at the risk of proving tedious. 
 
 On the 27th of August, 1789, in the House of Representatives, 
 Mr. Scott, of Pennsylvania, moved "that a permanent residence ought 
 to be fixed for the General Government of the United States at some 
 convenient place, as near the center of wealth, population, and extent 
 of territory as may be consistent with the convenience to the naviga- 
 tion of the Atlantic Ocean, and having due regard to tiic particular 
 situation of the western country"; and moved to make this motion 
 the order of the day for the 3d of September. This was warmly 
 debated, a number of members urging the postponement of the subject 
 till the next session. After full discussion, during which it was said 
 that no question could have a greater tendency to produce broil and 
 dissensions, and that the government, ill-cemented and feeble as it was, 
 might not withstand the shock of sucli a measure, the motion was 
 agreed to by a vote of 27 to 23, and on the 3d of September the 
 question was taken up, and the whole subject of fixing upon a place 
 for the seat of government was thrown open for debate. On the 7th, 
 three resolutions were adopted by the House: the first, the one offered 
 by Mr. Scott, and already given; the second, offered by Mr. Goodhue, 
 of Maine, "that the permanent seat of government of the United States 
 ought to be at some convenient place on the banks of the Susque- 
 hanna, in the State of Penns^dvania"; and the third, offered by Mr. 
 Fitzsimmons, of Pennsylvania, authorizing the President to appoint three 
 commissioners to select and purchase the site on the Susquehanna, and 
 to erect, within four years, suitable buildings, and also authorizing a 
 loan of $100,000 for the purpose; and on the 22d of September, a bill 
 pursuant to these resolutions was passed by a vote of 31 to 17. 
 
nASH/.VGTON BECOMES THE CAPITAL. 77 
 
 On the same day the bill was taken up in the Senate, and aniend- 
 nients were afterward made which radically altered its nature. On 
 the 24th, the location on the yusquehanna was stricken out, and by 
 the casting vote of the Vice-President, the following words were 
 inserted: "In the counties of Philadelphia, Chester, and Bucks, and 
 State of Pennsylvania, including within it the town of Germantown 
 and such part of the northern liberties of the city of Philadelphia as 
 are not excepted by the act of cession passed by the Legislature of 
 Pennsylvania." On the 26th, the bill passed (yeas, 10; nays, 7), and 
 was returned, as amended, to the House of Representatives. 
 
 In the House the contest had been almost wholly between the 
 Susquehanna and the Potomac, and when the bill came back from 
 the Senate so thoroughly altered, and only three days remaining 
 till the time set for adjourning, strong eiibrts were made to postpone 
 it to the next session. It was said that in ail the long arguments 
 which the question had drawn out, the place fixed on by the Senate 
 had never been mentioned, and that the question the House was now 
 called upon to consider was entirely new. The reasons which influ- 
 enced the Senate to decide in favor of the Delaware do not appear, as 
 that body sat with closed doors. The House proceeded with the bill, 
 and the amendments of the Senate were agreed to on the 28th by a 
 vote of 31 to 24, with a proviso, added on tiie motion of Mr. Madison, 
 that the laws of Pennsylvania should continue in operation in the 
 ceded district until otherwise provided by Congress. This proviso 
 defeated the bill. It made action on it by the Senate again necessary, 
 and when taken up the same day in that body its further consideration 
 was postponed till the next session. The next day (29th) Congress 
 adjourned. 
 
 Before Congress met again, the Assembly of Virginia passed an 
 act, ceding to the United States ten miles square of her territory, and 
 reciting the advantages of a location on the River Potomac above 
 tide water, in which the States of Pennsylvania and Virginia might 
 participate. The Legislature of the State of Maryland had passed an 
 act nearly a year before, instructing the Representatives of that State 
 in the Congress of the United States, appointed to assemble at New 
 York, to cede to the Congress of the United States any district in 
 that State of ten miles square which might be selected for the seat of 
 government. Virginia offered to advance $120,000 and Maryland 
 $72,000 for the purposes of the Federal City, in case it should be 
 established on the banks of the Potomac. 
 
 At the second session of Congress, proceedings for establishing the 
 
78 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 seat of government originated in the Senate. The bill left unfinished 
 at the preceding session was not again taken up, but a new one was 
 introduced on the 31st of May, 1790, by Mr. Butler, of South Caro- 
 lina, in which the place was left blank. On the 2d of June, this bill 
 was referred to a committee, consisting of Mr. Butler, of South Caro- 
 lina; Johnston, of North Carolina; Henry, of Maryland; Lee, of 
 Virginia: and Dalton, of Massachusetts. On the 8th, the committee 
 made the following report: 
 
 "That in their opinion, taking a combination of circumstances 
 into consideration, the present session is a proper time for tixing 
 upon the permanent residence of Congress and the government of 
 the United States; and after due consideration, recommend that it be 
 placed on the eastern or northeastern bank of the Potomac. 
 
 "Your committee further recommend that such sums of money 
 as may be offered by the States for carrying this bill into efl'ect may 
 be accepted of; then the bill will read thus: 'And to accept grants of 
 money or lands.' Your committee were of the opinion that Congress 
 can best determine the time to be allowed for completing the buildings. 
 
 " With respect to the temporary residence of Congress, your com- 
 mittee, after weighing all the circumstances, considered the ground 
 of choice to be so narrowed as to be fully in view of the Senate. 
 
 "Your committee recommend that the Senate should agree with 
 all the other parts of the bill."' 
 
 The opinion of the Senate was taken, whether it be expedient, at 
 this time, to determine upon any place for the permanent seat of gov- 
 ernment, and it was decided in the negative by the casting vote of 
 the Vice-President. It was then ordered that the consideration of the 
 bill be resumed, the report of the committee being rejected. 
 
 A motion to insert "the easterly bank of the Potomac" was 
 negatived by a vote of 9 to 15. "Baltimore" was proposed and lost 
 — yeas, 7; nays, 17. "Wilmington, in the State of Delaware," was 
 also moved and disagreed to. Several motions to postpone were 
 made, also a motion to reject the first enacting clause, but none were 
 agreed to. Without coming to any decision, a motion to adjourn was 
 carrie<l. 
 
 Tlie subject was not resumed until the 28th of June. On that 
 day, the Senate having under consideration a resolve of the House of 
 Representatives of the 11th of June, "That when the two Houses 
 shall adjourn, the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of 
 Representatives do adjourn their ros[iective Houses to meet and hold 
 their next session at the town of Baltimore," a motion was made and 
 
WASH/yOTON BECOMES THE CAPfTAL. 79 
 
 carried to postpone the consideration thereof" to take up the "bill to 
 determine the permanent seat of government of tlie United States." 
 The Senate then resumed the second reading of the bilh 
 
 The representation of John O'Donneli, in behalf of himself and 
 otliers, citizens of Baltimore town, stating thnt town to be exceedingly 
 commodious and eligible for the permanent seat of the government of 
 the United States, and the representation of Robert Peter, in behalf 
 of himself and other freeholders and other inhabitants of George- 
 town, for the same purpose, were severally rend. A motion to insert 
 "Baltimore" in the bill was again made and rejected — yeas, 10; nays, 
 15. It was then moved to insert the following words: 
 
 "On the River Potomac, at some place between the mouths of the 
 Eastern Branch and the Connogocheague, be, and the same is hereby, 
 accepted for the permanent seat of the government of the United 
 States: Procided, nevertheless, that the operation of the laws of the 
 State within such district shall not be afiected by this acceptance until 
 the time fixed for the removal of the government thereto, and until 
 Congress shall otherwise b}' law provide." 
 
 This was passed by a vote of 16 yeas, 9 nays. The members 
 voting in the negative were Messrs. Wingate, of New Hampsliire; Dal- 
 ton and Strong, of Massachusetts; Stanton, of Rhode Island; Ellsworth 
 and Johnson, of Connecticut; King and Schuyler, of New York; and 
 Patterson, of New Jersey. "The place" was now determined upon, 
 and this clause formed a part of the act finally adopted by both Houses 
 of Congress and approved by the President, and after further amend- 
 ment and an ineffectual effort to strike out the words, "between the 
 mouths of the Eastern Branch and the Connogocheague," and insert 
 "within thirty miles of Ilancock town," the bill passed on the 31st 
 day of July by a majority of only two, fourteen voting in the affirm- 
 ative and twelve in the negative. 
 
 July 2, 1790, the bill "for establishing the temporary and perma- 
 nent seat of government," which had passed the Senate, was read twice 
 in the House and committed. 
 
 July 6, in Committee of the Whole, Mr. Sherman, of Connecticut, 
 moved that the word "Potomac" should be struck out and "a district 
 to include the town of Baltimore" be inserted; seconded by Mr. Burke. 
 The subject was again fully debated with regard to the "temporary" as 
 well as "permanent" seat of government. Mr. White, of Virginia, 
 observed that, if this House was alone to be consulted, on the principle 
 of accommodation, Baltimore might answer; but when it was consid- 
 ered that this bill originated in the Senate, in which this place has 
 
80 HJSTOk)- or WASH/NGTON. 
 
 been repeatedly rejected, it is evident that, if tlie clause is struck out, 
 the bill will be lost. Mr. Lee, of Virginia, insisted that Baltimore 
 is as far south as the place projiosed, besides being exposed by its 
 frontier position on the sea. " We are not confined hy the bill," said 
 lie, "to a particular spot on the Potomac, but may iix upon a spot as 
 far north as the gentleman from Connecticut wishes." Mr. Burke, of 
 South Carolina, said there was no political necessity for removing the 
 temporary seat of government from New York to Philadelphia. The 
 measure would excite the most turbulent passions in the minds of 
 the citizens. He thought it a very extraordinary measure. It is cal- 
 culated to arrest the funding system, and throw everj'thing into 
 confusion. If the bill is passed in its present form. Congress will 
 never leave Philadelphia. 
 
 Mr. Lawrence, of New York, wished the motion might succeed. 
 He objected to the place proposed for the i)ermanent residence. By 
 the bill it is conceded that the place is not at present a suitable situa- 
 tion. By what magic can it be made to appear it will be more proper 
 at the end of ten years? He adverted to the funding business and 
 other important matters which remained to be decided upon, and very 
 strongly intimated that these questions were to be determined agree- 
 ably to the fate of this bill. 
 
 Mr. Stone, of Maryland, said all the question of difl'erence seemed 
 to be whether Baltimore or the Potomac shall be the seat of govern- 
 ment. If the amendment now proposed should take place, nothing 
 would be done, and the business will be left in a very inauspicious 
 state. He was therefore resolved not to be drawn oft' by any motion, 
 amendment, or modification of the bill whatever. As a Marylander, if 
 he saw a prospect of success, he would vote for the town of Baltimore; 
 but as it respects the United States, he should vote for the Potomac. 
 He considered the subject as one of the most painful and disagreeable 
 that could be agitated, and he wished to have the business finally and 
 unalterably fixed. 
 
 Mr. Seney, of Maryland, said the interests of Maryland were to 
 be sacrificed to those of the two adjoining States, and however flatter- 
 ing it may seem to Maryland to fix the seat of government on her 
 side of the Potomac, the real advantages were, in a great measure, 
 nugatory, as it would be but a very small portion of that State that 
 would reap any benefit therefrom; the real advantages would undoubt- 
 edly result to Pennsylvania. Besides, after the government shall have 
 renuiined ten years in Philadelphia, the probability of quitting it for 
 the Potomac appeared to be very sliglit indeed. 
 
IVASHINGTOy BECOMES THE CAPITAL. 81 
 
 Mr. Scott, of Pennsylvania, observed, that from the town of Balti- 
 more there was no water conveyance to the interior; but from the 
 proposed site on the Potomac there are two hundred miles of naviga- 
 tion directly into the heart of the country. 
 
 Mr. Madison, of Virginia, said, if any argument could be brought 
 against the proposed place on the Potomac, it was its being too far 
 northward; for the mileage south of the Potomac is twelve tiiousand 
 seven hundred and eighty-two miles, and to the north of it twelve 
 thousand four hundred and twenty-two miles. If to this Rhode Island 
 is added, it will be not more than equal. We have it now in our 
 power to procure a southern position. We should hazard nothing. If 
 the Potomac is struck out, are you sure of getting Baltimore? May 
 no other place be proposed? Instead of Baltimore, is it not probable 
 Susquehanna may be inserted? perhaps the Delaware? Make any 
 amendment, and the bill will go back to the Senate. He urged not 
 to consent to any alteration, lest the bill be wholly defeated, and the 
 prospect of obtaining a soutliern position vanish forever. 
 
 Mr. Gerry, of Massachusetts, regretted that the subject of establish- 
 ing the permanent seat of government had been brought forward, for 
 it is very evident that it has had a very pernicious intluence on the 
 great business of funding the public debt. If the present bill is carried 
 into execution, a very great uneasiness will ensue. Those States who 
 .think that they shall be injured, it cannot be expected will then acqui- 
 esce. He adverted to the sacrifices whicli the Xorthern States are ready 
 to make in consenting to go so far soutli as Baltimore, and contended 
 that their explicit consent ought to be obtained before they are dragged 
 still farther south. He ridiculed the idea of fixing the Government at 
 Connogocheague, and did not think there was any serious intention of 
 going to this Indian place. He considered the whole business as a 
 mere maneuver. Baltimore holds out the only prospect of a perma- 
 nent seat of government. 
 
 Mr. Vining, of Delaware attributed the embarrassments of public 
 business to the assumption o ' State debts, and not to the subject of 
 residence. 
 
 The committee rose and reported progress. 
 
 The bill was again debated in Committee of the Whole the next 
 day, July 7. Mr. White, of Virginia, adverted to the situation of tlie 
 proposed place on the Potomac, and said that a line drawn from 
 the Atlantic east and west to the extreme point mentioned in the bill 
 would intersect the State of New Jersey and include the whole of 
 Delaware and Maryland. He observed that, after the present ferment 
 
82 H/STORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 is subsided, the position will be considered as a permanent bond of 
 union, and tlie Eastern States will find their most essential interests 
 promoted by the measure. He adverted to the trade of Massachusetts, 
 which, lie said, was greater to Virginia than to the whole Union 
 besides. 
 
 The question being put for striking out "Potomac" and inserting 
 "Baltimore," it was negatived, 23 to 37. 
 
 Several other amendments were ottered and negatived without a 
 division. Mr. Burke, of South Carolina, then made the following- 
 motion: "That the seat of government shall remain in New York 
 two years from last May; and from the expiration of that time to the 
 year 1800, that the seat of government shall remain in rhiladel[ihia." 
 Before the question was taken, the committee rose. 
 
 July 8, 1790, Mr. Burke's motion, after debate, was negatived, as 
 also was a motion oiFered by Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, to erase 
 the words, "at which place the ensuing session of Congress shall be 
 held." The committee then rose and reported the bill without any 
 amendment. 
 
 July 9, the bill was taken up in the House, and a variety of 
 amendments were ottered, but none were agreed to, a majority of the 
 members being in favor of the bill, and not willing to jeopard its 
 passage by any amendment whatever. Mr. Boudinot, of New Jer- 
 sey, moved to strike out "Potomac" and insert "Delaware" — yeas, 
 22; nays, 39. Mr. Ames, of Massachusetts, moved to strike out 
 "Potonuic" and insert "Germantown" — yeas, 22; nays, 39. Mr. 
 Smith, of Maryland, moved to strike out "Potomac" and insert 
 "between the Potomac and the Susquehanna" — yeas, 25; nays, 3G. 
 Mr. Lawrence, of New York, moved to strike out "Potomac" and 
 insert "Baltimore" — yeas, 2G; nays, 34. Mr. Gerry, of Massachu- 
 setts, moved to strike out "Potomac" and insert the words, "purchase 
 or," — yeas, 2G; nays, 35. Mr. Gerry moved to insert a clause which 
 should limit tlie commissioners in the expense to the sum appropriated 
 in the bill — yeas, 2G; nays, 33. Mr. Lawrence moved to add these 
 
 words: "Provided the buildings shall not exceed the sum of 
 
 dollars," — yeas, 26; nays, 32. Mr. Gerry moved that the words, 
 "three commissioners, or any two of tliem," be struck out — yeas and 
 nays not given. Mr. Tucker, of South Carolina, moved that the whole 
 of the fifth section be struck out — yeas, 28; nays, 33. Mr. Burke, of 
 South Carolina, moved to strike out "the first Monday in December 
 next," and to insert "the first Monday in May, 1792,"— yeas, 28; 
 nays, 32. Mr. Sherman, of Connecticut, moved that "December" be 
 
WASHfNGTON BECOMES THE CAPITAL. 83 
 
 struck out before the word "next" and "May" inserted — yeas, 28; 
 nays, 33. Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, moved that the words, "at 
 which place the next session of Congress shall be held," be struck 
 out — yeas, 26; nays, 33. Mr. Smith, of Maryland, moved an amend- 
 ment by which the public offices should be removed to the Potomac 
 previous to the year 1800, provided the buildings should be prepared 
 for their reception before that time — yeas, 13; nays, 48. Successive 
 motions were then made, that the bill be read a third time on Monday 
 next; that it be read a third time to-morrow; that the House now 
 adjourn, — all of which were negatived. Every eftbrt, either to defeat 
 or postpone the bill being found unavailing, a direct vote was now 
 taken, and it was carried by 32 yeas to 29 nays. The vote was as 
 follows: 
 
 Yeas — Messrs. Cadwalader arid Sinnickson, of New Jersey; Cly- 
 mer, Fitzsimmons, Hartley, Heister, Muhlenberg, Scott, and Wyncoop, 
 of Pennsylvania; Vining, of Delaware; Carroll, Contee, Gale, and 
 Stone, of Maryland; Brown, Coles, Griffin, Lee, Madison, Moore, 
 Page, Parker, and White, of Virginia; Ashe, Bloodworth, Sevier, 
 Steele, and Williamson, of North Carolina; Sumter, of South Caro- 
 lina; Baldwin, Jackson, and Matthews, of Georgia. 
 
 Nays — Messrs. Foster, Gilmer, and Livermore, of New Hamp- 
 shire; Ames, Gerry, Goodhue, Grout, Leonard, Partidge, Sedgwick, 
 and Thatcher, of Massachusetts; Huntington, Sherman, Sturgis, Trum- 
 bull, and Wadsworth, of Connecticut; Benson, Floyd, Hathorn, Law- 
 rence, Sylvester, and Van Rensselaer, of New York; Boudinot and 
 Schureman, of New Jersey; Seney and Smith, of Maryland; Burke, 
 Smith, aud Tucker, of South Carolina. 
 
 The bill was approved by President Washington on the 16th ot 
 July, 1790, and thus ended the seven years' struggle for the seat 
 of government. The following is a copy of the act: 
 
 "An Act for Establishing the Temporary and Permanent Seat of the 
 
 Government of the United States: 
 
 "Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Hepresent- 
 atiues of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That a 
 district of territory, not exceeding ten miles square, to be located, as 
 hereafter directed, on the River Potomac, at some place between the 
 mouths of the Eastern Branch aud Couuogocheague, be, and the same 
 is hereby, accepted for the permanent seat of government of the United 
 States: Provided, nevertheless, that the operation of the laws of the State 
 within such district shall not be aflected by this acceptance until the 
 
 ::a 
 
84 H /STORY OF W.-iSH/XGTOX. 
 
 time fixed for the removal of the Government thereto, and until Con- 
 gress shall otherwise by law provide. 
 
 "Sec. 2. Avd be it further enacted, That the President of the 
 United States be authorized to appoint, and by supplying vacancies 
 happening from refusals to act or other causes, to keep in appointment 
 as long as may be necessary, three commissioners, who, or any two of 
 whom, shall, under the direction of tiie President, survey-, and by 
 proi)er metes and bounds define and limit, a district of territory under 
 the limitations above mentioned; and the district so defined, limited, 
 and located shall be deemed the district accepted by this act for the 
 permanent seat of government of the United States. 
 
 " Sec. 3. And be it enacted, That the said commissioners, or any 
 two of them, shall have power to purchase or accept sucli quantity of 
 land on the eastern side of said river within the said district as the 
 President shall deem proper for the use of the United States, and 
 according to such plans as the President shall approve, the said 
 commissioners, or any two of them, shall, prior to the first Monday 
 in December in the year one thousand eight hundred, provide suitable 
 buildings for the accommodations of Congress and of the President, and 
 for the public offices of the Government of the United States. 
 
 "Sec. 4. And be it enacted, That for defraying the expenses of 
 such purchases and buildings, the President of the United States be 
 authorized and requested to accept grants of money. 
 
 "Sec. 5. And be it enacted. That prior to the first Monday 
 in December next, all offices attached to the seat of government of 
 the United States shall be removed to, and until the said first 
 Monday in December in the year one thousand eight hundred shall 
 remain at, the city of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, 
 at which place the session of Congress next ensuing the present 
 shall be held. 
 
 "Sec. G. And be it enacted, That on the said first Monda}- in 
 Decendjer in the year one thousand eight hundred, the seat of gov- 
 ernment of the United States shall, by virtue of this act, be transferred 
 to the district and place aforesaid. And all offices attached to the 
 said seat of government shall accordingly be removed thereto by their 
 respective holders, and shall, after that day, cease to be exercised 
 elsewhere, and that the necessary expense of such removal shall be 
 defrayed out of the duties on im[)ost8 and tonnage, of which a sufficient 
 sum is hereby appropriated. George Washington, 
 
 "President of the United States. 
 
 "Approved July Iti, ITJO." 
 
w.^sH/xorox n INCOMES the c.ip/r.iL. 85 
 
 The flection in the foregoing iiet of Congress by which it is pro- 
 vided tliiit the offices of the (government were to he removed to and 
 remain in Pliiiadelphia until the tirst Monday in December, 1800, 
 caused much discussion, and was only passed after a great struggle. It 
 was feared by some that if the Capital remained in Philadelphia for 
 ten years, it would never be removed; but their fears were unwai'- 
 ranted by the event. 
 
 In June, 1800, the public offices were transferred to the city of 
 Washington, and opened there on the loth of that month. On the 22d 
 of ISTovember, 1800. the President, John Adams, in his speech at the 
 opening of Congress, said: 
 
 " I congratulate the people of the United States on the assembling 
 of Congress at the permanent seat of their Government, and I con- 
 gratulate you, gentlemen, on the prospect of a residence not to be 
 changed. It is with you, gentlemen, to consider whether the local 
 powers over the District of Columbia, vested by the Constitution in 
 the Congress of the United States, shall be immediately exercised. If, 
 in your opinion, this important trust ought now to be executed, you 
 cannot fail, while performing it, to take into view the future probable 
 situation of the Territory for the happiness of which you are about to 
 provide. You will consider it as the capital of a great nation, advanc- 
 ing with unexampled rapidity in arts, iu commerce, in wealth, and in 
 population; and possessing within itself those resources which, if not 
 thrown away or lamentably misdirected, will secure to it a long course 
 of prosperity and self-government." 
 
 The House of Representatives, in their answer to the speech of 
 I'resident Adams, said: 
 
 "The final establishment of the seat of National Government 
 which has now taken place in the District of Columbia, is an event 
 of no small importance in the political transactions of the country. A 
 consideration of those powers which have been vested in Congress 
 over the District of Columbia, will not escape our attention; nor shall 
 we forget that in exercising these powers a regard must be had to 
 those events which will necessarily attend the Capital of America."' 
 
 Time has shown that our ancestors were not wrong in the estimate 
 they placed upon the importance of a Capital City, nor in their 
 anticipations of what that city was destined to become. Speaking 
 of the provision by which Congress is clothed with exclusive legisla- 
 tive powers iu the District of Columbia, Mr. Curtis, in liis "Historj- 
 of the Constitution," says: 
 
 "This provision has made the Congress of the United States the 
 
86 fi/SrORY OF IVASH/NGTON. 
 
 exclusive sovereign of the District of C(jluinl)ia, which it governs in 
 its capacity of the legishiture of tlic Union. It enal)led Washington 
 to found the city which bears his name, toward whicli, wliatever may 
 be the claims of local attachment, every American who can discern 
 the connection between the honor, the renown, and the welfare of his 
 country, and the dignity, safety, and convenience of its Government, 
 must turn with aftection and pride." 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 PERMANENT CAPITAL SITE SELECTED. 
 
 The Act of Congress Approved July 10, 1790 — Appointment of Commissioners — Presi- 
 dent AVashington's Proclamation — Location and Surroundings of the District Chosen 
 under Above Act — Description of the Site by John Cotton Smith — Extract from 
 the Herald — Carrollsburgh and Hamburgh — The Agreement with the Proprietors 
 
 — The Act of ^Maryland — Conveyance of Lands to Trustees— Major Pierre Charles 
 L'Enfant Selected to Prepare a Plan of the City — His Plan Approved — Thomas 
 Jefferson's Part in This Matter — The Name, "City of Washington," Conferred 
 
 — The Plan of the City Discussed — Major L'Enfant's Dismissal — Act of Congress 
 Comiiensating L'Enfant for His Services — Andrew Ellicott Succeeds L'Enfant — 
 Completes the Survey of the District of Columbia — Close of the Rule of the 
 Commissioners — Difficulties with the Original Proprietors — Washington's Letter 
 in Reference Thereto — David Burns Still Obstinate — Finally Yields — Extracts 
 from New York Daily Advertiser — Estimate of the Value of the Work of Those 
 Who Selected the Site of the National Capital. 
 
 TIJE organiu act of Congress, approved by President Wasliington 
 July 16, 1790, ordained that a district of territory not exceeding 
 ten miles square, to be located on the River Potomac, at some place 
 between the mouth of the Eastern Branch of that river and of the 
 Connogocheague, should be accepted for the permanent seat of govern- 
 ment of the United States. The President was to appoint three 
 commissioners, who, under his direction, were to surve}' and by proper 
 metes and bounds detine and limit the territory or district required 
 under and for the purposes of the foregoing organic act. All powers 
 necessary to the purchase or acceptance of the quantity of land within 
 the territory prescribed, on the eastern bank of the Potomac, required 
 according to plans to be approved by the President, were given to the 
 commissioners mentioned, to the extent that such laud was needed by 
 the United States, for the provision of suitable buildings for the 
 accommodation of Congress, and of the President, and the public 
 offices of the Government. 
 
 The letters patent appointing said commissioners read as follows: 
 
 ^^ George Washington, President of the United States, to all who shall see 
 
 these presents, Greeting: 
 
 "Know ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the integ- 
 rity, skill, and diligence of Thomas Johnson and Daniel Carroll, of 
 
88 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Maryland, iuid David Stuart, of Virginia, I do, in pursuance of tlie 
 powers vested in nie by the act entitled, 'An Act for Establishing 
 the Temporary and Permanent Seat of the Government of tlic United 
 States,' ai>proved July 16, 1790, hereby appoint them, the said Thomas 
 Johnson, Daniel Carroll, and David Stiuirt, commissioners for survey- 
 ing the district of territory accepted by the said act for the permanent 
 seat of government of the United States, and for performing such 
 other offices as by law are directed, with full authority for them, or 
 any two of them, to proceed therein according to law, and to have 
 and hold the said offices, with all the privileges and authorities to the 
 same of right appertaining, each of them during the pleasure of 
 the President of the United States for the time being. 
 
 " In testimony whereof, I have caused these letters to be made 
 patent, and the seal of the United States thereto affixed. 
 
 "Given under my hand at the city of Philadel[)hia, the 22d day of 
 January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and 
 ninety-one, and of the independence of the United States the fifteenth. 
 "By the President, 
 
 " George Washington. 
 
 " Thomas Jefferson." 
 
 In further pursuance of the act of Congress, approved July 16, 
 1790, the President issued a proclamation designating the experimental 
 boundary lines of the district to be accei^ted for the permanent seat 
 of government, and directing the commissioners to run the lines and 
 survev the proper metes and bounds of said district. 
 
 In this proclamation, after reciting the acts of the States of Mary- 
 land and Virginia and the act of Congress, he says: 
 
 "Now, therefore, in pursuance of the powers to me confided, and 
 after duly examining and weighing the advantages and disadvantages 
 of the several situations, within the limits aforesaid, I do hereby 
 declare and make known that the location of one part of said district 
 of ten miles square shall be found by running four lines of experiment 
 in the following manner: Running from the courthouse in Alexan- 
 dria in Virginia, due southwest half a mile, and then a due southeast 
 course till it shall strike Hunting Creek, and tix the beginning of the 
 said four lines of experiment: 
 
 "Then begin the first four lines of experiment at the point on 
 Hunting Creek where the said southeast course shall have struck the 
 same, and running the said first line due northwest ten miles; thence 
 the second line into Maryland due northeast ten miles; thence the 
 
PERM.AXF.XT CAPITAL SITE SELECTED. 80 
 
 third line due southeast ten luiles; iviid thence the fourth line due 
 soutiiwest ten miles, to the beginning on Hunting Creek. 
 
 "And the said four lines of experiment being so run, I do hereby' 
 declare and make known that ail that part within the said four lines 
 of experiment which shall lie within tlie State of Maryland, and above 
 the Eastern Branch; and all that part within the same four lines of 
 experiment wiiich shall be witliin the Commonwealth of Virginia, and 
 above the line to be run from the point of land forming the upper 
 cape of the mouth of Eastern Branch due southwest, and no more, is 
 now tixed upon and directed to be surveyed, deiined, limited, and 
 located for a part of the said district accepted by tlie said act of Con- 
 gress for the permanent seat of the Government of the United States; 
 hereby expressly reserving the survey and location of the remaining 
 part of the said district, to be made hereafter contiguous to such part 
 or parts of the present location as is or shall be agreeable to law. 
 
 "And I do accordingly direct the said commissioners appointed 
 agreeably to the tenor of the said act, to proceed forthwith to run 
 the said lines of experiment; and the same being run, to survey 
 and by proper metes and bounds to define and limit the part within 
 the same which is hereinbefore directed for immediate location and 
 acceptance; and thereof to make due report to me, under their hands 
 and seals." 
 
 It will be seen that the district was, by the act mentioned, con- 
 lined within the limits bounded by the mouths of the Eastern Branch 
 of the Potomac and a stream known as the Connogocheague, which 
 emptied into the Potomac in Washington County, in the State of 
 Maryland, about forty miles above the Eastern Branch. This legis- 
 lation contined the district to be located to the territory north of the 
 Potomac, and h}' its very terms excluded any selection within the State 
 of Virginia. That State had, by the act of her legislature, ceded to 
 the Government a territory ten miles square for the purposes of the 
 General Government, all of which territory was of course situated 
 south of the Potomac. President Washington does not seem to have 
 regarded the restriction as binding upon those entrusted with the 
 selection of the territory for the seat of government. It will be seen 
 by his proclamation, issued on the 22d of January, 1791, that he 
 includes within the boundaries determined upon by the district of ten 
 miles square to be dedicated to the uses of the Government, a portion 
 of the territory of the Commonwealth of Virginia lying south of the 
 Potomac Biver. This selection was afterward approved by Congress. 
 That body, by an act approved March 3, 1791, repealed all the provis- 
 
90 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 ions of the preceding act which limited the selection of the territory 
 within which was to he estahlished tlie seat of government to a district 
 above or north of the Eastern Branch of the i'otoniac, and ordained 
 that it should he lawful for the President to make as part of the said 
 district "a convenient part of the Eastern Branch and of the lands 
 lying on the lower side thereof, and also the town of Alexandria." 
 
 The President had alread}', as will be seen, under the powers 
 conferred upon him, appointed Thomas Johnson, Daniel Carroll, und 
 David Stuart commissioners for surveying the district of territory 
 accepted by the act of July 16, 1790, for the permanent seat of the 
 Government of the United States, and performing such other offices 
 as by law were directed. Daniel Carroll, one of the aforesaid commis- 
 sioners, being at the time one of the delegates appointed by the State 
 of Maryland in the House of Representatives of the Congress of the 
 United States, refused to act as commissioner; and hence there were 
 only two commissioners on duty from that time until March 4, 1791, 
 when Mr. Carroll's term of service in Congress having expired, a new 
 commission was issued to him, and he agreed to serve as commis- 
 sioner. As soon as convenient after this, the President proceeded in 
 person to the point designated for the seat of government, there to 
 take an active part in what was to him the dearest project of the 
 latter years of his life. In a letter to Daniel Carroll, dated March 
 11, 1791, he says: 
 
 "I write to you by this post in conformity witli my promise so 
 to do; but it is not yet in my power to determine whether I can 
 set out on Monday or not. If I find the roads do not mend much 
 between this time and that, I shall not he anxious about beginning on 
 that day, even if business should permit. As my fixing the day for 
 meeting the commissioners at Georgetown must depend upon my 
 departure from this place [Philadelphia], I cannot determine upon the 
 former until the latter is decided. I shall write you again by Mon- 
 day's post, and in that letter shall he able to say with certainty when 
 I leave this city." 
 
 Soon after this, that is to say, on the 28th of March, I'resident 
 Washington reached Georgetown, and on the 29th rode over the entire 
 new district, in company with the three commissioners and the two 
 surveyors, Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant and Andrew Ellicott. 
 
 It will be interesting to accomjiany this distinguished party in 
 their survey of the site selected by the wisdom of Congress for the 
 future Capital of the yet infant Republic. To most of them the scene 
 was not new, but to one or two of them at least we can suppose that 
 
PER.U.ANEXT CAPITAL SITE SELECTED. 91 
 
 tliis wiis their first view of its beauties. We can imagine the heights 
 above Georgetown to l)e tbe point from wliicli they first gazed upon 
 tiie territory from which they were to select a site for the future seat 
 of government. At their feet was the ah-ead}- thriving town of 
 Georgetown, than which no town in this or any other country is 
 more beautifully situated. Rising from the lliver Potomac, wliich 
 formed the base of the town, it already partly occupied, and was 
 destined in its gradual growth and improvement to occupy entirely, 
 the heights that skirted and adorned that beautiful river. 
 
 On their right was the river itself. Rising in tlie distant Alle- 
 ghenies and running for many miles between the States of Maryland 
 and Virginia with comparative placidity until joined by the Shenandoah 
 at Harper's Ferry, it bursts through the chain of mountains that has 
 hitherto confined it, tearing the mountain from its summit to its base 
 and hurrying away to tlie sea. For a while after this apparent declara- 
 tion of its freedom from the restraint which the mountains had imposed 
 upon its waters, its course is smooth. Again it encounters difficulties, 
 and leaping over a steep, it forms what is known as the Great 
 Falls of the Potomac. It rushes along, with rapids and cascades, 
 amid grand and picturesque banks that are the admiration of all who 
 view them, until finally reaching the town of Georgetown, it washes 
 the shores of that town with waters so calm and deep that ships bring 
 to its wharfs the commerce of the remotest regions of the earth. 
 Flowing on, the river turns to the east, and widening as it goes till it 
 assumes the appearance of a lake, describes a curve that forms a 
 beautiful boundary to the lap of land that is finally selected as the 
 abiding place of the National Capital. 
 
 Here again it is met by the Eastern Branch, or Anacostia, tlien a 
 navigable stream and one of the commercial highways of the new 
 Republic; and so calmly and peacefully that it seems incredible that 
 it has a short while ago been a tumultuous stream, full of wild leaps 
 and grand cascades, it flows away by the town of Alexandria and 
 Mount Vernon, the home of Washington, and is finally lost in the 
 waters of the Chesapeake Bay. 
 
 Looking across the river, the heights of Arlington rise in view, 
 commanding a most comprehensive view of the river, in themselves 
 forming a beautiful boundary to the scene now gazed upon by the 
 august party with so much interest. Far away to the south was 
 the city of Alexandria, then a port of considerable importance, at 
 whose wharves lay ships from all parts of the world, and destined 
 — at least so thought President Washington — to be the great tide- 
 
92 H/STORY OF ir.lSHLVGTO.V. 
 
 water doorway to that immense western eountr}' which had already 
 given evidence of its futnrc inijiortance. President Washington was 
 not out of ills reckoning; for tiiis city, l)eing the nearest and most con- 
 venient [loi't to tlie Northwestern Territory, would undouhtedly have 
 furnished to that Territory tiie most important outlet for its wealth, had 
 not the ai>plication of steam to internal commerce hrought ahout a 
 revolution that no human wisdom could foresee. 
 
 Turning from the river and looking toward the east, their gaze 
 encounters as the eastern boundary of Georgetown a considerable 
 stream, flowing between romantic banks and adding greatly to the 
 beauty of the landscape, known as Rock Creek. Beyond this extends 
 an extensive plateau, bounded by the waters of the Potomac and the 
 Eastern Branch, nearly level throughout its whole extent, save as it is 
 diversified by gentle elevations, nowhere of any great height, but still 
 sufficient to provide commanding eminences for the future public 
 buildings of the Capital Cit}'. Through this plateau at that day ran 
 a considerable stream known as the Tiber, with low marshy banks. 
 This stream ran from east to west, and had its mouth in the Potomac 
 River near what is now the foot of Seventeenth Street. South of this, 
 extending to the bank of the river, was a plain, level nearly throughout 
 its entire extent and divided in those early days into fields for agri- 
 cultural purposes. Through this plain ran a branch of the larger 
 stream known as the Tiber, and called St. James's Creek, having its 
 mouth in the Eastern Branch at or near its confluence with the main 
 stream or river. North again of the Tiber the land was rolling in its 
 character, covered with trees and low undergrowth, and finally rising 
 into high lands that formed a beautiful background to the beauties of 
 the rural landscape. Far away to the east ran the Eastern Branch or 
 Anacostia, forming with the Potomac a magnificent frame for what was 
 then selected by these commissioners as the site for the seat of the new 
 Government, and which was destined to be the location of a capital 
 city so grand that the wildest dreams of the enthusiast failed to realize 
 its splendors. The commissioners seem to have had no hesitation in 
 adopting the site described, as the result of their labors under the act 
 of Congress, and their descendants of to-day recognize and aiiprcciatc 
 the wis(hMn that guided and controlled their deliberations. It is safe 
 to say that nowhere, now that natural obstacles principally in the way 
 of complete drainage are nearly, if not entirely, overcome, can there 
 V)e found a site better adapted to the development of the grand idea 
 conceived by tiie distinguished engineer selected by President Wash- 
 ington to prepare the [ilans of the Capital City of tiie United States. 
 
PERM.L\'EXT CAPITAL S/TE SELECTED. 93 
 
 It is interesting in this connection to read wliat was said of the 
 site of the city by a distinguished member of Congress from Connect- 
 icut in tlie iSixtli Congress, the first that held its sessions in the city 
 of Wasliington. It is true this is written several years after tlie 
 selection of the site and when some progress had been made in the 
 erection of the public buildings, but so little liad been done that 
 the description tits in many respects the condition of things at the 
 date about which we have been writing. 
 
 "Our approach to the city [says Mr. John Cotton Smith] was 
 accompanied with sensations not easily described. One wing of the 
 Capitol only had been erected, which with the President's House, a 
 mile distant, both constructed with white sandstone, were shining 
 objects in dismal contrast witii the scene around them. Instead of 
 recognizing the avenues and streets portrayed in the plan of the 
 city, not one was visible, unless we except a road with two buildings 
 on each side of it, called the New Jersey Avenue. The Pennsylvania 
 Avenue, leading, as laid down on paper, from the Capitol to the 
 President's Mansion, was then nearly the whole distance a deep 
 morass, covered with alder bushes, which were cut through the width 
 of the intended avenue during tiie then ensuing winter. Between the 
 President's House and Georgetown a l)lock of houses had been erected 
 which then bore (and do now) the name of the Six Buildings. There 
 were also two other blocks, consisting of two or three dwelling houses 
 in different directions, and now and then an isolated wooden habita- 
 tion; the intervening spaces, and indeed the surface of the city 
 generally, being covered with shrub oak bushes on the higher grounds, 
 and on the marshy soil with either trees or some sort of shrubbery. 
 Nor was tlie desolate aspect of the place a little augmented by a 
 number of untiiiished edifices at Greenleaf's Point, and on an eminence 
 a short distance from it, commenced by an individual whose name 
 they bore, but the state of whose funds compelled him to abandon 
 them not only unfinished, but in a ruinous condition. There appeared 
 to be but two really comfortable habitations in all respects within the 
 bounds of the citj-, one of \vhich belonged to Daniel Carroll, and 
 the other to Notley Young, who were the former proprietors of a 
 large portion of the land appropriated to the city, but who reserved 
 for their own accommodations ground suflicient for gardens and other 
 useful appurtenances. The roads in every direction were muddy and 
 unimproved. A sidewalk was attempited in one instance by a covering 
 formed of the chips of the stones which had been hewed for the Cap- 
 itol. It extended but a little wa}', and was of little value; for in dr}' 
 
94 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 weatlier the sharp fniginciits cut our shoes and in wet weather covered 
 them with mortar. In short, it was a 'new settlement.' 
 
 "Notwitlistunding tlie nnt'uvorable aspect which Washington pre- 
 sented on our arrival, I cannot suiRciently express my admiration of 
 its local position. From tlie Capitol you have a distant view of its 
 tine undulating surface, situated at the confluence of the Potomac and 
 its Eastern Branch, the wide expanse of that majestic river to the bend 
 at Mount Vernon, the cities of Alexandria and Georgetown, and the 
 cultivated fields and blue hills of Maryland and Virginia on either side 
 of the river, the whole constituting a prospect of surpassing beauty and 
 grandeur. The city lias also the inestimable advantage of delightful 
 water, in many instances from copious springs, and always attainable 
 b}' digging a moderate depth; to which may be added the singular fact 
 that such is the due admixture of clay and loam in the soil of a great 
 portion of the city, that a house may be built of brick made of the 
 earth dug from the cellars; lience it was not unusual to see the remains 
 of a brick kiln near the newly erected dwelling house or other edifice. 
 In short, when we consider not only these advantages, but what in a 
 national point of view is of supreme importance, the location on a fine 
 navigable river, accessible to the whole maritime frontiers of the United 
 States, and yet rendered easily defensible against foreign invasion, and 
 that by the facilities of internal navigation it may be approached 
 by the population of the Western States, and indeed of the whole 
 Nation, with less inconvenience than any conceivable situation, we 
 must acknowledge that its selection by Washington as the permanent 
 seat of the Federal Government affords a striking exhibition of the 
 discernment, wisdom, and forecast which characterized that illustrious 
 man. Under this impression, whenever, during the six years of m}' 
 counection with Congress, the question of removing the seat of gov- 
 ernment to some other place was agitated, — and the proposition was 
 frequently made, — I stood almost alone as a Northern nuin in giving 
 my vote in the negative." 
 
 In an article publislied in a newspaper, the Herald, in I'hiladel- 
 phia, under date of January 4, 1795, we find the following: 
 
 "To found a city in the center of the United States for the pur- 
 pose of making it the depository of the acts of the Union and the 
 sanctuary of the laws which must one day rule all North America, is 
 a grand and comprehensive idea, which has already become witii pro- 
 priety the object of public respect. In reflecting on the importance 
 of the Union, and on the advantages which it secures to all the 
 
PERMANENT CAPITAL SITE SELECTED. 95 
 
 inhabitants of tlie LTiiited States collectively, or to individuals, where 
 is there an American who does not see in the establishment of a 
 Federal town a national means for contirming forever that valuable 
 connection to which the Nation is indebted for liberation from the 
 British yoke? The Federal City, situated in the center of the United 
 States, is a temple erected to liberty; and toward this edifice will the 
 wishes and expectations of all true friends of their country be in- 
 cessantly directed. The city of Washington, considered under such 
 important points of view, could not be calculated on a small scale; its 
 extent, the disposition of its avenues and public squares, should all 
 correspond with the magnitude of the object for which it was in- 
 tended; and we need only cast our eyes upon the situation and plan 
 of the city to recognize in them the comprehensive genius of the 
 President, to whom the direction of the business has been committed 
 by Congress." 
 
 Within the limits of the territory so selected by the commissioners 
 were two tracts that had l^eeu laid oil" for towns into squares and 
 streets. They were called Carrollsburgh and Hamburgh. It does not 
 appear that there were any improvements of importance on these 
 projected town sites, except that, in the rates of fare prescribed by 
 the early laws of the corporation of Washington for the govern- 
 ment of hacks, such vehicles are allowed to charge for the conveyance 
 of passengers from Greenleaf's Point to Hamburgh wharf twenty-live 
 cents. Suffice it to say, that Hamburgh was in the western part of the 
 city, and was laid out in lots and streets in the latter part of 1771; and 
 that Carrollsburgh, which was in the eastern part of the city, on the 
 banks of the Anacostia and James Creek, was subdivided in the year 1770. 
 
 The commissioners seem to have been perfectly satisfied with the 
 survey made by them of the site selected for the permanent seat of 
 the Government. On the evening of the day when they, in company 
 with the President, rode over the district submitted to them, a meeting 
 was held for the purpose of effecting a friendly agreement between 
 the property holders in the new district and the United States com- 
 missioners. Washington's counsel on that occasion was of so great 
 eliect that the general features of an agreement were settled, and the 
 signatures of nineteen of the proprietors of the soil were appended to 
 it the next day. By this means it may be said the rights and titles to 
 property within the District and the city of Washington were deter- 
 mined, and the great fact of a permanent seat of government finally 
 settled. The agreement is in the language following: 
 
 " We, the subscribers, in consideration of the great benefits we 
 
96 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 expect to derive from having tlie Federal City laid off on our lands, do 
 hereby agree and bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, and administra- 
 tors, to convey in trust to the President of tiie United States, or 
 commissioners, or such persons as he shall appoint, by good and suf- 
 ticient deeds in fee simple, the whole of our respective lands wliicii 
 he may think proper to include within the lines of the Federal 
 City, for the purposes and on the conditions following: 
 
 "Tlie President shall have the sole power and directing of the 
 Federal City, to be laid off in what manner he pleases. He may 
 retain an\' nuniber of squares he may think piroper for public im- 
 provement, or other public uses, and the lots only which shall be 
 laid off shall be a joint property between the trustees on behalf of 
 the public and each present proprietor, and the same shall be fairly 
 and equally divided between the public and the individuals as soon 
 as may be after the city shall be laid off. 
 
 "For the streets the proprietors shall receive no compensation; but 
 for the squares, or lands in any form which shall be taken for public 
 buildings, or any kind of public improvements or uses, the proprietors 
 whose lands shall be so taken, shall receive at the rate of £25 per 
 acre, to be paid by the public. 
 
 "The whole wood on the lands shall be the property of tlie pro- 
 prietors; but should any be desired by the President to bo reserved 
 or left standing, the same shall be paid for by the public at a just 
 and reasonable valuation, exclusive of the £25 per acre to be paid 
 for the land on which the same shall remain. 
 
 "Each proprietor shall retain the full possession and use of his 
 land until the same shall be sold and occupied by the purchasers of 
 the lots laid out thereupon, and in all cases where the public arrange- 
 ments, as the streets, lots, etc., will admit of it, eacli proprietor shall 
 possess his buildings and other improvements, and graveyards, paying 
 to the public only one-half the present estimated value of the lands 
 on which the same shall be, or £12 lOit. per acre. But in cases where 
 the arrangements of the streets, lots, squares, etc., will not admit of 
 this, and it shall become necessary to remove the buildings, improve- 
 ments, etc., the proprietors of the same shall be [iai<l the reasonable 
 value by the public. 
 
 "Nothing in this agreement sliall affect the lots which any of the 
 proprietors, parties to this agreement, may hold in the towns of Car- 
 rollsburgb or Hamburgh. 
 
 "In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals 
 this 30th day of March, 1791." 
 
PE/?A/.^NE.Vr CAPITAL SITE SELECTED. 97 
 
 This agreement was signed by Robert Peter, David Burns, James 
 M. Lingan, Uriah Forrest, Benjamin Stoddert, Xotiey Young, Daniel 
 Carroll of Diiddington, Overton Carr, Thomas Beall of George, 
 Charles Beatty, Anthony Ilolmead, William Young, Edward Pierce, 
 Abraham Young, James Pierce, William Prout, Eliphas Douglas, John 
 Warring (the last two by their attorneys), and William King. 
 
 The Legislature of the State of Maryland, by an act dated Decem- 
 ber 19, 1791, ratified her cession of land to the United States for a 
 Federal District, and after reciting the boundaries as given above, and 
 stating that the territory has been called the "■ Territory of Colum- 
 bia," proceeds as follows: 
 
 "And whereas, Xotiey Young, Daniel Carroll, of Duddington, and 
 many others, proprietors of the greater part of the land hereinafter 
 mentioned to have been laid out into a city, came into an agreement 
 and have conveyed their lands in trust to Thomas Beall, son of George, 
 and John Mackall Gantt, whereby they have subjected their lands to 
 be laid out as a city, giving up part to the United States, and subject- 
 ing other parts to be sold to raise money as a donation, to be employed 
 according to the act of Congress for establishing the temporary and 
 permanent seat of government of the United States, under and upon 
 the terms and conditions contained in each of said deeds; and many 
 of the proprietors of lots in Carrollsburgh and Hamburgh having also 
 come into an agreement, subjecting their lots to be laid out anew, 
 giving up one-half of the quantity of their lots to be sold, and the 
 money thence arising to be applied as a donation aforesaid, and then 
 to be reinstated in one-half the quantity of their lots in the new 
 location, or otherwise compensated in lands in a different situation 
 within the city, by agreement between the commissioners and them; 
 and in case of disagreement, that then a just and full compensation 
 shall be made in money; yet some of the proprietors of lots in Car- 
 rollsburgh and Hamburgh, as well as some of the proprietors of other 
 lands, have not, from imbecility and other causes, come into any agree- 
 ment concerning their lands witiiin the limits hereafter mentioned, but 
 a very great proportion of tlie landholders having agreed on the same 
 terms, the President of the United States directed a city to be laid 
 out, comprehending all the land beginning on the east side of Rock 
 Creek, at a stone standing in tlie middle of the road leading from 
 Georgetown to Bladensburg; thence along the middle of the said road 
 to a stoue standing on the east side of Reedy Branch of Goose Creek; 
 thence southeasterly, making an angle of sixty-one degrees and twenty 
 minutes with the meridian, to a stone standing in the road leading 
 
98 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 from Bladensburg to the Eastern Branch ferry; thence south to a 
 stone eighty poles north of the east and west line already drawn from 
 the mouth of Goose Creek to the Eastern Branch; thence east parallel 
 to the said east and west line to the Eastern Branch; thence with the 
 waters of the Eastern Branch, and Potomac River, and Rock Creek 
 to the beginning, which has since been called the city of Washington; 
 "And whereas, It appears to this General Assembly highly just 
 and expedient that all the lands within said city should contribute, in 
 due proportion, in the means which have already very greatly enhanced 
 the value of the whole; and an incontrovertible title ought to be 
 made to tlie purchasers, under public sanction; that allowing foreigners 
 to hold land within said Territory will greatly contribute to the 
 improvement and population thereof; and that many temporai-y pro- 
 visions will be necessary till Congress exercises the jurisdiction and 
 government over the said Territory; and, whereas, in the cession of 
 this State heretofore made of territorj^ for the Government of the 
 United States, the line of such cession could not be particularly desig- 
 nated, and it being expedient and proper that the same should be 
 recognized in the acts of the State; 
 
 '■'■Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That all that 
 part of the said Territory, called Columbia, wiiicli lies within tlie limits 
 of this State shall be, and the same is hereby acknowledged to be, 
 forever ceded to the Congress and Government of the United States, in 
 full and absohite right and exclusive jurisdiction, as well of soil as of 
 persons residing or to reside thereon, pursuant to the tenor and effect 
 of the eighth section of the iirst article of the Constitution of the Gov- 
 ernment of the United States: Provided, that nothing herein contained 
 shall be construed to vest in the United States any right of property 
 in the soil so as to affect the rights of individuals therein, otherwise 
 than as the same shall or may be transferred by such individuals to 
 the United States: And prooided, also, that the jurisdiction of the laws 
 of the State over the persons and property of individuals residing 
 within the limits of the cession aforesaid shall not cease or determine 
 until Congress shall by law provide for the government thereof under 
 the jurisdiction in manner provided by the article of the Constitution 
 before recited." 
 
 May 9, 1791, John M. Gantt accepted the appointment of secretary 
 to the board of commissioners, to be paid according to the judgment 
 of the rresidcnt, and on June 30, the same year, William Deakins 
 was appointed treasurer. 
 
 On or about the 29th of June, 1791, the original proprietors of 
 
PERMANENT CAPITAL SITE SELECTED. 99 
 
 tlie greater part of tlie lands whicli now constitute tlie citj' of Wash- 
 ington made conve^'ance of them to trustees, to liokl for the purposes 
 of the Government. These trustees were Thomas Beall, of George, and 
 John M. Gantt. Bj the deeds tiie lands helonging to said proprietors 
 within the Federal Territory are conveyed, in consideration of five 
 shillings, to the trustees mentioned, to be by tliem taken and lield in 
 certain trusts in the deeds mentioned. These trusts are, that all such 
 lauds, or such parts thereof as may be tliougiit necessary or proper, 
 be laid out, together with otlier lands within the Federal City, with 
 such streets, squares, parcels, and lots as the President of the United 
 States for the time being shall approve, and by said trustees to be 
 conveyed to the commissioners appointed under the act of Congress 
 for establishing the temporarj- and permanent seat of the Government 
 of the United States, for the use of the United States forever, all the 
 streets and squares, parcels and lots, as the President shall deem 
 proper for that purpose, to belong forever to the said United States; 
 that, as to the residue of the said lots into which said lands shall 
 have been laid oti" and divided, a fair and equal division sliall be 
 made, to be agreed upon, or, if a fair division cannot be obtained 
 by agreement, then such residue sliall be divided by giving to the 
 owners of said lands every alternate lot. Having thus provided how 
 these lauds are to be divided between the proprietors of them and the 
 trustees on the part of the Government, provision is made for the 
 lands taken by the United States, and the disposition of the funds 
 arising from such sales; first, for the payment to the original propri- 
 etors at a fixed sum per acre for the lands taken for the use of the 
 United States, not including tlie streets and avenues, and next, to the 
 purpose and according to the act of Congress establishing the tem- 
 porary and permanent seat of government, such disposition to be 
 subject to such terms and conditions as shall be thought reasonable 
 by the President for regulating the materials, and buildings, and 
 improvements on the lots generally in the city, or in particular parts 
 thereof, for common convenience, safety, and order, such conditions to 
 be declared before any sale of said lots. 
 
 There were other provisions in the conveyance of tliese lands, with 
 respect to the trees and wood growing thereon, and to the portion 
 thereof occupied by the proprietors for their private residences and 
 graveyards, having reference always to the public use and convenience. 
 
 When President Washington returned from his famous tour of 
 one tliousand nine hundred miles through the South in his cream- 
 colored chariot, during the progress of whicli a part of the letters above 
 
100 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 quoted were written, he found awiiiting liim at Mount Vernon timt 
 skillful French engineer, Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant. He was an 
 educated soldier who had distinguished himself while serving as major 
 of engineers in the Revolutionary War, and had heeu selected to laj' 
 out the jilan of the new Federal City. Major L'Enfant was warmly 
 received by the President, and remained with him at Mount Vernon 
 nearly a week, during which time tliu plan of the city was completely 
 matured. Major L'Enfant's plan was very elaborate, and was fully 
 set forth upon a map finely executed. He followed the work of 
 Le Notre in Versailles, the seat of the French Government buildings. 
 His \ilau comprised broad transverse streets and avenues, numerous 
 open squares, circles, and triangular reservations and parks, all of 
 which were designed to be so drawn that from the intersection of an}- 
 two or more streets and avenues the horizon would be visible. The 
 locations of the public buildings were indicated, and everything was 
 designed upon a most spacious scale. 
 
 L'Enfant's design meeting with the approval of President Wash- 
 ington and Mr. Jefferson, it was formally adopted, and L'Enfant was 
 engaged to superintend its execution. He had as assistant a ^oung 
 Peunsylvauian named Andrew Ellicott, who, together with his brother, 
 had established the town of Ellicott's Mills in Maryland. He was re- 
 markably intelligent and a competent survej'or, and b}' him tiie streets 
 and squares were laid out. Before the erection of any building was 
 permitted, an accurate survey was made and properly recorded, and 
 to this survey all subsequent building operations liad to conform. 
 
 Mr. Jefferson, the Secretary of State under l^resident Washington, 
 took an active interest in the plan of the new city; and indeed in 
 everything that related to it. In a letter to a friend, that distinguished 
 statesman says: 
 
 ."I received last night from Major L'Enfant a request to furnish 
 him any plans of towns I could for his examination. I accordingly 
 send him by this post plans of Fraidcfort on the Main, Carlsruhe, 
 Amsterdam, Strasburg, Paris, Orleans, Bordeaux, Lyons, Montjielier, 
 Marseilles, Turin, and Milan, on large and accurate scales, which I 
 procured while in those towns respectively. They are none of them 
 comparable to the old Babylon, revived in Philadelphia and exem- 
 plitied. While in Europe, I selected about a dozen or two of the 
 handsomest parts of private buildings, of which I have the plates. 
 Perhaps it might decide the taste of the new town, were they to be 
 engraved and distributed gratis among the inhabitants of Georgetown. 
 The expense would be triiling." 
 
PERMANENT CAPITAL SITE SELECTED. 101 
 
 On April 30, 1791, President Washington, in his proclamation, 
 referred to the city of Washington as the "Federal City." The name 
 "City of Washington" was conferred npoii it in September, 1791, as 
 appears from the following letter from the commissioners of the Dis- 
 trict to Major L'Enfant: 
 
 "Georgetown, September 9,1791. 
 "Sir: We have agreed that the Federal District shall be called 
 'The Territory of Columbia,' and the Federal City the 'City of Wash- 
 ington.' The title of the map will therefore be, 'A Map of the City 
 of Washington in the Territory of Columbia.' 
 
 " We have also agreed tiiat the streets be named alphabetically 
 one way and numerically the other, the former to be divided into 
 north and south, and the latter into east and west numbers from the 
 Capitol. Major EUicott, with proper assistance, will immediately take, 
 and soon furnish you with, the soundings of the Eastern Branch, to 
 be inserted in the map. We expect he will also furnish you with 
 the proposed post road, which we wish to be noticed in the map. 
 "We are respectfully yours, 
 
 •'Thomas Johnson. 
 "David Stuart. 
 "Daniel Carroll." 
 
 The plan of the Capital City is most undoubtedly the result of 
 the talent, industry, and zealous interest of Major L'Enfant He was 
 evidentl}' a man of great accomplishments, and it is marvelous, now 
 that time has developed his grand plans, that he could have conceived 
 the erection of so magnificent a capital in what was then apparently 
 a hopeless wilderness. But Major L'Enfant seems to have been as 
 eccentric and impracticable in some respects as he was talented and 
 capable in others. These qualities soon made his intercourse with the 
 commissioners and others interested in the city unbearable, and his 
 connection with its plans and progress terminated abruptly in March, 
 1792, almost at the outset of his work. 
 
 General Washington wrote of him, January 17, 1792, that he might 
 be a useful man, if he could be brought to reduce himself within 
 those limits which the commissioners, under their responsibility, were 
 obliged to prescribe; but that at that time he did not appear to be 
 in that temper. "Perhaps," he said, "when Mr. Johnson shall arrive 
 here, he may be able to let him see that nothing will be required of him 
 but what is perfectly reconcilable to i-eason and to a degree of liberty 
 on his part." 
 
102 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 March 2, 1792, Mr. Jeftersoii, Secretary of State, wrote to tlie 
 commissioners: 
 
 "It l]aving Leeii found impracticable to employ Major L'Enfant 
 about the Federal City, in that degree of subordination wliich was 
 lawful and proi)er, he has been notified that his services are at an 
 en(L It is jiroper that he should receive the I'eward of his past serv- 
 ices, and the wish that lie sliould have no just cause of discontent 
 suggests that it should be liberal. The President thinks of 8f2,500 or 
 $3,000, but leaves the determination with j'ou. Ellicott is to go on 
 and finish laying oft" the plan of the ground and surveying and 
 plotting the district." 
 
 Major L'Enfant's dismissal caused apprehension in certain quarters 
 that he and his friends would use what influence they possessed to 
 injure the prospects of the new Capital, even Washington writing that 
 "the enemies of the enterprise will take advantage of the retirement 
 of L'Enfant to trumpet the whole as an abortion." But the Major 
 was loyal to the Government and to the city, and lived on the site 
 and in the vicinity the rest of his days. G. A. Townsend, in liis 
 "Washington Outside and Inside," says of him that "he several times 
 afterwards came under the notice of the E.xecuiive, and was a baffled 
 petitioner before Congress." However this may be, an act of Congress 
 was approved May 1, 1810, which was as follows: 
 
 "An Act for the Relief of V. C. L'Enfant: 
 
 "i?e it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
 United States of America, in Congress assembled. That the Secretary of 
 the Treasury be authorized and directed to pay P. C. L'Enfant, out 
 of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of 
 1666.66, with interest from the 1st day of Marcii, 1792, as a 
 compensation for his services in laying out the plan of the cit}- of 
 Washington." 
 
 At this late date and in the presence of the fruition of his great 
 l)lan, it is not difficult to draw a veil over the weaknesses and foibles 
 of this brilliant and enthusiastic Frenchman. He had manifested his 
 gallantry on the battlefields of the Revolution. IIo showed to the 
 world how great was his faith in the stability of our institutions and 
 the future progress of his adopted country in the plan he devised for 
 its future Capital, and his loyalty never flagged under the pressure of 
 what must have seemed to him ingratitude and neglect. Somewhere 
 in our beautiful city there will some day arise a proper monument to 
 the man who deserves so much at the hand of. every true American. 
 
PER.V.LVE.Vr CAPITAL SITE SELECTED. 103 
 
 During tlie year 1792, tlie coniinissiouers employed Andrew Ellicott 
 to survey the boundary lines of the Federal District, and on January' 
 1, 1793, he made the followiiii;- report of the survey to them: 
 
 "It is with singular satisfaction tliat I announce to you the com- 
 pletion of the survey of the four lines comprehending the Territory 
 of Columbia. These lines are opened and cleared forty feet wide; that 
 is, twenty feet on each side of the lines limiting the Territory; and in 
 order to perpetuate the work, I have set up square milestones, marked 
 progressively with the number of miles from the beginning on Jones's 
 Point to the west corner; thence from the west corner; thence from 
 the north corner to the east corner, and thence to the place of begin- 
 ning on Jones's Point, except as to a few cases wliere the miles 
 terminated on a declivity or in water; in such cases the stones are 
 placed ou the nearest tii-m ground, and their true distances in miles 
 and poles marked on them. On the sides facing the Territory is 
 inscribed, 'Jurisdiction of the United States'; on the opposite sides of 
 those placed in tlie State of Virginia is inscribed 'Virginia,' and of 
 those in the State of Maryland is inscribed 'Maryland.' On the fourth 
 side is inscribed the year and the present position of the magnetic 
 needle at the place. With this you will receive a map of the four 
 lines, with a half mile on each side, to which is added a survey of the 
 waters in the Territory and a plan of the city of Washington." 
 
 The rule of the District commissioners over the city of Washing- 
 ton came to a close by the abolishment of the board in 1802, and the 
 appointment of a superintendent. In the meantime, the Government 
 of the United States was removed to Washington, Congress first 
 convening there November 22, 1800, during the presidency of John 
 Adams. Legal jurisdiction over the District of Columbia was assumed 
 by Congress February 27, 1801, and the laws of Maryland and Virginia 
 were declared in force. The city of Washington was incorporated by 
 a Congressional enactment passed May 3, 1802, by which act the 
 appointment of the mayor was vested in the President of the United 
 States, and there were established two branches of the City Council, 
 the members of which were elected by the people on a general 
 ticket. 
 
 By this act the city of Washington was definitely established as 
 a city, and was clothed with powers of municipal government. Its 
 progress to this point had been slow, and attended with many and 
 very serious difficulties; so man}^, indeed, that nothing but the great 
 faith of the men who assisted in its foundation, in the future growth 
 and development of the country, would have insured success. These 
 
104 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 difficulties were to be found in einbarrassnieuts growing out of national 
 legislation, to obstacles tlirown in the way of the city's progress by 
 movements in Congress, and by tlie ceaseless opposition, in some 
 quarters, of the public press. In this account of these matters we 
 have principally to do with the difficulties presented by the persons 
 who were proprietors of the lands to be occupied, and we shall tind 
 that these, notwithstanding the early acquiescence of the proprietors 
 in the proposed plans, were in some instances of a serious character, 
 and were calculated to discourage, and, indeed, did for a while 
 dishearten, the commissioners who had the work in charge. 
 
 Almost immediately after the meeting at Georgetown, which 
 resulted in the agreement with the original i)roprietors of the lands 
 to be occupied by the Federal City, General Washington took stejis to 
 procure from the State authorities of Virginia the funds voted by 
 that State to aid in the erecting of the city. It appears from a letter 
 written by him as early as May 7, 1791, to the commissioners, that 
 difficulties were already obstructing the progress of tiiose gentlemen; 
 for he says, writing from Charleston: "I have received your letter 
 of the 13th of last month. It is an unfortunate circumstance in the 
 present stage of the business relating to the Federal City, that diffi- 
 culties unforeseen and unexpected should arise to darken, perhai)S to 
 destroy, the fair prospect which it presented when I left Georgetown, 
 and which the instrument then signed by the combined interest [as it 
 was termed] of Georgetown and Carroilsbnrgh so plainly describes. 
 The pain which this occurrence occasions me is the more sensibly felt, 
 as I had taken pleasure during my journey throughout the several 
 States to relate the agreement, and to speak of it on every occasion 
 in terms which applauded the conduct of the parties, as being alike 
 conducive to the public welfare and to the interests of individuals. 
 . . When the instrument was presented, I found no occasion to add 
 a word with respect to the boundary, because the whole was surren- 
 dered upon the conditions which were expressed. Had I discovered 
 a disposition in the subscribers to contract my views, I should then 
 have pointed out the inconveniences and impolicy of the measure. 
 Upon the whole, I shall hope and expect that the business will be 
 suftered to proceed, and the more so as they cannot be ignorant that 
 the further consideration of a certain measure in a neighboring State 
 [alluding to the paytnent of the funds voted by Virginia] stands 
 postponed; for what reason, is left to their own information and 
 conjecture." 
 
 lie alUules in this connection by name to Messrs. Young, Peter, 
 
PERM.IXEXT CAPITAL SITE SELECTED. 105 
 
 Lingaii, Forrest, and Stoddert as the discontented proprietors. How- 
 ever, it appears that after the difficulties had been overcome, negotiations 
 were effected with tolerable ease with all the proprietors except David 
 Burns. With liini the eonimissiouers failed to etfeet any arrangements 
 for the surrender of his property, and the President was told tliat he 
 alone could bring him to terms. The farm of Mr. Burns lay directly 
 south of where the President's House now stands, and extended east 
 as far as the Patent Office. It contained six hundred acres, and was 
 patented to William Langworthy by an instrument dated July 5, 1681. 
 
 Upon the failure of the commissioners, President Washington made 
 liis way to the Burns cottage, and causing Uncle David to sit down 
 on a rustic seat under a clump of trees, used all his }>owers of 
 persuasion to bring aljout a sale. But "obstinate Mr. Burns," as 
 President Washington often called him afterward, yielded not a jot. 
 Washington's eiibrts ajipear to have been repeated several times, and 
 upon one of these occasions, when Washington was trying to convince 
 him of the great advantage it would be to him, Uncle Davy testily 
 replied : 
 
 "I suppose you think that people here are going to take every 
 grist that comes from you as pure grain; but what would you have 
 been if 3'ou had not married the rich Widow Custis?" 
 
 At length, after frequent interviews, Washington lost Ids patience. 
 He gave Mr. Burns to understand tliat he had been authorized to 
 select the location of the National Capital, and said: "I have selected 
 your farm as a part of it, and the Government will take it; and I 
 trust you will, under the circumstances, enter into an amicable agree- 
 ment.'" 
 
 When the President asked again, "Upon what terms wilj you 
 surrender your plantation?" Mr. Burns replied, "Upon any terms that 
 your Excellency niay choose to name." 
 
 In the Xew York Daily Adcertiser, a newspaper of that day, under 
 date of February 24, 1789, appeared a communication from Baltimore, 
 which was as follows: 
 
 "There are already subscribed for the erecting of buildings in this 
 town for the use of Congress, twenty thousand pounds. Wiien we 
 reflect on the present state of population in the United States, nothing 
 can be more preposterous and absurd tlian the idea of fixing the seat 
 of Congress in a village, or the raising a new city in a wilderness for 
 their residence. Before we give in to such fancies, we should consider 
 whether we have such a surplus of people and trade as is necessary 
 for the erection and maintenance of a new city. If we have not, the 
 
106 lUSTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 new city must necessarily draw from our present towns their wealth, 
 trade, and ))eople to compose its greatness. I believe no considerate 
 man will venture to say that a new city can be established by any 
 other means than by attracting the wealth, trade, and inhabitants of 
 the old ones; or that it is consistent with the interests of the United 
 States to adopt a measure so pregnant with injury and desolation. The 
 contest for the seat of Congress will, therefore, and must necessarily, 
 be between New York and Baltimoi'e." 
 
 The following piece of doggei-el from one of the pajiers of the 
 ihiy exhibits the feeling which pervaded the many communications 
 with which the city papers were then Hooded, in relation to the 
 removal of the Government from New York, where the Council liad 
 gone to considerable expense in fitting up the City Hall for the recep- 
 tion of Congress. It stood in Wall Street, at the head of Broad, the 
 site of the present Custom House. 
 
 "THE WAITING-GIRL IN NEW YORK, TO HER FRIKND IN PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 "Well, Nanny, I'm sorry to say, since you writ us 
 The Congress and court liave determined to tjuit us. 
 And for us, my dear Nanny, we're much in a pet, 
 And hundreds of houses will be to be let. 
 Our streets, that were quite in a way to look clever, 
 Will now be neglected, and nasty as ever. 
 Again we must fret at the Dutchifled gutters. 
 And pebble-stone pavements, which wear out our trotters. 
 My master looks dull, and his spirits are sinking; 
 From morning till night he is smoking and thinking, 
 Laments the expense of destroying the fort. 
 Anil says your great people are all of a sort. 
 He hopes and he prays they may die in a stall, 
 If they leave us in debt for Federal Hall. 
 In fact, he would rather saw timber, or dig. 
 Than see them removing to Connogocheague, 
 Where the houses and kitchens are yet to be framed. 
 The trees to be felled, and the streets to be named." 
 
 It will be rememltered that General Washington himself, when 
 the insubordination and intolerable conduct of Major L'Eiifant had 
 rendered that officer's dismissal imperative, expressed his fears that 
 the friends of the discharged engineer would trumpet the whole 
 plan as an abortion, and do all they could to hinder the successful 
 completion of his design in regard to the Capital City. These were 
 only a few of the occurrences that combined to dampen the ardor 
 aud chill the enthusiasm of the men who had undertaken the work of 
 
PERMAXENT CAPITAL SITE SELECTED. 107 
 
 building up a great city in a fbrbidding wilderness. It was a gigantic 
 undertaking; and wlien we consider the circumstances that surrounded 
 the project, the conditions with respect to all the appliances that 
 entered into the successful erection of such a city at that early 
 day, while we are amazed at the conception of the idea, we are 
 more amazed at the spirit and energy which carried that idea into 
 practical effect. It must be remembered that two of the States, at 
 le;ist, had offered towns — one its State capital, with such concessions 
 as to jurisdiction as Congress might deem essential — as places in 
 which might be arranged the itermanent residence of the Government; 
 and it is reasonable to conclude, from what we know of the actions 
 of other States and cities, that no difficulty would have been encoun- 
 tered, had Congress manifested a desire in that direction, to have 
 found not onl}' a iit residence prepared to hand, but also commodious 
 and fitting buildings for the accommodation of the Federal offices. 
 But Congress feared most of all things the unbridled license of a 
 mob. A lesson had been taught by those mutinous soldiers at Phil- 
 adelphia, and by the timid, irresolute action of the authorities of that 
 city and the State of which it was a part, that could not be erased 
 from the minds of the men who had the affairs of the ISTation in their 
 hands. No argument, no persuasion, could induce them to subject 
 themselves again to that peril. These and other motives were so 
 controlling in their eliects that, turning a deaf ear to harsh criticism, 
 doleful predictions, and public ridicule, they persisted in their work, 
 and upon that beautiful lap of earth on the banks of the Potomac, in 
 the midst of forbidding swamps, country brooks, thriving cornfields, 
 and all the desolation we can imagine must have marked the spot in 
 those days, tliey iilanned the city, of which more need not be said 
 than that it is worthy of the name it bears. We who live to-day 
 cannot fail to have our pride as Americans amply gratitied as we 
 gaze on the beauty and grandeur of our country's Capital. Here has 
 Congress completed nearly a century of its deliberations, free from 
 interruption save only when a band of ruthless invaders destroyed 
 the public buildings, disturbed for a short time the peace of the com- 
 munity, and sent their own names down to posterity with a heritage 
 of unending disgrace. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 PIONEER LIFE. 
 
 The Early Settlers of the District of Columbiii — Daniel Carroll, of Duddington — David 
 Burns — Marcia Burns — Jolin P. Van Ness — Notley Young — Benjamin Oden — 
 Robert Peter — The Removal of the Government to Washington — Officers Wlio 
 Came Here at That Time — Samuel Meredith — Thomas Tudor Tucker — Joseph 
 Nourse — Richard Harrison — Peter Hagner — John Steele — Gabriel Duval — William 
 Simmons — Thomas Turner — Abraham Bradley, Jr. — Thomas Munroe — Roger C. 
 Weightman — Stephen L. Hallett — Dr. William Thornton — George Hadfleld — Ben- 
 jamin Henry Latrobe — Pierre Charles L'Enfant — Samuel Harrison Smith — Andrew 
 Ellicott — Benjamin Bannecker. 
 
 IN our last chapter, we have shown how the site upon which the 
 Capital City was to be erected was finally determined uiion, and 
 how the Government was established in what was to be its future resi- 
 dence. Before proceeding further in the history of the city, it appears 
 appropriate to dwell for a few moments upon the history of those men 
 who were the proprietors of the [)lantations selected for the proposed 
 site of the city. The entire area selected for this site of the seat of 
 government belonged apparently to a few proprietors — we mean the 
 entire area north of the Potoiuac; for, inasmuch as that portion in 
 Virginia which, for about half a century, belonged to the Federal 
 District was, in 184(3, ceded back to that State, it is not deemed 
 necessary' in this ccmnection to make special mention of the original 
 proprietors of the lands once included in the District south of the 
 Potonuic River. 
 
 First among the men owning the lands originall}' forming a part 
 of and still constituting the District of Columbia, was Daniel Carroll, of 
 Duddington. lie was a line specimen of the gentleman of the regime 
 — pure, patriotic, hospitable, and kind, lie was a delegate from Mary- 
 land to the Continental Congress from 1780 to 1784, being first elected 
 when only thii'ty years of age, and was a signer of the Articles of 
 Confederation, and also of the Constitution of the United States. 
 From 1789 to 17ill, he was a Representative in Congress from 
 Mai'yiand, and was appointed by General Washington one of the 
 commissioners for surveying and limiting the site of the Federal 
 District, and entered upon the duties of that office immediately upon 
 
PIONEER LIFE. 109 
 
 the expiration of bis term as Representative. lie was tlic owner of 
 a considerable tract of land within the limits of the territory selected 
 by General Washington for the 'Federal District, wliich was allotted 
 to him in the partition of a larger tract belonging to the historical 
 Carroll family, and known as Carroll Manor, lie resided npon liis 
 farm in a substantial, and for those days, elegant residence, llis 
 mansion is spoken of by those who were first among the officials of 
 tiie General Government to come to the new Capital from Philadelphia 
 as being really comfortable in all respects, surrounded by a garden 
 and other useful appurtenances. He was the owner of all that portion 
 of the District bordering upon the Anacostia or Eastern Branch of 
 the Potomac, and embracing within its limits the hill upon which the 
 Capitol building was subsequently erected, and stretching out to and 
 beyond the boundary of the city in an easterlj- direction. His posses- 
 sions included the town of Carrollsburgh, so named from a project 
 of forming a town in the neighborhood, but which project was of 
 course swallowed up in the far greater project of the establishment 
 of a city, which was to be at the same time the capital of a nation ; 
 though so far as our information goes, this town site was improved by 
 the erection thereon of some few dwelling houses. But if this state- 
 ment should hereafter be proved slightly incorrect, the fact will still 
 remain that the town itself was projected as early as 1770, and it is a 
 matter of record among the ancient land records of Prince George's 
 County, Maryland, that at that early day the town was subdivided into 
 village lots, and the owners of the town site were authorized by said 
 deeds to establish a town thereon, to be named Carrollsburgh, they 
 themselves being known as grantees of Duddington Manor and Dud- 
 dington Pasture. These grantees were Charles Carroll, Jr., Henry 
 Rozer, Daniel Carroll, and ISTotley Young. 
 
 The land of Daniel Carroll, of Duddington, was beautifully situ- 
 ated upon the high table land that skirted the low grounds between 
 Georgetown and the Anacostia. They included, as has been said, the 
 hill upon which the Capitol building was afterward erected, and were 
 evidently selected for the site of that building because they ofiered the 
 most eligible location for that purpose, and perhaps because they were 
 above the malarial influences of the marshy lands upon either bank 
 of the Tiber. The fact that the Capitol building has for its eastern 
 front its most imposing presentation, would seem to indicate that its 
 designers anticipated that the city would first extend in that direction. 
 In addition to this, the fact that the Anacostia or Eastern Branch was 
 a stream navigable for man}' miles of its course, and that upon this 
 
110 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 stream at that early da}- was selected a site for a navy yard and an 
 arsenal, both of which were expected to be of very considerable im- 
 portance in the future growth of the city, also points to the existence 
 of the same anticipation. 
 
 All these things combined to give to the lands of Daniel Carroll, 
 of Duddington, the very greatest importance in connection with the 
 future development of the city, and it is not singular that all these 
 circumstances combined should invest this tract of land with great 
 speculative value in the estimation of its proprietor. It is not to bo 
 wondered at, then, that this worthy gentleman, trusting to what he 
 considered the superiority of his lands over those of others, should 
 have placed so high a price upon them that parties seeking building 
 sites within the influence of the Federal Government were driven to 
 seek other portions of the city upon which to build. The result was, 
 that Mr, Carroll failed to make sales of his lands so beautifully 
 situated, and the city was driven away from his property, to seek a 
 permanent location on lands that were considered of little or of no 
 possible value, far away to the westward. This was Mr. Carroll's great 
 mistake; for the taxes levied upon his unimproved property involved 
 him in difliculties which he never entirely overcame. 
 
 Another of the original proprietors of the lands within the limits 
 of the Federal District was David Burns, to whom reference has been 
 made in the preceding chapter. So far as is known, he was a humble 
 Scotchman, who had inherited a considerable tract of land from his 
 ancestors, and who lived the life of a simple farmer, tilling the soil 
 for his daily bread, with the assistance of his slaves. Attaching to 
 him was little or nothing of the prestige which dignified his neighbor 
 of whom we have been speaking. He was evidently a man of but 
 little consideration at the time of the selection of this location for the 
 Federal District. However, he held on to his possessions with such 
 obstinacy as to yield only when he became convinced that the power 
 of the Government of the United States would be used to dispossess 
 him, unless he should voluntarily agree to part with them on reason- 
 able terms. His lands were very considerable in extent, embracing the 
 site of the President's House and, in fact, a very large portion of 
 the future Capital which lies nearest to Georgetown. The several 
 department buildings now stand on what was once David Burns's estate 
 or patrimony. They also included the grounds south of the President's 
 House, bordering on the Potomac and the Mall, as it afterward came 
 to be called. The southern border of the Burns i)lantation was south 
 of Tiber Creek and incluiled that stream, and it extended northward 
 
P/ONEER LIFE. Ill 
 
 beyond Pennsylvania Avenue. This became, within a short time, the 
 most important part of the city of Washington. Besides being a 
 planter and owning numerous slaves, David Burns was a justice of the 
 peace. He lived in a small cottage, wliich stood a little back from 
 the river, on the square now lying between Seventeenth and Eighteenth 
 streets. When President Washington came to select David Burns's 
 patrimony' for a portion of the seat of National Government, Mrs. 
 Burns had but recently died, and Mr. Burns was bringing up his two 
 children, a son and a daughter just approaching manhood and 
 womanhood. The young man was intended for the law, but bis 
 health failing, he died soon after his mother, leaving young Marcia 
 Burns the wealthiest as well as one of the most beautiful women in 
 the land. The precise period of the death of David Burns is not now 
 known, but it must have been in the early spring of 1802. Of the 
 many suitors for his daughter's hand was John P. Van Ness, then a 
 member of Congress from New York, a member of that aristocratic 
 family occupying the magnificent country seat of Lindenwald, subse- 
 quently owned by President Martin Van Buren, to whom she was 
 married on the 9th of May, 1802, shortly after her father's death, 
 which it is believed hastened her decision. 
 
 One of the first acts of General John P. Van Ness, as he after- 
 ward came to be known, after his marriage with the beautiful heiress 
 of David Burns, was to erect a most elegant mansion on or near the 
 site of the ancient cottage, paying therefor out of the sales of lands to 
 individuals and to the Nation. In its day, it was the most beautiful man- 
 sion in the United States, and was at the same time the most expensive 
 and the most hospitable. It was the first in which both hot and cold 
 water were carried to all the chambers. Its cost was $75,000. La- 
 trobe, the architect of the Capitol, drew the plans and superintended 
 its erection. Beneath its spacious basements are the largest and cool- 
 est wiue vaults in the country, and it was in these dark recesses that 
 it was rumored that it was the original intention of the conspirators 
 who assassinated President Lincoln to conceal him, had they succeeded 
 in their original plan of capturing him alive. Thus, for more reasons 
 than one, the memory of this elegant and hospitable mansion is indis- 
 solubly connected with the progress, preferment, and history of the 
 city of Washington. 
 
 It is matter of regret that we know so little of Notley Young, 
 whose lands embraced that portion of the city south and southeast of 
 those of David Burns. They bordered on the Potomac, extending 
 down to the point where the Potomac and Auacostia meet, otherwise 
 
112 HISTORY OF U'.ISHLYGTON. 
 
 known as Greenleaf's Point. All tliiit appears to be known of Mr. 
 Young is, that, at tiie time of tlie selection of his estate as a portion 
 of the Federal City, he lived in a handsome residence, surrounded by 
 the most elegant grounds in this I'cgion. This residence is referred to 
 by Mr. John Cotton Smith, one of the members of tlie first Congress 
 that assembled in Washington, as one of the most comfortable resi- 
 dences of the locality. Mr. Young, like Daniel Carroll, had some 
 difficulty with the autocratic and irascible Frenchman, Pierre Charles 
 L'Enfaut, arising out of the fact that his residence occupied one of 
 the streets of the cit}', as laid out by that great engineer. 
 
 Of the other original proprietors of the lands forming the Federal 
 District, Samuel Davidson, of whom we know but little, resided at 
 Georgetown. The lands belonging to him embraced that portion of 
 the city now lying between Ninth and Seventeenth streets north 
 of Pennsylvania Avenue — at this time the site of many magnificent 
 private residences. 
 
 About Benjamin Oden, whose property was bounded by what was 
 known as Goose Creek, a continuation of the Tiber, and embraced 
 the property upon which is now situated the Baltimore & (_)hio Kail- 
 road Depot, and several adjacent squares, we know almost nothing. 
 
 Conspicuous among the owners of property within the District 
 was Robert Peter, who resided in Georgetown, and who was one of 
 the men who offered to the Continental Congress the town of George- 
 town as the site for the Capital Cit}'. The lands belonging to him 
 embraced a large portion of that now beautiful quarter of the city 
 intersected by Massachusetts and Connecticut avenues, where are found 
 many of the finest modern residences. 
 
 It is unfortunate that we have so little information of a reliable 
 nature, and that is of interest to the general reader, concerning the 
 men who were the original proprietors of the lands from which the 
 District of Colnmbia'was selected. There were also a number of other 
 proprietors of whom we liave comparatively no knowledge. Their 
 holdings were, however, comparatively small, and it is not deemed 
 essential to attempt any further account of them. 
 
 The fii'.<t <lnty imposed upon those who selected the site for a 
 Federal District was the preparation of it for the residence of the 
 Government. 'J'he legislation of Congress with reference to this mat- 
 ter required that such i)ublic buildings should be erected as were 
 necessary for the accommodation of Congress and the President, his 
 cabinet, and the other officers of the Government, and it was deter- 
 mined that the Government of the United States should occupy these 
 
PIONEER LIFE. 113 
 
 new buildings as early as June, 1800. At this time, John Adams was 
 President, John Marshall Secretary of State, Samuel Dexter Secre- 
 tary of War, Benjamin Stoddard Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 It is thouglit worthy of record as a part of this history that some 
 notice should he taken of those men who accompanied the Govern- 
 ment in its removal to the Federal City, many of whom afterward 
 became permanent citizens of the Capital, and whose descendents are 
 still inhabitants of that city. 
 
 Of these we proceed to give such an account as is now possible 
 from the biographical data they have left. 
 
 Samuel- Meredith was appointed by President Washington Treas- 
 urer of the United States at the organization of the Federal Govern- 
 ment, and held the ofHce until 1801, when he resigned. He was one 
 of the first to espouse the cause of the Revolution, distinguislied 
 himself at the battles of Trenton and Princeton, served in the Colonial 
 Legislature of Pennsylvania, and was a delegate to the Continental 
 Congress in 1787 and 1789. 
 
 Thomas Tudor Tucker was Treasurer of the United States from 
 1801 to the time of his death, in 1828. lie had formerly been a 
 delegate to the Continental Congress in 1787 and 1788, and was a 
 Representative from South Carolina in Congress in 1789 and 1793. 
 
 Joseph Nourse was the first Register of the Treasury of the United 
 States, and held that office from 1789 to 1829. He was born in 
 London, England, and emigrating to Virginia, entered the Revolu- 
 tionary army in 1770. He was clerk and auditor of the Board 
 of War from 1777 to 1781, when he was ajiiioiuted Assistant Auditor- 
 General. 
 
 Richard Harrison was First Auditor of the Treasur}^ from 1791 
 to 1836, a period of forty -five years, and died in Washington in 1841. 
 
 Peter Ilagner was the son of Valentine Uagner, who served with 
 credit in the War of the Revolution. He was graduated from the 
 University of Pennsylvania, and in 1792 received from President 
 Washington the appointment of accountant of war. He accompanied 
 the Government to the cit}' of Washington, and in 1817 was appointed 
 by President Monroe Third Auditor of the Treasury Department, which 
 position he continued to hold until the date of his death in 1850, under 
 every President from Monroe to Taylor. He erected for himself a 
 handsome residence in the city of Washington, and it is worthy of 
 note that at this daj- this residence is occupied by one of his sons, 
 who is a leading physician of tlie city, and that adjoining it are the 
 residences of two other sons, one a retired general officer of the army. 
 
114 HISTORY OF WASHrXGTON. 
 
 and the otlier one of tlie jiulgcs of tlie Snprenie Conrt of the District 
 of Colnmbiii. 
 
 John Steele was First Comptroller of the Treasury under Presidents 
 Washington and Adams, lie was a meml)er of Congress from 1790 
 to 1793, and was a commissioner to adjust tlie boundary between the 
 States of Nortli and South Carolina. He was elected to the Legislature 
 of jS'orth Carolina in 1814, and died on the day of his election. 
 
 Gabriel Duval succeeded Jolin Steele as First Comptroller of the 
 Treasury, and served in that capacity from 1802 to 1811. He was a 
 cioi'k of tlie Legislature of Maryland before the Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence, and was a member of Congress from 1794 to 170tJ. In 
 1811, he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of the United 
 States, and held that office twenty-four years. He died in Prince 
 George's County, Maryland, in 1844. 
 
 William Simmons was appointed accountant of the War Depart- 
 ment and came to tin.? city with the Government when it removed 
 here from Philadelphia. 
 
 Thomas Turner was appointed in 1800 accountant of the Navy 
 De[iartment, the office being subsequently known as the Fourth Andi- 
 torship. He continued its occupant until 1810. 
 
 Abraham Bradley, Jr., was appointed Assistant Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral in 1817, holding the office for about one ^-ear. His descendants 
 have continued citizens of the District to this time, and have, many 
 of them, held positions of importance and responsibility, always with 
 great credit. 
 
 Thomas Munroe came to Washington with the Government in 
 1800, and in 1802 was appointed Superintendent of the Public Build- 
 ings for the District of Columbia. He was appointed jiostmaster of 
 the city of Washington in 1799, and retained that office until removed 
 by President Jackson. He continued to reside in the city until his 
 death. He acquired considerable property, and was identified with 
 the progress of the city in every way in which he could be useful. 
 Members of his family still continue to reside in the city. 
 
 Roger C. Weightman was one of the early residents of Washing- 
 ton, l)ut was not connected in any way with the Government. He 
 held a prominent [)osition among the citizens of his adoi)ted cit}', 
 was Mayor ol' the city several terms, and was afterward cashier of 
 the Bank of Wasliington. During his entire life, which was quite 
 extended, he was held in the highest regard by citizens of all classes. 
 
 Altogether the most imjiortant incident connected with the estal)- 
 lishnient of the permanent residence of the Government at tiie Capital 
 
PIONEER TJFE. 115 
 
 City, was the erection of the buildings intended for the accommoda- 
 tion of the Federal officers. As earl}' as 1784, when the subject of the 
 selection of tlie site for the Government residence was under discussion 
 in the Continental Congress, a motion was niaile to select a parcel of 
 land u[)on the banks of the Delaware. This motion prevailed, hut 
 was never acted npon. By the terms of this motion commissioners 
 were selected whose duty it was to purchase the soil and enter into 
 negotiations for the erection and completion of elegant buildings for 
 the Federal House, a President's House, and houses for the Secretaries 
 of Foreign Affairs, of War, Marine, and Treasury; and that in devising 
 the situation of such buildings due i-egard should be had to the 
 accommodation of the States for the use of their delegates respectivel}'. 
 It will thus be apparent that the erection of these buildings was 
 considered at the outset a matter of great importance. When the 
 site upon the Potomac was finally decided upon, this same subject was 
 carefully considered, and steps were taken for the procurement of 
 plans for the Capitol and other public buildings. The men who were 
 principally engaged in the erection of these buildings are entitled to a 
 prominent place in the histor}- of the Capital City. That they were 
 remarkable men is shown by the stabilit}- and grandeur of the build- 
 ings erected under their guidance. Under all these circumstances it 
 will not be amiss if a few short sketches of the lives of these men 
 are here inserted. 
 
 Stephen L. Hallett was a cultivated French architect residing in 
 ^ew York City in 1792. In that j'ear the following advertisement 
 appeared in the princi[>al newspapers of the country: 
 
 "Washington, in the Territory of Columbia. 
 "A premium of a lot in this city, to be designated by impartial 
 judges, and $500, or a medal of that value, at the option of the party, 
 will be given by the Commissioners of the Federal Buildings to the 
 person who, before the 15th of July, 1792, shall produce to them the 
 most approved plan for a capitol, to be erected in this cit}'; and $250, 
 or a gold medal, for the plan deemed next in merit to the one they 
 shall adopt. The building to bu of brick, and to contain the following 
 apartments, to wit: A conference room and a room for the Repre- 
 sentatives, sufficient to accommodate three hundred persons each; a 
 lobby, or anteroom, to the latter; a Senate room of twelve liundred 
 square feet area; an antechamber; twelve rooms of six hundred square 
 feet each, for committee rooms and clerks' offices. It will be a rec- 
 ommendation of any plan if the central part of it may be detached and 
 
IIG HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 erected for the present with the appeariuice of a complete whole, and 
 be capable of admitting the additional parts in future, if they shall 
 be wanted. Drawings will be expected of the ground plots, elevations 
 of each front, and sections through the building in such directions as 
 may be necessary to explain the internal structure; and an estimate of 
 the cubic feet of brick work composing the whole mass of the walls." 
 
 Architect Ilallett offered a plan for a capitol building, and 
 singularly enough his principal contestant was an Englishman named 
 Dr. William Thornton, who, it is said, was a man of tine natural 
 abilities, but unskilled as an architect. On many accounts the plan 
 presented by Dr. Thornton was considered the best, and as may be 
 seen by reference to the chapter on Public Buildings, was in the 
 main adopted, although not without considerable moditications, these 
 modilications being in the direction of the plan submitted by 
 iMr. Ilallett. The result was that Mr. Hallett was made supervising 
 architect of the Capitol, but remained in office only a short time, 
 when he resigned. But little is known of Mr. Hallett beyond what 
 is here expressed. 
 
 George Iladfield succeeded Mr. Ilallett, and continued on the work 
 until 1798, when he resigned, having had as his associate a portion of 
 that time James Hoban, who in 1799 or 1800 finished the north wing 
 of the Capitol. Mr. Hoban, in response to an advertisement for plans 
 for the President's House, submitted the plans that were accepted by 
 the commissioners, and was the supervising architect in its construc- 
 tion. Mr. Hoban was an Irishman by birth, and a man of great 
 activity and vigor. He made the city of Washington liis home, and 
 some of his descendants are now living in the Capital. His son, James 
 Hoban, was a lawyer of considerable prominence, serving for some 
 years as attorney for the District of Columbia. 
 
 Benjamin Henry Latrobe, born in Yorkshire, England, May 1, 
 1764, succeeded Mr. Hoban as architect of the Capitol. He was 
 descended from Boneval de la Trobe, who emigrated from France to 
 Holland after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and who, while 
 in the service of the Prince of Orange, was several}' wounded in the 
 battle of the Boyne. Benjamin H. Latrobe, in 1785, entered the Prus- 
 sian army as a cornet of Hussars. Resigning his commission in 1788 
 and returning to England, he was made engineer of London in 1789. 
 Declining a crown surveyorship, he came to the United States, landing 
 at Norfolk, Virginia, May 20, 1796. In 1798, he removed to Phila- 
 delphia, where he designed the Bank of Pennsylvania, the old 
 
P/OA'EER LIFE. 117 
 
 Academy of Ai-t, and tlie Bank of tlie United States, besides otlier 
 buildings. He was the iirst to snppl}- water to Philadelpiiia, pumping 
 it by steam from the Schuylkill in 1800. He was appointed surveyor 
 of the public buildings in Washington by President Jeft'ersoii in 
 1803, following Thornton, HadHeld, and Hoban as architect of the 
 Capitol. He perfected Dr. Thornton's designs, and altered those for 
 the interior construction of the south wing of the Capitol, with the 
 approval of the President. 
 
 In the reconstruction of the north wing of the Capitol, Mr. 
 Latrobe planned the vestibule in whicli are six columns, each of 
 which is composed of cornstalks bound together, the joints forming 
 a spiral eft'ect, while the capitals are modeled from the ears of corn. 
 He also designed the tobacco-plant capitals of columns in the circular 
 colonnade in the north wing, and left drawings of a capital whose 
 ornamentation is designed for the cotton plant. In 1812, he became 
 interested with Robert Fulton in the introduction of steamboats on 
 the Western rivers, and built the Buffalo, at Pittsburg, the fourth 
 steamboat to descend the Ohio River. While at work on this 
 boat, Mr. Latrobe was called to Washington to repair the Capitol 
 after its partial destruction by the British in 1814. Resigning his 
 position at the Capital, he was succeeded by Charles Bullfincli, who 
 executed his predecessor's designs of ciianging the oblong hall of the 
 old Capitol into a semi-circular form. At the time of his death, Sep- 
 tember 3, 1820, he was engaged in erecting waterworks to supply 
 water to New Orleans. 
 
 It happened very fortunately, when Congress had finall}-, after 
 years of struggle, determined to venture upon the experiment of 
 erecting a capital city in the wilderness upon the banks of the Poto- 
 mac, that such an engineer as Pierre Charles L'Enfant was found. He 
 was unquestionably at that time the iirst engineer and architect of 
 any consequence in the United States. His genius was equal to the 
 occasion. He had already distinguished himself by the work he had 
 performed in transforming an old public building in the city of New 
 York into a Federal Hall, in which Congress held its sessions with 
 great comfort and convenience; and he had made manifest his taste 
 and patriotism by completing a design for the insignia of the Society 
 of the Cincinnati. In addition to this, he had planned a house for 
 Robert Morris, the great financier of the Revolution, which was not 
 completed at that time. It was the first instance ever seen on the 
 Western Continent of the mansard roof, which a century afterward 
 was so generally used. 
 
118 /f/sroRY OF n:is///xGroN. 
 
 Gonenil WasliiiigtDii did not hesitate to jilace in tiic hands of 
 L'Enfaiit the execution of the great design of a Federal City for the 
 Government's official residence. Time has shown how wise the iirst 
 President was in this respect, as in all things else he did in relation 
 to our national existence. For years people ridiculed the extravagant 
 [ilan of the erratic Frenchman. Xot only our own citizens liut also 
 visitors fioni other lands laughed at the iilea of "squares in morasses, 
 obelisks in trees," and every American felt moi-titied when taunted 
 with the charge that the Capital of his Xation was a city of only 
 "magnificent distances." It took no little of the bravery of genius to 
 plan amid the swamps and creeks of the lands lying between the 
 Potomac and Anacostia, in those early days, a city that time was to 
 develo[i into the model capital of the world. And yet such is the 
 result. L'Enfant did not hesitate to enter upon the duty to which 
 he had been assigned, and it is remarkable that from the first his 
 design was to plan a city, not for the day in which he lived, nor for 
 the population of a country such as that of the new liej)ublic then 
 promised to be, but a capital for all time, a nation of more millions 
 than the population of any country in the world of that day numbered. 
 Writing about this matter years afterward, one says: "Although 
 the site of Washington looked very engaging to the eye of the 
 traveler from the opposite hill, who imagined that its flatness would 
 dispense with costly grades and engineering, yet it was in reality 
 a mere gully, — the alluvial overflow from the liills of Maryland 
 brought down by the heavy rainfall and creeks. Much of it was 
 swamp, and the engineers were persecuted with insects and malaria, 
 with mud and extortion, with foolish questions and more insolent 
 criticisms." 
 
 L"Enfant was assisted by Ellicott, a surveyor; the negro abuanac 
 maker, Bannecker; and Roberdieu, a young Frenchnuin full of imiiet- 
 uosity and reckless of what he said. Many men regarded the great 
 engineer as a mere suliordiuate, working out the plans of the commis- 
 sioners in cliarge of the Federal Territoiw, and sought to influence him 
 as such, to the end that they might accomplish their own views of 
 profit and self-aggrandizement. The men of those days were like their 
 sons of to-day, and it is not surprising, therefore, that the conscien- 
 tious Frenchman who I'efnsed to expose his plans for the benefit of 
 those who wished to tiiid out where to jiurchase lots with the greatest 
 assurance of ju'oiil, was made the suhject of unfair criticism, and was 
 finally discharged from his oflice. 
 
 Jjittle is known of li'Kufant alter his retirement from the office 
 
PIONEER LIFE. 119 
 
 of engineer of the plan of Washington. President Monroe ottered him 
 the place of professoi" at West I*oint, hnt he did not accept the ofter. 
 He was afterward selected to [irepare a design for, and to snperintend 
 the erection of, Fort Washington, on the Potomac, in the neighborhood 
 of Mount Vernon. It seems, however, that his old spirit of impatience 
 and insubordination followed him into this work, and he was soon 
 mustered out of service. From this time, through several years of 
 comparative obscurity and seeming neglect, we trace him to the home 
 of a gentleman named William Dudley Digges, in the neighborhood 
 of Washington, known as Green Hill, and for many years the country 
 residence of Mr. George Riggs, the banker. Here he spent the even- 
 ing of his days, amusing himself with books and designs that were 
 confined to the arrangement of the flower garden of his tract. In 
 1825, he died, and was buried on the grounds near his last residence. 
 His grave is not marked by a memorial of any kind; indeed, it is 
 doubtful if its exact site can l)e ascertained. And this is all that 
 is known of a nuui who, at some fnture day, will be the subject of a 
 public statue in one of the squares of the magniticent city the plan of 
 which is now recognized as the offspring of his genius. 
 
 Samuel Harrison Smith was the son of Jonathan Bayard Smith, 
 of Philadelphia, a distingnished Revolutionary i)atriot. During the 
 greater part of that war he filled with honor and reputation the 
 responsible trust of a member of the Committee of Safety. Samuel 
 H. Smith was born in 1772. In 1796, he opened a printing office on 
 Chestnut Street, I'hiladelpiiia, between the western corner of Carpen- 
 ter Street and Fourth Street, from which he issued, in August and 
 September of that year, a newspaper twice a day, morning and 
 evening, under the name t)f the Neic World. This enterprise was in 
 all probability original with him, antl never afterward imitated by 
 anyone. It was not long before he discovered that zeal and talent 
 were not the only prerequisites to success in the newspaper business, 
 and learning from his experience that the people did not wish to 
 receive a paper more than once a day, he changed his paper to a 
 daily, the first number of which a^ipeared October 24, 1790, and was 
 marked No. 122 in the series. A few months further experiment 
 indnced him to abandon the daily paper, there being realh^ but little 
 demaufj for a fifth daily paper in Philadelphia at that time. 
 
 Another paper, however, began to be called for by the [lart^- then 
 springing into consequence in Congress and the country under the 
 leadership of Mr. Jetterson, Vice-President of the United States. This 
 new party was known by the name of the Republican Party, and the 
 
120 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 piiper (leniuiiilLMl \v:is ;i \vui;kly, tliat it miglit lie tit for distribution 
 tiirougli tlie mails, whiuli at tliat time were, as a general thing, trans- 
 mitted but onee a weelv. Mr. Smith was urged to undertake tliis new 
 enterprise. There was tlien published in Philadelphia a paper by 
 Joseph Gales, purchased by him about a year before from Colonel 
 John Oswald, a Revolutionary hero, the name of the paper being the 
 Independent Gazetteer. Mr. Smith bought this paper and changed its 
 name to the Universal Gazette, and issued the tirst number of it under 
 this new name November 16, 1797. lie continued to j)ublish it 
 weekly until he relinquislied the pi-inting business in Philadelphia. 
 
 Upon the removal of the Capital of the United States to Wash- 
 ington, in 1800, Mr. Smith also removed to Washington, and began 
 the publication of a tri-weekly paper named the National Intelligencer, 
 the first number of whicli was issued October 31, 1800. From the 
 tirst, this paper received the support of the leading men of its own 
 side of politics. It sustained Mr. Jefierson's administration, and was 
 sustained by him in return, as was also the case with the administra- 
 tion of Mr. Madison. Mr. Smith, however, having partially engaged 
 in rural pursuits, longed to devote his life to those labors which 
 were more of a literary and philosophical nature, and hence, in Sep- 
 tember, 1810, he sold the Intelligencer to Joseph Gales, Jr., who had 
 been connected with it about three years. 
 
 Mr. Smith, therefore, at the age of thirty-eight years, was a retired 
 gentleman, having a farm of about two hundred acres, upon which 
 was a delightful "country scat," and he also had a comfortable compe- 
 tency in money. lie now became exclusively devoted to the rearing 
 and education of his children, to the cares of a farm and garden, and 
 to the pursuit of deferred studies with a view to certain literary enter- 
 prises. But these literary undertakings were never fully carried out, 
 because of the persistent intervention of other duties. In 1813, he 
 accepted from President Madison the responsible office of Commis- 
 sioner of the Revenue, and performed its duties, until it was abolished, 
 with scrupulous exactness and faithfulness. He then boranic president 
 of the Bank of Washington, and still later, president of the Branch 
 Bank of the United States, located in Washington. He was for many 
 years a member of the corporate body of the city of Washington, and 
 for a time president of one of the branches of the Council. He was 
 for a long time registrar for the c(uinty of Washington and a member 
 of its levy court. lie was influential in the establishment of the 
 public sciiools o[' the city and of the Washington City Library, and 
 for many years previous to his death he was one of the vice-presi- 
 
PIONEER LIFE. 121 
 
 dents of the American Colonization Society. He was an active member 
 and treasurer of the Washington National Moiuiment Society. 
 
 The distinguished characteristics of Mr. Smith were his public 
 spirit and his personal independence, and all through his life he lived 
 with the blameless simplicity and purity' of a philosoplier. His death 
 occurred November 18, 1845. 
 
 Andrew Ellicott was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Jan- 
 uary 24, 1754; was a civil engineer; founded Ellicott's Mills, in 
 Maryland; was a personal friend of Franklin and Washington; in 
 1790, was appointed by the General Government to survey and lay 
 out the site of the cit}- of Washington; in 1792, was appointed Sur- 
 ve^'or-General of the United States; and in 1812, became a professor 
 of mathematics at West Point, where he died August 29, 1820. 
 
 Benjamin Bannecker, the mulatto mathematician and astronomer, 
 assisted Ellicott in his survey. He was born in 1751, and died in 
 1804. The Maryland Historical Society has published a sketch of his 
 life. Condorcet, secretary of the French Academy of Sciences, wrote 
 him a complimentary letter concerning his almanac, which had been 
 sent him by President Jefferson. One of the public school buildings 
 in Washington is named after him, the Bannecker School. 
 
CHAI'TER VI. 
 
 MUNICIPAL. 
 
 Tlie JMunii'ipal Government of the Citj' of \Vashini;ton —The Acts of Manlaml ami 
 Virginia Ceding Territory — The Connection of the Location of the Capital with 
 the State Debt Question — Thomas Jefferson Quoted — The Amended Act Relating 
 to the District — President Washington's Letters and Proclamations — The First 
 Commissioners — The Setting of the Corner Stone of the District — Difficulties with 
 the Proprietors — The Agreement with Them — Major L'Enfant's Instructions — His 
 Agreement with John Gibson — He Demolishes Daniel Carroll's House — His Course 
 Approved by a Portion of the Proprietors — The First Commissioners in Full — The 
 First Charter of Washington — The First Election under It — Subsequent Elections 
 
 — Incidents in the Political History of the City— The Charter of 1820 — The 
 Mayors of the City — Congressional Legislation as AfTecting the District — Indig- 
 nation of the Citizens — Congress Comes Near Abolishing Slavery in Washington 
 
 — Election Riots in 1857 — Know-Nothingism — Mayor Berrett Arrested — Richard 
 Wallach Becomes Mayor — M. G. Emery Elected Mayor — The Territorial Govern- 
 ment — Alexander R. Shepherd's Work — The Government by Commissioners — The 
 Police Department — Soldiers on the i'orce — The Water Department and Great 
 Aqueduct — The Fire Department — The City Post Office. 
 
 THE history of the government of the city of Wasliiiigton may 
 well begin with tlie history of the formation of tlie District of 
 Cohimbia. The formation of tlie District was providetl for in tlie 
 cession by the States of Maryland aiul Virginia of portions of their 
 territory lying north and south respectively of the Potomac River, 
 sufficient to constitute a tract of land ten miles square. The act of 
 Maryland, passed December 23, 1788, was as follows: 
 
 "An Act to Cede to Congress a District of Ten Miles Square in this 
 State for tlie Seat of Government of the United States: 
 
 "iJc it enacted hij the General Assembly of iflarylatnl, That the Rep- 
 resentatives of tills State in the House of Representatives of the United 
 States appointed to assemble at New York on the first Wednesday of 
 March next, be and tliey are hereby autliorized, on the bclialf of this 
 State, to cede to Congress of the United States any district in this 
 State not exceeding ten miles square whicli the Congress may fix 
 upon for the seat of government of the United States." 
 
MUNICIPAL. 123 
 
 Tlie Virginia cession act was as follows: 
 
 " Whereas, Tlie equal and common benefit resulting from the 
 administration of the General Government will be best difi'used, and 
 its operations become more prompt and certain, by establishing such 
 a situation for the site of the seat of government as will be the most 
 central and convenient to the citizens of the United States at large, 
 having regard as well to the population, extent, territory, and the 
 free navigation to the Atlantic Ocean through the Chesapeake Bay, as 
 to the most direct and read}' communication with our fellow citizens 
 on the western frontier; and 
 
 "Whereas, It appears to this Assembly that a situation combining 
 all these considerations and advantages before recited may be had on 
 the banks of the Potomac, above tide water, in a country rich and 
 fertile in soil, healthy and salubrious in climate, and abounding in all 
 the necessities and conveniences of life; where, in a location of ten 
 miles square, if the wisdom of Congress shall so direct, the States of 
 Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia may participate in such location; 
 
 '■'■Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly, That a tract of 
 country not to exceed ten miles square, or an\' lesser quantity, to be 
 located within the limits of this State, and in any part thereof, as Con- 
 gress may by law direct, shall be and the same is hereby forever ceded 
 and relinquished to the Congress and Government of the United States, 
 in full and absolute right and jurisdiction, as well of soil as of persons 
 residing therein, pursuant to the tenor and effect of the eighth section 
 of the first article of the Constitution of the Government of the 
 United States: Provided, that nothing herein contained shall be con- 
 strued to vest in the United States any right of property in the soil, 
 or to affect the rights of individuals therein, otherwise than the same 
 shall or may be transferred by such individuals to the United States: 
 And provided, also, that the jurisdiction of the laws of this Common- 
 wealth over the persons and property of individuals residing within 
 the limits of the cession aforesaid shall not cease or determine until 
 Congress, having accepted the said cession, shall by law provide for 
 the government thereof under their jurisdiction in the manner pro- 
 vided by the article of the Constitution before recited." 
 
 The selection of a location for the seat of government was dis- 
 cussed in the convention held in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the 
 Federal system of government, but it was not then decided. But at 
 the second session of the First Congress, held in New York in the 
 summer of 1790, an act was passed (recited in Chapter III.) which 
 finally decided its location. The discussion was, as has been in that 
 
124 HISTORY OF ir.is///.vr;r()X. 
 
 ilKqitor cluiirly indicated, long and earnest. New York, Pliiladelpliia, 
 Baltiinoro, Trenton, llarrisburg, and otiier places pressed tlieir claims 
 upon Congress to be made the Capital Cit}' of the new Nation. For 
 a time it seemed as it' no selection was possible. Maryland and 
 Virginia, as may be seen by reading the acts of those States recited 
 above, by ceding territory to the United States, had each done its 
 part toward a solution of the question; but at length, in much the 
 same manner that legislation is effected even down to the present day, 
 a compromise was ari'ived at in the passage of the act of Congress 
 above mentioned. This act was introduced first into the Senate, and 
 pas.sed by that body, June 1, 171)0, by the following vote: 
 
 Yeas — Bassett, liiitJer, Charles Carroll, Elmer, Gunn, Hawkins, 
 Henry, Johnston, Langdon, Lee, Maclaj', Morris, Read, and Walker— 14. 
 
 Nays — Dalton, Ellsworth, Few, Foster, Johnson, Izard, King, Pat- 
 terson, Schuyler, Stanton, Strong, and Wingate — 12. 
 
 The history of the struggle in the House of Representatives has 
 been presented in Chaiiter III. 
 
 If the interior history of the passage of this act could be accurately 
 and fully ascertained, it would doubtless be much more interesting and 
 instructive than anything that can now be- written upon tlie subject. 
 However, enough is known to establish the fact (jf a compromise 
 between the friends of this measure and the friends of another 
 measure which was radically diiierent in everj- way from this one. 
 The other measure was one favoring the assumption of the debts 
 incurred by the respective States in establishing the independence of 
 the United States. With reference to this assumption, Mr. Madison, 
 then a mcml)cr of the House, wrote on the 13th of April, 17f)0, as 
 follows: "The last vote was taken yesterday, and it passed in the 
 negative by ol against 29. The minority do not aljandon hope, 
 however; and 't is impossible to foretell the final destiny of the 
 measure. Massachusetts and South Carolina, with tlieir allies from 
 Connecticut and New York, are too zealous to be arrested in their 
 project unless by thi' force of an adverse majority." 
 
 Ma}' 24, 1790, while the debate upon the public debt was in 
 progress in the House of Representatives, Mr. (icrry, of Massachu- 
 setts, moved to insert a clause providing for the assumption of the 
 State debts b}' the United States, thus bringing the subject again 
 before that body, which led to considerable earnest debate, by Mr. 
 Sherman, Mr. Boudinot, Mr. Ames, and Mr. Madison. Mr. Madison, 
 with most of the Southern members, was opposed to the proposed 
 assumption, as they were generally favorable to the location of the 
 
Ml'NrCIPAL. 125 
 
 Federal District on tlie Potoniac, "in tlie woods at the Indian town 
 of Connogoclieaguo," as it was expressed by some of tliose favoring 
 a more northern location. .Tnnc 22, 1790, Mr. Madison wrote to 
 Edmund Kanilolpii: "We are endeavoring to keep tlie pretensions 
 of the Potomac in view, and to give to all the circumstances that 
 occur a turn favorable to it. If any arrangement should be made 
 that will answer our wishes, it will be the eti'ect of a coincidence of 
 causes as fortuitous as it will be propitious." 
 
 It is, from this extract, evident that there was but little h()[)e 
 existing then for the success of the Potomac site. But the fortuitous 
 coincidence of causes, wliicli was Mr. Madison's only liope, did in a 
 short time afterward occur. How it occurred, is related in a most 
 interesting manner by Mr. Jefferson in the ninth volume of ins works, 
 commencing on page 93. Mr. Jefferson says: 
 
 "This measure [the assumption of the State debts] produced the 
 most bittei' and angry contest ever known in Congress before or since 
 the union of the States. I arrived in the midst of it [from his mission 
 in Paris]. But a stranger to the ground, a stranger to the actors on it, 
 so long absent as to have lost all familiarity with the subject, and as 
 yet unaware of its objects, I took no concern in it. The great and 
 trying question however was lost in the House of Representatives. 
 So higii were the feuds excited by the subject that on its rejection 
 business was suspended. Congress met and adjourned from da}^ to day 
 without doing anything, the parties being too much out of temper to 
 do business together. The Eastern members particularl}', who, with 
 Smith, of South Carolina, were the }irincipal gamblers in tliese scenes, 
 threatened a secession and a disunion. Hamilton was in despair. As 
 I was going to the President's House, one day I met him in the 
 street. He walked me backwards and forwards before the President's 
 door for half an hour. He painted pathetically the temper in which 
 the legislators had been wrought; the danger of the secession of their 
 members, and the separation of the States. He observed that the 
 members of the administration ought to act in concert; tiiat the Presi- 
 dent was the center on which all administrations ultimately rested, and 
 that all of us should rally around him and support with joint efforts 
 measures approved by him, and that the question having been lost by 
 a small majority only, it was probable that an appeal from me to the 
 judgment and discretion of some of my friends might eliect a change 
 in the votes, and the machinery of the Government, now suspended, 
 might be again set in motion. 
 
 "I told him that I was really a stranger to the whole subject; that 
 
126 H/STORY OF WASH/.XGTOX. 
 
 not yet having informed myseif of the system of Unaiice adopted, I 
 knew not how fur this was a necessary sequence; tliat undoubtedly, if 
 a rejection tlireatened a dissolution of our Union at this incipient 
 stage, I sliould deem that the most unfortunate of all consequences, to 
 avert which all partial and temjjorary evils should be yielded. I 
 proposed to him, iiowevei', to dine with me next day, and I would 
 invite anotlicr friend or two, bringing them into conference together; 
 and I tliought it impossible that reasonable men, consulting togetlier 
 fully, could fail, by some mutual saeriiices of opinion, to form a 
 compromise which would save the Union. The discussion took place. 
 I could take no part in it save an exhortatory one, because I was a 
 stranger to the circumstances wliich should govern it. But it was 
 finally agreed that whatever importance had been attached to the 
 rejection of this proposition, the preservation of the Union and ot 
 concord among the States was more important, and that therefore it 
 would be better tliat the vote of rejection should be reconsidered, to 
 eiiect which some members should change their votes. But it was 
 observed that this pill would be exceeding bitter to the Southern 
 States, and that some concomitant measure should be adopted to 
 sweeten it a little to them. There had before been propositions to lix 
 the seat of government either at Philadelphia or at Georgetown, and 
 it was thought that by giving it to Philadelphia for ten years and to 
 Georgetown permanently afterwards, this might act as an anodyne, 
 and calm in some degree tlie ferment which might be excited by the 
 other measure alone. So two of the Potomac members (White and 
 Lee, but White with a revulsion of stomach almost convulsive) agreed 
 to change their votes; and Hamilton undertook to carry the other 
 point. 
 
 "In doing this, the influence he had established over the Eastern 
 members, with the agency of Robert Morris with those of the Middle 
 States, effected his side of the engagement, and so assumption was 
 passed, and twenty millions of stock divided among favored States, 
 and thrown in as a pabulum to the stock-jobbing herd. This added to 
 the number of votaries to the treasury, and made its chief the master 
 of every vote in the legislature which might give to the Government 
 the direction suited to his political views." 
 
 The debate on tiie assumption of the debts of the States was long 
 and earnest, frequently "bitter," as Mr. Jetfereon says; but it is evident 
 that it is unnecessary to give a summary or further description of it 
 in tliis connection, except to say that the proposition to assume was 
 as strongly supported b}' lion. Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts, as it 
 
MUNrCIPAL. 127 
 
 was by Mr. Smith, of Sontli Carolina; and tiiat according to these 
 gentlemen's opinion it was a duty the General Government owed to 
 the States, because these debts had been assumed by the States at the 
 request of the General Government when that Government could not 
 meet its obligations. Upon such representations as these the bill for 
 the assumption passed the House of Representatives August 4, 1790, 
 three weeks and five days after the passage of the bill locating the 
 seat of government on the Potomac River. 
 
 The act of Congress, as tirst passed, directed that the district of ten 
 miles square should be located "on the River Potomac, at some place 
 between the mouths of the Eastern Branch and Connogocheague." 
 President Washington, not being fully satisfied with the limitations 
 prescribed by this act, in his proclamation of January 24, 1791, 
 provided for the location of a part only of the district, in the fol- 
 lowing language: "I do hereby declare and make known that 
 the location of one part of said district of ten miles square shall be 
 found by running four lines of experiment in the following manner:" 
 etc., trusting to Congress to grant him the authority to locate a part 
 of the district below the mouth of the Eastern Branch. President 
 Washington preferred the location as it was at length determined 
 upon, because it was the most suitable for the public buildings, and 
 Congress, perceiving the propriety of his suggestions, passed an amend- 
 atory act, March 3, 1791, which enacted "that it shall be lawful for 
 the President to make any part of the territory below the said limit 
 and above the mouth of Hunting Creek a part of the said district, so 
 as to include a convenient part of the Eastern Branch, and the lands 
 lying on the lower side thereof, and also the town of Alexandria." 
 Then, on March 30, 1791, the President issued his proclamation for 
 the purpose of amending and completing the location of the whole 
 of the said territory of ten miles square, in conformity with the said 
 supplemental act, in which he recited all of the previously related 
 official matters connected with the project of locating the Federal 
 District, and then went on to say: 
 
 "Now, therefore, for the purpose of amending and completing 
 the location of the whole of said territory of ten miles square, in con- 
 formity with the said amendatory act of Congress, I do hereby declare 
 and make known that the whole of said territory shall be located and 
 included within the following lines: that is to say, — 
 
 "Beginning at Jones's Point, being the upper cape of Hunting 
 Creek, in Virginia, and at an angle in the outside of fort^'-five degrees 
 west of north, and running in a direct line ten miles from the first 
 
128 HISTORY OF IV.ASH/yGTO.Y. 
 
 line; then beginning iigain at the same Jones's Point, and running 
 another direct line, at a right angle from the lirst, across the Potomac 
 ten miles for the second line; then, from the determinations of the 
 tirst and second lines, running two other direct lines of ten miles each, 
 the one crossing the Eastern Branch aforesaid, and the other the 
 Potomac, and meeting each other in a point. 
 
 "And I do, accordingly, direct the commissioners named under 
 the authority of the said first act of Congress, to proceed forthwith to 
 have the said four lines run, and by proper metes and bounds defined 
 and limited; and thereof to make due report under their hands and 
 seals; and the territory so to be located, defined, and limited, shall be 
 the whole territory accepted by the said act of Congress as the dis- 
 trict for the permanent seat of the Government of the United States." 
 
 April 3, 1791, President Washington wrote to the commissioners 
 from Mount Vernon with reference to the form of deed, etc., that 
 should be used in transferring the lots to the public, saying: 
 
 " As the instrument which was subscribed at Georgetown by the 
 landholders in tlie vicinity of that place and Carrollsburgh was not 
 given to me, I presume it was deposited with you. It is of the greatest 
 moment to close this business with the proprietors of the lands on 
 which the Federal City is to be, that arrangements may be made 
 without more delay than can be avoided. 
 
 "To accomplish this matter so that the sales of the lots around 
 the public buildings, etc., may commence with as much facility as the 
 nature of the case will admit, would be, I conceive, advisable under 
 any circumstances. Perhaps the friends of the measure may think it 
 materially so from the following extract of a letter from Mr. Jetierson 
 to me, of the 27th ultimo: 
 
 "'A bill was yesterday ordered to bo brought into the House of 
 Representatives here for granting a sum of money for building a Fed- 
 eral Hall, house for the President, etc' 
 
 "This (though I do not want any sentiment of mine promulgated 
 with respect to it) marks unequivocally in my mind the designs of 
 the State, and the necessity of exertion to carry the residence law into 
 ett'ect agreeably thereto." 
 
 April 13, 1791, President Washington wrote: "It having been inti- 
 mated to me that the proprietors of Georgetown are desirous of being 
 comprehended within the limits of the Federal City, I see no objection 
 to the measure, provided the landholders adjoining to it, included within 
 the red lines of Messrs. Beatty & Orme's survey, referred to in the first 
 oti'cr from Georgetown, agree to cede to the public on the same terms 
 
MUNICIPAL. 129 
 
 with those under the last or combined agreement; and if those within 
 tlie blue lines are likewise desirous of being comprehended on the same 
 terms, it \\va\- be so, — the doing of which could only place them on the 
 same footing with the rest of the subscribers, at tlie same time that it 
 would render the plan more comprehensive, beneiicial, and promising, 
 drawing the center of the Federal City nearer to the present town. 
 
 " If this measure is seriously contemplated, the present is the tit 
 moment for carrying it into eifect; because in that case it will become 
 part of the original plan, and the old and new towns would be blended 
 and assimilated as nearl}- as circumstances will admit — and Major 
 L'Enfant might be instructed to lay out the whole accordingly." 
 
 The commissioners appointed by President Washington, January 
 22, 1791, to locate, detiue, and limit the Federal District, were 
 Governor Thomas Johnson, of Maryland; Hon. Daniel Carroll, of 
 Maryland, and Dr. David Stuart, of Virginia. At the time of his 
 appointment Daniel Carroll was a member of Congress, and for this 
 reason refnsed to serve; but after the termination of the Congress, 
 March 4, 1791, he consented to serve, and a new commission was 
 issued to him. The first meeting of these commissioners was held at 
 Georgetown, April 12, 1791, and on April 15 the corner stone was 
 laid near Jones's Point, in the vicinity of Alexandria, on the Virginia 
 side of the Potomac River. The ceremony in laying this corner 
 stone was under the supervision of Hon. Daniel Carroll and Dr. David 
 Stuart, and was in accordance with Masonic cnstoms. An address was 
 delivered by Rev. James Muir, and was as follows: 
 
 "Amiable it is for brethren to dwell together in unit}'; it is more 
 fragrant than the perfumes of Aaron's garment; it is more refreshing 
 than the dews on Uermon's Hill. May this stone long commeraoi-ate 
 the goodness of God, in those uncommon events which have given 
 America a place among nations. Under this stone may jealousy and 
 selfishness be forever buried. From this stone ma}' a superstructure 
 arise whose glory, whose magnificence, whose stability, unequaled 
 hitherto, shall astonish the world, and invite even the savage of the 
 wilderness to a shelter under its roof." 
 
 Difficulties having arisen with reference to the boundaries of 
 the District, President Washington wrote to the commissioners from 
 Charleston, South Carolina, May 7, 1791, as follows: 
 
 "It is an unfortunate circumstance in the present state of the 
 business relating to the Federal City, tliat diificulties unforeseen and 
 unexpected should arise to darken, perhaps to destroy, the fair prospect 
 which it presented when I left Georgetown, and which the instrument 
 
130 HISTORY OF WASH INC, TON. 
 
 then signed bj the combined interest [as it was termed] of Georgetown 
 and Carroiisburgh so plainly describes. The pain which this occnrrence 
 occasions me is the more sensibly felt, as I had taken pleasure dui-ing 
 my journey through the several States to relate the agreement, and to 
 speak of it on every occasion in terms which apphuided the conduct 
 of the parties, as being alike conducive to the public welfare and to 
 the interests of individuals, which last, it was generally understood, 
 would be most benetitted l)y the amazing increase of the property 
 reserved to the landholders. 
 
 •'The words cited by Notley Young, Peter, Lingan, Forrest, and 
 Stoddcrt may be nearly what I expressed; but will these gentlemen 
 say this was given as the precise boundary? or will they, detaching 
 these words, take them in a sense unconnected witli the general 
 explanation of m\' ideas and views upon that occasion, or without the 
 qualifications which, if I am not much mistaken, were added, of 
 ininning aliout so and so, for I had no map before me for direction? 
 Will they not recollect that Philadelphia stood upon an area of three 
 I)}' two miles? and that if the metropolis of one State occupied so 
 much ground, what ought that of the United States to occupy ? Did 
 I not, moreover, observe that before the city should be laid out and 
 the spot for the public buildings be precisely tixed upon, the \\ater 
 courses were to be leveled, the heights taken, etc. ? Let the whole 
 of my declaration be taken together, and not a part only, and being 
 compared with the instrument then subscribed, together with some 
 other circumstances that might be alluded to, let any impartial man 
 judge whether I had reason to expect that difficulties would arise in the 
 conveyances. When the instrument was presented, I found no occasion 
 to add a word with respect to the boundary, because the whole was 
 surrendered upon the conditions which were expressed. Had I discov- 
 ered a disposition in the subscribers to contract my views, I should 
 then have pointed out the inconveniences and the impolicy of the 
 measure. Upon the whole, I shall hope and expect that tlie business 
 will be permitted to proceed, and the more so as they cannot be 
 ignorant that the further consideration of a certain measure in a 
 neighboring State stands jiostponed; for what reason, is left to their 
 own information and conjecture."' 
 
 The agreement alluded to by President Washington, about which 
 some trouble had arisen, was signed by nineteen of the principal 
 proprietors of the lands constituting the present site of Washington, 
 March 30, 1791, and presented to the commissioners, and hy them 
 accepted April 12. It has been given in full in Chapter 1\'. 
 
}n\\'icin.iL. 131 
 
 September 24, 17!'!, tlie following rosolution was passed bj* tlie 
 conimissioiiei's: 
 
 '■'■Resolred, Tbat Major L'Eiitant be instructed to employ-, on tlie 
 first Monday of October next, one lumdred and fifty laborers to tlirow 
 up clay at tlie President's House and the bouse of Congress, and in 
 doing such other work connected with the post road and the public 
 buildings as he shall think most proper to have immediatel}- executed. 
 
 "Besolred, Tiiat Major L'Enfant be instructed to direct three 
 lumdred copies of the plan of the Federal Cit}' to be transmitted to 
 such parts in the Northern States as he shall think iiroper, and tliat 
 he keep the remainder subject to the direction of the commissioners." 
 
 On Xovcniber 18, 1791, Pierre Charles L'Enfant presented to the 
 conunissioners the following agreement between himself and John 
 Gibson, of Dumfries, merchant: 
 
 "The said Piei're Charles L'Enfant, on behalf of the public, hath 
 rented from the said John Gibson, for ten years, to commence on the 
 1st day of next month, all the quarries of freestone on the land on 
 Acquia Creek sold on the 14th of this present month by the trustees 
 of Ivobert Brent, deceased, to James Keid, and by him bought for the 
 said John Gibson, at the rent of £20 current money, to be paid to 
 the said John Gibson, or his assigns, on the 1st day of Decemljer ot 
 every year, the first rent to become due and payable on the 1st da}' 
 of December, 1792. And it is further agreed by the said Pierre 
 Charles L'Enfant, that full and free use and occupation of the soil of 
 the lands, woods, and all appurtenances to the land belonging or in 
 any wise appertaining, shall be and iciiiain the property and at the 
 sole disposal of him, the said Joliii Gibson, or his assigns, during 
 the term aforesai<l, except only the quarries aforesaid, four acres of 
 land adjoining for buildings, with reasonable right of" egress and 
 ingress from and to the same; and the said John Gibson doth hereby 
 agree to let the said quarries with the right aforesaid to the said 
 Pierre Charles L'Enfant for public use at the yearly rent before 
 mentioned, £20 current money for the term of ten years as in the 
 former part of this agreement, and both parties bind themselves each 
 to the other in the penalty of £200 for the true performance of this 
 agreement and to execute any otlier or furtlier article or writing foi' 
 the better perfection of the same." 
 
 A full account of the proprietors of the land at the time of the 
 location of tlie Capital of the country, mu^' be found in another 
 chapter; but it is necessary to mention briofiy, in this connection, one 
 of them who was quite unfortunate in more wa^'s than one. This 
 
132 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 one was "Daniel Carroll, of Duddington," whose estate, known as 
 the "Duddington Manor," covered nearly the whole of what has since 
 been known as "Capitol Ilill." Daniel Carroll was a man of culture 
 and of high social standing in Mai'yland. He belonged to the famous 
 Carroll family, which embraced among its members the Rt. Rev. 
 John Carroll, iirst Bishop of Baltimore, wIkj founded the college of 
 Jesuits at Georgetown, and the venerable Charles Carroll, of Carroll- 
 ton. Daniel Carroll was a brother of the former and a cousin of the 
 latter. His residence was known as the '-Duddington House," and 
 shortly after the streets had been marked out, in accordance with 
 Major L'Enfant's plan, Mr. Carroll, who was one of the commissioners, 
 assumed and asserted the right to erect his house in the middle of 
 New Jersey Avenue, near the Capitol grounds. Against this proceed- 
 ing Major L'Enfant vigorously protested, as it would cUjse up the 
 avenue and destroy the symmetry of the plan he had marked out. 
 Mr. Carroll paying no attention to the protests of the Major, he, one 
 morning, gave orders to his assistants to demolish the structure, and 
 himself went down to Acqiiia Creek. The work of demolition had 
 not proceeded far, when Mr. Carroll hastened to a magistrate, pro- 
 cured a warrant, and put a stop to it. That night, when the Major 
 returned from Acquia Creek, he found his orders unfulfilled, and so he 
 organized a gang of laborers, took them quietly up the hill in the 
 darkness, and set tliem to work on the demolition of the house. By 
 sunrise next morning not one brick of the obnoxious building was left 
 upon another. Mr. Carroll was, of course, ver}' indignant at this high- 
 handed proceeding, and made application to the President foi- redress; 
 and Major L'Enfant, on December 8, 1791, wrote a letter to the com- 
 missioners in explanation of the reasons for his course. Tiiis matter 
 was under consideration by tlie commissioners for some time, and 
 considerable interest was taken in it by the other proiirietors. Decem- 
 ber 21, a memorandum was received from some of them as follows: 
 
 "Gents: Understanding that Daniel Carroll, Esq., of Dudding- 
 ton, has lodged a claim with you for the full value of his house 
 lately taken down by order of Major L'Enfant, we hope and request 
 that you will not apply any money granted for the imiirovement of 
 the city of Washington to the payment thereof. 
 
 " By this, howevei', we do not mean to refiect on Major L'Enfant's 
 conduct; but, on the contrai'y, we are of opinion tiiat his zeal, activity, 
 and good judgment in the ati'airs of the city merit the thanks of tin' 
 propi'ietors and well deserve the approbation of the piibru'." etc. 
 
 This memorandum was signed by Robert I'ctcr, Overton Carr, 
 
MrxiciPAF.. 133 
 
 William King, t'or himself, and also for William Prout; George 
 Walker, Uriah Forrest, for himself and for P. R. Fendall; Sanmel 
 Davidson, and David Burns. 
 
 In order to settle the matter, President Washington sought the 
 advice of the Attorney-General, and at length ordered the reconstruc- 
 tion of the "Duddington House" precisely as it was before, but not 
 in the same location. December 22, 1791, Major L"Enfant informed 
 tlie commissioners that Notley Young's house was in the middle of 
 a street, and made suggestions for the conduct of the commissioners 
 in connection with the fact. December 27, President Washington 
 wrote the commissioners in reference to both these liouses, saying tliat 
 he hoped the Major did not mean to proceed to the demolition of the 
 house of Mr. Young also, unless properly authorized and instructed. 
 
 April 11, 1792, the commissioners received a letter from Andrew 
 Eilicott with respect to the plan of the city, and on the same day 
 they requested Mr. Harbaugh, Mr. Carlisle, and Mr. Mahan to act 
 as arbitrators with respect to the amount that should Ije paid to 
 Daniel Carroll, of Duddington, for the demolition of the liouse. The 
 next day these arbitrators reported that in their opinion £310 65. Zd. 
 was the value of the materials destroyed. 
 
 July 5, 1792, the commissioners adopted a resolution that they 
 would pay the passage of any number not exceeding one hundred of 
 Scotch passengers, at Georgetown, on their arrival there, on the terms 
 of their working out the money; mechanics at 20 shillings, and labor- 
 ers at 12 shillings sterling ]ier month, twenty-six working days to the 
 month, and clothing found, to be repaid in work or in money at the 
 option of the person; provisions to be found by the commissioners, 
 besides the allowance for wages. These advantageous terms were 
 proposed to able-bodied, single men only, and the payment for passage 
 money was limited to ten guineas for each person. 
 
 The government of the District by commissioners was continued 
 from 1791 until 1802, in which year the city of Washington was 
 incorporated, the act of Congress granting the charter to the city 
 having been passed May 3, 1802. The first commissioners have already 
 been given. Those serving in 1801 were William Thornton, Alexan- 
 der White, and Tristam Dalton ; and those in office in 1802, the last 
 ones of the early commissioners, being William Thornton, Alexander 
 White, and William Cranch. Under the charter of the city the Mayor 
 was appointed by the President, and the city Council was elected 
 by the people. The first Mayor appointed in accordance with the 
 provisions of the charter was Robert Brent, who continued to be 
 
134 
 
 /f/STO/n' OF WAS/lfXCTOiV. 
 
 reappointed aiinually until June. 1811. when lu' declined to servu tlu' 
 city longer in that capacity. All of this history is sufficiently set 
 forth in tlie succeeding pages. 
 
 A meeting was lield I^oveniber 12, 1802, for the jmrpose of putting 
 in nomination si.\ persons to serve in the Council of the city, of which 
 meeting Dr. Cornelius Conyngliam was chosen chairman, and Xicliolas 
 King secretary. These six persons were to represent that part of tiie 
 city west of Si.xtli Street. The following were the nominees: Nicholas 
 King, Cornelius Conyngliam, Thomas Ilerty, Tliomas Carfienter, James 
 Hoban, and W. M. Dnncanson. Another meeting was held about tlie 
 same time by other persons, to nominate si.\ jiersons to represent 
 the western part of the city in the Council. This meeting nominated 
 James Hoban, John Kearney, William lirent, Thomas Peter, William 
 Thornton, and Augustus Woodward. 
 
 It apipears that at the time when the people were selecting their 
 tirst Council, there was considerable feeling aroused. A writer in the 
 National l7itdU(/enccr, under the name of " Phiiantlir(i]ios," a native of 
 the city, warned his fellow citizens against letting their angry feelings 
 cloud their judgment, and thus prevent the election of a good Council 
 for the first one. lie presented a ticket of his own, by the election 
 of which he thought every interest of the young city would l)e 
 conserved. This ticket was as follows: Daniel Carroll, of Dudding- 
 ton, James Barry, Henry Ingle, George Blagden, Robert Brent, Samuel 
 II. Smith, Robert W. Peacock, Thomas Munroe, John Jack, James 
 Iloban, William Brent, and Nicholas King. 
 
 The election was held on Monday, June 7, 1802, resulting as 
 follows: 
 
 < ANIin)ATK. 
 
 ?^ 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 > 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 ii 
 
 ^ 
 
 fe 
 
 ^ 
 
 66 
 
 204 
 
 65 
 
 202 
 
 55 
 
 169 
 
 (i5 
 
 157 
 
 So 
 
 12!) 
 
 55 
 
 124 
 
 (AXDIDATE. 
 
 ?^ 
 
 IK 
 
 H fa 
 
 Daniel Carroll... 
 (ieorjre Blag<len 
 
 •laiiics r.arry 
 
 William ISrent.. 
 Benjaiuin Monn 
 .lames lloUaii. ., 
 
 Nicliiilas Kiiif;.... 
 A. 1'.. W,M..hvanl 
 Samuel 11. Smitl 
 William I'l-niii.... 
 
 Tlmmas IVler 
 
 John Hewitt 
 
 2!) I 60 i :!."i 124 
 
 27 i 45 j 51 12;; 
 
 2(> I 55 
 i:! I 61 
 
 45 
 45 
 
 40 j 121 
 4(> I 120 
 
 115 
 !»S 
 
}rr.\fc/PAi.. 135 
 
 On Moiidiiy, June 14, 1802, tlie Council convened at tlic Capitol. 
 Daniel Carroll, of Diiddington, was chosen cliairman, and John 
 Hewitt secretaiy. Then, agreeably to the act of incorporation, a ballot 
 was taken for five members to constitute the second chamber, resulting 
 in the election of Daniel Carroll, Benjamin Moore, William Prout, John 
 Hewitt, and James Ildban. The first chamber then elected James 
 Barry president, and Nicholas King secretary; and the second 
 chamber elected Daniel Carroll president, and John Hewitt secretary. 
 Committees were appointed and the Council adjourned until the 21st 
 of the mouth. 
 
 On this day there was a partial reorganization of the two chambers, 
 John T. Frost being elected secretary of the first chamber, and Thomas 
 Hert\- of the second. The joint committee of the two ciiambers which 
 had been appointed to examine the ground over which Maryland Ave- 
 nue passed from the Capitol to the line eastward of the city toward 
 Bladensburg, and also the situation and nature of the ground over 
 which Tenth and Eleventh streets passed from Pennsylvania Avenue 
 to the north line of the city, or any other street which had been cal- 
 culated for opening the most direct communication from said avenue 
 to the road then leading from Fredericktown to Montgomery County 
 Courthouse by Rock Creek to Georgetown, and to make an estimate 
 of the probable cost of clearing and making the same passable for 
 wagons, etc., reported substantially as follows: That they were of 
 the opinion that Fourteenth Street West was the proper street to open 
 and to make passable for wagons and carriages from Pennsylvania 
 Avenue to the boundarj' of the city, and continued thence to intersect 
 the Montgomery road at the south end of what was chiefly called 
 Boucher's Lane. It would benefit the \N'esteru part of the city espe- 
 cially with respect to the marketing, and the entire city chiefly by 
 opening a more direct and better road to Montgomery, Fredericktown, 
 and the upper counties of Maryland. Mar3land Avenue was, in the 
 opinion of the committee, the most direct and proper street for 
 the principal post road toward Bladensburg and Baltimore. The 
 committee making this report was composed of Benjamin Moore, John 
 Hoban, and Nicholas King. 
 
 Under the first charter of the cit}', the Mayoi- was appointed by 
 the President of the United States, and the first Mayor thus appoiuted 
 was Robert Brent. Washington Boyd was the first treasurer and 
 Thomas flerty the first register. 
 
 Among the first acts passed by the above-named Council was one 
 on October 6, 1802, to regulate the size of bricks. It provided, that 
 
136 H/SrORV OF WASH/NCTO.V. 
 
 after the first clay of January, 1803, bricks sold in the city should lie 
 eight and three-quarter inches long, four and one-fourth inches wide, 
 and two and three-eighth inches thick, and that tiiey should be well 
 burned. Xone sliould be made in tiie city smaller than the size given, 
 under a penalty- of $1 for every one thousand so mude, sold, or oli'ered 
 for sale. 
 
 Another of tlieir early acts was one providing that all hay, straw, 
 or fodder brought to the city and sold after the 1st of Xovember, 
 1802, east of the Tiber, should he sold by weight, and should be 
 weiglied on the machine erected for that purpose by John McCarty, 
 wiio was granted the exclusive privilege of weighing all such 
 hay, straw, and fodiler, and who was required to keep his scales in 
 perfect order. 
 
 Under an ordinance of the two chandlers of the Council of the 
 corporation, the Mayor appointed as trustees of the poor, earl}- in 
 November, 1802, Joseph Hodgson, John Kearney, and Griffith Coombes, 
 anil as overseer of the poor, Benjamin Burch. 
 
 November 19, 1802, Robert Brent, Mayor, advertiseil for bids to 
 open West Fourteenth Street from North F Street to its extremity, 
 the bids all to be in by December 1, 1802. 
 
 On this same day an act was passed by tlie Council to regulate 
 weights and measures, which authorized the Mayor to procure com- 
 plete sets of weights and measures according to the statute then in 
 operation on this same subject in Maryland. The act also provided 
 for tlie appointment of a sealer of weights and measures, and that 
 all weights and measures in use should bo rectitied and branded before 
 the 1st of February, 1803. 
 
 January 7, 1803, a meeting of citizens of Washington and of 
 Washington County was held for the purpose of petitioning Congi-ess 
 for a legislature for the Territory of Columbia, the comnnttee ap- 
 pointed to present the petition to Congress being composed of Robert 
 Brent, Benjamin Moore, Nicholas King, Samuel H. Smitli, and Augus- 
 tus B. Woodward. The election for members of tlie Council, lield on 
 Monda}', June 6, 1808, resulted in the return of William Brent, John 
 P. Van Ness, John Hewitt, Samuel II. Smith, Nicholas King, Charles 
 Menifee, Benjamin Moore, Daniel Hapine, Joel Brown, Geoi'ge Ilad- 
 tield, Daniel Carroll, and Joseph Hodgson, all Republicans but the 
 last two. The election [lassed off "with unsullied decorum and tran- 
 (piillity."' The President of the United States appointed Robert P>rent 
 to a second term as Mayoi'. Upon the organization of the Council 
 Joliii P. Van Ness was elected [iresideut of the lirst chamber, anil 
 
Ar('iXic/P.iL. 137 
 
 Thomas Ilertj' secrctan', ami Daniel Carroll president of the second 
 chamber. 
 
 Early in tlie history of the city a tire conipan}' was organized, the 
 precise A&y, liowever, not being obtainable; but an act was passed by 
 the corporation Oonncil in June, 1803, extending- the time for procuring 
 fire buckets to the first of the following October. In July, 1803, an 
 act was passed for the enumeration of the population of the city, and 
 also one for the reassessment of the property of the city. In August an 
 act was passed appropriating $600 toward erecting and repairing lamps 
 in the city, aud the Mayor was authorized to require such individual 
 contributions as he might see fit. In accordance with this act the 
 Mayor did require that lamps should be on some of the public streets 
 in front of an improved lot, and that persons applying for the digging 
 of wells and the erection of lamps should contribute one-half the sum 
 necessar}^ to complete the work. 
 
 In September, 180-J, the trustees of the poor appointed were Peter 
 Lenox, Joseph Mechlin, Griffith Coombes, George Blagden, and William 
 Brent. In the same month an act was passed creating the office of 
 superintendent of police. In November, 1803, an act was passed 
 authorizing the Mayor' to appoint two members of the board of 
 appeal, since there hatl been no election of such board, in accordance 
 with an act entitled, "An Act Supplementary to the Act Directing 
 a New Assessment of Projierty and an Enumeration of the Inhabitants 
 of the City," and the Mayor was empowered to extend the time for 
 tlie performance of the duties enjoined by said acts for a period not 
 to exceed two months. 
 
 February 24, 1804, an act was passed by Congress supplementary 
 to the act incorporating tlie inhabitants of Washington, in which it 
 was provided that the jirovisions of the former act should be enforced 
 for fifteen years after the end of that session of Congress, and also 
 that the two chambers of Council should be composed of nine members, 
 a majority of each being sufficient to transact business. Powers of 
 inspection were given them, and to superintend the health of the 
 city, to preserve the navigation of the River Potomac and the Aiia- 
 costia River, and providing that the levy court of the county of 
 Washington .should not thereafter possess the power to impose an\' 
 tax on the inhabitants of tiie city of Washington. 
 
 The result of the enumeration of the inhabitants of Washington 
 as provided for by act of the Council, and published May 9, 1804, was 
 found to be as follows: Total number of people, 4,352. Whites, males, 
 1,902; females, 1,510. Slaves, males, 338; females, 379. Free blacks, 
 
188 H/STCiRY (^F WASHINGTON. 
 
 males, 103; females, 120. Whites, 3,412; slaves, 717; free blacks, 223. 
 Ill 1800, the population was 3,210. 
 
 At the first election lield under the supplementary charter, tlie 
 followiui;' iientlemen were chosen members of the two chambers of 
 the Council: First chamber, George Blagdeu, Samuel II. Smith, 
 Joseph Bromley, S. N. Smallwood, Henry Ilerford, Daniel Rapine, 
 Robert Alexander, Cornelius Conyngham, and Thomas Carpenter; of 
 the second chamber, William Brent, William Woodward, Alexander 
 McCormick, Charles Jones, Nicholas King, James C. King, Joseph 
 Hodgson, John Sinclair, and George Andrews. 
 
 July 24, 1804, an act was passed by the corporation of Washing- 
 ton to establish tii-e wards and tire companies, as follows: Ward 
 one, all that part of the city which lies west of Sixteenth Street 
 West; ward two, bounded on the west by Sixteenth Street West, on 
 the south by South G Street until it intersects West Third, and by 
 said street from said intersection to the northern extremity thereof; 
 ward three, all that part of the city which lies southward of South 
 G Street; ward four, the rest of the city. The Mayor was required, 
 by August 1, to appoint a suitable person in each of the above wards 
 who should call the citizens together, and tliose assembled were to 
 oi'ganize themselves into tire companies. Each jierson so appointed 
 was to be a memljer of the board of lire directors, who were required 
 to make an annual report. 
 
 The trustees of the poor for 1805 were Peter Lenox, Henry Ingle, 
 George Gollard, John Woodside, and William Brent. 
 
 The result of the election for members of Council, which was 
 held June 2, was as follows: First chandler, John Dempsie, Samuel 
 X. Smallwood, Jeremiah Booth, Frederick May, William Front, 
 Robert Alexander, Samuel II. Smith, James Iloban, and Thomas 
 II. Gilliss. The second cluunber was composed of John Sinclair, 
 Matthew Wright, Alexander McCormick, Peter Lenox, Henry Iler- 
 ford, Phineas Bradley, Joseph Brondey, Nicholas King, and Henry 
 Ingle. T. li. Gilliss was chosen [iresident of the first clnunber, and 
 Alexander McC^ormick of the second. Robert Hrent was continued 
 as Mayor, and Thomas Ilerty as register. 
 
 November 26, 1806, an act was passed establishing the eastern 
 branch market at the market house on Market Square, the market 
 to be lu'ld on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the Mayor being- 
 required to pi-ovide the necessary stalls, benches, scales, weights, and 
 measures. 
 
 On March I'.l, 1.S07, the rules with regard to the size of bricks 
 
Arcx/cfr.ir. 139 
 
 were clianged liy an act of tlie corporation. Tliu mollis tor brick 
 making were by this act rwiuired to bo nine and onc-ciglitli inches 
 long in the clear, t'onr and three-eighths inclies broad, and two and 
 tive-eighths inches deep. This rule wa.s to go into eti'ect Ajiril 20, 
 1807. 
 
 On tlie same day as above the city corporation made regulations 
 regarding the sweeping of chimneys, substantially as follows: Tiie 
 Mayor was authorized to make a contract with such person as he 
 might deem a proper one, and to give to him the exclusive right to 
 sweep the chimne\s in Washington for a term not to exceed three 
 years. The chimneys were to be swejit once in each three months 
 from the 1st day of April to the 1st day of October, and once in 
 eaeli two months the rest of the year, between five and seven o'clock 
 in the morning, or at such time as the chimney sweep and the house- 
 holder could agree upon. The chimney sweep was entitled to receive 
 from the person so contracting with him the sura of ten cents for each 
 story of each flue or clnmney swept; and if any chimney or flue should 
 take fire from the presence of soot in the cliiraney within two months 
 from the last sweeping, then the chimney sweep should pay a tine of 
 $5, and if any chimney should take tire that had not been swept, 
 then the owner of tlie house sliould pay a tine of $5. As required 
 to do, the Mayor, Robert Brent, gave notice to the citizens that he 
 had made a contract for the sweeping of the chimneys with Job 
 Haight, who would commence June 10, 1807. 
 
 On Monday, June 1, 1807, an election was held for councilmen, and 
 afterward Frederick May was made p)resident of the first cluimber, 
 and Charles Menifee of the second. IJobert Brent was again appointed 
 Mayor by the I'resident of the United States, and Washington Boyd 
 was made treasurer. During this year an act was passed b^- the 
 Council to provide for the appointment by the Mayor of one commis- 
 sioner from each ward, whose duty it should be to superintend tlie 
 execution of all the laws of tiie Council, and to direct prosecutions 
 for their infractii>n; to superintend the expenditure of all moneys 
 appropriated by the Council tor the opening or repair of streets, 
 wharves, bridges, pumps, wells, springs, rivers, and creeks, and all 
 appropriations not otherwise provided for b}' law. In June, 1807, 
 under this act the Mayor ajipointed from the First Ward, Michael 
 Nourcc; from the Second Ward, Tliomas H. Gilliss; from tlie Third 
 Ward, Daniel Rapine; and from the Fourth Ward, George Gollard. 
 
 In the early history of the city, the Council made a moiithl}' 
 "assize of bread." For January, 1808, loaves of bread were required 
 
140 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 to be of the following sizes: From tlour worth $o jicr barrel, single 
 loaf, 27 ounces; double loaf, 54 ounces. For September, 1808, a 
 single loaf was required to weigh 30 ounces, and a (hiuble loaf 60 
 ounces, from flour worth from $4.50 to %i> per barrel. In March, 1810, 
 from flour worth $7.25 jier barrel, a single loaf was required to weigh 
 19 ounces, and a double loaf 38 ounces. In Noveml)er, 1812, from 
 flour worth from §10 to $11 jier barrel, a single loaf was required to 
 weigh 12 ounces, and a double one 24 ounces. 
 
 For August, 1813, from flour worth from $5.50 to $6 per barrel, a 
 single loaf was required to weigh 23 ounces, and a double loaf 46 
 ounces. For January, 1820, from flour worth from $5.50 to $6 per 
 barrel, a single loaf was required to weigh 23 ounces, and a double 
 loaf 46 ounces. 
 
 A census of the city taken about the last part of the year 1807 
 and the beginning of 1808 gave tlie following results: Whites, males, 
 2,139; females, 2,009. Slaves, males, 409; females, 479. Free blacks, 
 males, 126; females, 153. Free mulattoes, males, 95; females, 126. 
 Slaves owned by non-residents, males, 55; females, 61. Total po[iu- 
 latiou of the city, 5,652. By wards the population was as follows: 
 First Ward, 1,108; Second Ward, 1,447; Third Ward, 1,751; Fourth 
 Ward, 1,346. 
 
 After the election of councilmen, on Monday, June 5, 1809, Robert 
 Brent was again appointed Mayor. He was again appointed after the 
 election for councilmen held on Monday, June 4, 1810. In June, 
 1811, Mr. Brent peremptorily declined to serve longer as Mayor of 
 the city. Whatever were the reasons that influenced Mr. Brent to 
 refuse longer to serve in this capacity, it is certain that the citizens 
 of Washington were not satisfied with their city's form of government, 
 and especially with that feature of it which required the rresideut of 
 the United States to ajipoint their Mayor; for being thus appointed, 
 he was not responsible to them in the exercise of his powers and 
 duties. They would much have preferred to be able to elect their own 
 Mayor, and it was sugge.sted that inasmuch as they could not do this, 
 it would perliaps be well for them to indicate to the President whom 
 they would pi-efer by having a kind of miasi election. After the 
 election t)f councilmen held on Monday, June 3, 1811, the President 
 appointed as Mayor Daniel Rapine. 
 
 On October 31 and November 2, 1811, meetings were held, which 
 were quite generally attended liy the citizens, to take into considei'a- 
 tion the propriet}' of making application to Congress to amend the 
 act of incorporation. Dr. James II. Blake was chairman of the latter 
 
MVXrClPAL. 141 
 
 meeting, and George Sweene}- secretary. The following resolutions 
 were tido{ited: 
 
 " Whereas, Experience having shown that various provisions of 
 the act of incorporation are extremely defective, and particularly the 
 present mode of electing the city Council on a general ticket, as pre- 
 scribed by that instrument, having been proiluetive of very injurious 
 consequences to the interests of the city; therefore, 
 
 '■'■Resolced, That the chairman of this meeting, together with two 
 citizens to be chosen b}' each ward, be a committee to prepare a me- 
 morial to Congress, praying that such alteration and amendments ma}' 
 be made in the act of incorporation as they may deem necessary." 
 
 The committee as chosen was as follows: James Hobau, John 
 Hewitt, Phineas Bradley, Henry Herford, Elias B. Caldwell, John 
 Coyle, Buller Cocke, and Joseph Cassin. The following resolution 
 was then adopted: "That the above named committee be authorized 
 to receive the signatures of the citizens of Washington to the memo- 
 rial which shall be prepared." 
 
 In obedience to the request of the committee, a supplementary 
 act was passed by Congress, May 4, 1812, by which the corporation 
 was made to consist of a Mayor, a Board of Aldermen and a Common 
 Council. The Board of Aldei-men consisted of eight members elected 
 for two years, and were required to be chosen from the wards in 
 which they resided. The Common Council consisted of twelve mem- 
 bers, three from each ward, and the Mayor was elected by the joint 
 ballot of the members of the boards to serve for one year. 
 
 Under the charter as amended in accordance with this petition, the 
 first election was held on Monday, June ], 1812, resulting as follows: 
 
 Aldermen — First Ward, John Davidson and James Hobau; Second 
 Ward, Andrew Way, Jr., and Peter Lenox; Third Ward, Alexander 
 McCormick and Daniel Rapine; Fourth Ward, Joseph Cassin and 
 James S. Stevenson. 
 
 Councilmen — First Ward, W. Worthingtou, Jr., Toppan Webster, 
 and James Hobau; Second Ward, William James, James Hewitt, and 
 R. C. Weightman; Third Ward, Edmund Law, Gef)rge Blagden, and 
 Benjamin G. Orr; Fourth Ward, John W. Brashear, Matthew Wright, 
 and John Dobbyn. 
 
 Alexander McCormick was elected president of the Board of 
 Aldermen, and James Hewitt of the Board of Common Council. 
 
 At this same time Daniel Rapine was elected Mayor. 
 
 A census of the city was taken in 1810, resulting as follows: 
 Whites, males, 2,895; females, 3,009. Slaves, 1,437. All other persons, 
 
142 HfSTORY OF WISH/XCTOX. 
 
 807. Total population, 8,208. The total population of Georgetown 
 was then 4,948; of Washington County outside of Washington and 
 Georgetown, 2, .315; of Alexandria, 7,227; of Ale.xandria County out- 
 side of Alexandria, 1,325. Total population of the District of Col- 
 li nd)i a, 24,023. 
 
 I)i-. James H. Blake was elected Mayor of the city, June 12, 
 1813; June 6, 1814; June 12, 1815; June 3, 1816; and in June, 1817. 
 
 Benjamin 6. Orr was elected Mayor by the councils in June, 1818; 
 Samuel N. Smallwood in June, 1819, and Mr. Smaliwood held over 
 in 1820, under a new charter just granted. 
 
 The new charter granted the city by Congress, Ma}' 15, 1820, pro- 
 vided that the Mayor should be elected by the people, to serve for 
 two years from the second Monda}' in June. The Board of Aldermen 
 was required to be composed of two members from each ward, to 
 serve for two years, and were ex officio justices of the peace for the 
 entire county. The Board of Common Council was to consist of three 
 members from each ward, to serve for one year. Every free white 
 male citizen of the United States of lawful age, having resided within 
 the city one year previous to the election, and being a resident of 
 the ward in which he offered to vote, having been assessed on the 
 books of the corporation for the year on the 31st of December pre- 
 ceding the election, and having paid all taxes due on personal property 
 when lei>"ally required to pay the same, was entitled to vote for Mayor 
 and members of the two boards. 
 
 By this act the city was divided into six wards. All tliat part 
 of the city to the westward of Fifteenth Street West constituted the 
 First Ward. The Second Ward contained all that part eastward of 
 Fifteenth Street and westward of Tentii Street West. The Third 
 Ward contained all that part east of Tenth Street West, west of First 
 Street West, and north of E Street South; the Fourth Ward, all 
 that part to the eastward of First Street West, westward of Eighth 
 Street East, and north of E Street South; the Fifth Ward, all 
 that part east of Tenth Street West, west of Fourth Street East, and 
 south of E Street South. The Sixtii Ward contained all the rest of 
 the city. 
 
 Section 1 of this act provided that all the officers in t)tHce at the 
 time of its passage should continue in otHce until the expiration of 
 tlieir respective terms, aiul that all their acts done in pursuance of 
 former acts of iui'orporatiou, and not inconsistent with the new 
 cluirter, should be valid. 
 
 Section 2 jirovided that tlu' name of the corporation should i)e 
 
.-\frxrciPAL. 143 
 
 "The Maj'or, Board oF Aldcrineii, and Board of Common Conneil of 
 the City of Wasliington."' 
 
 Section 3 provided that the Major should be elected biennially-, 
 commencing on the iirst Monday in June, 1820, and that in case of a 
 tie in the [)opnlar vote the Boards of Aldermen and Common Council 
 should determine by joint ballot which should serve. 
 
 By this charter the city was divided into six wards, two aldermen 
 being chosen to represent each ward, and three common councilnien. 
 Under this charter the government of the city was a very complicated 
 piece of machinery, as may be seen by tlie following list of alder- 
 men, councilmen, etc. 
 
 Aldermen — First Ward, James H. Handy and J. W. Moulder; 
 Second Ward, James Hoban and Thomas II. Gilliss; Third Ward, 
 R. C. Weightman and W. W. Seaton; Fourth Ward, Henry Tims 
 and iSTichoias L. Queen; Fifth Ward, Daniel Carroll, of Duddington, 
 and Thomas Dougherty; Sixth Ward, William Prout and Israel Little. 
 
 Common Councilmen — First Ward, Thomas Carberry, Josiah Tay- 
 lor, and Satterlee Clark; Second Ward, John McClelland, Henry 
 Smith, and John Strother; Third Ward, Hanson Gassaway, Samuel 
 Burch, and George Sweeney; Fourtli Ward, Dr. Andrew Hunter, 
 John Ingle, and Benjamin Burch; Fifth Ward, Richmond Johnston, 
 Dr. C. B. Hamilton, and James Middleton; Sixth Ward, Gustavns 
 Higdon, Adam Lindsa\% and Benjamin Bryan. 
 
 Register, William Hewitt; health officer, Dr. Henr}- Hunt; sur- 
 veyor, Joseph Elgar; inspector of tobacco, Samuel P. Lowe; sealer 
 of weights and measures, Jacob Leonard; inspectors of Hour, Samuel 
 Mclntire and William A, Scott; members of the board of appeal, 
 John Davidson, Peter Lenox, Frederick May, and Matthew Wright; 
 commissioners of wards: First Ward, Samuel Ilarkness; Second 
 Ward, Edward G. Handy; Third Ward, Joseph Dougherty; Fourth 
 Ward, Henry Ingle; Fifth Ward, John Van Riswick; Sixth Ward, 
 John B. Forrest; inspectors of lumber, Thomas Sandiford, Jr., 
 Thomas Wilson, Leonard Ilarbaugh, Benjamin Br3-an, and William 
 H. Barnes; wood corders and coal measurers, Thomas Taylor, Jr., 
 Thomas Burch, George Sanford, William Wise, Benjamin Bryan, and 
 John B. Ferguson; gaugers, Samuel Mclntire and William H. Barnes; 
 commissioners of the West Burial Ground, David Easton, Robert 
 King, and Benjamin M. Belt; commissioners of the East Burial 
 Ground, John Crabb, John Chalmers, and Daniel Raiiine; sexton of 
 the West Burial Ground, Alexander Watson; sexton of the East 
 Burial Ground, Benson McCormick; clerk of the West Market 
 
144 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 House, Philip Williams; clerk of tlie Center Market House, John 
 Waters; clerk of the Capitol Eill Markot House, Benson McCormick; 
 clerk of the Eastern Branch Market House, Peter Little. 
 
 Under this charter the Mayor served two years, as also did the 
 members of the Board of Aldermen, after the rotation was established. 
 In 1822, Thomas Carberry was elected Mayor to succeed Mr. Small- 
 wood, and in 1824 K. C. Weightman was elected to succeed Mr. 
 Carberry. 
 
 In March, 1824, the citizens of Alexandria, becoming tired of 
 being in the District of Columbia, made an attempt to have Alex- 
 andria retroceded to Virginia. A meeting was hold on the 9th of 
 that month for the purpose of preparing a memorial to Congress on 
 the subject. Thomson F. Mason was chairman of the meeting, and 
 P. R. Fendall secretary. The memorial as drawn up set forth that 
 the citizens of Alexandria County were deprived of tlieir constitutional 
 rights without the existence or assumption of authority of the people 
 of the United States to do so; but by what seemed to them to be an 
 oversight of the framers of the Constitution of the United States. The 
 citizens of Alexandria could not presume that the framers of the 
 Constitution, who had just previously been engaged in a struggle 
 for liberty for themselves, would designedly' deprive others of that 
 precious boon, which they liad done in the case of the inhabitants 
 of the District of Columbia, by the im[tosition of taxes u}>on an 
 unrepresented community, for this was the very grievance which 
 produced the Revolution, etc. 
 
 An adverse meeting was held March 11, over which Phineas 
 Janney piresided, and of wiiich Nathaniel S. Wise was the secretar;) . 
 The object of the meeting was fully stated b}' Robert I. Taylor, who 
 explained what disadvantages the citizens of Alexandria County would 
 labor under if the })roposed retrocession of the county should become 
 an accomplisiied fact. A memorial against the movement was drawn 
 up and a committee appointed to present it to Congress. 
 
 The proposed retrocession was defeated at that time b}' a vote 
 of the people of 404 against it to 286 for it, but at length, in 1840, 
 another movement for the same purpose was inaugurated, and was 
 successful. 
 
 Mayor R. C. Weightman was reelected in June, 1826, and on 
 July 20, 1827, Mayor Weightman was elected cashier of the Bank 
 of Washington, and resigned his position, to be succeeded by Joseph 
 Gales, .Ir. In June, 1828, Mr. Gales was elected to the position 
 for iwo years, and was reelected in 1830 for two years more. 
 
MUNICIPAI.. 145 
 
 On June 4, 1832, Jolin P. Van Ness was elected Ma^or; on June 
 2, 1834, William A. Bradley was elected to the position, and in 
 June, 1836, Peter Force was elected by a vote of 570, to 337 cast for 
 H. M. Mortit. 
 
 Mr. FoiX'c, in his inaugural, congratulated tlie citizens upon liaving 
 been relieved of a heavy burden. In 1828, tlie city had made a large 
 subscription to the stock of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Compaii}-, 
 to which subscrijition that great work owed its existence. The subscrip- 
 tion carried with it obligations greater than the city could carry. The 
 responsibilities gi-owing out of this subscription were rendered greater 
 than they would otherwise have been by the liostile proceedings of a 
 rival company, wliich interrupted the prosecution of tlie work for 
 years, and for each year that the work was dela3e<l Washington City, 
 the wealthiest of all the parties conne(;ted with the subscription to the 
 stock of the company, though one of the lai'gest contributors, lost in 
 the aggregate about |50,000 per \-ear. But now the United States 
 had assumed the payment of the interest of this subscription on the 
 pledge and deposit of its stock in the company; still tlie corporation 
 owed on its subscription about $450,000, and at the same time it was 
 possible that by a change in circumstances the city might derive no 
 benefit from the canal, and Mr. Force advised the most rigid economy 
 and the limiting of exiienditures to the smallest possible amount. 
 
 On Monday, June 1, 1840, W. W. Seaton was elected Mayor of 
 the city. Previously to this election there had been great excitement 
 in political circles, in the District of Columbia as elsewhere in the 
 United States. The financial measures of President Jackson's two 
 administrations, and the practical continuation of the same destructive 
 policy by Mr. Van Buren's admiuistration, aroused the people to such 
 an extent that they were determined to throw off the incubus of a 
 "democratic" government, which was, in fact, a ilemocratic government 
 only in name, being in realitv a monarchy in disguise. In the citj- 
 of Washington, this feeling succeeded in electing Mr. Seaton Mayor, 
 he being a determined and outspoken Whig. With reference to this 
 election, Hon. William Cost Johnson, of Maryland, in an address to 
 the people of the District of Columbia, quoted from elsewhere, with 
 reference to the powers of Congress with regard to the banking institu- 
 tions of the District of Columbia, said, under date of Jul}- 22, 1840: 
 
 "But not satisfied with destroying the banking institutions of the 
 District, in punishment of the jteople, the administration Senate reallj- 
 passed to a third reading a bill to abolish the i)resent charter of 
 the city of Washington, and to c;iiise a new election for Mayor of the 
 
14(5 ff/STORY OF U-ASH/XCrTON. 
 
 city to be held in October next, because tiie peojile liad selected only 
 a few weeks ago a Whig Mayor to serve for two years from the day 
 of election; and containing, besides, features virtually depriving every 
 master of control over his servant, which no one but an abolitionist 
 could have urged, or a Soutlieru Jacobin have supported," etc. 
 
 Another, a citizen of the District, called for a convention of tlie 
 people, from the corporations within the District, for the purpose ot 
 expressing their indignation at the treatment they had received from 
 Congress, and a writer in the public press said: "Till 1829, the people 
 of the Disti'ict, and especially of Washington, had always been friendly 
 to the administration of tlie Government, and the administration had 
 always been friendly to the people, regarding them with a kind of 
 parental attachment. Jefierson, Madison, Monroe, and Ailams did 
 what they could to give an impetus to its improvements; Ijut the 
 Hun, Attila, came, and swept like a destructive avalanche over the fair 
 face of the land under the plea of democracy, and clothed with the 
 power which popularity gave him, he 'played such fantastic tricks 
 before higli heaven as made the angels weep.' Almost every family 
 was more or less affected by his wild and reckless despotism. He was 
 followed by the Noi'thern man with Southern principles, who professed 
 to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious predecessor, and who has 
 brought the country and the District, as well as the Government, to 
 Ijankruptcy and ruin by the folly of his measures, and his profligate 
 and useless extravagance in the expenditure of the public money,'" etc. 
 
 A iiublic meeting of the citizens of tlie District of Columbia who 
 were over twenty-one years of age, and who were opposed to the then 
 recent ruinous legislation of Congress toward this District, by which 
 the business, trade, and industry of the community had been pros- 
 trated, was held on Monday, July 27, 1840, in front of the City 
 Hall, to give voice to their wrongs, and to endeavor jieacefnily to 
 devise a remedy for them. Of this meeting W. W. Seaton was made 
 chairman and Walter Lenox secretary. Samuel H. Smith submitted 
 a series of resolutions, which were in substance as follows: That the 
 course pursued by the late Congress toward the District of Columbia 
 was insulting to the character of the people of the District, derogatory 
 to their rights, and subversive of their prosperity; that in it the meet- 
 ing beheld a total disregard of the principles of justice and the calls 
 of humanity, connected witli a stern purpose to punish sixty thousand 
 [leople for tlie exercise of their undoubted right to think and to speak 
 frccU' i)f public men and public measures; and that the meeting 
 Wduld a[ip()iiit five delegates from cacli ward of tlu' lity, to attend a 
 
MUNicrPAr.. 147 
 
 eouventiou of delegates to asseiiible in Wasliingtoii on tlie second 
 Monday (lOtli) of August, and invited the citizens of Georgetown 
 and Alexandria to appoint delegates to the said convention, for tlie 
 purpose of adopting such measures as the alarming crisis in tlie affairs 
 of tlie District seemed to render expedient. 
 
 A conimittei' of one from eacli ward was then appointed to 
 name si list of delegates to attend the proi)osed convention, tlie 
 delegates as named by this committee being as follows: First Ward, 
 Samuel H. Smith, Benjamin (). Taylor, William Easby, Alexander 
 Mclutire, and Thomas Munroe; Second Ward, John McClelland, An- 
 thony Preston, William 11. Gunnell, Wallace Kirkwood, and William 
 M. McCauley; Third Wai-d, Walter Jones, Joseph II. Bradley, John 
 C. Harkness, Jacob A. Bender, and John C. McKelden; Fourth 
 Ward, Dr. Frederick Ma}-, Henry J. Brent, George Watterstou, John 
 Kedgely, and W. McGill; Fifth Ward, Daniel Carroll, of Duddington, 
 Thomas Blagden, John W. Martin, Griffith Coombes, and Thomas 
 K. Riley; Sixth Ward, Noble Young, James Marshall, Dr. Alexander 
 McWins, Robert Clarke, and Robert Coombs. 
 
 The chairman and secretary of the meeting were then added to 
 the list of delegates, and then, by resolution, the grateful thanks of the 
 meeting were tendered to Hon. William D. Merrick, chairman of the 
 District Committee of the Senate, and to Hon. William Cost John- 
 son, chairman of the District Committee of the House of Representa- 
 tives, and their zealous friends of both Houses of Congress, for their 
 generous and manly resistance to the aggressive measures attempted 
 to be adopted with reference to the District. 
 
 The citizens of Georgetown held a meeting, July 21, for the 
 purpose of giving expression to their sentiments as to the course of 
 Congress. Their meeting was held in front of the Mayor's office, and 
 in obedience to a call issued on the 18th of the month. At this 
 meeting a committee on resolutions was appointed, and instructed 
 to report to an adjourned meeting to be held in the Lancasterian 
 Scboolhouse, July 23. This committee was composed of Samuel Mc- 
 Keniiy, John Marbury, William Laird, Henry Addison, and Judsou 
 Mitchell. The resolutions reported by this committee were as follows: 
 
 "1. That the surrender of the rights of self-government by the 
 people of the District of Columbia to the people of the United States, 
 to enable tlieni to carry into jiractical operation the principles of the 
 Governnieiit devised by the Constitution of the United States, was a 
 great personal and political sacrifice, and merited a kind, liberal, and 
 generous consideration in return; but has been paid by the majority 
 
148 HISTORY OF WASUIXGTOX. 
 
 of tlie present Congress witli indignity, insults, wrong, and oppression, 
 of whicli it becomes ns to speak witli temperate, but at tlie same 
 time witb indignant, reprebension, and to wliieli no citizen of tbe 
 District of (lolumliia bax'ing any interest in its prosperity can patient!}- 
 sul)mit. 
 
 "2. Tliat tiie people of tbe District, in common witb tbe people 
 of tbe States, are of rigbt free, and equally witb tbe bitter entitled 
 to tbe benefits of the laws suited to promote their happiness and 
 welfare; that the Congress of the United States has refused to tbe 
 people laws by them deemed absolutel}' necessary to their happiness 
 and prosperity, and such as exist in every State in the Union, and 
 have thereby failed to discliarge their solemn duty, wantonly and 
 wickedl}' exposing the people of this District to ruinous end^arrass- 
 nient and distress. 
 
 "3. That we trace the whole of the wrongs and evils of which 
 we complain to tiie subjection of the people of this District to the 
 exclusive legislation of Congress, the members of which, being chosen 
 by strangers, are without the knowledge of our wants or in sympathy 
 witb our condition; and we are contident that we cannot be contented 
 and prosperous so long as so unjust and intolerable a mode of gov- 
 ernment is allowed to continue. 
 
 "4. That tbe only remedy from the evils which we now suffer, 
 and tbe only mode of securing permanent and general prosperity to 
 our town, is retrocession to Maryland; and with a view to etiect u 
 measure so indispensable to our interests, the following address to the 
 citizens of the United States at large, and to Maryland in particular, be 
 adopted at this meeting, and signed by tbe president and secretary, 
 and printed under their direction; and tliat a copy be forwarded to 
 the governor of each State, with a request that be will lay the same 
 before tbe legislature of bis State at the next meeting." 
 
 "An Address to Our Countrymen Throughout the Twenty-six 
 States of tbe Union, and to Maryland, in Particular," was then reail 
 by William Laird, Esq., and was afterward published, together witb 
 tbe above resolutions. The address was as follows: 
 
 " We, the citizens of Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, in 
 town meeting assembled on this 23d day of July, 1840, have resolved 
 to address you in the following terms: 
 
 "A provision in the Constitution grants to Congress the power 
 'to exercise exclusive legislation in all classes wliatsocver over such 
 district not exceeding ten miles square as may, by cession of particular 
 States and tbe acceptance of Congress, become tbe seat ot government 
 
MlWfC/r.lL. 149 
 
 of the Uiiik'il States." We are tlius left eiitii-uly at tlie mercy of the 
 Legislature of the Union, without a reiiresentative on tiio Hoor, with- 
 out a voiee in their counsels, — dependent aitogetiier on their will 
 and pleasure, on tlieir wisdom and justice, for action, beneficial or 
 otherwise, operating on our interests and immediately affecting our 
 prosperity and happiness. 
 
 "We, a trading and commercial conununity, have for a long time 
 had banks among us, those indispensable prerequisites for mercantile 
 operations and facilities. The law chartering the one we now have 
 was signed by James Madison; the laws rechartering it were signed 
 by James Monroe, and twice by Andrew Jackson. Previously to the 
 expiration of the charter of tliis bank a memorial numerously signed 
 by the citizens was presented to Congress, praying in tlie most respect- 
 ful manner for a recharter, and stating the fact that the institution 
 was perfectly able and willing to resume the payment of specie on its 
 notes as soon as the neighboring banks of Virginia and Maryland 
 paid the same on theirs. A petition was also presented by the bank 
 for a recharter, to include as a feature of it the immediate resumption 
 of specie jiayinents on all its notes. Nevertheless, our prayer for a 
 recharter, as well as the prayer of every one of the other five banks 
 of the District for the same, was rejected, and nothing whatever 
 granted to the banks but the privilege of having a specified time 
 wherein to close up their concerns; and this through the votes and 
 influence of members of the Senate, who insist on the destruction of 
 all banks as a policy of the administration." 
 
 The above is onl}- a part of the address, which was very long. 
 
 But perhaps the most remarkable thing connected with the atti- 
 tude of Congress toward the i>eople of the District of Columbia during 
 the remarkable session tif 1839-40, which has heretofore been adverted 
 to in un extract from an address by Hon. William Cost Johnson, was 
 the attempt, which came near succeeding, to grant a new cliarter to 
 the city of Washington. The charter under which the city was then 
 operating was granted to it May 15, 1820, and by its terms was to 
 continue in force for ami during the term of twenty years, and until 
 Congress by law should determine otherwise. Here, then, was a tine 
 opportunity for a few of its citizens, the population being then about 
 twenty-five thousand, to memorialize Congress for a new charter, and 
 accordingly, such a memorial was presented to Congress, signed by 
 about four hundred of the citizens. This memorial, or petition, instead 
 of being referred to the standing committee on the District of Colum- 
 bia, as was the usual and proper course with such petitions, was 
 
150 HISTORY OF WASIIINGTON. 
 
 reCorrcil to a select coiiiniittoe, with Mr. Xorvell, of Micliigan, as its 
 cliairman. 
 
 The bill rejiorted by the eoinniittee was very elaborate and vi)lniiii- 
 iious, coiitaiiiiiig tive or six sections more than the charter which it 
 was designed to supersede. The section which declaimed the con- 
 tinuance of the charter for twenty years, or indefinitely without 
 Congressional action, was inserted in the new bill and altered to ten 
 ycai-s, with a reservation to Congress to alter or repeal it at any time: 
 and thus, while the new act was entitled, "An Act to Amend and 
 Continue in Force the Act to Incorporate the Inhabitants of Washing- 
 ton," yet, in fact, it was one merely to amend, and not to continue in 
 i'orce. 
 
 But the most amazing and mischievous feature of tlie bill, and 
 the one which aroused the inhabitants of the city of Washington, as 
 had perhaps nothing ever done or attempted to be done before, to a 
 realizing sense of the danger which they had so narrowly escaped,— - for 
 the friends of the bill did not succeed in getting it through Congress, — 
 was that with reference to slaves in the city of Washington. Tiie 
 jieoplo of the cit}' were then almost universally opposed to the aboli- 
 tion of slavery in the District. In the old bill or charter cai'cful 
 discrimination was made as to the different modes in which slaves 
 and free persons were to be dealt with or punished. The corporation 
 was empowered to prohibit the nightly or other disorderly meet- 
 ings of slaves, free negroes, or mulattocs, and to pnnisii the slaves by 
 whi[iping and imprisonment, and the free negroes by pecuniary tines; 
 and such slaves as should commit oti'enses against municipal ordinances 
 as would impose tines upon others might be suljject to corporal pun- 
 ishment, unless the masters should come foi-ward and pay the tines. 
 
 In the proposed new charter of the cit}-, every prt)visit)n relating 
 to slaves was expunged! Every clause and part of a clause in which 
 the wtu'd dai^ii occurred was carefully picked out, here and there 
 through the section, and it was impossible to believe otherwise than 
 that these omissions were from design. This course wnuld have 
 resulted in the pi'actical abolition of sla\-ery within the J)istrict. It 
 would have amounted to a renunciation on the part of Congress of 
 the recognition by that bod}' ot any sneh thing as slaveiw, or of any 
 such property as slave property, and would have amounted to a dec- 
 laration that slavery could not in the natui'e of things be established 
 or permitted by any human institution, and that human laws yield to 
 the pai'amonnl I'oi'ce of the natural or dis'ine law. 
 
 The hill was passed lo a third reailing by the unanimous Note of 
 
MUNfC/PAL. 151 
 
 the Democnitiu Piirty in tlie Senate, and among those who thns voted 
 were several Senators from shive States, who, it seemed to the people 
 of the District most natiirul to infer, were not in the dark as to the 
 effect of the proposed charter upon shive property. However, the next 
 day after the passage of tiie bill to -a third reading, a Southern 
 Senator who had voted for the bill renewed a motion to lay it on 
 the table, previously made by one of the minority without success, and 
 it was laid on the table accordingly. But for this motion it would 
 have passed. But yet during the recess of Congress for the summer 
 of 1840, this proposed new charter, with its clause abolishing slavery 
 in the city of Washington, still, like the sword of Dionysius over the 
 neck of Damocles, hung over their devoted heads, and they might 
 well, as they did, feel considerable anxiety as to the fate of this 
 obnoxious measure when Congress should again convene. Though 
 upon reflection it should have occurred to them, and doubtless would 
 have occurred to them but for the excess of their injured party feel- 
 ings, that before the next session of Congress should commence the 
 Senators from the Southern States would find out how nearly they had 
 been trapped into voting for a Ijill which would have accomplished at 
 one sweep the very tiling which they had been voting against for 
 years, and which they could not have sanctioned without going back 
 on their own record, an<l without at the same time injuring to a 
 greater or less extent the safety of slave property in the States.' 
 
 The people of the District took great interest in the politics of 
 the time, being as a general thing in favor of the election of Harrison 
 and Tyler, as President and Vice-President respective!}'. One of the 
 clubs organized was named the " Washington City Tippecanoe Club," 
 organized Septembei- 18, 1840. John Tyler, in passing through the city 
 on his way to Columbus, Ohio, was invited to atldress the club, and 
 acceiiting the invitation, spoke fully and feelingly of the troubles of the 
 District, and joined his voice with the voices of others in various parts 
 of the country who had greeted and cheered the independent sjiirit of 
 the people of the District in the assertion of and demand for their 
 rights. Of this club John A. Blake was president; Robert W. Bates, 
 H. W. Queen, Jacob Gideon, Jr., and Richard H. Stewart, vice-presi- 
 dents; J. L. Henshaw, corresponding secretary; and Wallace Kirk- 
 wood, treasurer. There was in addition to these officers an executive 
 committee of thirteen. 
 
 ' The history of emancipation in the District of Columbia, whicli \va.>: efi'ected 
 some twenty years later, will be presented in a subsequent chapter. 
 
152 ///S/yJA'V OF WASHJNCrON. 
 
 Oh Saturday, Octuber 8, tliis club raised a spacious log cabin and 
 a handsome liberty pole on the vacant ground between the Center 
 Market and Pennsylvania Avenue. The cabin was forty feet front liy 
 fifty feet in depth, fronting on Pennsylvania Avenue, and l)uilt in 
 regular log-cabin style, with a platform in front for public speaking. 
 The liberty i)ole was one luindred and seven feet high, and it was 
 surmounted by a streamer bearing the inscri}»tion, '-Harrison and 
 Tvler." The stars and stripes were afterward elevated above the 
 streamer. The cabin was used as a meeting room for the club, and as 
 a reading and intelligence room for the Whigs generally throughout 
 the presidential contest. The first meeting which took place in this 
 cabin was on Saturday evening after the raising of it, upon vvliich 
 occasion speeches were made by General Walter Jones, Richard S. 
 Coxe, and Robert Ould. 
 
 On Saturday morning, Xovember 7, 1840, it was finally ascertained 
 that William Henry Harrison was elected President of the United 
 States, and the rejoicing of the people of this District knew no bounds; 
 for, having sufiered from the effects of President Jackson's policy 
 toward them, they fully realized from what they had esca[ied. 
 
 John W. Maury served as Mayor of the city from June, 1852, to 
 June, 1854. John T. Towers was elected Mayor in 1854. In June, 
 1856, W. B. Magruder was elected Mayor, by a vote of 2,930, over 
 Silas B. Hill, who received but 2,904 votes. At the election which 
 occurred on Monday, June 1, 1857, there was a serious riot, resulting 
 in the death of several citizens and the wounding of others. The 
 principal cause of the unusual e.xcitement preceding this election and 
 of the riot while it was in progress, arose from the heated discussion 
 of tlie question as to whether naturalized citizens should e.\ercise their 
 right of sufirage, the Know-nothing Party being to a considerable 
 extent bitterly opposed to such exercise. Trouble was anticipated for 
 some days prior to the election, and everything that could be done 
 was done to prevent any outbreak and to calm the excitement, 
 especially by the press. These pajiers, however, did not know that 
 arrangements had been made to introduce "bands of intrusive 
 strangers" from abroad to intertei'c with the elections in this city. 
 By the earliest train, however, and on subsequent trains, bands of 
 ill-looking men, mostly a year or two under age, with the generic and 
 suggestive title of "Plug Uglics," arriveil from Baltimore, crowding 
 the sidewalks, and giving every indiration of being able and willing 
 to carry out any instructions they might have received, or might 
 receive, from hcadipiai-lers. AbonI |i:-!i) a. m., al the iii'st precinct of 
 
MUNICIPAL. 153 
 
 the Fourth Ward, a siuhleii attack was made- upon a naturalized 
 citizen in tlic ranks f)f the voters, and an ottbrt was made to drive 
 all such voters from the polls. In this onslaught, and in the defense 
 whic-li it rendered necessary, several citizens were wounded, natives 
 as well as naturalized. Richard Owens, conimissioiier of the ward, 
 was hadh' shot in the arm and wounded in the head; F. A. Klopfer 
 was struck in the forehead liy a slung-shot; George D. Spencer was seri- 
 ously bruised by a stone; Justice Goddard was struck in several places 
 witli bricks; Justice Donn was similarly wounded with stones; Officer 
 H. Degges, Policeman Birckhead, and Chief of Police Baggott were 
 all more or less severely wounded and driven from the tield. The 
 result of all this was that naturalized citizens became badly demoral- 
 ized and generally retired from tlie scene. 
 
 About 10:30 a. m., the imported rowdies appeared at the lower 
 precinct of the Second Ward, where they fired about a dozen pistol 
 shots, one of them taking etfect in the forehead of a bystander. Rep- 
 resentations being about this time made to the Mayor that it was 
 impossible to keep the polls open at the first precinct of the Fourth 
 Ward, that official made application to the President of the United 
 States for the services of the company of marines then in the city, to 
 maintain the peace. This request of Mayor Magruder was referred 
 to the Secretary of the Xavy, who promptly ordered out one hundred 
 and ten of the marines, under the comnumd of Major Tyler and Cap- 
 tain Maddo.v, and placed them at the disposal of the Ma^'or. The 
 marines were marched to the precinct in question, accompanied by 
 General Henderson in citizen's clothes. As soon as it became known 
 that the marines had been ordered out, :i number of young men 
 secured possession of a si.x-pound brass swivel gun, and hitching a 
 long cord to it, dragged it along Seventh Street, with the avowed 
 object of resisting the marines. Upon arriving at the polling pilace 
 in the first precinct of the Ftiurth Ward, the marines, wlio were 
 acconqianied by the Mayor, the corporation attorney, Marshal Hoover, 
 Ex-Marshal Wallach, Captain Baggott, and several other policemen, 
 found the swivel party on the gnnind, with their gun ou the 
 sidewalk, under the shed of the Xorthern Liberties Market House. 
 The Mayor ordered the polling place to be opened, and was informed 
 by the opponents of naturalized citizens voting that that should not 
 take i)lace. About one thousand five hundred persons were present, 
 whom the Mayor then addressed; but his address, instead of quieting 
 tlicui and calming the disturbaiue, only served to excite the angr^' 
 crowd the more. Soon the order was given to capture the swivel 
 
154 /f/STORY OF W.ISIUXGTON. 
 
 ynii, ami a socliuii ot tliu marines, iiiider Major Tyler, adviiiicuil tur 
 this [lui'pose with fixed Ijayoiiets, which induced the ahaiidoiniient of 
 the cannon ami the retirement of the I'tirty in charge. This party, 
 however, in retiring, hurled volleys of stones, and tired upuu the 
 marines with revolvers, one of them being shot in the jaw. The order 
 was then given to the marines to tire upon the crowd, which order 
 being ol)eyed, two persons immediately fell on Massachusetts Aveuue, 
 ami ill (ither dii'ections many were shot, and several of them mortally 
 wdiiiided. The crowd thereupon took to tlight in all directions, and 
 the marines were marched back td the City Hall. 
 
 There were killed in this riot and its sujipression the following 
 [lei-sons: A Mr. Allison, aged tifty-tive years; F. M. Deems, a clerk 
 ill the General Land OtHce; Archibald Dalrymjile, baggage-master on 
 the BaltiiiK.ire and ()hio Kailroad; a colored man named Neale, from 
 the northern lil)erties: another colored man from Georgetown, named 
 Redding; an iiiiant child was killed on English Hill, and several were 
 severely woumled. The [lolls at the first precinct were reopened about 
 three o'clock in the afternoon, and remained open until the legal hour 
 for closing arrived. The "Plug Uglies," finding themselves so unwel- 
 come in the city and their disinterested services in the cause of 
 "Americanism" so disappointingly unappreciated, silently and slyly 
 st(de away, some of them walking to Bladensburg and others jump- 
 ing upon the cars just as the train was starting from the depot for 
 Baltimore. In order to insure the safety of the citizens from further 
 attack, many of whom had been personally threatened with violence, a 
 strong body of Major FrenclTs ti\'ing artillery was brought down from 
 Fort McHenry, ai'riving here in the evening of election day. Xo 
 further trouble was experience<l however from the Baltimore immi- 
 grants at that time. 
 
 But the Know-mithing sentiment had not expired when the 
 election for .Mayor occurrecl in June, 18o!S. Tlu' opposing candidates 
 for the mayoralty at that time were the then late postmaster of 
 Washington, James G. Berrett, Anti-Know-nothing candidate, and Ex- 
 Marshal Richard Wallach, of the District of Columbia, the Republican 
 candidate. The residt of the election was that Mr. liei-rett was elected 
 by a vote of 3,i;8S to Mr. Wallach's 3,117. 
 
 In June, 18(i(l, the same contest was waged over again, between 
 the same candidates for Mayor, James G. Berrett receiving 3,434 votes 
 to 3,410 for Ricliard Wallach. William B. Magruder, as an inde- 
 l)endent candidate, reci'ived 147 votes. Mr. Wallach tiien gave notice 
 that he would contest the election of Mr. Berrett on the ground of 
 
)f('\/CfP.lL. 155 
 
 friuid. This promised or tiireiiteiiod contest, however, never eanie to 
 trial, because Mayor Berrett, on Saturda\% August 24, 1861, was arrested 
 lit his residence by a portion of tlie I'rovost Marsiial's gnard, and taken 
 to Fort Lafayette, he liaving several days jireviously refused to take 
 the oath prescribed by act of Congress for members of the board of 
 police commissioners. Both branches of tlie city Council were tiierc- 
 upon convened in spiecial session to perform the duties devolving upon 
 them in consequence of the Mayor's arrest. Tlie residence of the 
 Mayor, though searched, furnished no evidence of complicit\' with 
 the Rebellion. Mr. Berrett also said that he was a strong Union man. 
 But it being necessary that there should be a Mayor to execute the 
 laws of the corporation, the two boards, on the 2t!th of the month, 
 elected Richard Wallach to till that office until the regular Mayor's 
 return. James M. Carlisle, corporation attorney, resigned his position 
 and Joseph II. Bradley was appointed to the [ilace, September 1, 1861. 
 Mayor Berrett was released from prison. He resigned the mayoralty 
 on the 14th, and returned to Washington on the 16th. The Mayor's 
 resignation did not reach the city until the 23d, and then the question 
 arose as to whether the city had a .Vlayor. The cor[i()ration attorney 
 decided, however, that .Mr. Wallach was Mayor according to law, 
 because Mayor Berrett had resigned, and hence had no claim to the 
 office. Xotwithstanding this o[iinion of the attorney, the two councils, 
 in order to make assurance doubly sure, on October 17, 1861, elected 
 Mr. Wallach to the office, to till out the uncxjiired term of Mayor 
 Berrett. 
 
 At the election hehl in June, 1862, Mr. Wallach was elected by 
 the pcqiuhir vote tci tlie office, receiving 3,850 votes to 058 cast for 
 James F. Ilalliday. On June 6, 1864, Mayor Wallach was again 
 reelected to the office by a vote of 3,o47 to 2,373 cast for John H. 
 Semmes. June 4, 1866, Mr. Wallach was once more reelected Maj'or 
 of Wasliingtoii by a vote of 3,621 to 1,345 for Mr. Easby. 
 
 It is altogether likely that in 1868 greater interest was attached to 
 the election of Mayor than at any other such election. The reason 
 for this was that the uegrtjes voted that year for the tirst time. The 
 registration showed the folldwing state of things as to the number of 
 negroes having the right to vote: In the First Ward the negro 
 majority was 218; in the Second Ward the white majority was 176; 
 in the Third Ward, 1,031; in the Fourth Ward, 1,310; in the Fifth 
 Ward, 593; in the Sixth Ward, 1,076, and in the Seventh Ward, 263. 
 Total wliite majority, 4,231. It therefore appeared clear that if the 
 wliite voters chose to do so they could defeat any candidate the negroes 
 
156 ff/STOR)- or WASHINGTON. 
 
 favored. Tlie two candidates for Mayor were, on the [lart of tlic 
 Democrats, John T. Given, and on the part of the liepiililicans, Sayies 
 J. Bowen. On tiie face of tiie retnrns ^Ir. Bowen was elected liy a 
 majority of 83; the vote being 1,230 to 1,147. The Conncil, however, 
 was Democratic l)y a small majorit}', and they had to appoint a joint 
 committee to connt the ballots. The National Intelligencer said, "It 
 is to be hoped they will perform their duty, as there may have been 
 mistakes made by the judges." While the count of the vote was in 
 progress the Republican members of the Boards of Aldermen and 
 Common Council declared Mr. Bowen Mayor pro tempore, and the 
 Democratic members similarly declared W. W. Moore Mayor pro 
 tevipore, each protesting against the illegality of the other's action. 
 Mr. Bowen obtained possession of the Mayor's ofHce and proceeded 
 to act as Mayor. 
 
 On account of the difficulty thus existing, the councils, in joint 
 convention, (Ui June 1], elected a Mayor ad interim, in the person of 
 Thomas E. Lloyd. On Saturday, June 13, Mr. Lloyd, as Mayor ad 
 interim, waited upon Mr. Bowen as Ma^'or de facto, and handed him 
 a communication demanding of him the possession of the office, which 
 Mr. Bowen i-efused to grant. Mr. Lloyd then called upon Major 
 A. C. Richards, chief of police, and protested against the presence 
 of metropolititn policemen as guards at the City Hall, to which Major 
 Richards replied that the board of police commissioners would be in 
 session on the 18th, and that he woukl lay the communication before 
 them. On the 18th the city councils deposed Frederick A. Boswell 
 from his office as register of the city, for failure to perform his duties 
 in connection with the election of June 1, 18(38, in that he did not 
 notify certain individuals of their election as he was requiretl by law 
 to do, and a committee on the part of the Boards of Aldermen and 
 ComuKtn Council sulimittcd charges against Major Richards for unlaw- 
 fid acts in connection with tlic perfoi'inance of his duties. The result 
 of the struggle between the parties was that Mr. Bowen served as 
 Mayor from that time to Junt', 187n. 
 
 Early in Januai'y, 187*), the movement dii-ected toward a change 
 in the foi'ni of the government of the District of Columbia received 
 an impetus which carried it forward to success. A meeting of citizens 
 was held, .laiiiniry 12, lV)r the jiuri)Ose of secui'ing this reorganization, 
 at which there were present S. V. Brown, Di'. Lindsley, W. II. Phillips, 
 A. R. Shepherd, liallet KillM)nrn, William !!. Todd, William II. Ten- 
 iicy, J. A. Magruder, Esau I'ickrell, and Dr. Charles II. Nichols. A 
 committee of live persons was api)ointed at this meeting to draft a 
 
.vc.xfcrPAL. 157 
 
 bill providing tlnit the Diistrii-t ut' ColmnUiii should be provided with a 
 Territoi'iiii form of goveriinient, siiiiihir to that of tlie several Territories 
 of the United States, consolidating the three nmniciiial governments 
 then existing into this one govei'nment, except that the governor 
 and the upper brancli of the legislature should be appointed by the 
 President of the United States and confirmed liy the Senate, and 
 the lower branch of the legislatnrc and a delegate to Congress should 
 be elected by the people. Meetings were held by different classes of 
 citizens, some in favor of the change in the form of government, and 
 others in opposition thereto. At length, about February 1, at a mass 
 meeting held in Lincoln Ilall, a committee of one hundred and fifty 
 persons was appointed to take general charge of the matter, which 
 committee appointed a subcommittee to draft a suitable bill, which 
 was approved at a large meeting held at Metzerott Hall, March 
 3, 1870, in several very able speeches, especially one by lion. A. G. 
 Riddle. This bill passed the Senate May 27. 
 
 In the meantime there was held a highly interesting and important 
 election for Mayor of the cit}- of Washington, the Mayor, Sayles .1. 
 Bowen, and M. G. Emery being the respective candidates. The result 
 of the election was that Mr. Emery was elected by a vote of 10,096 
 votes to 6,877 for Mayor Bowen. Mr. Emery was the last Mayor of 
 Washington, his term expiring in June, 1871, when what is called the 
 Territorial government went into operation. 
 
 This Territorial form of governiuent, as has been intimated, con- 
 sisted of a Governor and other executive officers, and a Legislature 
 composed of a Legislative Assenibl}' and a House of Delegates. It was 
 established under an act of Congress passed February 21, 1871. The 
 first officers appointed under this act were Henry D. Cooke, formerly 
 of Sandusky, Ohio, Governor; and a board of [lublic works consist- 
 ing of Alexander R. Shepherd, S. P. Brown, James A. Magruder, and 
 A. B. Mullett. Governor Cooke received his commission February 
 28, and assumed the duties of his office May 15, 1871, although the 
 Territorial government did not get into operation until June 1 follow- 
 ing. The Legislative Assembl}' of this Territorial government consisted 
 of seventeen members, and the House of Delegates of forty-six mem- 
 bers. The delegate in Congress was Hon. Norton P. Chiimian. The 
 delegate in Congress and the foi-ty-six members of the House of 
 Delegates were elected by the peoyile. Governor Cooke resigned his 
 position September 13, 1873, and was succeeded by Alexander U. 
 Shepherd, who served until June 20, 1874, when b^' reason of an 
 investigation by Congress into the operations of the Territorial gov- 
 
158 HISTORY OF W.-IS/r/XGTO.y. 
 
 eniment, made at the instanco of certain citizens of the District, wlio 
 could not tlieii, Idit wlio can intw, appi'cciate the great work tliat was 
 l)eing accomplished in tlie way of improving tiie eit.y, whicli had ever 
 since it came into existence rested with more or less complacency in 
 a quagmire of letiiargy and general dilapidation, the Territorial form 
 of government was abolished and a government b}' commissioners 
 established in its jilace; though to the impetus given to the 
 improvement of the city during the brief period of the Territorial 
 government by the large brain, splendid executive ability, coi-rect 
 appreciation of the necessities of the District, and the indomitable 
 energy of Alexander R. Shepherd, do the inhabitants of the city owe 
 its present beauty ami magnificence, and the world-wide reputation 
 it now enjoys as one of the finest capital cities of the world. This 
 enviable reputation is now and must continue to be inseparable from 
 the name of the city of Washington so long as it shall remain the 
 Nation's Capital. But the improvements Iirought about through 
 the imiietns thus given to the work by Governor Shepherd will be 
 more fully and appreciatively treated in another chapter by a more 
 competent hand. 
 
 Tlie following are the names of the officers of the District of 
 Columbia under its Territorial form of government: 
 
 Delegate to Congress — Norton P. Chipman, from A[)ril 21, 1871, to 
 March 4, 1875. 
 
 Secretaries — Norton P. Chipman, from March 2, 1871, to April 21, 
 1871; Edwin L. Stanton, from May 19, 1871, to September 22, 187:^; 
 Richard Harrington, from September 22, 1873, to June 20, 1874. 
 
 Board of Public Works — Henry D. Cooke, while Governor; Alex- 
 ander R. Shepherd, from March 16, 1871, to September 13, 1873; S. P. 
 Brown, from March 10, 1871, to September 13, 1873; A. B. Mullett. 
 from March 16, 1871. to .June 2, 1873; James A. Magruder, from 
 March 16, 1871, to June 20, 1874; Adolj)!: Cluss, from January 
 2, 1873, to June 20, 1874; Henry A. Willard, from May 22, 1873, to 
 June 20, 1874; John B. Blake, from Septend)er 13, 1873, to June 
 20, 1874. 
 
 Board of Health — 1^. S. Lincoln, from March 15, 1871, to March 
 22, 1871; T. S. Verdi, from March 15, 1871, to July 1, 1878; II. A. 
 Willard, March 15, 1871; John M. Langston, from March 15, 1871, to 
 November 10, 1877; John Marbury, Jr., from March 15, 1871, to July 
 1, 1878; D. Willard Bliss, from May 23, 1872, to July 1, 1878; Robert 
 
 B. Warden, from Xovi'nd>er 10. 1S77. to July 1. 1878; Christopher 
 
 C. Cox, fi-(un April •'!, 1S71, lo July 1, IS7S. 
 
MUNICIPAL. 159 
 
 By the act of Congress of June 20, 1874, which abolished the 
 Territorial form of government for the District, the executive munici- 
 pal authority was vested temporarily in three commissioners, appointed 
 by the President of the United States. These commissioners were 
 Hon. William Dennison, of Oiiio; Henry T. Blow, of Missouri; and 
 John H. Ketcham, of New York. The first of these served from July 
 1, 1874, to July 1, 1878; the second, from July 1, 1874, to December 
 31, 1874; and the third, from July 3, 1874, to June 30, 1877. Seth 
 L. Ledyard was commissioner from January 18, 1875, to June 30, 
 1878; Thomas B. Bryan from June 30, 1877, to July 1, 1878; and 
 Captain Richard L. Hoxie from July 2, 1874, to July 1, 1878. 
 
 The temporary form of government gave way at tiiis time to a 
 permanent form of government provided for by an act of Congress 
 passed June 11, 1878. This government is administered by a board 
 of three commissioners, two of whom are appointed from civil life b\- 
 the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States 
 Senate, and the third is detailed from time to time by the President 
 from the Engineer Corps of the arm}'. These commissioners control, 
 either directly or indirectly, the appointments to and removals from 
 otfice in the District, except in case of teaciiers and janitors in tiie 
 public schools. The commissioners under the permanent form of gov- 
 ernment have been as follows: 
 
 Josiah Dent, from July 1, 1878, to July 17, 1882; Seth L. Phelps, 
 July 1, 1878, to November 29, 1879; Major William J. Twining, June 
 29, 1878, to May 5, 1882; Thomas P. Morgan, November, 29, 1879, to 
 March 8, 1883; Major Garrett J. Lydecker, May 11, 1882, to April 
 1, 1886; Joseph R. West, July 14, 1882, to July 22, 1885; James 
 B. Edmunds, March 3, 1883, to April 1, 1886; William B. Webb, July 
 
 20, 1885, to May 21, 1889; S. E. Wheatley, March 8, 1880, to May 
 
 21, 1889; Colonel William Ludlow, April 1, 1886, to January 26, 1888; 
 Major Charles W. Raymond, January 26, 1888, to February 14, 1890; 
 Henry M. Robert, February 14, 1890, to October 14, 1891; Lemon 
 G. nine. May 21, 1889, to October 1, 1890; John W. Douglass, May 
 21, 1889, to the present time; John W. Ross,' October 1, 1890, to the 
 
 ' John W. Ross, commissioner of the District of Columbia, was born in Lewistown 
 Illinois, June 2:5, 1841. He attended private schools in Lewistown, and took a four 
 years' course at the Illinois College, and one year at the Harvard Law School. He was 
 admitted to the bar, upon examiuation in open .Supreme Court, at Springfield in ISOO 
 and was elected as a Democrat to the Illinois Legislature in 186S, and again in 1870. He 
 removed to Washington in 1S73, and since that time ha,s resided here, and has been 
 engaged most of the time in the practice of the law. In 1883, he was appointed lee- 
 
160 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 present time; Captain William T. Kossell, October 14, 1891, to tlie 
 present time. 
 
 Dr. William Tindiill has been seci'etary to the commissioners since 
 July 1, 1878. Dr. Smith Townsend was health oflScer from 1878 to 
 1891. The attorneys of the District have been Edwin L. Stanton, 
 William Birney, Alfred G. Riddle, and George C. Ilazleton. 
 
 On a preceding page has been given the date of the appointment 
 of the tirst police force. By an act of Congress passed in 1842, an 
 auxiliary guard, or watch, was established for the protection of public 
 and private property against incendiaries, and the enforcement of police 
 regulations in the city of Washington was also provided for. This 
 auxiliary guard was made to consist of a captain, appointed b}' the 
 Mayor, at a salary of $1,000 per year, and tiftecn other persons, to 
 be employed by the captain, five of them at a sahuy of $35 per 
 month and the other ten at a salary of $30 per month. They were 
 to occujjy such building as might be furnished by the United States 
 or by the corporation of Washington, and which might be approved 
 of by the President of the United States. They were to be subject to 
 such rules and regulations as might be prescribed by a board to consist 
 of the Mayor of Washington, the United States attornej' of the District 
 of Columbia, and the attorney for the corporation of Washington, 
 with the approval of the President of the United States; and the 
 sum of $7,000 was appropriated by the act for the purchase of the 
 necessary implements to be used in the discharge of the duties of 
 the police. Annual appropriations were made of the same amount 
 for the next ten years. 
 
 An act was passed March 3, 1851, authorizing an additional force 
 of Kfteen men, and the bill placed in the hands of the Mayor the 
 authority to appoint them. The compensation of half this force was 
 fixed at $500 per annum, and that of the other half at $400 per 
 annum. The annual appropriation under this legislation was $15,000. 
 
 August 4, 1854, an act was passed increasing the appropriation, and 
 making the salaries of the private members of the force all $500 per year. 
 On January 3, 1855, the salary was again increased to $600 per year. 
 
 turer in the law school of the Georgetown University, and served in that capat-itj' until 
 1888. He was appointed trustee of the pulilic schools of the IMstrict of Columhia in 
 188G, and served three years as president of the school board, and until ajjpointed com- 
 missioner of the District of Coluuil)ia. He was appointed postmaster of tlu' city of 
 Washington by President Cleveland, and (jualitied Feliruary 1, ISSS, and served in that 
 cai)acity until October 1, 1S90, when he was iipiMiiutcd liy President Harrison comMiis- 
 sioner of the. District of Columbia. 
 
J\n'N/CIP.4L. 161 
 
 Marcli 3, 1859, Congress passed an act appropriating $12,530.52, 
 "to repa_y to the corporation the compensation of twenty jiolicemen 
 from July 13, 1858, to June 30, 1859," and continuing the force of 
 twenty policemen, and on June 20, 1860, an appropriation for the 
 year was made of $32,400. 
 
 By the act of August 0, 1861, the Metropolitan Police District 
 of the District of Columbia was created, comprising tlie corporations 
 of Washington and Georgetown, and the county outside of the cities' 
 limits. By this act the President was authorized to appoint, by and 
 with the advice and consent of the Senate, tive commissioners, — three 
 from Washington, one from Georgetown, and one from the county, — 
 who, together with the Mayors of the two cities, were to constitute 
 a board of police, selecting a president and treasurer from among 
 tliemselves, the treasurer to give bonds in the sum of $10,000. The 
 board was empowered to appoint a police force, to consist of a super- 
 intendent, ten sergeants, and a patrol force not to exceed one hundred 
 and fifty men for the regular service. 
 
 The board was authorized to divide tlie District into precincts, not 
 to exceed ten in number; to establish stations; to detail and ciiange 
 sergeants and patrolmen to such part of the District as they might 
 deem advisable; and to appoint and swear in an_\ number of additional 
 patrolmen for special service. The superintendent of police was to 
 receive a salary of $1,500 per year, each sergeant $600, and each 
 patrolman $480. All rewards or fees, and all moneys arising from 
 the sale of unclaimed goods, were to constitute the "Policemen's 
 Fund," which was to be used to defray the necessary expenses of any 
 member of the police force disabled in the discharge of his duty. 
 
 The board of metropolitan police was declared to possess powers 
 of general police supervision and inspection over all licensed venders, 
 hackmen, cartnien, dealers in second-hand merchandise, intelligence 
 offices, auctioneers of watches and jewelry, suspected private banking 
 houses, and other doubtful establishments within the District of Col- 
 umbia. It was also authorized to prepare and publish all the laws 
 and ordinances in force in the District of Columbia having relation 
 and being applicable to police and health matters, as the police code 
 of the District, which was constituted the law upon such matters as 
 it contained. 
 
 June 25, 1864, an act was passed authorizing an increase of fifty 
 per cent, in the compensation of the entire police force, to commence 
 Jul}- 1, 1864, such increase to be borne by the cities of the District and 
 the county in proportion to the number of patrolmen allowed to each, 
 
102 HISTORY OF WASH/NGTON. 
 
 and a special tax not exceeding one-fourtli of one per cent. An act 
 was passed July 23, 186G, antliorizing a large additional force and 
 prescribing the titles of the members,— major, captains, lieutenants, 
 sergeants, and privates. Each member was to provide a uniform at his 
 own expense. Private detectives were prohibited, except upon special 
 authority, and these private detectives were required to give bonds in 
 the sum of $10,000 for the faithful performance of their duties, and to 
 be subject to the control of the board of police. 
 
 By an act of March 2, 1867, no one could serve as policeman or 
 watchman who had not served in the array or navy of the United 
 States and received an honorable discharge. By an act of July 20, 
 1868, an appropriation was made of $211,050 for salaries and other 
 necessary expenses. The corporate authorities of the two cities and the 
 county were authorized to levy a special tax of one-third of one per 
 cent., to pay their proportionate expenses. The appropriations made 
 by Congress for the support of the police force of the District from 
 August 23, 1842, to the close of the year 1877, were $2,890,350 21. 
 
 By an act of March 3, 1875, it was provided that the duties 
 devolved upon and the authority conveyed to the board of metropol- 
 itan police by law for police purposes should extend to and include 
 all public squares and places. 
 
 By an act of June 11, 1878, a permanent form of government for 
 the District of Columbia was established, which provided that from 
 and after July 1, 1878, the board of metropolitan police should be 
 abolished, and all the powers and duties exercised by them should 
 be transferred to the commissioners of the District, who were granted 
 authority to employ such officers and agents and to adopt such pro- 
 visions as might be necessary to carry into effect the powers and 
 duties devolved upon them by the act; and they were empowered to 
 fix the salaries to be paid to the officers and privates of the metro- 
 politan police until otherwise provided by law; and all expenses 
 previously incurred by the General Government for the metropolitan 
 police were afterward to be paid by the Government of the District, 
 according to the act of June 20, 1878. 
 
 A question afterward arose as to whether the District commis- 
 sioners, under the above legislation, could legally appoint upon the 
 police force men who had not served in the army or navy of the 
 United States. The matter was brought to a legal test by a suit for 
 salary by a driver of an ambulance who had not so served. Tiie 
 decision of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia was in 
 favor of the driver, and the District commissioners were willing to 
 
MUNICIP.IL. 163 
 
 accept tlie decision as settling the question, but tlie First Comptroller 
 of the Treasury refused to pay the account, and appealed the case to 
 the Supreme Court of the United States. The decision of this court, 
 rendered February 1, 1892, was to the effect that the law of June 
 11, 1878, repealed the army and navy limitation, and gave the com- 
 missioners full power to employ on the police force whomsoever they 
 thought suitable to serve thereon. 
 
 The police force of the District of Columbia at the present time 
 is as follows: One major and superintendent, William G. Moore; 2 
 captains, 89 lieutenants, 1 chief and property clerk, 3 clerks, 4 sur- 
 geons, 32 sergeants, 415 privates, 20 station keepers, 10 laborers, 2 
 messengers, 1 van driver, 1 ambulance driver, 2 assistant ambulance 
 drivers, 13 drivers of patrol wagons, and 3 police matrons. The total 
 annual cost of maintaining this force is about $500,000. During the 
 year ending in 1891, although there was in certain instances a slight 
 increase in the number of crimes committed, as in disorderly conduct 
 and drunkenness, yet on the whole there was a general decrease in 
 the amount of crime. In this connection it is deemed proper to state 
 that the police force of the city of Washington is noted for its efii- 
 ciency, as well as for its orderly and gentlemanly conduct. 
 
 The ancient springs of the District of Columbia in the early day 
 were as follows: The most important one was that on Smith's farm, 
 at the head of North Capitol Street, above Boundary Street. It had 
 a great flow of water. From it there were two mains — one down 
 North Capitol Street to the Capitol grounds, which still supplies the 
 grotto with its constant flow of water, and the other going down 
 Pennsylvania Avenue nearly to Fifteenth Street. Then there was a 
 spring in the City Hull lot, about fifty feet west of the building, wliich 
 supplied pumps on Second Street as far as the Lafayette House, and 
 another line of pipe went down Louisiana Avenue to Seventh Street. 
 South of the City Hall, on C Street, between Four and a Half and 
 Sixth streets, was another famous spring. It was oi; a lot owned by 
 the corporation, and upon which the building tirst used for a police 
 court stood afterward. 
 
 There was also a spring under where the Masonic Temple stands 
 [in 1884J, which was tajiped by pipes running along F Street and 
 down Ninth and Tenth streets. There was a spring in Franklin 
 Square, and another just outside the square. The old Carroll Spring 
 on Capitol Hill, located at the intersection of New Jersey and New 
 York avenues, had a most copious flow, and the water was both cool 
 and of excellent quality. The best spring in the northwestern part of 
 
164 HfSrORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 the city was on 1' Street, near the Georgetown bridge, whicli for niaiiy 
 years supplied tlie Metropolitan street-car stables, in Georgetown, liy a 
 pipe under the bridge. There is a splendid spring on Virginia Avenue, 
 between Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh streets, near the gas works. 
 
 The springs above described supplied the necessities of the inhabit- 
 ants for several years, but at length the}' of course became inadequate. 
 In 1831, Congress appropriated $12,000 to bring to the Capitol the 
 waters from one of the springs of the Tiber, rising on the farm 
 of J. A. Smith, about a mile away. Tlie water was conducted in 
 iron pipes from the reservoir at the head of the stream, and supplied 
 the marble fountain at the foot of the terrace on the west front 
 of the Capitol, the surplus being discharged into basins, one on the 
 east and one on the west front of the building. Tlie one on the west 
 contained seventy-eight thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven 
 gallons, and that on the east one hundred and eleven thousand two 
 hundred and forty-one gallons. In 1849, the yield of the fountain 
 was thirty-two gallons per minute. 
 
 It was about this time that the necessity for a larger supply of 
 water began to attract serious attention. Robert Mills, engineer and 
 architect of the city of Washington, wrote and had published a seiios 
 of able articles on the entire suiyect of water supply, giving a succinct 
 history of waterworks from the most ancient times down to the then 
 present. The rare gift of nature to the city of Washington in the 
 form of underground springs, which rose up wherever a well was 
 dug, and which in several instances overflowed their margins, and 
 which, ever since the settlement of the place, had satisfied tiic inhab- 
 itants, was a remarkable circumstance. The founders of the city, when 
 they laid it out, especially noticed the abundant supply of jmre water 
 in the springs of the Tiber, and in others in various parts of the city 
 and outside thereof. After the fire which destro^'ed the Treasury 
 Ijuilding, and the General Post Office and Patent Office buildings, Mr. 
 Mills, as architect of the city, recommended that a supply of water 
 should be conducted from the basins at the Capitol to those buildings, 
 where, being under a head of si.xty feet, the water might be conducted 
 to their top by means of hose. It was in this connection that Congress 
 appropriated the money above mentioned to carry the suggestion into 
 execution, and in order to benefit tiiat portion of the city thi'ough 
 wiiich the pipe passed, fire plugs were stationed at projicr distances, 
 whicli were accessible in case of need. 
 
 On Marcli 30, 1830, Mr. Mills addressed a letter to Hon. G. C. 
 Wuplanck, chairman of tlie Committee on Public Buildings, upon the 
 
MUNICIPAL. 165 
 
 subject of supplyinnj the city of Wasliiiigton with water, the sources 
 being, first, the Tiber, and second. Rock Creek. With reference to 
 the Tiber, it was the nearer to the Capitol, and its waters could be 
 brought there at the least expense; but the supply was limited, and 
 it was not certain that its yield would be permanent. The main head 
 springs of this creek were three in number, and from them the water 
 flowed in quantity as follows: From No. 1, 7 gallons per minute; from 
 No. 2, 3 gallons per minute; and from No. 3, 4i gallons per minute. 
 Total flow, 14| gallons per minute. The expense of bringing the 
 water from these springs to the Capitol would be $43,710.50, exclusive 
 of the purchase of the springs. The water of Rock Creek was looked 
 upon by Mr. Mills very favorably as a source of supply, not only for 
 the then present, but for the future, and the high grounds were suit- 
 able for the formation of a reservoir from which to supply the entire 
 city; and the conduit pipes, before reaching the Capitol, would pass 
 through the city, instead of passing through vacant territory, as in 
 case of drawing water from the head springs of the Tiber. The 
 entire cost of conducting the water from Rock Creek, he thought, 
 would not exceed $50,000. 
 
 On February 14, 1853, Brigadier-General Joseph G. Totton made 
 a report to the Secretary of War on the subject of supplying water 
 to the cities of Washington and Georgetown, embodying in his report 
 that to himself of Montgomery C. Meigs, a synopsis of which is here 
 introduced. The aqueduct from Rock Creek, complete, to the Capitol 
 and Navy Yard, and public buildings, would cost $1,258,863. The 
 supply of water in winter and spring would be 26,732,300 gallons, and 
 would run down in summer to 9,860,000 gallons. The Little Falls 
 work, complete, would cost $1,597,415, and the supply would be 
 steadily 12,000,000 gallons. The Great Falls project would cost $1,- 
 921,244, and the constant daily supply would be 36,000,000 gallons. 
 This latter project had numerous and great advantages over every 
 other. The work of constructing the Washington aqueduct, which 
 was to supply the citizens of Washington and Georgetown with water, 
 was assigned to the Engineering Department, and General Totten, with 
 the approval of the Secretary of War, placed Captain Montgomery 
 C. Meigs in charge. 
 
 But this work, so much needed b}* the two cities of Washington 
 and Georgetown, received a backset in April, 1853, by the refusal of 
 the Legislature of Maryland to permit the Washington aqueduct 
 to convey the water from the Great Falls to these cities. This was a 
 great surprise and a great disappointment. The construction of this 
 
166 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 aqueduct was looked upon as a more important measure than tlio 
 extension of tlie Capitol, wliich was tlien going on. There would be 
 expended nearly a million dollars between the District of Columbia and 
 the Great Falls, and nearly another million within the limits of the 
 District itself. It would make the city a far more desirable place of 
 i-esidencc, increasing the comfort and health of all tlie citizens, and 
 cheapening insurance, besides increasing the safety of all the buildings, 
 public and private, from lires. Better counsel, however, soon {irevailed 
 in the legislature, and on May 3, 1853, an act was passed consenting to 
 the draft of water from the Potomac and its conveyance to the District 
 of Columbia. 
 
 Preparations, therefore, went on for the beginning of work on 
 the proposed aqueduct. November 8, 1853, was a memorable day in 
 the history of Washington and Georgetown; for on that day work 
 was at length commenced upon the great aqueduct that was to bring 
 in to them tlie waters of the Potomac. The President of the United 
 States and a portion of his cabinet, with the municipal authorities of 
 Washington, went by steamboat and pack horses from Georgetown 
 up the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to Crommelin, near the Great 
 Falls of the Potomac, in the vicinity of wliich the aqueduct com- 
 menced. The spot having been designated by a Hag erected u[K)n a 
 pole, the President approached it, and surrounded by a lai'ge concourse 
 of people, the exercises were opened with a prayer from Rev. Dr. Pyne, 
 of St. John's Episcopal Church, Washington, after which Captain M. 
 C. Meigs made a short address. President Pierce then broke ground 
 with the spade presented to him foi' that purpose. Hon. Jcticrson 
 Davis followed the example of the President; Senator Douglas, of 
 Illinois, did the same, and then John W. Maur}-, Mayor of Washing- 
 ton, W. W. Seaton, the late Mayor, and others, among them being 
 Thomas liitchie, Mr. Walter, and Captain William Easby, followed 
 the same example. 
 
 Passing over the Rock Creek aqueduct, as it would have been had 
 it been constructed, and contining ourselves to the Potomac aqueduct, 
 we have from Captain Meigs's report the following synopsis: That 
 while from a casual survey of the route necessary to be followed it 
 would appear almost impossible to construct an aqueduct along the 
 Pot(imac River, on account of the jagged and vei'tical precipices, etc., 
 that would have to be overcome; yet upon a careful and mathematical 
 survey, there were really but few difficulties that an engineer would 
 not delight in overcoming; because the rocky precipices and ditficult 
 passages were really below the level which would naturally be selected 
 
MUNICIPAL. 167 
 
 for the conduit. There were indeed necessary several tunnels, of an 
 average length of 220 feet, and but three bridges, only one of these 
 being large enough to make its erection an object of ami/ition to an 
 engineer. The distance in a right line from the beginning of the 
 conduit to the north end of the Georgetown aqueduct was llf 
 miles, and the length of the conduit 14 miles to the same point. The 
 elevation of the water in the Potomac River opposite the fifteenth 
 milestone on the canal, which is somewhat less than three-fourths of 
 a mile above Collins's Great Falls House, is at low water 147 feet 
 above high tide at Washington; and there was an average depth of 
 water in the river of 5 feet. As the water was not high enough to 
 allow the conduit to be constructed above the canal, it was necessary 
 to convey the water under the canal in large iron pipes to the gate 
 house on the opposite side, where regulating gates, worked by screws, 
 controlled the quantity of water admitted. From this gate house the 
 water was to be conducted in a circular brick conduit, 7 feet in 
 diameter, afterward changed to 9 feet in diameter, because while the 
 expense of constructing the conduit would be increased by about 
 one-sixth, yet the capacity of the conduit would be doubled. With 
 a slope of .792 feet to the mile, the water running at a depth of 6 
 feet, the 7-foot conduit would discharge 36,000,000 gallons per day, 
 while the 9-foot conduit would discharge 67,596,000 gallons per day. 
 
 After leaving the river, there are two tunnels near the pipe cham- 
 ber, one 215 feet long, the other 272 feet long. Then the line is 
 principally in rock, but soon crossing a ravine and small brook by an 
 arch of 24-foot span. It then passes through two tunnels, one 115 
 feet, the other 61 feet in length. At 5| miles from the dam, it crosses 
 Mountain Spring Brook by an. arch of 50-foot span; and thence pro- 
 ceeds in easy cuttings, until at the end of 7 miles it comes to the 
 valley of the Cabin John Branch, the only serious obstacle in the 
 way. Over this branch it was proposed to construct an aqueduct 
 of the following description: Length, 482 feet; greatest height, 101 
 feet; width, 20 feet; six semi-circular arches, each of 60-foot span, 
 resting upon piers 7 feet thick by 20 feet long at the top and varying 
 in height, the highest being 32i feet.. Its estimated cost was $72,400. 
 This plan was, however, changed, as will be seen later on. Near the 
 end of the tenth mile the line reaches the valley of Little Falls 
 Branch, a dam across which — 41 feet in height and 200 feet long — 
 floods a little more than 50 acres of land, which makes a line receiv- 
 ing reservoir of an irregular shape, 140 feet above high tide, and 
 having a capacity of 163,000,000 gallons. 
 
168 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Tlie objects proposed to be accomplished in the construction of 
 this receiving reservoir were to fiirnisli storage capacity and to secure 
 a large area in which the water might have opportunity to deposit 
 its impurities. The first object was accomplished, but the second 
 ()V)ject, after an experience of four years, from 1860 to 1864, was 
 found to be impracticable, for the reason that four or five streams 
 were constantly discharging into the basin, each di-aining a hilly 
 country, and consequently swollen and muddied by every rain; and 
 besides, the hillsides discharged their surface water into the reservoir. 
 The water for the most part was shallow, the area compared with the 
 shore line was small, and the banks were unprotected from the wash 
 of the waves. 
 
 Just before reaching this receiving reservoir the conduit passes 
 through a tunnel of more than one thousand two lumdred feet in 
 length, but after leaving it tliere is no further tunneling. Below this 
 reservoir there is a distributing reservoir, near Drover's Rest, above 
 Georgetown. This distributing reservoir is on the thirteenth mile from 
 the upper end of tlie aqueduct. 
 
 The first appropriation made for the prosecution of this work, by 
 Congress, was on September 30, 1850, tlie amount being $500. The 
 ne.xt appropriation was $5,000, made April 30, 1852. This apjiropri- 
 ation was made to enable the President of the United States to have 
 the survey of the route made. The next appropriation was made in 
 1853, of $100,000, for the purpose of beginning the work. The date 
 of breaking ground has alreaily been given, as has also the date of 
 Maryland's consent to the construction of the aqueduct. Virginia, on 
 March 3, 1854, gave her consent to the purchase of a tract of land 
 for the Virginia abutment of the dam at Great Falls. A tract of 
 land for this purpose, also a tract of several acres containing tiie 
 quarries necessary for the construction of the dam, were purcliased 
 of Virginia, and also the lands along the line of the aqueduct in 
 Maryland from the Great Falls to the District of Columbia. 
 
 Contracts were entered into for the several portions of the aque- 
 duct with Degges & Smith, of Washington, District of Columbia, and 
 of Baltimore, Maryland, respectively, January 23, 1854, for the delivery of 
 from twenty-five millions to forty millions of brick along the line of the 
 canal, at $8.75 per thousand; May 28, 1854, with Felix Duffin, of Ohio, 
 for the graduation and culverts, including the 1-foot culverts; May 
 10, 1855, with N. II. Decker, of Albany, New York, for graduation 
 and culverts; June 16, 1855, with Patrick Crowley, for tunnels; and 
 November 24, 1855, with Hugh L. Gallaher, of Virginia, to take up 
 
MVNICIPAI.. 169 
 
 and complete the work contracted to be done by Felix Duflin, Mr. 
 Duffin having tailed to carry out his contract. 
 
 During the tall of 1853 and the year 1854, the work was prose- 
 cuted with diligence. Connection with the Potomac River under the 
 canal wa.s made, and tunnels Nos. 1, 2, and 3 were commenced, 
 about four hundred and iifty feet being pierced, and a small portion 
 of the brick conduit built. Xo appropriation having been made in 
 1854, work was suspended until after March 4, 1855, when Congress 
 made an appropriation of $250,000. With this sum most of the lands 
 in Maryland were purchased, 827 feet of tunnels pierced, 1,800 feet 
 of conduit built, 13 culverts nearly completed, together with the 
 embankments over them, and most of the other tunnels in Maryland 
 begun. The crossing under the canal at the Great Falls was com- 
 pleted, and the canal itself restored to its full dimensions. 
 
 In 1856, the work was again suspended for want of an appropri- 
 ation. March 3, 1857, an appropriation of $1,000,000 was made, most 
 of the lands in the District of Columbia purchased, contracts made 
 for the great conduit, the receiving reservoir made, the arch stones at 
 Cabin John Bridge, 12 inch pipes, and bridges Nos. 1 and 2 nearly 
 completed, N'os. 3 and 5 commenced, 6,104 feet of conduit built, 2,034J 
 feet of tunnels pierced, and the Potomac dam commenced. During 
 the winter of 1857-58 a large quantity of stone was quarried and 
 deposited along the line of the aqueduct, and preparations made for 
 the work of 1858. June 12, 1858, an appropriation was made of 
 $800,000, the remainder of the lands in the District of Columbia pur- 
 chased, all the culverts completed, the conduit nearly finished, bridges 
 N"os. 3 and 5 completed, bridge No. 4 (Cabin John) commenced, and 
 the granite arch cut, and part of the rubble arch was built. In the 
 spring of 1859, the Eock Creek Bridge was well advanced, the tunnels, 
 except No. 1, finished, waste weirs Nos. 1 and 3 completed and No. 2 
 snfiiciently so for use, the 12-inch main pipe laid, and the 30-inch 
 pipe commenced. September 27, 1858, the receiving reservoir being 
 finished, the sluice gate was closed. December 8, the water rose to 
 the bottom of the conduit, and on January 3, 1859, it was introduced 
 into the pipes supplying the cities. 
 
 In the spring of 1859, the work was again suspended for want of 
 funds. In June, 1860, an appropriation was made of $500,000, "to be 
 expended according to the jilans and estimates of Captain Meigs, and 
 under his superintendence." This provision caused some official com- 
 ment, President Buchanan, in a message, calling attention to the fact 
 that if strictly construed it, in etiect, took away from the President 
 
170 H/SrORY OF !I.I.S7//XGrOA': 
 
 the p(j\vei' of appointing officers of tlie ariii}', and was therefore a 
 usurpation of executive autliority, lience unconstitutional. He, how- 
 ever, could not tliinlv it possible that Congress intended to encroacli 
 upon his powers, and so construed the law as he supposed Congress 
 intended to enact it. 
 
 Upon July 17, 1860, Captain W. II. Benhara was appointed chief 
 engineer, and in December following lie was succeeded by Lieutenant 
 Morton. February 22, 1861, General M. C. Meigs again resumed 
 charge of the aqueduct. Work on tiie aqueduct was resumed in 
 the fall of 1860, under Captain Benhani, who expended while in charge 
 .?98,345.11; Lieutenant Morton expended while in cliarge $55,441.40; 
 and General Meigs in 1861 spent $81,802.61. 
 
 Up to June 17, 1862, the total appropriations had been $2,900,000, 
 and the total expenditures $2,675,832.53. February 22, 1864, S. Sey- 
 mour, engineer of the aqueduct, reported that an anijile supply of 
 water for the cities of Washington and Georgetown could be obtained 
 from the Potomac by the erection of a tight dam from the Maryland 
 side of the Potomac to Conn's Island, which would give a height of 
 six feet of water in the aqueduct, and yield u daily supjily of 65,000,- 
 000 gallons, which was more by one-third than was used in the city 
 of New York in 1861, when its population was over 800,000. The 
 engineer, at the same time, estimated that the amount necessary to 
 conn)lete the work was $546,433.62, making the entire cost of the 
 aqueduct $3,446,438.62, or, in round numbers, $3,500,000. And upon 
 making a comparison with twenty other large cities in this country, 
 this would be less than half the average cost of their waterworks, and 
 the capacity of the Washington aqueduct would be more than double 
 the average capacity of theirs. 
 
 Washington and Georgetown were no exception to the rule that 
 cities waste a vast amount of water distributed to their inhabitants by 
 means of waterworks. In 1870, this subject began to attract atten- 
 tion here. General N. Michler saying that the two cities consumed 
 about 12,000,000 gallons per day. A large portion of this amount was 
 consumed in the Government dei)artments, especially in the Navy Yard 
 and at the Treasury. On Capitol Hill and other high points, the 
 supply was not cipial to the demand, because of the reckless and 
 wasteful use of the water in the lower portions of the city. To rem- 
 edy this waste, the General recommended the adoption of the meter 
 system. 
 
 According to Colonel Casey, who had charge of the aqueduct in 
 1879, there had been expended in the construction and maintenance 
 
MCN/C/PAL. 171 
 
 of the waterworks, prior to June 30, 1879, bj- the United States, 
 $3,784,546.72, by the corporation of Wasliington, $1,313,351.17, and 
 by Georgetown, about $40,000, thougli the precise amount spent by 
 Georgetown couUl not be ascertained, because her accounts had been 
 so poorly kept. The aggregate expenditure had been $5,137,897.89. 
 Tlie total receipts had been $1,104,956.56. 
 
 The first mention of water rents, in legislation referring to tiiis 
 system, was in the third section of an act of Congress entitled, "An 
 Act to Provide for the Care and Preservation of the Works Con- 
 structed by the United States for Bringing the Potomac Water into 
 the Cities of Washington and Georgetown, for tiie Supply of said 
 Water for all Governmental Purposes, and for the Use and BeneBt of 
 the Inhabitants of said Cities." This act was passed March 3, 1859. 
 By this act the corporations of the two cities were authorized to 
 establish a scale of annual rates for the supply of water, apportioned 
 to the ditterent classes of buildings, aud to the uses for dwellings, 
 manufactories, etc., and their exposure to tire; and to alter or amend 
 their ordinances relating to the supply of water, so as to increase 
 or reduce the rates, and generally to enact such laws as might be 
 necessary to secure a supply of pure and wholesome water to the 
 inhabitants of the two cities. The corporate authorities of the two 
 cities were also, by this act, authorized to borrow money not to exceed 
 $150,000 for Washington and $50,000 for Georgetown, redeemable 
 within ten years, out of water rents. 
 
 The next legislation of Congress on the subject of water rents 
 was on March 3, 1863, when an act was passed, authorizing the cor- 
 poration of Washington to levy and collect a water tax on all real 
 property within the corporate limits of the city, "which binds on or 
 touches on any avenue, street, or alley, in which a main water pi[)e 
 has been laid, or hereafter may be laid, by the United States, or l)}' 
 the corporation of Washington." This same act also provided for the 
 "erection, maintenance, and etficiency of fire plugs throughout the 
 city," and authorized the corporation of Washington to "levy and col- 
 lect a special annual tax on all buildings within five hundred feet of 
 any water pipe, into which, or the premises connected therewith, the 
 water has not been introduced, and the owner or occupiers of which 
 do not pay an}' annual water rate, etc., and which tax shall not be 
 more than $5, nor less than $1." The same act also provided that the 
 water tax collected under it should be constituted a fund, to be used 
 exclusively to defray the cost of distributing the water, etc. 
 
 Georgetown, in carrying out the provisions of this act, assessed 
 
172 HISTORY OF U'ASH/NGTON. 
 
 tlie propert}' owners the full cost of laying the water pipes in that 
 city, and thus relieved themselves of the necessity of establishing a 
 water rent. 
 
 An ordinance of the city of Washington, passed June 2, 1859, 
 provided for the appointment of a water registrar, and inipose<l upon 
 him the duty of assessing water rates, according to the tariff estab- 
 lished by the ordinances of the city, ami of making out and presenting 
 to the Ma^'or annually a i'ull report of all his proceedings in lonnoc- 
 tion with the duties of his ofKce. It was also made the duty of the 
 Mayor to appoint four suitable citizens of Washington, who, together 
 witli the Mayor, should constitute the water board of the city. 
 
 By a law passed July 14, 1870, the engineer of the Washington 
 aqueduct was required to lay from the distributing reservoir to 
 Capitol Ilill an iron pipe, or main, thirty-six inches in diameter, the 
 entire cost of which was to be borne proportionately by the corpora- 
 tions of Wasliington and Georgetown, the water rates to be increased 
 to such an amount as might be necessary. 
 
 By 1879 the question of an increased water supplj' became one of 
 great importance. The daily supply for the past six ^-ears had been 
 as follows: In 1874, 17,554,848 gallons; in 1875, 21,000,000 gallons; in 
 1876, 24,177,797 gallons; in 1877, 23,252,932 gallons; in 1878, 24,885,945 
 gallons; in 1879, 25,947,642 gallons. When the proper deduction was 
 made by the United States, viz., 2,626,188 gallons, there were left 
 23,321,454 gallons, which amount was consumed by the inhabitants 
 of the two cities. This was an average of 155| gallons per head for 
 eacli person, while in twenty other cities of the United States the 
 average number of gallons used by each inhabitant ranged from 25 in 
 Providence, Rhode Island, to 119 in Chicago, the average in these 
 twenty large cities being 58J gallons per head, a little more than 
 one-third as much as was used in "Washington and Georgetown. 
 
 An increased supply of water was therefore an apparent necessity, 
 and the commissioners of the District of Columbia recommended 
 the extension of the conduit from the distributing reservoir to a 
 point north of the city and east of Seventh Street, and the building 
 there of a large reservoir, to be connected by a four-foot main along 
 New Jersey Avenue with the principal mains then maintained from 
 the vicinity of L and G streets. The total cost of the extension of 
 the conduit was estimated at $554,731.41; the cost of the four-foot 
 main was estimated at $91,298; and the cost of completing the dam 
 at Great Falls was estimated at $200,000, making the total cost of 
 these three items $846,029.41. The commissioners also reeonimended 
 
MrNICIPAL. 173 
 
 the building of an additional reservoir, whicli would cost §462,512.50, 
 making a total expenditure needed of $1,308,541.91. General Meigs 
 was opposed to the reservoir north of the city, because in his opinion 
 it would be a constant menace to the lives and property of the 
 citizens. 
 
 One of the most rcmarkalile structures in the world is "Cabin 
 John Bridge," erected by General Meigs over Cabin John Kun, at a 
 distance of seven miles from Washington on the line of the aque- 
 duct, for the purpose of carrying the aqueduct over the run. It is a 
 stone structure, 584 feet in extreme length, and 101 feet high, above 
 the stream. The arch proper is 200 feet wide at the base, and 50 
 feet high, and is believed to be tlie largest stone arch in the world. 
 The thickness of the bridge above tlie arch is 14^ feet, and it is 20 
 feet wide. 
 
 Ever since the Potomac River water has been introduced into the 
 District, there has been great interest taken by scientiiic men in the 
 question as to the reasons for the impurities that at regular periods 
 are noticeable therein, as well as by those who are compelled to use 
 lhe water thus aflected. In addition to its roiled and muddy appear- 
 ance, there has been detected a fishy odor which is anything but 
 pleasant. The chemist of the Engineer Department, in 1886, in refer- 
 ring to this odor, which is noticeable onl}- occasional!}', stated that all 
 scientiiic men believed it to be due to the formation of microscopic 
 al(j(R^ such as confervce, oscUlatoria, and protococci; but there was no 
 evidence, he said, to warrant the suspicion that the water would 
 produce deleterious effects upon the health. lie also explained the 
 periodicity of the phenomenon of the mudd}- water by saying it was 
 more noticeable during that portion of the year when most moisture 
 falls, and said that the same thing was remarkable more or less in all 
 parts of the world. 
 
 During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, a 48-iuch main was 
 constructed. It was begun in August, 1889, and so far completed by- 
 March 20, 1890, that the water was turned on, and the protracted 
 famine of water at the Capitol building then came to an end. The 
 meter system was introduced in 1888, and by June 30, 1890, there were 
 90 of them in operation, varying in size from f of an inch to 6 inches 
 in diameter. The prevailing sizes, however, were 1, li, and 2 inches, 
 of which sizes there were 70 in all. The 48-inch main, in the relief it 
 gave to lhe city, was a very gratifying improvement for the area sup- 
 plied by the gravity system. The average quantity of water drawn daily 
 from the gravity supply and delivered into the standpipe was in 1891 
 
174 H/SrORY OF U'ASir/NGTON. 
 
 376,130 gallons, mid the entire average (lail_y amount of water used in 
 the two cities of Georgetown and Wasliington at the present time is 
 38,000,000 gallons. In the latter part of 1891, there were 1,157 tire 
 hydrants in service, and 287 public hydrants, the latter Ijeing lai'gel}' 
 used by the poorer people, who cannot afford to have the Potomac 
 water introduced into their houses. 'J'here were, also, at that time 
 (December 1, 1891), 264 public pumps in the District, the cool water 
 supplied by which in the summer time is vei-y acceptable to such as 
 cannot afford the use of ice. The total number of houses in George- 
 town and Washington which are supplied with Potomac water was 
 at this same time 32,074, and the number of miscellaneous water 
 takers was 5,174. 
 
 One of the first fires that occurred in the city of Washington was 
 that which destroyed the building occuiiied b}- the War Department, 
 and the one adjoining, November 8, 1800. The building in which the 
 department was situated was owned by Joseph Hodgson, and upon 
 the repeated petition of his widow, his legal representatives received 
 ^6,000 for the loss thus occasioned, in accordance with an act passed 
 l)y Congress, May 7, 1822. Another extensive tire occurred January 
 20, 1801, in the Treasury Department, which was extinguished by 
 the citizens with water buckets; but not until after several valuable 
 books had been destroyed The necessity' thus becoming apparent for 
 organized protection against the ravages of tire led to the enactment 
 of a law by the city authorities, January 10, 1808, which provided 
 that every proprietor of a dwelling or business house sliould, prior 
 to March 1 ensuing, provide at his own expense as many tire buckets 
 of leather, containing two and a half gallons, as there were stories to 
 his house, under a penalty of $1 for each bucket he did not provide 
 as required by law; and all were required to keep these buckets in 
 a conspicuous place, and send them to tires that might break out. 
 
 On July 24, 1804, the city was divided into tire wards, and fire 
 companies provided for. All that part of the city west of Sixteenth 
 Street constituted the first ward; that part bounded by Sixteentli 
 Street on the west, by G Street on the south, and by Third Street on 
 the east, constituted the second ward; that portion south of G Street 
 constituted the third ward, and the rest of the city the fourth ward. 
 Under this act, one individual in each ward was ap[)ointed to call 
 the citizens together for the purpose of organizing themselves into tire 
 companies, one in each ward. Each company was to elect annually 
 one of its members as a member of a board of tire directors, which 
 board should have general charge of the extinguishing of tires. Meet- 
 
MUNICIPAL. 175 
 
 iiigs were held then to organize companies, in accordance [witli the 
 hiw. Union Fire Company was organized September 8, 1804. On 
 December 31, 1814, tliis company had tlie engines of the Treasury 
 Department placed in its charge. The apparatus of the companies 
 then consisted of ordinary hand engines. The Union Fire Company 
 was in existence until 18(j4, when, on account of many of its members 
 having enlisted in the army of the Union, its organization ceased. 
 
 On December 18, 1837, a meeting was lield at the Franklin Fire 
 Company's Hall, to organize a regular tire department, and on January 
 4, 1838, the following officers were elected: Rev. French S. Evans, 
 president; E. Hanley, vice-president; Charles Calvert, secretary; S. 
 Stott, treasurer; and S. Drury, captain of engineers. Rev. Evans 
 resigned his position February 13, and was succeeded by Mr. Ilanley. 
 The Perseverance Fire Company was also in existence at this time, 
 and the Jforthern Liberties Fire Company was organized in 1840. The 
 Columbia Fire Company was organized soon afterwanL 
 
 In 1856, there were in existence the Union Fire Company, the 
 Franklin Fire Company, the Perseverance Fire Company, the North- 
 ern Liberties Fire Company, the Columbia Fire Company, the Ana- 
 costia Fire Company, the American Hook and Ladder Company-, and 
 the Metropolitan Hook and Ladder Company. 
 
 September 15, 1859, the steam lire engine of the American Fire 
 Company, of Philadelphia, was publicly exhibited near the corner 
 of Pennsylvania Avenue and Tenth Street. A stream was thrown 110 
 feet in perpendicular height through a nozzle \\ inches in diameter, 
 and a horizontal stream was tiirown 198 feet. The stream thrown was 
 ecpial in extinguishing power to at least three of those tiirown by tlie 
 most efficient hand engines in the city. The cost of the steam engine 
 was $3,200. 
 
 January 21, 18G0, tlie steam tire engine "Marylaiul," built by 
 Poole X: Hunt, of Baltimore, was tried in front of the Bank of Wash- 
 ington, and its efficiency conclusivel}' established. The engine was 
 attached to a street hydrant and the boiler tilled directly from the 
 street main. Steam was raised from this water and the engine put 
 in operation in nine minutes from the lighting of the torch. The 
 greatest distance played from the cistern was 241 feet horizontally, 
 through a nozzle \\ inciies in diameter. The weight of the engine 
 was 0,000 pounds. 
 
 Under an act passed October G, 1862, the tire department was 
 reorganized, and named the Washington Fire De[)artmeiit. It was 
 made to consist of tive delegates from each of the companies then in 
 
176 HfSTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 existence, the Columbia, the Union, the Franklin, the Anacostia, and 
 the Perseverance Engine companies, and the Western Hose Company, 
 the Metropolitan Hook and Ladder Company, and the American 
 Hook and Ladder Company, and from such other companies as should 
 afterward be organized. The department as tlins organized was given 
 power to make all by-laws and regulations needful for their own 
 government, and to make nominations for a chief engineer on the 
 last Monday in May in each year. An act for the purchase of one 
 steam tire engine was introduced at the same time, which was after- 
 ward changed so as to provide for the purchase of three steam tire 
 engines. On Monday, November 17, 1862, nominations were made for 
 a chief engineer, and J. J. Peabody was chosen. Early in 1865, the 
 tirst steam tire engine was received in the city, and it was tested 
 March .31, that year. This engine threw a large stream of water from 
 the corner of Eighth and E streets to the center of Seventh Street. 
 Steamer No. 2 was also received early in the same year. This was a 
 second-class engine with a double-acting plunger pump, and ten feet 
 long, exclusive of the pole. At fair working speed it was capable of 
 throwing four hundred gallons of water per minute, and of throwing 
 tlie stream over two hundred feet. Engine No. 3 was tried March 14, 
 and threw a stream through a one-inch nozzle two hundred and twent}- 
 feet. By April 1, 1865, the steam tire department was completed. 
 These three steamers were located as follows: No. 1, at the LTnion 
 Engine House, in the tirst ward; No. 2, at the Franklin Engine 
 House, on D Street, between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets; and No. 3, 
 on Capitol Hill. The Metropolitan Truck House was on Massachusetts 
 Avenue, between Fourth and Fifth streets. Besides these, the Govern- 
 ment steamers acted with the city tire department. The names of the 
 Government steamers were the "General Meigs," the "Ilibernia," and 
 the "Rucker." J. H. Sessford was then chief engineer of the tire 
 department. All the steamers in the city at that time were manufac- 
 tured by the Amoskeag Company, of New Hampshire. On April 
 4, they were tested at the corner of Indiana Avenue and Four and a 
 Half Street, to the satisfaction of all concerned. 
 
 In 1864, the Government disbanded its fire department, and in 
 1867 the city added two more steam engines to its number. In 1874, 
 it was recommended to the city government that two additional engines 
 be introduced, so as to bring the department up to the elticiency it 
 had eight or ten years before, before the tire brigade of the Gov- 
 ernment was dispensed with. In 1891, on account of the steadily 
 increasing extent of territory to be protected and of the increase in 
 
MUNICIPAL. 177 
 
 the number and size of the buiklings within the territory thus increas- 
 ing in extent, a movement was started to increase the capacity of the 
 department by the organization of a new company in tlie nortliern 
 section of the city. According to the report of Josepli Parris, ciiicf 
 engineer of tlie department, for June 30, 1891, tlierc were then 8 
 engine houses and 2 truck houses in use. Tlie engines in active use 
 were as follows: 3 second size engines, 700 gallons per minute; 
 1 third size, 650 gallons per minute; 1 third size, 500 gallons per 
 minute; and 3 fourth size, 450 gallons. Besides these, there were two 
 engines in reserve. The force consisted of 1 chief engineer, 2 assist- 
 ant engineers, 1 fire marshal, 1 clerk, 8 engine companies of 10 men 
 each, 2 truck companies of 12 men each, 1 truck company of 11 
 men, 1 chemical company of 3 men, and G watchmen, — 129 in all. 
 The department had 53 horses. From this statement it is clear that 
 the department is far too small for the extent of territory — 72 square 
 miles, containing nearl}' 50,000 houses, and a population of 235,000 — 
 which it is required to protect. To meet possible exigencies, which 
 it is only the part of a wise precaution to provide for, the number of 
 engines should now be fifteen, with other apparatus in proportion. 
 
 In 1877, an improved fire alarm telegraph was introduced, and the 
 expense incurred in its erection was much more than saved by its celer- 
 ity and certaint}' in operation, enabling the firemen, as it did, to get 
 almost immediate information of the breaking out of tires. In 1879, 
 there were 80 automatic signal boxes, and in addition several of the 
 police stations were used as fire alarm stations. During the j'ear end- 
 ing June 30, 1885, 40 new fire alarm signal boxes were added, of the 
 latest improved Gamewell system. In the latter part of 1891, the fire 
 alarm telegraph consisted of 7 signal and 4 alarm circuits, all metallic. 
 There were 150 alarm boxes on the 7 signal circuits, — precisely twice 
 as many as when the system was first introduced in 1877, but the 
 number of circuits remained the same. On the 4 alarm circuits are 
 the. gongs and bells upon which are sounded the alarms for fires and 
 the hours of the day. In all there were then 19 gongs and 4 bells. 
 In addition to these, the department was using 233 sets of exchange 
 telephones. 
 
 The city post office of Washington was established in 1795, with 
 Thomas Johnson as postmaster, who was appointed September 1, that 
 year. Prior to that time, the nearest post oflice was in Georgetown, 
 mails being received there three times each week. Mr. Johiison kept 
 the post office in his own residence on Pennsylvania Avenue, just west 
 of Seventeenth Street. He served as postmaster until January 1, 1790, 
 
17S HISTORY OF W.iSHfXGTOX. 
 
 wlien Clll•i^^to^llleI• Riclimond was appointed. Mr. Richmond served 
 until the 1st of tlie following October, when Lund Washington was 
 ajipointed, and served until April 1, 1799. During Mr. Washington's 
 time the post office was on iSTew Jersey Avenue. Thomas Munroe was 
 appointed postmaster April 1, 1799, and served continuously until April 
 29, 1829. Early in Mi-. Munroe's term, the post office was removed to 
 the west exet'utive Ijuildiug, west of the White House. Subsequently, 
 the room thus occupied by the post office being needed, a room was 
 rented still further to the westward on Pennsylvania Avenue, to whicli 
 the post office was removed. " Indeed, the officials generally of tbat 
 day, like their successors, could not be convinced that the center of 
 the city was to be found anywhere but in one end of it; and it was 
 aiiprehended by many that our post office would at last be located in 
 Georgetown, by way of promoting the public good of the citizens of 
 Washington." Other removals occurred, and for a time the office was 
 in a l)uilding on the north side of F Street, between Fourteenth and 
 Fifteenth streets, and still later on a square further to the east. 
 
 At length Congress took up the question, and purchased Blod- 
 gelt's or the Great Hotel for the use of the Post Office Department, on 
 E Street, between Eiglith and ISTinth streets, for §15,000. This liotel 
 was situated on the southwest portion of the present site of the 
 Post Office Department. To this building the city post office was 
 removed in 1S12. Still later, a building was erected at the east end of 
 the hott'l building for the accommodation of the cit}' post office, and 
 liotli the General Post Office and the city post office remained here 
 until till' fire of 1835 destroyed the buildings. 
 
 April 29, 1829, Dr. William Jones was appointed to succeed Mr. 
 Munroe. He served until March 28, 1839. It was during his incum- 
 bency that the tire mentioned above occurred. After this disaster, tiie 
 post otHce was opened in the lower part of Mr. Soavcr's brick house 
 on Sev-enth Street, near the office of the Ndtional Intelligencer. It was 
 afterward moved to the Masonic Hall building, where it remained 
 until 1839, in which year Dr. Jones was succeeded by James S. Guu- 
 nell, who [U'oposed to remove it to the westward. This proposition 
 bioiiglil out several remonstrances from the people in the eastern por- 
 linii of the city, who thought that the new postmaster had not learned 
 that the tax on postage was quite heavy enough, without their being 
 ciiiripclU'd to submit to ailditicinal burdens in having to bring into 
 i-ccpiisitioii tiie penny post. On the otluM' hand, it was said that the 
 pnqiiiscd removal would greatly accommodate tlu> {'resident and the 
 heads (if the diqiarl ments : but the Tiitdlij/ciiccr said the location of 
 
^n^^-fcrrAL. 170 
 
 the post office was preferable to tlie i)ropose(l one liy almut tlie lalio 
 of three hniidreil to tliirt^'-live. Xotwithstaiidiiig tlie protests of the 
 citizens of the eastern luirt of tiie city, the jiost office was renioxed to 
 the basement of Carnsi's sak)on, standing- on Eleventh Street hclo\\' 
 Pennsylvania Avenue, and it was afterward removed to the corner of 
 Lonisiana Avenue and Four and a Half Street, opposite the City 
 Hall. From this location it moved to Seventh Street, between E and 
 F streets, and thence to F Street, opposite the Patent Office. In 
 Xovember, 1879, it was removed to the Seaton building, on Louisiana 
 Avenue, where it remained until 1892, when it was finally removed 
 to the new and elegant building erected especially for its use on Penn- 
 sylvania Avenue, between Eleventh and Twelfth streets. 
 
 The postmasters since Mr. Gunnell have been as follows: Charles 
 K. Gardner, March 31, 1845, to June 28, 1849; William A. Bradley, 
 June 28, 1849, to May 27, 1853; James G. Berrett, Dr. William Jones, 
 Lewis Clephane, Sayles J. Bowen, Colonel C. M. Alexander, Judge 
 James M. Edmunds, May, 1869, till his death in 1880; Colonel Daniel 
 B. Ainger, 1880 to 1882; Thomas L. Tulloch, Xovendjer 25. 1882, to 
 June 23, 1883, when he died; Colonel D. S. Parker, oni' week, when 
 he declined to serve; F. B. Conger, June 29, 1883, to January -iO, 1.S88; 
 John W. Ross, January 31, 1888, to September 30, 1890; and finally 
 Henry Sherwood, appointed September 12, 1890. 
 
 At the main office, and at the sixteen branch offices, there were 
 .sold $500,000 worth of stamps in 1891; but as about seventy-iive per 
 cent, of the mail matter sent out from this office goes free, it is safe 
 to say that, were none of it sent free, the income of the office would 
 be 12,000,000. The regular delivery division, in 1891, handled 45,9il(),- 
 000 letters, cards, etc., while the special delivery division handled 
 63,783 letters. This feature of the mail service was established in 
 1885, and for the year ending June 30, 1886, the special delivery 
 letters numbered only 25,154. The number of registry pieces handled 
 by the main office and its branches for the year 1891 was 2,394,806, 
 the value of which was nearly $530,000,000. The weight of this 
 matter was about 1,568 tons for the year. The weight of the mail 
 handled b}' the mailing division amounts to nearly 30 tons per day. 
 
 The free delivery system was introduced in Washington July 1. 
 1863. This was the first daj' on which this system was used anywhere 
 in the United States, and there were six otlier cities in which it was 
 introduced on that day. The number of carriers now emi>loyed in 
 the city is one hundred and foi'ty-three. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE CITY. 
 
 The Grandeur of the Plan of the Capital — Earlj' Inhabitants — Earlj' Attempts to 
 Improve the City — Lotality of First Ini])rovements — Noted Residences in Wash- 
 ington — Quotation from Benjamin O. Tayloe — John Sessford's Statistics — About 
 the Removal of the Capital — Work under the Charter of 1820 — Improvement on 
 Pennsylvania Avenue — Senator Southard's Report — W. W. Seaton's Report — 
 Statistics of Buildings pj-ected in Recent Years — Census and Debt of the District 
 
 — Progress Since the War — Change in Form of Government — The $4,000,000 Loan 
 
 — Sewerage Built — Street Improvements — Governor Shepherd's Work — Area of 
 Public Parks — Extent of Paved Streets. 
 
 FROM the nature of things, it was to be expected that tiie growtli 
 of the Cai)ital City woukl be slow. The establishment of a great 
 city in the midst of what was a wilderness, in every respect, appar- 
 ently, unfitted for the location of such a city, was a project entirely new, 
 and without a precedent in the world's history. In addition to this, the 
 plan of the proposed city was one of a magnitude without a parallel. 
 The idea of the projectors of this grand city embraced within its scope 
 the erection of a site for a Federal city that was to have at the outset 
 buildings not only sufficient for the accommodation of the Govern- 
 ment of the new Republic, but Ijuildings that should be in keeping 
 with the grandeur of the nation that was to be. Especially prominent 
 among these buildings were the Capitol, for the accommodation of the 
 legislative branch of the Government, and the house for the President. 
 Other buildings for other purposes were also projected u[ion a scale 
 simpler, it is true, than these, but yet sufficiently grand and commo- 
 dious for the purposes that they were to subserve. All the ideas of 
 the men who were principally concerned about this plan of tiie future 
 Capital of the Nation were grand in ever}' way, and looked to a 
 future that was far beyond the conception of most (jf tlicir contempo- 
 raries. These ideas, too, were far beyond what the accommodation of 
 the Government at that time demanded, and were, indeed, in the 
 opinion of many, far beyond what it was jirobable the Government 
 ever would demand. 
 
 The very fact that these i>ublic buildings were placed, upon the 
 plan of the Capital City, in positions so remote from each other,^jwas 
 
GROWTH AND /MPROrE}fENT OF THE C/TY. 181 
 
 calculated to retard the rapid growtli of the Federal City. About this 
 matter the notions of those who were placed in charge of the plan of 
 the city vere very diverse, and it was not until almost the last moment 
 that it was determined to locate the buildings destined as the meet- 
 ing place of Congress and the residence of the President at so great 
 a distance from each other. At one time it was thought best that the 
 President's House should be in close proximity to the Capitol, and 
 after the present location of the President's House was determined 
 upon, there were several projects for using that building in connection 
 with the legislative or the judiciary branch of the Government. How- 
 ever this may have been, and howsoever various the projects of those 
 who were concerned in the erection of the public buildings, the fact 
 remains that in this wilderness, selected to be the site of the Federal 
 Capital, these buildings were erected so far apart as to make their 
 connection by an inhabited city a matter of the slow development of 
 many years. 
 
 It will be apparent to anyone who considers all the circumstances 
 surrounding these beginnings of the city of Washington, that its early 
 inhabitants must necessarily have been only those who were attracted 
 by the operations of the Government, and, at the outset, particularly 
 with reference to the erection of the public buildings. It is true, there 
 may have been a few attracted to the city by the prosjiect it attbrded 
 for speculation in the purchase of lots in the new city. It may have 
 been that a number of persons who were connected with the General 
 Government were at that early day induced to select places for their 
 future residences in part with a view to convenience and the further 
 view of their possible speculative value. It may be that there were 
 persons induced by the hope that the future Capital would ofter a 
 place for investments of various kinds, and that all of these classes 
 sought to become inhabitants of the future city. But however all 
 this may have been, we know from the history of the times that 
 for years the population of the city was very sparse and limited in 
 numbers, and confined almost exclusively to the persons and their 
 families who were in one way or another employed by the General 
 Government. 
 
 It is matter of fact, too, that several attempts made toward the 
 improvement of the city by the erection of dwelling houses in any 
 considerable number with the view of making profit of them by 
 renting them to the citizens of the town, ended in failure. The 
 history of the times plainly shows that the earliest improvements of 
 any account were made at what was kuowu as Greeuleaf's Point, and 
 
182 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 that as early as 1800 those who write about the city of Washington 
 speak of the houses erected in this locality as tlie handsomest and 
 most commodious in the city. This seems remarkable at this day, 
 i)ecause these buildings have been for many years mere ruins, and 
 the plai'cs the}' occupied are so remote from tiie present residence 
 portions of tlie city that it is surprising to us that such buildings 
 should have been erected. Not very remote from this section of the 
 city, too, were the buildings on what was known as "Twenty Build- 
 ing Hill," about which there is a legend tliat a row of houses was 
 built whicli were never occupied, and soon fell into ruin. All these 
 buildings oJ:' which we have spoken were erected in the direction at 
 least of the Capitol building. Perhaps this was because, as in the 
 early years of onr history Congress had been by far the most impor- 
 tant part of the Government, it was thought the Capitol would be 
 the center of the Federal City, and for that reason the tcndeuc}' of 
 interest was in that direction. In this connection it may not be amiss 
 to state that the President of the United States himself selected a site 
 and erected a building in the neighborhood of the Capitol, which was 
 afterward known for many years as the "Washington Property," and 
 is pointed out to-day to strangers as the house built by General 
 Washington. In this neighborhood, too, were several other old resi- 
 dences. The Cliicf Justice of the District of Columbia, William 
 Cranch, the clerk of the local courts, and several other notables 
 resided in this locality. 
 
 On New Jersey Avenue, south of the Cajiitol, a number of tine 
 old residences existed in that early day. Among them was that of 
 Dr. Frederick May, the leading physician of the city, and a building 
 occupied by one of the local banks. For many years after the organ- 
 ization of the local courts of the District of Columbia they occupied 
 buildings near the Capitol. But notwithstanding this apparent, oy 
 perhaps we ought to say real, tendency of improvement in the 
 direction of the Capitol building, for some reason, of which mention 
 need not l)e made here, the real progress of the city took another 
 direction, and passing over the difHculties that existed in the I'oad 
 between the Capitol and the President's residence, the city soon began 
 to make the most rajiid jirogress in the location or vicinity of the 
 })residential mansion. A row of houses known as the "Si.\ Buildings" 
 was among the lirst indications of this progress, and another row 
 known as the "Seven Buildings" was erected. Then came O'Xeil's 
 hotel, knt)wn in later times as Gadsby's How, and several others of 
 minor imjjortance erected in this neighborhooil. Pennsylvania Avenue, 
 
GROWTH AXn I.^fPROl-RMENT OF THE CITY. 183 
 
 the great thorouglifare between the Capitol and tlie President's House, 
 seemed to oft'er the most advantageous location for the erection of 
 houses of business, and before long this street, which L'Enfant had 
 selected as the grand passageway between the legislative and executive 
 departments, notwithstanding its line lay through wliat seemed to be 
 an impenetrable morass and swamp, gave promise of being what he 
 said it must be, a fine avenue. The eiiect of all this was that the 
 business portion of the city soon began to be established on this 
 avenue, and the city grew fast along this line which connected the 
 two residence [)ortions of the city, the one in the vicinity of tlie Capti- 
 tol, the other in the vicinity of the presidential mansion, and the streets 
 adjoining it, more particularly to the north. This then became the 
 section of the cit\- iirst built up by those seeking residences here, 
 more particularly those connecteil with the Government. 
 
 At this early time, as may readily be conjectured, there were com- 
 paratively few residences of special note, size, or elegance; but there 
 were some of such beauty of design as to merit [)articular men- 
 tion. One of the earliest houses built in the city of Washington was 
 the residence of Colonel John Tayloe, at the intersection of New 
 York Avenue and Eighteenth Street. It was erected by Colonel 
 Tayloe at the suggestion of President Washington, his personal friend, 
 who subsequently watched the progress of the work when he visited 
 the embryo city. This house was so erected as to face the Arlington 
 House, on the opposite side of the river. It is in shape an octagon, 
 and has always been known by that name. It still stands, but is 
 now a ruin. Xotwithstanding, however, its prvsent dilapidation, it will 
 pay anyone interested in such matters to examine the beauty and 
 completeness of its interior arrangement. 
 
 Another liouse erected in those early days was the mansion of 
 General Van Ness, on what was known as Mansion Square, near the 
 river at the foot of Seventeenth Street. This house was, when it 
 was first erected, pronounced the most elegant private mansion in 
 the country. It was designed by Latrobe, and cost its owner a very 
 large sum. 
 
 Mr. Benjamin O. Tayloe, son of Colonel John Tayloe, writing 
 about the city of Washington in 1800, makes use of the following 
 language, wiiich may appropriately be introduced in this connection: 
 
 "I came to Washington in 1801, and remember it literallj* as ras 
 in urbe, containing but a few thousand inhabitants scattered about in 
 single houses apart from each other or in occasional groups, chiefly 
 in the vicinity of the public buildings, from Georgetown to the Navy 
 
184 HfSTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Yard. There was scarcely any pavement, except in front of detached 
 houses. The distinguislied John Cotton Smith told me that when he 
 was a Senator from Connecticut he attended President Adams's levee 
 in Washington, in 1801, and that members of Congress living, like 
 himself, on Capitol llill, found it necessary to send to Baltimore for 
 hackney coaches to convey them to the President's House; and to 
 avoid the swamps of Pennsylvania Avenue, the}' had to travel along 
 F Street and the high grounds adjoining. During Mr. Monroe's 
 administration I have seen carriages mired in Pennsylvania Avenue, 
 even then almost impassable, the city at that time not having less than 
 ten thousand inhabitants. During my childhood, the Xavy, War, and 
 Post Office departments and the city post office were in one building 
 on the site of the present War Department. That was sunk to the 
 eves in a hollow prepared for it to make it on a level, as now, with 
 the State and Treasury departments. Between the latter and the 
 Capitol, its two wings only erected, there was but one building on 
 I'ennsylvania Avenue, then used as an apothecary shop, at the corner 
 of Ninth Street, a small frame building built for public convenience 
 by Dr. Bullus, of the navy, who was stationed at the Navy Yard." 
 
 In sketching the improvements of the early days of Washington 
 it seems to be every wa}' proper to make mention of those historical 
 mansions within a short distance of the presidential residence which 
 still give evidence of the taste displayed by our ancestors in the 
 erection and arrangement of their homes. lu describing these houses 
 we shall be pardoned if we conline ourselves to the houses built 
 around what is known as Lafayette Square, directly in front of and 
 forming a part of the grounds of the President's Mansion. 
 
 The first private house erected on this square was known as the 
 Decatur House. It was erected by Commodore Decatur. It is an 
 elegant house to-day, and has been the residence, at different times, of 
 some of the most distinguished men of the country. After the mel- 
 ancholy death of Commodore Decatur, it was occupied by the British 
 minister, Mr. Stratford Canning, afterward Lord Stratford de Redclitie. 
 It was afterward occupied by the Russian minister, by Mr. Van Buren 
 when he was Secretary of State, and by Sir Charles Vaughn, the 
 British minister. After this, it became the property of Mr. John 
 Gadsby, and after being his residence for some time, it was occupied 
 by the brothers King, sons of Rufus King, and then by Vice-President 
 George M. Dallas. It was subsequently occupied by Hon. Judah P. 
 Benjamin, since then well known as one of the chiefs of the Southern 
 Confederacy. 
 
GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT OP THE CITY. 185 
 
 Almost directly opposite the Deciitur House is the house whicli was 
 for so long a time the residence of Mr. W. W. Corcoran, and where 
 he ended his days. It was erected by Thomas Swann, formerly of 
 Alexandria, one of whose sons was at one time governor of Maryland, 
 and the other a distinguished physician at Philadelphia. It was for 
 some time the residence of Baron Krudener, the Russian minister, and 
 it was afterward the residence of Hon. Aaron Vail, Charge d'Afiiiires 
 at London, England, during the negotiations which resulted in the 
 securing of the Smithson bequest. Mr. Webster, when Secretary of 
 State under General Harrison, occupied this house, and when he 
 vacated it, it became the property of Mr. Corcoran. While in his 
 possession, during his absence in Europe, it was occupied by the 
 Marquis de Montholon, Minister of France to the United States. 
 
 Situated on this square and fronting its northeast corner is what 
 has always been known as the Madison House, now owned and occu- 
 pied by the Cosmos Club. It was the residence of Mrs. Madison, the 
 relict of President Madison. It was built by the Hon. Richard Cutts, 
 formerly member of Congress from the district of Maine. This house 
 was the property for many years of Admiral Wilkes, who commanded 
 the great exploring expedition sent out by our Government in 1838. 
 He died in this house. 
 
 Near this mansion is the house of Colonel Benjamin Ogle Tayloe, 
 now the residence of Senator Cameron, of Pennsylvania, and which 
 has been for the greater part of half a century the scene of magnificent 
 hospitality. 
 
 Next to this is the house built by Commodore Rogers, which 
 was the residence of Roger B. Taney while he was Secretary of the 
 Treasury, and of Mr. Paulding when Secretary of the Navy. During 
 the War it was occupied by Secretary Seward, and it was in this house 
 that the attack was made upon the Secretary and his son, Frederick 
 W. Seward, at the time of the assassination of President Lincoln. It 
 is at the present time owned and occupied as a residence by Hon. 
 James G. Blaine, Secretary of State. 
 
 On the north side of the square stands the mansion built by 
 Matthew St. Clair Clarke, at one time clerk of the House of Repre- 
 sentatives, and which to-day is one of the handsomest residences in 
 the city. This house was occupied at one time by Lord Ashburton, 
 Special Ambassador from Great Britain, and at another time by Sir 
 Henry Bulwer, the British minister. It was also the residence of 
 Mr. George Riggs, and later of Mr. Meredith, when Secretary of the 
 Treasury. 
 
18(3 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Not far from this mansion, on the same side of the square, is 
 the house in which Thomas Ritchie, the great editor, had his home. 
 Mr. John Slidell, Senator from Louisiana, afterward distinguished in 
 Confederate annals, occupied this house, and Mr. Welles, while he was 
 Secretary of the Navy, made it his residence. 
 
 Without dwelling further on the particular improvements of 
 Washington in the early day, it may be sutHcient to give here such 
 statistics as are accessible concerning the improvements made for a 
 period of years reaching up to about the year 1850. 
 
 According to John Sessford, a citizen of Washington who made 
 the collection of such statistics a specialty', tlie number of houses 
 and other Ijuildings erected in the years from 181'J, when he counted 
 them himself, to 1853, both years inclusive, was as follows: 
 
 In 1819, there were 2,028 houses, and 129 other shops and otlier 
 buildings; in 1820, there were erected 113 houses and 9 shops; in 1821, 
 90 houses; in 1822, 113 houses, 7 shops, and 6 additions; in 1823, 69 
 houses, 7 shops, and 9 additions; in 1824, 49 houses, 6 shops, and 8 
 additions; in 1825, 68 liouses, 15 shops, and 10 additions; in 1826, 102 
 houses, 23 shops, and 15 additions; in 1827, 123 houses, 25 shops, and 
 23 additions; in 1828, 158 houses, 23 shops, and 24 additions; in 
 1829, 148 houses, 15 shops, and 17 additions. The total number of 
 houses, etc., erected in Washington during the decade ending in 1829 
 was 1,033 houses, 130 shops, and 112 additions. 
 
 In 1830, the number of houses erected was 178, shops 24, and 
 additions 14; in 1831, 148 houses and 38 shops; in 1832, 62 houses 
 and 12 shops; in 1833, 72 houses, 12 shops, and 12 additions; in 1834, 
 63 houses, 11 shops, and 7 additions; in 1835, 42 houses, 10 shops, and 
 18 additions; in 1836, 41 houses, 15 shops, and 15 additions; in 1837, 
 63 houses, 18 shops, and 9 additions; in 1838, 85 houses, 21 shops, and 
 9 additions; in 1839, 141 houses, 12 shops, and 14 additions. Total 
 number of houses, etc., erected in Washington during tlie ten years 
 ending in 1839, was, liouses, 895; shops, 173, and additions, 98. 
 
 In 1840, there were erected 178 houses, 13 shops, and 14 additions; 
 in 1841, 216 houses, 23 shops, and 13 additions; in 1842, 295 houses, 14 
 sho[)s, and 21 a(hlitions; in 1843, 322 houses, 10 shops, and 23 addi- 
 tions; in 1844, 357 liouses, 18 shops, and 24 additions; in 1845, 338 
 houses, 28 shops, and 24 additions; in 1846, 208 houses, 16 shops, and 
 17 additions; in 1847, 128 houses, 6 shops, and 9 additions; in 1848, 
 141 houses, 11 shops, and 29 additions; in 1849, 184 houses, 9 shops, 
 and 17 additions. Total number of houses, etc., erected during the 
 ten years, 2,367 houses, 148 sliops, and 191 additions. 
 
GROWTH AND IMPROl'F.MF.NT OF THF CITY. 187 
 
 In 1850, there were erected 292 liouses, 25 shops, and 24 additions; 
 in 1851, 453 houses, 28 shops, and 44 a(hlitions; in 1852, 632 houses, 19 
 shops, and 3 additions; in 1853, 556 houses, 22 shops, and 51 additions. 
 
 In 1850, according to Mr. Sessford, there was erected the first 
 four-story iMiilding in Washington, and (hiring tlie j'car tliei'e were 
 erected 10 of tliese huildings. In 1851, tliere was erected 1 four-story 
 huildiug; in 1852, 25; and in 1853, 28. 
 
 By wards the uuniher of iiouses erected was as follows: From 
 1819 to 1829, First Ward, 129; Second Ward, 251; Third Ward, 474; 
 Fourth Ward, 68; Fifth Ward, 38; Sixth Ward, 73; total, 1,033. 
 
 From 1829 to 1839, First Ward, 141; Second Ward, 226; Third 
 Ward, 296; Fourth Ward, 46; Fifth Ward, 175; Sixth Ward, 11; 
 total, 895. 
 
 From 1839 to 1849, First Ward, 364; Second Ward, 472; Third 
 Ward, 907; Fourth Ward, 217; Fifth Ward, 175; Sixtii Ward, 123; 
 Seventh Ward, 109; total, 2,367. 
 
 From 1849 to 1853, First Ward, 227; Second Ward, 342; Third 
 Ward, 291; Fourth Ward, 390; Fifth Ward, 150; Sixtli Ward, 104; 
 Seventh, 429; total, 1,933. 
 
 In what we have said so far we have attempted to show the 
 heginnings of this great enterprise of founding a capital city and its 
 gradual progress through its early histoi-y to the date last mentioned. 
 It will not be permissible to ouiit some notice of the fact that in 
 the year 1814 this Capital City was invaded by the British troops and 
 its public buildings destroyed by those ruthless invaders. The details 
 of this attack upon the city of Washiugton will be related in anotlier 
 part of tliis work. Suffice it to say here, that not only were these 
 buildings that had cost so much tiiuc and treasure in their erection 
 destroyed so as to make them of little or no use for the purposes 
 for which they had been constructed, but the question immediately 
 arose as to whether they should be reconstructed at all or not. It 
 is not material to our purpose in this history to recount licre the 
 various arguments that were used botli for and against the permanency 
 of the establishment of the Capital City. These debates were but a 
 renewal of the controversy that existed at the time of the foundation 
 of the city. A long struggle ensued, but it was finally determined to 
 reconstruct the Federal buildings, and to continue the seat of govern- 
 ment at the spot originally selected for its permanent residence. All 
 this, of course, had the effect to retard seriously the progress, or in 
 other words the growth and improvement, of the city of Washington. 
 As far as we can ascertain from the records of those times, little or 
 
188 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 nothing was done toward the improvement of the streets and thor- 
 oughfares of the city, except by the Government authorities themselves 
 in and about the public reservations and buildings. The streets were 
 generally left in the condition of country roads or lanes, and were not 
 at all ill keeping with the dignity of the Federal City. The city, so 
 far as its internal affairs were concerned, was in the hands of a local 
 government consisting of a Mayor and two boards, one of aldermen 
 and the other of councilmen, elected by the people, as has been 
 related in another chapter of this history. Their powers and resources 
 were altogether insufficient for purposes other than those pertaining 
 to an inconsequential town. 
 
 In 1820, Congress granted a new charter to the city of Wash- 
 ington, by which it repealed all acts of incorporation theretofore 
 granted, and enacted that the commissioners of the public buildings and 
 other persons appointed to superintend disbursements in the cit}' of 
 Washington should reimburse to the city a proportion of the expenses 
 incurred in improving any of the streets or avenues bordering upon 
 or joining any of the public squares or buildings, and cause the 
 sidewalks to be furnished with curbs and paved footways, whenever 
 the corporation should direct such improvements to be made by the 
 proprietors of the lots on the opposite side of the street or avenue, 
 and directing also that such officer should defray such expense out 
 of moneys arising from the sale of lots in the city of Washington 
 belonging to the United States. 
 
 It will be seen from this that the provision made for the improve- 
 ment of the streets, avenues, and sidewalks of the cit}' of Washington 
 at that early day was conditioned on the fact that the street to be 
 improved bordered upon public reservations or other public property, 
 and that the money used for such improvement was raised from the 
 sale of lots reserved to the Government. The law in this respect 
 remained in this condition for many years, and it is safe to say that 
 there was no improvement to speak of in the city of Washington 
 for man}' years after it was established. 
 
 In 1830, Congress took ste[)s toward such an improvement of 
 J*ennsylvania Avenue as would make it a proper and convenient 
 thoroughfare between the Capitol and the presidential mansion. A 
 resolution to that effect was passed by the House of Representatives, 
 and the Committee of the District of Columbia was instructed to 
 iii(|uire into the expediency of making provision i'or the repair and 
 improvement of this avenue on the macadam or some other permanent 
 phui. The committee to which tliis matter was referred made a report 
 
GROWTH AND rMPROVEMENT OF THE CITY. 189 
 
 to the House of Representatives at tlie lirst session of the Twenty- 
 first Congress, accompanied by a bill providing for the improvement 
 of the avenue in question. It is significant in this connection that, in 
 in this report, the committee used the following language: 
 
 " In reply to the suggestion which may perhaps he made, that 
 the city of Washington ought to execute this work for its own 
 accommodation, your committee beg leave to make a few remarks, in 
 addition to the facts above stated, in relation to the importance of 
 the work to the General Government. This city is already suftering 
 under a burden of local taxation, more severe perhaps than any other 
 portion of the country, and is therefore unable to incur so great an 
 expense. 
 
 "At any rate, under their circumstances, their necessity for the 
 proposed improvement does not justif\- the expenditure. 
 
 "Some of the causes of this oppressive state of things will be 
 found in the fact that the Government has extensive domains in the 
 city exempt from taxation, and in the embarrassment arising from the 
 peculiar and unfortunate condition in which this entire district is 
 placed. In connection with this it should not be forgotten how much 
 the public lands here have been augmented in value by those exten- 
 sive city improvements which have contributed largely to the existing 
 burthens of the people. The extended scale upon which the Govern- 
 ment originally laid out the city, and the numlior and width of its 
 streets, have also greatly increased its expenses. 
 
 "Believing there has been some misapprehension in the public 
 mind in regard to the amount of Government expenditures for the 
 benefit of this District, compared with the amount of money received 
 from the sale of land therein, beyond its cost, and the value of lands 
 still unsold, your committee have thought proper to procure a state- 
 ment of facts relating to this subject, which is hereto annexed. 
 
 " From this statement it appears that there has already been 
 received, from the sale of public lands in this District, beyond the 
 cost of all the lands purchased by the Government, the sum of 
 $696,618.68; that the estimated cash value of lands still unsold amounts 
 to $1,091,174.09, making in the whole $1,787,792.77. 
 
 "All the appropriations of monej- b}- Congress for the benefit 
 of this District, independent of the public buildings for the General 
 Government, amount to $186,860.48; of this sum there has been appro- 
 priated for a penitentiary, a courthouse, and jails, $144,295.79. There 
 are many other considerations which might be jiresented to show that 
 the General Government ought to exercise a liberal spirit toward this 
 
190 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 District; but they will be reserved for a more inij)ortaiit occasion, when 
 its general concerns shall be exhibited in pursuance of another resolu- 
 tion of this House." 
 
 It is within the memory of many of the [iresent inhabitants of 
 this city that this project for the imi>rovemont of Pennsylvania Avenue 
 was carried into effect, and that great thoroughfare was improved 
 upon the plan of Macadam from the gates of the CajDitol to the 
 President's House. But it is worthy of remark that even in making 
 this improvement Congress manifested how little the responsibility of 
 the Government was realized in respect to its <luty in. the matter 
 of improving the Capital City. 
 
 In 1835, a report was made by Senator Southard, of the Senate 
 Committee on the District of Columbia, which is such a full exposition 
 of the affairs of the District that an abstract of it is appropriate here. 
 The report called the attention of the Senate to the fact that the city 
 of Washington was then involved in pecuniary- obligations from 
 which it was utterly impossible that it could extricate itself b}' any 
 means within its own control, or by any exertions which it might 
 make, unaided by Congressional legislation. Its actual debts amounted 
 then to $1,806,442.59, and according to the committee's view there 
 was danger that the city might be driven to a surrender of its charter, 
 and then be thrown entirely upon Congress for its support. A por- 
 tion of the debt of the city had been incurred by its investment in 
 the stock of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and as the debt thus 
 incurred must soon be discharged, aiul as the creditors were foreign 
 bankers, they would in all probability become the owners of a large 
 proportion of the property' within the limits of the Capital. 
 
 Besides this, the people had done what the}' could to improve the 
 streets; but owing to the unusual extent and magnitude of the plan 
 of the cit}' and the width of the streets and avenues, when comjiarcd 
 with the entire number of the inhabitants, then numbering but little 
 more than twent}' thousand, little, comparatively', had been accom- 
 plished. The avenues varied in width from 160 feet down to 120 
 feet, and the streets, from 147 feet down to 80 feet; and the avenues 
 and streets that had to be opened and repaired in order to fill up the 
 plan of the city, extended to a distance of more than 60 miles. Upon 
 the streets there had been expended since the year 1800 an average 
 annual sum of $13,000, besides an equal amount assessed upon the 
 citizens for gutters, pavements, etc. This expenditure made ujion 
 the streets was undoubtedly one of the principal causes of embar- 
 rassment to the city, and according to the committee making this 
 
GROWTH .LVn IMPROVEMENT OE THE CITY. 101 
 
 report, the iiiliabitants had had to bear much more tliaii tlieir pro- 
 portionate share of tlie burden. 
 
 At the beginning of tlic occupation of tliis city as tlic seat of 
 government, tiiat Government did not expect tiiat the inhaljitants 
 of the city should liear tiie burden that was tlien tlirown upon them. 
 This was shown, liist, by tiie consideration tliat the contract between 
 the Government and the owners of the lands gave to tlic Govei'ument 
 a large extent of the public lots, sufficient for all the edifices and 
 improvements which its convenience would require, and, in addition 
 to this, one-half of all the building lots within the limits of the city. 
 In the second place, the Government assumed exclusive control over 
 all the streets of the city, so that neither the cor^iorate authorities 
 nor the people had an}- right to enlarge or diminish them, to open or 
 to close them. It could not, therefore, be held either reasonable or just 
 that the city itself should bear the expense of the improvement of the 
 streets, the property and control of which were absolutely in the Gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 There had been appropriated for the streets and paid out of the 
 public treasury $429,971, and in addition to this the inhabitants 
 had paid fully $200,000 for the improvement of the streets in vari- 
 ous directions. Previous to that year there had been made 100,371 
 feet of running pavement, besides curbstones and paved gutters, 
 which were paid for by a special tax upon the lots, and to which the 
 lots owned by the Government had contributed nothing, although 
 equally benefitted with the private lots. During all this time the 
 Government had expended upon its own streets only $208,905, all of 
 which, except $10,000, had been devoted to Pennsylvania Avenue 
 and the streets immediately in the vicinity of the Capitol and the 
 presidential mansion. The committee thought that Congress ought 
 to refund to the city one-half of the amount it had expended upon 
 the streets, namely, $214,985, to sa}' nothing about the interest. 
 
 Another cause of embarrassment under whicli the city was then 
 laboring was the attempt to erect a City Hall, which so far as then com- 
 pleted had cost $50,000. To assist in the erection of this City Hall 
 a grant was made of the right to draw lotteries until the profits 
 should amount to $100,000. The drawing of tliese lotteries was 
 intrusted to men who failed in the discharge of their duties, and the 
 result was that the city was involved in a debt of $197,184.84, upon 
 which it had already paid $70,000 in interest. The number of build- 
 ing lots that were acquired by the Government was 10,130, a large 
 proportion of which had then been sold, and the account of the 
 
192 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Government with relation to these lots was as follows: It had received 
 from the sale of building lots $741,024.45; it had given away to 
 charitable institutions lots to the value of $70,000; it had remaining 
 lots unsold valued at $109,221.84; it had received in grants from 
 Maryland and Virginia, $192,000; making a total of $1,112,246.29, to 
 which must be added the value of the public reservations, |] ,500,000, 
 making a grand total of $2,612,246.29. 
 
 The total appropriation for the benefit of the city made by the 
 Government was $150,000, to enable it to complete the canal uniting 
 the waters of the Potomac with those of the Eastern Branch. 
 
 In 1848, a committee, consisting of W. W. Seaton, Mayor of the 
 city, John W. Maury, B. B. French, Ignatius Mudd, Lewis Johnson, 
 Silas Hill, George E. Abbott, and G. II. Fulmer, was appointed to 
 attend to the interests of the city of Washington before Congress. 
 These gentlemen, who were the most prominent in the city at the 
 time, and most thoroughly acquainted with its affairs, presented their 
 views at length in the following statement: 
 
 When the present site was adopted by Congress for the Capital 
 of the Nation, it consisted of a number of farms owned by eighteen or 
 twenty different proprietors. These pro^jrietors of the land conveyed 
 the whole of it to the Government, for the purpose of establishing 
 thereon a public city, according to such plan as the President might 
 adopt. A plan was accordingly laid out, and adopted by President 
 Washington, upon a magnificent scale, suited to the dignity of the 
 Republic, and with a view to its resplendent future, with vast streets 
 and avenues from 100 to 160 feet wide, and embracing an area of 7,134 
 acres. Of this great space, only 3,016 acres were appropriated in the 
 plan to the building lots, the remainder (4,118 acres) being taken up 
 with reservations for the Government edifices and other purposes, streets, 
 avenues, and parks. Of the whole 7,134 acres, the Government paid 
 the proprietors for but 512 acres, at the rate of £25, or $66.66, per 
 acre, and returning to them one moiety of tlie building lots (1,508 
 acres), retaining as a free gift the entire residue of 5,114 acres, includ- 
 ing one-half of the building lots. The proceeds of the sales of the 
 building lots so retained by the Government, it was understood by 
 the proprietors, were to be applied toward tiie improvement of the 
 place, in grading and making streets, erecting bridges, and in jirovid- 
 ing such other conveniences as the residence of the Government might 
 require. This promised improvement naturally devolved upon the 
 Government, in whom was vested the right to the soil and the right 
 of jurisdiction over the inliabitants. Yet for many years the Govern- 
 
GROWTH A.\'D rMPRO\-EMENT OF THE CITY. 193 
 
 ment failed in its perfornuiiice, leaving everything to be done b}' private 
 individuals. These iniprovciuents, so made by the city itself, and paid 
 for by levying taxes upon the people, up to January 1, 1848, had cost 
 the following sums: There had been made about C5 miles of streets, 
 and there had been expended on streets, avenues, and parks, $625,000; 
 there had been made 2,200,000 feet of paved footways, paid for by 
 special tax upon the property, costing $110,000; there had been 
 expended on the support of the poor and insane, $175,000; there had 
 been expended in educating the children of the poor, $100,000; there 
 had been expended on the police force, $32,000; and the city was 
 burdened with a debt arising from various sources of $820,000, and 
 it had paid in interest on this debt $850,000. 
 
 While the city of Wasliington had been doing all this. Congress 
 or the Government had done comparatively nothing. Had the prop- 
 erty of the Government been taxed as that of private citizens had 
 been, it would have yielded about $60,000 per year; but the Govern- 
 ment had paid nothing in the shape of taxes, nor anything out of the 
 fund derived from the sale of lots granted to it by the proprietors. 
 The most the Government had done for the corporation of Washington 
 was to relieve it from the burden of the stock of the Chesapeake and 
 Ohio Canal Company, from which, however, it had a debt on its hands 
 of about $700,000 on account of interest and expenses connected 
 therewith. The Government had received about $800,000 from the 
 sale of its lots, $72,000 from Maryland, and $120,000 from Virginia, 
 and the value of its property in the city at that time was about 
 $7,625,000. 
 
 From the time of the close of the labors of John Sessford, in 
 1853, down to the organization of the permanent form of govern- 
 ment, as explained in the Municipal chapter, there are no statistics 
 accessible showing in detail the growth of the city as to the number 
 of houses or other buildings erected from year to year, except 
 those on the assessors' books, which are scattered through numerous 
 volumes. To collect these statistics would involve very great labor 
 with comparatively little result, and hence no attempt is made to 
 make such a collection. Commencing, however, with the report of 
 the inspectors of buildings for the year closing November 1, 1877, it 
 is practicable to present in brief space this particular feature of the 
 growth of the city from that time down to the present. From 
 November, 1876, to November, 1877, there were erected, in the aggre- 
 gate, buildings to the number of 1,508; to June 30, 1878, 1,001; to 
 June 30, 1879, 1,981; to June 30, 1880, 1,921; to June 30, 1881. 1,792; 
 
194 
 
 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 to June 30, 1882, 1,730; to June 30, 1883, 2,215; to June 30, 1884, 
 2,915; to June 30, 1885, 3,091; to June 30, 1880, 5,451; to June 30, 
 1887, 4,746; to June 30, 1888, 3,694; to June 30, 1889, 4,048; to June 
 30, 1890, 4,523. 
 
 In this connection the census of Washington, Georgetown, iuid 
 tiic county outside, from 1850 to 1890, may here be introduced. 
 
 
 1850. 
 
 18G0. 
 
 1870. 
 
 1880. 
 
 1890. 
 
 
 40,001 
 8,:".()(j 
 
 :!,:i20 
 
 01,121 
 
 8,7:].3 
 
 5,22(! 
 
 100,199 
 11,:!S4 
 11,117 
 
 147,29f! 
 12,578 
 17,753 
 
 188,932 
 
 
 14,040 
 
 
 27,414 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 51,087 
 
 75,080 
 
 i:il,700 
 
 177,624 
 
 230,392 
 
 
 
 On January 4, 1885, the debt of the District of Columbia and of 
 tlie tlicn hite corporation of Washington was, accoi'ding to the pub- 
 hshed statement of Treasurer Wymaii, ex officio commissioner of the 
 sinking fund of the District, as follows: 
 
 Bonds of tiih Distrkt ok Columbia. 
 
 Permanent Improvement Bonds of 1871. 
 
 Market Stock of 1,S71 
 
 Market Stock of 1871-72 
 
 Permanent Improvement, 1873 
 
 Water Stock, 1873 
 
 Fifty Year Funding, 1874-75 
 
 Twenty Year Funding, 1879-80 
 
 Wasl 1 i ngton Co r\ )oration — 
 
 Three Year, 1870 
 
 Twenty Year Funding, 1872 
 
 Thirty Year Funding, 1872 
 
 11,010,000 
 318,000 
 
 Total. 
 
 11,434,000 
 
 $:5,484,()00 
 
 300,000 
 
 40,450 
 
 042,.300 
 
 15,000 
 
 3,017,150 
 
 C30,4(K) 
 
 100 
 
 l,020,:',5ll 
 
 O2S,,S00 
 
 $9,845,150 
 
 $:),4S4,(i00 
 
 :iiiO,ooo 
 
 140,4.50 
 
 042,300 
 
 15,000 
 
 14,033,150 
 
 948,400 
 
 100 
 1,02(1,: ;."iO 
 
 (i2s,Si)0 
 $21,279,150 
 
GROWTH AND I.^fPR (n'F.}rENT OF THE C/T)'. 195 
 
 The foregoing reports made to Congress and the statements of 
 tlie citizens, of all of which we have given ahstracts, serve to show 
 not only that the city had made little or no progress down to the date 
 to which we have last referred, but that all its attempts at progress 
 had been obstructed by the want of interest taken in its affairs by 
 the Congress of the United States, to which it had a right to look 
 for at least a certain measure of support. The history of the years 
 that succeeded is only a repetition of that of the years that had 
 preceded. Little or nothing was done either by Congress or the peo- 
 ple themselves toward putting the city into respectable condition or 
 toward the development of its plan. The Government erected several 
 elegant public buildings; the Capitol was extended, and the dome 
 erected; the Patent Office, Treasury extension, Lafayette Square, and 
 several other effective improvements were carried to completion. But 
 ill a general way matters remained in the unsatisfactory condition we 
 have described, until the beginning of the War of the Rebellion, an 
 account of which will be found in another part of this work. The 
 effect of this war was to demonstrate more clearly than it had ever 
 been shown before, the vast importance to the Nation of the preserva- 
 tion of the Capital City. Indeed this city was the great central point 
 in the history of that war. The troops that were organized and sent 
 to the field, to a great extent were first brought to this city, and 
 their organization, their supplies, everything that conduced to their 
 efficienc}' as troops, had origin and control within this city as a center 
 of operations. The effect of all this was to bring to the city of 
 Washington people from all parts of the country, and it is not too 
 much to say that the sentiment of all American citizens with respect 
 to the Capital City was one of disappointment at its condition, and 
 surprise that so little progress had been made in its development in 
 all the years that had succeeded its establishment. This feeling con- 
 tinued through years after the war. Some of the citizens fell back 
 upon the old notion that the only remedy for this condition of things 
 was the removal of the Capital from its present situation to a portion 
 of the country where more respect would be shown for its progress 
 and development. 
 
 This matter, though for some time publicly discussed in the news- 
 papers, received little or no attention from Congress. But the feeling 
 was so intense that it became manifest to the people of Washington 
 that something must be done to make the city worthy of its name 
 and its importance. There is no need to dwell upon this, an account 
 of which would, of itself, fill a volume. Before leaving this subject. 
 
196 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 however, it seems proper to refer to tlie faet tlisit an effort was 
 made, under the old munieipal form of government, to improve the 
 streets Ijy paving tle'Ui witli wooden blocks, whieli was then a very 
 popular kind of pavement. The right to these pavements was the 
 property of several patentees. The general contract was given in 
 1870 to Lewis Clephane, as president of the Metropolitan Paving 
 Company, to [nive Pennsylvania Avenue, and possibly other streets. 
 Work began on this avenue October 31, and was continued until the 
 paving of the avenue from the gates of the Capitol to Fifteenth Street 
 was completed, an event which was celebrated in an appropriate 
 manner. 
 
 But this was only a beginning. The wooden pavements, as miglit 
 have been expected, rotted away, became a dreadful nuisance, and had 
 to be removed. But they had the effect of presenting to the people 
 the advantages of smooth, durable surfaces on the pnblic streets, and 
 of the benefits that would arise from the cleaidiness derived from good 
 drainage, not ouly to the public health, but to the general appearance 
 of the city in every way. It is safe to say that from this time the 
 era of improvement that was so soon to transform the city takes 
 its beginning. A people that had once enjoyed the blessing of 
 smooth, clean thoroughfares were not willing to return to the mud 
 and discomfort of the olden times without an effort, at least, to save 
 themselves from that disaster. It was evident that tiie difficulty was 
 in the very nature of the affairs of the District, and that nothing 
 could be effected without first making a change in the methods of 
 government then existing. The result was that legislation was secured 
 that in the tirst place changed the nature of the government of the 
 city into a Territorial government for the entire District of Columbia, 
 which was under the control of a Governor and civil council; next, to a 
 temporary or experimental government by commissioners, appointed b}' 
 the President of the United States, and clothed with executive powers 
 over the aff'airs of the District; and lastly, into the present or permanent 
 form of government, consisting also of commissioners appointed by 
 the I'resident and clothed with executive powers. In the debates 
 preceding the legislation out of which this form of government grew, 
 the question of its duty to the city as the Capital of the Nation was 
 presented to Congress. After considerable debate, in which projects 
 were ottered and considered, it was finally determined that the 
 revenues of the District of Columbia collected from taxes imposed 
 ujion its citizens should be paid into the treasury of the United States, 
 iind disbursed under acts of appropriation passed by Congress, in every 
 
GROWTH Axn r^^PRO]^E^^ENT of the city. 197 
 
 respect as otlicr public nioiiej's of the United States are disbursed; and 
 tluit it siionld be the duty of the Government of the United States, 
 to the extent tliat tije estimates made for the expenses of the Govern- 
 ment should be approi)riated by Congress, to appropriate the amount 
 of fifty per centum thereof out of the public moneys of tlie United 
 States. The act is as follows, on this point: 
 
 "To the extent to wliicli Congress shall approve aforesaid esti- 
 mates" (that is, the amount estimated for the support of the District 
 Government), "Congress shall appropriate the amount of fifty per 
 centum thereof, and the remaining fifty per centum of such approved 
 estimates shall be levied and assessed upon the taxable property and 
 privileges of said District Goverimient." 
 
 This legislation, as a matter of course, changed the condition of 
 things in the District of Columbia almost entirely. It may be well 
 to mention wliat was done in the matter of this legislation more in 
 detail, as an introduction to the history of the improvements which 
 preceded and followed this final act of Congress. 
 
 The Territorial government, of which we have already spoken, 
 went into operation June 1, 1871. On June 20, the board of public 
 works, consisting of Henry D. Cooke, Governor, Alexander R. Shep- 
 herd, S. r. Brown, A. B. Mullett, and James A. Magruder, members, 
 submitted to the Legislative Assembly of the District estimates for 
 improvements amounting in the aggregate to $(3,578,397, and recom- 
 mended that the District should provide for the payment thereof by 
 II loan of $4,000,000, and an assessment of $2,000,000. July 10, the 
 Legislative Assembly passed a bill making an appropriation of $4,000,- 
 000 for improvements in the District of Columbia, and authorizing 
 an issue of twenty- j-ear seven per cent, bonds in payment for the 
 same. Application was made to the Erpiity Court for an injunction 
 against the issue of the bonds, which being granted by Judge Wylie, 
 the Legislative Assembly, on August 11, 1871, passed a supplemental 
 appropriation bill of $500,000 for the purpose of avoiding the technical 
 difficulties raised by the injunctionists, and work was immediately 
 commenced. The injunction was subsequently dissolved, and by a 
 later act the Legislative Assembly reduced the appropriations made 
 by $500,000, thus putting the amount at $4,000,000, the original appro- 
 priation. The Legislative Assembly at the same time referred the 
 $4,000,000 loan to the people at an election held November 21, 1871, 
 and the proposition was almost unanimously sustained. 
 
 Thus sustained and fortified by the popular voice, the board of 
 public works felt safe in inaugurating a system of improvements, par- 
 
198 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 ticulixrly on the streets, which astonislied the people ot tlie District 
 of Columbia by its magnitude and extent, and which caused much 
 harsh and ungenerous criticism by people all over the country, and 
 especial!}' b}' those who were immediately concerned in the District 
 itself, whose taxes were greatly increased, and whose convenience was 
 seriously intei-fercd with. Up to the time of the establishment of this 
 board of public works, no system of grades had been established, and 
 the inauguration of a system of sewers required numerous changes in 
 the grades as they then existed, and some of these changes were of a 
 very radical nature. This was the first great difBculty encountered 
 Ijy the board. The next difficulty was with the streets themselves, 
 comprising, as they did and do, a greater percentage of the entire 
 area of the city than those of any other city in the world. 
 
 The sewerage of tlie city liad received almost no attention previ- 
 ous to the establishment of the board of imblic works. A large 
 proportion of the drainage emptied into an open ditcli, called the 
 canal, and the current of water, depending as it did upon the ebb 
 and tiow of the tides, was wholly insutiicient to carry otf the deposits 
 made at the outlets of the sewers emptying into it. The canal thus 
 became an exceedingly oifensive and disgusting object and a most 
 prolific source of pestilence. How to abate this nuisance had been 
 a great problem among scientific and practical men for twenty-five 
 years, and it had not yet been solved. It soon became clear to tliis 
 practical board of public works that an intersecting sewer at this jioint 
 was a necessity, as all of the great sewers from the northern portion 
 of the city had been let into the canal. At length it was determined 
 to build an intersecting sewer from Seventh to Seventeenth Street, 
 following a course parallel to the canal, and emptying into the river 
 at the foot of Seventeenth Street; and another intersecting sewer 
 from Sixth to Third Street, emj^tyiiig into the Tiber arch on Third 
 Street. These sewers vary in diameter from five to twelve feet. After 
 theii- construction it was soon seen that the problem unsolved for a 
 quarter of a century had found a solution. 
 
 The Tiber Creek sewer, which receives all the sewage of the city 
 east of Sixth Street West, and which drains an extent of country 
 northward of more than three thousand acres, is one of the largest 
 ill the world, varying in diameter from twenty-four to thirty feet, and 
 is of abundant ca})acity for all future time. Other sewers were con- 
 structed in ditfcrent parts of the city as needed, but it is not deemed 
 necessar}' to particularize further on this subject. 
 
 Previous to November 1, 1872, tliere had been laid IIG.IJO miles 
 
H h 
 
 «MK»?^^ft#* 
 
GROWTH AtXn rMPRO\-RMENT OF THE C/TY. 109 
 
 of street pavements of viirious Iciiuls, inclading 34.26 miles of wood 
 pavements, embracing those of Pennsylvania Avenue and several other 
 of the city streets. These wood pavements were of several kinds — 
 tiie Ballard, Miller, Stowe, Moree, Keystone, Ingersoll, and De Golyer, 
 Nos. 1 and 2. There were also -39.22 miles of gravel pavements, this 
 kind of roads being made mostly in the country. Of asphalt pave- 
 ments, the following kinds had been laid: The Scharf, the Evans, tiie 
 Scrimsliaw or Abbott, and the Parisian. 
 
 The improvement of the streets was by no means a small matter. 
 It was necessary to equalize the grades; for while the city of Washington 
 is situated on what is sometimes called a plain, yet it presents numer- 
 ous and great inequalities. The White House grounds are but fifteen 
 feet above mean low water; Capitol Hill is ninety feet above low water; 
 Pennsylvania Avenue is, in some places, below high water mark; Ob- 
 servatory Hill is ninety-six feet above tide water; and in 1876 there 
 were between Capitol Hill and Observatory Hill elevations of one 
 hundred and three feet, which had to be cut down and the ravines 
 and hollows filled up and made as nearly level as practicable when 
 the necessary drainage was talcen into account. 
 
 In addition to all the work done upon the streets, a great work 
 was done by the parking commission, consisting of William II. 
 Smith, William Saunder.s, and John Saul. Beginning in the spring 
 of 1872 and continuing down to the present time, this commission 
 has been steadily at work improving the streets and J[:)arks by the 
 planting of trees, shrubs, and ilowers, until the result is that all over 
 the city the streets and parks are most beautifully shaded and the 
 pleasantness and healthfulness thereof greatly enhanced, the city now 
 being in this regard (jne of the most charming cities of the world. 
 The transformation from an unhealthy, unsightly city to a city of 
 tine, graded, graveled and paved, and shaded streets, well lighted at 
 night, an extended system of sewerage, an efficient water supply, miles 
 upon miles of shade, and acres upon acres of beautiful parks, includ- 
 ing the Mall, the Smithsonian grounds, the Washington Monument 
 grounds, the President's Square, Lafayette Square, and numerous 
 others, was the most surprising and complete. 
 
 It is not improper in this connection to observe and to record for 
 the beneiit of future generations, that the presiding genius of this 
 great transformation and improvement was Alexander R. Sheplierd.' 
 
 'Alexander R. Shephenl was Ix^rii in Washington City, January .31, 1835. At the 
 age of ten he was apprenticed to a carpenter, and when seventeen, to the trade of a 
 plumber; he became some years afterward a partner in the firm of John W. Thomp- 
 
200 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 While the first Governor of the District of Columbia was Henry 
 D. Cooke, a most estimable gentleman, Mr. Shepherd, in his position 
 of vice-president of the board of public works, and afterwards when 
 he became himself Governor, exercised superintendence over all the 
 work that was done. Under Mr. Shepherd the rapidity and extent 
 of the work performed was most extraordinary — so great, indeed, as 
 far to exceed the authority of law under which he was working, and 
 also so great as to call for the expenditure of money far in excess of 
 the appropriations. The work was performed by Governor Shepherd 
 with an honest purpose for the benefit of the city. His ambition was 
 to make it the pride instead of the reproach of the Nation, and to 
 render it, so far as anvthing could or can render it, the permanent 
 Capital of the great American Government. As to the amount 
 c.Niicndcd exceeding tlie aiiiii(jpriations. Governor Shepherd boldly told 
 the committee of investigation appointed in February, 1874, to inquire 
 into the proceedings of the board of public works, that inasmuch as 
 the public buildings of the Government, which paid no taxes to the 
 city, were greatly benefitted by the improvements made by the excess 
 of expenditures complained of, the Government should in duty to 
 itself assume that excess of liabilities; and there are now living those 
 who believe that had Governor Shepherd retained his position and 
 been permitted to complete the work begun by him, this result, so 
 much to be desired, would have been accomplished. However this 
 
 son it Company, plumbers and gas fitters in the city of Washington, and finally 
 succeeded to the business in his own name. When the Rebellion commenced he was 
 one of the first to volunteer bis services in the cause of the Union. In 1861, he 
 was elected a member of the Common (Council of the city of Washington and was 
 chosen president of that body; he was a member of the Levy Court of the District of 
 Columbia in 1S67, and in 1869 wa.s one of a committee of citizens selecteil to draft a bill 
 for the better government of the District of Columbia, in which work he took a lead- 
 ing part. In 1870, he became president of the Citizens' Reform Association and was 
 also elected an alderman of the city. In 1871, he was appointed a member of the Board 
 of Public Works of the District of Columbia under the act of Congress of that year, 
 abolishing the then existing government and creating a Territorial government for the 
 District; he was elected vice-president of the board, the Governor under the law being 
 ex officio president. He was, in 1873, appointed the second Governor of the District 
 and remained in that office until June 20, 1874, when the form of the government of 
 the District of Columbia was again changed by an act of Congrct^s approved that day. 
 Mr. Shepherd showed himself at all times, and in every position held by him, a man 
 of distinguished ability, strong in his conviction of what was right, and always loyal 
 to his convictions. He was ahead of his times in his opinion of what was best for the 
 interests of the city of Washington, and to his boldness as a leader and his fearless 
 adoption of the means in his hands is due, more than to all things else beside, the 
 wonderful develoinnent of the beauties and advantages of the city of his birth. Mr. 
 Sheiiherd lias, for several years pa.st, been a resident of Mexico, wIhtc he owns 
 valuable mining interests, to which he is devoting his energies. 
 
GROWrH AXD fMPRO\-EME.\T OF THE CITY. 201 
 
 might have been, the results of liis great work arc everywliere visible; 
 they are enjoyed by tliose wlio opposed and criticized him as well as 
 by those who approved liis work and stood by him. The yrcat debt 
 created has been advantageously funded, and will be paid by the futui-e 
 as well as by the i)resent. At this time many of those who were his 
 detractors have become liis eulogists. 
 
 In closing tliis cliapter it may be well to present in brief the 
 number and extent of tlie public reservations and the lengtii of the 
 streets and avenues. The public grounds of the city of Washington 
 .consist of 331 reservations, containing 413.32 acres of land. Fifty-five 
 of these are highly improved, and contain 231.28 acres; 47 of them 
 are partially improved, contaiuing 110.55 acres; and 220 remain unim- 
 proved, containing 71.49 acres. This statement does not include Kock 
 Creek Park, lately condemned and converted into the largest park in 
 the city, embracing within its limits nearly 2,000 acres, and c(jsting 
 nearly one million and a half of dollars. 
 
 Following is a summarj' of the length in miles and area in square 
 yards of the various kinds of pavements at present upon the streets of 
 Washington: Of sheet asphalt, 49.7 miles, 1,089,858 square yards; coal 
 tar, 38.2 miles, 881,939 square yards; asphalt block, 10.1 miles, 242,736 
 square yards; granite blocks, 24.5 miles, 609,687 square yards; cobble 
 and blue rock, 10.8 miles, 440,754 square yards; macadam, 10.4 miles, 
 293,218 square yards; gravel, 26.2 miles, 530,188 square yards. Total 
 length of paved streets, 169.9 miles; total area, 4,088,380 square yards. 
 The length of streets unimproved is 65.6, miles, making the total 
 length of the streets 235.5 miles. The area of the unimproved streets is 
 1,167,672 square yards, making the total area of the streets 5,256,052 
 square yards. 
 
 The march of improvement in the city, begun in 1871, has been 
 ceaselessly onward. Twenty years of constant, unremitting, intelligent 
 attention to its progress has worked wonders in the appearance of the 
 Capital. Pushing outward along the magnificent avenues, the grand 
 plan of L'Enfant is being developed, as the city progresses, in a way 
 that astonishes and delights its citizens. Already this progress has 
 overleaped the old boundaries, and passing the confines intended by 
 our forefathers, is peopling the hills that surround it like an amphi- 
 theater. The style of buildings is in keeping with the grandeur of 
 the plan; while the beautiful parks, trees, flowers, and shrubs, the 
 fountains, statues, and splendid public edifices, all combined, make it 
 a city worthy of the name of Washington, 
 
CIIAPTEIi VIII. 
 
 MILITAHY HISTORY. 
 
 The Causes of the War of 1812-1.") — The Euibargoes — Tammany Society of Washington 
 to President .Jefferson — War in Prospect — President Madison Convenes Congress — 
 Congress Declares War — Recruiting in Washington — Reorganization of the Militia of 
 tlie District — Military Organizations — British Shijis in the Potomac — Excitement in 
 AVasliington — General Winder Arrives in Washington — The Battle of St. Leonard's 
 
 — The Battle of Bladensbnrg — President Madison's Proclamation — Peace through 
 the Treaty of Ghent — The War with Mexico — Annexation of Texas by Treaty 
 or Joint Resolution — Organization of Troops for the War ^ Peace with Mexico 
 
 — The War of the Rebellion — Brief Statement of its Causes — The Insurrection 
 at Harper's Ferry — Jiatification Meetings — Attack on the Republican Headquarters 
 
 — Meeting of Southern Senators to Further the Secession of Their States — The 
 Peace Convention — Mr. Lincoln's AiTival in Washington — His Inauguration — 
 Military Companies — Proclamation Calling for Seventy-five Thousand Men — First 
 Troops to Arrive in Washington — Military Department Created — Militia Officers 
 Commi.ssioned — Battalions Organized — Crossing the Potomac — Colonel F^llsworth 
 Killed — Fortifications Around the City — First War Dispatch from a Balloon — 
 Battle of Bull Run — The Army Bakery — Troops in Defense of Washington — War 
 Meeting in tlie Capitol — Second Battle of Bull Run — Battle of .\ntietam — Hos- 
 pitals in Washington — Proclamation of Emancipation — Drafts in the District 
 
 — Ladies' Relief Association — General Early Attacks Washington — Surrender of 
 Richmond — Lee's Surrender — Assassination of Pre.sident Lincoln — Confiscation of 
 Property — The Grand Review — Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia. 
 
 I^IIE Will- of 1812-15 had its remote origin in the fact that Great 
 Britain chiimed iiml exercised the right to impress seamen from 
 American vessels into her own service, upon the principle that a 
 subject of Great Britain could not expatriate himself. For several 
 years before the conimencenient of actual hostilities, in fact as far 
 back as the close of the Revolutionary War, the newspapers of the 
 United States contained frequent advertisements in the form of lists 
 of American citizens serving on board of American vessels, arbitrarily 
 seized while engaged in the performance of their duty, and thus 
 impressed into the service of that nation, together with appeals to 
 their friends for })roof that they wei'C citizens of tlie United States, 
 and for the adoption of measures that would lead to the recovery of 
 their liberty. Then, too, deserters from the British navy sometimes 
 enlisted in the service of the United States, to whom, when discov- 
 ered, but little mercy was shown. 
 
JSIILITARY HISTORY. 203 
 
 In the spring of 1807, tliree of the seamen of the British ship 
 Melampas deserted her and enlisted as a portion of tlie crew of tiie 
 American frigate Chesapeake, tlien heing iitted out at the Navy Yard 
 at Wasliington to join the Mediterranean squadron, Mr. Erskine, 
 wlio was then Britisli minister at Wasliington, made a formal demand 
 upon the President of the United States for tlieir surrender. The 
 Government of the United States instituted an investigation into the 
 case of these deserters, hy means of which it was well established 
 that all three of the men were American subjects previously to their 
 enlistment on board the Melampas. Their names were William Ware, 
 John Strachan, and Daniel Martin. Martin was a colored man and a 
 citizen of Massachusetts; the other two jjeing white men and citizens 
 of Maryland. These facts being sufficiently authenticated, the Gov- 
 ernment of course refused to surrender them, and Mr. Erskine said 
 no more upon the subject. 
 
 The failure to secure the surrender of these tliree men led Vice- 
 Admiral Berkeley to an assumption of authority which caused a great 
 deal of trouble between the two nations. Vice-Adniiral Berkeley was 
 on the Halifax Station, and a fleet under his command was at the 
 time lying oft" Lj'nnhaven Bay, watcliing a French fleet that was on 
 the coast, as well as American commercial movements. About the 
 beginning of June, 1807, the Chesapeake sailed from Washington to 
 Norfolk, where she reported as ready for sea to Commodore James 
 Barron, the flag officer of the Mediterranean squadron, June 22. She 
 sailed from Hampton Roads under the immediate command of Captain 
 Gordon, armed with twenty-eiglit eighteen pounders on her gun deck 
 and twelve carronades on her upper deck. Her crew numbered three 
 hundred and seventy-tive men. The British squadron in Lynnhaven 
 Bay were watching her, as well as the French frigates, the Leonard, 
 of the British squadron, being particularly on the lookout for the 
 Chesapeake. The Leonard, mounting tifty-six guns, preceded the Chesa- 
 peake to sea several miles, until about three o'clock in the afternoon, 
 when she bore down upon the Chesapeake and hailed her, informing 
 Commodore Barron that she had a dispatch for him. The lieutenant 
 of the Britisli boat which came alongside, who was politely received 
 by the Commodore in the cabin of the Chesapeake, informed the 
 Commodore that he was in search of deserters, and, giving their 
 names, demanded their release, in accordance with instructions issued 
 June 1, 1807, by Vice-Admiral Berkeley-, to all the captains in the 
 British squadron. Commodore Barron replied that he knew of no 
 deserters on board of his ship, and that his crew could not be mus- 
 
204 H/SrORY OF W.ISH/NGTON. 
 
 tered except by their own officers. In tlie nieant'une, the officers of 
 the Chesapeake, suspicions of intended mischief, prepared the siiip as 
 well as they could for action, and upon the retirement of the British 
 lieutenant, Commodore Barron, himself fearing hostile action in con- 
 sequence of his refusal to surrender the deserters, called his men to 
 quarters. Soon afterward a shot was sent from the Leonard across the 
 bow of the Chesapeake, and in a few moments another, and then a 
 whole broadside was fired into the American ship. In several broad- 
 sides that followed, three of Commodore Barron's men were killed 
 and eighteen wounded. The Chesapeake, being really in a helpless 
 condition, could offer no resistance, and was compelled to surrender. 
 The three deserters above mentioned, and one other named John 
 Wilson, were found on board the Chesapeake, taken on board the 
 Leonard, and thence to Halifax, where Wilson, who was a British 
 subject, was tried and hanged. The other three were reprieved on 
 condition of reentering the British service. One of the three Amer- 
 icans died in captivity, and the other two, in June, 1812, were restored 
 to the sliip from which they had been taken. 
 
 This act of Vice-Admiral Berkeley, when brought to the atten- 
 tion of the British Government, was disavowed by Earl Canning, and 
 Berkeley was recalled from his command. The commander of the 
 Jjconard was discliarged from his command, and never again employed 
 by his Government. On the other hand. Commodore Barron was 
 greatly blamed by the American people for his misfortune. The 
 national pride was deeply wounded, and it was necessary that it 
 should be ajipeased. He was accused of neglect of duty, was tried 
 on this charge by a court martial, found guilty, and suspended for 
 five years without }iay. Captain Gordon was also tried on the same 
 charge, as well as Captain Hall, but both were only privately repri- 
 inandcd, while the gunner was cashieretl for not having sutHcioiit 
 priming powder [irepared. It is altogether likely, howevei', that the 
 blame rested with the Government more than with the officcis of 
 the Chesapeake, though it is not deemed })roper to imrsuo the investi- 
 gation of this jioint in this volume. 
 
 Tlie President, on July 2, issued a proclamation, in which he 
 complained bitterly of the habitual insolence of the British cruisers, 
 expressed his belief that the outrage on the Chesapeake was unauthoi-- 
 ized, and ordered all Hritish armed vessels to leave the waters of the 
 United States immedialely. The schooner Hecenc/e was sent to England 
 with instructions to the American ministers, Monroe and I'inckney, 
 who demanded rcpaiatiou lor insults and injuries in the case of the 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 205 
 
 Chesapeake, and insisted by way of security for tlie future, that the 
 right of visitation of American vessels in search of British subjects 
 should be totally relinquished. The British Government refused to 
 treat on anj- subject except that of reparation. A disavowal of the 
 act had already been made, and every disposition shown to be just 
 and friendly. But no satisfactory understanding could be ari'ived at. 
 
 President Jefferson, in his message to Congress, December 18, 
 1807, on account of the attempted destruction by France under 
 Napoleon, and by the British Government, of the commerce of the 
 United States, by the operation of the Berlin decree of the former 
 and the orders of the Council of the latter, suggested by way of 
 retaliation the passage of an embargo act. And what is most remark- 
 able, the Senate on the same day, after four hours' debate, passed such 
 an act by a large majority. Tiiree days later the House passed the 
 same act, and on the 22d the President approved it. The object of 
 this act was to preserve and develop the resources of the United 
 States and to compel France and England to relinquish their hostility 
 to the commerce of a neutral nation. But in both directions it was 
 a failure, except that to a slight extent it tended to develop American 
 manufactures. But how to develop commerce through its destruc- 
 tion is a problem that has not yet been solved. It turned out to be 
 of assistance to France in her efforts to destroy the commerce of 
 England, and the pride of England would not permit her to modify 
 her action with reference thereto, she thinking she could endure the 
 inconveniences of the American embargo as long as could the United 
 States. In this position England was correct. The United States 
 could not prosper without intercourse with the outside world, and 
 the evils inflicted on her commerce by her own embargo were far 
 greater than those inflicted on that of England or France. After 
 considerable unfortunate experience, the polic}' of decree, orders, and 
 embargo were alike abandoned. 
 
 On the occasion of the taking of the Chesapeake, the Tammaii}' 
 Society of Washington City sent an address to the "Grand Sachem 
 of the Seventeen United Tribes of America," Thomas Jeflerson, Presi- 
 dent of the United States, expressing regret that the}' had reason to 
 believe that the calumet of peace was to be exchanged for the toma- 
 hawk of war, the Nation having been insulted and menaced by a 
 foreign tribe. They beheld with horror the perfldious attack made 
 upon our national canoe, the Chesapeake, on our own shore by the mer- 
 cenary' warriors of another tribe, bej'ond the wide waters, professing 
 toward us amity and friendship. 
 
206 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 About the time of tliese occurrences news came to Washington 
 from all along the nortlicru frontier that tiie English were exciting 
 the Indians against the Americans, and making treaties with them 
 to tlie end that they would certainly be on the side of the British 
 in case of war. Even as i'ar toward the north and west as Chicago 
 it was firmly believed that war with Great Britain was inevitable. 
 Then, too, to add to the gloom of tlie prospect, the embargo was 
 Ijitterly denounced in many sections; though of course it was sustained 
 by the friends of Mr. Jeiferson and many otliers, who, though not 
 especially his friends, yet were friends of their countr}' without refer- 
 ence to his administration. The probable effect of the embargo 
 was not umlerstood by all, and many had so much confidence in 
 Mr. Jefferson's wisdom that through this confidence they sustained 
 the embargo, instea<l of through knowledge of its nature. "In 1794 
 an embargo did not produce a war, and we hope in 1807 it will avert 
 one. If in this we should be disaii}K)inted it will at least yield the 
 means of waging it with good effect." 
 
 In April, 1808, the names of seventy seamen claiming to be citi- 
 zens of the United States were published by tiie War Department, 
 with the rerpiest that their friends would supply the dciiartment with 
 the proof necessary to estaljlish their citizenship, and the promise 
 was made that then measures would be taken to secure their liberty. 
 
 Thus matters continued until after Mr, Madison was elected 
 President, and all through his first term, — the English persisting in 
 their aggressions and the United States Government striving to avoid 
 a war. At length, on July 24, 1811, President Madison, desirous of 
 serving a second term, and hearing the ground ti-embling with dissatis- 
 faction at his peaceful policy, convened Congress in extra session, to 
 meet November 4, that year. This Congress, in January, 1812, jiasscd 
 a measure providing tor the addition of 25,000 men to the military 
 forces, which was the first war measure adopted. On February 21, 
 1812, aiipropriations were made for sustaining this additional foi-cc, and 
 on tlie 24th nearl}- six hundred nominations of officers were sent into 
 the Senate by tlie President, which nominations were confirmed March 
 12. During this month recruiting for the addition to the military was 
 commenced, and by the 15th the mails were burdened with notifica- 
 tions of appointment to officers in all }iarts of the country. 
 
 Api-il 4, 1812, another embargo was laid upon all ships and vessels 
 in the jiorts of tlic United States, for ninety days from the jiassage of 
 the att, with certain exceptions. April 18, a meeting was held at 
 which was organized a company to manufacture solid shot, the factory 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 207 
 
 established being named "Bruft"'s Pressed Shot Factory." By May 1, 
 Tliomas Evvell & Company liad their gunpowder mills in operation, the 
 capacity of which was two thousand pounds per day, both of these 
 establishments being in the immediate vicinity of Washington. 
 
 War was declared by (Congress, June 18, 1812. The enlistment of 
 troops proceeded somewhat slowl}- until the surrender of Detroit by 
 General Hull, August 16, 1812. This surrender tilled the country with 
 indignation, it being felt as an ingloi'ious stain upon the country's 
 honor. Then volunteers in great numbers flocked to arms, impelled 
 by the noblest sentiments of patriotism. This sentiment no^v was 
 well-nigh universal; for while previously there had been a difference of 
 opinion as to the necessity or policy of war, 3'et, when actual hostil- 
 ities commenced, and a stigma had been cast upon the American 
 name, it became almost universally the opinion that no course but that 
 of war was admissible. In Washington, the "Union Light Infantry 
 Company" was organized, and commanded by Captain Davidson, and 
 the "Washington Troop of Horse," by Captain Elias B. Caldwell. By 
 September 29, a full company of one hundred and sixty men was 
 ready for the tield in Alexandria, having been organized on the 
 26th by the election of James McGuire captain, Robert Smith lieu- 
 tenant, and Charles L. Nevitt ensign. Their services were tendered 
 to and accepted b}' the President. The "First Legion of the District 
 of Columbia" was otKcered as follows: William Smith, lieutenant- 
 colonel, commanding; George Peter, adjutant; William Whann, quar- 
 termaster; Clement Smith, paymaster; Dr. Frederick May, surgeon, 
 John Ott, surgeon's mate; E. Cummings, quartermaster's sergeant; 
 John Simpson, fife major. 
 
 February' 16, 1813, Adjutant George C. Washington, by order ot 
 Brigadier-General John P. Van Ness, required the commanding officers 
 of the cavalry of the District to be ready to march at the sound of 
 the trumpet, and on March 30 Brigadier-General Van Ness issued 
 orders to the cavalry to hold themselves in readiness to march at a 
 moment's notice. John Tayloe was lieutenant-colonel of cavalry. In 
 connection with these ordci's was published a list of the officers of the 
 several companies, together with the dates of their sev^eral commissions, 
 as follows: 
 
 Columbian Dragoons — Captain, William Thornton, June 6, 1811; 
 John Law, first lieutenant, June 6, 1811. 
 
 Georgetown _ffHssars — Captain, John Peter, June 6, 1811; first lieu- 
 tenant, J. S. Williams, June 15, 1811; second lieutenant, William 
 S. Ridgely, May 30, 1812. 
 
208 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Washington Light Horse — Captuiii, Elias B. Caldwell, May 30, 
 1812; first lieutenant, R. C. Weiglitman, May 30, 1812; second lieu- 
 tenant, N. L. Queen, May 30, 1812. 
 
 Alexandria Dragoons — Captain, J. II. Mandeville, June G, 1811; 
 tii'st lieutenant, William H. Maynadier, June G, 1811; second lieuten- 
 ant, John Dulany, May 8, 1811. 
 
 The regimental stati' was as follows: Adjutant, George C. Wash- 
 ington; quartermaster, William Crawford; paymaster, Daniel Brent; 
 surgeon, Dr. G. Clark; sergeant-major, Nicholas Worthington. Benja- 
 min H. Latrobe was civil and military engineer at the Navy Yard. 
 
 May 8, 1813, there was a mass meeting of the citizens of Wash- 
 ington held to consider the propriety of adopting such measures as 
 might further promote the defense of the city. Mayor Daniel Rapine 
 was called to the chair, and Joseph Gales, Jr., made secretary. After 
 some discussion it was determined to appoint a vigilance committee, 
 whose duty it sliould he to consult with the citizens of tlie District 
 and to communicate with the General Government on behalf of the 
 city upon the subject of the probable security or danger of the 
 city. The committee as appointed consisted of the Mayor and eight 
 other citizens as follows: Thomas Munroe, John Davidson, Walter 
 Jones, Jr., Peter Lenox, Buckner Thruston, Daniel Carroll of Dnd- 
 dington, Alexander McWilliams, and John Davis of Abel. 
 
 About tliis time the militia of the District was reorganized, with 
 the following ofhcers: 
 
 Major-general, John P. Van Ness; brigadier-generals, Robert Young 
 and Walter Smith; adjutant-general, John Cox; assistant adjutant-gen- 
 eral, George Peter; brigade-majors, Philip Triplett and John S. Wil- 
 liams; colonels, George Magruder, William Brent, and William Allen 
 Dangerfield; lieutenant-colonels, James Thompson, Michael Nourse, and 
 Adam L^'un; majors, Lawrence Hoof, Adam King, and Joel Brown. 
 
 Captains of infantry, Charles L. Nevitt, David Whann, Josiah 
 M. Speake, Richard Johns, James Cassin, John Ilollingshead, Elisha 
 W. Williams, Craven T. Peyton, George Fitzgei-ald, and Alexander 
 Hunter; cajitain of I'itienien, Horace Field. 
 
 Captain of artillery, Benjamin Burch, with numerous lieutenants 
 and ensigns, as follows: Lieutenants of infantry, Edward Edmonston, 
 Abraham Wingart, John Fowler, Henry Beatty, Charles Warren, Wil- 
 liam Morton, Thomas L. McKenny, Bernard H. Tomlinson, And)rose 
 White, Thomas W. Peyton, Levin Moreland, Leonard Adams, Gustavus 
 Harrison, Robert Smith, and Alexander L. Joncherez. 
 
 Lieutenant of ritiemen, David Mankins; iirst lieutenant of artillery. 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 209 
 
 Alexander McCormick; second lieutenant of artillery, Sliadrack Davis; 
 lieutenant of grenadiers, John Goddard; ensign of grenadiers, George 
 KilHile; ensign of riilenien, Francis Hucern; ensigns of infantry, Gus- 
 tavns Alexander, Marsluun Jameson, John Mitchell, James B. Holmead, 
 William Williams, Francis Lowndes, Robert B. Kirby, and John Gilily. 
 
 May 11, 1813, Assistant Adjutant-General C. K. Gardner issued 
 orders to Major-General John P. Van Ness that he should furnish 
 from his division of militia the following detachment, to rendezvous 
 at Washington on the 20th of the same month, under the law of 
 February 28, 1795, and to report to Colonel Carberry, of the Thirty- 
 sixth Regiment of United States Infantry: 
 
 Of infantry, 1 major, 4 captains, 4 lieutenants, 4 ensigns, and 400 
 rank and file; of artillery, 1 captain, 1 first lieutenant, 1 second lieu- 
 tenant, 1 adjutant, 1 quartermaster, 1 surgeon's mate, and 100 i-ank 
 and file. 
 
 The militia of the District had already, on the day before, been 
 organized as follows, b}' Major-General Van Ness: 
 
 "The President of the United States having been pleased, under 
 the authority vested in him by law, to adopt a new organization for 
 the militia of the District of Columbia, better adapted to its present 
 circumstances and more agreeable to the present army arrangements, 
 whereby the militia of the District is formed into a division consistino- 
 of two brigades, each brigade to consist of two regiments," etc. 
 
 "In reminding the officers of the division of the late arrange- 
 ments the Major-General thinks proper, in conformity therewith, to 
 order that Colonels Magruder and Brent, and the regiments under 
 their respective commands, compose the First Brigade, under the 
 immediate command of Brigadier-General Smith; and that Colonel 
 Dangerfield and Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant Tayloe, with the 
 regiments under their respective commands, compose the Second Bri- 
 gade, under tlie immediate command of Brigadier-General Young. 
 
 "Majors Robert Y, Brent and William S. Radcliff are selected as 
 Major-General's aids-de-camp." 
 
 Brigade orders were issued, May 13, by Brigadier-General Walter 
 Smith, to the eftect that the militia of the District of Columbia, with 
 the exception of the cavalry, should be formed into two distinct 
 regiments, and constitute the First Columbian Brigade; the First 
 Regiment to be commanded by Colonel George Magruder, assisted by 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, and to consist of the following compa- 
 nies: Captains Ross's and Briscoe's infantry, and the infantry previously 
 commanded by Captains Nourse, Keely, and Brown, who had been 
 
210 J f /STORY OF U'.-ISH/NGTOiV. 
 
 promoted; Captains Davidson's and Kutli's iiglit infantiy, Captain Stull's 
 riflemen, and Captain Ednionston's grenadiers. The Second Keginient 
 was to be commanded by Colonel William Brent, and to consist of 
 Captains Morse's, McKee's, Parry's, B. King's, Bestor's, Blake's, Var- 
 niim's, and Hughes's infantry, Bnrch's artillery, and Cassin's, Lenox's, 
 and Young's light infantry. 
 
 The "senior volunteers," who had enrolled themselves in the 
 summer of 1812, were requested to meet May 20, in order to be 
 reorganized into a company, and the citizens of the Third Ward who 
 were above the age of forty-iive were also requested to meet May 22 
 for the same purpose. Accompanying these requests, the hope went 
 forth that no one was so old as to liavc no patriotism in his bosom. 
 According to the National Intelligencer, there was a good deal of a 
 military spirit manifest among the people at that time. There had 
 then recently been formed several companies, as has been narrated in 
 our late paragraphs, and particular mention was made of the artillery 
 company under Captain Burch. Four hundred of the militia of the 
 District, drafted in accordance with a requisition of the War Depart- 
 ment, and under the command of Major King, had been placed in 
 the command of Colonel Carberry, of tlie regular army, and were then 
 eneam[ied on the hill above Way's Glass Works, between Georgetown 
 and the Potomac Kiver. The Government was roused to the necessity 
 of guarding against any possible danger, and it was believed that the 
 steps taken were suflicient to defend the city against any invading 
 force the enemy could bring against it. 
 
 On May 20, the corporation of the city of Washington made an 
 appropriation of $5,000 to aid in the execution of such measures as 
 the President might adopt for the safety and defense of the city. This 
 sum of money was expended under the direction of Mayor Rajiine, and 
 John Davidson, Peter Lenox, Elias B. Caldwell, and Joseph Cassin. 
 
 May 29, 1813, a dinner was given at Davis's hotel in honor of the 
 recent naval victories of the United States, which dinner was attended 
 by a large number of citizens, without regard to party affiliations, 
 from Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria. Of this occasion it 
 was said that it was the most numerous and respectable, and at the 
 same time the most brilliant, assemblage of citizens that had ever been 
 convened in the District. Among those present were the Vice-Presi- 
 dent of the United States, George Clinton; the Speaker of the House 
 of Representatives, Henry Clay; and many members of Congress. 
 General Robert Bowie, Governor of Maryland, acted as iiresident of 
 the day. Among the toasts drank were the following: 
 
^[ILITARY H/SrORV. 211 
 
 "The Anioricaii Peoiilc. SeU'-collected iu prosperit}-, uiHlauiited in 
 adversity." 
 
 "The Genuine Republican. He that is ever ready to defend his 
 country against her enemies." 
 
 "The Mission to Russia. As it is pledged to paeilic intentions, 
 so may it prove the precursor of an honorable peace." 
 
 "The Flag of Decatur. To the lightning of heaven it bows, to 
 British thunder, never." 
 
 On Thursday, July 15, 1813, great excitement was produced in 
 Washington by the report that the enemy's ships were approachins: 
 the city, his force in the Potomac consisting of fourteen sail. One- 
 half of the regulars, drafted militia, and volunteers encamped at War- 
 burton Heights, Thursday night, and the remainder within a few miles 
 of them. The fort itself was in good order and well garrisoned, and 
 the frigate Adams lay within a short distance. The Secretary of the 
 Navy went down to Warburton on the same day that the report gained 
 circulation, and arranged for the erection of a battery on the water's 
 edge, which mounted nine heavy cannon. The Mayor of the city 
 issued an order on the 15th requesting every man, whether or not 
 subject to military duty, to enroll himself in some volunteer company 
 for the defense of the city in case of an attack by the enemy. A 
 meeting of the citizens was held in the afternoon of the same day in 
 Capitol Square, at which it was resolved that the citizens who had 
 not enrolled themselves should do so, and that a cit}- commandant be 
 appointed by a majority of the company officers, and that the Mayor 
 be that officer. Regular patrols were organized among the citizens, 
 which patrolled the city at night. 
 
 A strong detachment of United States artillery occupied Fort 
 Warburton in Washington, and the ridge upon which the fort stood 
 was held by a battalion of the Tenth and a company of the Twentieth 
 United States Infantry, a battalion of drafted men, and a detachment 
 from Captain Burch's men, all under the command of Colonel Nicholl, 
 of the First Regiment of United States Artillery. On the road leading 
 from Piscataway to Port Tobacco were the dragoons, supported by 
 Captain Davidson's infantry, Captain Stull's riflemen, the Georgetown 
 Grenadiers, and several companies of infantry. Near where the War- 
 burton and Washington City roads meet, was the Thirty-sixth Regi- 
 ment, under Colonel Carberry, with the remainder of Colonel Burch's 
 artillery. This arrangement, besides guarding against the enemy's 
 approach, admitted of a ready concentration of the American troops. 
 At that time an invasion of the city seemed imminent. The various 
 
212 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 militia conipanies were uiuler iiriiis every niorning at iive o'clock, and 
 tlirough tlie day tlioy were drilled and exercised, and fitted for the 
 duties of tlie field. At Greenleafs Point works were commenced upon 
 which to erect a battery of heavy cannon, and furnaces were con- 
 structed with which to supply the cannon with red hot holts. Below 
 the Navy Yard, also, a similar fort was constructed. On Tuesday 
 morning, July 22, 1813, the enemy's ships descended the river, and 
 were then not in sight at Point Yates, ahout seventy miles away. A 
 troop of cavalry under Captain Osburn, and two companies of infantry 
 under Captains Lastly and Means, all from Loud(.>n Count}-, Virginia, 
 arrived in Alexandria on Monday and Tuesday, July 19 and 20. 
 
 The British squadron was under the command of Admiral Warren. 
 He having apparently ahandoned his designs against Washington, an 
 order was issued on Sunday, July 2.5, for the discharge of the volun- 
 teers, and they returned to their families and friends on the 26th, the 
 regular troops and drafted militia remaining near Fort Warhurton. 
 
 Matters were then quiet for several months. General Winder, who 
 had been a prisoner of war in Canada, and who had been released on 
 parole, arrived in Washington April 29, 181-4. On July 17, 1814, quite 
 alarming news was again received in Washington, that the enemy was 
 at Patuxent, that he had burned the villages of Benedict and Lower 
 Marlborough, and was in sight of Nottingham. Orders were imme- 
 diately issued from the War Department to put on the march by 
 10:00 A. M., Saturday, June 18, detachments from the cavalry, artillery, 
 and riflemeji of this county to the number of about two hundred and 
 fifty men. Contradictory advices being received in the afternoon of 
 the same day, the above mentioned orders were countermanded. On 
 Sunday, June 19, news was again received that the enemy was reen- 
 tering the Patuxent and had arrived opposite Benedict. Assistance 
 was asked by the citizens of Nottingham, and the Secretary of War 
 caused the necessary orders to be distributed by General Van Ness. 
 By 10:00 a. m., the Georgetown Artillery and Rifiemen, the Georgetown 
 Dragoons, Captain Thornton's trooji, of Alexandria, and Captain Cald- 
 well's, of Washington, were ready to march, and all departed foi- 
 the Patuxent under command of Major George Peter. 
 
 The Ivtelligencer said: " We learn that the eneni}- have pursued 
 the same system of barbarous warfare that was commenced last summer 
 under the notorious Cockburn. They have burned man^- dwellings and 
 jilundered many families on the shores of the Patuxent." 
 
 A new volunteer corps was organized about this time, known as 
 the "Legion of Mounted Infantr}'," and composed of the elite of the 
 
M/L/TARY HISTORY. 213 
 
 entire District. The companies above mentioned reached Nottingliam 
 OH Monday, June 20, and were immediately ordered to Benedict, where 
 Colonel Wadsworth was in command of the troops previously collected. 
 These troops included those under Major Peter, an artillery force with 
 eight eighteen-pound cannon, and a battalion of the Thirty-eiglith 
 Regiment of United States Infantry from Baltimore. In connection 
 with the notice of these movements of the soldiers, the Intdlicjencer 
 said: "It is superfluous to notice the contemptible asseverations of 
 facetious editors who rail at the National Government, without look- 
 ing into the conduct of those whose willful neglect of duty has brought 
 incalculable mischief upon a large portion of the citizens of Maryland." 
 
 On Tuesday, June 21, 1814, a slight battle was fought between 
 the belligerent forces, in which one American named Francis Wise 
 was killed. He was shot by a British soldier, " who most bravely 
 fought until lie was killed by repeated wounds, and who proved to 
 be a sergeant of marines of proverbial courage and strength, and 
 before he was disabled wounded another of the troops with, his 
 bayonet, and very nearly overpowered General Stewart, of the militia, 
 who engaged him after Wise was killed." The British soldiers were, 
 however, driven on board their ships, and the Americans withdrew out 
 of reach of their guns. Six of the British were taken prisoners and 
 brought to Washington on the 24tli, and committed to the custody 
 of the marshal. June 26, tiring from the British vessels was kept 
 up in St. Leonard's Creek all day, and fears were entertained for 
 Commodore Barney, the British having been reenforced; but Barney 
 extricated himself from his useless position in St. Leonard's Creek 
 and went to Benedict on the Patuxent. Commodore Barney brought 
 on this engagement, and in two hours the enemy "got under way 
 and made sail down the river. They are now (10:00 a. m.) warping 
 round Point Patience, and I am sailing up the Patuxent with my 
 vessels. My loss is Acting Midshipman Asquith, killed, and ten others 
 kil'ed or wounded."' 
 
 In consequence of the retreat of the enemy down the Patuxent, 
 the volunteers from Washington set out on their return on Wednes- 
 day, June 29, the cavalry arriving on the 30th, and tlie artillery and 
 rifle companies on July 1. Commodore Barney arrived in the city 
 on Thursday, June 30, his flotilla having moved up the river as far 
 as Lower Marlborough. 
 
 The battle of St. Leonard's, at the mouth of St. Leonard's Creek, 
 
 > Commodore Barney's Report. 
 
21-1 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 June 26, 1814, was the occasion of a great deal of controversy among 
 the ofKcers of the American forces. Colonel Wadsworth, in his report 
 to the Secretary of War, reflected rather severely on the conduct of 
 Cajitain Miller, who commanded a portion of the artillery during the 
 day, and Ca[)tain Miller even more severely animadverted upon 
 the conduct of Colonel Wadsworth and his comnuuid. After moving 
 from his position on the hill down to the lower ground, in which 
 position he was disappointed, "finding that the barges which were 
 firing round shot were not only out of sight of this position, but com- 
 pletely out of range of any grape or canister that could be thrown 
 from my batteries," he therefore sought still another position, but 
 before he had reached one-half way to the spot he "discovered the 
 infantry retiring in good order along the low ground," and therefore 
 from this unfortunate movement of the infantry, himself " became one 
 of the number moving from the field," which he had held for 
 upward of two hours in constant firing upon the enemy's frigates, 
 employing his best exertions to annoy them, etc. lie gave great 
 credit to Commodore Barney's flotilla, and the detachment from the 
 flotilla under Captain Cohagen. 
 
 July 14, 1814, the President of the United States made a requisition 
 upon the governors of the several States for militia from those States, 
 to be organized into regiments and held in readiness for immediate 
 action, to the number of ninety-three thousand and five hundred men. 
 He apportioned to Pennsylvania fourteen regiments, to Delaware one 
 regiment, to Maryland six regiments, and to Virginia thirteen regiments. 
 
 July 17, the enemy had a force of soldiers at Leonardtown, in 
 St. Mary's County, Maryland, about sixty-five miles from Washington. 
 The volunteers from this city and vicinity were then encamped near 
 the wood yard, about fifteen miles from Washington, from which 
 position they could in two hours reach either the Patuxent or the 
 Potomac. A battalion of volunteers, wliicii had been enrolled for 
 the defense of Washington, was discharged July 23, 1814. Tiiey 
 were reviewed that day by General Winder, and by him highly con.'- 
 plimented on their soldierlike appearance. August 1, 1814, there was 
 a general review of the military of the District by General Winder, 
 of the Army of the United States, and commander of the military 
 department in which the District of Columbia was conqirised. The 
 First Brigade, under Brigadier-General Young, was reviewed at Alex- 
 andria at 10:00 A. M., and the Second Brigade, which was under the 
 command of 13i-igailier-General Smith, was reviewed in front of the 
 president's Square, in Washington, at 2:00 p. m. 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 215 
 
 A volunteer corps of between sixty and seventy' dragoons from 
 Frederick and Washington counties, Virginia, passed througli Wash- 
 ington, August 12, for the rendezvous at Bhidensburg. A detachment 
 of about tliree hundred men, under Colonel Gettings, from Mont- 
 gomery County, Maryland, also reached Bladonsburg about the same 
 time. 
 
 August 9, the entire British tieet in the I'otomac lay just below 
 the mouth of the St. Mary's Kiver — one 74-gun siiip, the Albion; 
 one razee, three frigates, two ships, two brigs, several sloops of 
 war, one large schooner, and twelve smaller ones. The force in the 
 Patuxent consisted of two ships and one brig, the ships being 
 the Severn and Prince William. By the 19th of August, the British 
 fleet was strengthened so as to consist of forty-six sail at or near 
 Point Lookout, and besides there were five frigates ott" St. George's 
 Island. On Thursday, August 18, the euemy's forces entered the 
 Patuxent, and indicated an intention of ascending the river. Upon 
 the receipt of this intelligence in the city. General Winder made 
 requisition upon the governors of Maryland and Pennsylvania and 
 upon various militia officers; and the militia of the District of Col- 
 umbia was ordered out en masse. Colonel Monroe, with Captain 
 Thornton's troop of horse, made a recounoissance of the position of 
 the enemy on Friday the 19th, and the militia of Washington and 
 Georgetown were mustered on the same day. On the 20th, about 
 1:00 p. M., these, together with some other forces, commenced marching 
 toward Benedict, and encamped for the night on the road to Up}ier 
 Marlborough, about four miles from the Eastern Branch bridge. The 
 British arrived at Benedict in force on the same day, with twenty-seven 
 square-rigged vessels atid other craft. Colonel Tiglhiuan and Captain 
 Caldwell were ordered, with their cavalry, to remove and destroy 
 forage and provisions in front of the enemy, and to impede his march 
 as much as possible. Those who reconnoitered the position of the 
 enemy estimated the strength of his forces at from four thousand to 
 six thousand men, and he soon advanced upon Nottingham. Early 
 on Monday, the 22d, a detachment of the Thirty-sixth and Thirty- 
 eighth Regiments, and three companies from the brigade of General 
 Smith, under the command of Major Peter, marched on the road to 
 Nottingham, and the remainder of the armj^ took up an elevated 
 position. Commodore Joshua Barney had joined the army with the 
 ilotilla men, besides the marines under Captain Miller. The cavalry 
 which met the British in their march retired before them, and this 
 led the advanced corps to attempt to impede the march of the enemy. 
 
216 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 who took tlie road to Upper Marlborougli, after coming within a few 
 miles of General Winder's army, whicli was drawn \\\) in line of 
 battle to receive him. General Winder then fell back with his entire 
 force to the Battalion Old Fields, about eight miles from Marlbor- 
 ough, and about the same distance from Washington. The British 
 army arrived at Upper Marlborough about two o'clock, and remained 
 there until next day, waiting for the return of the detachment sent 
 against the Hotilla under Commodore Barney, which was destroyed 
 by the Commodore under orders from the Secretary of War. Late 
 on the 22d, President Madison, together with the Secretaries of War 
 and the Navy, and the Attorney-General, joined General Winder at 
 Battalion Old Fields, and remained with him until the evening of the 
 next day. On the morning of the 23d, the troops were reviewed by 
 the President. At that time it was not known, and it could not be 
 ascertained, what the purpose of the enemy was, whether it was to 
 march upon Annapolis, upon Fort Washington, or upon the city of 
 Washington. His forces were variously estimated, but it was generally 
 believed that he had from live thousand to seven thousand men. Gen- 
 eral Winder's force was about three thousand, with tive pieces of 
 heavy artillery, two eighteen-[>ouuders, and three twelve-pounders, 
 and other smaller pieces, enough to bring the aggregate number of 
 pieces of artillery up to seventeen. General Winder, induced to 
 believe that the enemy intended to remain stationary through the 
 day, ordered the troops under General Stausbury at Bladensburg, and 
 one other corps, to move to Upper Marlborough, himself going to 
 meet them, and leaving orders that the enemy should be annoyed in 
 every possible way, either in his march or in his position; and that 
 if he nioved upon Bladensburg, General Smith should fall u[ion his 
 ilank, or be governed by circumstances as to his movements. 
 
 However, the enemy left Upper Marlborough and had a skirmish 
 with Captain Stull's company, which was compelled to retreat after 
 tiring four or tive rounds. The entire army was thereupon placed in a 
 position favorable for defense, but upon General Winder's return, late 
 in the afternoon, he decided to march upon the city of Washington. 
 The object of this retreat was, as stated by General Winder, to unite 
 his entire force, fearing a night attack by a superior enemy upon 
 his undisciplined troops, as in a night attack his superiority in 
 artillery would be of no avail. The march of the army to Wash- 
 ington was extremely rapid and precipitate, and the men were greatly 
 exhausted before the camping ground was reached. 
 
 This precipitate march, or rather retreat, was of course after the 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 217 
 
 Inittle of Bladensburg luul been fought It is diflicnlt to give a 
 (ori'eet account of tliat battle, because it was not very creditable to 
 the American arms, and it was perfectly natural for all concerned in 
 it to desire, after it was over, to prevent the precise facts from coming 
 to light, especially where those facts reflected adversely upon tlieir 
 conduct. But the following account is as nearly accurate as the cir- 
 cumstances will permit. General Stansbury arrived at Bladensburg on 
 the 22d of the month, and the Fifth Baltimore Regiment, together with 
 the rifle corps and artillery, in the evening of the 2.3d. At twelve 
 o'clock that night Colonel Monroe advised General Stansbury to fall 
 upon the rear of the enemy forthwith, as it was understood that he 
 was in motion for the city of Washington. General Stansbury, having 
 been ordered to post himself at Bladensburg, did not consider himself 
 at liberty to leave the [ilace, and besides the fatigue of the troops 
 under Colonel Sterret rendered it impracticable. 
 
 On the morning of the 24tli, General Winder's headquarters were 
 near the Eastern Branch bridge, arrangements for the destruction of 
 which had been made. Detachments of horse were out in several 
 directions as videttes and reconnoitering parties.- Colonel George 
 Minor arrived in Washington on the 22d, with his regiment of Vir- 
 ginia militia — six hundred infantry and one hundred cavalry, and 
 reported to the President and Secretary of War for orders and United 
 States arms. Next morning, after several delays in counting out the 
 arms, it became rumored around that the enemy was marching upon 
 the city by way of Bladensburg, and Colonel Monroe left the city 
 with the view of joining General Stansbury, to aid him in forming a 
 line of battle to meet the enemy. General Stansbury then occupied 
 the ground west of Bladensburg, on the banks of the Eastern Branch. 
 Here the front line of battle was formed. Over the Eastern Branch 
 there was a bridge, from which a turnpike led to Washington. After 
 the various forces at this point had been stationed, Colonels Beall 
 and Hood, with the Maryland militia from Annapolis under Colonel 
 Beall, crossed the bridge and took up a position on the right of 
 the turnpike and upon the most commanding height, about three 
 hundred yards to the right of the road, for the purpose of securing 
 the right flank. About eleven o'clock in the morning, intelligence 
 was received that the enemy was in full march toward Bladensburg. 
 General Winder thereupon put his entire command in motion, with 
 the exception of a few men and a piece of artillery at the Eastern 
 Branch bridge, to destroy it. Upon the arrival of General Winder 
 at Bladensburg in advance of his troops, he approved of the disposi- 
 
218 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 tion made by General Stansbnry anil Colonel Munroe; but even if 
 he had not been able to do this, it would have been impracticable to 
 make any change, as the enemy at that moment, 12:00 m., appeared 
 on the opposite heights of Bladensliurg, about a mile distant. General 
 Winder's troops were arranged in line of battle as they arrived. The 
 President, the Secretary of War, and the Attorney-General were all 
 upon the ground. As the eneujv advanced into Bladensburg, the 
 second line of General Winder's troops was being formed. Commo- 
 dore Barney's command came in at this time on the double-quick, and 
 were formed in line on the right of the main road. The heavy artillery 
 was placed in line under Captain Miller. Lieutenant-Colonel Kramer, 
 with a battalion of Maryland militia, was posted in a wood in advance 
 of Colonel Beall and Colonel Hood, and the other troops were properly 
 arranged. About half jiast twelve, while the second line was yet 
 forming, the enemy approached, and the battle commenced. The Bal- 
 timore artillery opened lire upon the enemy's light troops advancing 
 along the streets of tlie village, dispersing them, and they protected 
 themselves behind houses and trees as well as they could; but other 
 portions of their troops began throwing rockets, and his light troops 
 liegan to advance, concentrating near the bridge and pressing across 
 it, and also crossing above, where tlie river was fordable. The enemy's 
 column was thrown into some confusion while approaching the bridge, 
 but having gained it they rapidly crossed, and forming into line 
 moved steadil}' on, compelling General Winder's artillery and ritlemen 
 to give way. Soon afterward the rockets from the enemy's force 
 assumed a more horizontal direction, and passing too near the heads 
 of Colonel Shutz's and Colonel Kagan's regiments, the right gave 
 way, and this, falling back, was followed in a few moments by a 
 general flight of the two regiments, in defiance of all the ett"orts and 
 exertions of General Winder and General Stansbury and the other 
 officers. Burch's artillery and the Fifth Regiment remained with firm- 
 ness; but notwithstanding that the enemy's light troops were driven 
 back by the firmness of these two regiments, at length, the enemy 
 having gained the riglit fiank of the Fifth, which exposed it, Burch's 
 artillerj' and Colonel Sterret, in cduimand of the Fifth, were ordered 
 by General Winder to retreat, with a view of forming at a short 
 distance to the rear; but instead of retiring in order, the Fifth, like 
 the other two regiments, in a very few minutes was retreating in 
 disorder and confusion. Attempts were then made to rally the 
 troops, which were temporarily successful. They ultimately failed, 
 however, and the troops were badly routed. They retreated on the 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 219 
 
 road, which forked in tliree directions — one leading by Rock Creek 
 to Tenley Town and Montgotuer}- Courthonse, one leading to George- 
 town, and the third to Washington. 
 
 After the retreat of the troops nnder Lieutenant-Colonel Kramer 
 from his first position, the column of the enemy was exposed to a gall- 
 ing iir» from Major Peter's artillery, which continued until they came 
 in contact with Commodore Barne}', and it was here that the enemy 
 met with the greatest resistance and sustained the greatest loss. An 
 eighteen-pounder was opened upon him by Commodore Barney, and 
 this completel}' cleared the road for the time being, and several 
 attempts wei-e made to rail}'. He thereupon made a Hank movement 
 to the right, when Captain Miller opened upon him with three twelve- 
 pounders with considerable eftect; but they kept on with the flank 
 movement and at length gained the rear of the right of the second 
 line, and a retreat was ordered by Commodore Barney. After some 
 further maneuvering and fighting, the troops, some of whom had 
 remained firm in their positions, were ordered by General Winder 
 to retreat, and after again forming were again ordered to retreat by 
 the commanding general. And when General Smith's command came 
 into the field and were in the act of forming in line, they were also 
 ordered to reti-eat to Washington, expecting there to be united with 
 the troops of the first line. Colonel Monroe covered the retreat. 
 At the Capitol the troops were again halted while General Winder 
 was in consultation with Colonel Monroe and General Armstrong. 
 
 However, the first line, which had been the first to break and 
 retreat from Bladensburg, with the exception of Colonel Laval's, had 
 most of them taken the road which led north of the District ot 
 Columbia, and others had dispersed and gone to their homes. Taking 
 all these things into consideration the commanding general believed 
 it would be impossible to defend the city against tlie invading forces 
 of the enemy; nor did he think it would be proper to attempt to 
 defend the Capitol building, as that would leave every other part of 
 the city to the mercy of the eneni}'. On receiving the order to rally 
 on the heights of Georgetown and abandon Washington to its fate, 
 the troops, according to General Smith, evinced an anguish beyond the 
 power of language to express. They were held at Tenley Town, and 
 an attempt to collect them together was only partially successful. Some 
 returned home, some went in pursuit of refreshments, and others gave 
 themselves up to the feelings which fatigue, privation, and chagrin 
 naturally produce. The forces collected were marched about five miles 
 from the Potomac, and early in the morning of the 25th ordered to 
 
220 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 assemble at Montgomery Courtliouse. This position seems to liave 
 been taken b}' General Winder with tlie view of interposing to 
 protect Baltimore in case that citj' sliould prove to be in danger. On 
 the 23d, General Winder had sent orders to the commanding officer at 
 Fort Washington to place patrols in every road leading to the garri- 
 son, and in the event of his being taken in the rear to blow up the 
 fort and retire across the river. 
 
 From Benedict to Washington ma Bladensburg is about fifty miles. 
 The battle of Bladensbnrg ended at 4:00 p. m., and the British forces 
 reached Wasliington about eight o'clock in the evening. The British 
 army was under the joint command of General Ross and Admiral 
 Cockburn. As the former was riding toward the Capitol, his lioi'se 
 was shot under him by some one tiring from a hciuse in the vicinity, 
 the design being apparently to kill the General. This so enraged the 
 troops that, after setting tire to the house containing the sharpshooter, 
 they marched quickly to the Capitol, and tired several volleys into its 
 windows; then maching inside the building, they collected all kinds 
 of combustible materials, piled the books and papers in the Congres- 
 sional Library- on the floors, and set the whole mass on tire. When 
 the clouds of smoke issued from the roofs of the wings of the build- 
 ing, it seemed doomed to destruction, and doubtless more damage 
 would have Ijeen done to it than was done, had it not been for the 
 fact that in about half an hour alter the tire was kindled a heavy 
 shower set in and continued all the rest of the evening, and was the 
 means of saving the walls, at least. While the lire was raging in the 
 Capitol building, the British soldiers marched up Pennsylvania Avenue 
 to set on tire the other public buildings. They did set on tire the 
 Treasury, State, War, and Nav}- departments, and the President's 
 House, destroying Mr. Sewall's house on Capitol Hill, a hotel belong- 
 ing to Mr. Carroll, General Washington's house, and Mr. Frost's 
 house. The public property destroyed was valued as follows: The 
 Capitol building to its foundation was worth $787,163.28; the Presi- 
 dent's House, $334,334; the other public buildings, $93,013.82; total 
 value, |l,21.'i,in.l0. 
 
 It may be (>roper to add to this detail a statement of the forces 
 engaged on either side in the engagement at Bladensburg. The 
 strength of the several corps on the part of General Winder's army 
 was as follows: Dragoons of the United States, 140; Maryland militia, 
 260; dragoons of the District of Columbia, 40; dragoons of Virginia, 
 100; total dragoons, 540. The Thirty-si.vth Regiment of Infantry, one 
 battalion of the Thirty-eighth, and one company of the Twelfth, 500; 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 221 
 
 seamen and marines, 600; total, 1,100. Militia — Stansbiiry's briga<le, 
 1,353; part of Strieker's, 956; Smitli's brigade and Kramer's battalion, 
 1,800; Young's brigade, 450; Beall's regiment, 800; Minor's regiment, 
 600; sundry detacbments of volunteers and militia, 450; total militia, 
 6,409. Total number, 8,049. There were in tlie battle twenty pieces 
 of artillery of different caliber. The losses amounted to 10 killed and 
 30 wounded; total, 40. 
 
 The British forces numbered as follows: On Capitol Hill, 700; on 
 Turnpike Hill, 2,000; wounded at Bladensburg, 300; attendants, 300; 
 wounded and attendants at Washington, 60; killed at Bladensburg 
 and Washington, 180; total, 3,540. The entire number in the British 
 army was probably about 4,500. 
 
 On the evening of the 25th, after being in possession of the Capi- 
 tal of the Nation twenty-four hours, tlie British made the greatest 
 exertions to leave the city. They had about forty iiorses, ten or 
 twelve carts and wagons, and several gigs, which they sent to Bla- 
 densburg to move oft' the wounded; and tliese were preceded b}' a 
 drove of sixty or seventy cattle. Arriving at Bladensburg, the surgeon 
 was ordered to collect the wounded wlio could walk, and the forty 
 horses were utilized to carry the wounded who could not walk, the 
 carts and wagons being also used to carry the dead. About ninety of 
 the wounded were left behind. At about midnight the British army 
 passed through Bladensburg; parties continued to follow until morn- 
 ing, and stragglers until midday. The retreat was made in great 
 haste, as if the enemy were conscious of the jiresence of the American 
 army at Montgomery Courthouse, and were in dread of an attack by 
 General Winder's forces. 
 
 The capture of the city of Washington by the British forces 
 sevei-ely wounded the pride not only of the people of the District of 
 Columbia, but also of the entire country. That the city should have 
 been permitted to be captured, has ever since Ijeen looked upon as a 
 disgrace to the country and a shame to tliose who were entrusted 
 with its defense. Some writers, in their impartiality, have attempted 
 to distribute the blame all round among the various ofticers of 
 the Government, from President Madison down to the immediate 
 commanding general; while others have sought to lin)it it to the com- 
 manding general. Those who have included the President in the 
 list, do so maiidy upon the ground that it was he wlio was respon- 
 sible for the selection of such an incompetent general; but it is 
 probable that one of the reasons for the ability of the British to 
 march upon and capture the city with but little or no opposition, was 
 
222 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 this; that most of the troops upon whicli Genrral Winder had to 
 depend, were raw militia. Had they been disciplined veterans, as 
 were the Britisii soldiers, or liad they possessed confidence in them- 
 selves and ill their general, the sting and stigma of tiie disgrace of 
 the captnre would not have been experienced. At any rate the 
 prowess and valor of American soldiers have since been most amply 
 vindicated, on l)attk'tields in Mexico, and on both sides in the war 
 of the late liebellion; so that so far as that particular feature of the 
 case is concerned, there no longer remains any opportunity for criti- 
 cism upon American soldiers, nor does there remain any reason to 
 doubt the ability of the United States to produce competent com- 
 manding generals. 
 
 In reviewing the events preceding the battle of Bladeiisburg, and 
 the battle itself, it ma}-, in the tirst place, be well to introduce the 
 testimony of General Winder himself, with reference to the conduct 
 of the militia from the District of Columbia. In a letter published 
 October 8, 1814, he said: "I have no knowledge of any instance of 
 the conduct of the militia (from Washington and Georgetown) while 
 under my command which is not honorable to their zeal, spirit, and 
 subordination, and that they yielded a prompt and soldierly obedience 
 to all my orders. My situation on the tield, in the battle of Bladeiis- 
 burg, with the front line, and subsequent eflbrts to form them on the 
 left of the Georgetown and other militias, prevented me from witness- 
 ing their conduct in the engagement. When I sent them orders to 
 retreat, the enemy were turning both their right and left flanks. From 
 the total Hight of the front line and the troops posted on the right, 
 and when I came up to them shortly after their retreat commenced, I 
 found them retiring in order, and consequently inferred that they had 
 not left their position before receiving my orders to retire. They were 
 prepared and showed the utmost readiness to form agjiin between the 
 Capitol and the turnpike gate to renew the contest, until I found 
 the total dispersion of the first line rendered it impossible to make 
 another stand with a number sufficiently great to afibrd any hope of 
 success. And they did, on my order, proceed through the city to 
 Georgetown and form on the heights of Tenley Town." 
 
 Then, too, the story of the battle is perhaps best told in General 
 Winder's own language: 
 
 "Our advanced riflemen, Pinkney's corps, now began to tire, and 
 continued it for half a dozen rounds, when I observed them to run 
 back to an orcliard. They halted there, and seemed for a nionient 
 about returning to their original position, but in a few moments 
 
MILITAR V HISTOR V. 223 
 
 entirely broke, and retired to the left of Stiinsbury's line. The advance 
 artillery immediately followed the riflemen, and retired on tiio left of 
 the Fifth Baltimore Regiment, which had been pushed forward to 
 sustain them. 
 
 "The first three or four rockets fired by the enemy being much 
 above the iieads of Stansbury's men, the}' stood them very man- 
 fully, but the rockets having taken a more horizontal direction, a 
 universal flight of the center and left of Stansbury's brigade was the 
 consequence. The Fifth Regiment and the artillery still remained, and 
 I hoped would prevent the enemy's approach, but the enemy ap- 
 proached singly, and their fire annoyed the Fifth considerably, when 
 I ordered it to retire, for the purpose of putting it out of reach of 
 the enemy; This order was, however, immediately countermanded, 
 from an aversion to retire before tlie enemy became stronger, and from 
 a hope tliat the enemy would issue in a body and enable us to act 
 upon him on terms of more equality. 
 
 "But ins fire beginning to disturb this corps, and the Fifth Regi- 
 ment still more by wounding some of them, and a strong column 
 passing up the road and deploying on its left, I ordered them to 
 retire. Their retreat became a flight of absolute and total disorder. 
 Beall's regiment was posted on a height to the right of the road, which 
 commanded the whole ground occupied by Stansbury's brigade. It 
 gave one or two ineftectual fires and fled.'" This retreat completes the 
 account of the fortunes and fate of the front line, which could not be 
 rallied, and which displayed all its activity in making its way home. 
 
 This, it will be seen, agrees with General Winder's letter given 
 above with respect to the conduct of the militia from the District of 
 Columbia, and hence it seems permissible to place the most of the 
 blame for the defeat at Bladensburg on the front Hue. The second line 
 was composed of Smith's militia brigade, the Thirty-sixth Regular 
 Regiment, one battalion of the Thirty-eighth Regiment, a detachment 
 of the Twelfth Regiment, and Commodore Barney's corps of seamen 
 and marines and the whole of the cavalry. General Winder did not 
 have this line under his immediate observation. It appears that Commo- 
 dore Barney, in the pressure upon the front line, was entirely forgotten 
 at the Eastern Branch bridge, and would have remained there, much 
 against his inclination, had he not accidentally met the President and 
 Secretary of War, who advised him to hasten his march to Bladensburg 
 and join the army. The Commodore in his report said: "We came 
 up in a trot and took our position on the rising ground between 
 Smith's militia and Beall's, posted our marines and seamen, and waited 
 
224 H/STORY OF U:-lS///NGrON. 
 
 the upproach of the enemy. Diii-iiii;- this period, the engagement con- 
 tinued, the enemy advanced, and our ami}' retreating apparently in 
 inucli dis^order. At length the eneiu}' made his a[i[iearance before us 
 and iialted. After a few minutes I ordered an eighteen-pounder to 
 tire upon iiini, which completely cleared the road. A secf)nd and third 
 attempt were made to come forward, but all were destroyed. They 
 then crossed over into an open field and attempted to flank us. There 
 he was met by three twelve-pounders, the marines and seamen acting 
 as infantry, and was again badly cut up. B}- this time not a vestige 
 of the American army remained, except a body of live or si.\ liundred 
 on a height on my right, and from which I expected great support. 
 The enemy now pushed up theii' sharpshooters and began to outflank 
 us on the i-ight. Our guns were that way when we pushed up the 
 hill toward the American corps, stationed as above described, which, 
 to my great mortification, made no resistance, giving a tire or two 
 and retiring. Fin<ling the enemy now in my rear, and no means of 
 defense, I ordered my oflicers and men to retire." 
 
 General Smith said: "The dispersion of the front line caused a 
 dangerous opening on our left, of which the enemy was availing 
 himself, when I ordered Colonel Brent, with the Second Regiment, to 
 talie a position still more to our left, ami he was preparing to execute 
 this order when orders came from General Winder for the whole of 
 the troops to retreat." 
 
 Upon receipt of orders of this kind from the commanding gen- 
 eral, of course fighting was ouc of the question. The orders that 
 followed were but little else than a repetition of orders to form and 
 counter orders to retreat. When what was left of the army I'eached 
 Washington, the Secretary of War suggested the occupation of the 
 Capitol building, believing that the Thirt3--sixth and Thirty-eighth 
 regiments, together with those portions of Commodore Barney's corps 
 that could be collected, would be sufficient to sustain their position 
 therein, provided General Winder could assure them of such exterior 
 sujiport as would be necessary to supply them with food, water, and 
 ammunition. The General replied that he could not give the assurance, 
 and that he proposed to retire behind the heights at Georgetown. 
 The Secretary of War then assented to the measure which appeared 
 to have been previously discussed and (b'termined upon by the com- 
 manding general and the Secretary of State, and perceiving that no 
 oi-der was given to apprise the Navy Department of the determination 
 to cross Rock Creek and to prevent the capture of the Navy Yard, he 
 dispatched Major Bell to announce the retreat of the urmj'. The 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 225 
 
 garrison at Fort Washington was not more fortunate than their fellow- 
 soldiers. The fort was destroyed and abandoned, though pressed by 
 no enemy on either side. 
 
 It may not be improper to introduce testimony from the British 
 side as to some of the features of this battle. An oiiicer of the 
 Eighty-fifth Royal Regiment, named Gleig, stated the facts in the fol- 
 lowing language: "This battle, by which the fate of the American 
 Capital was decided, began about one o'clock in the afternoon, and 
 lasted till about four o'clock. The loss on the part of the English 
 was severe, since, out of two-thirds of the army which was engaged, 
 upward of five hundred men were killed and wounded, and what 
 rendered it doubly severe was that among these were numbered several 
 officers of rank and distinction. Colonel Thornton, who commanded 
 the Liglit Brigade, Lieutenant-Colonel Wood, commanding the Eighty- 
 tifth Regiment, and Major Brown, who had led the advanced guard, 
 were all severely wounded, and General Ross himself had a horse 
 shot under him. On the side of the Americans the slaughter was not 
 so great. Being in possession of a strong position, they were, of 
 course, less exposed in defending tlian the others in storming it, and 
 had they conducted themselves with coolness and resolution, it is not 
 conceivable how the day could have been won. But the fact is, that 
 with the exception of a part of the sailors from the gunboats, under 
 the command of Commodore Barney, no troops could behave worse 
 than they did. The skirmishers were driven in as soon as attacked. 
 The first line gave way without ott'ering the slightest resistance, and 
 the left of the main body was broken within half an hour after it was 
 seriously engaged. Of the sailors, however, it would be injustice not 
 to speak in terms which their conduct merits. They were employeil 
 as gunners, and not oidy did they serve their guns with a quickness 
 and precision which astonished their assailants, but they stood till 
 some of them were actually bayoneted, with fuses in their hands; nor 
 was it till their leader was wounded and taken, and they saw them- 
 selves deserted on all sides i)y the soldiers, that they quit tlie field." 
 
 General Ross, in his dispatch of August 30, said that his loss at 
 the battle of Bladensbnrg was si.xty-four killed and one hundred and 
 eighty-five wounded and missing. The numbers given by Gleig com- 
 prised the entire loss of the British in killed, wounded, missing, and 
 deserters, from the morning of the battle until their reembarkation, 
 including the casualties at Washington. 
 
 "On the other hand, the citizen-militia escaped with their valuable 
 lives, and, without forming again to impede the approach of the enemy 
 
220 Hf STORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 or to defend the Ciipitol and public buildings, disappeared entirely 
 from the District, leaving their wives and children to the nierc}- of 
 the victor.'" 
 
 The destruction of the Navy Yard followed almost immediately 
 after the defeat at Bladensburg. The Secretary of the Navy liad given 
 orders to Commodore Tingey, that in case of defeat the shipping and 
 store at the Navy Yard should be destroyed, to prevent their falling 
 into tlie enemy's hands. At four o'clock the Secretary- of War sent 
 a messenger to the Commodore informing him that no further pro- 
 tection could be given, and tliat otHcer forthwith proceeded to destroy- 
 the buildings and vessels, notwithstanding earnest appeals were made 
 by the citizens to have the Navy Yard saved from destruction. At 
 twenty minutes past eight o'clock the match was applied, and the sloop 
 of war Argus, with ten guns mounted, five barges full}- armed, two 
 gunboats, the frigate Colii.mbia on the stocks, and a large quantity of 
 naval stores were consigned to tlic Hamcs. The schooner and the 
 arsenal escaped destruction. 
 
 After leaving tlie Capitol the British army marched up Pennsyl- 
 vania Avenue, and taking possession of Mrs. Suter's lodging house, 
 ordered supper. Meanwhile, they set lire to the Treasury building 
 and the President's House. The President himself had retired from 
 the city, with liis cabinet, on horsebiick immediately after the close 
 of the battle of Bladensburg, crossing the Potomac at Little Falls and 
 rocrossing it at the Great Falls. The table at the President's House 
 was found set for forty guests, in expectation of a welcome to the 
 victorious defenders of the city. The wine was cooling on the side- 
 board, the [ilates warming at the grate, and the meats were on the 
 spits in the kitchen. Koss and Cockburn, liowever, returned to 
 Mrs. Suter's house, and, after extinguishing the lights, ate their 
 ro[)ast by the light of the burning buildings. Later in the evening 
 General Ross rejoined the main army, then on Capitol Hill, and 
 Admiral Cockburn, with a few of his companions, passed the night 
 in a brothel. During the night, in a iit of rashness, the sentries were 
 attacked by a grandnephew of General Washington, a young sailor 
 named John Lewis, who was shot down in the street and was found 
 dead next morning where lie fell. ILid tlie militia at the battle of 
 Bladensburg showed the spirit manifested by this young nephew of 
 General Washington, the fortunes of the day would have been vastly 
 different. On the morning of the 25th, the two commanders renewed 
 the work of destruction by setting tire to the War and Nav}- depart- 
 ments. The Post Office and the Patent OtKce were spared Ijy the 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 227 
 
 enemy on the appeal of Dr. Thornton to save private property stored 
 in the building. General Washington's house, a dwelling owned by 
 Robert Sewall, from heliiml which General Ross's horse was shot, that 
 of Mr. Frost, and the hotel of Daniel Carroll were burned on Capitol 
 Hill, when the British proceeded to the Navy Yard to complete the 
 ruin commenced under the orders of the Secretary of War. There 
 they burned the public works, the private ropewalks of Tench Ring- 
 gold, Heath & Company, and John Chalmers, and mutilated the 
 monument erected by the officers of the navy to the valiant heroes 
 who fell in the Tripolitan War. 
 
 After setting fire to the ropewalks they threw the torch into 
 a dry well into which the Americans had previous!}^ cast a large 
 quantity of gunpowder and other military stores. The immediate 
 consequence was a tremendous explosion, which caused death and 
 destruction to all around, nearly one bundred of the British soldiers 
 being killed and wounded, and their mutilated remains scattered in all 
 directions. In addition to the general consternation produced by this 
 explosion, a frightful tornado swept over the city, throwing down 
 buildiugs and dealing destruction to everything in its way. The inky 
 blackness of the sky, the howling of the storm, the cataract of rain, 
 the fierce gleaming of the lightning, the tremendous pealing of the 
 thunder, and the crash of falling buildings, all conspired to render 
 the scene territic beyoiul description, and, as was natural, struck 
 terror and dismay alike to the heart of friend and foe. Trees were 
 torn up by the roots, roofs were hurled through the air like sheets 
 of paper, and scores of the enemy, as well as of the inhabitants of 
 the city, were buried beneath the ruins. The elements seemed to vie 
 with the English in nuiking the work of destruction as conjplete as 
 possible. The British, taking a needless alarm, or pretending to be 
 apprehensive of an attack from the brave militia that fought the 
 battle of Bladensburg, stealthily withdrew from the city and took up 
 tlieir line of march for the point of embarkation. 
 
 President Madison, finally awaking to the seriousness of the situ- 
 ation, issued the following proclamation on September 1, 1814: 
 
 "Whereas, the enemy by a sudden incursion have succeeded in 
 invading the Capital of the Nation, defended at the moment by troops 
 less numerous than their own, and almost entirely of militia; during 
 their possession of which, though for a single day only, they wan- 
 tonly destroyed the public edifices having no relations in their 
 structure to operations of war, nor used at the time for military 
 
228 • H/STORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 annoyance; some of these edifices being also costly monuments of 
 taste and of tlie arts, and otliers depositories of the public archives, 
 not only precious to the Nation as the memorials of its origin and 
 its early transactions, but interesting to all nations, as contributions 
 to the general stock of historical instruction and political science; and 
 
 "Whereas, Advantage has been taken of the loss of the fort more 
 immediately guarding the town of Alexandria, to place the town 
 within the range of the naval force, too long and too much in the 
 habit of abusing its superiority, wherever it can be applied, to require 
 as the alternative of a general conflagration an undisturbed plunder 
 of private property, which has been executed in a manner peculiarly 
 distressing to the inhabitants, who had inconsiderately cast themselves 
 upon the justice and generosity of the victor; and, 
 
 " Whereas, It now appears, by a direct communication with the 
 British commander on the American Station, to be his avowed purpose 
 to employ the force under his direction in destroying and laying 
 waste such towns and districts upon the coast as may be found 
 assailable, adding to his declaration the insulting pretext that it is 
 in retaliation for a wanton destruction committed by the army of the 
 United States in Upper Canada, when it is notorious that no de- 
 struction has been committed which, notwithstanding the multiplied 
 outrages previously committed by the enemy, was not unauthorized, 
 and promptly shown to be so; and that the United States have been 
 as constant in their endeavors to reclaim the enemy from such out- 
 rages, by the contrast of their example, as they have been ready to 
 terminate on reasonable conditions the war itself; and, 
 
 "Whereas, These proceedings and declared piurposes, which ex- 
 hibit a deliberate disregard of the principles of humanity and the 
 rules of civilized warfare, and which must give to the existing war a 
 character of extended devastation and barbarism at the very moment 
 of negotiations for peace invited by the enemy himself, leave no 
 prospect of safety to anything within the reach of his predatory and 
 incendiary operations but in manful and universal determination to 
 chastise and expel the invader; 
 
 "Now, therefore, I, James Madison, President of the United 
 States, do issue this, my proclamation, exhorting all the good people 
 thereof to unite their hearts and hands, giving eti'ect to the ample 
 means possessed for that purpose. I enjoin it upon all ofKcers, civil 
 and militar}', to exert themselves in executing the duties with which 
 they are respectively charged. And more especially I require the 
 otlicers commanding the respective military departments to be vigilant 
 
M/L/rARY ///STORY. 229 
 
 and alert, in providing for the defense tlicrcof; for the more effectual 
 aecomplislnnent of wliieli tliey are aathorized to call to tiie defense 
 of exposed and frontier places portions of the militia most conven- 
 ient thereto, whether thej be or be not parts of the quotas detached 
 for the service of the United States under requisitions of the General 
 Government. 
 
 "On an occasion which appeals so forcibly to the proud feelings 
 and patriotic devotion of tlie American people, knowing what they 
 owe to themselves, what they owe to their country and the high 
 destinies which await it, what to the glor}' acquired by their fathers 
 in establishing the independence whicli is now maintained by their 
 sons with the augmented strength and resources with which time and 
 heaven have blessed them. James Madison." 
 
 Major- General Winlield Scott arrived in Wasbington, October 
 13, 1814. On that day the following officers cajitured at Bladensburg 
 were released on their parole: Joshua Barney, commander of the 
 United States flotilla; John Eeagan, lieutenant of militia; Samuel 
 Miller, captain of marine corps; Dominick Bader, captain of militia; 
 G. Von Harter, lieutenant of militia; Robert M. Hamilton, master 
 in United States navy; Thomas Duketant, acting master; Jesse 
 Huiiington, sailing master; Davidson Robertson, acting midshipman; 
 John M. Howland, Fifth Regiment Baltimore Voluuteers; J. B. Mar- 
 tin, surgeon, besides forty-one privates captured at Bladensburg and 
 tweuty-six captured at Baltimore. 
 
 But little of interest occurred in Washington after the battle of 
 Bladensburg and the capture of the city, until the famous victory 
 of General Jackson at New Orleans, January 8, 1815. The news of 
 this victory reached Washington February 4, and in the evening 
 of that day, which was Saturday, a general illumination of the city 
 occurred in honor of the event. Rumors of peace were abroad in 
 the city on February 13, and on the 14th the treaty of Ghent, 
 signed on the 24th of December preceding, fifteen days before the 
 victory at New Orleans, was delivered by Mr. Henry Carroll to the 
 Secretary of State, and laid before the Senate of the United States 
 on the 15th; and on Saturday night, February 18, 1815, there was a 
 general illumination of the city and a grand celebration in honor of 
 the peace secured by that treaty, which had been ratified by the 
 Senate that day. 
 
 The next war in whicli Washington was engaged, in common 
 with the rest of the country, was that with Mexico, brought on by 
 
230 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 politicians favoring the extension ot slavery in order tliat tlie balance 
 of power between tlie Slave States and the Free States might be 
 maintained as nearly equal as possible. The details connected with 
 the origin of this war have been so well presented in numerous 
 histories that it is not deemed necessar}' to attempt to present them 
 here. It may not be amiss, however, to call attention to the fact 
 that two methods of annexation of the State of Texas to the Union 
 attracted widespread attention, and were of universal interest to the 
 American people in connection with this movement, — the one by 
 treaty, the other by joint resolution of Congress. President Tyler 
 negotiated a treaty with Texas for her annexation, which was rejected 
 by tlie Senate by a vote of 35 to 16. According to Hon. Thomas 
 H. Benton, who, with great power and vehemence, opposed the pur- 
 poses and methods of the war, the rejection of this treaty postponed 
 the war two years, and if the wisdom and patriotism of the Senate 
 had had any influence with the executive department of the Gov- 
 ernment, there would have been no war with Mexico, and Texas 
 would at the same time have been annexed. 
 
 Besides annexation by treaty there was but one other method by 
 which that end could be peacefully accomplished, and that was by joint 
 resolution. So far as Mexico was concerned, it would make but little 
 or no difl'erence as to the method by which her territory was procured, 
 provided it were a peaceful one; but to the United States the question 
 of method was all-important. To annex Texas by treaty would be to 
 treat with that republic as an independent power or nation; and after 
 annexation was accomplished she would seem to be always in a 
 position of observing the treaty or not, as she might choose; and of 
 pretending that the provisions of the treaty had been violated by the 
 United States, whether such violation had or had not occurred; and 
 by such pretense she would at any future time be able to influence 
 her peo[)le to favor the abrogation of the treaty on their part; or, in 
 other words, to secede from the Union. While on the other hand, 
 if the wliole matter were referred to the law-making power of the 
 Government, instead of to the treaty- making power, as would be 
 the case if Texas were invited to assume the position of a Territory 
 of the Union, and then be admitted as a State, as had been all the 
 other States, by the consent of Congress, she would become a member 
 of an indissoluble Union, and would thereby become powerless to 
 peacefully secede. 
 
 In accordance with this view a joint resolution, introduced into 
 the House of Representatives by Mr. Douglas, December 23, 1844, for 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 231 
 
 the annexation of Texas to the United States, "in eont'orniity with the 
 treaty of 1803 tor tlie purchase of Louisiana," after a storni}' debate, 
 was passed, January 25, 1845, by a vote of 120 to 98. In tlic Senate 
 tiie resolution was so amended on motion of Mr. Benton as to gain 
 his support and tliat of one otiier Senator, and then passed by a vote 
 of 27 yeas to 25 nays. The next day, February 28, as amended, it 
 passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 132 to 76. The 
 Congress somewhat marred its work by adding to the joint resolution 
 what was and is ivnown as the " Walker Amendment," by which the 
 President was authorized to set it aside and to proceed to "agree 
 on the terms of admission and cession, either by treaty to be submitted 
 to the Senate, or by articles to be submitted to tlie two Houses of 
 Congress," which part of the amendment was perhaps, however, offset 
 by the provision in the amendment itself, that the Republic of Texas 
 " shall be admitted into the Union by virtue of this act on an equal 
 footing with the existing States" etc. But the President, notwithstanding 
 his predilection for the method by treaty, having on the 2d of March 
 approved the legislation embodied in the joint resolution, chose to 
 set aside the Walker Amendment, and on the next day, the last of 
 his term of office, knowing that Congress did not intend to entrust 
 him with the discretionary power, sent one of his relatives," a Mr. 
 Waggaman, as an express to hasten to communicate to the Republic 
 of Texas that he, as President of the United States, had made his 
 election as to the alternative contained in the Walker Amendment 
 looking to the admission of Texas into the Union, and that he had 
 chosen the alternative by joint resolution. The proposition as thus 
 submitted by President Tyler was accepted by Texas tlirough her 
 Congress and a convention, so that Texas was finally admitted into 
 the Union under tlie authority of the joint resolution, and thus 
 assumed a position as a part of the United States precisely similar to 
 that maintained by each of the other States, and without any right 
 to secede. 
 
 The assumption Ijy President Tyler of the right to choose the 
 alternative method of procedure effectual ly committed President Polk 
 to the method thus chosen, especially as the Senate, on March 10, laid 
 on the table by a vote of 23 to 20 a resolution introduced by Mr. Ber- 
 rien, of Georgia, to the eti'ect that the President would best conform 
 to the provisions of the Constitution by resorting to the treaty-making 
 power, for the purpose of accomplishing the objects of the joint reso- 
 lution. But had President Polk attempted to secure the consent of 
 Mexico to the annexation of Texas, and had he been satisfied with 
 
232 HIS TORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 the proper boundaries of that republic, it is altogetiier probable 
 that peaceful annexation would have been the result; but it appears 
 perfectly clear to the student of the history of the entire movement 
 that it was continuously the purpose of President Polk's administra- 
 tion to add very largely, if not as largel}' as possible, to the area of 
 the United States. In pursuance of this policy President Polk, while 
 carrying on a quasi negotiation with the President of Mexico for the 
 settlement of the whole subject in dispute, gave orders on January 
 13, 1846, to General Taylor to proceed to the Eio Grande. General 
 Taylor received these orders on February 1, left Corpus Christi on the 
 8th, and arrived at Matamoras on the 28th of that month. Inasmuch 
 as at that time the Neuces, and not the Rio Grande, was the recog- 
 nized boundary of Texas, the march of General Taylor's army to the 
 Rio Grande was an invasion of Mexican territory, and was so consid- 
 ered by that country. As an act of invasion it was the real cause of 
 the war, and drew from Mexico a declaration of war. On April 4, 
 1846, the Government of Mexico sent an order to General Arista to 
 attack the forces of General Taylor with all the force at his command. 
 The war thus having been brought on by the invasion of Mexican 
 territory and l)y the consequent declaration of war by Mexico, the 
 Congress of the United States, on May 12 following, declared that "by 
 the act of the Republic of Mexico a state of war exists between that 
 Government and the United States," and on the next day President 
 Polk issued his proclamation to the American people, informing tliem 
 of the fact of war, and of its declaration by Congress, and exhorting 
 them, "as they love their country, as they feel the wrongs which have 
 forced on them the last resort of injured nations, and as they consult 
 as to the best means under Divine Providence of abridging its calami- 
 ties, to exert themselves in observing order, in promoting concord, in 
 maintaining the authority and the elBcacy of the laws, and in sup- 
 porting all the measures which might be adopted b}' the constituted 
 authorities for obtaining a speedy, just, and honorable peace." 
 
 Thus, after the war had been in existence for more than two 
 mouths by the action of the army under the orders of the President, 
 without any necessity and without any justification, was the Congress 
 brought to its sanction, and to the giving of a false reason for the 
 part it took, by the declaration that war existed " by the act of 
 the Republic of Mexico." 
 
 In pursuance of a call issued a few days before, a large and 
 respectable meeting was held at the City Hall, May 15, 1846, which, 
 on motion, was temporarily organized by the election as chairman of 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 233 
 
 Major Malay. Major Malay, after a speech explanatory of the object 
 of the meeting, suggested the name of E. Brook for permanent chair- 
 man and Thomas M. Gleason as secretary', both of whom were 
 unanimously elected. Mr. O'Brien then moved that a committee of 
 five be appointed to wait upon Ex- President Houston, of Texas, and 
 Senator Jarnagin, of Tennessee, to request their attendance at an 
 adjourned meeting to be held at the same place Saturday evening, 
 May 16. William O'Brien, E. Brook, Thomas M. Gleason, John W. 
 Mount, and Major Malay were appointed. This adjourned meeting was 
 organized by the election of Dr. Bronaugh, of Missouri, as chairman. 
 Lieutenant W. D. Porter delivered an address, alluding to the many 
 depredations committed on the people of the United States by Mexico, 
 and trusting that the young men of the city of Washington would 
 come boldly to the rescue. Hon. Barclay Martin, of the Sixth Con- 
 gressional District of Tennessee, follow^ed in a very eloquent speech, 
 telling the young men the necessity of buckling on their armor and 
 going to the war. Colonel R. M. Johnson then spoke "in his usual 
 style of oratory," saying he was not in favor of stopping at the Rio 
 Grande, but would march into the interior of Mexico, and cut their 
 departments right and left. He spoke of cutting ofi' California from 
 Mexico and annexing that country to the United States. Hon. F. G. 
 McConnell then entertained the meeting, as did also Hon. F. P. Stanton 
 and Mr. St. John, of New York. The latter urged the young men to 
 enroll themselves for the war, and at the close of his speech forty-five 
 of them presented themselves as volunteers. 
 
 On May 18, a meeting was held at the Franklin Engine House, of 
 which J. Cooper was made chairman. J. E. Norris addressed the meet- 
 ing, and a company of volunteers, called "Washington Volunteers, 
 No. 1," was organized by the election of John Waters captain, William 
 Parham first lieutenant, and Eugene Boyle second lieutenant. No 
 men were to be taken in this company who were under eighteen 
 years of age. 
 
 At a meeting at the City Hall, addresses were delivered by 
 Robert Ratclifte, Robert Bronaugh, and Hon. John Wentworth of 
 Chicago. Thirty-five young men enrolled themselves, which ran the 
 number in this company up to eighty-six. The name adopted for this 
 company was the " Washington CJit}' Rifiemen," and its officers elected 
 as follows: Robert Bronaugh, captain; Phineas B. Bell, first lieu- 
 tenant; William O'Brien, second lieutenant, and four sergeants and 
 four corporals. Dr. W. L. Frazier was chosen surgeon. The sergeants 
 were as follows: John W. Mount, Josephus Dawes, Lewis F. Beeler, 
 
234 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 and William A. Woodward; the corporals, Andrew Kemp, Jolin 
 Kelly, Jacob C. Ileinmrick, and John P. White. These companies 
 went into the United States barracks to drill, preparatory- to going to 
 the front. Three companies from Baltimore, namel}', the first and 
 second companies of the Baltimore Volunteers, and the Chesapeake 
 Riflemen, were also in the barracks at the same time. These several 
 companies were removed to Fort Washington June 10, 1846, under 
 the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Watson, to await embarkation 
 for the southern army, the steamship Massachusetts having been char- 
 tered by the Government of the United States to take the entire 
 battalion to the Rio Grande. A company of volunteers was formed 
 in Alexandria June 12, which elected oflicers as follows: Captain, 
 M. D. Corse; first lieutenant, C. S. Price; second lieutenant, T. W. 
 Aslily, and tirst sergeant, Benjamin Waters, Jr. The Secretary of 
 War was, however, obliged to decline their services at that time, as 
 the battalion from this city and Baltimore was already tilled. June 
 16, the battalion from Baltimore and Washington sailed from Alex- 
 andria in the ship Massachusetts for the Rio Grande. The officers of 
 this battalion were as follows: Lieutenant-colonel, William H. Wat- 
 son; adjutant, F. B. Shatter; surgeon, G. M. Dove. Company 
 A — Captain, J. E. Stewart; tirst lieutenant, B. F. Owen; second lieu- 
 tenant, Samuel Wilt. Comi)any B — Captain, James Piper; tirst 
 lieutenant, M. K. Taylor; second lieutenant, I. Dolan. Company C — 
 Captain, Robert Bronaugh, etc., as already given. Company D — Cap- 
 tain, John Waters, etc., as given above. Company E — Captain, J. R. 
 Kenly; tirst lieutenant, F. B. Sliatter; second lieutenant, Odon Bowie. 
 Company of light infantry — Captain, James Boyd; tirst lieutenant, 
 Joseph H. Rudduch; second lieutenant, R. E. Hustel. 
 
 The battle of Monterey was fought September 21, 1846, the bat- 
 talion from Baltimore and Washington being engaged in the storming 
 of the place, and Lieutenant-Colonel Watson was killed. James E. 
 Stewart, who succeeded to the command, wrote from tlie camp, near 
 Monterey, September 26, as follows: 
 
 "The battalion of Maryland and the District of Columbia volun- 
 teers, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Watson, connected 
 with the First Regiment of Infantry, the whole under the command 
 of Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson, were ordered to mai'ch at about eight 
 o'clock in the morning of the 21st inst., for an attack on Monterey. 
 The Ijattalion were out in their full strength, save Company C, 
 Captain Bronaugh, wliich was ordered to remain on guard duty at 
 the camp, and Lieutenant Owen, of Company A, with a detachment 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 235 
 
 of twelve men, were ordered on picket duty by General Twiggs. 
 The biitttilion marched toward the city, and charged in a most gallant 
 manner ou a battery, under a galling lire, in which it sustained some 
 loss. The point of attack was then changed by order of Colonel 
 Garland, and we entered the city exposed to a destructive tire from 
 several batteries, supported by a large number of infantry, wliich 
 raked the streets. We remained in the city for nearly half an hour, 
 when we were ordered to retire. In doing so the battalion became 
 separated. Colonel Watson fell by a musket shot whilst gallantly 
 leading on to a second assault on the city. A portion of the battalion 
 was then formed under Captain Kenly, and remained on the field of 
 battle until it was ordered back to camp by General Twiggs, having 
 been under a heavy fire for nearly nine hours, losing in the action six 
 killed and eighteen wounded. I take i)leasure in noticing the gallant 
 conduct of the battalion throughout.'' 
 
 Ou Sunday, November 22, 1846, Captain Samuel II. Walker arrived 
 in Washington from the battlefields in Mexico, and was given a most 
 hearty reception in Odd Fellows' Hall. Speeches appropriate to the 
 occasion were made by Messrs. Ratcliii'e, C. S. Wallach, E. II. Harri- 
 man, Joseph H. Bradley, D. Wallach, Lewis F. Thomas, and Mayor 
 W. W. Seaton. Captain Walker responded, expressing his gratifica- 
 tion at receiving such a flattering testimonial of respect, and the entire 
 number present — about one thousand — took him by the hand. Cap- 
 tain Walker, in January, 1847, raised a company of mounted rittemen 
 for the regiment to which he belonged, in Washington and its vicinity, 
 and on February 6 his company left Washington for Baltimore in a 
 special train en route for the seat of war. Twenty of the young men 
 in this company were from Prince George's County, Maryland. 
 
 A meeting was held at the city Council chamber Friday evening, 
 January 22, 1847, for the purpose of raising a company of soldiers for 
 the Mexican War, the Mayor of the city making the address. The 
 company was organized by the election of officers as follows: Cap- 
 tain, John M. Thornton; first lieutenant, Edmund Barry; second 
 lieutenant, Hume Young; orderly sergeant, David Westertield, Jr. The 
 name adopted for this company was "Washington's Own." About 
 April 25, 1847, the Secretary of War called upon the major-general 
 of the District to furnish three companies of volunteers, to form, with 
 two companies from Maryland, a battalion for immediate active 
 service, to be under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Lee 
 Jones. Tins was the last recruiting done in Washington for the war. 
 
 On February 21, 1848, a treaty of peace signed by Mr. K P. Trist 
 
236 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 on tlie part of tlie United States, and by tlie Mexican authorities, was 
 received in Washington, and on Marcli 10, after two weeks' debate on 
 the part of the Senate, was ratified by tliat body by a vote of 38 to 
 14. On May 25, it was ratified b}' tlie Mexican Senate by a vote of 
 33 to 4. July 4, President Polk issued a proclamation declaring peace 
 established, and on the (Jth of the same month sent a message to 
 Congress announcing the end of the war. 
 
 Article V. of this treaty was as follows: "The boundary line 
 between the two republics shall commence in the Gulf of Mexico 
 three leagues from land, opposite the mouth of the Kio Grande, other- 
 wise called Rio Bravo del Norte, opposite the mouth of its deepest 
 branch, if it should have more than one branch emptying directly 
 into the sea; thence up the middle of that river, following the deepest 
 channel, where it has moi-e than one, to the point where it strikes 
 the southern boundary of New Mexico; thence westwardly along the 
 whole southern boundary of New Mexico [which runs north of the 
 town called Paso] to its western termination; thence northward along 
 the western line of New Mexico until it intersects the first branch 
 of the river Gila, or if it should not intersect any branch of that 
 river, then to the point on said line nearest to such branch, and 
 thence in a direct line to the same; thence down the middle of 
 the said branch and of the said river until it empties into the Hio 
 Colorado; thence across tlie Rio Colorado, following the division line 
 between Upper and Lower Californiaj to the Pacific Ocean." 
 
 By Article XII. of this treat}', the PTnited States agreed to pay 
 to Mexico for the territory acquired from her, Texas and Upper Cali- 
 fornia, fifteen millions of dollars, — three millions immediately on the 
 ratification of the treaty by the Mexican authorities, and thereafter 
 three millions per year until the whole should be paid, and also interest 
 on what remained unpaid at the rate of six per cent, per annum. 
 
 Hon. A. H. Sevier, United States Senator from Arkansas, and 
 the Attorney-General, Nathan Clifford, were appointed commissioners 
 to exchange ratifications, and the latter was ordered to remain in 
 Mexico as the resident minister from the United States, 
 
 The War of the Rebellion really began many years before actual 
 hostilities commenced in 18G1. That the existence of slavery was the 
 cause thereof, no one can now seriously doubt who is tolerably well 
 informed. Slavery came near preventing the formation of the Union 
 in tlie first jilace, and was, so long as it existed, a constant menace to 
 the existence of the Union. At the beginning of the Revolutionary 
 War, the entire country was a slaveholding country; but while that 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 237 
 
 war was going on, the New England and some of the Middle States, 
 perceiving the inconsistency of striving for their own liberty and at 
 the same time striving to perpetuate the subjection of another race, 
 passed acts of immediate or gradual emanci{)ation of the slaves within 
 their boundaries. Massachusetts passed an act of immediate emanci- 
 pation in 1780, and Pennsylvania in the same year passed an act of 
 gi'adual emancipation. Indeed, there were many individuals in the 
 South as well as in the North who were deeply impressed with 
 the inconsistency of fighting to establish freedom for themselves while 
 they were denying freedom to others, who, under the laws of nature, 
 had the same right to it as the}'. Rhode Island and Connecticut 
 gradually emancipated their slaves. In 1799, New York passed a 
 gradual emancipation act, and in 1817 another act declaring all slaves 
 free July 4, 1827. New Jersey passed a gradual emancipation act in 
 1804, and thus slavery was abolished in all of the New England and 
 Middle States long prior to the breaking out of the Rebellion. 
 
 But the States south of Pennsylvania adhered to the institution, 
 and indeed some of them, notably South Carolina and Georgia, made 
 its perpetuation by constitutional provision a condition of the ratifi- 
 cation by them of the Constitution itself. This condition is thus 
 expressed: "Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned 
 among the several States which may be included within tins Union, 
 according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by 
 adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to 
 service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three- 
 fifths of all other persons." Thus was the Constitution of the 
 country- made the bulwark of the institution, and the country divided 
 into two hostile sections, which continually became more hostile to 
 each other as time rolled on. The joy and gratitude felt by the people 
 of both sections for the success of their arms in the struggle with 
 Great Britain, and for the successful establishment of a national gov- 
 ernment of their own, were such that for years but little attention 
 was given to the institution of slavery. It was known to all that 
 under the Constitution the importation of slaves must cease in 1808, 
 and also that in the States Congress by that Constitution had been 
 rendered powerless to interfere with the institution. Little could 
 therefore be done in a practical way, except to abolish slavery in 
 the District of Columbia, for which consummation petition after peti- 
 tion was presented to Congress, causing more and more acrimonious 
 debate as the years rolled by. The Missouri Compromise came, and 
 then its repeal. Afterward came the Nebraska Bill, designed to give 
 
238 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 two more States to the Union, but whicli in reiility gave two more 
 Free States, Kansas and Nebraska, to the Union, and tliis effect proving 
 to be the practical working of the Squatter Sovereigntj' doctrine, 
 demonstrated to the South tliat tlie tiltiniate result of the struggle, of 
 the irrepressible conflict, that was not only irrepressible but certain 
 to continue until either freedom or slavery should win a final victory 
 if the South should remain in the Union, determined for her her 
 course with reference to the Union. 
 
 It is not proper to attempt to relate in this volume with any 
 degree of minuteness the steps in either section of the country which 
 led to the secession of the Southern States, for in the first place, that 
 is not the object for which the work is written, and in the second 
 place, that work has Ijcen done by otiiers much better than it could 
 be done herein; yet, while this is the case, it is proper to refer 
 briefly to a few of the facts and incidents which preceded and produced 
 that secession. Wliile, during many years previous to 1850, there had 
 been heard here and there in both the East and the South a few 
 voices demanding the dissolution of the Union, yet no great alarm 
 was felt for the safety of the Union previous to that year. But the 
 question liad been raised in the First Congress by tlie introduction 
 of a memorial to the House of Representatives from the "Annual 
 Meeting of Friends," of New York and Philadelphia, in October, 
 1789, in obedience to a sense of duty they felt incumbent upon 
 them as religious bodies, etc. It was not long after this that a 
 memorial was presented from "The Pennsylvania Society for the 
 Abolition of Slavery," signed by Benjamin Franklin, president, 
 praying for the abolition of slavery. In this way, as has been said, 
 by the presentation of petitions to Congress ui>on the subject, a 
 subject upon which Congress was powerless under the Constitution 
 as it then stood, was the question persistently kept under discussion, 
 with but little fear of danger until the debate upon the admission of 
 California into the Union as a Free State, in the session of 1849-50, 
 when the subject assumed alarming proportions to all those, both 
 Noi'th and South, who desired that the Union should be preserved, and 
 even to those who desired its preservation merely as secondary to the 
 preservation of the institution of slavery. For a long time the specter 
 of the Nashville Convention, which convened in Nashville in 1850, was 
 a dreaded thing to lovers of the Union in both sections; but when it 
 was discovered that the Southern States were slow to elect delegates 
 thereto, and when it had been held and had resulted in failure, there 
 not being then suflicient disunion sentiment to give it sustenance, that 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 239 
 
 specter melted awa\-, leaving scarcely a wreck behiiul. Wliat it niiglit 
 liave acconiplislietl, however, was shown on May 28, 1851, by lion. 
 II. S. Foote, United States Senator from Mississipiii, in a speech in 
 Attala County, that State, in whicli ho said: "The idea of demand- 
 ing amendments to the Constitution, and in case of failing to obtain 
 Ihein, resorting to secession, was tirst broached by Mr. Calhoun after 
 our October convention in 1849"; that Mr. Calhoun told him that 
 he had no expectation of obtaining these amendments; but Mr. Cal- 
 houn thought that if they should be refused, then the South would 
 unite in favor of a Southern convention, and that Mr. Calhoun had 
 prepared a constitution for the new republic which was to have been 
 formed out of one of the fragments of the Union as it then existed. 
 All of this revelation by Hon. Mr. Foote as to Mr. Calhoun's plans and 
 purposes was in perfect accord with Mr. Calhoun's predictiou, made 
 in 1846, that within a generation there would be formed a Southern 
 Confederacy, and that Atlanta, Georgia, would be its capital. 
 
 The insurrection at Harper's Ferry occurred October 16, 1859. 
 The particulars of this insurrection are so well known that it is not 
 necessary to more than refer to them in this connection, and no 
 attempt is made in this work to do more than to narrate the events 
 transpiring in Washington immediately connected with that foolhardy 
 affair, which in itself was equally unnecessary and unjustifiable with 
 the later and much greater insurrection which had for its object the 
 breaking up of the Government of the United States, except that 
 the motive actuating the insurrectionists at Harper's Ferry was the 
 liberation of the slave. The outbreak came without premonition, and 
 was caused by no special provocation. Of course great excitement was 
 caused in this city, as elsewhere, and during the day following the 
 announcement of the outbreak there was manifested the greatest 
 eagerness to learn of its progress and success. At three o'clock of the 
 morning of October 18, Governor Wise, of Virginia, arrived in Wash- 
 ington, accompanied by the Greys of Richmond, about sixty in 
 number, and the Alexandria Rifles. . Governor Wise found Mayor 
 James G. Berrett at the City Hall, surrounded by the police, and 
 remained there most of the time until six o'clock, wlien he took the 
 train for Harper's Ferry. At three o'clock in the afternoon the nuiil 
 boat from Acquia Creek, and other boats on the Potomac Rivei-, 
 brought up iive companies of the Virginia troops, numbering about 
 three hundred men, two or three of which companies marched imme- 
 diately to the railroad depot, but receiving there a dispatch from 
 Governor Wise, they returned, the Young Guard of Richmond taking 
 
240 HISrORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 the opportunity' to panicle along I'ennsylvuni.i Avenue. The order 
 and qniet in Washington for the next siieeeeding two or three days 
 were painful in the extreme, no one knowing what to expect, and 
 hence fearing the worst. On Sunday, Novenibcn' 20, 18r)9, Governor 
 Wise, with a regiment of Virginia volunteers from Hichruond, four 
 hundred and four strong in I'ank and lile, ai'rived in Washington, 
 leaving for Harper's Ferry at 10:00 a. m. that day. In the afternoon 
 three companies from Petersburg arrived, and as they could not get 
 out of town they remained until next morning. 
 
 November 27, 1859, a company of troops arrived in Washington 
 for Charlestown, Virginia, and on the 28th three other companies 
 arrived for the same destiinition, notwithstanding there were then 
 stationed at that point six hundred and fifty meir, and in the entire 
 county there were under arms not less than one thousand men; thus 
 showing the supposed necessity for a strong force to jirevent the 
 spreading of the John Brown heresy into Virginia. The execution 
 of John Brown followed in a few days afterward, on December 2, 
 with a promptness and certainty' which were commendable. 
 
 The excitement caused by this ejjisode in American historj' did 
 not subside before other causes of excitement arose. The Republican 
 Association of Washington, on May 28, 18(30, hcltl a meeting to 
 ratify the nomiinition of Abraham Lincoln an<l Hannibal Hamlin to 
 the positions of Presidency and Vice-Presidency, respectively. B. B. 
 French, president of the association, addressed the assemblage, which 
 was in front of the southwest portico of the Cit\' Hall, and read a 
 series of resolutions expressive of the sentiments of the Republican 
 i'arty. Hon. J. R. Doolittle, Senator from Wisconsin, presented ver^- 
 briefly the positions of the two great parties. Hon. Israel Washburn, 
 of Maine, said that while he had favored Mr. Seward, j'et he would 
 do ail he could to secure the election of Mr. Lincoln. Hon. B. F. 
 Wade, Hon. G. A. Grow, Hon. Henry Wilson, Hon. Ely Spaulding, 
 Hon. John A. Bingham, and Mr. McKean of New York, each made 
 short addresses. 
 
 On July 3, 18G0, another ratification meeting was held at the 
 same place, to ratify the nomination of Stephen A. Douglas and Iler- 
 schcl V. Johnson to the same othces. A large banner was thrown to 
 the Ijreeze, bearing the inscription, "No Secession,"' in large letters. 
 The meeting was addressed l)y George W. Brent of Alexandria, Ellis 
 B. Schnabel of Philadelphia, and Dr. t'ulver of Washington. 
 
 On July 9, a similar meeting was held by those favoring the elec- 
 tion of Hon. John C. Breckinridge and Hon. Jose[)h Lane. Their 
 
MILirARV HISTORY. 241 
 
 motto was, "The Constitution, and the Equality of the States." Mayor 
 Berrett, of Wasliington, presided, and James M. Carlisle, A. B. Meek 
 of Alabama, Isaac I. Stevens of Washington Territoiy, A. G. Brown 
 of Mississii)})i, and Jetibrson Davis made addresses. 
 
 Still another ratiiication meeting, and tlie largest of all, was held 
 ill front of the City Ilall August 8, 18G0, to ratify the noiiiination of 
 Hon. Jolin Bell and Hon. Edward Everett to the same positions. 
 The central portion of the City Hall was used on this occasion, and a 
 large platform erected between the two wings. Mr. B. 0. Tayloe 
 called upon Philip K. Fendall to preside, who claimed that Mr. Bell, 
 like Tiieniistocles, on a former occasion, was the second clioice of all 
 the parties that had candidates in the field, and argued hence that lie 
 was at least fit to be the first choice of all. Robert E. Scott of 
 Faucpiier County, Virginia, Hon. J. Morrison Harris of Baltimore, 
 Robert J. Bowie of Maryland, B. L. Hodge of Louisiana, Hon. Alex- 
 ander R. Boteler of Virginia, and Joseph H. Bradley of Washington, 
 addressed the meeting. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln was elected November G, 18GU, and on the next day 
 occurred what ma}' perhaps be called the first Ijattle of the subsequent 
 civil war. Late at night on the da^' of election, it became known 
 what the result was, and toward midnight it was proposed and agreed 
 to, at the Breckinridge headquarters, on Pennsylvania Avenue between 
 Four and a Half and Sixtli streets, that the fifty or sixty members of 
 the National Volunteers should re})air in a body to tlie Republican 
 headquarters at the corner of Indiana Avenue and Second Street, and 
 "wreck the shanty." There was then a large part}' of Breckinridge 
 men at Brown's Hotel, which united with the National Volunteers, 
 making the combined strength of the two parties about three hundred 
 men. Proceeding to the Republican building, they began, when in 
 front of it, to fire pistols and throw stones at the windows, soon 
 demolishing all in the second story of the building. Going around 
 to the Second Street side, tliey broke open the door, which was 
 locked, went up stairs, and began the destruction of the paraphernalia 
 and furniture of the rooms. Tliey also entered the room above the 
 wigwam and destroyed the stands of type, and scattered type all 
 around the room. Some lialf dozen scared Republicans retreated to 
 the roof of' the building. Soon several policemen, headed b}' Lieu- 
 tenant McIIenry, entered and took possession of the rooms, and made 
 arrests of those in the building, including three Republicans and five 
 of the Volunteers. An investigation was had at the office of Justice 
 Bonn, but no very severe punishment was inflicted. 
 
242 HISTORY OF U.lSIf/XGTON. 
 
 Tlnit it was tlie full determination of the Southern leaders to take 
 their States out of the Union, in case of the election of Mr. Lincoln, 
 — toward which they lent their powerful and essential assistance bv 
 breaking up the Democratic Party at Charleston, South Carolina, in 
 the summer of 1800, — though then not so widely known as now, was 
 yet well known to those who ha<l opportunities of finding out the 
 truth. Notwithstanding the well-known fact that many patriotic citi- 
 zens were preparing to meet in convention in Washington, at the call 
 of the State of Virginia, to agree upon measures which they intended 
 to propose to the people of the United States as a basis of compro- 
 mise for all serious dift'erence between the sections, yet on the 5th of 
 January, 18G1, there was held a caucus in this city by Soutliern seces- 
 sion Senators from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, 
 Arkansas, and Texas, at which these gentlemen in ett'ect resolved to 
 assume to themselves the political and military power of the South, to 
 control all political and military movements for the immediate future, 
 and telegraphed to their followers in the South to complete the plan 
 by seizing forts, arsenals, customhouses, and other property belonging 
 to the United States; and advised the conventions then in session and 
 soon to be in session, to pass ordinances of secession; but themselves, 
 in order to tliwart any operations of the General Government, wore 
 to retain tlieir places in the Senate. These Senators at this caucus 
 also advised, ordered, or directed the assembling of a convention of 
 delegates from the seceding States to be held at Montgomery, Ala- 
 bama, about February 13, 18G1, which could be done only by the 
 seceding conventions usurping the powers of the people and sending 
 delegates over whom they would lose control in the establishment of 
 a provisional government, which was the jilan of the caucus members. 
 This same caucus also resolved to take the most etiicient measures to 
 intiueuce the legislatures of the States of Tennessee, Kentucky, Mis- 
 souri, Arkansas, 'I'exas, and Virginia, into following in the wake of 
 the seceding cotton States; nor was Maryland to Ije forgotten or 
 overlooked. 
 
 This was a most remarkable and startling exposition: Senators 
 of the United States, representing sovereign States ;ind sworn to 
 support the Constitution of the United States, looked to by at least a 
 portion of their constituents to etfect some method of adjustment by 
 which civil war might be avoi<led, deliberately considering and con- 
 cocting a consjiirac}' by means of which the (iowrnment might lie 
 the more easily, and thus the more surely, overthrown — that Govern- 
 ment which they were at the tinu' under the nmst solemn of oaths to 
 
MIUTARY HISTORY. 243 
 
 niaiiitaiu uiul siijuport, tlic coiitoniplated overthrow to be auuonn)lis!ied 
 through sucli military organizations as the Knights of the Golden 
 Circle, Coinrnittees of Safety, Southern Leagues, and otlicr similar 
 agencies, all at tlieir command, thus dividing the South from the 
 North, and then dividing the South among themselves. 
 
 Only a day or two afterward, the Washington correspondent of 
 the Baltimore San corroborated tlie statement, as given in substance 
 above, by saying that the leaders of the Southern movement were 
 consulting together as to the best method of consolidating their 
 interests into a Southern Confederacy, under a provisional govern- 
 ment, etc. 
 
 Not only in corroboration of, but in full demonstration of, the 
 accuracy' of this remarkable exposition, was the letter of Hon. D. L. 
 Yulee, United States Senator from the State of Florida, which is here 
 introduced. 
 
 "Washington, D. C, January 7, 1861. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: On the other side is a copy of resolutions adopted 
 at a consultation of the Senators from the seceding States in which 
 Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi, and Florida 
 were present. 
 
 "The idea of the meeting was that the States should go out at 
 once, and provide for the organization of a Confederate Government 
 not later than the 15th of February. This time is allowed to enable 
 Louisiana and Texas to participate. 
 
 "It seemed to be the opinion tliat if we left here, force, loan, 
 and volunteer bills might bo passed, which would jiut Mr. Lincoln 
 in immediate condition for hostilities; whereas, liy remaining in our 
 places until the 4th of March, it is thought we can keep the hands 
 of Mr. Buchanan tied, and disable the Eepublicans from effecting 
 any legislation which will strengthen the hands of the incoming 
 administration. 
 
 [Another paragraph followed, which is of no historic interest in 
 this connection.] "D. L. Yulee. 
 
 " To Joseph Finegan, Esq., 
 "Sovereignty Convention, 
 "Tallahassee, Florida." 
 
 The resolutions referred to in this letter as having been adopted 
 at the caucus of January 5, were as follows: 
 
 "1. That in our opinion each of the Southern States should, as 
 soon as may be, secede from the Union. 
 
244 H/SrORV OF n-ASH/NGTON. 
 
 "2. That provision sliould be niatle for a convention to organize 
 a confederacy of tiie seceding States, the convention to meet not later 
 tlian the 15th of February, at the city of Montgomery, in tlie State 
 of Alabama. 
 
 "3. Tliat in view of the hostile legislation that is threatened 
 against the seceding States, and which may be consummated by the 
 4th of March, we ask instructions whether the delegates are to remain 
 ill Congress until that date for the defeating of such legislation. 
 
 "4. That a committee be and are hereby appointed, consisting 
 of Messrs. Davis, Slidell, and Mallory, to carry out tlie objects of 
 this meeting." 
 
 Soon afterward, upon .the solicitation of the State of Virginia, 
 speaking through her legislature, a peace convention, above referred 
 to, assembled in Washington, meeting in Willard's Hall, on F 
 Street, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets. Tiiis convention 
 was organized February 4, 1861, with Ex-President John Tyler as its 
 chairman, and S. C. Wright as secretary. Much was hoped from this 
 convention by the Northern and border Slave States, but nothing by 
 the more southern Slave States, because, as has been intimated before, 
 tliey were determi\ied to secede irrespective of what might be done 
 by any portion of the people, or by the Government itself. On the 
 same day that this Peace Convention met in Washington, the delegates 
 to the Confederate Congress met in Montgomery, tlie States of South 
 Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida being 
 represented. President Tyler addressed the convention, sa3'ing that 
 the members thereof bad as grand a task before them as had been 
 performed by their "godlike fathers'" in the founding of the glorious 
 Constitution and Government which was then imperiled by the seces- 
 sion movement. On the 23d of February, the convention, having 
 completed its labors by tbrniulating an amendment to the Constitu- 
 tion, closely resembling the Crittenden compromise, which it proposed 
 to the country for adoption, and by passing a resolution advising the 
 Government of the United States not to make war on the seceded 
 and seceding States, adjourned. 
 
 About the middle of Januar}', there were rumoi's afloat of combi- 
 nations being foi-med to interfere with the inauguration of Mr. Lin- 
 culn. Ol' course the city of Washington was interested in knowing 
 the I ruth or falsity of these rumors, and in oi'der to learn something 
 di'tinitc, il' possible, as to their truth, Mayor James G. Berrett wrote to 
 Marshal (ieoi'ge P. Kjine, of Baltimore, receiving a reply dated January 
 pi, lo tlie ellect that so far as Baltimore was concerned, nothing 
 
.]///. / /: / A' ) ■ HIS T( IR ) '. 245 
 
 could be further from the truth. Such rumors, however, continued 
 to circulate. One form these rumors took was that the President- 
 elect had contemplated coming to Washington over the Baltimore 
 and Ohio Railroad, but t,hat on account of apprehended dangers had 
 elianged his purpose. Maj'or Berrett therefore, on February 1, wrote 
 to John W. Garrett, president of that company, asking information as 
 to the truth of alleged threats against Mr. Lincoln's safetj'. Fcbruai-y 
 4, Mr. Garrett replied that there was not, nor had there been, the 
 slightest foundation for any of the rumors to which the Mayor 
 referred. On the same day that Mr. Garrett wrote this letter to 
 Mayor Berrett, Major-General R. C. Weightman, in command of the 
 militia of the District of Columbia, requested of the Mayor of Wash- 
 ington the names and residences of the police for both day and night 
 service, because, as he said, if the assistance of the police should be 
 required it would be of importance to have the means of reaching 
 them as early as practicable. To this request the Mayor replied that 
 he was not ignorant of the fact that secret organizations were 
 alleged to have been set on foot in Washington and in the adjoining 
 States of Virginia and Maryland for the purpose of seizing upon the 
 District of Columbia by force of arms with the view of effecting a 
 revolution in the Federal Government by preventing the inauguration 
 of the President-elect; nor was he ignorant of the fact that in order 
 to oppose and thwart the supposed conspiracy in the execution of 
 its unhallowed designs, orders had been issued, and were in process 
 of execution, for enrolling, arming, and disciplining the militia of the 
 District, while for the same purpose unusual numbers of Federal 
 troops were concentrating at this point. And more than that, not- 
 withstanding he had used every possible eftbrt to ferret out the 
 conspiracy, yet he had been unable to find one tittle of evidence that 
 any such conspiracy existed. The Mayor closed by declining to 
 furnish the desired information. 
 
 It was generally expected that Mr. Lincoln would arrive in Wash- 
 ington on Saturday, February 23, 1861, and thousands of the citizens 
 of both sexes determined to witness his entrance into the city. This 
 determination was, however, defeated by the arrival of Mr. Lincoln 
 some time during the preceding night, liaving come directly tlirough 
 from Ilarrisburg, Pennsylvania, instead of stopping at Baltimore on 
 Saturday and reaching Washington in the afternoon or evening of 
 Saturday, according to the original arrangement. This was not merely 
 surprising, it was actually amazing, to the people of the entire country, 
 as it was flashed over the wires on the morning of the 23d. Several 
 
246 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 tlieories were immediately in circulation to account for tliis sudden 
 luid secret cliange of plan on Mr. Lincoln's part. One ex[)lanation 
 was, that lie had hccn tek\i;"raiilied to be present during the meeting 
 of the I'caee Convention. Another was, that he liad been advised to 
 come direct to Washington, to prevent possilde disturbances that might 
 grow out of contlicting purposes of jiolitical clubs in Baltimore — of 
 the liepublican clubs to iionDi- him, and of Denu)cratic clubs to i)revent 
 an\- such demonstration. Of course there was great disappointment 
 in Baltimore. On the 2f3th of February, it was given out, on the 
 authority of Marshal Kane, of that city, that Mr. Lincoln had passed 
 quietly through Baltimore, to avoid any demonstration that might be 
 made by his [lolitical friends; for, while there was no tloubt that 
 Mr. Lincoln Avould be treated with all the resjiect due to him person- 
 ally, yet there was no assurance that his political friends, in giving 
 him a welcome, would be treated in the same manner. The Baltimore 
 American said that Mr. Lincoln's incognito entrance into Washington 
 was in accordance with his wish to escape from liis pretended friends, 
 and thus to prevent a breach of the peace, which would be disgraceful 
 to the city ai:d derogatory to the American character. 
 
 Upon arriving in the city, Mr. Lincoln went to Willard's Hotel, 
 wliere he was met by Mr. Seward, and they togetlier called upon 
 President Buchanan. On the following Wednesday, the Mayor and 
 Council of Washington waited upon him and tendered him a welcome. 
 The next evening he was serenaded by the Republican Association, 
 accompanied by the Marine Baud. At his inauguration there was a 
 greater disphi}* of military force than had ever been seen on a similar 
 occasion. Nearly twenty of the well-drilled companies of the militia 
 of the District of Columbia were out, comprising a force of more than 
 two thousand men. In addition, Georgetown contributed companies 
 of cavalry, infantry, and artillery of fine accomplishments. Collected 
 at two or three points, as at the City Hall and at Willard's Hotel, they 
 were centers of attraction for the citizens. After attending at tlic 
 Capitol in the morning, President Buchaium, accompanied by the 
 Senate committee, left the Executive Mansion, went to Willard's Hotel 
 to receive the President-elect, and the party thus ciimposed, attended 
 by distinguished citizens in cai'riages, on horseback, and on foot, 
 proceeded along Pennsylvania Avenue, with niilitai-y in I'ront and 
 rear, and at a quarter past one in the afternoon the rresident and 
 President-elect entered the Senate chamber, and sot)n attcrward jiro- 
 ceedt'd to the east front of the Capitol, where Mr. Lincoln read liis 
 iuiini;ni:il address, listened to bv at least ten thousand of his fellow- 
 
MnJTARY HISTORY. 247 
 
 citizens, at the close of wiiicii the oatli of office was administered to 
 liini by the venerable Chief Justice of the United States. The mil- 
 itary preiiaratidns were so thorough and complete that it would have 
 been practicall}' impossible for anyone to liave successfully atteni[ited 
 violence to the President ' on this occasion; but when all was over, 
 apprehensions were allayed and all breathed with their accustomed 
 freedom, so far as the question of the safe inauguration of the Presi- 
 dent was concerned. 
 
 On April 10, there was a hurried gathering of all the mendjers 
 of the various military companies in the city, the order having been 
 issued late on Tuesda}' niglit, the 9th inst. Inspections took place at 
 difl'erent places; of four companies at Temperance Hall b}* Colonel 
 Stone, and in front of the War Department all the companies were 
 inspected by A. A. G. McDowell in the presence of Adjutant-General 
 Thomas and several other officers of the army. Ten companies in 
 all were inspected, eight from Washington and two from Georgetown. 
 The object of the inspection was to muster them into the service 
 of the United States. Several of the men, however, refused to take 
 the oath, though this refusal it was said was based upon the suppo- 
 sition that the Government wanted to send them outside of the 
 District. The names of the companies, together with the numbers 
 composing them, were as follows: Washington Light Infantry Battal- 
 ion, Colonel Davis, 125 men; Company A, Captain E. C. Carrington, 
 100 men; Companies A, B, C of the National Guard, each company 
 about 100 men; the Washington Riiles, Captain Balbach, 50 men; 
 Compan}' B of the Union Regiment, Captain Kelly, 60 men; the 
 National Rifles, Captain Smead, 27 men; the Carrington Home 
 Guard, Captain Goddard, 60 men; I'otoraac Light Infantry, of George- 
 town, Captain McKenny, 61 men. 
 
 The demand for the surrender of Fort Sumter was made April 
 11, and the batteries on Sullivan's Island and at other points opened 
 upon the fort at four o'clock the next morning. Then came the call 
 for troops from all over the South. Fort Sumter was surrendered 
 April 13, and on Monday, the 15th, came the proclamation from the 
 President calling for seventy-live thousand men to suppress combina- 
 tions of men too powerful for the ordinary means of the Government, 
 and to cause the laws to be duly executed, and also convening 
 Congress in extra session on July 4, 1861. The law under which 
 the militia was thus called out by President Lincoln was the act of 
 1795, enacted by Congress for the purpose of providing means to 
 suppress the Whisky Insurrection in Pennsylvania, when several 
 
248 HrSTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 thousands of insurgents were in arms against the Federal Gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 On the Saturday previous to the issuance of the proclamation, 
 aljout 40 men were mustered into Captain Carrington's company, and 
 20 into Captain Kelly's. The Anderson Ritles, from Georgetown, to 
 the numher of 52, all were mustered in, which made the tenth com- 
 pany mustered. On the 15th, the enlistment of men into the United 
 States service went forward as rapidly as practicable, the greater part 
 of the day being thus occupied. Captain Gerhardt, of the Turner 
 Rifles, added 30 men to his company, making 120 in all; the Met- 
 ropolitan Rifles, Captain Nalley, added 17 men, making the number 
 up to 100; Captain Thistleton, of the Putnam Rifles, added 30 men 
 to his company; the howitzer corps at the Navy Yard numbered 100 
 men; the Henderson Guards, consisting almost exclusively of residents 
 of the First Ward, under Captain Foxwell, numbered 80 men; Captain 
 Kelly's company added 22 men; Captain Patrick II. King, Company 
 A, National Guard Battalion, had 70 men; and the National Rifles, to 
 tlie number of 42, came forward and were mustered in. On April 
 16, the Henderson Guards increased their number to 100; the Car- 
 riugton Home Guard, of Georgetown, was increased to the number of 
 52; the President's Mounted Guard, Captain S. W. Owen, numbering 
 about 80 men, tendered their services, which were not accepted, as 
 cavalry was not then needed. The troops were placed at difterent 
 points in the vicinity of the city, the artillery on the heights and 
 roads leading out of the city, and twenty-five cart loads of cartridges, 
 grape shot, and other missives taken up the avenue to be placed near 
 the cannoneers and other soldiers. On this same day. Colonel E. E. 
 Ellsworth left Washington for New York for the purpose of raising 
 a regiment of Zouaves for the war. A call was made on the 18th of 
 the month upon the members of the Association of the Soldiers 
 of the War of 1812 of the District of Colundjia to meet at the City 
 Hall on the next Monday for the j)urpose of adopting a military 
 organization and of offering their services to the Government for the 
 defense of the city. On this same day, about five hundred men, con- 
 sisting of infantry, artillery, and cavalry, were stationed at the Long 
 Bridge, to repel any attempt of the rebels to cross the Potomac at that 
 point. On the evening of the 18th, seventeen car loads of soldiei's 
 arrived in Washington from Ilarrisburg, Pennsylvania, and were 
 quartered in rooms in the Capitol building, having passed through 
 Baltimore about five o'clock the same day without molestation. These 
 troops were the Washington Artillery Company and the National 
 
MffJT.lRY HfSTORY. 249 
 
 Light Infantry of rottsvillo, the Eiiiggohl Light Artillery of Read- 
 ing, the Logan Guards of Lewiston, and the Allen Light Infantry of 
 Allentown, in all five hundred and thirty men. During the entire 
 day of the 18th, all avenues to the city were closely watched, cannon 
 were placed on conunanding heights so as to sweep the entire range 
 of river front, and the cannon were supported by infantry. Mayor 
 Berrett on this day issued a proclamation exhorting all good citizens 
 and sojourners to be careful to so conduct themselves as neither by 
 word nor deed to give occasion for any breach of tlie peace. 
 
 On April 0, a military department had been created consisting of 
 Mar^dand and the District of Columljia, as originally bounded, called 
 the Department of Washington, and placed under the command of 
 Brevet-Colonel C. F. Smith. On the 19th, this department was in- 
 creased so as to include Delaware and Pennsylvania, and placed in 
 command of Major-General Patterson, and Major-General Scott placed 
 volunteer soldiers along the railroad from Wilmington, Delaware, to 
 Washington, to guard the railroad and telegraph between the two 
 points. April 22, a proposition was made by several citizens of 
 Washington to form a light artillery company, the services of which 
 were to be tendered to the Government. The office of this proposed 
 organization was at 355 Pennsylvania Avenue, where books were open 
 for signatures. Notice of the proposed movement was signed by 
 L. Oppeuheimer, Heury Meling, Johann Walter, Joseph A. Schell, 
 Louis Landrock, August Bruehl, H. Diebeitsch, E. C. Randolpli, 
 William Geriske, Charles Werner, and Alexander McRee. This was 
 afterward changed into a HHe company. By April 24, this company 
 had over forty members, and was organized with the following 
 officers: Captain, Thomas J. Williams; tirst lieutenant, E. C. Ran- 
 dolph; second lieutenant, W. II. Standiford; third lieutenant, E. 
 Hunt; orderly sergeant, Henry Kakizowski; quartermaster sergeant, 
 Charles Werner. The name cliosen was " The Turner Rifles." 
 On April 20, a meeting was held on Capitol Hill for the pur- 
 pose of organizing a comjiany of men who, from their age, were 
 exempt from military duty. They were to aid in the defense of the 
 National Capital. Martin King was chairman of the meeting, and 
 Stephen G. Dodge secretary. The name selected was "The Silver 
 Greys." By vote of those present Robert Brown was chosen captain. 
 On the 22d, a number of French and Italian citizens held a meeting 
 at the European Hotel, and resolved to form a company to be called 
 "The Garibaldi Guards," and twenty-two members immediately en- 
 rolled. , On the same day, a meeting of the old soldiers of 1812 was 
 
250 HISTORY OF WASHfNGTON. 
 
 held, Colonel John S. Willisirns taking the chair, and Richard Burgess 
 acting as secretary. A committee was appointed to prepare a program 
 and report the next day at 4:00 p. M., consisting of Dr. William 
 Jones, William A. Bradley, and Richard Burgess. At tlie adjourned 
 meeting the hope was expressed that the time was not remote when 
 the country would be again united; but in the meantime they lield 
 themselves in readiness to perform any duty to which tliey might be 
 assigned by the Government of the United States for the protection 
 of the city of Washington. They invite<l all persons exempt by law 
 fi'om military service to unite with them^in ottering their services to 
 the Government. The next day they tendered their services to the 
 Secretary of War, whicli were accepted, and a written response prom- 
 ised in a few days. On the 25th, another meeting was held and an 
 organization was effected as follows: Captain, John S. Williams; first 
 lieutenant, Edward Semmes; second lieutenant, A. W. Worthiugton; 
 third lieutenant, F. R. Dorsett; surgeon. Dr. William Jones; orderly 
 sergeant, A. Baldwin. 
 
 One of the incidents of the times was the arrest on tlie 25th of 
 April of five young men, who were captured in the act of carrying 
 arms away from the city. The arrest was made by two members of 
 the Metropolitan Rifles, named Bigley and Frazier. These two young 
 men had watched the five enter the tavern of Christopher Boyle, 
 and were suspicious that all was not right. At length the suspected 
 characters rode away, in a wagon driven by a negro, toward Bladens- 
 burg. The two young men followed them, and though they were 
 armed with nothing more ettective tlian brickbats, challenged them, 
 took them prisoners, and brought back to the city the entire outfit. By 
 order of the Mayor they were taken to the guardhouse, and upon 
 examination a bundle in the wagon was found to contain efi'ective 
 firearms. The names of the five men thus arrested were William 
 Stanton, William Harding, Augustus Hand, William Eugernmii, and 
 Thomas Davis. Three of the five were quite heavily armed. 
 
 Enlistments still went on, and by the 25th of April there were 
 about ten thousand troops in the city. The wounded of the Massa- 
 chusetts Sixth, which had reached Washington on the evening of the 
 19th, who were being taken care of at the intirmar^', [)assed resolutions 
 of thanks to the officers thereof, to the surgeons, and the Sisters of 
 Mercy for their kindness and sympathy. On this day, the Seventh New 
 York Regiment came into Washington and marched up Pennsylvania 
 Avenue, making a nnignificent appearance. The}' were received with 
 the wildest demonstrations of delight by the citizens. On the 26th, 
 
MTLITARY HISTORY. 251 
 
 a large body of troops arrived from Annapolis, consisting of one-half 
 of tlic Khode Island regiment, commanded by Governor Spragne, and 
 tlie Butler Brigade of Massachusetts, numbering one thousand and four 
 hundred men, and commanded by Colonel Benjamin F. Butler. Troops 
 now daily arrive<l, and at this time there were fully seventeen thou- 
 sand soldiers in the city. 
 
 On April 27, the Seventy-tirst New York and the Fifth Pennsyl- 
 vania regiments reached Washington. April 29, the Eigiith Massa- 
 chusetts came in, and in the afternoon of the same day the steamers 
 Anacostia, Baltic, and Pocahontas arrived. The Baltic brought about 
 six hundred Pennsylvania and Ohio troops. About this time treachery 
 in the Navy Yard was discovered, a large qu;intity of 'bombshells 
 being found filled with sawdust and sand. On April 30, the Twelfth 
 New York Regiment came in, and the other half of the Khode Island 
 regiment arrived in the steamer Biencille from New York, liringing 
 with them an unusual quantity of supplies, and on their march 
 through the streets displaying the infrequent features of four noan- 
 dieres appropriately uniformed. It was said of this regiment, "For 
 completeness of appointment in all respects, nothing can excel the 
 Rhode Island regiment." 
 
 The Twenty-tifth New York came in on the 30th of Aju'il, and 
 the Sixty-ninth New York, the afterward famous Irish regiment, 
 under Colonel Michael Corcoran. A notable event took })lace on 
 the 2d of May, in the raising of a tlag over the United States Patent 
 Office in the presence of a large concourse of citizens. The Rhode 
 Island regiment, which was quartered in that building and in com- 
 mand of (iovernor Sprague, formed in line on Seventh Street. The 
 Metropolitan Riiles, Captain Nalley, were on the roof of the portico, 
 formed in line just behind the entablature, facing to the front. At 
 the appointed time President Lincoln appeared on the roof, and 
 hoisted the flag to the top of the statf, a stout hickory pole fifty feet 
 high. On this day the Rhode Island artillery arrived in the city, 
 having a batter}' of six pieces, and the Seventh New York took up 
 its quarters at Camp Cameron on Meridian Hill. The Sixty-ninth 
 New York were quartered near the Georgetown college buildings. 
 At this time the Government had six steamships running up and 
 down the Potomac to protect merchant vessels plying upon it. On 
 May 5, Sunday, the Twelfth New York Regiment was on parade on 
 Pennsylvania Avenue, and afterward was drawn up in the form of a 
 hollow square in front of the City Hall. In this position they 
 listened to their chaplain read a chapter from St. Paul's Epistle to 
 
252 IirSTORY or WASIUNGTON. 
 
 tlie Honians, after wliicli tlie whole regiment joined in the singing 
 of "Old Ilnndred," accomi)anied by tlie band. The T\vent3'-eighth 
 New ^'ork arrived on the 6th, and the First and a [)ortion of the 
 Second New Jersey. .Ma}' 8, James A. Tait, Charles Everett, and 
 Lemuel Towers were mustered into the United States service as 
 lientenant-colonels; P. II. King, A. Ualliaeh, and J. McII. IloUings- 
 worth, as nnijors. C<donel Ellsworth's Zouaves were sworn into service 
 on the 7th, one thousand strong. The Fourth Pennsylvania, Colonel 
 John F. llartrantt, arrived on the 9th. 
 
 The officers of the militia of the District of Columbia, commis- 
 sioned by the President about this time, were tis follows: Of the 
 Cameron Guards — James Elder, captain; Thomas Mushaw, 01i\er 
 Birkhead, and John W. Glover, lieutenants. Company D, Union Regi- 
 ment,— J. M. McClelland, caiitain; Alexander Tait, J. 11. Dubant, and 
 .r. II. Posey, lieutemmts. Potomac Light Guards — Robert Boyd, cap- 
 tain; V. A. Oft'ut, W. II. Purch, and B. McGraw, lieutenants. Company 
 E, National Guard Battalion, — William McCormey, third lieutenant. 
 Artlinr W. Fletcher, brigade quartermaster. John R. Dale, captain 
 of the District of Columbia RiHes. National Guard, Company F — 
 W. P. Ferguson, captain; J. T. Carroll, first lieutenant; W. Notting- 
 ham, second lieutenant, and J. B. Davis, third lieutenant. Union 
 Volunteers, Company F — James Fletclier, captain; Henry P. Duncan, 
 first lieutenant; Isaac E. Owen, second lieutenant, and J. Clement 
 Reynolds, third lieutenant. Washington Light Infantry — Colonel, 
 Thomas A. Scott: Company A — Lemuel D. Williams, captain; C. II. 
 Uttermehle, first lieutenant; Marvin P. Fisher, second lieutenant, and 
 James Coleman, third lieutenant. Sherman's celebrated light artillery 
 arrived May 9, commanded by Major T. W. Sherman. Tlie District 
 brigade of volunteers, numbering about three thousand and five 
 hundred, were out on parade Ma}' 13, under command of Colonel 
 Stone. This brigade was composed of eight battalions, commanded 
 as follows: First Battalion, Major J. McH. Hollingsworth; Second 
 Battalion, Lieutenant -Colonel Everett; Third Battalion, Major J. R. 
 Sniead; Fourth Battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Towers; Fiftli Battalion, 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Tait; Si.xtli Battalion, Major J. Grey Jewell; 
 Seventh Battalion, Major P. If. King; Eighth liattalion. Captain 
 Gerhardt. 7\t their head in the parade was the President's Mounted 
 Guard, Captain Owen. 
 
 May 17, the volunteers of the District were mustered with the 
 militia of the District, and lield ollicers appointi'd to i-acli. The cmn- 
 plete organi/.alion was as follows: 
 
MILITAR ) ' HIS TOR ) : 253 
 
 First Battalion, from Georgetown, — Major J. Mcll. liollings- 
 wortli; Company A, Anderson KiHes, Captain Rodier; Home Guards, 
 Captain Goddard; Potomac Liglit Gnard, Captain Boyd; Andrew 
 Johnson Guards, Captain McBlair. 
 
 Second Battalion — Major J. Gray Jewell; Henderson Guards, 
 Captain Foxwell; Company A, Union Regiment, Captain Carrington; 
 Companj' B, Captain Kelly; Company D, Ca^itain McClelland; Com- 
 pany E, Captain Callan. 
 
 Third Battalion — Major J. R. Smead; National Rifles, Lieutenant 
 Davis; Company F, Union Regiment, Captain Fletcher; Slemmer 
 Guards, Captain Knight; Cameron Guards, Captain Elder. 
 
 Fourth Battalion — Lieutenant-Colonel Lemuel Towers; Company 
 A, Washington Light Lifantry, Captain Williams; Company E, 
 Zouaves, Captain Powell; Washington Light Guard, Captain Marks; 
 District Union Riiles, Captain Dale. 
 
 Fifth Battalion — Lieutenant-Colonel Everett; Constitutional Guards, 
 Captain Degges; Company A, Putnam Ritles, Captain Thistleton; Met- 
 ropolitan Riiles, Captain Nalley; Jackson Guards, Captain McDermott; 
 Company B, Putnam Rifles, Captain Grinnell. 
 
 Sixth Battalion — Lieutenant-Colonel Tait; Company A, National 
 Guard, Captain Lloyd; Company C, Captain McKim; Company E, 
 Captain Morgan; Company F, Captain . 
 
 Seventh Battalion — Major P. IL King; City Guards, Captain 
 Clarke; Mechanics Union Ritles, Captain Rutherford; Company D, 
 Washington Light Lifantry, Captain Cross; Company C, Union Regi- 
 ment, Captain Miller. 
 
 Eighth Battalion — Major A. Balbach; Washington Rifles, Captain 
 Loetfler; Company A, Turner Rifles, Captain Gerhardt; Conqiany B, 
 Captain Kryzanowski. 
 
 The Washington Zouaves, on Wednesday, May 15, displayed a 
 handsome flag at their headquarters, in Thorn's building. They had 
 then been on duty several weeks at the arsenal, at Long Bridge, and 
 about the several departments. 
 
 About that time, an incident occurred which attracted considerable 
 attention in connection with the First New Jersey Regiment, encamped 
 near Meridian Hill. A party of its soldiers called upon a Mrs. Baker, 
 a widow, who kept a market garden near their camp, and asked her 
 for some onions and other vegetables for one of their number who 
 was sick. She freely complied with the request, and would take no 
 pay. Next day the party returned, and made Mrs. Baker a present of 
 a handsome Bible, which she accepted as of more value than money, 
 
254 If /STORY OF WASHING TON. 
 
 thus bringing to memory tlie measure of meal of tlie widow of 
 Zarepliatii, wliieli, in consequence of her kindness to tlie wayfaring 
 jjropiiet, was never again allowed to be empty. 
 
 General Benjamin F. Butler arrived in Washington May 10, and 
 was waited upon at the National Hotel by numerous friends, and at 
 night was serenaded by Withers's Band. The Eighth New York was 
 encamped at Camp Manstield, on Kalorama Heiglits. A iiag was raised 
 over the General Post Office Ma}' 22, in presence of a large assemblage 
 of citizens. General St. John B. L. Skinner was chairman of the 
 committee of arrangements, and made an address, stating that the ffag 
 about to be raised was the conti'ibution of the clerks of the Post 
 Office Department. President Lincoln then, upon request, raised the 
 ffag. The Hartford Cornet Band played the "Star Spangled Bannei-," 
 and addresses were made by Postmaster -General Blair, Secretary 
 Seward, and Secretary Smith. 
 
 The night of May 23 was a beautiful one on the Potomac. The 
 moon shone brigfitl}' and peacefully down, and perfect quiet prevailed 
 all over the valleys and hills in the neighborhood of Washington. But 
 a most important movement was begun that night. The troops in the 
 city were ordered to occup}' the heights in Virginia opposite Wash- 
 ington. At eleven o'clock on the night of the 23d the Washington 
 Liglit Infantry, Company A, was posted some distance up Mar^'land 
 Avenue from the Long Bridge. A squad of infantry was posted near 
 the Washington Monument, to keep an eye on boats going out of the 
 canal. Near the Long Bridge and on it were the infantry, a company 
 of Rliode Island soldiers, a company of United States cavalry, a 
 company of United States artillery, the Putnam Rifles, the TniMier 
 liiffes. Metropolitan Riffes, Company F Union Volunteers, Company 
 E Washington Light Infantry, and the Constitutional Guards, occupy- 
 ing the Virginia end of the bridge. A short time after midnight 
 Captain Powell's Zouaves and Captain Smeatl's company of National 
 Rifles advanced across the bridge to the vicinity of Roach's Spring, 
 and soon the Virginia pickets set spurs to their horses and made off 
 for Alexandria. The Constitutional Guards, to the number of about 
 eighty, were on duty on the bridge. Upon being asked by Colonel 
 Stone, of the District Volunteers, if they would go beyond the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia, they reidied that they would go anywhere in 
 defense of the Union. They were therefore sent forward as far as 
 Four Mile Run. The Virginia picket guard, stationed near Uoach's 
 S[)ring, ran away, and about an hour later the alarm bells were rung 
 in Ale.xantiria. 
 
MIUTARY HISTORY. 255 
 
 On Friday moniiiig, the 24tli, a large body of troops crossed the 
 Potomac into Virginia. Ellsworth's Zouaves in two steamers left their 
 camp on the Eastern Branch, making directly for Alexandria. The 
 Michigan regiment, accompanied by a detachment of United States 
 troops and two pieces of Sherman's battery, proceeded by the Long 
 Bridge to Alexandria. The Seventh New York was lield under orders 
 at Ilnglios's Tavern. The Second New Jersey was at lioach's Spring, 
 one-half mile from the bridge. The New York Twenty- fifth, the 
 Twelftli New York, and the Third and Fourth New Jersey proceeded 
 to occupy Arlington Heights, joined by other troops which crossed 
 over the Georgetown aqueduct. 
 
 At 4:00 A. M., Ellswortli's ZOuaves landed at Aloxanch-ia, and, 
 though tired upon in landing by tlie few Virginia sentries posted in the 
 town, wliich tire was returned by the Zouaves on the decks of the 
 steamers, immediately on landing marched directly into the center of 
 the town, meeting with no resistance. Eeaching the city Hagstatf 
 they hoisted an American Hag, and tlicn perceiving a rebel flag floatino- 
 from the Marshall House, Colonel Ellsworth proceeded tliere with a 
 squad of men and requested the proprietor, James Jackson, to take 
 it down. This request not being complied with, Colonel Ellsworth 
 went to the top of the liouse and hauled it down, and wraiiiiino- it 
 round his body started down tlie stairs. As lie was descendino-, the 
 proprietor, who had concealed himself in a dark passage, discliarged 
 the contents of one barrel of a double-barreled gun into his body, 
 killing him instantly. Private Francis E. Brownell, of Colonel 
 Ellsworth's Zouaves, instantly discharged the contents of his own 
 musket into Jackson's brain and pierced his body with his bayonet 
 as he fell, tlie other barrel of Jackson's gun going off as he fell. 
 The news of the assassination of Colonel Ellsworth readied the city 
 at an early hour in the morning, and when it was confirmed all the 
 flags in the city were displayed at half-mast. The remains of 
 the patriotic and brave Colonel were escorted to the Navy Yard by the 
 steamer Mount Vernon, and the funeral occurred from the Executive 
 Mansion at eleven o'clock the same morning, whence the body was 
 taken to the railroad depot for coiive3'ance to New York. 
 
 Intrenching tools were conveyed over the river, and on Saturday, 
 the 25th, the work of fortifying the city began in earnest on the 
 Virginia side. One of the New Jersey regiments threw up fortifica- 
 tions at the Junction of the Washington, Alexandria, and Columbia 
 Turnpike, and another work of the same kind was commenced by 
 another New Jersey regiment on the next height above, on the road 
 
050 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 toward Alexandria. The Sixt\'-nintli Regiment was engaged in de- 
 stroying communications between Alexandria and Leesbnrg, by tbe 
 destruction of bridges, etc., on tbe Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad. 
 The fortitieations thus commenced on the 25th of May, 1861, subse- 
 (juently became of immense extent, and together with those on other 
 sides of Washington, consisted of forty-eight works, mounting tiiree 
 hundred guns. The entire circumscribing perimeter of tiiese fortifi- 
 cations was about tliirty-iive miles in length.' 
 
 To the National Riiles of Captain J. R. Smead is due the honor 
 of first entering upon the sacred soil of the Old Dominion, crossing 
 the Long Bridge at an early hour on the night of ^Liy 23, driving 
 in the advance pickets of the rebels, and with other District troops 
 liolding the roads to Alexandria. Captain Powell's Zouaves were among 
 the first, as were also the Metropolitan Rifles, under command, at the 
 time, of Lieutenant Chauncey, and all were prompt and meritorious 
 in the discharge of their duty. 
 
 At Fort Washington, on the Potomac, a few miles below Alex- 
 andria, on the Maryland side of the river. Major Ilaskins wii^s in 
 command. The Ninth New York Regiment, wiiich was the first 
 reo'inient to otter its services to the Government for three years, 
 arrived in Washington May 28. J. W. Stiles was the colonel of this 
 regiment. The Fifth Regiment, District of Columbia Militia, was 
 mustered into the service May 29, Colonel W. H. Philip comnumding. 
 The several companies were commanded by Captains S. B. Elliott, 
 W. B.'Webb, nilton, Clark, French, Emory, Jillard, Burchell, and 
 Robinson. The regiment was four iiundred strong, and was made uji 
 of citizens residing between Seventh and Seventeenth streets and II 
 und Boundary streets. 
 
 May 30, the Sixty-ninth New York Regiment raised their flag at 
 
 'These forts ;uiil battcrii.'S thus ei'ected for the defense of the Ciipital of tlie Nation 
 were as follows, eomniencing at the south of Alexandria, then along the ^'irginia 
 shore, crossing the Potomac above Georgetown, and extending north of the city and 
 along the ridge east of the Anaeostia down to the river opposite Alexandria: Forts 
 Willard, O'Rourke, Weed, Farnsworth, and Lyon; Battery Rodgers; Forts Kllsworth, 
 Williams, Worth, Ward, Reynolds, Garesche, Barnard, Berry, Richardson, Craig, Scott, 
 Albany, Ruuyon, .lackson, Tillinghast, Cass, Whipple, Woodbury, Jlorton, Strong, Cor- 
 coran, Bennett, C. F. Smith, Ethan Allen, and Marcy; two batteries near the distrib- 
 uting reservoir; Batteries Cameron, Parrott, Kemble, Maitin, Scott, Bailey, Vermont, 
 Alexander, and Benson; Forts Suinner, Kerby, Cross, Davis, Manstield, Simmons, Bay- 
 ard, and Reno; Battery Rossell ; Fort Kearney; Batteries Terrill and Smeade; Fort 
 |)e Russey; Batteries Kingsbury and Sill; Forts Stevens, Slocum, Totten, Slemmer, 
 Hiinkci' Hill, Saratoga, Tliayer, Lincoln, Malian, Shaplin, Meigs, Dnpont, Davis, Baker, 
 Wttguei', Ricketts, Stanton, Snyder, Carroll, Greble, and Foote. 
 
MILfTARY HISTORY. 2b7 
 
 Fort Corcoran, tlieir new camp at Ai-lington Heights. Colonel Hunter, 
 of the Third United States Cavalry, who was assigned as commander of 
 the Aqueduct Brigade, composed of the Fiftii, Twenty-eighth, and 
 Sixty-ninth Xcw York regiments, made a speech on this occasion, as 
 also did Captain Thomas F. Meagher. Mr. Savage's new national 
 song was then sung b}' the author, the entire body of troops present 
 Joining in the chorus. The New Jersey troops threw up intrench- 
 nients at the Columbia Springs early in June, placing some thirty-two- 
 pound cannon in position, as well as other artillery. The volunteer 
 battalion near the chain bridge, two miles above Georgetown, was 
 well fortified, and had guns so mounted as to sweep the bridge and 
 the Virginia shoi-e in case of necessity. 
 
 On the 9th of June, an important movement was made up the 
 Potomac from Washington. The Rhode Island battery, under Colonel 
 Bnrnside, was sent to join General Patterson at Cbambersburg, and 
 on the 10th Colonel Stone's command, consisting of the National 
 Kitlos under Major Smead, the Slemmer Guards under Captain Knight, 
 
 tliejCameron Guards under Captain , Captain Magruder's battery 
 
 of United States artillery, the First Pennsylvania, and the Ninth New 
 York, and the First New Hampshire, moved up the Kockville road 
 toward Edward's Ferr}', about midway between Washington and 
 Harper's Ferry. It was the only crossing for teams between the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia and the Point of Rocks, and was at that time a 
 general thoroughfare for the transit of secessionists and military stores 
 from Maryland into Virginia. The quota of the District in this 
 movement was one thousand, and was promptly furnished to the 
 Government bj' Washington and Georgetown. 
 
 June 18, 1861, Professor T. S. C. Lowe made a number of ascen- 
 sions in his balloon, taking along a telegraph instrument connected by 
 a wire with the White House. When the balloon was at its greatest 
 elevation, about one-half mile, tlie following telegram was sent down: 
 
 "Balloon Enterpkise, Washington, D. C, June 18, 1861. 
 "To the Prcsiilevt of the United States: 
 
 "This point of elevation commands an area of near fifty miles 
 in diameter. The city, with its encampments, presents a suporl) scene. 
 I have pleasui'c in sending you this first dispatch from an aerial 
 station, and in acknowledging indebtedness to your encouragement for 
 the opportunity of demonstrating the availability of the science of 
 aeronautics to the military service of the country. 
 
 " T. S. C. Lowe." 
 
258 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 June 24, tlie Councils of Wasliington passed a bill appropriating 
 ^5,000 for tlie support of the families of the District of Columbia 
 volunteers, pa3able out of the general fund. The tirst grand review 
 of the Army of the Potomac occurred July 4, 18G1. Major Jewell's 
 battalion of District volunteers, after an arduous campaign of some 
 weeks on the line of the Potomac, returned to Washington on the 
 morning of July 4. The same day, the Third Battalion of District 
 Volunteers returned to Washington from Etlward's Ferry, having 
 rendered effective service to the Government. Regiments of troops 
 continued to arrive in Washington in such numbers that any attempt 
 to enumerate them would not be of interest. After the 4th of July, 
 they passed over into Virginia in considerable numbers. On the 
 morning of the 9th, two soldiers who had been killed in a skirmisli 
 at Great Falls, named Riggs and Uhl, were buried from the armory 
 in the now German cemetery near Glenwood. This appears to have 
 been the first burial of soldiers of the District of Columbia killed in 
 defense of the Union. The term of service of tlie District volunteers 
 having expired, several of the companies wore mustered out, July 
 lU, the companies thus mustered out being Compaii}- A, Union Regi- 
 ment, Captain E. C. Carrington; Camiiany A, Washington Light 
 Infantry; the Washington Zouaves; Company E, Washington Light 
 Infantry; the Anderson Pities, the Potomac Light Guard, the National 
 Rifles, the Home Guards, and the Andrew Johnson Guards. 
 
 July It!, 18G1, Edward Thompson, a private soldier in the Watson 
 Guards, died at the age of sixty-four years. The Watson Guards were, 
 at the time, under command of Captain Callan. In 1814, he was at the 
 l)attlo of Bladensburg; in 1836-37, he was in the Florida war; in 1846- 
 47, lie served 'with the District of Columbia volunteers under Colonel 
 Watson in the war with Mexico; and in April, 1861, ho volunteered to 
 defend the National Capital against the rebels, in the Watson Guards. 
 
 Several regiments went over into Virginia, July 20, 1861. The 
 battle of Manassas Junction, or the first battle of Bull liun, was 
 iouglit on Sunday, July 21, commencing about 10:30 a. m., and lasting 
 until 4:00 P. m. The liistory of this battle is sufKciently well known 
 not to need recital in this work, though it may not be out ot place 
 to note that for several days after it was fought, it was continuously 
 asserted to have been the fault of non-combatants that there was a 
 rout and a stampede of the Union forces. General McDowell's 
 official report, however, set the matter before the public in its true 
 light. After the rout, many of the soldiers m;ide their way to Wash- 
 ington ;is fast as jiossibic, and were picked up and iiiaiU' comfortable 
 
MIIJ'r.lKY IIISrOKY. 250 
 
 !)}■ iiieinl)i.'r:s of tliu Niitiuiial Kities, of the District voinnteurs, in tlicir 
 tine urmory in Temperance Ilail. Tliere were others that wandered 
 al)out tlie streets, seeking shelter from tlie driving rain which fell on 
 the day after the battle, wliicli fact — that is, the fact of the shower 
 of rain — was seized npon by certain meteorologists to direct attention 
 to their theory that I'ain always follows heavy cannonading. 
 
 Jiilj- 27, there was a fearful explosion at the Nav}- Yard, in the 
 rocket house, which killed two men and wounded two others. The 
 killed were Francis C. Brown and Johu P. Ferguson, and the wounded 
 William Martin and Nicholas Ray. 
 
 A. Porter, colonel of the Si.vteenth United States Infantr}-, was 
 appointed yirovost-marshal of the District of Columbia, August 1, 
 1861. His General Order No. 1 was issued August 2, ordering all 
 officers and enlisted men to remain in camp unless absent by per- 
 mission; and all officers and soldiers were forbidden to be in the 
 streets, at hotels, or at other places, after 9:00 p. m. 
 
 Following are names of Washingtonians killed at the battles of 
 Stone Bridge and Bull Run, July 18 and 21, in the First Regiment 
 Virginia Volunteers: Cajitain C. K. Sherman and Isidore Morris. 
 
 August 6, the first company of Colonel Everett's new regiment of 
 District of Columbia volunteers was mustered into the service, with 
 Captain Knight in command. Captain Geary's company of cavalry 
 was mustered in for three years, as were also the Everett's Guards 
 about the same time, with Maurice Tucker captain, James R. Har- 
 rover first lieutenant, Jeremiah O'Leary second lieutenant, and George 
 Augerton orderly sergeant. 
 
 One of tlio important institutions of Washington pertaining to 
 the war was the army bakery, located in the Capitol, in the exterior 
 vaults. It was in control of Lieutenant Thomas J. Cate, of the 
 Twelfth United States Artillery, who, upon the necessity for such an 
 institution arising, offered his services to build the ovens. This work 
 being performed he employed one hundred and seventy hands, divid- 
 ing them into day and night squads. By this bakery the soldiers 
 were supplied with fresh and wholesome bread. In the employ of 
 the bakery were twelve wagons, which were kept constantly going, 
 loaded with bread, carrying out nearly sixty thousand loaves [)er day. 
 Each loaf weighed twenty two ounces. In October, 1861, this bakery 
 was consuming one hundred and fifty barrels of flour per day. A 
 yeast room was attached to the bakery, employing eight men. The 
 ovens were large and well built, and each was capable of baking 
 about four thousand three hundred loaves in twenty-four hours. 
 
260 H/STORY OF U'ASH/NGTON. 
 
 November 5, 18iil, the iiiaiisions of Sen:itor Douglas, Senator Rice, 
 and Mr. Corbin, known as Minnesota Kow, were engaged for a military 
 liospital, at an annual rental of $7,000. 
 
 Tlie Xavy Yard was kept busy all the time during the war. 
 Deeendjer 1, 1861, Captain Dahlgren, in eharge, had at work under 
 him eighteen Imndred men. A number of very large anchors, weigh- 
 ing from eiglit thousand pounds downward, were made there, as also 
 many chain cables. 
 
 The Second District Volunteer Regiment was mustered into the 
 service of the United States for three years in February, 1862, and by 
 tiie 20tli of this mouth all of its companies but three were full. The 
 regimental officers were as follows: Colonel, Isaac K. Peck; major, 
 Charles Alexander; adjutant, C. M. Lienbeck; quartermaster, James 
 r. Sanderson; surgeon, Dr. J. B. Keasby; assistant surgeon, Dr. L. C. 
 Iloole, and chaplain, Rev. Mr. Lockwood. The ca[>tains of the several 
 companies were as follows: Company A, Captain Garrett; Company 
 B, Captain Dubant; Company C, Captain Drew; Company D, Captain 
 Ditmarris; Company E, Captain Callan; Company F, Captain Steele; 
 Company G, Captain Stockbridge; Company H, Captain Blything; 
 Company I, Captain Duncan; Company K, Captain Krouse. On May 
 21, this regiment was presented with a handsome flag, having in gold 
 letters the following inscription: "President's Guard, Second Regi- 
 ment District of Columbia Volunteers." The flag was mounted on 
 a staft' bearing this inscription: "Presented to the President's Guard 
 by the Ladies of Washington, May 21, 1862." The presentation speech 
 was made by Major B. B. French, and the response by Colonel Peck. 
 
 At the beginning of the year 1862, thei'e were the following 
 numbers of soldiers in and around Washington, including the various 
 armies as noted: At Fortress Monroe, under General Wool, 15,000 
 men; south of Washington and partly on the Maryland side of the 
 Potomac, General Hooker's division, including General Sickles's bri- 
 gade, about 10,000; southwest of the city was the mass of General 
 McClellan's army, consisting of eight divisions, nearly 160,000 men, 
 and other troops on tlie line of tlie Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 
 toward Baltimore, nudging the grand aggregate nearly 200,000 men. 
 
 The force designed for the sjiecial defense of Washington, while 
 General McClellau was engaged on the Peninsula in front of Rich- 
 mond, was described as follows, the forces being placed in comnnind 
 of Brigadier-General James Wadsworth, according to General McClel- 
 lan's orders, dated Ajiril 1, 1862: "The garrisons in the forts around 
 Washington amount to 10,000 men, other disposable troops now with 
 
MIUTARY /{/STORY. 261 
 
 Geiiei-itl Wadsworth being 11,400 men. Tlic tioups employed in 
 guarding the various railroads in Maryland amounted to some 3,350 
 men. These it was designed to relieve, they being old regiments, with 
 dismounted cavalry, and send them forward to Manassas. General Aber- 
 crombie occupied VVarrenton with a force which, including General 
 Geary's at White Plains and the cavalr}- to be at their disposal, 
 amounted to 7,780 men, with twelve pieces of artiller\'. Besides these 
 General McClellan requested that troops be sent to Manassas so as 
 to make the command of General Abercrombie equal to 18,000 
 men. Thus, to summarize, the troops designed for the defense of 
 Washington were as follows: At Warreuton, 7,780 men; at Man- 
 assas, 10,860 men; in the Shenandoah, 35,470 men; on the Lower 
 Potomac, 1,350; in all, 55,460 men. In front of Washington there 
 were to be left 18,000 men, exclusive of the batteries of artiller}-, 
 which were as follows: Battery C, First ]^ew York Artillery, 2 guns; 
 Battery K, First New York Artillery, 6 guns; Battery L, Second 
 Xew York Artillery, 6 guns; Ninth New York Independent Battery, 
 6 guns; Sixteentli New York Independent Battery, 6 guns; Battery 
 A, Second Battalion, New York Artiller}', 6 guns; Battery B, Second 
 New Yoi'k Artillery, 6 guns; total number of guns, 32. 
 
 On August 6, a great war meeting was held in front of the Capi- 
 tol building. At 5:00 p. m., a salute of thirty-four guns was tired and 
 the bells of the city were rung. The Marine Baud played at tliis place 
 instead of its accustomed place. The I'resident and his cabinet were in 
 attendance. The Ma3'or of Washington presided, and Samuel E. Doug- 
 lass was secretary of the committee of arrangements. The speakers 
 were the Hon. George S. Boutwell, Commissioner of Internal Revenue; 
 Hon. Leonard Swett of Chicago, Hon. R. W. Thompson of Indiana, 
 L. E. Chittenden, Register of the Treasury; President Lincoln, General 
 Shepley, Military Governor of Louisiana; Senator Harlan of Iowa, and 
 General E. C. Carrington, United States District Attorney for the 
 District of Columbia. The meeting lasted until 10:15 p. m. A series 
 of resolutions was adopted, expressive of the sentiments of the meeting, 
 regarding the dismemberment of the Union as an event not to be 
 contemplated in any possible contingency; that the hesitation then 
 manifested by loyal citizens was owing solely to their misgivings as 
 to the prosecution of the war; urging the President to adopt effectual 
 means of assuring the people that he was resolved to prosecute the 
 war on a scale limited qnh- by the resources of the countr\-; that 
 the measures adopted should be such as would bear witii the most 
 crushing weight upon those in rebellion, whether in arms or not; that 
 
262 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 the leaders of tlie Rebellion sliould be regarded as irrcelaiiiiablc traitors, 
 and either deprived of life or expelled from the country; that the 
 Xatioiial Capital was eminently the place where treason should lie 
 instantly denounceil and punished, and that the most stringent meas- 
 ures should be adopted by the proper authorities without delay to 
 arrest the disloyal men and women within the District of Columbia; 
 approving the act of Congress subjecting to contiscation the property 
 of rebels, and declaring free such of their slaves as should take refuge 
 within our lines; that the Federal Government should be sustained, 
 no matter what administration was in power, and pledging to the 
 I'resident and his cabinet the most earnest, cordial, and determined 
 support; and lastly, pledging themselves to make ample pecuniary pro- 
 vision for the support of the families of such of the citizens of the 
 District of Columbia as were in the military service of their country. 
 
 The speech of the President was a noteworthy one, being uttered 
 at a time when much criticism was being indulged in by friends of 
 himself and those of General AlcClellan, for opposite reasons, ai:d 
 when there was dissatisfaction with the results of the campaign (in 
 the Peninsula. Omitting the mere introductory iiortion of the speech, 
 the President said: 
 
 "There has been a very widespread attempt to have a (juarrel 
 between General McClellan and the Secretary of War. Xow, I occupy 
 a position that enables rae to believe, at least, that these two gentle- 
 men are not nearly so deep in the quarrel as some presuming to be 
 their friends. General McClellau's attitude is such that in the very 
 selfishness of nature he cannot but wish to succeed, and I hupc he 
 will l)e successful. The Secretary of War i« jirecisely in the same 
 situation. If the military commander in the field cannot be success- 
 ful, not only the Seci'ctary of War, but myself, for the time being the 
 master of them lioth, cannot but be failures. Sometinii's we hear a 
 dispute about how many men McClellan has had. Those who would 
 disparage him say that he has had a very large number, and those who 
 would disparage the Secretary of War insist that General McClellan 
 has had but a very small number. The basis for this is that there 
 is always a wide difference between the grand total on McClellau's 
 rolls and the men actually lit for duty; those who would disjiaraire 
 him talk of the grand total (in [laper, and tlnise who would disparage 
 the Secretary of War talk of those jiresent and fit for duly. 
 
 "General McClellan has sometimes asked for things that the 
 Secretary of War could not give him. General McClellan is not to 
 blame for asking for what he wanted and needed, and the Secretary 
 
MIIJTARY HISTORY. 263 
 
 of War is not to blame for not giving wiiat he liad not to give. And 
 I say Iiere, that so far as I know, tlie Secretary of War lias withheld 
 nothing from McClellan without my approval, and I have with- 
 held nothing at any time in ray power to give. I have no accusation 
 against hini. I believe lie is a brave and able man, and I stand here, 
 as justice requires me to do, to take upon myself what has been 
 charged upon the Secretary of War as withheld from him." 
 
 The second battle of Bull Run was fought on the '29th, 30th, and 
 31st of August, 1862, resulting, as is well known, in the serious defeat 
 of the Union forces under General Pope. In consequence of the great 
 losses to the Union army in wounded, there was great demand for 
 surgeons and uurses to care for them, and a corresponding activity 
 in the departments and among the people at Washington in response 
 to the demand. Fully one thousand persons, employees of the Gov- 
 ernment and others, assembled at the corner of Maryland Avenue and 
 Eighth Street South at four o'clock iu the afternoon of Saturday, the 
 30th, expecting speedy transportation to the battlefield; but owing to 
 the failure to notify tlie engineer of the train that civilians were to go 
 on it, there was a delay of four hours in getting started. At lengtli, 
 however, at eight o'clock, the train got under way with its load of 
 humanitarians, to carry succor to the sick and wounded. After a ride 
 of ten hours, they reached Fairfa.x Station, and then could proceed 
 no further, except on foot, and on their own responsibility, the bridge 
 over Bull Run having been destroyed by the rebels tiie night before; 
 and then there was a march of fifteen miles before them if tliey went 
 on. The few that did make the attempt to reach the battlefield were 
 peremptorily ordered back; so all gave up and returned to Washing- 
 ton. The next day, the medical director of the District, John 
 Campl)ell, published a reipiest that all who were willing to receive 
 into their houses convalescent soldiers, in order to make room for 
 wounded soldiers, would send their names to him, together with the 
 nundjer they could accommodate. The movement thus begun at 
 Washington, to send surgeons and other assistance to the battlefields, 
 instantly spread to all the larger cities of the Xorthern States, and 
 [lackages of all kinds of clothing, etc., were forwarded therefrom in 
 great abundance. 
 
 On Septendjer 1, a consultation was hell by tlie President, General 
 Ilalleck, and General McClellan, as to the defenses of the city, and a 
 number of gunboats came up the Potomac, anchoring at different 
 points off the city, so as to be ready in case of an attack upon the 
 city, which was then with good reason apprehended. Quite a number 
 
264 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 of clerks fnnu the (lo[iartnients went down to tlic Ijoat-landing at 
 Sixtli Strt'et, to assist in transferring tlie wounded, aliout tiftecn 
 liundrod of whom reached tlie city tiiat day. Carriages, wagons, 
 omnibuses, and ambulances were all pressed into the service. Tlie 
 influx of wounded after this battle made it necessary to convert every 
 place capaljle of use in this way into lios[iitals for tlie sick and 
 wounded, the upper story of the Patent Office, the Cajiitol, and 
 numerous other buildings being converted into hospitals. 
 
 On September 2, General McClellan was placed in command of 
 the fortifications of Washington and of all of the troops for its 
 defense, and the patrolmen were all busy closing all retail liquor estab- 
 lishments. September -3, the remains of Colonel Fletcher Webster, son 
 of Plon. Daniel Webster, having been embalmed at Alexandria, were 
 brought to Washington, as were also those of General Kearney. The 
 entire army of General Pope, which commenced falling back from 
 Centerville on Monday morning, September 1, reached its position in 
 front of the fortifications on the south side of the Potomac on 
 Tuesday night, General McClellan assuming command of tliis army, 
 as also of General Burnside's. In consequence of the threatened 
 danger to the city, the clerks in the several departments of the Gov- 
 ernment were organized into military companies for the defense of the 
 Capital. In the Interior Department a company was formed containing 
 120 men, under Captain J. M. Edmonds. The Census clerks formed 
 a company of 85 men; the Patent Office, one of 100 men. The Post 
 Office employees made a company containing 87 active men, and -30 
 reserves, with ca[itain, K. K. Scott; first lieutenant, C. F. McDon- 
 ald; second lieutenant, William H. Frazcr. The Treasury Depart- 
 ment also organized a company, but the War Department was too 
 busy with its regular duties to give any attention to local militar}- 
 organizations. The employees of the Government Printing Office organ- 
 ized a company containing about 170 men. The total number of 
 employees of the Government thus organized into companies for the 
 defense of the city was about 1,800 men. The National Rifies, about 80 
 strong, tendered their services. Including this latter companj' there 
 were, by September 4, 18 companies organized, the Interior Depart- 
 ment furnishing 8, the Treasury Department 5, the Printing Office 
 2, the Coast Survey 1, the Post Office Department 1, and the 
 National RiHcs. On the same day, the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth 
 Pennsylvania Regiment arrived in the city, and the One -Hundred 
 and Twenty-second New 'S'ork and the Twentieth Michigan. The 
 German Relief Association, organized to relieve and comfort the 
 
.}f/LfT. IRV HfS TOR V. 265 
 
 sick and wouiuled soldiers, performed uiuisnally acceiitaMe service at 
 this time. The clerks of the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Auditors' 
 divisions were oi-gaiiized on Wednesda}' evening, Sei)tcniber 3, with 
 captain, D. II. Lusk, first lieutenant, A. J. Bentley, second lieutenant, 
 J. Ilackett. The stonecutters and laborers at work on the Capitol on 
 the same day organized two companies, one company being officered 
 as follows: Captain, Richard Morgan, first lieutenant, H. Ellis, and 
 second lieutenant, P. Fritz; the other as follows: Captain, A. John- 
 son, first lieutenant, A. Carroll, and second lieutenant, Joseph Sulli- 
 van. Other employees at work on tlie building organized another 
 company, with captain, C. F. Thomas, first lieutenant, C. Magruder, 
 and second lieutenant, G. Miller. 
 
 In consequence of the invasion of Maryland by the successful 
 rebels, and the capture of Fredericksburg, a force of troops left 
 Washington on Sunday, September 7, General McClellan following 
 at 6:40 p. m., General Banks being left in charge of tlie defense 
 of Washington. On Saturday night, the troops had been placed 
 under marching orders, and the new levies made the night air 
 resound with their shouting and their cheers, while the old troops, 
 having had considerable severe experience in actual warfare, were 
 much more quiet. The great battle of August 17, at South Moun- 
 tain, was one of the severest of tlie war, resulting in a victory for 
 the Arm}- of the Potomac. During the 18th, the firing was not 
 renewed, General McClellan having agreed to an armistice, propo.sed 
 b}' the enem}', to bury the dead. After this great battle, the Sanitary 
 Commission was very active in sending supplies to the army. At this 
 time there were the following hospitals in Washington for the care of 
 the sick and wounded soldiers: 
 
 Ascension Hospital, at the corner of II and Xinth streets, Armory 
 Hospital, on Seventh Street, south of the canal; Baptist Hospital, 
 Dr. Samson's, on Thirteenth Street, near G; Baptist Hospital, Rev. 
 Mr; Kennard's, on E Street, near Sixth; Caspion's House, near the 
 Capitol; Carver's House, near Boundary, between Seventh and Four- 
 teenth; Capitol Hospital; Columbian Hospital, Columbian College, on 
 Fourteenth Street; Cliffburne Hospital, near Columbian College; Doug- 
 las Hospital, at the corner of I and First streets; Ebenezer Hospital, on 
 Fourth Street, near G; Eckington Hospital, near the Gales mansion; 
 Emory Hospital, at the Sixth Cavalry Barracks, east of the Capitol; 
 Epiphany Hospital, on G Street, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth 
 streets; Finley Hospital, near the Eckington Hospital; Harewood 
 Hospital, Corcoran's Place, near the tollgate; Judiciary Square Hos- 
 
266 /f /STORY OF W.ISH/NGTON. 
 
 pitiil; Kiiloranui Ilosjiital, Twenty-first Street and Kiiloriima Heights; 
 Methodist Ilospitiil (Southern), Eighth ;uid I streets; Mount Pleasant 
 Hospital, Fourtf'enth Street, near Columbian College; Ninth Street 
 Hospital, between G and H streets; Odd Fellows Hospital, Eighth 
 Street East, near the Navy Yard; Patent Office Hospital; Ryland 
 Chapel Hospital, Tenth and D streets; Seminary Hospital, Gay and 
 Washington streets, Georgetown; St. Elizabetli Hospital, Government 
 Insane Asylum; Stone's Hospital, Fourteenth Street, east of the college; 
 Trinity Chnrcli Hospital, Third and C streets; Union Chapel Hospital, 
 Twentieth Street, near H; Union Hotel Hospital, Georgetown; Unitarian 
 or Cranch Hospital, Sixth and D streets; St. Aloysius Hospital, near 
 St. Aloysius Catholic Church. Besides these there were ten hospitals 
 in Alexandi'ia. 
 
 It would be impossible to do more than justice to those who 
 attended the sick, wounded, and dying soldiers in these iiospitals. 
 Ladies of every class in societ}-, including the most relined, and 
 members of families of foreign di[ilomats, all moved I)}- a sympathy 
 for suffering humanity common to all hearts, and as honorable as 
 common, were constantly at work at the bedsides of those nciHling 
 aid. The amount of good done in this way is inestimable. 
 
 After the issuance of the Proclamation of September 22, 1862, a 
 serenade was given the President on Wednesday evening, the 24th. 
 In response, the President said: "I have not been distinctl}' informed 
 why it is that on this occasion you appear to (h) me this honor. I 
 suppose — ["It is because of the iiroclamation! "'] — I was about to say 
 I suiipose I understand it. What I did I did after very full delibera- 
 tion, and under a very heavy and solemn sense of responsibility. I 
 can only trust in God that I made no mistake." Secretary Chase, 
 Cassius M. Clay, and Attorney-General Bates were also visited and 
 serenaded, and all made speeches approving of the proclannition. 
 
 The First Regiment, District of Columbia \''olunteers, in October, 
 1862, were sent to Alexandria to act as provost guard, Colonel Tait 
 relieving General Slough as military governor of the city of Alex- 
 andria. This regiment had been in the severe campaigns of Banks 
 and I'opc, but notwithstanding this fact had at this time nearly 
 live hundred men in ranlvs fit for duty, and only twenty-five absent 
 without leave. The Second District of Columbia Kegiment was tor 
 some time previous to October 31 engaged in duty on the U|iper 
 l^otomac, but was relieved aliout this time, and came to the city. 
 
 Island Hall Hospital was established at the corner of Sixth Street 
 and Virginia Avenue about November 1, and was under tlie care of 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 2G7 
 
 Surgeons Hayes and Schenck. Up to Januai'v 1, 18G3, bonnties were 
 given to such persons as sliould enlist in the District of Cohmibia 
 regiments, but at that time this practice was abandoned, because very 
 few of the iniiabitants availed themselves of the bounty, and because 
 most of the enlistments were by parties from abroad, who in some 
 instances were desei'ters from other regiments. At the close of the 
 j*ear 18G2, there were about fourteen thousand sick and wounded 
 soldiers in the hosjiitals in Wasliington, Georgetown, and Alexandria. 
 But notwithstanding there were so many, there was sufficient room 
 for all in the regular hospitals, and the Fourth Presbyterian Church, 
 the Church of the Ascension, and the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 South were vacated, when all the churches were vacated which had 
 been in use by the Government for this purpose. On February 18, 
 1863, Lieutenant-Colonel W. E. Doster was relieved at his own request 
 as provost-marshal of the District of Columbia, and Caiitain Henry 
 B. Todd, of the First Xew York Cavalry, appointed in his stead, 
 
 March 31, 1863, a great war meeting was held in both halls of 
 Congress, under the auspices of the two boards of the city Council. 
 Mayor Richard Wallach presided in the hall of the House of Repre- 
 sentatives, and Lewis Clephane and Alexander R. Shepherd in tlie hall 
 of the Senate, the former during the tirst part of the meeting, and 
 the latter during the latter part. In the House of Representatives, 
 Ex-Governor Bebb, of Ohio, submitted a series of resolutions strongly 
 in favor of fighting the war to a successful termination, and quoting- 
 John Bright, as to the destiny of the Republic, as follows: 
 
 "We cannot believe that civilization, in its journe}- with the sun, 
 will sink into endless night, to gratify the ambition of the leaders of 
 this revolt, who seek to 'wade through slaughter to a throne,' and 
 'shut the gates of mercy on mankind.' We have another and far 
 brighter vision before our eyes. Through the thick gloom of the 
 present we see the brightness of the future as the sun in the heavens. 
 We see one vast confederation, stretching from the frozen ITorth in 
 one unbroken line to the glowing South, and from the wild billows 
 of the stormy Atlantic to the calmer waters of the Pacific main; and 
 we see one people, one law, one language, and one religion, and over 
 all this wide continent the home of freedom' and a refuge for the op- 
 pressed of every race." 
 
 Alderman Sargent then offered a resolution to the effect that 
 there were two classes of people in this cit}', the loyal and the 
 disloyal; and "that we owe it to ourselves to ferret out the disloyal 
 and send them to their friends in Richmond." All the resolutions 
 
268 ■ HISTORY OF W.lSff/.YGTON. 
 
 were unanimously adopted. Hon. Green Adams tlien addressed the 
 meeting, as did also Admiral Foote, Chief Justice D. K. Cartter, Hon. 
 Horace Maynard, lion. Andrew Johnson, and General E. C. Carring- 
 ton. In the Seiuxtc chamber Ex-Governor Bebb ollered the same 
 series of resolutions ottered in the House of Representatives, and 
 speeclies were made by General Martindale, then Military Governor 
 of tlie District of Columbia, Admiral Foote, Rev. Mr. Pbillips of New 
 York, L. E. Chittenden, Register of the Treasury, L. A. Whitely of 
 Maryland, Horace Maynard, Governor Basliford of Wisconsin, and 
 Dr. Daily of Indiana. 
 
 In June, 1863, in consequence of reduction in the size of its com- 
 panies, the First District Regiment was consolidated into a battalion 
 of four companies. Upon this consolidation the oflicers mustered out 
 were: Colonel James A. Tait; Captains II. M. Knight, James Cole- 
 man, James Fisher, P. E. Rodier, and Joseph Mundell; First Lieu- 
 tenants C. P. Wroe, R. W. Barnacio, C. T. Barrett, and Joseph Ven- 
 able; Second Lieutenants Jerome Callahan, P. McChesney, W. E. 
 Morgan, and Edward Carroll. Those retained were: Lieutenant-Col- 
 onel Lemuel Towers, and statt' oflicers; Captains E. S. Allen, Robert 
 Boyd, Robert Clark, and M. P. Fisher; First Lieutenants John Donn, 
 B. F. McGrew, C. VV. Sherwood, and W. W. Winship; Second Lieu- 
 tenants William Young, Walter Dobson, J. W. Atwell, aiul D. F. 
 Stiles. 
 
 Tow'ard the latter part of this month, when it was learned that 
 the rebel General Lee was marching northward into Pennsylvania, 
 orders were issued by Provost-Marshal-General James B. Fry to 
 Major-General George C. Thomas, then in command of the District 
 of Columbia militia, that eight regiments of the militia infantry of 
 the District be called into immediate service for sixt}' days, and pro- 
 viding that if the volunteer cavalry and infantry of the District 
 should tender their services they would be accepted. Major-General 
 Thomas thereupon issued the orders necessary for calling out and 
 enrolling the eight regiments. On the morning of July (i, the various 
 regiments composing the District militia assembled on their parade 
 grounds, and were informed that as General Lee had been defeated 
 at the great battle of Gettysburg, and was compelled to retreat back 
 into Virginia, their services would not be needed. On Tuesday, July 
 7, there was great rejoicing in Washington over the victories of 
 General Meade in Pennsylvania, of General Grant at Vicksburg, and 
 of General Rosecrans in Tennessee. A large nundjer of citizens of 
 Washington, headed by the band of the Thirty-fourth Massachusetts 
 
Am./T.IRY nrSTORY. 2G9 
 
 Regiment, marclied to tlie Executive Mansion and serenaded the 
 President, who made to them a speecli, paying glowing tribute to 
 the brave men in the armies, but declining to mention an}- soldier by- 
 name, for fear of omitting some who were equally meritorious with 
 those whom he might name, should he name any of them. Secretary 
 Stanton and General Ilallcck, and also Senators Wilson, Wilkinson, 
 and Lane, and lions. E. E. Washburn, Isaac Arnold, and General 
 Martindale, made speeches. 
 
 Under the President's call for ;300,000 men, .July 18, 1864, there 
 was a draft in the District of Columbia for her quota. The District 
 was divided into twelve districts, of which each of the seven wards 
 of the city of Washington was one; that part of Georgetown east of 
 High Street was the eighth; that part west of High Street the ninth; 
 that part of the county west of Rock Creek the tenth; that part 
 between Rock Creek and the Eastern Branch the eleventh, and that 
 part south and east of the Eastern Branch the twelfth. Captain 
 Sheetz, who was jirovost-nuirshal under the Conscription Act, made a 
 return of the names enrolled for the first class toward the latter part 
 of July, as follows: First Ward of Washington, 4,000; Second Ward, 
 2,.500; Third Ward, 2,000; Fourth Ward, 3,000; Fifth Ward, 1,700; 
 Sixth AVard, 1,200; Seventh Ward, 2,400; eighth district, 800; ninth 
 district, 700; tenth district, 400; eleventh district, .500; twelfth district, 
 300;- total, nearly 20,000; or, to be exact, 19,327; of which number 
 there were 14,242 whites, and 5,085 blacks. The apportionment of 
 the District was 3,865, to which was added tifty per cent, to allow a 
 margin for exemptions; or, in all, 5,798. The draft commenced on 
 Monday, August 3, with the First Ward. The number to be drawn 
 from each snbdistrict was as follows: First Ward, 1,180; Second 
 Ward, 741; Third Ward, 607; Fourth Ward, 896; Fifth Ward, 513; 
 Sixth Ward, 337; Seventh Ward, 719; eighth district, 239; ninth 
 district, 216; tenth district, 116; eleventh district, 155, and twelfth 
 district, 70; total, 5,798. The drawing commenced at 9:00 a. m., a 
 blind man named Thomas C. Burns drawing the names from the box. 
 The drawing for the First Ward closed at 2:00 p. m. Of the persons 
 drawn, 874 were white and 306 black. The drawing for the Second 
 Ward was completed the same day, and of the number drawn 494 
 were white and 247 black. The drawing for the Third Ward came 
 oil' on the 4th, resulting in 502 whites being drawn, ami 105 blacks. 
 There were drawn in the Fourth Ward 736 whites and 160 blacks; in 
 tiie Fifth Ward, 344 whites and 169 blacks; in the Sixth Ward, 286 
 whites and 51 blacks; in the Seventh Ward, 684 whites and 235 blacks; 
 
270 HISTORY or WASHINGTON. 
 
 ill the eighth and niiitli districts, 390 whites and 65 blacks, and in the 
 rest of the county 350 persons in all. The board of eiirollnient met 
 on Angnst 10, to hour applications for exemptions. 
 
 The result of the draft in the District of Columbia was reached 
 September 30, the work of the board of enrollment closing on that 
 e\'ening. This result was as follows: Total number drawn, 5,784; 
 quota, 3,803: number of drafted men who re}»orted, 4,115; number 
 failing to report, 1,079; number accepted, 285; number of substitutes, 
 075; number pa^'iiig commutation, 212; number exempted, 2,943. Of 
 the number of soldiers obtained by means of the draft (900), there 
 were 330 negroes. 
 
 In October, the President called for another 300,000 men. Under 
 this call the District of Columbia, with the rest of the country, was 
 called on for its quota. On Noveml)er 6, there was a meeting at the 
 Cit\' Hall, preliminary to a large mass meeting which was held August 
 0, for the luirpose of aiding enlistments, so that if possible there 
 might be no necessity for another draft. The quota of the District 
 under this call was 2,730 — from Washington and the county, 2,516, and 
 from Georgetown, 214. At this meeting a committee was appointed 
 to solicit funds witli which to assist the families of soldiers of the 
 District serving in an}- of the armies of the Union. The committee 
 consisted of B. B. French, Henry Addison, Richard Wallach, Samuel 
 E. Douglass, George H. Plant, Hudson Taylor, Frank Taylor, John 
 M. Brodhead, George R. Wilson, John H. Senimes, E. J. Middleton, 
 William B. Todd, William J. Murtagh, Joseph F. Brown, Judson 
 Mitchell, William II. Tenney, John Marbury, Jr., George W. Beall, 
 and Henry D. Cooke. The subscriptions very quickly amounted to 
 $20,745, ^18,726 of which whs distributed among the families of the 
 soldiers, the rest, $2,019, being retained to commence operations for 
 the winter. 
 
 On July 24, 1863, Judge Wylie, of the Supreme Court of the 
 District of Columbia, made a decision under the Coniiscation Act 
 with reference to the property of Dr. A. Y. P. Garnett, which was 
 before the Court for condemnation, and which was the first case 
 argued before the Court. The Judge, in making his decision, said 
 that it was a most important case. The coniiscation did not, as 
 was gencrall}* supposed, treat the inhabitants of the so-called Con- 
 federate States as traitors, but as alien enemies, and in that point 
 of view their property of every description was liable to absolute 
 forfeiture and alienation to the use of the Government. There was 
 no distinction Ijctween real estate and personal property. Nor did tlie 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 271 
 
 Constitution forbid this absolute forfeiture of real estate. But the 
 joint resolution of Congress, passed on the same day as the Confisca- 
 tion Act, under the provisions of which the property in question was 
 sought to be confiscated, was a declaration by theui that, in a spirit 
 of kindness, tho}- would confiscate tlie real estate of rebel- owncM's 
 onl}' during' their lifetime. The Judge was, he said, bound by the 
 jiiiut resolution, and therefore he condemned the real estate only 
 during tlie lifetime of tiie owner, and the personal estate absolutely. 
 Judge Wjdie referred to a number of authorities, among them the 
 legislatures of Maryland and Pennsylvania, confiscating absolutely 
 the property of Americans who remained loyal to England during 
 the Revolutionary' War. 
 
 The decree of condemnation was then ordered against the property 
 of Thomas B. Allen, Francis Ilauna, E. A. Pollard, Charles S. Wal- 
 lach, Cornelius Boyle, French Forrest, J. N. MatiSt, C. W. C. Dun- 
 nington, Martin L. Smith, Daniel and Mary F. Radclifte, E. M. Clark, 
 Samuel Lee, Henry B. Tyler, William F. Phillips, C. W. Ilavenner, 
 Lavinia Boyle, and Samuel L. Lewis. 
 
 In August, 1863, the marshal of the District of Columbia, by 
 direction of the attorne}' for the District, made seizure of the follow- 
 ing property: 
 
 Two two-story frame houses of Craven Ashford, formerly a justice 
 of the [leace in Washington, but then in the South; lots 1 to 12, 
 inclusive, of George S. Houston, formerly a member of Congress from 
 Alabama, and of Governor Letcher, of Virginia, on Capitol Hill; lot 
 improved by a four-story dwelling, on E Street, between Secoiul and 
 Third streets, northwest, in the name of W. H. Thomas, then in the 
 Confederate Army; lot at the corner of Vermont Avenue and K 
 Street, improved by a two-story liouse, in the name of H. H. Lewis, 
 of Virginia; lot near the corner of tlie canal and South Capitol 
 Street, in the name of Oscar R. Hough, formerly of the National 
 Rifles, but then connected with the provost-marshal's oflice at Rich- 
 mond; subdivision of lots near the Baltimore and Ohio Depot, and 
 several lots on South Capitol Street, near N Street, used as a brick 
 yard, in the name of David A. Windsor. While there was consider- 
 able other property confiscated, yet it is probable that enougli detail 
 has been here given. 
 
 The Ladies' Relief Association, for the relief of the soldiers of 
 the District of Columbia, held a meeting December 21, 1863, at the 
 residence of Hon. Sayles J. Bowen, to elect officers. Major B. B. 
 French was cliosen president, Henry D. Cooke vice-president, Selah 
 
272 HISTORY OF WASHfNGTON. 
 
 Squires secretin'}', and Mrs. L. E. Cliittenden treasurer. A committee 
 of arrangements for a fair, which was then in contemplation, was 
 appointed, consisting of four gentlemen and seven ladies; also, an 
 executive committee, a finance committee, a committee for eacli ward, 
 as well as a committee for Georgetown, a committee at large, 
 and a committee for each of the twenty-three of the loyal 
 States. The great hall of the north front of the Patent Office was 
 offered by Hon. J. P. Usher, and accepted by the association, for tlie 
 purposes of the fair. The ladies of the association made application 
 to tlie proprietor of Canterbury Hall for assistance in this work, and 
 in response to this appeal Mr. William E. Sinn ottered either %1h in 
 money or a benetit at his establishment, the ladies clioosing the latter, 
 to be given January 8, 1864. Jay Cooke & Company, bankers in 
 Washington, donated $1,000 toward the objects of the fair. January 
 18, a committee, on behalf of the association, requested Mr. Leonard 
 Grover, proprietor of the New National Theater, to give a benetit, 
 with which request Mr. Grover complied, fixing upon January 2.3 as 
 the date for the benefit, which netted to the association $437.15. On 
 the 22d of the same month, a benetit performance was given at the 
 Variety Theater, on Pennsylvania Avenue and Ninth Street, of wliich 
 Messrs. Ilamblin & Company were the proprietors. The fair opened in 
 the Patent Office building February 22, 1864, upward of one thousand 
 tickets being disposed of at the door that evening, a large number 
 having been sold throughout the District during the preceding three 
 weeks. Contributions to the fair came from many of the loyal States, 
 as well as from the District of Columbia. This fair yielded a net sum 
 of $12,721.35, and from individual subscriptions and from other sources 
 there was received the sum of $2,588.69, making $15,310.04. To this 
 sum there was added the $2,027.25 mentioned above as being left over 
 from other subscriptions, nuxking a fund of $17,337.29, available for 
 the relief of the families of soldiers of the District. 
 
 There was another fund, of which John II. Semmes was the 
 treasurer, named the Volunteer Fund. By December 31, 1863, this 
 fund amounted to $3,597.50, and Mr. Semmes had paid out for bounties 
 the sum of $4,800; for premiums, $480; for recruiting expenses, 
 $130.72; in all, $5,410.72, and was creditor to tlie fund to the amount 
 of $1,813.22. By February 17, 1864, Mr. Semmes reported that there 
 had been obtained 404 recruits, exclusive of the 300 obtained by Cap- 
 tain Sheetz. All that was needed, he said, to enable the District to 
 avoid the draft, was money. On March 7, Mr. Semmes reported that 
 the anuiunt of money received into tiiis fund was $53,938; the 
 
MILITARY HISTORY. 27 S 
 
 umount expended — $47,000 for bounties; for [jremiunis, $5,865; for 
 printing, $516; total amount expended, $53,381. The whole number 
 of recruits uji to March 5 was 598, costing on the average $89.16 
 etich. By the 16th of that month 99 more reci-uits had been obtained, 
 and at the same time about 150 soldiers of the First District llegiment 
 had reenlisted, and about 600 of the Second District Regiment. Tiie 
 quota of the District under the call that was then being complied 
 with was 820, and by May 1, 1864, Mr. Semmes reported that 893 
 had been obtained, 73 more tlian enough. 
 
 In July, 1864, wlien General Grant was besieging Petersburg, a 
 diversion was made by General Lee, in the hope of directing Gratit's 
 attention to the safety of the city of Washington, by sending General 
 Early on a raid into Maryland with about twenty thousand men, and 
 menacing Washington from the north. On July 7, there was a battle 
 at Frederick, Maryland, anil on the 10th there was a great battle at 
 the Monocacy, lasting from nine o'clock in the morning until 5:00 
 p. M. In the evening of this same day, a body of i-ebels made a dash 
 through Rockville, and on Monday morning there was a skirmish 
 between them and Colonel Lowell's cavalry force in the vicinity of 
 Rabbitt's Creek Post Office, between Rock Creek and Tennallytown. 
 About noon on Monday, the rebels were in the vicinit}- of the Claggett 
 farm, on the Seventh Street turnpike, and the residence of Francis 
 P. Blair. In consequence of what appeared to be, on the part of 
 the rebels, a determination to make an attack upon Washington, the 
 District militia was called out on the 11th for sixty days by Major- 
 General George C. Thomas, the details of their organization being- 
 placed in the hands of Brigadier-General Peter F. Bacon. On the 
 12th, the rebels destroyed communication by both rail and telegraph 
 between Washington and Baltimore. In the vicinity of Fort Stevens, 
 formerly Fort Massachusetts, out on Seventh Street, there was a 
 skirmish between the rebel and Union forces, and some houses which 
 the former had used for protection in firing upon the fort were 
 destroyed by the latter. The houses thus burnt belonged to Richard 
 Butts, W. Bell, J. H. McChesney, Abner Shoemaker, and W. M. Mor- 
 rison. On Tuesday, the 12th, there was some skirmishing between 
 Fort Stevens and Fort De Russy, in the Widow Carberry's woods, but 
 on the 13th the Michigan infantry threw a few shells into the woods, 
 when the rebels worked around to the right, making an attempt to 
 get in between Fort Stevens and Fort Slocum. The Confederate forces 
 in front were those of General Rhoad, General Ramser, and General 
 Gordon, all under the command of General John C. Breckinridge. 
 
274 HISTORY OF ]] .iSH/.VGTO.y. 
 
 Laurel Bridge wiis destroyed by the rebels. On account of the near 
 approacli to Wasliington of tlie rebel forces, and its apparent danger, 
 the Union Leagues of the city tendered their services to General 
 Ilalleok foi- its defense, and these were accepted, Major- General 
 Doubleday being assigned to the command. The National Rifles also 
 offered their services. On Tuesday evening. General McCook deter- 
 mined to dislodge the rebel sharpshooters at the Carberry place, and 
 especially from the house of Mr. La}', on Rock Creek, to the loft of 
 Fort Stevens. A shell was sent out from the fort which exploded in 
 the house, tlirowing the brick and woodwork in all directions, and 
 setting tire to the house, causing the rebels to retreat. A charge was 
 then made by the Sixth Corps, and the rebels retired a mile or 
 more, the Union line advancing beyond the house of Francis P. Blair. 
 The loss of the Union forces in this charge was about three hundred 
 in killed and wounded, and the rebels left one hundred wounded at 
 the house of Mr. Blair. 
 
 While the volunteers and militia of the District in considerable 
 numbers were mustered into the service on Wednesday, the 13th, yet 
 tliere were not enough of them to warrant the Government in accept- 
 ing their services; but the clerks in the various departments appeared 
 in such strength that they were taken into the service, and the 
 National Rifles were mustered in as an independent company. The 
 Union Leagues were represented by several well-filled companies, and 
 were mustered in. The Navy Yard emploj-ees formed a regiment 
 about eight hundred strong. But notwithstanding the readiness of 
 these forces to defend the city, they wore all mustered out on Wednes- 
 day evening, after serving one day, the enemy having retired from 
 the vicinity of the city. On their way out, however, they burned the 
 country seat of Postmaster-General Blair and rifled that of his father, 
 Francis P. Blair. After the danger had passed and there was time to 
 reflect upon the conduct of the citizens and of the volunteers and 
 militia of the District, Major-General George C. Thomas pulilished a 
 card, thanking Colonel W. W. Daniels, of Louisiana, and James 
 C. Welling, S. A. Peugh, J. IL Leavenworth, C. S. Noyes, Tyler 
 Southall, Charles IL Amies, Captain John B. Tanner, Charles W. 
 Morris, IL A. Goldsborougli, Colonel Lemuel Towers, Lieutenant 
 S. S. Ba.'h, Charles W. Boteler, Jr., B. B. French, Jr., Selden lletzel, 
 Alpheus N. Brown, and several officers of the Seventy-first New 
 York Volunteers. 
 
 Under the call of the President, of July L^, LS(J4, for 500,000 
 men, the ipiota of the District of Columbia was •J,!I10. For the 
 
MriJT.lRY ///STORY. 
 
 i75 
 
 iJiirposc of raising the quota Mayor Wallacli aiipoiiited as recruiting 
 agents, Artliur Slieplienl tor Eastern Virginia, George T. Finnegan 
 for J^Torth Carolina, William Finley for Mississippi, C. E. Green for 
 Georgia and Alabama, and George H. Mitchell for South Carolina 
 and Florida. Applicants for substitutes were required to leave their 
 names and $300 at the Bank of Washington. The provost-marshal 
 at the time was Captain J. C. Putnam. From advance enlistments 
 the quota of 2,910 was reduced to 2,225, and this latter number was 
 divided among the several districts as follows: 
 
 
 S 
 5 
 
 .1 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 :i,8yo 
 2,890 
 I'.IOO 
 4,0(i0 
 l.SSO 
 1,420 
 2,700 
 1,03! 
 27.1 
 1,200 
 l,.50O 
 
 2,950 
 
 1,920 
 
 l,7(iO 
 
 :!,180 
 
 1,290 
 
 1,100 
 
 1,800 
 
 1,008 
 
 KiO 
 
 020 
 
 990 
 
 940 
 970 
 340 
 880 
 .590 
 200 
 900 
 .502 
 109 
 040 
 .510 
 
 415 
 
 
 939 
 
 Third Ward 
 
 ■'00 
 
 Fniirtli Ward 
 
 
 Fifth Ward 
 
 170 
 
 Sixth Ward 
 
 135 
 
 
 •'40 
 
 Georgetown, Eighth and Nintli Districts 
 
 142 
 
 Eleventh District 
 
 130 
 
 Twelftli District.. 
 
 109 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 23,000 
 
 10,904 
 
 6,702 
 
 9 2''5 
 
 
 
 At the time the draft commenced, to till this quota, the District 
 had received a credit of one thousand seven hundred and eightj'-four, 
 leaving a deficiency of one thousand one hundred and twenty-si.x to 
 be made good by the draft, whicii began on September 19. On the 
 26th of the month, the Councils of the city passed an act authorizing 
 the Mayor to anticipate the revenue of the corporation to an amount 
 not exceeding $50,000, to enable the corporation to pay bounties to 
 volunteers, and to purchase substitutes for those who had been or 
 might be drafted, the money to be paid out only to such bona fide 
 residents of Washington as were registered as voters on tiie 31st of 
 December, 1863. The draft wasjclosed in Washington September 30, 
 
276 H/SrORV OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 and ill Georgetown, October 1, 1864; but as many of the men drafted 
 did not report, the number required was not forthcoming. An ettbrt 
 was then made by many of the prominent citizens to liave the quota 
 reduced because of the alleged fact that a large number of persons 
 in the em[iloy of the General Government had been enrolled as citi- 
 zens of the District who were but temporarily resident therein, and 
 that by this means the enrollment of the District was greatly increased 
 beyond what it should be. Frovost-Marshal-General Fry, however, 
 declined to make the desired reduction. 
 
 Under the call of the President for 300,000 men, December 19, 
 1864, the quota of the District was 3,019, apportioned among tiie 
 several districts as follows: First Ward, 575; Second Ward, 348; 
 Third Ward, 111; Fourth Ward, 490; Fiftii Ward, 213; Sixth Ward, 
 224; Seventh Ward, 355; eighth district, 71; ninth district, 105; tenth 
 district, 24; eleventh district, 219; twelfth district, 284. While there 
 was a general conviction that this quota was excessive, strengthened 
 when taking into account the fact that under the former call for 
 500,000 the quota was only 2,910, yet there was manifested on tlie 
 part of the people a determination to see that the quota was filled, 
 while at the same time there was a determination to secure, if 
 possible, a correction of the list. Meetings were held in all the 
 districts for both purposes, and at length a reduction was secured in 
 the quota, so tiiat the number required was only 2,222. Lieutenant 
 Knox was, at that time, commissioner of the board of enrollment, but 
 on February 13 he was succeeded by the appointment of 11. A. Jones, 
 in order that there miglit be a permanent officer in this position. The 
 draft for the filling of the quota of the District under the call for 
 300,000 began February 21, 1865. But this draft was not completed, 
 as, before sufficient time had elapsed for this, it became so clearly 
 evident that the Rebellion could not last, that efforts were relaxed. 
 
 On Monday, April 3, 1865, the joyful news reached the Capital 
 that both Petersburg and Richmond had been evacuated by General 
 Lee, who was in full retreat. It would be impossible to adequately 
 describe the feelings of the people of this city wiien this news flashed 
 over the telegraphic wires. No such attempt will thoiefure be made. 
 All were fully conscious tliat the war which had devastated the 
 country for lour years was at last near its close. The religiously 
 inclined gave "Thanks to God, who giveth us the victory," and that 
 victory which had been long lR)ped for and impatienti}' waited for 
 was to enuincipate not onl}' those to whom the Proclamation of 
 Kniancipation applii'd, but also all the rest of the black race, and 
 
MriJTARY HISTORY. Til 
 
 many loyal and Union loving people of the Southern States, from a 
 military despotism such as the world had never seen, as well as from 
 the despotism of political errors as powerful and cruel in its influence 
 on the public mind as the military despotism had been on the persons 
 of the Southern people, many of whom, if not the majority, never 
 wanted war. lu the streets of Washington all men, young and old, 
 greeted each other most ardently; ladies flung to the winds their 
 miniature flags, and the judges of the courts deserted tlie hall of 
 justice, satisfied that for a time at least the blind goddess would not 
 note their absence. The public schools dismissed their scholars, busi- 
 ness was deserted on all hands, and all repaired to the vicinity of the 
 public buildings to acquire a fuller knowledge of the incidents of 
 the three days' terrible tighting which immediately preceded the fall 
 of the two cities, the fate of which had so long been linked together. 
 A scene of wild excitement was presented at the Patent Oflice when 
 the news of the fall of Petersburg was received, and a few hours 
 later, when the news of the fall of Richmond came, it was evident 
 everywhere that a great weight of anxiety had been lifted from the 
 public mind. Patriotic exercises were immediately extemporized in 
 the open air in front of the Patent Oflice building. A gentleman 
 named Thompson began to sing "Rally Round the Flag," the crowd 
 joining in the chorus. Mr. Holloway, Commissioner of Patents, then 
 addressed the assemblage, and was followed b}' Hon. J. P. Usher, who 
 alluded to the evacuation, when some one in the crowd suggested that 
 the Interior Department be evacuated, and at once the entire crowd 
 took up its line of march for the Department of State, where they 
 were felicitously addressed by the Secretary' of State, who still pre- 
 dicted, as lie had continued to do from the beginning, that the war 
 would end in ninety days. The Hon. Preston King, Hon. J. W. Nye, 
 and others spoke after the Secretary, and at length came the turn 
 of the Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, whose remarks were characterized 
 by a deep feeling of patriotism and religion. At the close of his 
 remarks he presented to the assemblage the boy Willie Kettles, four- 
 teen years old, an operator in the military telegraph oflice, who 
 had received the dispatch announcing the fall of Richmond at 8:15 
 A. M. that morning, April 3. From the residence of Francis P. Plair, 
 Vice-President Andrew Johnson made an eloquent speech, and from 
 the balconies of all the hotels poured forth a chorus of patriotic 
 music aud orator}-. Hon. Richard Yates spoke from the steps of the 
 National Hotel and Major-General Butler from in front of Willard's. 
 General Butler said that the God of Justice works by meaus, aud 
 
278 HISTORY OF WASHING TON. 
 
 perhaps tliere could be found in liistory no more striking uiul sugges- 
 tive instance of retribution tlian that of the corps of- colored troops 
 under General Weitzel being the first to enter Richmond after its 
 fall, and the jilauting of the flag of freedom by them over the rebel 
 capital. Four regiments of the Veteran Reserve Corps and two 
 scjuadrous of cavalry, accompanied by a fine band of music, paraded 
 the principal streets of the city. The northern portico of the War 
 Department building was tastefully decorated with flags, and the 
 Veteran Regiment hand played patriotic airs at tlie Circle. A salute 
 of eight hundred guns was fired near Franklin Square — five hundred 
 for Richmond and three hundred for I'etersburg, and tlie city in all 
 directions was decorated with the Union banner. None rejoiced more 
 sincerely than the sick and wounded soldiers in the hospitals. Work 
 was generally suspended in the departments, the clerks rushing into 
 the streets to unite with their fellow-citizens in the general rejoicing. 
 At the Navy Yard and the Arsenal the suspension of work was also 
 universal, and the vessels all around the city were gaily decked with 
 bunting. The colored population had perhaps a double reason for the 
 demonstration of their joy, for not only had jieace dawned upon 
 the laud, but the day of their deliverance had also dawned at the 
 same time. 
 
 But the illumination of the city and tlie display of fireworks on 
 the evening of April 4 sur[iassed in magnificence anything that had 
 ever been seen in the Capital of the Nation. The Cai)itol building 
 shone resplendent, the whole massive dome being most brilliantly 
 illuminated with innumerable lights, possessing a most beautiful and 
 imposing appearance. The National Conservatory exhibited one of 
 the most beautiful features of the disj)lay. All the public buildings, 
 the National Bank, the residences of the heads of deiiartmcnts, the 
 Executive Mansion, the oflices of all the subordinate oflicers of the 
 Government, and most of the business houses and private residences 
 in all parts of the city were illuminated, in expression of the general 
 rejoicing. In Georgetown the illumination was equally universal: the 
 customhouse, the post office, the Bank of Commerce, the police station, 
 the Semiiuiry Hospital, the Vigilant Engine House, the Union Hotel, the 
 Ellis Hotel, antl business houses and private residences generally ex- 
 hibited the joyful emotions of the people at the prospective close ol' 
 the war. 
 
 On Fi'ida}', .\pril 7, it was runu)red that General Lee and his 
 entire army had surrendered. A salute of one hundred guns was 
 fired, and a general jubilee prevailed. On the lOth of the month. 
 
yflfJTARY HISTORY. 279 
 
 however, official news of tlie surrender of Lee was received, and a 
 salute of two hundred guns was ordered to be fired at the headquar- 
 ters of every department, and at every post and arsenal of the United 
 States, in commemoration of the surrender. On this day the rejoicing 
 and excitement in Washington were renewed with all the intensity of 
 the former day. The President was visited, hut declined to make 
 more than a few remarks, in the course of which he said that the 
 tune of "Dixie" was one of the best he liad ever heard, and that he 
 had insisted, the day before, that with the fall of Richmond the tune 
 of "Dixie" likewise fell into our hands: that he had submitted the 
 question to the Attorney-General, who had decided that the tune of 
 "Dixie" was a lawful prize. At his request tlie tune of "Dixie" was 
 then played by the l)and, as was also that of "Yankee Doodle," both 
 of which tunes, therefore, should hencefortii be considered national 
 airs. Other demonstrations were made, and continued through the day 
 and evening. But the formal celebration occurred on the evening of 
 the 11th, on wliich occasion the President made a prepared speech, 
 dealing with the question of reconstruction as it was then exhibited 
 in the State of Louisiana. This address is invaluable to any and all 
 who would be pleased to speculate upon what would have been, or 
 at least what might have been, the President's plan of reconstructing 
 the rebellious States, had he Ijeen permitted to live and attempt to 
 reinstate those States in their proper relations to the Government of 
 the United States. Li accordance with resolutions adopted by both the 
 city Councils, the city was brilliantly illuminated on the evening of 
 April 13, the Capitol being illuminated even more fully and brilliantK' 
 than on the evening of the 4th. Probably no building in the world 
 ever presented so gorgeous and beautiful a spectacle as did the Caj)itol 
 on the evening of April 13. The entire city on the same occasion was 
 "literally ablaze," which terms cover the ground better, perhaps, than 
 anj- detailed description could. 
 
 But in the midst of this rejoicing came the terrible announcement 
 of the brutal, cowardly, and extremely foolish assassination of Presi- 
 dent Lincoln, as he sat in a box of Ford's Theater in the evening 
 of April 14. During the third act of the play, when there was a 
 temporary pause, a sharji report of a pistol shot was heard, ijut 
 which at first was su(iposed to be a part of the pla\'. Immediately 
 afterward, however, the assassin jumped upon the stage with a long 
 dagger in his hand, and crying, "S/'c semper tyrannis!" made his escape. 
 The details of the assassination have so often been published that no 
 more is done in this work than merely to refer to it, in passing, as to 
 
280 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 its effect upon tlie public mind at the time. The priucipiil emotion in 
 connection with it was that a great and good man had fallen, one 
 who had the power and the disposition to a greater degree than any 
 other man living, to heal the wounds of the war, to bring order out 
 of chaos, and to reestablish the Union in the affections of the entire 
 people, North and South. Considerations like these illustrate better, 
 perhaps, than anything else, the enormity of the crime by which the 
 President's life was brought to an untimely end. 
 
 The depression of spirits causetl by this national cahuiiity was, at 
 least, equal to the elevation caused a few days before by the great 
 victories of the armies in the field. The day after the death of the 
 President was Sunday, and upon that day in all the churches tlie crime 
 of the 14th gave tone to all the sermons, in which appropriate allu- 
 sions were made to the distinguished and honored dead, and tliese 
 allusions found ready ajipreciation, and were heartily responded to by 
 the hearts of the [)eople in the various congregations. The services 
 in the churches were made none the less impressive by the fact that 
 they were held on Easter Sunday. 
 
 The city Councils adopted a resolution appropriating $20,000 as 
 a reward for the arrest of the assassin; the various corporation offices 
 were closed until after the funeral, as well as the public schools. Ward 
 II. Lamon, United States Marshal of the District of Columbia, had 
 charge of the funeral arrangements and ceremonies, which were held 
 on Wednesday, April 19, and were the most imposing jiageant that 
 had ever been witnessed in the Capital of the Nation. The remains 
 of the President lay in state in the east room of the Executive 
 Mansion, eight hours being allowed for visitors to pass and view the 
 familiar features, but even then thousands were disappointed. The 
 funeral address was delivered by Rev. Dr. Gurley, and a song was 
 sung, composed for the occasion by Rev. T. N. Haskell, of Boston, 
 Massachusetts. The citizens of every State, resident at the Capital, 
 held meetings at which suitable resolutions were adojited. 
 
 On May 5, a noOice was published to the citizens of the District 
 of Columbia, signed by a large number of persons, one hundred and 
 three of whose names were published with the notice, calling a mass 
 meeting at the City Hall for the 9th of the month, for the purjx)se of 
 consultation as to tin; best means of preventing such of those who, 
 having been at the outbreak of the Rebellion citizens of the District, 
 had entered the military service of the Confederate States, from 
 returning to their former homes and enjoying the privileges enjoyed 
 by loyal citizens. At this meeting, lield in accordance witli the call, 
 
JSrilJTARY HISTORY. 281 
 
 there were but few present, not more tli:ui enough to cover the central 
 portico and steps of the City Hall. lion. Johu Wilson was elected 
 president of the meeting, and tliere were chosen twenty-three vice-pres- 
 idents and six clerks. After a brief address by President Wilson, a 
 committee on resolutions was appointed, consisting of W. A. Cook, 
 J. W. Deeble, Z. D. Gilman, R. B. Clark, Lewis Clephane, Asbury 
 Lloyd, D. S. M. McKim, VV^. II. Terry, J. R. Elvans, and Z. Richards. 
 Mr. Joseph F. Brown, one of the vice-presidents, made an address, in 
 which he said that those who had sought to make their homes among 
 rebels and traitors should be made to understand, at least, that tlieir 
 room was better than their company. The committee on resolutions 
 then made a report of a series of resolutions, stating that those who 
 organized the Rebellion had sought to accomplish their designs not 
 only by the ordinary means of warfare, but also by the commission of 
 every crime that distinguished the ferocity and degradation of bar- 
 barism, and that, approving of its purpose, a considerable number of 
 the citizens of the District of Columbia, at its inception and during 
 its progress, voluntarily abandoned their homes and entered the mili- 
 tary service of the Confederacy, and tiuit some of these same persons 
 had already returned to the District, and others proposed to return, 
 and therefore it was resolved that it was the duty of citizens to 
 protect themselves from physical and moral evil; that the citizens of 
 the District earnestly resisted the settlement here of those who dur- 
 ing the past four years had been directly connected with tiie Rebellion, 
 and especially .those who had formerly been residents of the District 
 should not be allowed to return; that they approved of the opinion 
 of the Attorney-General that the rebel officers included under the 
 surrender to General Grant liad no homes within the loyal States, 
 and had no riglit to come to homes which were theirs before going 
 into the Rebellion; that the same rule should apply to those who 
 had entered the civil service of the Rebellion, and recalled to mind 
 the fact that the President of the United States had not been mur- 
 dered by the open and avowed enemies of the Government, but by secret 
 and resident miscreants. The president of the meeting was requested 
 to appoint a committee, composed of two members from each ward in 
 Washington and Georgetown, to present tlie proceedings of the meet- 
 ing to the proper authorities, and the resolutions quoted the w'ords 
 of President Johnson, that "mercy without justice was a crime." 
 AV. II. Terry, of Georgetown, then made a speech very strongly 
 against permitting rebels and traitors to return to the District of 
 Columbia. lie said: "After loafing around this District last summer, 
 
282 /f/STOk')- ();f u:is///.y(7r(hV. 
 
 rc;i(ly to coiiR' in ami point out tliu iionies of ioyal men and liavc 
 tiu'ir liwuHinn's Iiui'irhI ami tin.' o\\nei> hung — that yon should ho 
 lierniitted to come lioi'e nt)w and he received with honoi\ we say it 
 shall not he." Tiie city Couneils e.\|n'essed siniihir sentiments in the 
 form ut' resohitions adi)pted in regular meeting, and eailed ujion 
 President Johnson to issue an order which would carry into effect the 
 opinion of Attorney-General Speed. 
 
 May 23 and 24 were daj'S ever to be remembered in the history 
 of Washington. On those dajs occurred the grand review of the 
 Union armies, the Army of the Potomac on the 2od, the armies of 
 Georgia and Tennessee on the 24th. Thoiisands of interested and 
 glad spectators crowded the streets, sidewalks, and roofs of bouses 
 on both days to witness the grandest spectacle that every occurred in 
 the United States. The diffei-ont corps, brigades, and other organiza- 
 tions of the Army of the Potomac crossed the Potomac River during 
 the early morning of the 23d, and arranged themselves on the various 
 streets and avenues, ready to fall into line at the appointed time. 
 These streets iind avenues had been thoroughly sprinkled during the 
 preceding night by the fire department, and barrels of water were 
 placed along the sides thereof for the soldiers to drink as they passed 
 along in the procession. The cavalry formed north of the Capitol, the 
 line extending far beyontl the city limits. The children of the [)ublic 
 schools were tastefully arrayed, and arranged on the high ground 
 north of the Capitol. Thousands of banners bore thousands of 
 mottoes, expressive of joy and welcome to the victorious veterans 
 of the army, one of which in particular may be repeated here: "Tiie 
 Only Debt We Can Never Pay is the Debt We Owe to the Victorious 
 Union Soldiers." At the heail of the victorious Army of the Potomac 
 rode Major-Gencral George G. Meade, accompanied by his staff. Then 
 came the cavalry, immediately after the headquarters escort, in com- 
 mand of Major-General Merritt. The Third Cavalrj' Division was in 
 command of Major-General George A. Custer, and the entire cavaliy 
 Ibrce followed in brigades and divisions. Then came the Ninth Army 
 Corps, in command of Major-General John G. Parke; the Fifth Corps, 
 in command of Major-General Charles (ilriflin; and the Second C'orps, 
 in command of Major-General A. A. Humphreys. The procession 
 began to ino\'e at !l:(M) a. .m.. and the passage of troops conlinued 
 until three o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 On the 24th, the grand Army of Georgia and that of Tennessee 
 were reviewed, the crowd ujion tiie sidewalks, the streets, and the 
 housetops being greater even than the day before. General Siieiinan 
 
Ml I. IT. Ik y IIISTOR Y. 283 
 
 and liis command were received witli iinljounded enthusiastn all along 
 the route. The head of the column formed on A Street Northwest, 
 and at the firing of the signal gun at nine o'clock the column began 
 to move. General O. 0. Howard rode with Sherman, and they were 
 followed by Major-Genei-al W. B. Ilazen at tlie heail of the Army 
 of the Tennessee, of which Major-General John A. Logan was in 
 command. The Seventh Army Corps came next, commanded by 
 Major-General Francis P. Blair, and then, leading the Army of 
 Georgia, came Major-General II. W. Slocnm. This army was com- 
 posed of the Twentieth and Fourteenth corps, the former commanded 
 by Major-General J. A. Mower, the latter by Major-General Jeft". C. 
 Davis. The review of the 24th was in every way as grand a spectacle 
 and as great a success as was that of the da}' before. From this time 
 the thousands of veterans dispersed to tlicir homes to enter again the 
 peaceful pursuits from which duty had called them foui- years before, 
 and the War of the Rebellion was at an end. 
 
 The principal results accruing to the District of Columbia from 
 the final and complete suppression of the Rebellion were, first, the 
 abolition of slavery therein; and second, the improvement of the cities 
 of Washington and Georgetown. The latter subject has already been 
 discussed; while the former is briefly presentcl here, as it is more 
 immediately connecte<l with the war than either of the others. The 
 act for the emancipation of the slaves in the District of Columbia was 
 passed by Congress April 16, 1862, and provided that all persons loyal 
 to the United States having claims to the service or labor of persons 
 discharged therefrom b^' the act itself, might within ninety days from 
 its passage, but not afterward, present to the commissioners to be 
 appointed petitions for compensation not to exceed $300 for each 
 slave; but no person who had borne arms against the Government 
 should receive any pay for any slave. One million dollars was the 
 maximum amount ajipropriated under the act for the juirpose of 
 paying for the slaves. 
 
 The commissioners appointed were Daniel R. Goodloe, Horatio 
 King, and John M. Broadhead. These commissioners met at the City 
 Hall, April 28, 1862, and chose William R. Woodward secretary, and 
 by January 15, 1863, had reportetl favorably upon 999 entire peti- 
 tions, and upon 21 petitions in part. The}' had rejected 36 petitions 
 entirely. The whole number of slaves for whom compensation had 
 been allowed was 2,989, and the whole numljer for whom compensa- 
 tion had been withheld was 111, making a total of 3,100 included in 
 1,056 petitions. As regards loyalty there were but few instances 
 
284 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 in wliich the evidence was of siicli a nature us to warrant the com- 
 missioners in withholding compensation. Afterward, because of the 
 impossibility of submitting proof of their lo^'alty by some of the resi- 
 dents of the District in time to chiim compensation under this law, 
 the time was extended, and 28 more slaves were paid for, making the 
 total number paid for 3,017. 
 
 After the close of the war and the consequent disbandment of 
 the armies, there were still kept up, or organized, in the District 
 of Columbia military organizations of various kinds; but to trace 
 minutely tlie history of each would only add to the length and 
 tediousness of this chapter. However, the present military establish- 
 ment it is ]iroper to give. A law was passed by Congress March 
 1, 1889, providing for the enrollment of the militia of the District 
 of Columbia, every able-bodied male citizen resident in the District, 
 between the ages of eighteen and forty-tive, being required to be 
 enrolled. Under the law the President of the United States is 
 commander-in-chief of the militia, and was required to appoint a 
 commander of this militia, which consists of the National Guard of 
 the District of Colundjia, in part. This National Guard is composed 
 of a brigade of two regiments, each having three four-company bat- 
 talions, and one independent battalion of infantry, one battery of light 
 artillery, one troop of cavalry, one engineer corps, and one ambulance 
 corjjs, armed, uniformed, and equipped in conformity with the regu- 
 lations of the United States army. Brigadier-General Albert Ordway 
 was appointed commander of this militia, and under his assiduous and 
 skillful training has attained a high state of discipline. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 TRANSPOR TA TION. 
 
 The First Exploration of the P<itoiiiac River — Tlie PotoQiac Company — The Chesa- 
 peake and Ohio Canal Company — The Baltimore and Ohio Kailroad Company 
 — The Metropolitan Kailroail Company— The Baltimore and Potomac Railroad 
 Company— The Washington and Alexandria Railroad Company — The Washing- 
 ton and Potomac Riiilroad Company — The Wasliington and Chesapeake Railroad 
 Company — The First Bridge across Rock Creek— The Chain Bridge — The Long 
 Bridge — The Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company — The Metropolitan 
 Railroad Company — The Columbia Railroad Company — The Anacostia and Poto- 
 mac Railroad Company — The Capitol, North O Street, and South Washington 
 Railroad Company — The Rock Creek Railroad Company — The Eckington and 
 Soldiers' Home Railroad Company — The Georgetown and Tennallytown Railroad 
 Company — The Norfolk and Washington Steamboat Company — The Mount Ver- 
 non and Marshall Hall Steamboat Company — Other Steamboat Companies. 
 
 IN this chapter oti " Transportation," an attempt will be made to 
 describe, somewhat in detail, the means and methods of transpor- 
 tation, and the developments in these means and methods which have 
 been employed and made from time to time, since the first historic 
 exploration of the Potomac River, with the view of improving its 
 navigability, by the great founder of the city of Washington, the 
 District of Columbia, and, indeed, of the Nation itself. This explora- 
 tion was of the river above tide water, as but little, if anything, was 
 necessary to be done below the location of the District of Columbia, 
 which, indeed, had not been decided upon at the time; but it is well 
 known that the future President of the United States had, in his own 
 mind, selected the present location even long before the exploration 
 under consideration was made. It is also stated by numerous writers, 
 doubtless on sufficient authority, that the present situation of the 
 Capital of the United States was chosen, in part, because it is on a 
 tidal river, the tide water of which penetrates farther into the heart 
 of the country than any other, so that when communication should 
 be necessary between the Atlantic seaboard and the interior of the 
 country, it would, from this point, be the most easy and inexpensive. 
 Of course, this means of communication was to be by the improved 
 navigation of the Potomac River, or by means of a lateral canal, as 
 railroads had not then been considered. Indeed, for many years after 
 the practicability of this latter means of travel had been demonstrated, 
 
286 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 many of the people could not be convinced that aii^'thing was superior 
 to a canal. 
 
 But at the risk of repeating what has been stated so many times, 
 we must introduce at the outset in this chapter a brief account of 
 the famous exploration referred to above. It took place in 1783, and 
 in a canoe, or pirogue, hollowed out of a large poplar tree, and was 
 undertaken for the purpose of determining whether the Potomac 
 River could be navigated above tide water at Georgetown. General 
 Washington was the principal character engaged in this work, for 
 which he was eminently qualified by his early education and practice 
 as a surveyor. There were several other gentlemen in the exploration 
 party with him in the pirogue, among whom was Governor Johnson, 
 of Maryland, who had been a gallant soldier in the Revolutionary 
 War. The humble bark, when readj' for the water, was hauled to 
 the banks of the Monocacy on a wagon, launched into the stream, 
 and received its distinguished burden. It immediately started on its 
 interesting and important reconnoisance. As night came on, the party 
 would land and seek accommodations of the planters or farmers along 
 the banks of the river, who were then, as now, far-famed for their 
 genial hospitality. The work of the exploration was accomplished, 
 and was followed, as a result, by the organization of a company for 
 the improvement of the river. This company expended, in the attempt 
 to render the river navigable, nearl}' a million of dollars, in a series of 
 years, and at length gave way to a more extensive company working 
 on a different and more feasible plan. 
 
 The company first referred to was called the Potomac Company. 
 This company was incorporated by the legislatures of Maryland and 
 Virginia in 1784. Its affairs were managed by a president and four 
 directors, who were elected at a general meeting of the stockholders 
 on the first Monday in August each year. The purpose for wliicli 
 the company was incorpoiated was to extend the navigation of the 
 Potomac River from tide water to the highest practicable point on 
 the North Branch. While a great deal of money was expended, yet 
 the object was but imperfectly accomplished on account of the natural 
 obstacles in the way, and for want of experience in such matters in 
 this country at that time. The fall in the river between Cumberland 
 and tide water was as much as 578 feet, and the distance was one 
 hundred and eighty-five miles; hence the difficulty of "rendering the 
 I'otomac River navigable. The company did, however, execute great 
 and beneficial works, as the locks at Little Falls, overcoming a fall 
 of 37 feet; the canal and locks at Great Falls, overcoming a fall of 
 
TRA.ySPORT.AT/O.y. 287 
 
 77 feet; the long cauiil at Harper's Ferry, and several other small 
 canals around falls in other parts of the river. 
 
 The locks at Great Falls wore opened in 1800, and from that time 
 to August, 182G, there were hrought down 1,308,911 barrels of Hour, 
 48,909 barrels of whisky, and other articles, the aggregate in value 
 being $10,534,000. 
 
 At the Great Falls the canal was 1 mile long, 2.5 feet wide, and G 
 feet deep; and the descent of 77 feet was made through 5 locks, each 
 100 feet long and 12 feet wide. The canal at Little Falls was of the 
 same capacity, and 2| miles in length, furnished with 3 locks. These 
 locks were constructed of wood, and were each 100 feet long and 18 
 feet in width. Of the live locks at Great Falls, two were cut in the 
 solid rock, and the other three were made of wood and stone. 
 
 Besides these canals with locks, there were constructed 3 canals 
 without locks. The first was below Harper's Ferry, at Shenandoah 
 Falls, where the Potomac breaks through the Blue Kidge, and was 
 1 mile in length. The second, along the Seneca Falls, was | of a mile 
 in length, and the third, at House's Falls, five miles above that at 
 Shenandoah Falls, was 50 yards in length. 
 
 On the Shenandoah River there were .') locks, each 100 feet long 
 and 12 feet wide; and t) canals, each 20 feet wide, 4^ feet deep, and 
 extending 2,400 yards. But navigation, in 1830, of the main or Xorth 
 Branch of the Potomac River, extended to Western Port, near its 
 source, a distance of 219 miles above tide water. 
 
 The South Branch of the Potomac was navigable for 100 miles above 
 its junction with the main branch, and the north fork about 60 miles. 
 
 The boats used for the navigation of the Potomac and the Shenan- 
 doah were 75 feet long, 5 feet wide, and drew 18 inches of water. They 
 carrietl 20 tons. 
 
 The original capital stock of the company consisted of 701 shares, 
 which, at $444^, amounted to $311,560. Of these shares, 220 belonged 
 to Maryland, and 70 to Virginia. 
 
 In 1821, the attairs of the Potomac Company became the subject 
 of investigation. Commissioners appointed by Maryland and Virginia 
 assembled at Georgetown Juno 2, 1822, and afterward reported that 
 the company had expended not onl}- the whole of their stock, but in 
 addition had incurred heavy debts, which their resources could never 
 enable them to pay; that not only the whole of their original stock, 
 but also all their tolls had been expended in an attempt to improve 
 the river; and that the failure to accomplish the objects of their 
 incorporation was attributable to lack of information on the subject 
 
288 HISTORY OF WASHING TO A'. 
 
 at tlie time tlicy were incorporated. Accordingly, a low water survey 
 of the condition and depth of water was made at the suggestion of 
 tlie commissioners, wiiich was taken minutel}' from day to day in 
 1822, as the river was descended; from which it was ascertained that 
 the Potomac, from its continence with the South Branch to Goose 
 Creek, below the mouth of the Monocacy, is one hundred and lifty- 
 scven miles long; that there was no section of ten miles at all 
 navigable in low water by loaded boats of any kind or description, 
 and that for more than eighty miles obstructions from shallows suf- 
 iicient to stop a skifl' were to be met with. A full text of this low 
 water survey is to be found in Jonathan Elliott's "Ten Miles Square." 
 
 But from the survey' it was evident that the floods and freshets gave 
 the only navigation then used; that these floods and freshets occurred 
 from September 1 to June 20, and much of tliis time there was ice 
 in the river; and there were times between the iloods and freshets 
 when navigation lasted not more than about ten da^'S for full loaded 
 boats late in the year, and about thirty-tive days in the spring. These 
 periods were, however, longer below the Great Falls and less above 
 them. Besides the shortness of the navigable seasons, there was con- 
 siderable danger from rocks and the windings in the torrent, which 
 it was hoped would be overcome by the construction and completion 
 of the contemplated Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. 
 
 The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company was incorporated by 
 the Legislature of Virginia in December, 1823. This action of the 
 State of Virginia was confirmed by the State of Maryland and also 
 by the Congress of the United States. On May 16, 1825, the Potomac 
 Company assented to the provisions of this legislation, surrendering 
 all their rights to the newly incorporated company, and convej'ing in 
 due form of law to the said company all the proi)erty, franchises, 
 rights, and privileges it possessed. The deed of surrender was signed 
 by John Mason, president of the company, Jonah Thompson, John 
 Laird, and C. Smith, in the presence of William Cranch. Robert 
 Barnard was secretary of the company at the time. 
 
 The following statement shows the condition of the finances of 
 the Potomac Company at the close of its career: 
 
 Niimlior. Amoimt. 
 
 Capital stock $:Ul,ni 11 
 
 Shares held by Virginia 120 oS.o.'i:! 3:} 
 
 Shares liekl by Maryland 220 97,777 77 
 
 Slunv.s held by individuals ;i60 100,000 00 
 
 $:!ii,in II 
 
l^RANSPOR TA TfOX. 289 
 
 The total amount of the expenditures of the coinpaiiy from the 
 commencement, in 1784, to August 1, 1822, inciucHug original improve- 
 ments, repairs, interest, and expenses of collecting toll, was $720,387.29. 
 
 The debts due by the company, August 1, 1822, including interest, 
 were as follows: 
 
 To subscribers tci the Mouocacy loan, IS03 $;?,87() 49 
 
 To subscribers to the Shenamldah loan, 1812 4,(108 77 
 
 To subscribers to the Antietam loan, 1812 17,02(1 ?,?, 
 
 To subscribers to the Cumberland loan, 181o 7,(142 12 
 
 To the State of Maryland, 1814 :!!l,!).30 (X) 
 
 To banks of the District of Columbia 101,192 88 
 
 To sundry individuals 1,500 00 
 
 Total $17.'i,7l)(i 59 
 
 During the period of twenty-three years, from August 1, 1799, to 
 August 1, 1822, the aggregate of tlie tonnage of articles and goods of 
 all kinds brought by this company was as follows: 
 
 Barrels of Hour shipped, l,135,7t31; whisky, 38,382; hogsheads 
 of tobacco, 426|; tons of iron, 5,470; estimated value of other arti- 
 cles, $21.5,151.75; value of goods retransported, $180,597.29; tonnao-e, 
 102,798. 
 
 Work on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was commenced imme- 
 diately after the incorporation of the company, but the surrender of 
 the Potomac Company to that company, referred to above, was not 
 tinally made until August 15, 1828. The work on the Chesapeake 
 and Ohio Canal for the first year was principally for the purpose 
 of ascertaining whether the undertaking was practicable. During the 
 following year the survey of the route was made, and the data secured 
 necessaiy to form a general plan of the work, and to make an esti- 
 mate of the probable expense of construction. The Chesapeake and 
 Ohio Canal was to extend from Georgetown to Pittsburgh, in the State 
 of Pennsylvania, a total distance of 341 miles, 1,450 yards; nearly 342 
 miles. It was divided into sections, as follows: Eastern section, from 
 Georgetown to Cumberland, 180 miles; middle section, from Cumber- 
 land to the mouth of Casselman's River, 70 miles, 1,010 yards- 
 western section, tVom the mouth of Casselman's River to Pittshnro-h 85 
 miles, 440 yards. 
 
 The descent in feet from Cumberland to Georgetown was 578 
 feet; in the middle section, 1,901 feet; and in the western section, 019 
 feet, making the entire ascent and descent 3,158 feet. The estimated 
 number of h)cks in the eastern section was 74; in middle section 240 
 and in the western, 78; total number 398. Aecordint;- to estimates 
 
290 H/STORY OF WASH/NGTON. 
 
 made by General Banianl, the cost of constructing the eastern section 
 would be $8,177,081.05; of the middle section, $10,028,122.86, and of 
 the western section, $4,170,223.78; making the cost of the entire canal 
 from Georgetown to Pittsburgh $22,375,427.69. An estimate of the 
 cost of the canal was made at the same time by Geddes & Roberts, 
 who made it $12,528,019, a difference of $9,847,408.69. The sequel 
 will show how wide of the mark both of these estimates were. 
 
 Congress passed three acts relative to this canal — first, the one 
 mentioned above, confirming the incorporation of the company, ap- 
 proved May 5, 1828; second, an act authorizing subscriptions to the 
 stock of the company, approved May 24, 1828; third, an act to 
 enlarge tlie powers of the several corporations of the District of 
 Columbia, etc., approved May 24, 1828. 
 
 Act No. 2 authorized the United States to subscribe for 10,000 
 shares of the stock of the compau}', and No. 3 authorized tlie corpo- 
 rations of Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria to subscribe for 
 stock in the company. Under the authority thus granted the United 
 States subscribed through commissioners for 10,000 shares of the stock; 
 the city of Washington for 10,000 shares; Georgetown for 2,500 
 shares, and Alexandria for 2,500 shares. Each share was $100. By 
 May, 1829, the entire number of shares taken was 30,089, or $3,608,- 
 900, and these, together with the Holland loan, placed the company in 
 possession of funds sufficient to complete the eastern section of the 
 canal. 
 
 The first officers of the company were as follows: lion. Charles 
 Fenton Mercer, president; Directors, Phineas Jaune}' of Alexandria, 
 Joseph Kent of Maryland, Peter Lenox and Di-. Frederick May of 
 Washington, Walter Smith of Georgetown, and Andrew Stuart 
 of Pennsylvania. The treasurer was Clement Smith, of Georgetown, 
 and the clerk, John P. Ingle, of Washington. Robert Barnard was 
 assistant clerk. The corps of engineers was composed of Benjamin 
 Wright, of New York, engineer-in-chief; Nathan S. Roberts and 
 John Martineau, of New York; Robert Leckie, of Scotland, inspector 
 of masonry, and Philibert l\odier, of France, draughtsman. 
 
 Having thus briefly glanced at the organization of the Chesapeake 
 and Ghio Canal Company, it may not be uninteresting or devoid of 
 value to briefly present the measures taken by the people themselves 
 of Maryland and Virginia wliicli led up to this organization. Among 
 the first of the meetings held by the people, looking toward the 
 acci)ni[ilishnient of this great object, was one held at Fredericksburg, 
 Maryland, Angiisl 12, 1823, at which the project of constructing this 
 
TRANSPORT. I TfO.y. 201 
 
 canal was discnssed. It was lieM to hear read a report of a conniiittee 
 previously appointed to correspond on the subject of a canal with 
 those who, it was supposed, were in I'avor of it, and who might be 
 able to carry it forward. Delegates were present from Baltimore, 
 Washington, Georgetown, Alexandria, Leesburg, and Rockville. The 
 meeting viewed with great gratification the etforts of the Legislature 
 of Maryland, and the noble-minded participation of the Legislature of 
 Virginia, to effect the contemplated water coninuinication by canal 
 from Cumberland down the Potomac to tide water, and it also felt 
 increased pleasure at the contemplated connection of the Potomac 
 with the Ohio, "thereby affording our fellow-citizens of the western 
 parts of Pennsylvania and Ohio, 'whom we cannot consider in any 
 other point of view than as members of our great political family,' the 
 same facilities and advantages which we shall ourselves enjoy." 
 
 A meeting was held in Frederick County, Virginia, October 6, 
 1823, to take into consideration the subject of a convention to be held at 
 the city of Washington, November 6, 1823, to deliberate upon the best 
 means of improving the navigation of the Potomac. A similar meeting 
 was also held in Prince William's County, Virginia, on the same day 
 for the same purjiose. Committees were appointed in each case, and 
 a preliminary meeting was held in Washington, October 18, for the 
 same purpose. Delegates were appointed also in Alexandria, in Prince 
 George's County, and in Washington Couut\', Maryland, and man}- 
 other places. The convention itself was a grand assemblage of citizens 
 from the District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and 
 Ohio. The National Intelligencer said of it: "A volunteer assemblage 
 of citizens so numerous, so respectable, had never been seen before in 
 an}' part of tlie Union," and it looked upon the connection of the 
 waters of the Ohio and the Potomac and the Atlantic Ocean as truly 
 a national object. Albert Gallatin was present from Pennsylvania; 
 Bushrod C. Washington from Virginia; Robert W. Bowie from 
 Maryland; and G. W. P. Custis from the District of Columbia. 
 
 The convention assembled in the hall of the Supreme Court. 
 Joseph Kent, from Maryland, was made chairman, and General Walter 
 Jones, of Washington, secretary'. General Mercer, from Virginia, 
 presented a series of resolutions reciting what had been done to 
 effect the object contemplated, and then made a vei'y learne<l speech, 
 manifesting an extensive and accurate knowledge of canals, both in 
 this countr}' and in Europe, which was of great service in directing 
 the deliberations of the convention. Up to this time the name used 
 in connection with the projected improvement was "The Union Canal," 
 
292 H/STORY OF U.iSH/iYGTON. 
 
 but at this meeting the iiuiue, "The Chesiipeuke mid Ohio Cuiiai,"" was 
 substituted. The eouveiitiou lasted three days, the Gtli, 7tii, and 8tli 
 of October, and the following preamble and resolutions wei'e adopted: 
 
 " Whereas, A connection of the Atlantic and Western waters by a 
 canal leading from the seat of the General Government to the river 
 Ohio, regarded as a local object, is one of the highest importance to 
 the States immediately interested tlierein, and considered in a national 
 point of view, is of inestimable consequence to the future union, secur- 
 ity, and happiness of the United States: 
 
 "■ Resolced, unanimously, That it is expedient to substitute for the 
 present defective navigation of the Potomac River above tide water, a 
 navigable canal l;y Cumberland to the mouth of Savage Creek, at 
 the eastern pass of the Allegheny Mountains, and to extend the 
 canal as soon thereafter as practicable to the highest constant steam- 
 boat navigation of the Monongahela and Ohio rivers. 
 
 "That the most eligible mode of attaining this object will l)e by 
 the incorporation of a joint stock company, empowered to cut the 
 said canal through the territory of the United States in the District 
 of Columbia, and in the States of Virginia, Maryland, and Tennsyl- 
 vania, and therefore that committees be appointed, eacii consisting 
 of five delegates, to prepare and present in behalf of this assembly, 
 and in cooperation with the central committee hereinafter provided 
 for, suitable memorials to the Congress of the United States and 
 the legislatures of the several States before named, requesting their 
 concurrence in the incorporation of such a company and their coflpei'- 
 ation, if necessary, in the subscription of funds for the com[)letion 
 of said canal," etc. 
 
 The other resolutions were very long, but covered the following 
 points: Accepting the act of the State of Virginia of February 22, 
 1823, as a basis for the incorporation of any new stock company, and 
 accepting it as a charter for the proposed compan}', with certain modi- 
 fications; changing the name to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal 
 Company; that tlie canal should be not less than 40 feet wide at the 
 toji, 28 feet wide at the bottom, and not less than 4 feet in depth; 
 permitting the States of Maryland and Virginia to construct lateral 
 canals, and using the watei's of the Potomac River. The convention 
 also prop(jse(l that in case of necessity there be a snbscri[ition to the 
 stock to the amount of $2,750,000, to be divided as follows: Maryland, 
 j\; Virginia, ,■', ; the United States, ^\; and the three cities of the 
 District of Columbia, {-, , to Ite divided among them as they might 
 determine. It was also [)roposed that a committee be appointed of 
 
7-R.LVSPl^A' Tri r/ON. 293 
 
 five delegates to prepare ii memorial to the State of Ohio, inviting her 
 cooperation in the work of completing the Chesapeake and Ohio 
 Canal, and its ultimate connection with Lake Erie, etc. 
 
 By August, 1824, the board of engineers, having finished their 
 first general reconnoissance, of the eastern and middle sections of this 
 great national design, and having no doubt of its practicability", made 
 out instructions for the different brigades of engineers ordered upon 
 the work. They then went to examine the Monongahela River to 
 Pittsburgh, and also that portion of the proposed canal which was 
 to unite the Ohio River with Lake Erie by the Beaver and Grand 
 rivers. 
 
 During the succeeding winter the legislatures of Maryland and Wv- 
 ginia incorporated the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, and on 
 May 16, 1825, the stockholders of the old Potomac Company assem- 
 bled, four hundred and sixty shares being represented, and came to a 
 unanimous determination to assent to the charter granted to the new 
 company in the terms of the act of Virginia. On the 17th of May, 
 the central committee of the Canal Convention met at Brown's Hotel 
 in Washington, those present being Charles Fenton Mercer, John 
 McLean, Frisby Tilghman, John Lee, A. B. Powell, John Mason, and 
 IL L. Opie. Commissioners were a})poiuted by the 1st of July, to 
 open subscription books to the stock of the CJhesapeake and Ohio 
 Canal Company, as follows: For the District of Columbia, Samuel 
 n. Smith, Anthony C. Cazenove, and Clement Smith; for Maryland, 
 Governor Sprigg, Colonel Frisby Tilghman, and Philip E. Thomas; for 
 Virginia, General John C. Hunter, Colonel William EUzey, and 
 Richard H. Henderson. 
 
 Their appointment completed the legal requirements to the estab- 
 lishment of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Com[iany. But the 
 consent of Pennsylvania had not yet been obtained for the extension 
 of the canal beyond the line of Maryland to Pittsburgh; in fact, that 
 consent had, in the winter of 1821-25, been refused, with the peculiar 
 wisdom that is so often found in legislatures. But on August 29, 1825, 
 a large meeting of citizens was held at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, which 
 passed resolutions forcibly approving of the canal project, and viewing 
 "with apprehension and alarm the extraordinary and unaccountable 
 vote of the last legislature." Subscriptions to the stock also remained 
 to be secured, but there was every reason, and even stimulus, to cause 
 these subscriptions to be made, both on the part of individuals and 
 the States, as well as the District of Columbia. The price of lands 
 beyond the Allegheny had already been augmented, as a result of the 
 
294 HfSTORV OF ir.^S///NGrOjV. 
 
 inovenient, as liad also tliu tliousaads of uninniroved lots in the L-it\- 
 of Washington. 
 
 The central eoniinittee of tlie Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Com- 
 pany met at Brown's Hotel, in Washington^ Angust 30, 1820, and 
 adopted an address to the members of the convention, and to the 
 inhabitants of the counties, and corporations of the West, and Penn- 
 sylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, who felt an interest in the object 
 to be accomplished, and giving such information as it could regarding 
 the progress of the work. They said it could scarcely be questioned 
 that the markets of Philadelphia and Baltimore might be brought, b}' 
 tile connection of the Potomac and the Suscpielianna above the Blue 
 Ridge and by the Patapsco below it, into fair competition with those 
 of the District of Columbia. 
 
 On July 8, 1827, a meeting of the citizens of tiie District of 
 Colanibia east of Rock Creek urged the commencement of active 
 ojierations on the canal, and the appointment by the Mayor of Wash- 
 ington, R. C. Weightniau, of nine citizens to act as a committee, 
 together with the Mayor and two citizens east of Rock Creek, to 
 take into consideration the future of the canal company. Hon. 
 Charles Fenton Mercer was present at the meeting, and was publicly 
 thanked for his services in behalf of the project. The committee 
 apiiointed by the Mayor was as follows: Daniel Carroll of Dud- 
 dington, John P. Van Ness, Thomas Law, Thomas Munroe, Walter 
 Jones, C. McLean, Joseph Gales, Jr., William A. Bradley, John Davis, 
 for Washington; and Samuel IL Smith and Joseph Pearson, for the 
 county. This committee rejiorted to a meeting held July 17, 1827. 
 In their report they said that it was greatl}' to the interest of this 
 city that the canal be completed as soon as practicable. It would 
 save to the city in fuel alone, by the substitution of coal for wood, 
 more than |100,000 per year, small as the city was at that time; and 
 there would be a diminution in the prices of grain, tlour, lumber, 
 butter, whisky, meat, marble, iron, and the various other commodities 
 that were brought in from a distance, which would be paid fiu- with 
 the tish and manufactures of the city, etc. The corporation vi' the 
 city of Washington was therefore advised to subscribe to the stock 
 of the compan}' $1,000,000, on the condition that Congress was to be 
 applied to to grant authority to do whatever was necessary to enable 
 the city legally to assist the canal, etc. This was the first decisive step 
 taken by the city, although the inhabitants had all along approved of 
 the project and wished it to go forward; but they iiad done nothing 
 but to invoke the aid of Congress, and of the States of Maryland 
 
TR.hVSPORT.AT/ON. 295 
 
 and Virginia. As sonic at the time expressed it, "tliey had l)een 
 upon their knees invoking Hercules, hut Hercules would not alone 
 jiut his shoulder to the wheel; the citizens must themselves put their 
 shoulder to the wheel, and then it might be, if they needed assistance, 
 that Hercules would condescend." 
 
 Subscription books were opened at the Branch Bank October 1, 
 
 1827. The amount of each share was $100 in current money, and $1 
 must be paid on each share subscribed for at the time of subscribing, 
 the rest to be paid upon the call of the president and directors of the 
 company, but not more tlian one-third was payable each year. On 
 the first day the books were opened there was subscribed in Wasliing- 
 ton, including tlie city itself, $1,066,300, and in Georgetown, including 
 the subscriptions of that city, $425,000; total in the two places, 
 $1,491,300. The work was to begin when $1,500,000 was subscribed; so 
 the first day's subscriptions rendered its beginning a certainty. 
 
 But, notwithstanding this auspicious beginning, by November 6 
 those interested in the project living in the District of Columbia became 
 considerably alarmed at the prospect, because of tiie proposed construc- 
 tion of the Baltimore and Oiiio Railroad from Baltimore to the Oliio 
 l\iver. Tills railroad project deprived the canal company of much of 
 the money it had expected from many of the citizens of Baltimore, 
 and from the towns and country through which the railroad was to 
 be constructed. It therefore devolved upon the District of Columbia 
 to take that step which would immediately be decisive of the fate of 
 the canal, which would not only embark in it a liberal contribution, 
 but which would be a most efficient means in securing the powerful 
 and decisive aid of Congress. A strong and earnest appeal was there- 
 fore made to every man to do all in his power in furthering the 
 canal. Committees were appointed for each of the wards of the cit}' 
 to procure further subscriptions as follows: 
 
 First Ward, and Charles Vinson; Second Ward, James 
 
 McLeary and James Larncd; Third Ward, Andrew Way and Andrew 
 Coyle; Fourth Ward, J. P. Ingle and James Young; Fifth Ward, 
 Griffith Coombe and E. S. Lewis; Sixth Ward, Adam Lindsay and 
 William Easley. 
 
 The Congress of the United States, in response to the petitions 
 of the citizens, passed the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal bill in May, 
 
 1828, by a large majority in both Houses, and the papers then burst 
 forth with congratulations somewhat as follows: 
 
 "We may congratulate ourselves on the passage of a bill which con- 
 templates, and which will, no doubt, secure, the execution of a work 
 
296 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 so l)uiiefic'uil to this District, to the States tlirougli wliicli it will pass, 
 and to the country at large. Georgetown and Alexandria, in whose 
 streets the grass now grows green, will become once more the scenes 
 of commerce and wealtli. Washington, which is now poverty-stricken 
 and linnilily de[iendent on tiic rcgnhir or casual oxjienditures of indi- 
 viduals attachetl to the Government, will be able to hold up her head 
 among the cities of the country, and to participate with them in some of 
 the benefits resulting from population, capital, and productive industry. 
 The intentions and anticipations of the Father of his country, as to 
 the cit}' which bears his name, may now be fulfilled and realized. 
 The city of Washington may be made worthy of its founder, and 
 wt)rthy of remaining forever the metropolis of the Union," etc. "The 
 author of this great enterprise is Charles Fenton Mercer, of Virginia. 
 He will be called the 'Clinton of the South,' a title more honoring 
 than the proudest which heraldry can boast." 
 
 In honor of the success of the in-eliminary steps taken in this 
 enterprise, the citizens of Georgetown gave a public dinner to lion. 
 C. F. Mercer, on the 26th of June, 1828. 
 
 A meeting of the stockholders of the canal company was held 
 June 20, 1828, at tlie City Hall, to receive the report of the board 
 of commissioners on the part of the United States, and the States of 
 Maryland and Virginia, and to organize tlie company by the election 
 of a president and six directors. On motion of General John C. 
 Hunter, Hon. Richard Rush, Secretary of the Treasury, was invited 
 to preside; but on account of the possibility of his having to attend to 
 official business before the meeting should close, he proposed the Mayor 
 of Washington, Joseph Gales, Jr., for chairman, and Mr. Gales was 
 selected accordingly. Clement Smith acted as secretary. The report of 
 the commissioners was read by Samuel H. Smith, and in this rejiort it 
 was shown that the subscriptions to the stock of the company then 
 amounted to $3,090,100 in money, and $190,149.77 in the stock ot 
 the old Potomac Company. The salaries of the officers of the com- 
 pany about to be organized were then settled, and the company 
 organized as stated in former pages. Xotice was then given that 
 subscriptions, which should be first ottered in wlnde shares up to 
 $6,000,000, would be received at the Bank of the United States in 
 Washington, and that these subscriptions should take precetlence over 
 others later received. 
 
 dune 28, 182K, it was resolved that the niiinicijial authoi'ities of 
 the three cities within the District, the president and directors 
 of the canal company, and guests specially invited, should proceed by 
 
TRAXSPOR TA T/ON. 297 
 
 water on 'Tiil}' 4, to tlie iiouit where the ground wus to l)e broken on 
 that (lay, for the beginning of the eaniil. This si>ot was just witliin 
 the limits of the Distriet, near the powder magazine and above the 
 Little Falls bridge. The ceremonies of the day were intended to 
 be, and were, very imposing in their natnre. At an early hour, 
 the invited guests assembled at Tilley's Hotel, the President of tiie 
 United States arriving at 7:30 a. m. There were also present tlie Sec- 
 retaries of the War, Nav^', and Treasury departments of the Govern- 
 ment; the Postmaster-General, Senators, and Representatives, and many 
 of the ministers of foreign countries. At eight o'clock, the procession 
 formed and moved to High Street wharf, whence the steamer Surprise, 
 two other steamers, and a line of barges moved up the Potomac to a 
 spot just above the lower termination of the canal. On leaving the 
 "River of Swans," the procession marched a few hundred yards to 
 tlie canal boats prepared to receive them, at the upper bridge across the 
 canal, from the banks of which "there shot up along its entire course 
 a large variety of the most beautiful native trees, whose branches, 
 interwoven above, would have excluded the rays of the most piercing 
 sun. . . . j^oiseless, but in crowds, the people moved forward on the 
 bank of the canal, keeping even pace with the long line of boats, 
 whilst airs, now animated, now plaintive, from the Marine Band, placed 
 in the forward boat, lightened the toil of the work." 
 
 Upon reaching the ground selected for the beginning of opera- 
 tions, one or two hundred yards east of the Washington Canal, the 
 procession formed a hollow square, in the center of which was the spot 
 marked by Judge Wright, the engineer of the company, for the 
 commencement of the work. At that precise moment, the sun burst 
 foith from behind a cloud, and the Mayor of Georgetown handed the 
 spade to lion. Mr. Mercer, president of the company, who stepped 
 forward fron*i the column and addressed the assembled multitude as 
 follows: 
 
 "Fellow-Citizens: There are moments in tlie progress of time 
 which are counters of whole ages. There are events the monuments 
 of which, surviving every other memorial of human existence, eternize 
 the nation to whose history they belong, after all other vestiges of its 
 glory have disappeared from the globe. At such a moment we have 
 now arrived; such a monument we are now to found." 
 
 Then turning to the President of the United States, lion. John 
 Qiiincy Adams, who stood near, Mr. Mercer addressed him in a short 
 speech, and then presented to him the spade with which he was to 
 perform the ceremony of breaking ground. The President himself 
 
298 HfSTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 made an address of considerable length, at the conchision of which a 
 national salute was fired, when the chairman of the committee of 
 arrangements delivered an address, and was followed by Mr. Stuart. 
 At the conclusion of Mr. Stuart's speech, sods of earth were dug in 
 succession by the President of the United States, the president of the 
 canal company, the mayors of Washington, Georgetown, and Alex- 
 andria, the Secretaries of the War, Navy, and Treasury departments 
 of the Government, the Postmaster-General, the Commander of the 
 Army, the Revolutionary officers present, and the directors of the canal 
 company, followed by a great numy other persons. The procession 
 then returned to the canal, tiience to tide water, and thence down to 
 Davidson's wharf, where tliey all landed. "Thus ended the most 
 delightful commemoration of this eventful day tliat we have ever 
 witnessed, and thus auspiciously was begun the work upon the Chesa- 
 peake and Ohio Canal." 
 
 The company established its offices in the City Hall, in the second 
 story, on the west side. John P. Ingle was the clerk, and served for 
 many years. 
 
 July 8, 1828, the Board of Aldermen and Common Council of 
 the city of Washington requested the Mayor to ask the officers of the 
 canal company to locate and mark with as little delay as possible 
 the route of so much of the said canal as passed thi'ough the city of 
 Washington to the Eastern Branch; and that he be further requested 
 to communicate the result of such a[iplieation to the board as soon as 
 practicable. 
 
 In response to this resolution the board of directors of the caiud 
 rcjilied, that it would be inexpedient to expend any part of the ca[iital 
 stock in an extension of the canal below the entrance to the canal then 
 in existence, at the head of the Little Falls of the Potomac, before the 
 line of the canal leading thence to the mouth of the Shenandoah had 
 been put under contract; that the president and directors of the 
 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company were not under any obligation 
 to prescribe the eastern termination of the canal in the District of 
 Columbia; and further, that if it were the desire of the corporation 
 of the city of Washington, notwithstanding, that the eastern termi- 
 nation of the canal should be then fixed by a vote of the company, the 
 president and directors would, upon the request of the corporation, or 
 of the directors residing within the limits of the city, call a general 
 meeting of the stockholders for the purpose of submitting that ques- 
 tion to their judgment. The request was accordingly made, and a 
 meeting of the stockholders was held in the City Ilall, September 
 
TR.LySPOR TA TION. 299 
 
 10, 1828. With reference to tlie local question — as to the eastern 
 termination of the canal — to decide which the meeting had been 
 called, Mr. Mercer said that his belief was, that the point of termina- 
 tion was not fixed by the eliarter; that its most advisable termination 
 was at the basin above Georgetown; but that he had never doubted 
 that it would ultimately pass through the city of Wasliington, under 
 distinct legislation of Congress, and concluded with submitting as the 
 result of the deliberations of the board of directors a series of resolu- 
 tions, to the effect that if the Attorney-General of the United States 
 should be of the opinion that the charter of the company conferred 
 authority therefor, and the corporations of Washington, Georgetown, 
 and Alexandria should respectively assent thereto, the canal should 
 extend to the mouth of Ivock Creek, on the plan of the engineers, 
 Benjamin Wright and John Martineau. 
 
 September 17, an adjourned meeting was held and the above 
 proposition was approved; that is, that the canal should terminate at 
 a basin to be erected by the corporation of Washington at the mouth 
 of the Tiber, and it was also agreed that it might be continued to 
 Alexandria, and a branch l)e extended to the Navy Yard in Wash- 
 ington. Payments on subscriptions were made as follows: October 
 3, $2; November 3, $2; December 3, §2; and so on monthly, $2 
 per month, at any of the banks in the District of Columbia, the 
 Hagerstown Bank, Maryland, or the branch of the Valley Bank at 
 Charlestown, Virginia. 
 
 Preparations were made to la}' the corner stone of the first lock 
 of this canal on July 4, 1829, but the ceremony had to be postponed 
 until a later day on account of the inclemency of the weather. On 
 March 30, 1830, the water was let into the canal from the powder 
 house down to the old locks, and navigation, which had been for 
 some time obstructed by operations on this part of the canal, was 
 then resumed, several boats having come down to Georgetown from 
 the river above. This piece of the canal, which was about two miles 
 in length, was described as a beautiful sheet of water, and as answer- 
 ing all the expectations of its projectors and managers. Its beauty 
 was of course enhanced by its prospective commercial value. One 
 boat had traversed the entire two miles in fifteen minutes. The canal 
 was permanently opened for navigation the same day, that is, Marcii 
 30, 1830. It was from eighty to one hundred feet wide, and its 
 minimum depth was six feet. In addition to the two miles of the 
 new canal, one-twentieth of a mile of the old Potomac Canal was 
 used, connecting it with the river at the head of Little Falls. The 
 
300 If /STORY or WASff/.VGTO.y. 
 
 prism of tlie Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was more tlisui double that 
 of the Erie Canal, thus giving much greater facility of draught. The 
 line up to Seneca was under contract, and it was expected to Ije com- 
 pleted that far by June 1, 1830. 
 
 The same officers were elected in June, 1830, that had previously 
 served the compau}-. Tlie canal was completed, including the con- 
 struction of the locks from Georgetown- to Seneca, a distance of 22 
 miles, by July 4, 1830. Fn this distance there were 21 locks of hewn 
 stone, a large liasiii common to Washington and Georgetown, covering- 
 eight acres, and embracing IJ miles of wharf; 5 or 6 stone bridges in 
 Georgetown; 8 large culverts and several small ones; 2 dams built 
 on an entirely new plan, of solid masonry, and several walls, var^'ing 
 from 40 to 50 feet in height. The canal was nearly completed to the 
 "Point of Rocks," and but for the legal controversy with the Baltimore 
 and (_)hio Railroad Company', it was believed the caiuil would have 
 been completed that 3'ear to Harper's Ferry. In the distance from 
 Georgetown to Seneca, there was about 190 feet of lockage, a little 
 more than one-tliird of the entire lockage from tide water to Cunibei'- 
 land, so that the caind had jiassed through the most difficult [lart of 
 the distance. 
 
 About April 1, 1831, the Legislature of Penns^dvauia passed a 
 resolution requesting tlieir Senators and Representatives in Congress 
 to endeavor to procure the passage of a law authorizing the United 
 States to subscribe $1,000,000 toward the completion of the western 
 end of the canal. The canal was to be completed to the Point of 
 Rocks that year, but the twenty-seven miles between Seneca and the 
 Point of Rocks would be useless uidess it was constructed beyond 
 the Point of Rocks to the feeder. This point was involved in litigation 
 between the canal company and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 
 Company. The canal was in operation from Seneca to Georgetown, 
 and its usefulness was demonstrated liv the fact that one boat could 
 bring down in one day as much produce as could lie brought down 
 by four horses and a wagon in a month. It formerly cost Hfty cents 
 l)er barrel to get Hour from Seneca to Georgetown, but by the canal 
 it could be brought down for seven cents per barrel. The canal was 
 opened for tlie season of 1831, on March 21, and by the end of the 
 month there was received $8,400 in tolls. The amount of produce 
 which passed down to Georgetown by May 14, that year, was as 
 follows: Flour, 83,10G barrels; whisky, 752 barrels; wheat, 7,401 
 bushels; bacon, butter, and lard, 84,540 ponnils; coi'n, 202 bushels; 
 hemp, 4,11(10 pounds; iron, 85 tons; bi-an, etc., 1,1!M) bushels; besides 
 
TR.IXSPOR TA TION. 301 
 
 a large quantity of stone, tlrewood, etc. Tlie tolls amounted in that 
 time to $17,049. The packet boat, Charles Fenton 3Iercer, left the 
 bridge at Frederick Street, Georgetown, for Seneca, at seven o'clock 
 ever}' morning; fare to Crommelin, 37i cents; to Seneca, 50 cents; 
 breakfast, 31$ cents; dinner, 50 cents; supper, 25 cents; wine at from 
 50 cents to $1.50 per bottle. 
 
 The first 48 miles of the canal were laid out and marked on the 
 ground bj' Dr. John Martineau, a civil engineer, under the supervision 
 of Benjamin Wright. They were divided into about 90 sections, and 
 comprehended in that distance 2 aqueducts — one of three and the other 
 of seven arches, of 54 feet span each; 74 culverts; a dam across the 
 Potomac at the head of Little Falls, 1,750 feet long, and another at 
 the head of Seneca Falls 2,500 feet long; 27 lift locks, besides a tight 
 lock and a guard lock; 17 houses for the lock keepers, two of which 
 were built large enough to serve as places of rest for passengers; 3 feed- 
 ers from the river and one from an intermediate stream; several 
 basins, one of which was designed as a capacious harbor for boats, and 
 was sustained by a mole across Rock Creek, erected in 20 feet of 
 water, and was 1,000 feet long and 160 feet wide, through which a lock 
 connected the navigation of the canal with the tide water of the 
 Potomac. 
 
 The progress of the canal was arrested by the injunction of the 
 Chancellor of Maryland, granted almost immediately after the organi- 
 zation of the company, and brought at the suit of the Baltimore and 
 Ohio Railroad Company. This injunction was continued until reversed 
 by the Court of Appeals of Maryland, January 5, 1831, during all 
 of which time the canal from Seneca Falls to the Point of Rocks was 
 awaiting a supply of water from Harper's Ferrj-; and after the 
 dissolution of the injunction the canal had to be extended through 
 the fourteen miles of disputed territory and up to Harper's Ferry 
 Falls, where there was a dam already erected by the United States 
 Government. This portion of the canal was speedily let to experi- 
 enced contractors, as well as that portion between Rock Creek basin 
 and the mouth of Tiber Creek, the eastern terminus of the Chesa- 
 peake and Ohio Canal. Thirty-six miles above the head of Harper's 
 Ferry Falls were also contracted for, in order to complete one hundred 
 miles of the canal in five years, as required by the charter. Sixty- 
 four miles of the canal were completed and capable of navigation by 
 October, 1833. 
 
 Up to December 1, 1833, there had heen received into the treasury 
 of the company the following sums of money: Subscriptions to the 
 
302 IirSTORY OF WASHrNGTON. 
 
 capital stock, $3,589,252.04; on acconiit of the coniproniise, $177,- 
 333.35; tolls, $94,538.27; old lioiises and materials sold, $514.80; sums 
 paid agents, refunded, $752.31; profit on the sale of Maryland 
 stock, $4,703.03; interest received from delinqnont subscrihers, $989.79; 
 costs of suit recovered, $3,847.02: on dchts of the Potomac Com- 
 pany, $784.82; loans at the several banks, $55,000; total amount, 
 $3,927,710.63. The entire expenditures had been up to the same 
 time, $3,707,262.43. 
 
 In explanation of the above amount received on account of 
 compromise, it should be stated that some months previously the 
 two litigant companies, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company 
 and the Baltimore and Ohio liailroad Company, had compromised 
 their difdculties by the acceptance on the part of each of an act of 
 the Legislature of Maryland passed for the purpose of securing the 
 construction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Harper's Ferry. 
 By this compromise the railroad compau}- bound themselves to pay 
 to the canal company, in consideration of the damage that might be 
 done to the canal, and of tlie interruption or liazard to which its 
 navigation would be unavoidably exposed in the construction of the 
 railroad along the margin thereof, for grading the four and one-tenth 
 miles of the road between Harper's Ferry, and the Point of Hocks, 
 described below, the sum of $266,000. The said four and one-tenth 
 miles consisted of a space to be laid oft' between the entrance of the 
 bridge at Harper's Ferry and a point two miles therefrom, according 
 to the location of said road, wliicli was to be below Millar's Narrows; 
 of one mile and one-twentieth extending from a point opposite to tlie 
 door of the chief [inblic liouse at the Point of Rocks up the valley 
 of the Potomac, compi'ehending the lower Point of Rocks; and one 
 mile and one-twentieth extending above and below the upjior Point 
 of Rocks so as to comprehend the same; making all that part of 
 the canal at those places in which an interference exists, between the 
 location of tlie canal and tlie railroad. 
 
 Shortly after this compromise was effected, an election of president 
 and directors of the canal company was held in June, 1833, at the 
 City Hall in Washington. It resulted as follows: John II. Eaton 
 received 5,054 votes to C. F. Mercer's 3,430. The directors elected 
 were William Price, J. J. Abcrt, W. Gunton, W. Smith, Phineas 
 Jaiincy, and R. II. Henderson. To the friends of Mr. Mercer his 
 defeat was a sore disapjiointment, as they looked upon him as the 
 great promoter of the canal. They could, however, console themselves 
 only with the reflection that it was the shares of stock that elected 
 
TR. I. YSPOR TAT/ON. 303 
 
 Mr. Eaton, while the imlividiuil stoekliolders were very hirgely in fevor 
 of Mr. Mercer, the vote on tliis basis standing 2,362 for Mr. Mercer, 
 to 1,030 for Mr. Eaton. 
 
 In order to assist tlie company in completing tlio canal, tiie 
 Legishiture of Maryland, in Marcli, 1835, offered to loan the company 
 12,000,000 on certain conditions. At a general meeting of the 
 stockholders, held at Washington, A}>ril 22 following, after fnll 
 discussion of the proposition, it was resolved by the company to accept 
 tiie loan with the terms. At that time the navigation of the canal 
 was continuous for a distance of 110 miles from Wasliington, e.xclusive 
 of 9 miles of slack water navigation above dam Xo. 5. 
 
 In February, 1836, a report was made by the company to the 
 Legislature of Maryland, showing that 109 miles of the canal were in 
 operation. These 109 miles had cost $4,838,271, and it was estinuited 
 that to extend the canal from the 109th mile to the Great Cacapon, a 
 further distance of 27 miles, would cost $1,022,534; to the line near 
 the South Branch, 31 miles, $1,793,048, and to Cumberland, a distance 
 of 19^ miles, $745,037; making a total of $8,398,890. George C. 
 Washington was then president of the compan}', and he was 
 reelected June 22, 1836, and again in 1837. 
 
 At this point it may not lie improper to digress sutKciently to 
 narrate the construction of the Alexandria Canal, and the aqueduct 
 across the Potomac at Georgetown by which it was sujiplied with 
 water. The tirst spadeful of earth was thrown up in the construction 
 of tliis canal, July 4, 1831. The aqueduct itself was begun in 18-33. 
 At first the engineer was overruled, and several contractors failed 
 in their attempts to build circular cofferdams in which to sink the 
 piers. The board of directors then ^ilaced Major William Turnbnll, 
 of the corps of topographical engineers, in charge of tlie work, and 
 he held the position until it was completed. The aqueduct was built 
 across the Potomac at Georgetown, and conveyed the water from the 
 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to the Alexandria Canal. It consisted 
 of two abutments and eight massive stone piers one hundred feet 
 apart, supporting a wooden trunk, which was originally designed 
 to be of stone. The foundation of these piers rested on the rocky 
 bottom of the river, reached through twenty feet of water and 
 twenty feet of mud. When completed, it was said of it, "As a 
 hydraulic work it ranks number one, and may be boldly pointed to 
 in comparison with anything of the kind at home or abroad." After 
 several attempts and considerable difficulty, the canal was at length 
 opened to Alexandria on December 2, 1843. The canal was seven 
 
304 HISTORY OF 11 .IS////VCTON. 
 
 miles long from the aqueduct to Alexandria, with no lock or other 
 interruption to na\'igation. Tiie president of the canal company, the 
 Mayor of Alexandria, and a large number of citizens went up to 
 the aqueduct in the morning, and there, with the engineers and other 
 officers of the company, embarked in the canal boat Pioneer, and 
 after a passage of a little more than an hour readied the termination 
 of the canal at the junction of Washington and Montgomery streets. 
 In tlie afternoon of the same day, a canal boat came down from 
 Washington County, Maryland, loaded witli flour. The officers of the 
 canal company at that time were William Fowle, president; Hugh 
 Smith, Phineas Janney, Robert II. Millei', Thonms E. Baird, Kobert 
 Jamieson, and G. II. Smoot, directors. 
 
 During the years 1838 and 1839, the company experienced great 
 difficulty in completing the upper end of the canal, because of the 
 actual expense so far outrunning the estimates; and it began to 
 l)e feared by the friends of the canal that the Legislature of Mary- 
 land, which State was the great stockholder and supporter of the 
 enterprise, would decline to render further assistance, unless the canal 
 were turned over to her as security' for mone}' advanced, and to be 
 advanced. Up to March, 1839, tlie various sums invested in the canal 
 were as follows: First, her commuted stock in the old I'otoniac 
 Company; second, $500,000 subscribed to tlie original capital; tliird, 
 $125,000 to save the dams; fourtli, $2,000,000 on loan to the company 
 on pledge of the revenue of the canal; fifth, $8,000,000 subscribed on 
 a guaranty of six per cent, per year on the amount, after the expira- 
 tion of three years. Thus she was guaranteed tiie entire revenue of 
 the canal. The Government of the United States had $2,500,000 of 
 stock, and she, together with the State of Vii-ginia and the indi- 
 vidual stockholdei's, who, in 1839, had been for ten years and more 
 lying out of their nione3' and out of an}' dividends upon it, could 
 receive no dividend until Maryland had received her six per cent, 
 upon her advances. There was then needed, to complete the canal to 
 Cumberland, $2,320,871 more than had been estimated, and it was this 
 unexpected state of affiiirs which caused tlic contemplation of a policy 
 which, had it been pursued, would have been suicidal in the extreme. 
 
 In April, 1839, water was let into 27 miles of the canal at the 
 upper end, making 137 miles of this great work completed, and leav- 
 ing only 50 miles to finish to Cumberland. In the meantime, the 
 State of Maryland had decided to subscribe to the stock of tiie com- 
 l)any $1,375,000 more, to which tiie company at a general meeting 
 of the stockholders agreed. May 11, 1839. They also, at the same 
 
l^R.^XSPOR TA T/OX. 305 
 
 time, agreed to the pro[)osal of tlie State to excliaiige $3,200,000 of 
 five per cent, storiiiig stock of tlie State for tlie |3,000,000 six per 
 cent, stoci-c already subscribed by tlie State. 
 
 On June 3, 1839, Francis Tiionias was elected president of the 
 company. The chief engineer of the company at that time was 
 Charles^ B. Fisk. Ilis estimate of the entire cost of the 50 miles 
 above mentioned as necessary to complete the canal to Cnmberhind, 
 was $4,440,657, npou which, however, there had then been exjiended 
 about $950,000. In March, 1840, according to the report of the same 
 engineer, tliere had Ijeen expended on the six-sevenths of the canal 
 that were completed a little over $10,000,000, and there was needed 
 to complete the remaining one-seventh $2,300,000. He said that the 
 canal could not prove profitable to the stockholders until this remain- 
 ing one-seventh should be finished. At a meeting of the company at 
 Washington, held in the City Hall, July 20, 21, and 22, 1840, it was 
 decided to remove the offices of the company from Washington, where 
 they had been ever since the organization of the comi)any in 1828, to 
 Fredericlc, Maryland, and it was unanimously resolved that the thanks 
 of the company be extended to the corporate authorities of Washing- 
 ton for the gratuitous use of the apartments of the City Hall "luring 
 that length of time. 
 
 Early in 1841, George C. Washington was compelled to retire 
 from the presidenc}' of this company. He said it was under partv 
 proscription of his own State, and that of the United States, the 
 Secretary of the Treasury being the agent voting the stock of 
 tlie United States. The indebtedness of the company at that time was 
 somewhat more than $3,000,000, and the assets were $4,930,937. At a 
 meeting of the stockholders, held April 1, 1841, Michael C. Sprigo- 
 was elected president, to succeed President Washington. 
 
 An act was passed by the Legislature of Mar^dand, at its session 
 of 1841, to secure the completion of this canal. Section 1 of this 
 act provided that whenever the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company 
 should agree to all the provisions of the act, it should then be the 
 duty of the commissioner of loans of the State to issue, from time 
 to time, to the company in sums of not less than $100 certificates of 
 stock of the State, to an amount not exceeding $2,000,000, irredeemable 
 for thirty years, and redeemable afterward at the pleasui-e of the 
 State, bearing six per cent, interest, payable semi-annually. 
 
 Section 4 provided that for the purpose of providing for the pay- 
 ment of the debt thus authorized the annual sum of $25,000 sliould he 
 paid from the tolls of the canal. 
 
306 HISTORY OF n:iSHfNGTON. 
 
 "Section 10. And whereas, It is to be appreliended tliat the eimal 
 will reach Cnniberlaiid before an}- eiteetive ett'ort will be made to oiu'ii 
 and complete the several railroads which are to connect the canal with 
 tlie coal mines, in which case there is danger that the State may be 
 compelled to make these railroads at the public expense; 
 
 '■^Therefore be it enacted, That before any contract shall be made for 
 the completion of the said canal to Cumberland, or bond or certificate 
 issued under the provisions of this act, the treasurer of the Western 
 Shore shall certify, under his hand and seal of office, to the president 
 and directors of said Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, that the 
 companies hereinafter named, incorporated b}- the Legislature of this 
 State, to wit: 'The Baltimore and New York Coal Company,' 'The 
 Maryland and New York Iron and Coal Company,' 'The Maryland 
 Mining Company,' and 'The Clifton Coal Company,' have severally 
 given satisfactor}' bonds to the State of Maryland, conditioned for 
 the construction and completion of a railroad adequate to convey to 
 the canal the products of their prospective mines, the same to be 
 completed, ready for use, simultaneously with the completion of the 
 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to Cnniberland."' 
 
 "Section 12. That no part of this bill shall be operative until 
 one or more of the incorporated companies, coal or iron, in Allegheny 
 County, shall have entered into bonds, with security, to the State of 
 Maryland, to be approved by the treasurer of tlie Western Shore, to 
 pay $200,000 per annum for five years, for the transportation of their 
 own coal, iron, or other materials or goods, at the expiration of each 
 and ever}' year from and after six mouths after tlie completion 
 of the said canal to Cumberland"; and they were not to be released 
 from the payment of this amount on the whole amount of articles 
 transported by them until the same, at the rate of tolls charged by 
 the canal company, exceeded in cost the sum of $200,000. 
 
 For the ^-ear 1841, according to the report of Charles B. Fisk, 
 chief engineer of the company, there had been done, on the fifty miles 
 of unfinished canal, $231,107 worth of work, and the amount needed 
 on January 1, 1842, to complete the canal was $1,591,130. During 
 that year the canal had been navigable for al)out 300 days. The canal 
 was 6 feet deep, and the locks 15 feet wide and 100 feet long. A 
 boat load was 80 tons, and the toll on the canal for coal was $1 per 
 ton, from Cumberland to Georgetown. 
 
 On June 2, 1842, a joint resolution was introduced into the Senate 
 of the LTnited States, recomniouding that the stock of the United 
 States and a portion of that of the cities of the District of Columliia 
 
TR.iXSPOR T.A TION. 307 
 
 be transferred to the State of Maryland, in order to enable her to 
 complete the canal. This resolution was introdnced on the strength 
 of a report made by the Committee on Roads and Canals, which 
 summarized the history of tlie subscription to the stock of the com- 
 pany, showing that, up t(j January, 18-42, there had been subscribed 
 tlie following amounts: By the United States, $1,000,000; by Mary- 
 land, 15,000,000: by Virginia, $250,000; by Washington, $1,000,000; by 
 Georgetown, $250,000; by Alexandria, $250,000; and by sundry indi- 
 viduals, $457,518.36. Ot these various sums all had been paid, except 
 $151,881.36, which was due from some of the individual subscribers. 
 The State of Maryland was also credited with $43,280 on account of 
 a debt due that State from the old Potomac Company, which surren- 
 dered its charter to tlie Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, and 
 also with the sum of $120,444.44 on account of 220 shares of stock 
 transferred from the Potomac Company to that State, making $163,- 
 724.44. The canal company also owed the State $2,000,000, loaned 
 under authority of an act of 1834. The report in whicli these facts 
 were submitted was very long, and recommended that Congress deal 
 liberally with the State of Maryland, as she would be the greatest 
 sufferer if the canal were not completed, because she was the greatest 
 stockholder, and suggested that the $1,000,000 of stock of the United 
 States, and $750,000 of the $1,500,000 of stock deposited with the 
 Secretary of the Treasury of tlie United States by the cities of Wash- 
 ington, Georgetown, and Alexandria, be returned to the cities of the 
 District. The favor thus suggested to the three cities was because the}' 
 had sufl'ered severely by^ the losses sustained by them in the payment 
 of interest and expenses on the Holland loan, the city of Washington 
 having paid on her portion of the debt $449,650, Georgetown $116,795, 
 and Alexandria $111,715, ail aggregate amount of $678,160. The 
 committee proposed, therefore, by way of indemnity to the cities, 
 the redelivery of the remaining $750,000, deposited with the Secretary 
 of the Treasury under the act of Congress of May 20, 1836, — to the 
 city of "Washington, $500,000; and to the other two cities, each 
 $125,000. The question of consent to the joint resolution was sub- 
 mitted to the Boards of Aldermen and Common Council of Washington 
 July 1, 1842, and received their assent. The outcome of this movement 
 will appear later in these pages. 
 
 On December 3, 1842, the Hon. M. C. Sprigg, who had been 
 reelected to the presidency of the compau}- in the preceding June, 
 resigned his position, and was succeeded by Major-General William 
 Gibbs McNeill. With reference to the resignation of Colonel Sprigg, 
 
308 HfSTORY OF n.iSH/NGTON. 
 
 tlio Baltimore Patriot siiid, that the canal could have heeii coiiiiileted 
 iiiidor liini if his political opponents had extended to him the conti- 
 dence and assistance to which his elevated character entitled him; but 
 these were withheld, it believed, merely from party purposes. And it 
 was hoped that the distinguished engineer that succeeded him would 
 not encounter similar opposition. 
 
 On January 2, 1843, the Common Council of Washington took 
 up the question of the surrender of its stcJck, and discussed it more 
 fully than before. Mr. Haliday introduced the following resolution: 
 
 " Whereas, The Governor of the State of Maryland, in a letter 
 to the President of the United States, which was communicated to 
 Congress January 1, 1840, requesting a surrender to the State of 
 Maryland of the stock of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company 
 belonging to the United States, and to the cities of Washington, 
 Georgetown, and Alexandria; and 
 
 " Whereas, This corporation, by its committee, on the 11th of 
 March, 1840, presented to both Houses of Congress, a remonstrance 
 against the surreiuler, so far as related to the stock owned by this 
 cori>oration; which remonstrance, among the many facts and arguments 
 it contains to show that Maryland is not entitled to any bonus or 
 gratuity, especially at the expense of the people of this city, proves 
 that whatever loss has arisen from delay in the completion of the 
 canal is attributable solely to the legislation of that State. On this 
 subject the remonstrance says: 'The State of Maryland originally 
 embarked in this enterprise, as the corporation did, under the impres- 
 sion that a canal suited to its purposes could be constructed at an 
 expense entirely within the means then estimated. But this was no 
 favorite project with her legislators or with her people. They looked 
 to another avenue and another great outl-et for her exhaustless mineral 
 wealth, which should lead directly to her city, Baltimore; and as it 
 early ascertained that uo route for a canal to that city could be 
 found except through the District of Columbia, all her enei'gies were 
 directed to the railroad. Her legislation and the political power of the 
 State were equally' devoted to this object. She granted a most 
 l'aA-oral)le charter to the I'ailroad company, and the first serious 
 obstacle to the progress of the canal is to be clearly traced to that 
 legislation. The work ol' the canal was obstructed in most vexatious, 
 tedious, and most expensive litigation, producing a train of evils 
 from which the canal company never recovered. But the greatest 
 injury was in the progress of the work itself, and the discouragements 
 produced by the delay. The history of her subsequent legislation 
 
VA'.LYSPOh' T.A TION. 309 
 
 sliows how regardless slie was of these injuries, and liow pertiiiacionsly 
 she adhered to lier original design of diverting all the trade of the 
 Potomac, and all the vast products of the region watered hy its 
 tributaries, from its natural channel, and to force it to Baltimore. 
 Year after year, while this corporation was exhausting its means and 
 oppressing its citizens to carry on the canal, Maryland was taxing the 
 ingenuity of her ablest men to defeat the canal, demanding the right 
 to cut a canal through this city, and in every way seeking to secure to 
 herself every advantage from the investment of this corporation, and 
 never relaxing these efforts until she was well assured that this was 
 the only practicable means of bringing into use the groat wealth of 
 her mountains.' 
 
 "And whereas. Congress, satistied with the justice of the position 
 assumed by the corporation of Washington in the defense of its rights 
 and those of its citizens, and of the injustice of tlie State of Maryland 
 in asking for a surrender of their property; and 
 
 "Whereas, A joint resolution having been presented in the Senate 
 of the United States in December, 1841, soliciting the surrender to the 
 State of Maryland of the canal stock owned by this city, as previously 
 required by the Governor of the State, a remonstrance on the part of 
 this corporation was again laid before the Senate b}' the Mayor of this 
 city, which remonstrance is in the following words: 
 
 "'The original subscriptions to the stock of the Chesapeake and 
 Ohio Canal Company, made in 1827 and 1828, were as follows: [These 
 have been previously presented.] 
 
 "'In the year 1834, the State of Maryland made a further subscrip- 
 tion of 1125,000 to the stock of the company, payable in live per cent, 
 bonds, which yielded the company only |120,000, a loss of $5,000. In 
 1835, the State made a loan to the company in six per cent, bonds of 
 $2,000,000 on the condition that the State should have the privilege 
 of converting this loan into stock of the company at any time within 
 a year after the canal should be completed; that until that time the 
 books of the company sliould be closed, and no other subscriptions 
 received; that for the payment of the principal and interest of this 
 loan the whole property of the company should be mortgaged to the 
 State, and that the bonds should be sold at a premium of fifteen per 
 cent., to be paid to the State. The bonds actually sold for more than 
 fifteen per cent., which went into the State treasury, and the six per 
 cent, interest has been paid to her up to the year 1840. In 1836, the 
 State authorized a further subscription to the company of |3, 000, 000 in 
 
310 n/.STDR)- OF U.tS///NGTON. 
 
 six per cent, bonds, on the conditions thiit the Baltimore and Oliio Rail- 
 road Company should be allowed to construct its works where the law 
 had denied it the right to do so; that the bonds should prod-uce twenty 
 per cent, premium to the State, and that the property of the company- 
 slionld i)e mortgaged to insure and pay her six per cent, interest on 
 the subscription, thus making herself a preferred stockholder, in posi- 
 tive violation of the charter, which provides that all the stockholders 
 should share equally in all profits, according to their respective shares. 
 These bonds, it is to be further observed, could not be made available 
 to the compau}' for three years, and then only yielded |2, 4(34, 000, the 
 company losing half a million on tliem. 
 
 "'In 183it, the State made a further subscription of $1,375,000, 
 payable in live per cent, sterling bonds at par, the State taking a 
 further mortgage to secure a dividend of six per cent, on this sub- 
 scription, in violation of the charter, as in tiie other case, while the 
 sale of the bonds yielded to the company only seventy-seven per 
 cent, on the nominal value, a. fnrther loss of $317,000. 
 
 '"This subscri[ition, as well as the [ireceding one, of ijnojOOO.OOti, 
 was resisted by the corporation of Wasliington, but it was forced on 
 the comjiany, with its onerous conditions, by the almost solid vote of 
 the State of Maryland herself, which then had a majority of the stock. 
 
 "'Coupled with the act authorizing the last subscription was a 
 direction to the Governor to ask of Congress a surrender to the State 
 of the $2,500,000 of stock originally subscribed by the United States, 
 and the corporations of Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria, and 
 if granted, the State pledged herself to buy out all individual stock- 
 holders at tifty per cent. On the 23d of February, 1841, fifteen days 
 after the Senate of the United States had passed a resolution giving 
 her the said $2,500,000 of stock and had sent it to the House of 
 Representatives for concurrence, and when it was expected that the 
 House also would pass the bill, a bill was introduced into the Senate 
 of Maryland and instantly passed Ijotli liranchcs of the legislature, 
 quietly revoking this obligation to which she had jilcdgcd lici'sclf to 
 Congress, to pay the private individuals tifty [lur cent. This repealing 
 bill was in the following brief and unostentatious form: 
 
 '""A SuPi'i.EMENT to the Act I'assed at the Session of December, 1838, 
 Chapter 396, Entitled, 'An Act Relating to the Chesa[ieakc and 
 Ohio Canal Company": 
 "'"^e it enaefnl, That the second ami thii-il sections of said act 
 
 be, and the same are hereby, repealed." 
 
TR.tXSPOKT.IT/OX. 311 
 
 '"Fortuuatel}', tlie surrender of oiii- stock Jid not j);iss the House 
 of Representatives, and tliis act of tlie Legislature of Maryland releas- 
 ing tlie State from her obligation was of no avail. We make no 
 comment on this proceeding. 
 
 "'The [iroposition for this surrender has, however, been renewed, 
 anel is now again before the Senate; but if that honorable body will 
 look into the relative exertions, sufferings, and claims of the sever[d 
 classes of partners in the canal company, it is believed that the State 
 of Maryland will be found to possess less title to this great boon than 
 otiiers, and to grant which, while it would be signally unjust to her 
 sntt'ering copartners, would, in fact, not atibrd her the least aid in com- 
 pleting the canal. The impulse given by the subscriptions, corporate 
 and private, of the District of Columbia, was mainly instrumental in 
 starting the work, and while the corporation of Washington and its 
 citizens subscribed $1,. 500,000, the State of Maryland took but half a 
 million. The United States, it is true, assumed the principal of the 
 corporation subscriptions, but from borrowing money to pay the annual 
 interest on the subscription before the transfer, a debt of nearly halt 
 a million was incurred, and is now established on the city, and while 
 Maryland has been exacting of the company an illegal payment of six 
 per cent, profit on the greater portion of her subscription to the work 
 running through her own State, and for her own peculiar benefit, the 
 poor citizens of Washington have been sinking the interest on their 
 subscriptions for fourteen years, and can never receive one farthing 
 on their stock until the State of Maryland shall have first received six 
 l>er cent, on her immense investment. Under these circumstances 
 Maryland asks Congress to strip the corporation of Washington of 
 $1,000,000 of stock which it subscribed, leaving the city encumbered 
 with an enormous debt of half a million of dollars as its only reward 
 for giving the first eftective impulse to a work of which Maryland 
 herself is ever to reap the chief benefit. 
 
 "'In addition to all this, when Maryland was pressing her petition 
 on Congress to grant to her the above $2,500,000 of stock, her legisla- 
 ture passed an act (to wit: at the session of 1840-41) ordering a fore- 
 closure of the mortgage, inij)osed by her own vote on the company, to 
 secure her preferred dividend of six per cent, on her subscription. 
 
 "'In behalf of the Committee of the Corporation of Washington, 
 
 "'W. W. Seaton, Chairman.' 
 
 "And whereas, No information has been submitted to this board since 
 January, 18-42, tending to show the justice or propriety of making at this 
 
312 /r/STORY OF U.LS7//.\'GrO.V. 
 
 time tlie triuisfor of tlie city to the State of Maryland, and thereby leav- 
 ing a debt of half a million of dollars, with an annnal interest of $30,000, 
 to be borne by the [leople of the city, with no [irovision for the pa^'ment 
 of the principal or interest but by taxes upon their property; and, 
 
 "Whereas, On the 1st of July, 1842, the Board of Aldermen 
 passed a resolution and sent it to this board, seeking a concurrence, 
 which resolution is now jiending in this board, giving the assent of 
 this corporation to the passage by Congress of a joint resolution before 
 Congress whereby it is proposed to transfer as a gratuity to the State 
 of Maryland |500,000 of the $1,000,000 of the stock subscribed and 
 paid for b}' the cori>oration and now lield by the United States on 
 certain conditions, and u[Kin which this corporation has jiaid, besides 
 the $1,000,000, in interest, etc., nearly $700,000; and, 
 
 "Whereas, on the 2(1 of June, 1842, a joint committee was ap- 
 pointed by tiie two boards to attend the meetings of the Chesapeake 
 and Ohio Canal Company and vote on the above-mentioned stock, 
 which committee, since their appointment, have attended several meet- 
 ings of the company, at the last of which it is understood measures 
 were adopted of great interest to the stockholders in general — measures 
 which the committee appointed on the part of tliis bmird declared, in 
 a debate in this chamber on the 12tli of December last, would render 
 it unnecessary to sacritice the rights and interests of a jiart of the 
 stockholders to complete the canal to Cumberland; and 
 
 "Whereas, It is indisjiensably necessary to the members of this 
 boai'd, before they can with due regard to the interests of their con- 
 stituents [proceed to act on a subject of so great importance as to 
 give away to the State of Maryland without an equivalent the stock 
 of this coriioration, on the pretense that it is necessai-y in order to 
 induce her to complete the canal, to have a full knowledge of all the 
 proceedings referred to; and 
 
 "Whereas, The Board of Aldermen rejected the joint resolution 
 calling upon the committee for a re[)ort of the proceedings of the 
 meetings of the stockholders which they attended as re[iresentatives 
 of this corporation; therefore, 
 
 ^'■Resolrcil, That the committee appointed on the part of this boai'd, 
 who attended said meetings, be requested and is hereby directed to 
 c-iinnnunicate to this l)oarcl at the earliest convenient nionu'ut a state- 
 ment in fill! of the proceedings of said meetings, embracing the means 
 adoi)ted by the company to complete the canal, and which, in his 
 opinion, will rentier it unnecessary to sacritice the interests of a jior- 
 tion of the stockholders to complete the object." 
 
TA'.IXSPOf 7. 1 T/OX. 313 
 
 This resolution was then laid on the table by a vote of 12 to 4. 
 In reply, however, to the resolution, Lewis Johnson, who attended the 
 meetings of the canal company on the part of the 15oard of Common 
 Council, published a statement in which he said that he had not 
 asserted that measures were adopted that would render it unnecessary 
 to sacrifice the interests of a [lortion of the stockholders in order to 
 complete the canal; but that he had expressed the sanguine hope, 
 which he entertained, that the course adopted by the convention 
 would prove to be the foundation of measures which would lead to 
 the completion of the canal to Cumberland. 
 
 Xotwithstanding the strong reasons furnished by the above report, 
 which, as has been said, was laid upon the table, the two boards of 
 the city's government assembled at the call of the Mayor for the 
 purpose of taking decided steps in reference to the proposed transfer 
 of stock, and adopted the following ordinance: 
 
 ^^ Resolved, By the Aldermen and Common Council of the City of 
 Washington, that the assent of this corpioration be, and the same is 
 hereby, given to the transfer of the stock originally subscribed by this 
 city to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, as proposed liy and 
 upon the terms, conditions, and restrictions contained in the Joint 
 resolution introduced in the Senate of the United States from the 
 committee on roads and canals, on the 2d day of June, 1842, entitled 
 ' A. Joint Resolution Directing the Transfer of the Stock Held by the 
 United States in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company to the 
 State of Maryland, and the Cities of Washington, Georgetown, and 
 Alexandria": Provided, It shall be further conditioned, that the State 
 of Maryland shall cancel and abandon all mortgages or liens which 
 the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Com[iany may have executed to said 
 State, and all claims to priority under said mortgages executed by 
 said company to the said State in the year 1835, for a loan of 
 $2,000,000, and shall agree nc^t at any time to foreclose the last- 
 mentioned mortgage, or any other mortgage or mortgages which may 
 be executed to the State of Maryland by the Chesapeake and Ohio 
 Canal Company, so as to divest the State of Virginia, the said 
 cities, corporations, or individuals, of their respective proportions of 
 stock now held by them, or hereinafter to be held in the manner ai]d 
 under the circumstances mentioned in the said joint resolution."' 
 
 This ordinance was adopted January 14, 1843, and was signed 
 by all the proper officials. The Senators and Representatives in Con- 
 gress from Marjdand agreed to sup[iort a joint resolution embodying 
 the above conditions. 
 
:]14 /f/srOR)- (IF WASH/XCrON. 
 
 In July, 1843. tliu president of tlie eiitial company, General Wil- 
 liam Gibbs XeXeill, made a contract for the completion of the canal 
 between dam Xo. G and Cumberland, with Thomas W. Letsou and 
 Joliu Ruttei', which contract having been made on his own sole 
 autliority, and not by the directors, or a majority of them, as required 
 by the charter of the company, the contract was disapproved by the 
 directors, and General McNeill resigned his position as president, 
 Jul}' 19, 1843, and was succeeded by Colonel James M. Coale. About 
 this time an arrangement was made with tlie Baltimore and Ohio 
 Railroad Comjuiny to carry coal from Cumberland to dam Xo. G, 
 whence it was carried to the District of Columbia by the canal. This 
 afforded an excellent opportunity for the intrcjductiou of Allegheny- 
 coal into this niarlj;et. Colonel Coale was reelected president of the 
 company, June 4, 1844. 
 
 The delay in tlie work of completing the canal was to some 
 inexplicable, while it was understood b}' others. William Price, in 
 writing on this subject, quoted from the rejiorts of the Baltimore and 
 Ohio Railroad Company as follows: 
 
 "The canal has progressed too tar an<l combines too many 
 interests to warrant the belief that it will not, at an early day, be 
 completed to Cumberland; and if the railroad be pei'mitted to linger 
 for any great length of time at that point, all must see that for the 
 transportation of merchandise and produce to and from the west, 
 the canal must become a formidable rival. 
 
 "Reaching Cumberland in wagons across the mountains, a choice 
 must then be made between the canal and the railroad, and in either 
 event commissions for handling and forwarding must be jiaid. A 
 selection of the cheapest route tor the port of exportation may he 
 expected, and therefore, unless the railroad consents to reduce its 
 charges below the point of profit, Baltimore may be deprived of the 
 trade.'' 
 
 The enormous cost of the work thus far was .^13,i*15,4G;i, while 
 according to the estinuite of General Barnard it should have cost 
 only $9,1 05,4.57. But of this excess $2,G16,744 was easily accounted 
 for, and ought to be deducted from the $4,720,012 which had been 
 expended over and above the estimate of General Barnard. The 
 smaller sum mentioned here as easily accounted for, was accounted in 
 the following manner: Almost at the outset, the work was stoi)ped 
 by the injunction of the I'ailroad company at the Point of Rocks for 
 more than tliree years, and then again, w'hen it reached dam Xo. 5, it 
 stood still for nearly two years more. Afterwards it was interrupted, 
 
TRAXSPOR TA T/OX. 31 5 
 
 checked, and partially stopjicd, the mere appearance of a force being 
 sustained upon the line. Then it was carried on under great difficulty 
 for about three years, and again totally suspended in 1841, remaining 
 in that condition until August, 1844. Then, after the State had 
 subscribed its $3,000,000 and its |1, 375,000, tlie prices of labor uuex- 
 pectedlj' rose fully forty pci' ceut., so that common laborers were paid 
 $1.25 per day. Again, when the laborers could not be paid in 
 full, they formed combinations against the contractors, who were in 
 consequence compelled to abandon their sections. Then the pa\'nients 
 of the company, even in its l)est days, were often made in scrip, which 
 added to the cost. All these and other circumstances were surely 
 sufficient to account for at least a portion of the excess over the 
 estimate of General Barnard. 
 
 An act was passed by the Legislature of Maryland, March 11, 
 1845, for the completion of this canal, which required a guaranty 
 for the annual transportation upon the canal from Cumberland to 
 Georgetown, after its completion, of one hundred and ninety-five 
 thousand tons per j'ear. An ordinance was [jassed by the corporation 
 of Washington, April 15, 1845, agreeing to indemnify any citizen or 
 citizeTis of Washington who should become guaranty for tlie trans- 
 portation of tweuty-tive thousand tons. The compau}- was also 
 authorized to issue bonds to complete the canal, and in consequence 
 of giving this authority, the two boards of the corporation of Wash- 
 ington, on August 4, 1845, passed a resolution requesting the Mayor 
 to appoint a committee of two citizens from each ward to invite 
 individuals to make investments in the company's bonds. The next 
 day the Mayor appointed the following gentlemen as the committee: 
 First Ward, S. PI. Smith and William Easby; Second Ward, Lewis 
 Johnson and John Sessford; Third Ward, G. C. Grammer and J. W. 
 Maury; Fourth Ward, B. B. French and J. V. Ingle; Fifth Ward, 
 J. C. Fitzpatrick and Thomas Blagden; Sixth Ward, A. II. Lawrence 
 and James Tucker. 
 
 In consequence of the above-recited action of the Legislature 
 of Maryland and of the popular movements incited thereb}-, the com- 
 pany was enabled in September, 1845, to make a contract with Walter 
 Gwynn and others, to complete the canal to Cumberland, the work to 
 be done within two years. The work was to be begun within thirty 
 days from September 25. At the time this contract was made there 
 were eighteen and three-tenths miles of the canal to be completed, 
 the contract price for which was |1 ,625,000. 
 
 April 14, 1847, the corporation of Washington passed an act to 
 
31G /ffSrORY OF U'ASHLyGTO.y. 
 
 aid tlie coiniiaiiy to eoiiiplete the canal to Cumberland, by which 
 the iiroposition was to exchange $50,000 in the stock of the coriiora- 
 tion, Ijearing six per cent, interest, redeemable at the pleasure of the 
 corporation, for $50,000 of the stock of the canal company bearing 
 six per cent, interest, provided that the contractors should show to 
 the satisfaction of the committee appointed to transact the business, 
 that with the aid of this $50,000 sufficient funds had been secured to 
 complete the canal, and that tiie interest on the bonds would be 
 punctually [laid. 
 
 On October 10, 1850, after many delays, the canal was opened 
 to Cumberland, and water communication was thus opened from that 
 point to the three cities in the District of Columbia. The ceremonies 
 at Cumberland were of a ver}- interesting nature. William Price 
 delivered the address. The first boat from Cumberland, loaded with 
 coal, reached Georgetown Novend)er 1, 1850, "and yet we hail its 
 advent with no rejoicings, and welcome the event witli no show of 
 joy,"' etc. The basin at Georgetown was drj-, and everything at 
 the lower end of the canal was out of order. Tlie Chesapeake and 
 Ohio Company not being able to put it in order, the corporation of 
 Washington appropriated $1,500 toward that end on December 5, 1850. 
 
 February 28, 1851, at a meeting at Gadsby's Hotel, Samuel 
 Sprigg, of Mar^dand, was elected president of the company, to succee<l 
 General Coale, resigned. March 14, 1851, the appropriation of Decem- 
 ber 5, 1850, was increased to $3,000, and the president and directors 
 of the company- were tendered the use of rooms in the basement of 
 the ('ity Hall, in case they should remo^'e the ofiices of the conipau}' 
 to Washington. 
 
 B3' November 12, 1851, the canal was completed from end to 
 end, and from forty to fifty boats had arrived with coal from 
 Cumberland, some of them carrying as much as one hundred and 
 twenty-five tons. Wheat at that time coming in on the canal sold at 
 eighty-five cents per bushel. There were then two passenger boats 
 running, and one other ready to be added, and there was plenty of 
 custom for them all. One of the features of interest connected with 
 the canal was the steam tug Virginia, owned by R. S. Demy & 
 Company, of Worcester, Massachusetts, put upon the canal for tlie 
 purpose of towing boats, and on November 17 it was said that up 
 to that time the experiment had worked well. Tiie Virginia could 
 easily tow six boats at a time. Her paddle wheels were so constructed 
 that the recoil was reduced to a miniianiii, and, in fact, was almost 
 annihilate<l. 
 
TR. IXSPOR TA T/OX. 31 7 
 
 The steam canal l)()at President arrived August 19, 1852, at 
 Georgetown from Cuniberlanil. Tliis boat belonged to Ward's line, and 
 had two propellers, worked hy a twelve horse-power steam engine. 
 She traveled six miles i)er hour without injury to the banks of the 
 canal. She was eighty-eight feet long by twelve feet beam, and 
 commenced running regular trips from Georgetown to Harper's Ferry 
 and Cumberland August 23, 1852. For the year 1852, the tonnage 
 of the canal was as follows: Ascending, 16,226 tons; descending, 
 151,369 tons; total, 167,595 tons. The tolls amounted to §92,248.90. 
 
 Other efforts to use steamboats on this canal were subser^uently 
 made, but none of them were entirely satisfactory, no matter how 
 promising they at first appeared. The canal steamer James L. 
 Calhcart made a trial trip June 30, 1857, from Georgetown to Alex- 
 andria, her speed being tive miles per hour. October 26, 1858, this 
 propeller made a trip from Cumberland to Georgetown in sixt\'-four 
 and a half hours, the quickest trip made up to that time. 
 
 To close this account of the construction of the Chesapeake and 
 Ohio Canal, the following statement is interesting. It shows the stock 
 and debts of the company and the actual cost of the canal, exclusive 
 of interest on $3,718,000: Preferred debt, $3,837,651; stock not belong- 
 ing to tlie State, $3,718,000; State stock, bonds, and interest, $9,049,000; 
 State loss by interest jiaid on bonds for its stock, $5,000,000; total, 
 $21,604,651. 
 
 A brief account of the Washington Canal is here inserted. It 
 was a project early contemplated, as on September 1, 1792, proposals 
 for cutting it were received. The proposals were to cut it from tide 
 water in the Tiber to tide water in James Creek, a length of about 
 one and one-eighth miles; its breadth at the bottom to be 12 feet, 
 and at the top 15 feet. The depth was not to be uniform, but the 
 greatest depth was not to exceed 12 feet, and the bottom was designed 
 to be two feet below ordinary low water. Mr. Herbaugh calculated 
 the cut to contain 21,760 solid yards, but not relying implicitly on 
 Mr. Herbaugh's calculations, the commissioners proposed to pay by 
 the cubic yard. This was the beginning of the enterprise. Not to 
 dwell too long on the details of the history of this canal, as it was 
 never of much commercial value to the city, but was a great expense, 
 and toward the last, at least, when the city had become one of 
 considerable size, a great nuisance, it is deemed sufficient to sum- 
 marize its history, and give a general description of it as it was 
 when completed. It commenced at the lock of the Georgetown Canal 
 near the foot of Seventeenth Street, fornung a larsre trians'ular basin 
 
318 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 ctilled "The Moutli of tlic Tiljer." Between tliiit street and West 
 Fifteenth Street it ran from tiie eastern extremity of tlie basin along 
 Nortli B Sti'eet to a jyoint between West Seventh Street and Sixth 
 Street, a distance of about 5,200 feet. Here it took a southern course 
 for aljout 775 feet. Again turning to the east and after running 1,570 
 feet it came to West Third Street. It tiien turned soutli and ran to 
 Maryland Avenue, a distance of 623 feet, and there shunting off 
 toward the southeast for a distance of 2,365 feet it reached Soutli 
 Ca})itol Street, along which it ran 705 feet to a point below 
 Virginia Avenue. It then ran 1,988 feet to Second Street East, whore 
 it took a southern course down to the Eastern Branch, a distance of 
 2,100 feet, making the entire lengtii of the canal 15,326 feet. 
 
 The breadth of the canal at its eastern extremity was 150 feet; from 
 the first bend down to Maryland Avenue it was 70 feet wide; from this 
 point down to Soutli N Street it was 40 feet wide; below the bridge 
 across New Jersey Avenue it was 19 feet wide; and south of South 
 N Street it formed a basin 100 feet wide. The sole of the canal was 
 originally four feet below low water, and either level or veiy nearly' so. 
 
 A great deal of money was expended from time to time on this 
 canal, but it was never made of much use for the original purposes 
 for which it was constriu'tcd, viz., that of aflbrding means of trans- 
 porting goods into the center of the city; and at length, when the 
 era of improvement came upon the city, in 1871, the canal, as has 
 been said in another chapter, was cleaned out and arched over, and 
 converted into a sewer, one of the largest in the world, so that now 
 it is serving a most useful purpose. 
 
 The history of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad commences, like 
 that of tiie Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, in the old Potomac Company; 
 hence this connection between the two is here briefly related. The 
 commissioners who were appointed, in 1822, to examine the state of 
 navigation of the Potomac River, pointed out the advantages of a 
 continuous canal from Cumberland to tide water, to be connected with 
 Baltimore by a lateral canal from the Monoeacy or Seneca, or by an 
 extension through the District of Columbia. In 1825, Maryland 
 assented to the net incorporating the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal 
 Company, with a reservation of the right to construct any lateral 
 canal whatever within her own territory, and upon the expressed 
 condition that Congress should provide some safe or practicable mode 
 whereby the right should be secured to her of constructing a canal to 
 I'altimore, from that part of the main canal which should be in the 
 District of Columbia. In 1826, Maryland authorized a subscription of 
 
TRAySPOR TA T/ON. 3I9 
 
 ),000 to the capital stock of tlie main canal, and the same amount 
 to the stock of the company for making or extending the canal to 
 the city of Baltimore, upon the condition that Congress should 
 subscribe §1,000,000 to tlie eastern section, and by law expressly 
 secure to her the right to take and continue the canal aforesaid; and 
 provided further, that the practicability of constructing the canal to 
 Baltimore should be demonstrated. 
 
 In 1827, Congress not having subscribed, and General Barnard, 
 with tlie corps of United States engineers, after making the survey 
 of the route for the canal with scientitic precision, having estimatecl 
 the entire cost to be $22,375,427.09, and that of the iirst section 
 alone from Cumberland to tide water, in ttie District of Columbia, 
 at $8,177,081.05; and it being also ascertained by the survey of 
 Dr. Howard that it was impracticable to make a lateral canal to 
 Baltimore by any of the routes through Montgomery County, as 
 proposed by the commissioners in 1822, and that the extension of the 
 main canal through the District of Columbia would cost $3,000,000, 
 all hope began to abate of accomplishing the object by means of a 
 canal; and it was then that Maryland gave her countenance to the 
 aid of a railroad, coming before her, as it did, with the experience of 
 Europe to prove the practicability of such a road. In consequence 
 of the use of steamboats and other improved facilities opened by 
 New York and Pennsylvania for the purpose of securing the trade 
 and commerce of the great and growing West, the trade of Balti- 
 more was at that time notably diminishing. Baltimore, therefore and 
 thereupon, took hold of the building of the Baltimore and Ohio 
 Railroad, from that city to the Point of Rocks, and ultimately to 
 some point on the Ohio River. Philip E. Thomas, who was then com- 
 missioner on the part of the State of Maryland in the Chesapeake and 
 Ohio Canal Company, resigned that position, and in connection with 
 George Brown, devoted himself thenceforth to the formation of the 
 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company. George Brown was a brother 
 of William Brown, afterward a member of the English Parliament, 
 and was frequently in receipt from this English brother of documents 
 containing mucli valuable information on the progress of the Manches- 
 ter and Liverpool Railroad. Mr. Thomas also had a brother, Evan 
 Thomas, of Baltimore, who was then in England, and who there 
 collected many facts relative to tiie successful operation of the many 
 short railroads then in existence in England, which facts lie sent to 
 his brother in this country. These facts and documents, upon being 
 compared by Philip E. Thomas and George Brown, led them to the 
 
320 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 conclusion that a railroad could be built and made practicable between 
 Baltimore and the Western waters, and that on tlie earl}- consumma- 
 tion of this enterprise depended the future commercial prosperity of 
 Baltimore. 
 
 A meeting was therefore called, to be held at the residence of 
 Mr. Brown on February 12, 1827, "to take into consideration the best 
 means of restoring to the city of Baltimore tliat portion of tlie western 
 trade which has lately been diverted from it by the introduction of 
 steam navigation, and by otlier causes." The facts and documents 
 above referred to, illustrating the efficiency of railroads for conveying 
 articles of heavy carriage at small expense, were presented to the 
 meeting, which became convinced that this mode of transportation 
 was far superior to either common turnpike roads or canals, and a 
 committee was appointed to collate and report upon the facts so 
 presented, and to recommend the best course to be pursued to 
 accomplish the object proposed. This committee was composed of 
 i'hilip E. Thomas, George Brown, Benjamin C. Howard, Talbot 
 Jones, Joseph W. Patterson, Evan Thomas, and John V. L. McMahon. 
 Tiieir report, a ver^- able document, was presented to an tidjourncd 
 meeting, held February 19, 1827. In this report they stated that even 
 then 2,000 miles of railroad were "completed or in a rapid progress 
 in that country, and that they had fully answered the most sanguine 
 expectations of their projectors"; and they recommended "a double 
 railroad" from Baltimore to the Ohio River. Maryland, in view of 
 the activity of her citizens, incorporated the Baltimore and Oiiio 
 Railroad Company, in Febrnar}', 1827, and at the same time repealed 
 the condition of her subscription to the canal, that Congress should 
 subscribe to the eastern section thereof. March 8, 1827, the charter of 
 the company was enacted by Virginia, and on tlie 24th of April, the 
 stock of the company liaving been subscribed, the company itself was 
 organized, with the following directors: Charles Carroll of Car- 
 rollton, William Patterson, Robert Oliver, Alexander Brown, Isaac 
 McKim, William Lorman, George Iloliman, Piiilip E. Thomas, Tliomas 
 Ellicott, Joiiii B. Morris, Talbot Jones, William Steuart. Philip 
 E. Thomas was elected president of the comiiany, and George Brown 
 treasurer. 
 
 Upon application to tiie General Government a corps of engi- 
 neers was deputed to survey a route for tiie railroad, consisting of 
 Captain William Gibbs McNeill, Lieutenants Joshua Barney, Isaac 
 Trind)lc, Uidiard E. Ilazzard, William Cook, Walter Gwynn, and 
 John L. Dillahuntv, of tlu^ United States artillerv, and William liar- 
 
TRANSPOR TA TION. 321 
 
 I'isoii, Jr., assistant engineer. The company's engineers were Colonel 
 Stephen II. Long and Jonathan Knight. 
 
 On June 20, following, these engineers commenced their rcconnois- 
 ance preparatory to selecting the route and site for the road. February 
 28, 1828, Pennsylvania chartered the railroad company in that State, 
 and on March 3 Maryland, mainly tiiroiigh the etforts of John V. L. 
 McMahon, authorized tlie subscription of half a million of dollars, on the 
 condition that the company locate the road so that it should go to or 
 strike tiie Potomac River at some point between tlje mouth of tlie Mono- 
 cacy River and the town of Cundjerland, in Allogheny County, and thiit 
 it go into Frederick, Washington, and Allegheny counties. The United 
 States engineers, on April 5, recommended that the route of the rail- 
 road from Baltimore should be along the valley of tlie Patapsco, and 
 then to the Point of Rocks, and afterward the company's engineers con- 
 firmed this opinion, saying that the route by the valley of tlie Potomac 
 possessed many advantages in respect to economy of construction, cost 
 of motive power, and pros[)ective coniniercial advantages. Agents were 
 therefore sent out to secure the title to the lands along the proiiose<l 
 route, along which, however, there was but little choice to be had. 
 
 The subscription books of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com- 
 pany were closed March 31, 1827, on which day there were taken 
 13,387 shares, making in all 41,788 shares taken, of which 5,000 shares 
 had been taken by the cit}' of Baltimore. The amount of mone}' 
 subscribed in Baltimore alone was $1,178,800, divided among 22,000 
 persons or names. 
 
 The Baltimoreans were really in earnest, it began to be discovered, 
 about this railroad business, for by A[)ril 30, 1828, they were devising 
 a railroad from Baltimore to Washington. They applie<l to Congress 
 to allow them to make that part of it falling within the limits of the 
 District of Columbia on terms similar to those granted them in 
 the State of Maryland, the charge on the transportation of goods to 
 be not more than one cent per ton per mile for toll, and three cents 
 per ton per mile for transportation, and for passengers it was not to 
 exceed three cents per mile. 
 
 On the 4th of July, 1828, the corner stone of the Baltimore and 
 Ohio Railroad was laid by- the venerable Charles Carroll, in the 
 presence of many thousands of people. 
 
 lii January, 1829, four of "Winan's wagons" were put to work 
 on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, on a part of the road where 
 there was a curve of about five or si.x hundred feet radius; and, while 
 the rails made only a temporary road, and were not true, either 
 
322 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 liorizoutally or on tlie curve, yet upon this road a horse (h-ew tliese 
 four wagons, loaded with gravel and sand wliieli, together with the 
 wagons, weighed fifteen tons, hackward and forward upon tlie road 
 with ease; and it would therefore appear that upon a road properly 
 graded and graduated, one horse could perform the work of thirty 
 horses on a common turnpike road. 
 
 For some time after work on this railroad commenced, the question 
 of the use of locomotives remained unsolved. In March, 1829, their 
 engineers were in England, observing the success of railroads in that 
 country. Their attention was given p)articularly to locomotives, and 
 they found that thej- could lie used where the ascent was as much as 
 72 feet per mile. On a part of the Killingsworth Railroad, where the 
 inclination was 50 feet per mile, a locomotive descended with 20 loaded 
 cars and ascended with the same number of empt^' ones. On the 
 Stockton and Darlington Railroad they saw a locomotive of ten horse- 
 power descend a slope of 10 feet per mile with a train of 12 loaded 
 cars at 15 miles per hour, and return with the same wagons loaded at 
 the rate of 10 miles per hour. The weight of each wagon was 25 
 hundred-weight, and the load of coal weiglied 53 hundred-weight, or 
 in other words, the load was in the aggregate 45 tons. From obser- 
 vations sueli as these, it became evident that the power on railroads 
 would soon ])e furnished by steam. 
 
 In January, 1831, application was made to Congress, by the 
 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, for permission to extend their 
 road to the District of Columbia; but in tliis connection it was 
 readily seen that if this company sliould be granted that privilege, the 
 Wasliington Turnpike Company would be ruined. This company, 
 some fifteen years previous to the time of asking for the privilege of 
 extending the railroad, that is, in about 1815, when it was dangerous 
 to attempt to travel over the wretched road then connecting Baltimore 
 and Washington, and when at the best the journey took the better 
 part of two days, had at great expense constructed their turnpike, and 
 liad accommodated tlie public in many ways. The turnpike had been 
 largely advantageous to the two cities, and, in fact, to the entire 
 country between them adjacent to the turnpike, and to everybody but 
 to the stockholders themselves, who, a writer in the National Intelli- 
 qenccr said, did not for the first twelve years after constructing the 
 road receive a cent in dividends; but that for the few years previous 
 to 1830, the road had yielded something in the way of dividends; and 
 then the Ijultiniorc and Ohio Railroad Company "very modestly" came 
 forward and proposed to make a railroad parallel to the turnpike, thus 
 
TRANSPOR TA TION. 323 
 
 monopolizing a ricli liarvest ami at tlio same time ruining the 
 turnpike company. Such a course, though abstractly legal, was thought 
 by some to be eminently unjust, inequitable, and impolitic; and hence 
 it was argued that if Congress should give the Baltimore and Ohio 
 Railroad Company the privilege of constructing its railroad from 
 Baltimore to Washington, it was necessary, in order to be just, to 
 compensate the turnpike company in some way for the losses that 
 they would inevitably suffer. 
 
 As has been stated, the "corner stone" of this road was laid 
 July 4, 1828, and with great ceremony. During the fall of 1829, the 
 laying of the rails was commenced witliin the city of Baltimore, 
 tiie first rails beiug laid on wooden sleepers, at the eastern end of the 
 Mount Clare premises, under the direction of Major George W. Whist- 
 ler and John Ready. The first division of the road was opened for 
 passengers May 22, 1830, and during the tirst few months afterward 
 the people of Baltimore continued to throng the depot to try the 
 new mode of travel; and although but one track was completed and 
 the number of cars limited, and these cars drawn by horses, yet the 
 receipts up to the 1st of October amounted to $20,012.86. During the 
 first year, there being no settled means of propulsion, Evan Thomas 
 constructed a sailing car, which he named "The Eolus,'" which 
 attracted wide attention throughout the United States, and even in 
 foreign countries. December 1, 1831, the opening of the branch 
 road to Frederick was celebrated, and on April 1, 1832, the whole 
 line was opened to the Point of Rocks, making seventy-three miles 
 of the road then finished and in operation. 
 
 January 4, 1831, the company offered liberal inducements to the 
 inventive genius and mechanical skill of the country for the produc- 
 tion of locomotive steam engines. "The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 
 Company, being desirous of obtaining a supply of locomotive engines 
 of American manufacture, adapted to their road, the president and 
 directors hereby give public notice that they will pay the sum of 
 $4,000 for the most approved engine, which must be delivered for trial 
 upon the road on or before the 1st of June, 1831, and they will also 
 pay $3,500 for the engine which shall be adjudged the next best and 
 be delivered as aforesaid," subject to nine separate conditions, one of 
 the most notable of these conditions being that the engine "must not 
 exceed three and a half tons in weight, and must on a level road be 
 capable of drawing day by day fifteen tons, inclusive of the weight of 
 the wagons, fifteen miles per hour." The company agreed to furnish 
 Wiuan's wagons for the test. 
 
3'2'4 H/STORY OF ]\:iSH/A'GTOiY. 
 
 Tlio result of tills call upon American nieclianics was that three 
 locomotives were produced, only one of which, however, answered the 
 purposes of the compan3\ This was made by Davis & Gartner, of 
 York, Pennsylvania, and was named the "York." This locomotive 
 traveled between Baltimore and Ellicott's Mills, a distance of about 
 12 miles, at the rate of from 15 miles per hour on curved portions 
 of the road, to 30 miles per hour on straight portions of the line, 
 though it did not displace horses for some time; indeed, the demands 
 u[i(.)n the road for transportation of freight and passengers were so 
 ii-reat that it was not for some time after this that it had locomotives 
 enough to allow of the doing away with horses. About October 1, 
 1831, the editor of the National Intelligencer had a ride on a railroad 
 car for the first time, and as his paper had consistently favored the 
 caiud in preference to the railroad, it is interesting to note the impres- 
 sions made on his mind by this novel mode of travel. He said: " We 
 traveled in a large car, drawn by one horse, carrying eight or ten 
 persons, capable, we suppose, of carrying thirty or forty. In the 
 distance between Baltimore and Ellicott's Mills the horse was changed 
 but once going and coming, ami in returning, the whole distance, 
 thirteen miles, was traveled in tifty-nine minutes. The locomotive 
 steam machine, by which cars loaded with persons are occasionally- 
 drawn, is pro[)elled at about the same rate, and might be propelled 
 much more rapidly if it were desirable, but for our part we have no 
 desire to be carried by any mode of conveyance more than thirteen 
 miles per hour. . . . And we do not think we should feel safe on a 
 railroad in traveling by night at anything like that speed. . . . We 
 owe it to the general reader to say that nothing occurred in the short 
 examination we were able to give to the matter to change tiie o[iinion 
 we have heretofore advanced of the relative value of railroads and 
 canals as great highways of commerce." 
 
 In January, 1832, the Intelligencer was still of the opinion that 
 i^anals were much superior to railroads for all the purposes of com- 
 merce. This was, however, before the locomotive had become a success 
 on railroads, and this fact ought to be taken into consideration when 
 reflecting upon the pertinacity with which nniny people adhered to the 
 same opinion. Canals were, of course, fully developed then, while rail- 
 roading was in its infancy, tiiough this fact, so clear now, was not 
 cai)able of recognition then. 
 
 Both the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Chesapeake aiul 
 Ohio Canal were delayed in their construction two or three years by 
 litigation brought on by tlie latter company obtaining an injunction 
 
TR. INSPOR TA TfON. .325 
 
 from the comit}- court of Wasliiiigtoii Count}-, restraining further 
 proceedings of tlie railroad company in obtaining titles to lands over 
 which their railroad must pass, and over wiiicli it had already been 
 located. This was followed by the railroad conii)any obtaining an 
 injunction restraining the canal compau}- from taking any further 
 steps in the construction or location of tiie canal wiiich might render 
 unavailable a decision in favor of the railroad company on the first 
 injunction. And as the owner of the fee simple to the title of the 
 pass of the Potomac on the Catoctiu Mountain at the Point of 
 Rocks, the railroad company still continued to prosecute the con- 
 struction of its road at that place. Then followed a second injunction 
 l)y the canal company, restraining the railroad company from con- 
 structing the road at all in Frederick County, although the greater 
 part of the railroad through that county could never come in collision 
 with the canal. This last injunction was, however, afterward witli- 
 drawu by tiie canal company, so far as it related to land east of tlie 
 Point of Rocks. 
 
 In January, 1832, the Court of Appeals decided the injunction 
 cases b}' the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company against the rail- 
 road company, the decision preventing the railroad company from 
 appropriating or using land for the railroad until the canal company 
 should have located its canal between the Point of Rocks and Har- 
 per's Ferry, and the progress of the railroad was thus for a time 
 arrested again. The available space in the district to be preoccupied 
 l)y the canal was either too narrow to admit the parallel passage of 
 both the canal and railroad, or would at least be used by the canal 
 company at its usual extreme breadth, and this would eltectually 
 exclude the railroad. There were, therefore, but four alternative modes 
 of procedure: 
 
 1. To })rocure the permission of the canal company for the 
 construction of the two works side by side from the Point of Rocks 
 to Harper's Ferry. 
 
 2. To construct the railroad alongside of the canal upon such 
 site as might remain after the canal company had exercised its right 
 of choice. 
 
 3. To cross tlie Potomac at tlie Point of Rocks and ascend the 
 valley on the Virginia side. 
 
 4. To tunnel through the mountain spurs. 
 
 After a great deal of trouble and delay and perverseness on the part 
 of both companies, an adjustment was at length made by the passage 
 of a law by the State of Maryland, March 22, 1833, by which the 
 
326 H/STORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 niilroad compiiny was to pay the canal company $266,000 for all claims 
 under the law, which was called the compromise act, this adjustment 
 being brought about mainly through the influence and ettbrts of Charles 
 F. Mayer, eflectively assisted by B. S. Pigman, of Allegheny County. 
 Ma3' 9, 1833, therefore, the canal company commenced the joint con- 
 struction of the canal and railroad, from the Point of Rocks to Harrier's 
 Ferry, and on December 1, 1834, the road was opened for travel and 
 freight transportation to Harper's Ferry. 
 
 In the meantime, the corps of engineers, under the direction of 
 Benjamin II. Latrobe, were rapidly bringing to a close the surveys 
 of a branch of the road to Washington, and on March 0, 1833, an act 
 was passed under which this branch was constructed, and by which 
 the Washington and Baltimore Turnpike Company, the destruction 
 of whose interests were so much feared by some, was permitted to 
 subscribe for a certain amount of the stock of the railroad compan_y. 
 The bridge over the Patapsco River was immediately put under 
 contract. When completed, tliis bridge was a magnificent granite 
 viaduct, consisting of eight elliptical arches, each of fifty-eight feet 
 span, with the roadway sixty-si.K feet above the surface of the 
 water. It was designed by Benjamin II. Latrobe, and was at that 
 time the largest structure of the kind in the United Stiites. In the 
 case of this viaduct, as well as that of the branch road to Washington, 
 the expense of construction was actually within the estimate. 
 
 This lateral branch of the railroad from Baltimore to Washington 
 was in an advanced stage of progress in April, 1835. The contractor 
 for that portion of it that lay within the limits of the District of 
 Columbia was Mr. Ennis, who broke ground u[ion his portion of the 
 i-oad April 21. Mr. Belt had the contract from the limits of the Dis- 
 trict to Bladeusburg, and had then considerable of his work com- 
 jileted. On July 1, the president and directors, together with the 
 principal officers of the railroad, accompanied by several citizens of 
 Baltimore, made a trip of inspection over this road, coming <h)wn to 
 Bladensburg, at which place they were met by the Mayor of Wash- 
 ington and others. The rails laid down on this branch were of 
 im[)roved construction, and greatly superior to any previously in use. 
 The locomotive which brought the party down from Baltimore was 
 " of great power," antl each car comfortably accommodated sixty 
 passengers. The road would have been completed to Washington 
 by that time, but for the delay in the arrival of a cargo of iron, 
 wliicli did not sail from England until May 16, but which should have 
 sailed a month earlier. On Wednesday', July 8, 183r), the company 
 
TRAA'SPOR TA TfON. 327 
 
 began running passenger trains between Baltimore and Biadensburg, 
 passengers being taken from Washington to Bladcnsburg by stage 
 coaches. 
 
 "By applying our modern mode of computing distances, — by 
 hours, instead of days and miles, — the distance between the two cities 
 of Baltimore and Washington is henceforth to be two liours; that 
 from Washington to New York, twenty-six iiours; and from Wash- 
 ington to Boston, fort}' hours! Are we in a dream?" 
 
 On Monday, July 20, 1835, trains commenced running down to 
 tlie District line, twice each day, occasionally making twenty miles 
 per hour. The tirst locomotive run on the Baltimore and Washington 
 Railroad was named the "General Washington," and others succeeding 
 this one were named after the Presidents of the United States. Wil- 
 liam Gwyun was the engineer of the "General Washington," which 
 locomotive was a kind of marvel of the times, running thirty succes- 
 sive days, conveying a train of passenger cars more than seventy miles 
 per day, without requiring to be repaired I 
 
 On August 25, 1835, occurred the opening of the Baltimore and 
 Washington Railroad to Washington. "Two cars will leave the ticket 
 office at tlie intersection of Second Street West and I'ennsylvania Ave- 
 nue this day [Sunday] at 4:00 p. m., to convey the invited guests to Bal- 
 timore, to join the train from Baltimore on Tuesday. A car will leave 
 Washington on Tuesday morning at ten o'clock to convey the members 
 of the corporations of Washington, Alexandria, and Georgetown to 
 Bladensburg to meet the trains from Baltimore." August 25, 1835, 
 was a great day in Washington. "It was a glorious sight to see 
 four trains of cars, each with its engine, extending altogether several 
 hundred yards in length, making their entry by this new route, to 
 the delight of thousands, to a spectator on elevated grounds north of 
 the Capitol." The number of persons brought in on the trains from 
 Baltimore was about one thousand, accompanied by two brass bands. 
 They marched to Gadsby's and Brown's hotels, at both of which 
 bounteous and sumptuous entertainments had been provided. The 
 trains arrived in Washington about one o'clock, and started on the 
 return trip about four o'clock. 
 
 On September 15, 1835, the trains began to run on schedule 
 time, leaving Washington at 9:00 a. m., and 4:30 p. Jt., and leaving 
 Baltimore at 8:15 a. m., and 4:00 p. m. "As there is no standard 
 time in Washington, it is recommended to passengers to be at the 
 depot before the hours named for the departure of the cars." 
 
 The receipts of this road for the following four mouths in 1836 
 
328 If/STORY OF ]\-.lSJf/NGT(h'V. 
 
 were us follows: April, 119,230.33; May, $22,180.45; Juno, $18,(313.91; 
 July, $17,648.07; total, $77,681.76. 
 
 Ill Jul}', 1842, an arraugenieiit was made with Messrs. Baring 
 Brothers, of London, England, by which they agreed to furnish the iron 
 requisite to finish the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Cumberland, on 
 a credit of seven years, $50,000 to be paid each year, thus, it was 
 thought, placing the construction of the road to Cumberland to that 
 point, early tlie ensuing fall, beyond doubt. In 1849, the road was 
 extended west of Cumberland twelve miles. Wlien it was determined 
 to extend tlie road from Cumberhiiid to Wheeling. T. W. Ward, 
 attorney for the Barings, of London, under date of December 31, 
 1849, telegraplied to Thomas Swann, president of the Baltimore and 
 Ohio Railroad Company, "The contract is made at live pounds 
 ten." Twenty-three thousand tons was the amount purcliased at 
 this price. 
 
 Tliis company, in 1851, erected some valuable improvements in 
 this city: First, an engine house; second, a car liouse; third, tlie 
 main building, wliicli was 119 feet on New Jerse}' Avenue, was two 
 stories high, and had a tower 100 feet high. J. II. McMachen, of 
 Baltimore, superintended the work, and M. G. Emery, of Washington, 
 executed the granite work. 
 
 A most interesting experiment was made on the Baltimoi'c and Ohio 
 Railroad on the last Tuesday in April, 1851, b}- Professor Cliarles G. 
 Page, with his electro-magnetic locomotive, running it from Wasliington 
 to Bladensl)urg and back. It was made, liowevor, with only half the 
 power the engines and batteries were capable of yielding. Each engine 
 wiis estimated by Professor Page at twelve horse-jiower, which would 
 make the locomotive twenty-four horse-power. The locomotive, witli 
 batteries full charged, weighed ten and a half tons. With the seven 
 passengers taken on the trip it weighed eleven tons. Under the most 
 favoi'able arrangements, eight pounds were required to start a ton on a 
 perfectly level rail, and seven pounds would barely keep a ton in motion. 
 Tlie magnetic locomotive, the first of its kind ever made, being 
 imperfect and fidl of stiffness in all its parts, ran very hard. A horse- 
 power, on the nsn;d estimates, is one hundred and fifty pounds rnnning 
 two and a half miles per hour, or three liundred and seventy-five 
 pounds running one mile j)er hour. The speed of the magnetic 
 locomotive was fifteen miles per hour on a level road, and its traction 
 was two iiundred pounds. It was therefore estimated that this 
 locomotive devclojied eight horse-power, when in motion. But it had 
 fi greater power at a lower speed. After the engine was on the road 
 
TR.-IXSPOR T. A rrON. 329 
 
 it was found necessary to tlirow out of action five of tlic lielices, and 
 these at tlie most important i)art of tlie strol-ce. This difticulty could 
 not l.)e overcome without taking out botli of the engines, which 
 could not be done at the time. Another diliiculty encountered on 
 this experimental trip was the breaking of tiie porous cells in the 
 battery, causing a mixture of the two acids and tlie interception of a 
 large portion of the power. In all, seven of the porous cells broke, 
 which took away one-half of the power. Going to Bladensburg the 
 locomotive was stopped five times, or the run would have been made 
 in thirty minutes. One very important and interesting feature of this 
 magnetic locomotive was that its reversing power was greater than its 
 propelling power, nearly twice as great, in fact, which Professor 
 Page had demonstrated several years before. 
 
 In October, 1851, Professor Page presented his locomotive to the 
 Smithsonian Institution, which, with its accompanying electro-magnet, 
 forms one of the most prominent and interesting features in the phil- 
 osophical department. This is the same engine that worked the Morse 
 telegraph in 1844. It was constructed with reference to the maximum 
 quantity of electricity to be obtained b}- magneto-electric excitement, 
 to ascertain whether the electricity so obtained would be sufficient to 
 operate an electro-magnetic engine, which in its turn should furnish 
 sufficient magnetic power to keep the magneto-electric machine in 
 motion, but it was never tested for this purpose. 
 
 The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was so far completed in De- 
 cember, 1852, that the first train passed over it from Baltimore to 
 Wheeling on the 31st of that month, in fifteen hours and fifteen 
 minutes. 
 
 On Marcli 3, 1853, Congress passed an act providing that when- 
 ever MarylaiTd should incorporate a comjiany to lay out and construct 
 a railroad from any point in conuection with the Baltimore and Ohio 
 Railroad, at or near the I'oint of Rocks, to Georgetown, in the District 
 of Columbia, the right of way shoukl be granted to such company, 
 provided, that before any such road, or its depots, or its fixtures 
 should be located in Georgetown, the consent of the citizens of that 
 place should be obtained. May 5, 1853, the Maryland Legislature 
 incorporated the Metro[iolitan Railroad Company, naming John W. 
 Maury, W. W. Corcoran, W. W. Seaton, David English, Francis 
 Dodge, and Frederick W. Risque, of the District of Columbia; Charles 
 E. Trail, Jacob M. Kenkel, and Meredith Davis, of Frederick County; 
 Robert T. Dade, William Lingan Gaither, and Frances C. Clopjier, of 
 Montgomery County; David Weisel, James Wason, and Elias Davis, 
 
330 H/STOk'Y OF U:iS/l/NGTON. 
 
 of Wasliiiigton, as couinii.ssioiier.s to receive subscriptions to tjjc ciniitiil 
 stock of the company, recpiiring tlieni to keep the subscriiition books 
 open, the tirst time they were open, for at least ten days; and 
 then, if sutHcient subscriptions were not received, tliey might keep 
 tlieni open from time to time for twelve months, or until a sufficient 
 amount of stock were subscribed to warrant the organization of a 
 company. The capital stock was fixed at $2,000,000, in shares of $50 
 each, and as soon as ten tliousand shares should be subscribed tlie 
 com[iany was declared incor[)orateil, by the name of the Metropolitan 
 Kail road Company. 
 
 The commissioners held the tirst meeting at the Unit)n Hotel 
 in Georgetown, and it was there determined to open books for sub- 
 scriptions June t), and to keep them open until the close of the 16th 
 of the niontli. The banks at Washington, Georgetown, Frederick, 
 Maryland, Boonesborougli, and at Hagerstown were to act as agents 
 to receive subscriptions. The result of the subscriptions for the 
 first ten <lays was that at Washington there were subscribed 1,806 
 shares; at Georgetown, 6,723; at Rockville, 220; at Hagerstown, 
 216; and at Frederickstown, 115; total, 9,080. Thus there was a 
 deficiency of 920 shares, and a necessity for a second opening of 
 the books. These books closed the second time on July 2, 1858, at 
 which time the subscriptions stood as follows: Georgetown, 7,057; 
 Washington, 2,200; Montgomery County, 388; Frederick County, 
 140; Washington County, 224; total, 10,000; though in order to 
 nud<e up this number the commissioners from Georgetown and two 
 of those from Washington, themselves, on July 5, took about 400 
 shares. The counties through which the road was to pass took 
 very little interest in the road, as may be seen from their subscrip- 
 tions. The number of shares having been subscribed, a meeting 
 was held at Union Hotel July 28, for the purpose of electing twelve 
 directors, wlio were elected, as follows: John W. Maury, W. W. 
 Corcoran, George Parker, and Josejih Dryan, of Washington; David 
 English, A. H. Dodge, William M. Boyce, A. H. Pickrell, and H. C. 
 Matthews, of Georgetown; F. C. Clojiper, of Montgomery County; 
 Meredith Davis, of Frederick County; and Daniel Weisel, of Wash- 
 ington County. 
 
 June 28, 1854, at a meeting of the directors, the report of the 
 engineer on the subject of the location of the route was received, 
 the following I'oute having been selected: Leaving Georgetown on 
 Prospect Street, passing around south of the college, up the Fountain 
 Branch and on toward Drover's Rest; thence to the easterly part of 
 
TRANSPOR TA TFON. 331 
 
 Rockville; thence passing on near Gaitliersl)urg, about one mile east 
 of Barnesville; then passing the west side of Siigar-Loaf Mountain 
 and running to tiie Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, about five miles 
 west of Monocac}' Viaduct; tlience direct to Frederick; from Frederick 
 to Hagerstown by way of Getzenstanner's Gap, on the Catoetiu 
 Mountain, and Turner's Gap, on the South Mountain, passing east of 
 Boouesborougli to Hagerstown. 
 
 The route having been selected, the great question still remained, 
 which could only be determined by the public, and that was: Should 
 the work of construction be commenced. It could not commence 
 without substantial aid from the upper counties through which it 
 was to pass, and they hail shown how much interest they took in the 
 project by the number of shares of stock for which they had sub- 
 scribed. Francis Dodge was president of the company at that time. 
 
 In January, 18G3, President Lincoln sent a message to each branch 
 of Congress on this subject. Its great benefits to Washington were 
 fully and graphically set forth in the public prints, and an estimate 
 was made of what it would have saved the Government had it been 
 completed before the war. So far, of course, all efforts to construct 
 this road had resulted in failure. 
 
 July 1, 1864, an act of Congress to incorporate the Metropolitan 
 Railroad Company was approved, and amended by an act approved 
 March 3, 1865, three years being given in which the company might 
 complete the road. In March, 1865, an act was passed by the Mary- 
 land Legislature naming as commissioners to receive subscriptions to 
 the stock of the company, G. W. Riggs, Richard Wallach, and Henry 
 Willard, of Washington; Henry Addison, Henry D. Cooke, and John 
 T. Mitchell, of Georgetown; Francis C. Clopper, Walter M. Talbott, 
 Allen B. Davis, Thomas Lausdale, and Nicholas D. Otfut, of Mont- 
 gomery County; and Charles E. Trail, Jacob M. Kemkel, and Robert 
 H. McGill, of Frederick County, Maryland. The capital stock of the 
 company was as before fixed at |2, 000,000, in shares of $50 each, and 
 when ten thousand shares were subscribed the commissioners were to 
 call a general meeting of the subscribers for the purpose of selecting 
 directors to manage the affairs of the company. 
 
 The Metropolitan Railroad afterward became a part of the Bal- 
 timore and Ohio Railroad system, and is now operated as such. It 
 was completed May 28, 1873, and is forty-two and three-quarters 
 miles long. 
 
 The Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company was organized under 
 a charter granted by Congress, May 6, 1853. December 18, 1858, at 
 
832 HISrORV OF W.-ISH/NGTON. 
 
 a meeting held at Upper Marlboroagli, seven directors were elected, as 
 follows: Edward Robinson, of Virginia; J. S Sellnian, of Anne Arundel 
 Count}'; Edmund J. Plowdeii, of St. Mary's; John W. Jenkins and 
 Walter Mitchell, of Charles County; W. D. Bowie and W. W. Bowie, 
 of Prince George's County. The contemplated road was to extend 
 from Baltimore to a point on the Potomac River opposite Acquia 
 Creek, and to have a branch running into Washington. But little 
 was accomplished on this work for a number of years. About March 
 1, 18G7, the first five miles were graded, extending from the crossing 
 of the Annapolis bridge to the Patuxent River. It was then taken 
 hold of by Northern capitalists and pushed forward with considerable 
 energy, and the road was so far completed that it was opened for 
 travel July 2, 1872, the first train leaving Baltimore at 9:15 a. m., and 
 reaching Washington at 1:00 p. iM. Trains from Alexandria and Fred- 
 ericksburg also began arriving at the Sixth and B Street depot on 
 the same day. The road was completed to Pope's Creek January 1, 
 1873. The main line, extending from Baltimore to Pope's Creek, is 
 73.13 miles long, and the branch running from Bowie Station to 
 Washington is 18.93 miles in length. This railroad is a continuation 
 of the Penns3lvania system, and connects with the Southern railroads 
 through the National Capital and over the Long Bridge. 
 
 The Washington and Alexandria Railroad Company was incorpo- 
 rated by an act of the Legislature of Virginia, passed February 
 27, 1854, the commissioners to receive subscriptions, named in the 
 act, being James S. French, John W. Maury, A. J. Marsliall, Cornelius 
 Boyle, George Frencli, Edgar Snowden, and R. W. Latham. Tiie 
 cajjital stock of the company was limited to $300,000, in shares of 
 flOO each. The purpose of the company was to construct a railroad 
 on tlie plan of J. S. French, "as set forth to the House of Delegates 
 in document No. 65, session of 1850-51," and whenever two thousand 
 shares should be subscribed the companj' was to be considered incor- 
 porated, under the name of the Alexanilria and Washington Raili'oad 
 Company. Mr. French claimed for his plan greater security for 
 passengers, and tlie ability to use lighter machinery. 
 
 This road was completed so that the first train passed over it 
 November 1, 1856. The first train consisted of four cars drawn by 
 the locomotive "Jolin T. Towers." Cars commenced running on 
 regular time November 25, 1850. The road was eight miles in 
 length. It was sold April 10, 1862, to Alexander Ilay, of Philadelphia, 
 for $12,500, subject to a judgment of $250,000. May 3, 1862, tlie 
 company was reorganized under the name of the Washington and 
 
TRANSrOR TA T/ON. 333 
 
 Georgetown Riiilroad, with a board of tive directors — Alexander 
 Hay, Joseidi Thornton, Horace M. Da}', Sihis Seymour, and Joseph 
 B. Stewart. Mr. Hay was elected president, Mr. Stewart secretary, 
 Mr. Tliornton treasurer, and Mr. Seymour general superintendent. 
 
 The gentlemen thus placed iu charge of the interests of tlie 
 company endeavored to secure from Congress a new charter for 
 the compau}-, for the erection of a branch across the Potomac River 
 and the right of way through certain streets of the city of Wash- 
 ington. 
 
 This was in time accomplished, and the road received the name of 
 the Washington City and Point Lookout Railroad Company, under 
 the charter granted iu 1871. The companj' was required to build a 
 railroad from Wasliingtou to Point Lookout, a distance of eighty 
 miles. Tlie work of grading this road was commenced in 1872, and 
 that portion of the road extending from the Baltimore and Ohio 
 Railroad at Hyattsville to the Potomac River, opposite Alexandria, 
 completed in 1875. It was leased to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 
 Company for $36,000 per annum, payable in gold, one-tenth part of 
 which was annually appropriated to extinguishing the issue of bonds 
 maturing June 1, 1913. Default of interest was made July 1, 1882, 
 and under a decree of foreclosure granted September 1, 1885, the road 
 was sold for $75,000 January 13, 188G, and tlie bondholders formed a 
 new railroad company in April, 1886, under the name of the Wash- 
 ington and Potomac Railroad Company. 
 
 The Washington and Chesapeake Beach Railway Company was 
 chartered in 1882, with an authorized capital of $100,000. It has very 
 recently secured power to establish a seaside resort at Chesapeake 
 Beach, in Calvert County, Maryland, and will construct a railroad 
 twenty-eight miles long, connecting with the Baltimore and Potomac 
 Railroad at Upper Marlborough, and with the Baltimore and Ohio 
 Railroad near the east line of the District of Columbia. It is expected 
 tliat the road will be completed about August 1, 1892. 
 
 The first bridge across Rock Creek was built iu 1792 or 1793, by 
 the commissioners of the District of Columbia. It was on K Street, 
 and consisted of a single arch, the arch being composed of stones 
 representing the several States of the Union, as thej' were then. The 
 kej'stone had upon it the shield of Pennsylvania,, and it is believed 
 that it was from this fact that Pennsylvania has always been known 
 as the "Keystone State." The theory of making K Street as wide 
 as Pennsylvania Avenue was, that a great deal of wagoning would 
 cross the creek and <>'o on out toward Bladensburi!'. 
 
334 H/STORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 In tliG winter of 1807-08, jiii act was passed by Congress author- 
 izing the eonstruction of a bridge across the Potomac River within 
 the District of Columbia. Subscription Ijooks were opened at Stelle's 
 Hotel, April 1, 1808. Subscriptions were authorized up to two tlion- 
 sand sliares, $10 of each share to be paid at the time of subscribing, and 
 the residue to be paid in installments of $10 each when called for b}' 
 the commissioners. Tlie commissioners appointed under this act were 
 Robert Brent, Daniel Carroll of Duddington, Thomas Munroe, James 
 D. Barry, Frederick May, Samuel H. Smith, -Jonah Thomi)Son, Jon- 
 athan Swift, Thomas Vowell, Cuthbert Powell, Elisha Janney, and 
 Charles Alexander. These commissioners were authorized to open 
 subscription books for raising a capital stock not to exceed .$200,000, in 
 shares of $100 each, for the purpose of erecting a bridge over tlie 
 Potomac l)etwcen the city of Washington and Alexander's Island. 
 Whenever nineteen Inindrod shares of stock should be subscribed for, 
 in accordance with the provisions of tlie act of Congress, they were 
 to \iQ considered a corporation under tlie name and style of the Wash- 
 ington Bridge Company; and as soon thereafter as practicable the 
 commissioners were required to cull a meeting of the stockholders for 
 the purpose of electing live directors, a clerk, and a treasurer, and such 
 other officers as might be deemed necessar}'. A meeting was therefore 
 held on Monday, May 2, 1808, at Stelle's Hotel, for the election of 
 the above-named officers, the directors being Daniel Carroll, George 
 Blagden, Frederick May, William Harper, and Robert Young. Daniel 
 Carroll was elected president. On Ma}- 4, the compan}* advertised for 
 timbers of various kinds with which to build the bridge, and also 
 for the iron work, carpenters, and lal)orers. Thomas Vowell was 
 elected treasurer, and Samuel Elliott, Jr., clerk. Tlie bridge was so 
 far completed as to be opened for travel May 20, 1809, but as it was 
 not quite finished, passage to and fro was free for a few da^'s. 
 
 Up the Potomac River, about three miles above Georgetown, a 
 bridge was built across the river by Mr. Palmer. It was of wood, and 
 in about seven years fell to pieces from the natural processes of decay. 
 The second bridge erected at this place was by Mr. Burr, architect 
 of the celebrated Trenton liridge, and on the same principles, and was 
 also of wood. This bridge lasted about six months, having cost about 
 $80,000; but the abutments were not destroyed when the bridge itself 
 gave out. The tiiird bridge was erected upon the principles of that 
 built a few years before by Judge Findley near Uniontown, Penn- 
 sylvania, ovei' Jacob's Creek. It was a suspension bridge, supported 
 solely by iron chains thrown over piers erected ujion the abutments 
 
TR.-tNSPOR T.t TION. 335 
 
 about twenty feet high. These chiiiiis were four in imniher, and the 
 pendents were hung ui)on tlie cliains alternately about five feet apart, 
 so that each chain received a jiendent in every ten feet. This manner 
 of construction was, however, in violation of the instructions of the 
 inventor, Judge Findley, who said that one chain on each side would 
 liave been sufficient, and one-half the pendents, so that the bridge as 
 constructed had more than twice tlie strength that it would ever 
 need, and of course cost a great deal more than was necessary. 
 The four chains, hanging as they did, were able, according to Judge 
 Findley, to sustain from 225 to 280 tons, and from the manner in 
 which the pendents were strung on the chains it was next to impos- 
 sible that any one of the pendents would ever have to bear one- 
 fortieth of what it was able to bear. Tlie span of this bridge was 
 128| feet, the width 16 feet, and the weight 22 tons. The cost was 
 less than $4,000. The wood part of this bridge could easily be 
 repaired, and it was confidently expected that the iron portion would 
 last a century. Judge Findley's plan of bridge building was con- 
 sidered the most valuable then discovered, combining great strengtli 
 and durability, and also extreme cheapness. 
 
 On February 13, 1840, this chain bridge was entirely carried away 
 by a freshet, and its timbers floated down the river. 
 
 The Washington Bridge, mentioned above, was opened for traffic 
 May 31, 1809. It liad cost $100,000. It had a broad carriage way in 
 the center and a footway on each side, set oif by a double rail for the 
 protection of pedestrians. It was a wooden structure, and nearly a 
 mile long. Tlie toll was twenty-five cents for a man and liorse, and 
 |1 for a four-wheeled horse-carriage and a pair of horses. But this 
 toll never paid a reasonable profit to the company. Notwithstanding 
 that this toll was enormous, it superseded the use of any adjacent 
 ferry for twenty years, and furnished continuous communication 
 between the two sides of the Potomac. Neither was there any 
 serious accident to it until February 22, 1831, when a freshet swept 
 away a considerable portion of it. For some time afterward its use 
 was suspended. 
 
 The company asked Congress for assistance to rebuild the bridge, 
 but during the discussion of the question a bill was introduced, and 
 finally became a law, appropriating $20,000 to purchase the rights of 
 the bridge company, and $60,000 to reconstruct the bridge, the plan 
 to be approved by the President. The plan approved by the President 
 was a most elaborate one, reported by George C. Gratiot and Colonel 
 James Kearney. These engineers reported the plan of an iron bridge, 
 
336 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 wliicli would cost prolnibly aljoiit $1,293,250, wliile a wooden bridge 
 would not cost more than about $706,110. President Jackson, in a 
 message to Congress, stated tliat he had adopted tlic wooden bridge in 
 preference to the iron one. Congress soon afterward appropriated 
 1200,000 toward the construction of any bridge that the President 
 might approve, and on April 11, 1833, proposals wei'e [)ublished Ijy 
 order of the I'resident, tlirough tlie Secretar}- of the Treasury, for 
 the construction of a bridge with stone abutments and with piers and 
 arclies of stone, and by May 1 it was currently reported in the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia that a contract had been entered into for the con- 
 struction of a bridge, and that the bridge so contracted for would 
 cost nearly $2,500,000. But a misunderstanding arising between the 
 contractors and the Secretary of the Treasury, no contract was in 
 reality completed, and consequently the commencement of the work 
 was delayed. Soon afterward 0. H. Dibble, who had been for some 
 years a contractor on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, ottered to 
 construct the [iroposed bridge, substituting solid masonry for stone 
 piers and abutments resting on piers, and to do all the 'work for 
 $1,350,000. The proposition of Mr. Dibble was accepted December 0, 
 1833. Congress was then in session, but the question was not submitted 
 to that body as to whether it approved the substitution of a bridge 
 costing $1,850,000 for one for which it had appropriated $200,000. 
 
 Charles Fenton Mercer was a member of Congress, at that time, 
 from Virginia. On the 20tli of December, Mr. Mercer ottered a res- 
 olution in the House of Representatives couched in the following 
 language: "That the President of the United States be requested to 
 lay before this House a copy of any contract which ma}' have been 
 made for the construction of a bridge across the Potomac River at 
 Washington, together witli the authority under which the contract 
 may liave been made; the names of the contractors and their securi- 
 ties, if any; and the plan and estimate of the cost of such bridge.'" 
 
 An answer was received to tliis I'csolution, January 7, 1884, and 
 referreil to the Committee on Roads and Canals. This committee 
 promptly decided that it was incompetent to proceed with the con- 
 struction of the stone bridge across the Potomac, which would 
 cost, according to the estimates of the best engineers, anywhere from 
 $2,000,000 to $5,000,000; and the chairman of the committee, Mr. 
 Mercer, on the lOtli of February, rejiorted a bill to repeal all acts 
 theretofore jiassed on the subject of the Washington iiridge, except 
 .so much of the first act — that of July 14, 1832, — as authorized the 
 contract with the Washington Bridge Company and the reconstriic- 
 
TRANSPOR TA TION. 337 
 
 tioii of the bridge at a cost not exceeding $130,000, on the site and 
 phm of tlie old bridge, provided that uiion the shoals between the 
 main eiiannels a solid embankment might be made, not exceeding 
 one thousand, six hundred and sixty feet in length, which was one- 
 third of the space between the abutments of tiic old bridge. 
 
 According to surveys made in tlie winter of 1832-33, tlie width 
 of the river at the point where tiie bridge was constructed was 4,984 
 feet, as follows: Middle channel, 575 feet; flats, 943 feet; swash chan- 
 nel, 437 feet; flats, 1,716 feet; Virginia channel, 942 feet; to the shore, 
 371 feet. Of all this breadth there was not more than 450 feet of firm 
 bottom, and in some places this firm bottom could not be reached at 
 a less depth than 26 feet. It was thought that 42 feet in heigiit would 
 be sufficient to permit the passage of steamboats, witiiout taking into 
 account the height of chimne3's, as they could be lowered. According 
 to Lieutenant-Colonel Kearney, the bridge would be somewhat as fol- 
 lows, if built in ct)nforniity to the act of Congress: 
 
 Proceeding from the Maryland alnitment, for 3 arches and 3 
 piers, 292 feet; for the Washington draw and pier, 88 feet; for 33 
 arciies and piers, to the opening of the Georgetown pier, 3,734 feet; 
 for the Georgetown draw and pier, 88 feet; for 4 arches and 6 
 piers, 452 feet; for 3 arches and 2 piers descending, 270 feet; total, 
 4,924 feet. 
 
 The plan decided on by the President for a bridge across the 
 Potomac is interesting, as showing what he would have done had he 
 not been prevented b}' the economical spirit of Congress, lie had 
 decided u[ion it previous to April 11, 1833, as he was required to do 
 by Congress. That plan was as follows: The bridge was to ha\'c 
 had 41 arches and 2 draws; 42 piers and 2 abutments with tiieir 
 half-piers. The arches were to have been of 06 feet span, and 25 feet 
 rise above the springing line, and were to be curves of several centei's, 
 all semi-elliptical. The piers and abutments were to have risen 7 
 feet above low watei'. The draws were to have been '<:>'<!> feet wide, one 
 to be placed at the Marylaiul channel, the other at the Virginia 
 channel. Tlie l^i'idge was to have been 36 feet wide between the 
 parapets, and the jiiers, arches, and abutments were to have been of 
 granite. A full and particular description of this proposed bridge 
 of President Jackson, which the engineers estimated to cost from 
 $2,000,000 to $5,000,000, was published by Hon. Louis McLane, Secre- 
 tary of the Treasury, commencing with April 12, 1833. 
 
 The bridge that was built in the [ilace of this proposed one was 
 opened for traffic October 29, 1835. George W. Hughes was the 
 
338 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 engineer of construction. According to his report tlic l)ri(lge cost 
 $113,126, nearly $17,000 less tiian tiie sum uiiprojiriutcd for it by 
 Congress. Tlie engineer said tliat he considered tlie bridge very 
 uncertain as to its existence. Under favorable circumstances it might 
 last tliirty years, and it might be destroyed within a year. But no 
 one was to blame for the building of sucli a bridge but Congress, 
 which should not have permitted the erection of anytliing but a 
 substantial bridge. 
 
 The doleful predictions of the engineer as to the existence of this 
 bridge began to be realized in May, 1836, in wbicii month a freshet 
 did considerable damage to it. On June 7, Congress passed a joint 
 resolution authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury "to have all 
 repairs made to the bridge across the Potomac River which have 
 become necessary from the late ilood; and that the expense of said 
 repairs be paid out of the money heretofore appropriated for the 
 erection of said bridge, and which is now in tlie treasury unexpended." 
 December 7, 1836, lion. Levi Woodljury, Secretary- of the Treasury, 
 submitted a statement to Congress showing that in the aggregate there 
 had been expended on the repaii's to the bridge, to the causeway-, to 
 tlie draws, to the abutments, etc., $11,992.65, and that there was still 
 left of the original appropriation $4,194.18, which was applicable to 
 the grading, graveling, and planting of Maryland Avenue. 
 
 On March 3, 1839, the jurisdiction of the corporation of Wash- 
 ington was extended over this bridge. In February, 1840, a freshet 
 occurred, whicli carried away the chain bridge above the Little Falls 
 and did great damage to the Long Bridge. This disaster caused 
 inquiry into the propriety of the location of Long Bridge, and some 
 were of the opinion that a better one could be found where the 
 Alexandria Canal Company's aqueduct crossed the river. These peo- 
 ple reasoned that the Alexandria and Falmouth Railroad Compan}' 
 would soon be seeking a passage across the Potomac, and it was 
 thought that the railroad should cross the river in connection with 
 the aqueduct. Others thought there was no insuperable obstacle to 
 making Long Bridge a permanent structure, nothing being required 
 to this end but stone piers at each of the draws, and ice-blockers 
 above, strong enough to resist and check the mass of tioating ice. 
 Wliat was necessary was to cause the ice to iloat, for then it would 
 not dam up the stream and cause an immense pressure of water 
 against the bridge. The ditliculty in the way of getting a good bridge 
 built was that committees of Congress were not in the habit of 
 consullinn' with men who understood the work that was to be done. 
 
TA'.LvspoA' T.I r/oy. 339 
 
 "Ignorance, even wlicn opportunity lias existed to remove it, assumes 
 a humble degree of respeetability when it candidly shows itself; wlien 
 it seeks to disguise itself in the habit of knowledge it becomes 
 ridiculous; but, unfortunately, the consequences of the deceit are 
 sometimes too mischievous to be contemptible." 
 
 In the winter of 1856-57, an attempt was nuide on the part of 
 certain persons to secure the discontinuance of the Long Bridge. Of 
 course this movement was opposed by others. A meeting of the 
 citizens of Alexandria was held February 20, 1857, for the purpose of 
 expressing hostility to the proposed removal of the bridge. The^' 
 considered tliat the aqueduct as a point of transit from one side of 
 the river to the other would make their northern connection by 
 ordinary means exceedingly inconvenient, and earnestly urged their 
 Representatives and Senators in Congress to use their best efforts to 
 avert the calamity. There was also a movement started in Alexandria 
 to prevent the piers of the aqueduct over the Potomac from being used 
 for the support of a railroad bridge. A committee of citizens waited 
 on the committee of the House of Representatives, February 25, 1857, 
 addressing them on the immediate reconstruction of the bridge, making 
 the offer of the Washington and Alexandria Railroad Company to 
 repair the bridge and keep it in repair if Congress would permit the 
 construction of a railroad track over it. Georgetown was not asleep 
 on this subject. Mayor Addison called a meeting of the citizens to 
 formulate an expression of their sentiments, the meeting to be held 
 on the 26th of the month. Citizens of Washington also assembled in 
 mass meeting in the evening of the 26th, in the City Hall, for the 
 same purpose. At this meeting the Mayor presided, and J. Carroll 
 Brent acted as secretary. A series of resolutions was presented and 
 adopted, expressing hearty s^-mpathy with the people of Alexandria in 
 their desire for the continuance of the Long Bridge, the site upon 
 which it stood being best adapted for communication between the 
 north and south sides of the river. A committee was appointed con- 
 sisting of twent}" persons, afterward enlarged to twenty-six, to lay the 
 whole subject before Congress; this committee consisting in part of 
 the Mayor, W. B Magruder, and Ex-Mayors W. W. Seaton, Peter 
 Force, Walter Lenox, and John T. Towers. 
 
 Without pursuing this subject into detail, it is sufficient to say that 
 the movement of the citizens in the way above described, prevented 
 the entire destruction of Long Bridge by Congressional authority, 
 and in due time measures were taken to again repair the bridge, the 
 Councils of the city of Washington a[ipropriating $5,000 toward that 
 
340 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 olijuct. Tliis was oil Miiy 25, 1857. By Novcinbur 1, 1858, tlie liridye 
 wa.s agiiiii repaired ho as to be put in use. 
 
 Ill February, 1867, the Long Bridge was carried away by Hoating 
 ice, rendering coninuinication between tlie two sides of tlie river 
 impossible, except by way of the cliain bridge, involving an ordinary 
 day's journe\'. In the emergency thus created, the lessees of the 
 canal ottered the Government the use of the piers of the aqueduct 
 for the erection of a [lermaneiit l)ridge over the Potomac. This otter, 
 however, was not accepted, and Long Bridge has been kept up until 
 the present day. 
 
 The first movement looking toward the construction of a street 
 railroad in Washington was made in 1854, a memorial of the citizens 
 of Washington and Georgetown being presented to Congress about 
 February 1, that year, praying that authorit}- might be granted to 
 George W. Yerliy and others to construct a horse-power railroad 
 through Pennsylvania Avenue and other public thoroughfares of the 
 city of Washington. This memorial was signed liy a great number 
 of citizens. This project aroused considerable opposition, those o[)posed 
 saying that such a railroad was uncalled for by eitlier jjublic or 
 private necessity; that it would lie hurtful to the true interests of tlie 
 city, most injurious to the convenience and beauty of the principal 
 tliorouglifares of the city; that it would make the avenue totally 
 unsuitable for the purposes for which it was originally designed. 
 
 But little, if anything, apjiears to have been accomplished in the 
 direction of the construction of this road until May 25, 1858, on 
 which day the House of Representatives passed a bill, authorizing 
 Gilbert Vanderwerken, Ba^'ard Clarke, Asa P. Robinson, and their 
 assigns, to construct and lay down a double-track railroad on Penn- 
 sylvania Avenue and Fifteenth Street, from the west gate of the 
 Capitol grounds to the city line of Georgetown, the cars to be drawn 
 by horse ]iowcr, and the rate of fare not to exceed five cents. The 
 iharter of the road was for twenty-five years. 
 
 That the corporation was not opposed to this entcrjirise is shown 
 by the action taken by the Councils, December 80, 1858, on which 
 day they adopted the following resolutions: 
 
 "That the joint committee of the Councils to attend t<i the 
 interests of the corjioration before Congress be, and they are iK'rcby, 
 instructed to i-c(picst and urge upon Congress to pass such law or 
 laws as will give to this corporation full power and aiitli(U'ity to 
 authorize the c(hisI riu'tioii nt' railroads in the streets of the city of 
 Washington, and to control, regulate, and lax the same. 
 
TK.lXSPORT.iT/ON. 341 
 
 "Tliiit tlie M;tyor l)e, iiiid lie is liereby, requested to have u copy 
 of these resolutions transmitted to the President of the Senate and 
 the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to every member 
 of tlie Senate and House of Representatives of the United States." 
 
 A meeting was held November 10, 1859, to further the eftbrt to 
 construct a railroad from the Navy Yard in Washington to some 
 point in Georgetown. Mr. George Mattingly submitted a report, 
 accompanied by articles of agreement, and a bill to be submitted to 
 Congress at its next session for enactment. The principal feature of 
 the articles of compact was tbat not more than ten shares of stock 
 should be taken by any one person, until after the public had bad 
 three days' opportunity to subscribe. The act also provided that 
 there should be a president and nine directors to superintend the 
 construction of the road, which should not be of less tlian four feet 
 gauge, which must be commenced within six months from the passage 
 of the act, and be completed within two years. 
 
 A third meeting of the citizens was held Tuesday, November 
 15, at which time a petition for a charter received forty-eigiit signatures, 
 and $33,000 of stock was subscribed. A committee of five was 
 appointed to solicit additional signatures, and a second committee of 
 five to appoint a committee of thirt}- to secure the charter from 
 Congress. At another meeting, held on the 25th, a little over $100,000 
 was subscribed, and by the 26th the subscription had reached 1100,000. 
 By December 1, the entire §200,000 was secured, taken by four 
 hundred and fourteen subscribers. 
 
 In 1862, it began to be hoped that tlie cit\' would enjoy the 
 privileges of a street railroad. The war was concentrating in and 
 around Washington a poi)ulation of nearlj' 200,000, including the 
 encampments. Ofhcors and men complained of the inconveniences 
 of moving about from one part of the city to anotiier. There were 
 l)ut few hacks, and they could not bo obtained except at a rate of $2 
 per hour, or for a visit to the camps, even within the city limits, 
 without making a $10 job of it. An act incorporating this company- 
 was approved May 17, 1862, and books for the subscription of stock 
 were opened May 23. The name of the company thus incorporated 
 was the Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company. By this 
 charter the capital stock was required to be not less than $300,000 nor 
 more than $500,000, and the Bank of Washington was selectetl as tlie 
 depository of its funds. E. Kingman was chosen president, and J. J 
 Coombs secretary. Of the 6,000 shares of stock issued, 1,327 were 
 taken in Washington, 42 in Georgetown, and the rest mainly in New 
 
342 HfSrORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 York and I'hihuloliiliia. But in the aiiiiortionmeiit of directors, four 
 were given to tlie District of Colundtia, two to J'iiiladelpliia, and one 
 to New York. Work on tlie road was iinniediately commenced, and 
 b}' August 13 it was completed to Georgetown, with the exception of 
 a small piece across the aqueduct bridge over Rock Creek, and there 
 were fifteen cars running as far as the Circle, in t-onuection witli 
 omnibuses to Georgetown, at five cents from one end of the line to 
 the other. October 2, 1862, the ears commenced running to the Navy 
 Yard, and then the whole line was in operation from the Xav}' Yard 
 to Georgetown. The line (h:)wn Seventh Street to the river was com- 
 pleted November 14, 1862. 
 
 In July, 1865, the statistics of tliis road were as follows: Number 
 of cars per da}', 60; number of trips, 941; average number of trips 
 for each car, 16; whole number of trips during the year, 343,465; 
 mimlier of passengers carried dui'ing the year, 8,651,223; gross earn- 
 ings of the road during the year, $450,000. 
 
 Tlie officers of the Washington and Georgetown Railroad Com- 
 pany since its organization have been as follows: Presidents — II. D. 
 Cooke, 1862-63; George S. Gideon, 1863-67; William Duning, a few 
 months in 1867 and 1868; S. S. Riker, 1868-74; Samuel L. riiiUips, six 
 months in 1874; Henry Hurt, 1874 to the present time. Secretaries 
 and Treasurers — 11. C. Fahnestock for the first few months; William 
 C. Greenleaf, 1862-67; A. W. Nichols, 1867-70; Henry Hurt, 1870-74; 
 C. M. Koones, 1874 to the present time. 
 
 The ^Seventh Street road was changed to a cable road May 1, 
 1800. The jilant Ijy which the cable is propelled is situated on Square 
 No. 504, between Water and Four and a Half streets, and fronting on 
 the Arsenal. In this power house are two engines, each of two iiundred 
 and fifty horse-power, but capable of developing five hundred liorse- 
 power each. The legislation under whicii this cable road was built 
 was permissive only, but in 1890 Congress passed a supplemental act 
 rc(piiring the entii'e system of the Washington and Georgetown Rail- 
 road to be operated by cable or electricity, and the change to be 
 completed in two years from the passage of tiie act. Under this 
 legislation, which was really unnecessary, as the company intended to 
 cliange from horse power to tiic cable system, tiie cliange to tiic cable 
 system is now in progress, and will be completed witliin the time 
 required by law, which expires August 6, 1892. The power house 
 in which the machinc'ry will be located is being ert'cted on Square 
 No. 255, between Thirteen and a Half and Fourtt'cnth streets, and D 
 and E streets Northwest. The estimated cost of the machinerv to be 
 
TR. ANSrOR T. A TION. 343 
 
 ereutod in tlii.s building is $150,000. Tliure will liu two seven hundi'eil 
 and fifty horse-power engines, and eight one liundred and cigiity-tbnr 
 horse-power boilers. The total length of the cable road belonging to 
 this company will, when completed, be eleven miles of donble track, 
 and the entire cost of the change is estimated at $3,500,000. 
 
 The Metropolitan Raih'oad Company was organized under an 
 act of Congress approved July 1, 1864, with the following-named 
 incorporators: A. R. Shepherd, Ricliard Waliach, Lewis Clephane, 
 S. r. Brown, S^athaniel Wilson, Franklin Tenncy, M. G. Emery, 
 Samuel Fowler, John Little, J. C. McKelden, S. J. Bowen, J. IL 
 Semmes, D. C. Forney, W. W. Rapley, W. (3. Moore, Thomas Lewis, 
 J. B. Keasby, and Charles H. Nicliols. This comjiany has about ten 
 miles of donble track. Its east and west line runs from Thirty-fifth 
 and streets to Twenty-fifth Street, to P Street, to Connecticut 
 Avenue, to Seventeenth and II streets, to Fourteenth Street, to F 
 Street, to Fifth Street, to Louisiana Avenue, to East Capitol Street, to 
 Lincoln Park. 
 
 Its north and south line begins on Brig.htwood Avenue, above 
 Florida Avenue, and runs south on Ninth Sti-eet to the Market 
 House, to Missouri Avenue, to Four and a Half Street, to Street, 
 to the steamboat wharves; also, a line on Brightwood Avenue, past 
 the Soldiers' Home to Brightwood. 
 
 The first president was S. P. Brown, M. G. Emery being treas- 
 urer, l)oth of whom served until March, 1865. From March, 1865, to 
 July, 1884, J. W. Thom[)son was president. George W. Pearson has 
 been president since July, 1884. William W. Moore was secretary and 
 treasurer from January, 1865, to January, 1887, and since then 
 William J. Wilson has been secretary and treasurer. 
 
 The present board of directors is composed of George W. Pear- 
 son, A. A. Wilson, A. A. Thomas, Dr. Daniel B. Clarke, Robert 
 Bell, John Cammack, and Robert Weaver. The company is about to 
 change its motive power from horses to electricity, and expects 
 to complete the change during the summer of 1892. 
 
 The Columbia Street Railroad Company was organized under a 
 charter granted May 24, 1871, with the following board of directors 
 and officers: J. G. McKelden, president; William H. Clagett, secretary; 
 George H. B. White, cashier of the National Metropolitan Bank, 
 treasurer, and Alexaniler R. Shepherd, Hon. A. M. Clapp, N. B. 
 Fugitt, Colonel S. S. Sinoot, and M. M. Rohrer. Tiie route of this 
 company commences at Fifteenth Street and New York Avenue; 
 thence along this avenue to K Street; then past the old Northern 
 
344 ///SrOA')^ OF \\\lS///yGTON. 
 
 Liberties Market on tiie soiitli iside; tlieii down Massacluisctts Avemie 
 to II Street, and tlien on II Street to tiie toligate, a distance of nearly 
 tliree miles. Originally a single track was laid, with tnrn-oiits, but 
 in October, 1871, it was decided to construct a doui)le track, which 
 was completed in March, 1872. The cost of the road, as a double- 
 track road, togetlier with nine cars, forty horses, land, and stables, was 
 $99,971.10. Tlic present equipment of the road consists of one hun- 
 dred and forty-four horses, sixteen two-horse summer cars, and sixteen 
 two-horse winter cars. It is designed to change to an exclusively 
 mechanical equipment as soon as practicable. 
 
 The officers of the company have been as follows: Presidents — 
 J. C. McKelden, 1871 to 1874; II. A. Wiliard, 1874 to 1889; W. II. 
 Clagett, May, 1889, to Marclj, 1890; W. J. Stephenson, March, 1890, to 
 the present time. Vice-Presidents — So far as tlie records show, Henry 
 Dickson, to 1885; E. G. Davis, 1885 to tiie present time. Secretai'ies 
 and Treasurers— William IP Clagett, 1871 to May 30, 1889; K. F. 
 Baker, 1889 to the present time. 
 
 The Anacostia and Potomac Railroad Company was incorporated 
 March 9, 1872, the original incorporators being L. W. Guinand, Jolm 
 Hitz, Thomas E. Riley, Alfred Richards, Thomas A. Ricliards, Zadok 
 Williams, John Grinder, John A. RufF, George B. Smith, and Madison 
 Davis. Nothing was done until 1875, when a new charter was granted, 
 under which a reorganization was effecteil, the board of directors 
 being Dr. Noble Young, Edward Temple, R. B. Chirke, L. W. 
 Guinand, II. A. Griswold, John Webster, Alfred Richards, Zadok 
 VVilliiims, and George A. Rohrer. The first officers were L. W. 
 Guinand, president; Madison Davis, secretary; Tliomas A. Ricliards, 
 treasurer. By this second charter Congress prescribed the route of 
 this road, as follows: From the Treasury by way of Fourteenth 
 Street to Water Street; then along M Street to Eleventh Street; then 
 across the Navy Yard bridge ami along the Good Hope road to the 
 District line, an entii'c distance of about seven miles. In 187^), 
 the charter was so amended as to require the I'oad to be built by way 
 of Ohio Avenue to the Center Market. In 1888, the right was given 
 to build the road from Eleventh and M streets Southeast, along Elev- 
 enth, G, E, Canal, and Third streets, Missouri Avenue, and B Street, to 
 the Center Market; and also along G, Seventeenth, and E streets to 
 the Congressional Cemetery. This pm-tion of tiie road was constructed 
 in 1889 and 1890, and was completed in January, 1891. Additional 
 franchises wert^ granted, allowing the construction of the road, by 
 way of Second and M streets, to connect with the main ov G Street 
 
TR.IXSPOK TA TION. 345 
 
 line at Canal Street, wliieli road was constructed in l.S!ll, making 
 tlie entire length of the line operated by tliis company thirteen and 
 one-half miles. Should the bill now before Congress become a law, 
 providing for the building of the road from Center Market by Ninth 
 Street to G, then to Eleventh and E streets, and back by Ninth Street, 
 the entire length of the line will l)e about sixteen miles. 
 
 All the old tracks of this road have been relaid with standard 
 girder construction, with a view to the adoption of an improved 
 electric or other motor power. The equipment of the road at the 
 present time consists of one hundred and fifty horses, sixteen summer 
 cars, and twenty-eight winter cars, all two-horse. 
 
 The officers of the company have been as follows: L. W. Gui- 
 nand, president; H. A. Griswold, secretary and superintendent, and 
 Thomas A. Richards, treasurer; Mr. Guinand serving until his death 
 in October, 1880; then H. A. Griswold, president and superintendent, 
 until the present time; Thomas E. Smithson, secretary, until July, 
 188G, then J. Beachani Pitcher, until the present time. Mr. Pitcher 
 subsequently succeeded Mr. Richards as treasurer, and is now serving 
 in that capacity also. 
 
 The Capitol, North O Street, and South Washington Street Rail- 
 road Company was incorporated b}' a special act of Congress, approved 
 March 3, 1875, the following gentlemen being named as the incorpora- 
 tors: Joseph "Williams, William J. Murtagh, Hallet Kilbourn, Benjamin 
 F. Fuller, William J. Cowing, Samuel R. Bond, AVilliam Saunders, 
 George W. Goodall, George A. Mcllhenny, L. A. Bartlett, and L. II. 
 Chandler. The route along which this companj' was authorized to lay 
 down their road, which might be either a single or double track, was 
 as follows: Commencing on First Street West, in front of the Capitol 
 grounds, and running thence due north along First Street to G Street 
 North; thence west to Fourth Street; thence on Fourth Street to O 
 Street; thence to Eleventh Street; thence to E Street; thence to Four- 
 teenth Street; thence to Ohio Avenue; thence to the intersection with 
 Twelfth Street; thence to Virginia Avenue; thence to Maryland Ave- 
 nue; and thence to First Street, the place of beginning. 
 
 This act was amended, Maj- 23, 1876, so as to authorize the exten- 
 sion of the line on Fourth and Eleventh streets West, from Street to 
 P Street, and to lay a single track and run its cars one way ujion 1' 
 Street, Ijetween Fourth and Eleventh streets. The charter was again 
 amended, March 3, 1881, so as to authorize the compan}- to remove 
 its track from Ohio Avenue and Twelfth Street Southwest, and to lay 
 a single or double track from the intersection of Ohio Avenue and 
 
346 H/SrOKY or W.lS/ffXGTO.Y. 
 
 Fourteciitli Street to C Street Soutliwest, eastwanlly aldiiy C Street 
 to Virginia Avenue, to connect witli its line at tiie junction of this 
 avenue and street; and also to lay a single or double track from its 
 line on P Street and Eleventli Street Northwest, north on Eleventh 
 Street to Boundary Street; and to lay a single or double track from the 
 intersection of C and Eleventh streets Southwest, along Eleventh Street 
 to Water Street, and then to M Street South, this to be the southern 
 terniinus of the road. The charter was again amended, March 1, 1883, 
 authorizing the comiuiny to extend its line, by laying a single or 
 double track, commencing at the intersection of Eleventli and E streets 
 Northwest, along E to Ninth Street, along Ninth to Louisiana Ave- 
 nue, then to Ohio Avenue, and then to the junction of Ohio Avenue 
 and Twelfth Street Northwest. Then, in May, 1888, an amendment 
 was made to the charter so as to authorize the construction of the 
 road beginning at Fourteenth and B streets Southwest and extending 
 along B Street to Twelfth Street Southwest, to connect witii the com- 
 pany's line on the latter street. The entire length of line of travel 
 is now about eight and one-half miles: and its present equipment 
 consists of two hundred and thirty horses and tifty-two cars. Tiie 
 rails are for the most part eighty-pound grooved rails, and the ties 
 are of white oak, hewed, and [)laced three feet, six inches apart. The 
 board of directors are very active in securing for tiie road the best 
 equipment that is practical, and within the law of {."ongress on the 
 subject of street railways in the District. They have purchased S(piare 
 No. 330, at the head of Eleventh Street Northwest, where they intend 
 to erect a power house adapted to the necessities of that form of 
 mechanical equipment which shall ultimately be adopted, and when 
 this power house shall be erected they will aljandon their jiresent 
 plants at Third and B streets Southwest, ami at Twelfth and V streets 
 Northwest. The capital of this company, at first $200,000, lias been 
 increased to $500,000. 
 
 The first meeting of the incorporators of this company was held 
 December -"iO, 1874, and the company was organized March 8, 1875, by 
 the election of Josej)h Williams president, W. J. Cowing secretary, 
 B. F. Fuller treasurer, and S. K. Bond attorney. The ofHce of 
 attorney was abolished February 23, 1875. May 3, George A. Mcll- 
 henny was elected president, and ujion his resignation William Saun- 
 ders was elected, Octdber 14, 1875. S. U. Bond was elected December, 
 1875; Edward Temple served from 187t! to 187it; Charles White, May 
 12, 1879, to 1889; W. J. Cowing, November 29, 1889, to 1890; George 
 White, May 12, 1890, to the present time. Vice-Presidents — A. M. 
 
TRANSPOR TA TFON. 347 
 
 Clapp, December 2(3, 1880; \V. J. Cowing, May, 1890; Oliarlcs Flint, 
 18'J1 to the iireseiit time. Secretaries and Treasurers — W. J. Cowing, 
 until May 8, 1876; U. S. Cowing, 1876 to 1878; R. S. Chew, November 
 23, 1878, to 1881; W. E. 13oughton, May 23, 1882, to 1889; II. A. 
 Haralson, December 30, 1889, to 1890; II. K. Gray, March 3, 1890, to 
 tiie present time. Superintendents — John La line, until May, 1877; 
 Mr. Armstrong, for a short time; John W. Belt, May 22, 1878, to 
 September 1, 1878; S. S. Daish, September 1, 1878, to July 1, 1881; 
 
 E. L. Barnes, July 1, 1881, to May 26, 1884; Andrew Glass, May 
 26, 1884,- to the present time. 
 
 The Rock Creek Railroad Company was organized under a 
 charter granteil by Congress, June 22, 1888, the incorporators being 
 Gardner G. Hubbard, George Trnesdell, Samuel W. Woodward, Otis 
 
 F. Presbrey, John F. Waggaman, B. K. Dlain, Jolin Ridout, A. F. 
 Stevens, Leroy Tuttle, Lawrence Sands, Edwanl C. Dean, James 
 B. Wimer, Samuel S. Shedd, Leroy Tuttle, Jr., Robert J. Fisher, Jr., 
 and Pitman Mann. Active work did not commence, iiowever, until 
 the amended charter was secured. May 28, 1890, by which the route 
 of the road was clianged so as to extend to tlie line of the District of 
 Columbia on the line of Connecticut Avenne extended. The road 
 now begins at the junction of Connecticut and Florida avenues and 
 runs on Florida Avenue to Eighteentli Street, on Eighteenth Street to 
 the Columbia road, thence to Rock Creek, and then on tlie line of 
 Connecticut Avenue extended to the District of Columbia line. From 
 this point the road has been graded and built into Maryland. The 
 company has done a great deal of grading on Connecticut Avenne 
 extended, and lias built two very expensive bridges on its line. The 
 entire main line was completed and put in operation about May l.'j, 
 1892. It is a double-track road, equipped with the Thomson-Houston 
 system of overhead electric wires. It began operation with eighteen 
 cars. The length of the road, including its branch road from Eight- 
 eenth Street and Florida Avenue along U Street and Florida Avenue 
 to North Capitol Street, is about eight miles. The power house is 
 located at the end of the line in Maryland, and is equipped with two 
 engines, each of a nominal horse-power of two hundred and fifty, and 
 four dynamos, of eighty kilowatts each. The officers of the company 
 at the present time are Francis G. Newlands, president; Edward 
 J. Stellwagen, vice-president; Thomas M. Gale, treasurer; Howard 
 S. Nyman, secretary; and other directors, Henry E. Davis, John 
 J. Malone, and Albert \V. Sionssa. General A. J. Warner is superin- 
 tendent of construction, and W. Kesley Schoepf, engineer. 
 
348 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Tlie Eckiiigton and Soldiers' Home Railway Coininiiiy was char- 
 tered June 19, 1888, the incorporators being Edward F. Beale, Edward 
 C. Dean, A. L. Barber, George Truesdell, James L. Barbour, George 
 E. Moore, C. C. Diuicanson, Michael Connor, and Joseph Paul. Tiie 
 company was organized August 2, 1888, with the following officers: 
 George Truesdell, jiresident; C. (1 Duncanson, vice-itresident; Jose[)h 
 Paul, secretary, and E. Kurtz Johnson, treasurer. These officers still 
 retain their respective positions. G. S. Patterson has been sniieriu- 
 tcndent since 1890. 
 
 Bj' its charter, this company was authorized to build a road from 
 the intersection of Seventh Street and New York Avenue, along New 
 York Avenue to Boundar}-, along the boundary to Eckington Place; 
 then north along Eckington Place to R Street, along R Sti'eet to 
 Third, along Third to T Street, and along T Street to the car house. 
 Tliis road was built and the cars commenced running thereon October 
 17, 1888, the cars being propelled b}- means of the Thomson-Houston 
 electric system, and was thus one of the tirst electric street railroads 
 in use in the United States. The company, by its charter, was also 
 authorized to extend its line along New York Avenue to Ivy City. 
 In the spring of 1889, it began operating cars on Fourth Street, and 
 added four vestibule motor cars and seven double-decked tow cars. In 
 the fall of the same year, it added three vestibule motor cars and 
 three double-decked tow cars. In the summer of 1889, the road was 
 extended along Lincoln Avenue and B Street nearly to Glenwood 
 Cemetery. The charter was amended April 30, 1890, authorizing the 
 extension of the track from "New York Avenue to Fifth Street, then 
 to G Street, and along G Street to Fifteenth; and also, beginning at 
 the terminus of the cemetery branch, along Lincoln Avenue to a 
 point opposite the entrance to Glenwood Cemeter}-; also, beginning 
 at the intersection of New York Avenue and North Capitol Street, 
 along the latter to the south boundary of the Soldiers' Home. The 
 road was built along G and Fifth streets in the spring of 1891. Two 
 storage-battery cars were run temporarily, as an experiment, from the 
 spring of 1891 to August 16, 1891, on which day the insulation of 
 six new cars was completed, and these commenced running November 
 1, 1891, and are still ruuning. 
 
 In the early part of 1891, the company commenced constructing 
 the North Capitol Street tracks, and completed the road as far as T 
 Street. Cars are not yet running on this road. The cemetery exten- 
 sion was completed May 29, 1891, and cars commenced running 
 thereon May 30, Decoration Day. 
 
TRANSPOR TA TION. 349 
 
 The power house is located oii Fifth Street, above T Street, 
 Northeast, at Eckington. The power house contains four Thomson- 
 Houston eighty horse-power generators and four one hundred horse- 
 power engines, three one luindred and ten horse-power boilers and two 
 forty horse-power Electric-Dynamic Company's generators, and one one 
 hundred horse-power engine, the latter being used in charging the 
 batteries of the storage cars, the other engines being used in propell- 
 ing the trolley cars. In 1889, the number of passengers carried was 
 538,870; in 1890, 750,833; and in 1891, 1,076,744. 
 
 At the last annual election, held on the second Wednesday in 
 January, 1892, the following gentlemen were elected directors: C. C. 
 Duncanson, E. Kurtz Johnson, Joseph Paul, M. M. Parker, J. H. 
 Lane, L. M. Saunders, Thomas Somerville, George Truesdell, and 
 B. H. Warner. 
 
 The Georgetown and Tennallytown Railroad was organized in 
 1888, and their railroad, which is an electric one, equipped with the 
 Thomson-Houston system, extends from Water and Thirty-second 
 streets, Georgetown, out on Thirty-second Street to the District line, 
 a distance of four and a half miles. The power house of this line is 
 situated about one mile from Water Street, and is equipped with one 
 two hundred and iifty horse-power Corliss engine, and one one hundred 
 and twenty-five horse- power Corliss engine, propelling four dynamos, 
 each of eighty horse-power. The first oflicers of this company were 
 General R. C. Drum, president; R. H. Goldsborough, vice-president; 
 John E. Beall, secretary; and George H. B. White, treasurer. General 
 Drum resigned the presidency in a few months, and was succeeded 
 by Mr. Goldsborough, and W. A. Gordon was chosen vice-president. 
 At the last annual election, held January 13, 1892, Spencer Watkins 
 was elected president, R. D. Weaver vice-president, John E. Beall 
 secretary, and George D. Ashton treasurer. 
 
 At the District line this road connects with two other electric 
 roads, the one owned by the Glen Echo Railroad Company, and 
 extending to Glen Echo, a distance of about three miles, the other 
 owned by the Tennallytown and Rockville Railroad Company, and 
 extending now to Bethesda Park, a distance of about three and a 
 half miles. It is expected that this line will ultimately be extended 
 to Rockville, Maryland. 
 
 The Norfolk and Washington, District of Columbia, Steamboat 
 Company was chartered by the Legislature of Virginia in February, 
 1890, with a capital of $100,000, which was increased in 1891 to 
 $300,000. The company was organized the following month with 
 
350 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 William E. Clark, president; Levi Woodbury, vice-president; C. C. 
 Duncanson, treasurer; John Keyworth, secretary, and John Callahan, 
 superintendent. Subsequently, Mr. Duncanson resigned and Mr. R. F. 
 Baker was elected treasurer in his stead. Contracts were made in 
 May, 1890, with the Harlan & Hollingsworth Company, of Wilming- 
 ton, Delaware, for the construction of two steamers, the Washington 
 and the Norfolk, which were completed and commenced running, the 
 former on March 28, 1891, and the Norfolk on April 3, 1891. These 
 two steamboats are each of iron, and two hundred and sixty feet in 
 length, and each cost $235,000. Some time afterward, the company 
 purchased of the Potomac Company their wharf and steamer, George 
 Leary, which boat they have had entire'y repaired and refitted, at an 
 expense of about $20,000. The two new steamers are first-class in 
 every respect, and are capable of running from nineteen to twenty 
 miles per hour. Their time between Wasliington and Norfolk is 
 usuall}- twelve and a half houi's, a distance of two hundred miles. 
 
 The Mount Vernon and Marshall Hall Steamboat Company has 
 been in existence for several years. Its boats, the principal ones of 
 which are the Charles Macalester and the Biver Queen, the latter an 
 elegant new steamer, ply between Washington and Alexandria, Mount 
 Vernon, Marshall Hall, and other points on the Potomac River, run- 
 ning to Mount Vernon in connection with the Ladies' Mount Vernon 
 Association, and charging $1 for the round trip to the latter, wliich 
 includes admission to the grounds. The officers of this company are 
 Joseph C. McKibben, president; L. L. Blake, vice-president; Thomas 
 Adams, secretary and treasurer; Samuel C. Ramage, general manager. 
 
 The Washington Steamboat Company, Limited, is the successor 
 to the Potomac Ferry Company, which originated in 186-1; the Wash- 
 ington Steamboat Company being organized in 1881. It has five 
 steamboats plying on the Potomac between Washington and points 
 below. These boats are named the Wakefield, T. V. Arrowsmith, Col- 
 umbia, City of Alexandria,, and City of Washington. The officers of 
 this company are C. W. Ridley, general manager; J. B. Padgett, gen- 
 eral agent, and Jonathan P. Crowley, treasurer. 
 
 Other steamboat lines are those of the People's Washington and 
 Norfolk Steamboat Company, the successor to the Inland and Sea- 
 board Coasting Company, which latter company was the successor of 
 the Washington, Georgetown, Alexandria, and New York Steamship 
 company, organized as early as 1867; the Independent Steamboat and 
 Barge Company, organized in 1889; and of E. S. Randall, and George L. 
 Sheriff. 
 
CIIAPTEPv X. 
 
 insTonv OF BAXKixa. 
 
 The Bank of Coluiiibia — Tlie Rank of tlie XJnited States — Office of DiBcount and De- 
 posit in Washington — "The Prothice Bank of the Potoiuac" — The Bank of the 
 Metropolis — The National Metropolitan Bank — The Bank of Washington — The 
 National Bank of Washington — The Union Bank of Georgetown — The Central 
 Bank of Georgetown and Washington — The Farmers and Mechanics' Bank — The 
 Patriotic Bank — Confusion of the Finances — Tlie Second National Bank — John 
 C. Calhoun on the National Bank — Directors of the Branch Bank in Washington 
 — President Jackson's Animosity to the National Bank — Suspension of Siiecie 
 Payments — Extension of Charters of the District Banks — Troubles with the Cur- 
 rency—President Tyler's Vetoes — The Banks of the District Practically Extin- 
 guished — The Freedman's Saving and Trust Company — Riggs & Company — Fii-st 
 National Bank — Merchants' National Bank — National Bank of the Republic — 
 National Savings Bank — National Safe Deposit Company — National Capital Bank 
 of W;ishington — Second National Bank — Citizens' National Bank — Washington 
 Safe Deposit Company — Columbia National Bank — Washington Loan and Trust 
 Company — American Security and Trust Company — Lincoln National Bank — 
 West End National Bank — Traders' National Bank — Ohio National Bank — Private 
 Banking Institutions. 
 
 ''piIE Bank of Columbia was establislied at Georgetown in 170o, and 
 J^ was tiie tirst institution within wiiat afterward became tbe Dis- 
 trict of Columbia. It was established l)y Samuel Blodgett, assisted 
 by Mr. Stoddert and Governor Johnson, of Fredericktown. Samuel 
 Ilaniion was cashier from its establishment up to 1801, when, not- 
 withstanding his earnest protest, he was superseded by William 
 Wiiann. When the Bank of Potomac was establislied in 1804, there 
 were immediately made severe criticisms on banks as institutions, and 
 Mr. Blodgett, in September of that year, made an elaborate defense 
 of them, and of his own course in connection with them. "I trust it 
 is now universally known that the invariable and only etiects of the 
 American baiddng system, as it has been hitherto practiced with 
 astonishing success, have been almost immediately to extend tiie com- 
 mercial and mechanical operations of every eligible place where these 
 institutions have been formed, and linall}', on account of the great 
 profits attained to the stock and realized in semi-annual dividends, 
 to draw foreign capital for the pur[ioses thereof, and often at an 
 advanced premium — a clear gain to the community." He also ^aid: 
 
352 n/STORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 "An ignorance of the effects, at the time, occasioned tlie exclusive 
 monopolizing clause in the constitution of the Bank of the United 
 States. Congress seeing how that foreigners, by holding almost tlie 
 whole of this banlv, are benefited, against the principles of equality 
 which we cherish in our commercial regulations for the general benefit 
 of our fellow-citizens, they will therefore repeal the injurious clause 
 in any application for a renewal of the charter now nearly expired. 
 Tlie}' will then grant the same privileges, not only to the Bank of 
 Potomac, but to several others I hope to see instituted in the Terri- 
 tory of Columbia in due time. We have now about $39,000,000 of 
 banking capital in the United States. England alone has about 
 $600,000,000 of banking capital, and to equal her beneficial experience 
 we might, for six millions of people, if more compactly situated, carry 
 our hanking capital to at least seven times its present sum, and to 
 the same advantages," etc. 
 
 On March 20, 1809, directors of this bank were elected, as follows: 
 John Mason, C. Worthingtou, William Marbury, John Cox, John 
 Threlkeld, Walter Smith, Henry Foxall, Marshall Waring, James 
 Dnnlop, I'hilip B. Kc}', Jeremiah Wins, and Thomas Peter. John 
 Mason was elected president, and was continued in this ofhce until 
 1816. X. Frye, Jr., succeeded General Mason, and was himself suc- 
 ceeded, in 1828, by Richard T. Lowndes, who continued to serve 
 until 1837. William Wbann served as cashier up to within a few 
 months of his death, on February 5, 1822, in Cecil County, Mary- 
 land, whither he had gone in hope of recovering his health, but in 
 vain.' Mr. Whann was succeeded as cashier by D. Kurtz, who served 
 , until 1828, when lie was succeeded by Richard Smith. 
 
 ^A friend of Mr. Whann, immediately afU'v liis death, wrote of Inm as follows: 
 " Perfection is not given to mortals, but if there ever was a truly good man the 
 deceased was one. He was indeed the good citizen, the kind parent, the true friend, 
 the sincere Christian. Hoping to find restoration of health in the quiet of a country 
 life, and a calm tor his wounded feelings, caused by a succession of atHictions and 
 misfortunes which had recently come to him, he resigned a position whicli lu' had 
 held for more than twenty years, and went to his immediate relatives; but it was 
 all in vain, and he died on the day above given. 
 
 "Then, reader, forgive this friendly zeal to save 
 Virtues like his from an oblivious grave. 
 I seek not his pure monument to raise 
 On the weak basis of a mortal's prai.se; 
 Nor yet to give, with still a vainer aim, 
 His modest merit to the voice of fame: 
 No — let his virtues in our bosoms rest. 
 To life's last hour indelibly impressed." 
 
N/SrORY OF BANkVXG. 853 
 
 Wlio was president after Mr. Lowndes, if an3'(jne, or cashier 
 after Eichard Smith, could not be ascertained, nor the precise date 
 of the failure of the bank, notwithstanding more time was spent in 
 the attempt to ascertain these facts than was warranted by thcii' 
 intrinsic value. The last legislation bj- Congress relating to tliis 
 bank was approved February 25, 1830, b}' wliich its charter was 
 extended to March 4, 18.39. It also provided that no discounts 
 should be made except such as might be deemed proper to renew 
 such notes as had already been discounted, and that no more promis- 
 sory notes should be put in circulation. This legislation also provided 
 that instead of a president and nine directors, as then required by law, 
 a board sliould be elected on the first Thursday in March, 1836, and 
 each year thereafter, so long as the law itself remained in force, who 
 should elect one of themselves president; and the stockholders were 
 authorized to choose trustees to wind up the affairs. It is therefore 
 altogether probable that this bank ceased to exist about 1839. 
 
 On Fcltruai-y 4, 1800, at a meeting of the president and directors 
 of the Bank of the United States, the following gentlemen, from 
 Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria, were elected directors of 
 the ofHce of discount and deposit for the District of Columbia for 
 one year: Joseph Carleton, Thomas Tinge}', William Brent, James 
 D. Barry, John V. Van Ness, Caleb Swan, Thomas Munroe, Joseph 
 Nourse, David Peter, William Stewart, Lewis Leblois, Benjamin 
 Shreve, Jr., and Phineas Janney. On the 3d of March, John P. Van 
 Ness was elected president of the board. February 3, 1807, the same 
 gentlemen were again elected directors, and Mr. Van Ness president. 
 February 2, 1808, the same board was again elected, with tlie 
 exception that John Tayloe was chosen in the place of Josej)!! 
 Carleton. February 7, 1809, the following gentlemen were elected 
 members of this board: John P. Van Ness, William Stewart, 
 Thomas Tingey, Caleb Swan, Joseph Nourse, James D. Barry, Thomas 
 Munroe, Lewis Deblois, Elias B. Caldwell, Walter Hellen, William 
 Brent, David Peter, and John Tayloe. February 0, 1810, the same 
 gentlemen were again elected, except that James Sanderson was chosen 
 in place of Caleb Swan. 
 
 This appears to have been the last election of officers for the 
 branch of the Bank of the United States in the District of Columbia; 
 and the bank itself soon liecanie extinct through the failure of Congress 
 to renew its charter. The main reason for this refusal was the fact 
 that the directors and a majority of the stockholders were Federalists, 
 and hence the institution itself was looked upon as a Federal institu- 
 
354 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 tion. But iiotwitlistiURrmg this feeling of prejudice, which should not 
 have actuated any nieinber qiialitied to be a nieniher of Congress, the 
 bill providing for its recharter passed the House of Representatives, 
 and in the Senate received seventeen votes to the same number 
 against it, its fate being decided by the vote against it of Vice-Presi- 
 dent Clinton, who had been opposed to tlie formation of the Federal 
 Constitution, and to any institution more national than those author- 
 ized by the old Confederation, and at the time of voting against the 
 recharter of this bank still cherished the same tendencies, slightly 
 modified. At the present day, this fact would seem to have been a 
 sufficient reason for electing some other person, one in favor of the 
 National Constitution and of national institutions, to the Vice-Presi- 
 dency. 
 
 After the expiration of the charter of this bank, in 1811, the 
 business of the office of discount and deposit in Washington was 
 conducted for a time by a temporary board of agents, of which Jobn 
 P. Van Ness was chairman. Still latei', a committee was appointed, 
 consisting of Messrs. Tayloe, Munroe, Ilcllen, Peter, Sanderson, and 
 Rowles, to manage the business, with a view of winding up its 
 affairs. This having been accomplished, it was soon found necessary 
 to make an attempt to establish another bank in Washington, there 
 being then but one little bank, on Capitol Hill, which had not funds 
 sufficient for the canal, road stock, and for the business houses in 
 the vicinity of its own property. The extension of the Bank of 
 Columbia in the Treasury Department had been felt only as a 
 nuisance, stimulating hope with the certainty of ending in disappoint- 
 ment, and even this feeling of hope had been felt oul}' by a few, as 
 no reasonable man could calculate upon an accommodation in (Jeorge- 
 town, except upon the usual principles of accommodating to secure 
 gj-eater wants. In short, the people were distressed for want of bank 
 acco7umodations, the commerce of the Potomac being nearly at a 
 standstill in consequence of limited bank facilities. The building of 
 the then late ofKce of discount and de[iosit was soon upon the 
 market, and available for the use of any new institution of the kind 
 that might be established, and the citizens of Washington were 
 invited to attend a meeting at Davis's Hotel on Wednesday, March 
 25, 1812, to appoint commissioners to open subscriptions to the stock 
 of a new bank. Among the princriples to be determined at this 
 meeting were these, according to the gentlenuin calling it: First, as 
 to till' exclusive aecommodati(ui of dealei's in the produce of tlu' 
 I'utoniac — hence the suggestion that the hank should be nanieil "The 
 
///STORY (>/•- n.LVAVX(7. 355 
 
 rrodueo I>ank of the I'otomac"; second, tliu extent of the ea[iital 
 of the new bank, which the siinie gentleman suggested sliould l^e 
 31,500,000; third, tlie commissioners to open the subscriptions. Tlie 
 following names were suggested as those of proper persons: Colonel 
 John Tayloe, John P. Van Ness, Commodore Tingey, Charles Carroll 
 of Bellevue, Lewis Dcblois, Elias B. Caldwell, Thomas Munroe, Walter 
 Ilellcn, Tench Ringgold, Buller Cocke, James Davidson, Silas Butler, 
 C. W. Goklsborough, William Simmons, John Graham, and D. 
 Sheldon. 
 
 At the meeting held in pursuance of the above suggestion, Charles 
 Carroll, of Bellevue, was elected chairman, and Edmund Law secretary. 
 It was then resolved, unanimously, that there be appointed seventeen 
 commissioners to draw up articles of association and to open subscrip- 
 tion books for the proposed new bank. Of the above-named gentlemen 
 all were appointed, except Lewis Deblois, Tench Ringgold, William 
 Simmons, John Graham, and D. Sheldon; and in addition, there 
 were appointed Washington Boyd, Roger C. Weightnian, Andrew 
 Way, James D. Barry, Phineas Bradley, and James H. Blake. These 
 commissioners were authorized to fix upon a "scite" for the bank, 
 the capital stock, and the president's house. At a subsequent meeting 
 the commissioners submitted articles of association for an institution 
 to be named "The President and Directors of the American Bank." 
 The association was to continue twenty-one years. The capital stock 
 was to be $1,000,000, divided into shares of $40 each, and the copart- 
 nership was to transact its business in the city of Washington. After 
 several attempts to hold meetings and to secure subscriptions, the com- 
 missioners gave up the attempt to establish the bank; and at length, 
 on Januar}' 20, 1813, the citizens of Washington who were desirous 
 of having a second bank opened in the city were requested to meet 
 at McLeod's Tavern on the 25th of that month for the purpose of 
 choosing commissioners to cari-y out the project. General John 
 P. Van Ness was called to the chair, and Alexander Kerr made 
 secretary. But little was accomplished at this meeting, and a second 
 meeting was held, February 1, 1813, at which it was resolved that, as 
 it was not known that there was any application before Congress for 
 a new bank when they commenced operations, they would await the 
 result of that apiilication before proceeding any further. 
 
 This application does not appear to have resulted in the establish- 
 ment of any banking institution, and in November, 1813, the movement 
 postponed, as above related, was again taken up, and at a meeting 
 held at Davis's Hotel, on the 25th of that month, thirteen commis- 
 
:156 H/STORY OF W .ISH/NGTON. 
 
 sioncrs were iipiioiiited to act under articles of association adopted at 
 tliat meeting. Tlie next meeting, held at Davis's Hotel, Januar}- 3, 
 1814, was of tlie stockholders of the new bank, which was named "The 
 Baidi of the Metropolis." John P. Van Ness was chosen president of 
 the new bank, and Alexander Kerr cashier. The location of this bank 
 was at the corner of F and Fifteenth streets, east of the Treasur}^ 
 building. John P. Van Ness was continued as president of this bank 
 until 1842. Alexander Kerr was cashier until his death, in 1832, when 
 he was succeeded by George Thomas, who was succeeded in 184G b}' 
 Richard Smith. In 1829, the capital of this bank was $500,000, and 
 its total assets $645,815.15. Toward the close of the War of 1812-15, 
 when General Jackson made an appeal for funds with which to pay 
 tlie American soldiers, this bank loaned largely to the Government. 
 After General Jackson became President of the United States, he kept 
 his jjrivate accounts with this bank, and after the removal of the 
 deposits from the United States Baidv this bank was made a public 
 depository. After tlie retirement of General Van Ness from the presi- 
 dency of this bank, John W. Maury served in that capacity, and 
 Richard Smith continued as cashier for many years. At length, it 
 was organized under the National Banking law as the National Metro- 
 politan Bank, with John B. Blake president, and Moses Kelly cashier. 
 Mr. Blake remained president until 1874, when he was succeeded by 
 John W. Thompson,' who is still the president. Moses Kelly was 
 succeeded as cashier, in 1874, by George H. B. White, who is cashier 
 at the present time. When Mr. Thompson became president, tlie 
 surplus amounted to aljout thirty per cent, of the capital of the bank, 
 
 ^ John W. Thompson, one of the leading bankers, business men, and financiers 
 of Washington, came to tliis city from New York City in 1849. Upon his arrival here 
 he at once entered into an active business life. During the War of the Rebellion, he 
 was identified with the Government of the United States. He was afterward connected 
 with the Board of Aldermen, and was appointed by President Grant to the upper 
 house of the Legislature of the District of Columbia. He was president of the New 
 York, Alexandria, Washington, and Georgetown .Steamship Company, established for 
 the purpose of trading between New York City and the District of Colundiia. He 
 was one of the principal movers in the building of the Sletropolitan iStreet Railroad, 
 and was for several years president of the company. Hi' has been connected with 
 numerous businesses, and has been and is to-day one of the most successful business 
 men in Washington. This success has led to Ins selection to fill important jiositions 
 botli in business and civic circles. He was chairman of the Garlicld inauguration 
 committee, and under his management the committee was able to return all the money 
 subscribed as a guaranty fund, for tlie first time in the history of the country. He 
 has been president of tlie National Metropolitan I'.aiik since 1S7I, and his biirh 
 standing in linsincss and social circles and in the cliinch is the licsl cvideiirc of the 
 estimation in which he is held by his fellow-men. 
 
///STORY OF /.'./.VA'AVa 357 
 
 which was tlieii, and is now §300,000, vvhilu at tlio pi-esent time the 
 surphis and iiiidividud profits, on the first of March, 1802, amounted 
 to $329,286.68. 
 
 The Bank of Washington was cliartered iu 1809, and was the 
 first haniv established in Washington. The capital stock was $100,000. 
 Daniel Carroll, of Duddington, was its first president, and Samuel 
 Eliot, Jr., its first cashier. The capital, after the first payment, was paid 
 in in installments, Mr. Eliot, the cashier, on February 10, 1810, notify- 
 ing the subscribers that the fourth installment of $2 on each share would 
 be due on March 3, following, at the temporary banking house of 
 the institution, which was located on Capitol Hill, near New Jersey 
 Avenue. A committee was appointed to erect a baidving house, and 
 to receive proposals up to July 25, 1810, of which committee Frederick 
 May was chairman. Just where this banking house was erected has 
 not been ascertained. The last installment on the capital stock was 
 due on September 4, 1810, and had to be paid in order to avoid 
 forfeiture of what had already been paid iu. Sometime between 1820 
 and 1830, the business was I'enioved from the Iniilding erected by 
 the committee mentioned above to the National Hotel, and on Sep- 
 tember 27, 1831, a resolution was adopted that the brick building 
 owned by John Stetiuus, and occupied by Mauro & Son, auctioneers, 
 standing where now stands the fine marble building of the National 
 Bank of Washington, at the junction of Louisiana Avenue and C 
 Street Northwest, be purchased, and into this building the bank 
 moved iu 1832. Daniel Carroll, of Duddington, served as president of 
 the bank until September, 1819, when he was succeeded by Samuel 
 H. Smith, who served in this capacity until February, 1828; George 
 Culvert was then president until Seiitember, 1830; Thomas Munroe, 
 until January, 1835; William Gunton, until December, 1880; Edward 
 Temple, until January, 1888; and Charles A. James, until the pres- 
 ent time. 
 
 Samuel Eliot, Jr., served as cashier until June, 1819, when 
 he was succeeded by William A. Bradley, who served until July, 
 1826, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Roger Chew Weight- 
 man. Mr. Weightman served until October, 183-1; John H. Reilly, until 
 November, 1836; James Adams, from November, 1836, until July, 
 1870; Charles A. James, from July, 1870, until January, 1888; and 
 C. E. White, from January, 1888, until the present time. 
 
 In January, 1886, this institution was organized as the "National 
 Bank of Washington," with officers as noted above. According to 
 its last published statement, its capital is $250,000, and its surplus 
 
358 HISTORY OF WASII/NGTON. 
 
 and unilivided jirotits aniouiiteil at tlie same time, Marcli 1, 181*2, to 
 $100,644.48. 
 
 The Union Bank of Georgetown, District of Columbia, was 
 cliartered by Congress, March 11, 1811. Tlie capital stock of the 
 bank was $500,000, in $50 shares. For most of the time during 
 the existence of this bank, Robert Beverly' was its president, and 
 DaA'id English appears to have been cashier during its entire existence. 
 In 1840, it went into liquidation, but its charter was extended from 
 time to time until 1840, to allow its aftairs to be fully settled. 
 
 The Central Bank of Georgetown and Wasliington was ciiartered 
 March 3, 1817, and when organized John Tayloe was president, and 
 A. R. Levering cashier. Mr. Tayloe resigned the presidency in 
 May, 1818, and was succeeded by Francis Dodge, who remained 
 president during the bank's short existence. Mareli 2, 1821, Con- 
 gress passed an act authorizing this bank to pay otf its debts and 
 close its affairs, there being then too many banks in the District of 
 Columbia. 
 
 The Farmers and Meclianics' Bank of Geoi-getown was started 
 in 1814, at a meeting held February 15, at Crawford's Hotel. The 
 gentlemen present were William Marl)ur3-, Thomas Turner, John 
 Lee, J. Melvin, R. Riggs, L. IL .loiins, George C. Wasliington, T. B. 
 Beall, T. Robertson, and Charles W. Goldborough. William Marbury 
 was elected president, and Thomas Van Swcaringen, of Sheiiherdstown, 
 was eiiosen director in iiis place. A committee was a[>pointed to 
 memorialize Congress for a charter, consisting of William Marbury, 
 T. B. Beall, and John Lee. The salary of the president was fixed 
 at $500 per year, and that of tlie cashier at $1,600 per 3'ear. Clement 
 Hmith was then elected cashier. A committee was then ap[iointed, 
 consisting of the president, cashier, and L. 11. Johns, T. Robertson, and 
 T. Turner, to receive proposals for a banking-house site. March 1, 
 1814, Mr. John Peters offered to sell the house at tlie corner of Bi'idgc 
 (now M) and Congress (now Tliirty-first) streets for $14,000, and this 
 offer was accepted b\- the new bank, payable in eight months from 
 the 15th of March, 1814. On March 21, 1814, the cashier was allowed 
 the priviU'gi' either of living in tlic banking bouse, ui- of accepting in 
 lieu of this privilege $400 additional per year as salary. On April 4, 
 John I. Stnll was appointed teller, Horatio Jones bookkeejier, and 
 Jxobert Reed discount clerk. On May 17, 1814, the following resolu- 
 tion was adopted: "That the cashier be authorized and recpiired to 
 take to the amount of $50,000 of the last loan of the United States 
 for the use and benelit of the bank, provided it can be obtained as 
 
H/STORY OF n.LVK/NG. 359 
 
 iiriijiiiiil sul)scTil.)ers, with all the liuiietit and ailvuiitaLCt-'s that have or 
 may accrue to tlieiii." 
 
 July 8, 1817, Clement Smith was elected president of the bank, 
 but soon afterward Thomas B. Beall was elected, and served until 
 1820, Clement Smith continuing to serve as cashier until 1820. The 
 original capital of the bank was $500,000, and in January it was 
 resolved that the capital should not be reduced to less than |450,000. 
 Clement Smith became president of the bank in 1820, and John I. Stull 
 casliicr. December 18, 1823, Thomas Wilst)U resigned as a member of 
 the l)oaril of directors, and Raphael Semmes was chosen in his place. 
 On January 1, 1820, the capital of this bank was $485,900, and its 
 entire assets $793,101.97. April 12, 1834, its board of directors resolved 
 to suspend specie pa^'ments, saying, in explanation of their course: 
 "They foresee that the present prostration of business coniidence, and 
 consequent derangement of the currency, must eventually reduce them 
 to this course, and they jirefer to anticipate the event by yielding at 
 once to the pressure, rather than to avert it by liolding out during 
 tlie short practical period of delay, at the expense of sacriticing the 
 permanent interests of the bank. This measure is of temporar}- dura- 
 tion. The board see no necessity, in the condition of the bank, for 
 extending it beyond the present singular crisis in the banking bistory 
 of the country, and contidently anticipate the resumption ol' active 
 business on a specie basis as soon as this crisis shall pass awu}." 
 
 John Kurtz succeeiled Mr. Smith as president in 1841; Kobert 
 Reed became president in 1850; George Shoemaker, in 18li2, and 
 Ilenrv M. Sweeney, in 1865. John I. Stull served as cashier until 
 1841; Alexander Suter, until 1848; William Lang, until 1851, and 
 William Laird became cashier in that year. 
 
 The original charter of this bank was dated March, 3, 1817, and 
 it was renewed by Congress from time to time, and the stock of the 
 Itank, which, on account of the varying fortunes of the l)anking 
 interests of the country, fluctuated considerabi}' during the "singular 
 crisis," precijiitated by the opposition to these interests manifested Ijy 
 one of the great political parties, gradually rose from fifty cents on 
 the dollar in 1838 to above par in 1870. 
 
 On January 15, 1872, this bank was organized as a national 
 l)ank under the name it now bears, "The Farmers and Mechanics' 
 National Bank of Georgetown." At the time of this organization, the 
 following nine directors were elected: Henry M. Sweeney, Philip 
 T. Berry, William C. Magee, Evan Pickrell, William King, Francis 
 Wiieatly, John Davidson, Charles M. Matthews, and Evan Lyons. 
 
360 H/SrORY OF W.-JSH/NGTOAL 
 
 Henry M. Sweeney was contiuiied as president of the bank, and is 
 still its president, having served in that capacity during a period of 
 tliirty-six years. William Laird was continued as cashier, and served 
 in the same cajiacity for forty years. 
 
 The Patriotic Bank was established in May, 1815, and on June 
 5, following, the following directors were elected: Robert Brent, 
 Thomas Law, James D. Barrv, Daniel I'orter, Timothy Winn, I'hineas 
 Bradley, George Way, Thomas Munroe, William Prout, Stephen 
 I'leasanton, George Beall, David Ott, and Nicholas Young. On June 
 7, Robert Brent was chosen president, and Overton Carr cashier. 
 Joseph Pearson was elected president in 1824, and also in 1825. On 
 June 28, 1825, this hank ojiened its business in its new banking 
 house, at the intersection of Seventh and D streets Northwest, oppo- 
 site the office of the National Intelligencer. On June 1, 1829, the 
 capital stock was $250,000, and its total assets |503,1 33.87. In 1832, 
 G. E. Dyson was cashier, he iiaving sometime before succeeded 
 R. T. Weightman. On April 14, 1834, at a s[)ccial meeting, it was 
 resolved that, in tlie opinion of the board of directors, the interests of 
 the bank and of its creditors I'equired that the payment of specie for 
 its obligations ought to be suspended; that the bank was able to pay 
 110 per cent, to the stockholders, and that the creditors of the bank 
 be requested not to sacritice their claims. "In making known this 
 determination, the board need hardly say that nothing but the extraor- 
 dinary juncture of aifairs could have brought them to the painful 
 necessity of this annunciation" — signed by W. A. Bradley, president, 
 and G. E. Dyson, cashier. This bank resumed specie payment July 
 10, 1836, by unanimous resolution, but on Ma}- 12, 1837, it was again 
 com[iellcd to suspend, in common with the t)tlier banks throughout 
 the country. This was done at the request of the shareholders of the 
 bank. At that time, a brief statement of the condition of the bank 
 was made public, as follows: Debts due by the bank, $326,560.48; 
 debts due to the bank, including real estate, $528,256.67; capital stock 
 outstanding, |171,040; entire surplus, $30,656.19. 1*. Thompson was 
 cashier in 1839, and C. Bestoi- in 1846, Mr. Bradley renuiining presi- 
 dent. In 1846, this bank opened a savings department, receiving sums 
 of $5 and npwar(l, ni)()n which it paid interest until the money was 
 withdrawn. This was the tirst savings bank in Washington. 
 
 Dni'ing tlic War of 1812-15, with Great Britain, the finances of 
 tlie country fell into inextricable contusion; the Government was 
 obliged to borrow money at a ruinous rate of interest, giving -SlOO for 
 $88, and taking tlie proceeds in the notes of banks which c<juld not 
 
lUSTORV OF BANKING. 361 
 
 piiy specie, tlie notes being wortli from sixty to ninety cents on the 
 dollar. Under siicli disastrous and distressing cireiinistances as these 
 the evils inflicted on the country by Vice-President Clinton's vote 
 against the renewal of tlie charter of the old J^Tational Bank, already 
 referred to, were plainly visible to those who understood financial 
 matters, and the necessity of such an institution was painfully experi- 
 enced. In this state of things, at the session of Congress of 1813-14, 
 lion. Felix Grundy, of Tennessee, introduced a measure into the 
 House of Eei)resentatives looking to the establishment of a national 
 bank, which was referred to the pr(jper committee. Action upon the 
 question was not taken at that session "for want of time," although 
 Mr. Grundy was of the opinion that there was plenty of time; but 
 in November, 1814, the question again came up, and in connection 
 with the discussion the National Intellujencer said: "Those in Congress 
 who doubt tlie constitutional i)owcr of Congress to establish a national 
 bank are not few; and if we a(kl to the number those who are opposed 
 to the measure for sustaining the public credit, inasmuch as nothing 
 would delight them more than to see the wheels of government 
 stopped by national liankruptcy, we shall find a formidable phalanx 
 in Congress arrayed against a national bank, however organized." 
 
 These remarks were designed for the Federalists, many of whom 
 believed the war with Great Britain wholly unnecessary. The bill, as 
 presented in the House of Reiiresentatives, November 14, 1814, nairied 
 only Boston, New York, I'hiladelphia, Baltimore, Richmond, Charles- 
 ton, and Pittsburgh, as places where subscriptions to the capital stock 
 were to be received, thus confining the opportunities to subscribe almost 
 exclusively to the Atlantic cities. This was far from satisfactory to 
 many Western members of Congress, and upon motion of Mr. Sharp, 
 of Kentucky, Lexington was added; on motion of Mr. Robertson, New 
 Orleans; on motion of Mr. Harris, Nashville, Tennessee; on motion of 
 Mr. Lewis, Washington, District of Columbia, Raleigh, North Carolina, 
 Savannah, Georgia, and New Brunswick, New Jersey, were also added, 
 and Pittsburgh stricken out. 
 
 For Washington, District of Columbia, Robert Brent, Walter 
 Smith, and Thomas Swann were nuide the commissioners to receive 
 subscriptions. Mr. Lewis then made a motion contemplating the 
 location of the principal bank in Washington, but this was opposed 
 by Mr. Fisk, of New York, the Ways and Means Committee having 
 selected Philadelphia for that honor. Of this committee Hon. John 
 C. Calhoun, of South Carolina, who had entered Congress about the 
 beginning of the war, was chairnum, and in this responsible position 
 
362 H/SrORV OF U'.ISIf/XGTON. 
 
 lie introduced the bill, ably advocated it, and really carried it through 
 the House. This, liowever, was on its final passage. Previously to its 
 reaching this point, its history is of considerable interest. (Ju January 
 2, 1815, the bill, coming up for final action in the House of Repre- 
 sentatives, was iipparently carried b}' 81 afiirnuitive to 80 negative 
 votes. But the Speaker, Hon. Langdon Cheves, from South Carolina, 
 i;alled attention to the rule of the House which permitted the Speaker 
 to vote in two cases, of which this was one, and, declaring his 
 conviction that the bill was a dangerous measure, cast his vote 
 against it, and thus niaile the \(itc in the House a tic, and then 
 decided that the bill was lost. On January 8, however, in an amended 
 form, the bill passed the House by a vote of 120 to 38, and it passed 
 the Senate by a good majority. But on January 30, President 
 Madison returned it, without his approval, to the Senate. 
 
 On April 5, 1816, howevei-, the bill, having passed the House of 
 Ke[iresentatives by a vote of 80 j'eas to 71 nays, passed the Senate by 
 a vote of 22 yeas to 12 na^'s, and on the 10th of the same month it 
 was signed by the President, and thus became a law. Of those who 
 voted for the bill moi'C than twothii'ds were "Republicans,'" or "Dem- 
 ocrats," as they were inditferently called, in contradistinction to the 
 "Federalists,'' who numbered about tliree-fourths of those who voted 
 against the bill. l>ut all of those who thus voted were not opposed 
 to a national hank, being opposed only to certain features of the 
 bill, and voted against it in the hope of throwing it back again into 
 the committee, and of thus having an ojtportunity to eliminate the 
 featui-es which were objectionable to them. 
 
 This was a great triumph for the friends of a stumd currency, and 
 for those who were in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war. 
 The bank went into immediate operation, but for some years the 
 sanguine anticipations entertained of public advantage from its opera- 
 tions were not realized. The difficulties were, that the countr}', at the 
 close of the Revolutionary War, was Hooded with $200,000,000 worth 
 of foreign fabrics, which were sold at any price that could be obtained, 
 with the view of brcidcing down the manufacturing industries of the 
 young Republic, and the entire country was overwhelmed with Ixith 
 public and private debt; and in addition to these things, the currency 
 was in a most deploralilc condition, as a corisequence of the failui'e to 
 renew the charter of the old National Bank. For these reasons it 
 was an impossibility for the hank to restore everything to a prosperous 
 condition in a shoit period of time, even by affording every facility in 
 its power. After a time, however, aided by a more efficient tariff" and 
 
H/STORY OF BAXh7XG. 363 
 
 an iiiiiir(ivo<l nianageiiieiit of the affairs of the liaiik itself, tlie country 
 began to emerge from its embarrassments, and from 1819 to 1834 the 
 bank prospered, and gave to the country the best currency that tlie 
 world had ever seen. 
 
 When everything was in this prosperous condition, when the 
 National Bank was recognized as a most useful institution, lion. 
 Jolm C. Calhoun, to whom credit has already been given for the 
 success of the etforts in Congress to charter this bank, said, in 1832: 
 "I may say with truth, that the bank owes as much to me as to any 
 other individual in the country; and I might eveu add, that had it 
 not been for my ettbrts it would not have been chartered. I might 
 content myself with saying that, having been on the political stage 
 without interruption from that day to this, having been an attentive 
 observer of the question of the currency throughout the whole period, 
 the bank has been an indispensable agent in the restoration of specie 
 payments; that without it such restoration could not have been 
 effected short of the utter ju'ostration of all mouied instituj^ions in 
 the country, and an entire depreciation of bank paper; and that it 
 lias not ouly restored specie payments, but has given a currencj' far 
 more uniform, between the extremes of the country, than was antici- 
 pated or even dreamed of at the time of its creation." 
 
 Under this act the president of the bank ap[ioiiited as commis- 
 sioners to superintend the taking of subscriptions in Washington, 
 General John Mason of Georgetown, Thomas Swann of Alexandria, 
 and General John 1'. Vixw Ness of Washington. Subscription books 
 were opened on Monday, July 1, 1816, and closed on the 23d of tlie 
 same month. The amount subsci'ibed here up to that time was |1,- 
 293,000, an amount far exceeding what had been anticipated. By tiie 
 same time the subscri[itions in Richmond amounted to $1,702,000; in 
 Baltimore, to $1,011,100; in Wilmington, Delaware, to $465,600; in 
 Trenton, New Jersey, to $130,000; in New York City, to $2,500,000; 
 etc. By August 29, the total amount subscribed amounted to $25,000,- 
 UOO. The deficiency of $3,000,000 was subscriljed l)y Stephen Girard, 
 "a wealthy citixen of Philadelphia." 
 
 On January 27, 1817, the following gentlemen were appointeil 
 directors of the Branch Bank of the United States in Washington: 
 Richard Cutts, Thomas Munroe, B. Thruston, R. C. Weightnum, G. 
 Bomford, G. Graham, and William Brent, of Washington; Thomas 
 Tudor Tucker, J. Deane, and Thomas Swann, of Alexandria, and 
 W. Smith, W. S. Chandler, and R. Parrott, of Georgetown. Richard 
 Smith was chosen cashier, and the office began business on Saturday, 
 
864 HISTORY OF WASH/NGTON. 
 
 February 8, 1817. General Joliu 1*. Van Ness was elected president 
 of tliis brancli. Tliis branch bank continued in successful operation 
 until tbe main Ijank was slaughtered, when, from the necessities of the 
 L'ase, it wound up its atfairs. 
 
 During the Presidential campaign of 1828, at the close of wliicli 
 Andrew Jackson was elected to the I'residency, his elevation was 
 urged on every imaginable ground except that of the ovcrtiirow of 
 the United States Bank. Although some of his zealous partisans 
 adduced even the failure (jf the ci'ops in certain localities as evidence 
 that nothing could rtourish under the rule of such an administration 
 IS that of John Quinc^' Adams, yet no man com[ilained of the 
 L'urrency, or demanded any radical change in the American banking 
 system, thus showing most conclusively that that system was univer- 
 sally popular. But soon after General Jackson's inauguration, he 
 managed to involve himself needlessly in a controversy witli the 
 management of the United States Bank. His Secretary of the Treas- 
 ury deniandetl the removal of Jeremiah Mason, president of the 
 hrancli of this bank at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, because Presi- 
 dent Mason was not a stanch friend of the Jackson administration. 
 But as this demand was not accompanied by any evidence of, or even 
 any allegation of, misconduct or incompetency in President Mason, 
 compliance therewith was necessarily declined. Nicholas Biddle was 
 then president of the United States Bank, and during this contro- 
 versy had of course stood by President Mason, and this was sufficient 
 reason for President Jackson to make war on the institution of which 
 Mr. Biddle was president. 
 
 In liis annual message to Congress soon afterward, he took 
 occasion to ol)serve that the time would soon arrive when the question 
 of granting a recharter to the Bank of the United States would come 
 before that body, and stated that "both the constitutionality and 
 expediency of such an institution had been well questioned." The 
 portion of the message containing this assertion was referred b^' the 
 House to its Committee of Ways and Means, of which the Hon. 
 George McDuffie, of South Carolina, was chaii-mani. The entire 
 committee, including its chairman, were supporters of General Jack- 
 son, and hence their report on this extraordinary statement is of 
 s|iecial value. This committee gave grave consideration to the whole 
 subject, and made a lengthy report, strongly in favor both of the 
 constitutionality and expediency of a national bank. On the point 
 of constitutionality, they said, in part, — for only brief extracts can 
 be given in tbis work, and that more for the purpose of indicat- 
 
n/STOk')- OF HANKING. 365 
 
 iiig- tlie direction of their tiumgiit tliaii of iiresenting tiie argument 
 in full: 
 
 "If tlie concurrence of all the departments of the Government, at 
 different periods of our history, under ever}' administration, and 
 during the ascendenc}- of both political parties into which the country 
 has been divided, soon after the adoption of the present Constitution, 
 shall be regarded as having the authority of such sanctions by tlie 
 common consent of all well-regulated communities, the constitutional 
 power of Congress to incorporate a bank may be assumed as a pos- 
 tulate no longer open to controversy. In little more than two years 
 after the Government went into operation, and at a period when 
 most of the distinguished members of the Federal Constitutional 
 Convention were eitlier in the executive or legislative councils, the 
 act incorporating the lirst Bank of the United States passed both 
 branches of Congress by large majorities, and received the deliberate 
 sanction of President Washington, who had then recently presided 
 over the deliberations of the convention. The constitutional power 
 of Congress to pass this act of incorporation was thoroughly investi- 
 gated, both in tlie Executive Cabinet and in Congress, under circum- 
 stances in all respects propitious to a dispassionate discussion. . . . No 
 person can be more competent to give a just construction of the 
 Constitution than those who luid a principal agency in forming it; 
 and no administration can claim a more perfect exemption from all 
 those influences which sometimes pervert the judgment even of the 
 most wise and patriotic, than that of the Father of his Country during 
 the first term of his service." 
 
 On the point of expediency, the committee said: "Indeed, bank 
 credit and bank paper are so extensively interwoven with the com- 
 mercial operations of society, that, even if Congress had the constitu- 
 tional power, it would be utterly an impossibility, to produce so entire 
 a change in the monetary system of the country as to abolish the 
 agency of banks of discount, without involving the community in all 
 the distressing embarrassments usually attendant on great political 
 revolutions, subverting the titles of private property." 
 
 The committee also said, and this proved to be in the nature of 
 a prediction, if not of a prophecy: "If the Bank of the United 
 States were destroyed, and local institutions left without its restraining 
 influence, the currency would almost certainly lapse into a state of 
 unsoundness. The pressure which the present bank would cause in 
 winding up its concerns would compel them either to curtail their 
 discounts, when most needed, or to suspend specie payments. It is 
 
300 H/STORY OF U'ASH/NCTON. 
 
 not difficult to predict wliicli of these alternatives they would adopt 
 under the circumstances in which they would be placed. ... It has 
 this decided advantage over the army and navy; while they are of 
 scarcel}' any advautage except in the time of war, the bank is not less 
 so in peace. It lias another advantage still greater. If, like the army 
 and navy, it should cost tlie nation millions annually to sustain it, the 
 expediency of the expenditure might be doubtful; but when it actually 
 saves to the Government and to the country more millions annually 
 tlian are expended in supporting both the army and nav}-, it would 
 seem that, if there was one measure of national policy upon which 
 all political parties of the country should be brought to unite by the 
 impressive lessons of experience, it is that of maintaining a natinnal 
 bank." The report which this committee made was concuri-ed in by 
 Congress, and the subject dropped for a time. 
 
 But neither reason nor the lessons of experience had any ctt'ect 
 upon ['resident Jackson's mind, especially where his friendship or 
 enmity was strongly enlisted, as the latter was in this case against the 
 president of the Unite<l States Bank; and he therefore continued to 
 press the matter upon the attention of Congress. At length, in 1832, a 
 liill was reported by a committee of his political friends in the Senate 
 and passed through both Houses of Congress, which were strongly 
 in his favor, rechartering the United States Bank. As was to be 
 expected. President Jackson vetoed this bill, but explicitly stated that, 
 had lie been applied to, he would have furnished a plan of a charter 
 which would have been constitutional. An attempt to pass the bill 
 ovei' the veto failed for want of the two-thirds majority required by 
 the C'Onstitution. Had it not been, therefore, for this constitutional 
 re(inirement, that in order to i)ass a bill over a veto two-thirds of 
 each branch of Congress must sanction it, the United States Bank 
 would have been rechartered, and the widespread derangement of 
 the currency that followed,* and the long-continued distress in all 
 departments of business and of life, would not have occurred. The 
 exiiericnce of the country with the veto power in this instance, and 
 in numerous other instances in the sul)sequent history of the country, 
 would seem to indicate the necessity, or at least the wisdom, of so 
 amending the Constitution that a majority of both Houses of Congress 
 should be as potent in passing a measure over a veto as in passing 
 it in the first place. The wisdom of the i*resideut would thus be 
 equally available as under the present system, and his power I'oi' evil 
 would be reduced to a minimum. 
 
 Ueturniug now to the narration of local events connected with 
 
H/STORY OF nANK7NG. mi 
 
 the hanks of the District of Cohinihia, it should he stated tliat in 
 181U tliere was considerahle excitenieiit tliroughout the country 
 iu reference to the suspension of specie payments. But one old 
 merchant and hanker of Georgetown, named Romulus Higgs, puh- 
 licly announced that the hanks of the District were l>aying specie 
 for their notes, and also stated that he held himself responsihlc for 
 the announcement to that eft'ect. The hanks that were then in 
 existence in the District were as follows: The Bank of Colunihia, the 
 Farmers and Meclianics' Bank, the Union Bank, all of Georgetown; 
 the Central Bank of Washington and Georgetown; the Bank of the 
 Metropolis, tlie Patriotic Bank, the Bank of Washington, all of 
 Washington; the Bank of Alexandria, the Union Bank of Alexan- 
 dria, and the Bank of Potomac, all of Alexandria; and hesides 
 these, the Branch Bank of the United States at Washington. So that 
 Mr. Riggs apparently assumed a good deal of responsibility, but it 
 does not appear that he was ever called npon to make good any of 
 the paper of any of these banks. 
 
 A peculiar feature of tlie monetary history of the District was 
 this: that in 1820 the i)ractice prevailed of cutting paper dollars in 
 such a way as to make change. In the latter part of May of this 
 year, ihe hanks adopted a resolution which was calculated to banish 
 from circulation "such an inconvenient and unsiglitly sort of currency, 
 and to bring silver into use in its place. Those who have cut notes 
 on hand would do well to exchange them for silver before to-morrow 
 evening." Thi.s advice was [luhlished May 31, so that it appears that 
 June 1 was the last day on wliich these cut notes were received at 
 the banks. 
 
 In 1834, three of the baidcs in the District of Columbia only, 
 suspended specie payments, the others keeping therefrom by the 
 presidents and directors of each, with tlie exception of tlie Bank of 
 the Metropolis, each pledging his individual property as security 
 for the debts of their respective banks. The Bank of the Metropolis 
 had other means of accomplishing the same results. Later, at the 
 near approach of suspension of specie payments by the several hanks 
 of the District, together with the winding up of the atiairs of the 
 Branch Bank of the United States, it was suggested that it wt)ul<l 
 be a most laudable act if the presidents and directors of all futuie 
 banks established in the District, and the stockholders as well, should 
 be required by the several charters to pledge their individual fortunes 
 for the debts of the banks in which they were interested. The good 
 effects, it was thought, which would follow such a requirement would 
 
308 H/STORY or ir.lS///NGTOA'. 
 
 be, first, extended coiitideuce in eacli of tlie bunks; second, tbe impos- 
 sibility of loss to the conininnity, even if such ii bank should suchlenly 
 close its doors; third, increased devotion to the interests of the bank 
 by the officers, and a more lively interest in the management of the 
 bunk Ijy the stockholders. 
 
 In 1835, when it was thought the completion of the Chesapeake 
 und Ohio C-anul was near at hand, and the commerce of the cities of 
 the District was ubout to be increused a hundred fold, it was plain 
 that the moans of carrying on such commerce was at the same time 
 to 1)0 rudely talien away. The National Baidv, it was conceded, must 
 fall, and of course its branch in Washington, which had furnished 
 from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 of the circulating medium, must neces- 
 sarily close its doors. Besides this, the charters of the several banks 
 in the District would expire in March, 1836, and it was at least prob- 
 lematical what disposition Congress would manifest toward them; und 
 then, too, even if these churters should be renewed it wus thought 
 they could not supply capital sufficient for the necessities of trade, 
 as they were small institutions, and the competition among thorn hud 
 cuused a limited circulation of their notes. In order, therefore, to 
 prevent the difficulties as thus portra^'ed to the minds of the public, 
 it wus thought necessary to establish u new bunk to bo culled the 
 Bank of the District of Columbia. 
 
 In December, 1835, Congress took up the question of the rechurter 
 of the banks of the District of Columbia, but not before it was 
 necessary for them to do so, as the charters of all of them expired 
 March 3, 1836. The debate was upion the resolution otferod by Mr. 
 Thomas, of Maryland, which was as follows: 
 
 ^'■Resolved, That a select committee be appointed to inquire into 
 the condition of the currency of the District of Columbia, to whom 
 shall be referred all other memorials which may lio proscntiHl to the 
 present Congress, praying for an extension of the churters of the exist- 
 in"" banks in said District of Columbia, or for the establishment of 
 any other bank or banks in their stead, and to inquire into tlie condi- 
 tion of the currency in said District, to inspect the i)ooks and to 
 examine into the proceedings of said banks, to ascertain whether thoir 
 charters have been violated or not, and whether an}- abuses or nnd- 
 feasances have existed in their management — to send for persons and 
 papers, to examine witnesses on oath, and to appoint a clerk to report 
 tiieir proceedings." 
 
 This resolution, after warm debate, in which tlio Hon. John 
 l^nini'V Adams lioro u most cdnspicnous purt, und ufti-i' it wus anicndod 
 
Hf STORY OF BANKING. 369 
 
 by striking out tlie words, "to wlioiii shall be referred ail otlier 
 nieiiiorials wliicli may be presented to the present Congress," was 
 adopted, and tlie following select committee appointed: Mr. Thomas of 
 Maryland, Mr. Pierce of New Hampsliire, Mr. Reed of Massacliusetts, 
 Mr. May of Illinois, Mr. Beaumont of Pennsylvania, Mr. Huntsman 
 of Tennessee, Mr. Pinckuey of South Carolina, Mr. Garland of 
 Louisiana, and Mr. Claiborne of Mississippi. 
 
 On January 5, 1836, Mr. Benton, in the Senate, introduced a 
 r>?solntion for the appointment of a select committee of five members 
 to act with those appointed by the House, which was laid on the 
 table. In consequence of there having been made charges of misman- 
 agement on the part of the banks of the District of Columbia, a 
 certain citizen of Washington published in the National Intelligencer of 
 January 16, 183G, a statement showing that the banks of the District 
 were prepared to meet tVieir liabilities immediately, if necessary, in 
 the following ratio: The Bank of Washington, 49.84 per cent.; Patriotic 
 Hank of Washington, 71.81 per cent.; Bank of the Metropolis, 46.88 
 per cent.; Union Bank of Georgetown, 78.30; Farmers and Mechanics' 
 Bank of Georgetown, 54.52 per cent.; Farmers' Bank of Alexandria, 
 48.21; Bank of Potomac, 51.85 per cent. 
 
 For each dollar of liabilities, except capital stock, each bank had 
 assets as follows: Bank of Washington, !?3.30; Patriotic Bank, $1.64; 
 Bank of the Metropolis, $1.39; Union Bank of Georgetown, $2.46: 
 Farmers and Mechanics' Bank of Georgetown, $3.05; Farmers' Bank 
 of Alexandria, $1.57; Bank of Potomac, $2.32. 
 
 The entire circulation of the seven banks of the District at that 
 time was $964,799.90. Tlie specie possessed by them was $643,585.52. 
 The aggregate liabilities of the seven banks, exclusive of their capital 
 stock, was $2,813,925.26, and their cash funds amounted to $1,492,- 
 814.56. To meet these balances tlie banks had discount notes amount- 
 ing to $3,141,559.95; real estate, $318,088.25, and stocks, $228,301.93; 
 total, $3,688,550.13, a surplus of $2,367,439.43. 
 
 The bill rechartering the banks of the District was at leiu'-th 
 passed by" Congress in June, 1836, their several charters being ex- 
 tended to July 4, 1838. In August, 1836, the Branch Bank of the 
 United States, in Washington, Richard Smith cashier, advertised its 
 property for sale. In Washington this property consisted of somewhat 
 more than forty lots, some of them vacant, and some of them havi no- 
 houses upon them. In Georgetown there were several lots with liouses 
 upon them; and besides all these, there was a tract of land in Vir- 
 ginia and another in Maryland. 
 
370 HISTORY or WASHrNGTON. 
 
 On May 13, 183(), a notice was published in the press by tlie 
 Bank of Washington, and by the Baidc of the Metropolis in almost 
 identical language, to the ett'ect that notwithstanding information had 
 reached Washington of the suspension of specie payments by the 
 banks in New York, as well as by some of those in Philadelphia 
 and Baltimore, they had determined to continue to pay specie; and, 
 satisfied of the strength of their respective banks, "the president, 
 directors, and cashier have determined to pledge their private fortunes 
 for all just claims against the institution." This was a part of the 
 notice in the case of each bank. Of the Washington Bank, W. Gunston 
 was president, and J. Adams cashier; of the Bank of the Metropolis, 
 General John P. Van Ness was president, and George Thomas cashier. 
 The Farmers and Mechanics' Bank of Georgetown also refused to 
 suspend. 
 
 The determination to suspend specie payments had been arrived 
 at in New York on May 11, and was the result of the peculiar and 
 great stringency of the times. This great stringency was itself the 
 result of President Jackson's " Experiment," and was brought to a 
 crisis by his famous "Treasury circular," issued a short time pre- 
 viously, exacting specie in payment for all public lands, under the 
 operations of which circular the receipts for public lands was i-educed 
 from $24,800,000 in 1836, to $6,700,000 in 1837. This circular, how- 
 ever, permitted duties on imports into the Atlantic cities to be 
 paid in bank notes. It is a singular circumstance that the Govern- 
 ment itself, by one of its deposit banks, was the first to refuse the 
 payment of specie. This occurred about May 1, 1836, at Natchez, 
 Mississippi, Treasury drafts for a large sum of money being refused 
 payment by the Planters' Bank of Mississippi, and protested. "All 
 this comes of the ignorance and folly which enforced the Treasury 
 circular. The Administration, however, in thus warring against the 
 prosperity of the country, Ijy undertaking to regulate the dejtosits, 
 and the currency, for party i)urposes, has dug its own grave, and 
 would bury the country also in it, rather than retract its wicked 
 measures or acknowledge its errors. We anticipate that" you must 
 also suspend specie payments in the North, and look with deep 
 anxiety for news by every mail."' 
 
 It was exiilaincd in the interest of the New York baidcs, that 
 their suspension was rendered necessary by a continual drain upon 
 their specie resources in response to demands from I'hihuU'lphia and 
 
 ' l.etttT written fidiii Natchc/, May :;, ISIIO, In a ron-cspninlcnt ii] riiihulcliihia. 
 
///STORY OF HAX/x'/XCr. 37] 
 
 Biiltiiiiore; and the benefit of tlio measure was realizeil h\ tlie united 
 action of the banks of Xew York. Then, when New York refused 
 to pay specie in her dealings with Philadelphia and Baltimore, and 
 other cities, it of course became necessary for those other cities to 
 refuse to pay specie in their dealings with New York. The suspen- 
 sion thus became general throughout the country, the Bank of the 
 United States acting in concert with the other banks, and including 
 also the Treasury banks; for, when the Treasury banks refused to 
 pay specie, why sliould other banks pay specie to the Treasury banks? 
 The Bank of the United States pursued this course, believing the 
 measure to be a temporary and precautionary one, and witli tiie 
 desire to preserve its strength unbroken, so as to be able to lead 
 the way to resumption as soon as the Government should become 
 able to pay its creditors in specie. 
 
 But this universal suspension of specie payments by the baidcs of 
 the country was a most striking object lesson; it was a most unequiv- 
 ocal confession of the complete impotence of the banking system then 
 in vogue. It also most clearly exposed the quackerj- of the politico- 
 financial invention known as the Safety Fund, which, bj' being to a 
 great extent relied upon, produced a delusion of safety, and, like 
 a safety-valve which gets out of order for want of attention, became 
 one of the most eflicient causes of the suspension which ensued. It 
 taught the banks to rely upon the supervision of a common authority, 
 and to the chances of a common security, instead of upon that precau- 
 tion and sagacious foresight which regulate individual enterprise. 
 
 But one of the most interesting and instructive features of the 
 times was that already alluded to, with reference to the Government 
 itself suspending specie payments. In riiiladelphia, on May 12, some 
 of that city's merchants called at the customhouse to make payment of 
 bonds, in order to avoid suit for non-payment, as threatened by the 
 Secretary of the Treasury in an order issued May 8. These merchants 
 ottered notes on the Government deposit bank in payment of the 
 bonds, which were refused, the Government requiring payment in gold 
 or silver. On the same day, the customhouse in Philadelphia, having 
 certain liabilities to meet, refused to pa}* specie. On May 13, a mer- 
 chant in Philadelphia, having to pay a certain sum to the Government, 
 tendered payment to the Government deposit bank in its own notes, 
 and they were refused, the merchant being told that the Government 
 would receive nothing but gold or silver. 
 
 This refusal was in accordance with the following order, issued 
 May 12: 
 
372 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 "To Collectors of Cuslonts: 
 
 "If tlie biinlv wliore you deposit sliould suspend sjieeie }i:i_\nieiits, 
 you will yourself collect, and keep in your own hands, the public 
 money for all duties at your port until further directions are i^ivcn to 
 you by this department how to deposit, transfer, or pay it. You 
 must, of course, continue to adhere to the existing laws of Congress, 
 and to the former instructions of the Treasury, in respect to the kind 
 of money receivable for customs, and by which it is understood to 
 be your duty to require payments to be nuule in specie and in the 
 notes of specie banks that arc at i)ar. 
 
 "Levi WooDiiURY, 
 "Secretary- of the Treasury." 
 
 A New York merchant, on May 12, 1837, wrote: "Had the 
 President but intinuited that specie would come back in time, or 
 that drafts of New York for specie woulil be avoided, or that the 
 circular would be revoked in the summer, it would have given conli- 
 dence; and that is all that was wanted. But nothing — no, nothing- 
 was done, and the greatest disgrace any Administration has suffered 
 to rest upon its head has fallen upon the present. 
 
 "To the dominant authority, then, I would say: You have failed; 
 you have failed in establishing a 'better currency'; you have failed 
 in the 'experiment'; you have failed in regulating exchanges; you 
 have failed in a specie currency; you have failed in your safety-fund 
 plan; you have failed in putting the deposits in safe keeping; you have 
 failed in relation to the currency; you have failed in every thing but 
 but one — you have succeeding in destroying the National Bank." 
 
 Throughout the country a natiomd bank was the great desidera- 
 tum. This was the constant and continuous refrain: "Give us a 
 national bank." But that had been destroyed, because, as has been 
 said before, of President Jackson's hostility to the i)resideiit of that 
 institution, not because of his understanding anything connected with 
 the principles of banking or political econoiuy, for of these he under- 
 stood but little. The result was wide-spread distress. Bank notes in 
 one part of the country were at a great discount, in another part of 
 the country entirely worthless, and the people in the vai'ious cities 
 were busy in fabricating pajier representatives of cvimv part of a 
 dollar. In New York, merchants had recourse to checks upon restau- 
 rants in the [layment of small sums. In Washington, all kinds of 
 j)aper were in circulation, the extreme limit being reached in the 
 issue of notes by a certain l)arbcr, wiu)se name might be given, who. 
 
HISTORY OF RANKIXG. 373 
 
 iilKiii the presentation of his notes for redemption, said: " VViiat do I 
 want of tliose things? I don't want anything to do with tiieni; go 
 and bu}' something with them!" 
 
 May 16, 1837, tlie Bank of the Metropolis of Wasliington issued 
 printed notices announcing its suspension of specie payments, and 
 tiien tlie Bank of Washington, wiiich liad sustained for tliree days a 
 lieavy run upon it for specie, finding itself standing alone in the 
 cit3', resolved to close its vaults. It was, however, then prepared to 
 redeem its circulating notes to the last dollar; but it was thought that 
 such a course would only tend to embarrass the mercantile classes, witii- 
 ont relieving the public. This bank, therefore, also suspended on the 
 KUh, and was thougiit to be the last bank to suspend in the Union. 
 
 The fundamental vice of President Jackson was in introducing 
 and carrying out his "experiment"; not so much in his antipath}' to 
 the Bank of the United States. His animosity' could not so easily 
 have destroyed that institution and caused the great evils that 
 succeeded, had that animosity been confined within constitutional 
 limits. But he permitted his animosity to lead him to the destruction 
 of the bank, which the will of the people clearly indicated they 
 wislied to stand; and afterward, when the representatives of the peo- 
 ple expressed their opinion by a vote of one hundred and nine to 
 forty-six that the Bank of the United States was a safe place to keep 
 the public deposits, and notwithstanding that the law had giveu to 
 the Secretary of the Treasury- unqualified and exclusive power over 
 them, when the Secretary of the Treasury refused to remove them, 
 then President Jackson removed the Secretary of the Treasury and 
 placed another Secretary in his place who had no scruples as to tiieir 
 removal. 
 
 Next came one of President Jackson's greatest oliicial mistakes. 
 This was in permitting the law which passed the House March 
 1, 1837, designed to counteract the evil effects of the specie circular, — 
 by providing that, under certain conditions, and in accordance with 
 certain regulations, no duties, taxes, or sums of money payable for 
 lands should be collected or received otherwise than in the legal cur- 
 rency of the United States, or in notes of banks which were pa3'able 
 and paid on demand in said legal currency of the United States, — to 
 fail, by retaining it in his possession until after Congress had adjourned. 
 This act was passed by the Senate by a vote of 41 to 5, and bj- the 
 House by a vote of 143 to 59. 
 
 The nature of the financial distress may be inferred from the 
 fact that on Saturday evening, May 20, 1837, a public meeting was 
 
374 H/SrORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 lield to consider tlie [n-opricty of an issue of c(jriioriitioii notes to 
 serve tiie [lurpose of (-liange during the suspension of specie payments 
 by tlie banks. Tiionias Mnnroe was called to the chair, and Edward 
 Ilanley aiUl Henry Bradley made secretaries. Two scries of resolu- 
 tions were introduced, opposed to each otlier, one favoring the issue 
 of corporation notes, the other opposing sucii issue. Speeches were 
 made by several gentlemen on either side of the question. Mr. Cun- 
 ningiiam and Mr. Iloban spoke against the proposition, and Mr. G. 
 Sweeney and Mr. D. Clagett in favor of it. But when the corporation 
 came to act on the suggestion of the meeting, they found tinit a law 
 of Congress, which had been ajiproved June 30, 1834, forljade the 
 corporations of Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria to issue any 
 new promissory notes or bills of a less sum than $10; hence the entire 
 subject was indefinitely postponed. 
 
 The banks of Washington which had suspended specie payments 
 were requested by resolution to resume, so far as the ?5 notes were 
 concerned. To these resolutions each bank replie<l separately. These 
 banks were the Bank of the Metropolis, of which John P. Van Xess 
 was president; the Patriotic Bank, of which W. A. Bradley was 
 president, and the Bank of Washington, of which Richard C Wash- 
 ington was president; the first on the 29th of May, and the other 
 two on the 30th. The substance of each repl}' was, that while the 
 liank was anxious to comply with the request, ^et it could not be 
 done with safety or with benefit to the public by any one bank or 
 by the banks of an}- one city. The Chesapeake and Oliio Canal 
 Company, unable to obtain corporation notes of $1 and $2, determined 
 to issue notes of its own in sums of |2, |1, and fifty cents, in order 
 to carry on its business. These notes, while serving the purposes of 
 the company, found their way among the people generally, and 
 "enabled them to transact their little everyday business." 
 
 An act was passed by Congress May 25, 1838, which was in part 
 as follows: 
 
 "5e it enacted., That the charters of the Farmers and Mechanics' 
 Bank of Georgetown, the 13ank of the Metropolis, the Patriotic Bank 
 of Washington, the Bank of Washington, and the Farmers' l)ank of 
 Alexandria, and the Bank of Potomac, in the town of Alexandria, be, 
 and the same are hereby, extended to the 4th of July, 1840, jirovidcd 
 that said banks, each for itself, shall conform to the following con- 
 ditions: 
 
 "1. To cease receiving and pa}'ing out all jiaper (■urrency of a 
 less denomination than $5, on oi- before the promulgation of this act. 
 
HISTORY OF BAXhVNG. 375 
 
 "2. To redeem all tlieir notes of the ileiioniination of $5, in gold 
 or silver, from and after the first day of August of the present year. 
 
 "3. To resume specie payments in full on or before the first 
 day of January, 1839, or sooner if tlie princi[ial banks of Baltimore 
 and Richmond shall sooner resume payments in full." 
 
 Tiiese conditions were justly considered very harsh by the banks. 
 With respect to the first, it was clearly seen that to proliibit the 
 use of notes less than $5 could only cause great inconvenience to 
 persons who had to pay out small sums; and the prohibition to cir- 
 culate their own $5 notes, or, in other words, the requisition that they 
 should pay them in full in specie on and after the 1st of August 
 (which meant the same thing, for so large a part of the District 
 circulation was in §5 notes), made it necessary for the banks to con- 
 siderably reduce their discounts. It was freely declared that the 
 conditions imposed upon the banks of the District were such as 
 the several Congressmen would not have im^josed on the banks of 
 their respective States. 
 
 Specie pa3'ments were generally resumed early in 1839, and in 
 this connection, when Nicholas Biddle resigned the presidency of 
 the United States Bank, March 29, 1839, it was said of him hy a 
 friend of General Jackson, who was at the same time an opponent of 
 the bank, that Mr. Biddle's course with reference to cotton, the great 
 staple of the country, during the eighteen months previous to his 
 resignation, had saved the country -S25,000,000, and had enabled the 
 banks to resume specie payments. This resumption was not, how- 
 ever, of long duration. Distress began to be felt in the succeeding 
 summer, and finally, on October 10, the lianks in Philadelphia sus- 
 pended, giving as the reason therefor that the failure of the harvests in 
 England, in 1838, caused a demand on the Bank of England for more 
 than £6,000,000 for export to the Continent in jiayment for grain. The 
 withdrawal of so large an amount of specie produced at once a depres- 
 sion of the value of cotton and other American produce, and lessened 
 our means in England of paying for tlie large amount of importations 
 of foreign merchandise. There had been for this reason a continual 
 drain upon the banks for specie to ship to Europe to supjily this 
 deficiency. The banks, therefore, thought it best to suspend, and thus 
 to keep the gold and silver at home. On the 11th of October, the 
 banks of Baltimore followed the lead of the Philadelphia banks, and 
 on the same day tlie banks of the District of Columbia, at a meet- 
 ing of the representatives of several of them, passed the following 
 resolutions: 
 
376 ///STORY O/- \\ASI//NGTON. 
 
 " Whereas, Int'ormatiuii is reeeivod tliat tlie Ijanks of riiiladolpliia 
 and Baltimore iiavc suspended specie i)aynients tor tlie present, and it 
 being tlie opinion of the several banks in the cities of Washington 
 here rejircsented that the safety of the banks and the interests of the 
 coninuinity will not be promoted by an attempt to sustain specie 
 payments while the suspension of Northern banks shall continue; and 
 
 " Whereas, The banks iiere liave abundant means to meet all 
 their liabilities, yet as a considerable part of these means has become 
 unavailable for the present, as spet'ie funds, by the suspension of the 
 baidvs of Philadelphia and Baltimore; be it therefore 
 
 '■'■ Eesolred, That it be, and is hereby, recommended to the several 
 banks here represented, to suspend specie pa^'ments for the jiresent, 
 with the pledge of said banks to resume as soon as the banks of 
 riiiladelphia and Baltimore shall do so." 
 
 The Patriotic Bank was not represented at this meeting and did 
 not suspend, as it had some time before reduced its circulation con- 
 siderably. At this time, there were six banks in the District — two in 
 Alexandria, one in Georgetown, and three in Washington. In order 
 to show that tlie\' were worthy of }>ublic eonlidence, the following 
 statement of their condition on the 1st of February, 1840, was pub- 
 lished: 
 
 Amount of capital, -^1,762,880; notes in circulation, #651,i!40.G5; 
 post notes, $12,000; individual deposits, §749,304.44; public deposits, 
 $248,377.90; due to other banks, $250,209.60; unclaimed dividends, 
 $14,900.24; profit and loss, $270,873; total liabilities, $3,9(30,185.83. 
 Resources — Amount of bills and notes discounted, $2,447,600.65; 
 specie, $323,689.89; specie funds, $154,753.75; due from banks, $256,- 
 801.41; notes of other banks, $197,373.38; real estate, $218,152.99; 
 sundry stocks, $286,142.28; legal expenses, $25,077.81; suspense ac- 
 counts, $50,593.67; total, $3,960,185.83. Surplus, protit and loss above, 
 $270,873; from which, after deducting susjiense accounts, errors, etc., 
 equal to $94,220.50, there remained a net surjilus of $176,652.50. 
 
 On July 1, 1840, the question came up in Congress as to 
 whether the charters of the banks of the District should be con- 
 tinueil, on that jiart of a motion by Mr. Cooper, of Pennsylvania, 
 which was an amendment to Mr. Petrikin's, which prohibited, after a 
 certain day, the issue of notes of a denomination less than $20. It was 
 decided in the negative by a vote of 83 to 98, so that this part of 
 Mr. Cooper's amendment was rejected. The question then recurred 
 on so much of Mr. Cooper's amendment as prohibited after the 1st 
 of -lanuary, 1841, the issue of notes of a less denomination than 
 
HISTORY OF RAA'h'lXG. 377 
 
 $50, and it was decided in tlie negative by a vote of 60 to 106. Tiie 
 question tlien came np on agreeing to the following anicndnicnt: 
 ^^ Prodded, also, tliat the president and directors of each of the lianks 
 sliall jointly and severally, in tlieir individual capacity, be liable fur 
 all notes issued or debts contracted by said banks respectively, from 
 and after the day this act goes into eft'ect, to be recovered as other 
 debts of like amount are recovered." This was decided in the affirm- 
 ative by a vote of 92 to 90. 
 
 The question then came up on the following amendment: " Pro- 
 cided, that said banks shall not make any dividends during the time 
 the said banks shall refuse to pay all their liabilities on demand," 
 which was decided in the affirmative b}- a vote of 145 to 25. The 
 question then came on this further amendment: "And the president 
 and directors of an}- of the said banks, wlio shall make any sucli 
 division of proiits, or declare an}- such dividend, or consent to or 
 vote for the same, shall be liable to pay double the amount of the 
 sum so divided or declared, to be recovered of them, in their individual 
 capacity, by any person suing for the same, as debts of like amount 
 are recoverable, one-half of said forfeiture to go to the person suing, and 
 the other half to the corporation where said bank is located." Justices 
 of the peace within the District of Columbia were given jurisdiction 
 in all actions for debt against the banks whose charters were extended, 
 for sums not exceeding §100, and no appeal was allowed unless the 
 president or one or more of the directors of the bank should make 
 affidavit that such appeal was not taken for the purpose of delay. 
 This amendment passed by a vote of 9-1 to 78. 
 
 An amendment was then passed, by a vote of 96 to 76, that the 
 said banks should not issue notes of a less sum than |10. Then 
 followed an amendment that their notes should be redeemable at all 
 times in specie, or, on failure to redeem as required, the charter of 
 any bank so failing should be forfeited. This amendment passed by 
 a vote of 101 to 77. Then came the following amendment: "That 
 in case said banks, or any of them, shall refuse or fail to pay 
 their notes in specie, any person shall and may have remedy by 
 judgment and execution at law, at a notice of ten days, before any 
 justice of the peace of the saitl District." This was passed by a vote 
 of 87 to 71. 
 
 The question then came up on (M'dering the above amendments to 
 bo engrossed and the bill to be read a third time, when it was decided 
 in the negative by a vote of 69 to 90. A motion to reconsider the ques- 
 tion was lost by a vote of 94 to 86, not two-thirds iu the affirmative. 
 
378 HISTORY OF \\:4S}//A'GTO/V. 
 
 Mr. Ilallciiiaii tlicii iiitrodiioeil a Ijill to continue tlic cliarters oi' 
 tliL' l)anks in tlje District of Coliinibia for certain iiur[io.ses: "That the 
 jirovisioiis, restrictions, and enactments of tiie Act of Congress of 
 May 25, 1838, entitled 'An Act to Extend the Charter of the Union 
 Bank of Georgetown, in the District of Colnnibia,' be, and the same 
 ai'e hereb}-, extended to the Farmers and Mechanics' Bank, of George- 
 town; the Bank of the Metropolis; the Bank of Washington; tl:c 
 Patriotic Bank, of Washington; tlie Bank of Potomac, and the 
 Farmers' Bank, of Alexandria. Pmcidcd, tliat whenever in tlie original 
 act the 4th of Jnly, 1838, occurs, it shall be construed to mean the 
 4th of July, 1840, and whenever the 4th of July, 1842, occurs, it shall 
 be construed to mean the 4th of July, 1844." 
 
 On Friday, July 3, 1840, Mr. Underwood moved to amend the 
 bill by adding: 
 
 "Tliat if the said banks, or any or either of them, shall, within 
 ninety days from and after the passage of this act, resume specie 
 payments, then the said banks, or such of them as shall so resume, 
 shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges conferred by their 
 present charters until the 4th of Jul}', 1842, unless Congress shall at 
 any time otherwise direct; but if such banks so resuming shall at any 
 time after such resumption again suspend specie payments, or refuse 
 to pay any of their notes or other obligations in specie, then such 
 suspension or refusal shall operate as a forfeiture of their respective 
 charters, except for the purjiose of winding up their affairs under the 
 [irovisions and restrictions contained in this act; and provided, farther, 
 in all cases wliere the said banks, or either of them, thereafter refuse 
 payment of any of tlieir notes or obligations, there shall l)e a summary 
 remedy therefor before any justice or judge having jurisdit-tion of 
 the case by giving five days' notice, wherein there shall be no 
 swpcrsedeas, stay, execution, or injunction, or certiorari allowed, nor 
 any appeal, except upon an affidavit of merits b\- the i)resident, 
 cashier, or directors. 
 
 "Section 2. That if the president and directors of either of said 
 banks shall violate the provisions aforesaid, the}', and each of them, 
 shall be fined in a sum not less than $100 nor more than 81,000 for 
 every offense, to be recovered by presentment or indictment in any 
 court of record having jurisdiction thereof." 
 
 This amendment was sustained by a vote of 98 to 70. The bill 
 as thus amended was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading by 
 a vote of 108 yeas to 60 nays. It was then read a third time, and 
 passed by a vote of 115 to 75, and sent to the Senate. In this body 
 
H /STORY OF BANKING. 379 
 
 it was reported witliont Mr. Underwood's amendment; wiis returned 
 to tlie House, and tliere passed hy a vote of 124 to 19; again sent to 
 the Senate, and then to tlie President, for liis signature. 
 
 Upon tliis action of Congress, the National Intelligencer said: "As 
 tilings now stand, tiie people of tlie District of Columbia are made an 
 exception to the privileges enjoyed by all the rest of the American 
 people, by being deprived of the use of those facilities indispensable, 
 under the existing circumstances of the country, to the prosecution of 
 almost any branch of trade or manufactures. The extension of the 
 charters of these banks was resisted b}- a large proportion of the 
 friends of the Administration with a dogged preseverauce which cannot 
 fail to fix the attention antl excite the surprise of every distant reader, 
 as it has excited the surprise of everybody, in and out of Congress, who 
 was not privy to the design to abolish the banks entirel}'." 
 
 While tiie bill above referred to was under discussion, Mr. Dawson, 
 of Georgia, made a very able speech in opposition to the attempt to 
 compel the banks to resume specie payments. He said: "I am 
 against destroying the relation of creditor and debtor. I will not 
 vote to depreciate the value of property, to raise the value of 
 money, and thereby to empower the creditor to bring all tlie property 
 of the debtor under the hammer. That will lie the operation of the 
 bill. All you, by voting for this bill, appreciate money one hundred 
 per cent., and depreciate all property fifty per cent. At one blow, you 
 cut oft" the five lieads of these District banks, and throw them bleeding 
 into these ten miles square; and you toll them, 'Xow die, and close 
 np your respective concerns — for you nia^- live no longer.' For the 
 sake of your political expei'iment in bringing a 'hard money currency' 
 into this devoted District, you stand by witli stony hearts and look 
 upon the ruin of these defenseless people as if it were a spectacle 
 exhibited at a theater, all to carry out your beautiful scheme of 
 reform and a 'hard money currency.' Well, sir, let tlie example be 
 carried out; let those who are for compelling these defenseless people 
 of the District to use nothing but hard money go into their own 
 States and get the State legislatures to collect the taxes in hard 
 .coin, and to pay for all their works of improvement in the same 
 hard money. Try it there, and liow long do you think your Govern- 
 ment will exist? I call upon you to come out from the bushes and 
 show your faces. Do to the people of this District as you are willing 
 to do to the people of your own States," etc. 
 
 When Congress adjourned, July 21, 1840, after having failed to 
 take action looking to a continuance of the corporate existence of 
 
380 H/STORY OF W.ASHLXGTON. 
 
 the Ijaiiks, biuik privileges were suspendod in the District, on July 4. 
 After tliat day no Itank eouhl reissue its notes, make any discounts 
 or loans, or incur or receive any new obligation. The result was 
 that baidc notes of any kind could scarcely be found in quantities 
 sufficient to ti-ansact the daily businesss of the community. By many 
 it was believed there was no hope for the District except in a change 
 in the administration. During several years the peo])le of the Dis- 
 trict hail been for the most part intensely Whig in their political 
 sentiments, and this was suiBcient for many in Congress to do what 
 the}" could in any way to punish them. This fact is more clearly set 
 fortli in the chapter on municipal affairs, and hence is onl}' referred 
 to in this connection in order to point out briefly the reasons for the 
 U'ln-action of Congress in regard to a matter of grave import to 
 the commercial interests of the people of the District. 
 
 As every one knows, the change in the administration so long 
 hoped for by these people at length came, in the election of William 
 Henry Harrison to the Presidency, and of John Tyler to the Vice- 
 Presidency. Not long after the result of this election became known, 
 a memorial to Congress was circulated for the signatures of merchants, 
 tradesmen, mechanics, and other citizens of Washington, setting forth 
 that "the condition of your memorialists resulting from the present 
 state of the incorporate banks in the city of Washington is such as, 
 in their opinion, calls for some effectual and speedy remedy to be 
 applied by your honorable body," and closing with the following: 
 "Your memorialists therefore humbly pray that the act passed b}' your 
 honorable bodj', at your last session, entitled, 'An Act to Continue the 
 Corporate Existence of Certain Banks in the District of Columbia for 
 Certain Purposes,' ma}- be speedily repealed, and that the banks of the 
 city of Washington may again be chartered for a reasonable time, with 
 such provisions for the security of the public interests as may seem 
 just and proper, and not inconsistent with a due degree of usefulness 
 to your memorialists and their fellow-citizens." 
 
 The next day after the adjournment of Congress, lion. William 
 Cost Johnson, member from the Fifth District of Maryland, and oiu' 
 of the ablest men in the House, issued an address to the people of 
 the District of Columbia, in which he made use of the following 
 language: 
 
 "It was known that the voice of the District, if not their votes, 
 was against the contininmre of the present Executive head, and that 
 fact was at once the it'ason and the cause why the House of liepre- 
 sentati\es wunld not, in an eight-months' session, grant a single 
 
HISTOrn- OF BANKING. 381 
 
 request of the committee [the District Committee of tlie House, of 
 which Mr. Johnson was chairnian], or even give a single request or 
 measure emanating from the committee a decent iiearing or respectful 
 consideration. 
 
 "A Congress professing to he Democratic, and the Constitution, 
 which they have sworn to support, making it the Legislature for the 
 District, and with tiie fullest knowledge of the sentiment of the people 
 of the District in relation to various measures — this Congress, thus 
 constituted and thus advised, whilst they were vociferous and declama- 
 tory about their Republican principles, set all the obligations of the 
 Constitution in this respect at defiance. Xot only did they disregard 
 every principle of Republicanism in refusing to obe^- the will of the 
 people of this District in relation to their own measures and business, 
 but to punish the people who have the temerity to refuse allegiance 
 to Mr. Van Buren, they went counter in their vindictive feelings to 
 their own pretended principles, refused to recliarter one of tlie banks 
 of the District which had not suspended specie payments, and again 
 refused to recharter the banks generally' with a condition that tlie}' 
 should immediately resume specie payments. With a malignant 
 pleasure, they seemed to revel in their work of ruin and destruction, 
 in serving the President and maintaining tlieir principles; principles 
 as disreputable to the head as they were perverting to the heart." 
 
 In the meantime, two of the banks of the District, the Bank of the 
 Metropolis, and the Farmers and Mechanics" Bank of Georgetown, 
 resolved to pay all their notes and other obligations in specie, this 
 action being taken on Jul}- 6, 1840. The published notice of the 
 former bank was signed b}' John P. Van Xess, president, and Richard 
 Smith, cashier; and that by the latter by J. I. Stull, cashier. 
 
 It is well known that one of the principal reasons for the over- 
 throw of the Democratic Party in 1840, by the election of William 
 Ilenr}' Harrison, was that there might be a reform of the currency, 
 which had been thrown into almost inextricable confusion by President 
 Jackson, and continued in tliat condition through the administration 
 of President Van Buren. In order to eifect this reform as soon as 
 possible, President Harrison called Congress together in extra session, 
 and at this extra session Congress passed a bill providing for a "Fiscal 
 Bank," which was only another name for a national bank, to l)e 
 located in the city of Washington. Henry Clay was one of the 
 principal supporters of the proposed bank, remaining in Congress 
 mainly for the purpose of assisting to perfect this and other necessary 
 legislation. But, unfortunately for the country. President Harrison 
 
882 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 died before the opportunity came for him to assist this necessary 
 work 1)\' ins signature, and tiie Vice-President, Joim Tyler, became 
 the I'rcsidciit. President Tyler, wlien the l^ill establishing the Fiscal 
 Bank was presented to him for liis signature, returned it to Congress 
 witli his oiyections, two in number — tirst, tliat he was conscientiously 
 opposed to a national bank, because in his view such an institution 
 was clearly unconstitutional, and he had taken an oath to support and 
 defend that sacred instrument. This was a great surprise and a great 
 disajjpointment to the party that had elevated him to power, but 
 he said that the Whigs, when tliey nominated him for the Vice- 
 Presidency, knew what his views had always been, and so in fact had 
 no one to blame but themselves for finding themselves in the condi- 
 tion that they were. President Tyler's other reason for vetoing the 
 Bank bill was that there was a possibility of some one or iiiore of 
 the States having a BrancVi Bank of the United States established 
 within her or their borders against the will of the people, as under 
 the bill as it was presented to him such branch could be establislied 
 in any State, provided that State should not decide against it at the 
 tirst meeting of its legislature after tlie passage of the bill by Con- 
 gress. So that all the States that desired pirecisely such an institution 
 were deprived of the great benefits that would have followed the 
 establishment of such an institution within their limits because of 
 the fear in the President's nund that some one State might have a 
 branch bank established, and thus have its benefits forced upon her 
 against her consent. This latter reason of the President was in all 
 probability as fiimsy an argument as has ever appeared in a state 
 paper; and then, with reference to the tirst reason, — his conscientious 
 opposition because it was in his view unconstitutional, — it may be said 
 that such conscientious convictions with reference to the organic law 
 were hardly sustained by his subsequent career in the Presidential 
 office. After the veto of the Fiscal Bank bill, Congress attempted to 
 frame one which, as they understood it, was in accordance with the 
 President's views as to what a national bank should be, giving to it 
 the name of a "Fiscal Corporation," to be located within the Distrit-t 
 of Columbia, with a capital of $21,000,000. The bill providing for 
 this Fiscal Corporation was likewise vetoed by the President, l)ecause 
 he was unable to see the difference between a "Fiscal Bank" and a 
 "Fiscal Corporation." If one was unconstitutional, so was the other. 
 Here again were strikingly illustrated the evils of which the veto 
 power is capable. Had Congress been able to pass a measure over 
 the vcti) by a majorily vote, instead of a two-thirds vote, the country 
 
HISTORY OF BANKING. 383 
 
 wouUl have been enuljled to possess all the advantages of a sound 
 currency, and prosperity would have again smiled upon the labors of 
 all classes of people. I5ut instead of this great blessing, the currency 
 kep>t on going from bad to woi'sc. In Washington, "if our sufferings 
 are not intolei'able, they are too grievous to be borne, the best of 
 our currenc}' being the outstanding certificates of deposit thrown into 
 circulation by the banks. Congress has indeed reinstated the charters 
 of the banks, but with the conditions that, so long as the banks of 
 States on either side of us do not pay specie, our banks can keep out 
 no circulation, and, of course, can do no business." The bankable 
 paper of the District at that time consisted of the notes of the banks 
 of the District, certificates of deposit of those banks, and notes of tlie 
 banks of Baltimore and of banks in cities north of Maryland. By far 
 the greatest part of the bank circulation, however, was of the Virginia 
 banks, which, for some reason that was not then clear, could not then 
 be made bankable, except at a loss of §3 per hundred to the possessor. 
 Besides this, there was a flood of the notes of the Baltimore and Ohio 
 Railroad Company, of denoniinations less than %h, which, uj) to near 
 the latter })art of 1841, circulated at par, and then becoming depreci- 
 ated in Baltimore, they also, of course, settled in Washington to 
 about ten per cent, below par. 8o great was the loss and confusion 
 that was occasioned, that the merchants of Baltimore agreed not to 
 receive them in payment for an^^tbing except at their actual value. 
 
 The following figures relate to the condition of tlie banks on 
 December 31, 1841: Bank of the Metropolis — Capital, ?500,000; de- 
 posits, $223,040.02; circulation, $21,620.26; specie on hand, $81,680.61. 
 Richard Smith was cashier at that time. Bank of Washington — Capi- 
 tal, $3.59,840; deposits, $170,372.21; circulation, $7,180; specie funds and 
 Treasury notes, $71,269.68. James Adams was then cashier. Patriotic 
 Bank, of Washington,- Capital, $250,000; circulation, $25,686. Farmers 
 and Mechanics' Bank, of Georgetown, — Net capital, $317,265. 
 
 In January, 1842, the rates of discount in Waslnngton were as 
 follows: Baltimore and Ohio Railroad notes, 20 to 25 per cent, dis- 
 count; Virginia notes, from 4 to 5 per cent, discount; specie was from 
 3 to 3J per cent, above Baltimore bank notes, while the notes of the 
 banks of the District were equal to specie, and the certificates of 
 deposit of the Patriotic Bank were equal to Baltimore bank notes. 
 
 Congress, during its extra session of 1841, labored hard and 
 faithfully to remedy the evils inflicted upon the country by the 
 derangement of tlie currency, but all their eflbrts were unavailing 
 because of what, at length, in the language of the times, came to be 
 
384 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 known as President Tyler's "conscientious" scruples as to the consti- 
 tiitionulity of the nieasiii'es by it adopted. Fi-oni the termination 
 of the extra session to the opening of the next regular session, 
 an<l during the regular session, the condition f)f the currency was 
 persistently growing worse. In three-fourths of the States there 
 was, in fact, notiiing that could ho called currenc}', except by courtesy. 
 In Philadelphia, there was no bank paper which any man would hold 
 a moment longer than was necessary to rid himself of it. In Wash- 
 ington, tlie notes of the banks of several of the States, which were 
 in tolerably fair credit at home, could not be converted into funds at 
 less than from five to twenty per cent, discount, while the notes of 
 banks of other States could not be converted into funds upon an^- 
 terms. A remarkable illustration of the condition of the currency in 
 1842, the result of fourteen years experiment by incompetent hands, 
 was furnished by the following notice, published in the Mobile Prices 
 Current, June 29, that year: "A sight check on New York for 
 $5,000 was yesterday sold at forty-two per cent, premium." Another 
 instance was cited in the public prints — that of a gentleman in 
 Philadelphia, who had just received a remittance from St. Louis in 
 Virginia money, for which the St. Louis agent had paid ten per 
 cent, premium, and which, on its arrival in Pliiladel[diia, was found 
 to be at a discount of about ten per cent., causing a loss of twenty 
 per cent, on the transaction. Such facts as these demonstrated to all 
 business men, and all other rational men, that the great necessity of 
 the country was a national currency, of equal value in all parts of the 
 Union. Such a currency could not be furnished b}- State banking- 
 institutions. President Jackson's "better currency" was little else 
 than an aggravation everywhere, because it was practically a fraud 
 and a delusion. The specie standard was established at various 
 points, as at Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, New Orleans, etc., and 
 yet the traveler at the West or South, starting from any of these 
 points, often found it necessary to change his funds, and at every 
 change he was compelled to lose from thi'ce to ten jier cent. At 
 Louisville, specie-paying New Orleans funds were from five to ten 
 per cent, discount, and in Indiana three per cent. At St. Louis, 
 Kentucky paper was at a discount of from four to live per cent. There 
 was no money then in the country that would puss for its face 
 everywliere but American gold, and that conld not he had for less 
 than three jier cent, premium in silver. 
 
 One of the strongest statements made, or pt)ssiblc to he made, 
 with reference to the condition into which the curreucs' had hcen 
 
HISTORY OF BANKING. 385 
 
 brought l)y the udmiiiisti-iitioiis of ]-*resiilent Andrew Jackson and 
 President Martin Van Biiren, was contained in a letter to the 
 lion. Joini C. Calhoun by General James Hamilton, then an ex- 
 member of Congress from South Carolina, and a stanch friend of 
 General Jackson at the time of his elevation to the Presidency, and 
 for several years thereafter. The letter was written in London, Eng- 
 land, September 29, 1842, after several months' observation as to the 
 credit of the several States, and of the United States, in Europe. lie 
 said that the great necessity of the country was a uniform circulation, 
 which should be of the same value in New Orleans and in Boston. 
 "This circulation, in the recesses of financial wisdom which is past 
 finding out, was destroyed by our friend, General Jackson, when he 
 slew the Bank of the United States, with the arm of Samson, and 
 almost 'with the selfsame weapon,' too, when we recollect all the 
 twaddle of the old gentleman on the subject. He, as Burke said, was 
 certainly 'a consummate architect of ruin' in liis time and tide, and 
 had the happy faculty of impersonating, in his mind's eye, a corpora- 
 tion for the purpose of hating it as cordially as he once did you and 
 Mr. Poinde.xter. When, thereafter, Mr. Biddle entered into a contest 
 with this hero of two wars, he forgot the wisdom of a Spanish 
 proverb, 'that he who sits down to dine with the Devil should eat 
 with a long spoon.' Wliat has been tlie result of this feast of broken 
 meat and empty plates you well know. It has left our countr}- 
 hungry of flesh, indeed, and poor in spirit. I doubt, since the crea- 
 tion of the world, whether such an example can be exhibited as we 
 have presented for the last sixteen 3'ears, of folly and misgovern ment. 
 No Southern planter would permit his plantation for an hour to be 
 governed with such a lack of all sense and providence. The Catfres 
 and Hottentots, in reference to their condition, I doubt not, have 
 been governed with a policy far more vigilant and enlightened. A 
 country of immense resources, in a period of profound peace, on the 
 verge of bankruptcy! No man who has ever read Hume's essay on 
 'Public Credit,' and on 'Mone}'," can be at any loss to trace oui- 
 present condition to its true cause. . . . This result has been, first, 
 in the constant action of the Federal Government, or their supposed 
 meditated action, on the banks of the States, which created a universal 
 panic; and next, the General Government permitted to remain in 
 criminal abeyance their several functions to supply a currency equal 
 to the wants of the country, and to regulate its value. . . . But, mj- 
 good sir, the day of reckoning must come. The account will be 
 adjusted now, or b}' posterity. One of its first sums will be to settle 
 
38C HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 what the victorj- at New Orleans lias cost us. Napoleon's victories, 
 in cost, were no more to 1)0 compared to tlie victory at New Orleans 
 than a penn}- whistle is to Baron Muncliausen's celebrated clarion 
 under an April thaw. I calculate that the victory of the 8th of 
 January cost us $500,000,000, besides the small expense of entailing 
 upon the countr}' a set of drivelers, whose folly lias taken awa}' all 
 dignity from distress, and made even calamity ridiculous. You will say: 
 'Hold! You and I were greatly responsiljle for tliis liero's getting into 
 power.' Yes, it is true! Willingly would I expiate tiiis sin, sir, with 
 my blood, if I could recall the fatal past, but this is impossible," etc. 
 
 But the " Wltig Congress" adjourned, March 4, 1843, without 
 granting a recharter to the District banks, and as showing the feeling 
 of the opposition party toward these banks, the following from the 
 Ohio Statesman, of March 7, is extremely expressive: 
 
 "There was one bright and glorious spot in the close of tliis 
 Congress besides its eternal dissolution; namely, the District banks 
 failed to get a recharter. The rotten things are now defunct, and 
 their putrid carcasses are left to dry up in the summer's sun, for a 
 more corrupt and rascally set of Whig shaving sliops did not exist in 
 the Union." 
 
 But notwithstanding this outburst of malice, tiie fact was that 
 these banks were honestly conducted, they jiaying specie even when 
 other banks did not, and always when othei' Ijanks did. They were 
 at that time paying specie, and were quite as able to meet their 
 engagements as any banks in the States on either side of the Dis- 
 trict. But tlie triumph of tlie enemies of the District banks was 
 not destined to be permanent. In March, 1844,, a bill to extend their 
 charters was reported to the House of Rei)resentatives, which became 
 a law June 17, 1844. This law, however, did not specifically extend 
 the cliarters of an}' of tlie Ijanks in the District of Coluniljia. It onl}' 
 l)rovided that each of them miglit be juirty to a suit at law, by wliicii 
 debts due b}' or to any of them might be collected. Afterward, there 
 was no legislation upon banking in the District, except sucli as pro- 
 vided for the temporary extension of the charter of the Union Bank 
 of Georgetown for the specific purpose of winding up its aftiiirs, until 
 after the beginning of the War of tiie Kebellion, and the District 
 banks existed merely as financial institntioiis, without special banking 
 privileges. 
 
 The Freedman's Savings and Trust Company was incorporated by 
 an act of Congress approved March o, 18(j.'), with lil'ty incorporators — 
 thirty-one of whom were from New ^'ork, seven lioni Massachusetts, 
 
HISTORY OF BANKING. 387 
 
 two from Rhode Island, six from Peiuisylvaiiiii, and four from Ohio. 
 These incorporators were also made by this act the lirst trustees of 
 the institution, and were required to elect from their own number a 
 jirosident and two vice-presidents. Other officers were also provided 
 for. The object of the incorporation was to receive on deposit 
 such sums of money as might be, from time to time, ottered by or 
 on behalf of persons previously held in slavery, or their descendants, 
 and to invest them in the stocks, bonds, Treasury notes, or other 
 securities of the United States. The books of the company were to 
 be open to inspection to such persons as Congress should appoint. 
 
 The business of the companj^ was at first, and for some time, con- 
 ducted ill New York City, with the following officers: President, 
 William A. Booth; first vice-president, Mahlon T. Hewitt; second 
 vice-president, Walter S. Griffith; secretary, J. W. Alvord. When 
 the headquarters of the company were removed to Washington, J. W. 
 Alvord became president, D. W. Anderson vice-president, and W. J. 
 Wilson cashier. The business of the bank was prosperous and well 
 conducted until the original charter was so amended, May 6, 1870, as 
 to authorize the trustees and officers of the company to make loans 
 to the extent of one-half of the deposits on unincumbered real estate 
 situated in the vicinity of the several branches of the company, to the 
 extent of one-half the value of such real estate. By this amend- 
 ment to the original charter, and by Section 6 of the act of incor- 
 poration creating an avaihible fund. Congress opened the door to 
 trouble, which eventually wrecked the institution. And this event 
 was not long delayed. Some of the funds of the bank were recklessly 
 invested, and not always, or perhaps often, with a view to the benefit 
 of the depositors. The business was very extensive. There were 
 thirty-four branches of the company, in all parts of the country. The 
 growth of the business was extremely rapid, the deposits for the year 
 aiiding March 1, 1866, amounting to $305,167, while for the year 
 ending March 1, 1871, they were |19,952,647.36. When it was dis- 
 covered that the atiairs of the company were in an unsatisfactory 
 condition, a board of commissioners was appointed to take charge. 
 These commissioners were John A. J. Creswell, Robert Purvis, and 
 R<jbert II. T. Leipold. The deposits then in the aggregate had 
 amounted to about $56,000,000, and about $53,000,000 had been paid 
 back to the depositors, leaving about 13,000,000 still due to nearly 
 seventy thousand depositors. To settle up the accounts with this 
 immense number of depositors was the task assumed by these com- 
 missioners. By March 7, 1881, they had paid out $1,450,000, and at 
 
388 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 tlie present time sixty-two per cent, of tlic total aiiiouut liue tlie 
 thousands of depositors has l)een paid to all who liave called foi- 
 their dividends. However, tlie original commissioners have not Ijecn 
 continued in cliarge of the work during all the years it has heen 
 going on, they having been relieved of the labor at their own request, 
 March 7, 1881, under the provisions of an act of Congress approved 
 February 21, 1881. Since then, tlie work has heen in charge of the 
 Comptroller of the Currency. Up to December 5, 1891, there had 
 lieen paid to the depositors the sum of |1,722,340.58, from the assets 
 of the company, a showing quite creditable to the commissioners and 
 the Comptroller of the Currency, and one equal to, if not better, than 
 that made by most of the financial institutions which failed in con- 
 sequence of the panic of 1873. 
 
 Mr. W. W. Corcoran commenced the brokerage business in Wash- 
 ington in 1837, in a small store, ten by sixteen feet in size, on 
 Pennsylvania Avenue, near Fifteenth Street. His business here was 
 eminently successful, and in 1839 he moved to the old Bank of the 
 Metropolis building, on the corner of Fifteentli and F streets. In 
 1840, he received into partnership George W. Riggs, son of Elisha 
 Ii'.iggs, of New York, broker, the firm name being Corcoran k Riggs. 
 In 1845, Corcoran & Riggs purchased the old United States Bank 
 l)uilding, at the corner of Fifteenth Street and New York Avenue, 
 together with all its property and effects uncollected. The business 
 of this firm having been successful, Mr. Corcoran settled with all his 
 old creditors of 1823, the aggregate amount required to settle all 
 these old accounts being about |46,000. This act of Mi-. Corcoran's 
 was a great surprise to his old creditors, none of whom had any 
 legal claim upon him. Mr. T. C. Rockhill, of Philadelphia, who had 
 received on such an account |1,415.50, in acknowledging its receipt, 
 said: "This extraordinary act has been done by you without solicitation 
 on my part, and I will take this occasion to say that, having been 
 engaged in mercantile pursuits for thirty years, and during that jieiiod 
 having sold upward of 123,000,000 to various persons in different 
 States of the Union, and having compromised claims for very large 
 amounts, yours is the only instance in which a man ever came forward 
 (after rerovcring his fortune), in the honoi'ahle manner you lia\'c 
 done, and paid me in full." 
 
 About this time, the house of Corcoran & Riggs took on its own 
 account nearly all the loans made by the Government of the United 
 States. July 1, 1848, Mr. George W. Riggs retired from the firm, and 
 Klisha Riggs, also a son of Elisha Riggs, of New York, by another 
 
,^/^ '•'v^ V y 
 
 ^ c/ 
 
HISTORY OF BANKING. 389 
 
 wife, was taken in as a junior partner. He remained in the firm until 
 1854. On the 1st of April of this year, Mr. Corcoran withdrew from 
 the iirm, and the business was continued by Mr. George W. Rig^s, 
 under the firm name of Riggs & Company, until his death, August 
 24, 1881, since which time the same name has been retained, and the 
 business conducted under it by E. Francis Riggs, Thomas Hyde, 
 Charles C. Glover,' and James M. Johnston. 
 
 The First National Bank of Washington was organized in Sep- 
 tember, 1863, under the National Banking law of Congress, and opened 
 its doors for business on the 22d of that month, at the corner of Fif- 
 teenth and G streets. H. D. Cooke was president, and William 
 S. Huntington cashier. The capital of the bank was §500,000, and 
 its business was very prosperous until the panic of 1873, when it 
 failed, and was placed in the hands of E. L. Stanton, son of the Sec- 
 retary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, who wound up its affairs. 
 
 The Mercliants' National Bank was organized in Septendier, 
 1864, with William Bayne as president, and L. Huyck cashier. In 
 October, 1865, Mr. Bayne resigned as president, and was succeeded by 
 Mr. Huyck in that position, Charles A. Sherman being elected cashier. 
 Charles W. Boteler, Jr., was elected vice-president of the bank 
 January 1, 1866. In March, 1866, this bank became involved with 
 a Baltimore firm which failed, the result of which was that the bank 
 itself failed, and the president, being accused of placing large sums 
 in the hands of the Baltimore firm without authority, was arrested 
 and thrown into jail. Without entering into the details of the 
 
 • Charles Carroll Glover, one of the ablest and one of the youngest financiers of 
 Washington, was born in Macon County, North Carolina, November 24, 1846. His 
 grandfather, Charles Carroll Glover, in the early years of this century, was a large 
 property holder and a prominent and esteemed citizen of Washington. His father, 
 Richard L. Glover, was a native of Washington, and with his wife, formerly Miss 
 Caroline Percy, in about 1845, moved to a farm on Valley River, about twenty miles 
 from Asheville, North Carolina, and were living there when Mr. Glover was born. When 
 he was eight years old, his parents moved to Washington, and here he attended Ritten- 
 house Academy, taught by Otis C. Wight, one of the prominent teachers of the city. At 
 the age of sixteen, he entered Frank Taylor's bookstore, remaining there three years. On 
 June 30, lS(iG, he entered the Ijanking house of Riggs & Company, and in time rose to 
 be the teller in the bank. On January 1, 1874, upon the invitation of Mr. Riggs, he 
 became a member of the firm, and so remains to the present time, and it is since that 
 time that most of his important work has been performed. In 1870, he joined the 
 management of the Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company, which afterward 
 became a prosperous corporation. In 1881, he entered the directory, and became vice- 
 president of the company a few years later, resigning in 1891 both the vice-presidency 
 and the directorship, and leaving the corporation one of the finest in the country. He 
 
390 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 difficulty, it lUiiy be sufficient tu say that tiie Merciiants" National 
 Bank did not survive the shock, and was at length closed entirely. 
 
 The National Bank of the Metropolis was organized in 1805, was 
 located at No. 452 Fit'teeuth Street, opposite the Treasmy, and went 
 into liquidation the latter part of the year 18(38. 
 
 The National Bank of the Republic, of Washington, was organized 
 in 1865. It purcliiised the property of the old I'litriotic Bank, of Wash- 
 ington, located at the southwest corner of Seventh and D streets. At 
 ihis time, the officers of the old bank were John Purdy, president; 
 M. Chauucey Bestor, teller; Charles Bradley, bookkeeper, and J. M. 
 Duncanson, clerk. The new bank building was built by William 
 H. Baldwin, afterward one of its directors. Tlie first board of direc- 
 tors of the new bank were as follows: Fitzhugh Ooyle, Matthew 
 (\. Emery, Samuel Norment, J. M. Brodhead, William A. BratUey, 
 Leonidas Coyle, John II. Semmes, Daniel B. Clarke, and L. D. Gil- 
 nuin, gentlemen all well known and highly esteemed. Mr. Fitzhugh 
 Coyle was unanimously elected president of the board, and continueil 
 in that position until his death, in 1877. Mattliew G. Emery after- 
 ward became ])resideut of the Second National Bank; Samuel Nor- 
 nient, of the Central National Bank, and J. M. Brodhead, First 
 Comptroller of the Treasury. Charles Bradley was elected cashier 
 of this new bank, March 8, 1865, and J. M. Duncanson teller. The 
 bank became a Government depository in Ma^', 1865, and invested its 
 capital in Government bonds. William A. Bradley died August 
 28, 1867, and on September 18, following, William II. Baldwin was 
 
 became a director in tlie National Safe Deposit, Savings, and Trust Comiiany l)efore it 
 assumed it.s present name, anil is now vice-president of the institution. He was one 
 of the originators of the Columliia Fire Insurance Company, and is now its vice-presi- 
 dent. In 1881, he began tbe effort which resulted in the reclamation of the Potomac 
 Flats, which gave to the city another beautiful park containing about four hundred 
 acres of land, adding much to its beauty as well as to it.s healthfulness; and he was 
 also largely influential in securing the extension of the waterworks, by which extension 
 they are ciiually elficient with any system in the country. He is one of the trustees 
 of the Corcoran Art Gallery, and was the last to enter the board previous to Mr. 
 Corcoran 's death. In 1801, he succeeded in inducing the trustees to purchase a large 
 tract of laud on Seventeenth Street and New York Avenue with the view of erecting 
 tlicrcoM a new gallery, which will be done as soon as practicable. He has been for 
 a l(iMf_' time connected with the Church of the Epiphany, and has been vestryman 
 fur :i number of years. The crowning event of fiis lite, however, is doubtless the suc- 
 cess attending his lalmrs in securing tlic condemnation of about two thousand acres 
 in Rock (Jreek Valley for a national |)ark, called Rock Creek I'ark. This work was 
 commcnccil in ISSS, and cdiitinucd until the bill passed Congress in September, 1800, 
 H«uriii;.; the success nf tlic pinjci't. I'lmii the facts uf Mr. (ilover's comparative youth 
 
HISTORY OF RANKING. 391 
 
 appointed to the vacancy. Leonidas Coyle died in August, 1868, and 
 in October, following, W. li. Morrison was appointed to tlie place. 
 C\ S. Biadloy became bookkeeper in November, 18li5, and assistant 
 cashier in Januaiy, 1874. Edwin L. Stanton, son of the great 
 Secretary of War, G. M. Wiglit, W. R. Riley, and W. J. Sibley 
 became directors in January, 1874. L. D. Gilinan died March 
 15, 1876. Major J. C. Cash became director in 1876, and died F^ebruary 
 8, 1877. Mr. E. L. Stanton died in September, 1877. Mr. Fitzhugh 
 Coyle died September 30, 1877, and Dr. Daniel B. Clarke' was 
 elected to the presidency October 3, 1877. R. K. Elliott and T. E. 
 Waggaman were elected directors in January, 1878. G. M. Wight 
 resigned in December, 1878, and E. K. Goldsborongh was appointed 
 to till the vacancy in 1879. 
 
 The dividends declared were ten per cent, uji to July, 1870, 
 when they were reduced to eight per cent., at which they have 
 since continued. Up to July 1, 1880, the total dividends declared 
 amounted to $352,000, or $152,000 more than the capital stock. 
 During the years from 1867 to 1872, inclusive, the tax on each 
 semi-annual dividend was also paid by the bank. The directors in 
 January, 1881, were Daniel B, Clarke, W. II. Morrison, W. R. Riley, 
 W. J. Sibley, James M. Farr, R. K. Elliott, T. E. Waggaman, E. K. 
 Goldsborongh, and C. C. Duncanson. Mr. Charles Bradley, cashici-, 
 died August 26, 1881, and C. S. Bradley was elected to the vacant 
 position, September 7, following. A. A. Wilson was elected director 
 January 10, 1882. B. F. Bigelow's defalcation was discovered June 
 
 and his great success in the past, it may perhaps lie safely pieilicted that he will he 
 one of the wealtliiest citizens of Washington, as lie is now one of the most putilic- 
 spirited. 
 
 •Daniel Boone Clarke, capitalist and banker, wa.s born in Washington, District 
 of Columbia, March 3, 1825. He is a descendant iti the seventh generation of the 
 Hon. Robert Clarke, who came from Eagland in 1636, who represented the .Jesuit 
 fathers in the colonial assemblies, who was surveyor-general of Maryland, privy coun- 
 cilor under Lord Baltimore, and who voted in the assembly of 1(349 for the celebrated 
 Maryland Federation Act. The Clarkes of Blarylaud had their large landed estates 
 confiscated in the Revolution of KiSO. William Clarke, born March 16, 1750, great-great- 
 grandson of Hon. Robert Clarke, was a second lieutenant in one of the eight companies 
 constituting the Seventh Regiment, Maryland Line of Regulars, of Creneral William 
 Smallwood's brigade, in the Revolutionary War. His sou, Walter Clarke, born in 
 .Tune, 1777, and married to Rachel Boone September 20, 1814, was the father of Dr. 
 Daniel Boone Clarke. Young Clarke was educated in the private schools of Washing- 
 ton, and in 1841 entered a pharmaceutical establishment in this city. When twenty-one 
 years old, he went into business on his own account in South Washington, and in 
 1857 graduated from Georgetown University with the degree of M. D. In 1859, he 
 
392 H/STORV OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 22, 1882, being in ainouiit >?40,000. The hank Inul liini arrested and 
 tried, and^ sent to the penitentiary for a term of years. He was 
 afterward pardoned out by the President of tlie United States. 
 
 U[i to June 30, 1891, the total dividends paid since the organiza- 
 tion of tlie bank amounted to $560,055.20, and the amount phiced to 
 tiie surplus fund to $200,000. The total of otiier profits was $13,318.32, 
 making the total amount of the [>rofits of the business of this bank 
 up to that time $773,373.52. 
 
 Mr. George E. Lemon was elected director in January, 1890, and 
 A. A. Wilson vice-president in June of tlie same year. In addition to 
 flic officers supjilicd by this bank to other banks, mentioned above, 
 there may be noted Jolin E. Ilerrell, president of the National Capital 
 ISank; William K. Kilcy, [u-esident of the West End National Bank, and 
 two casliiers, Brent L. Baldwin, of the Traders' National Bank, and Wil- 
 liam B. Baldwin, of the National Capital Bank. The surplus and undi- 
 vided profits of this bank on March 1, 1892, amounted to $226,777.76. 
 
 The National Savings Bank was chartered May 24, 1870, and 
 opened for Inisiness on November 1, that 3'ear. Henry A. Willard 
 was the first president of the bank, William Stickuey vice-president, 
 Lewis Clephaue secretary, and B. P. Snyder treasurer. According to 
 the report of Mr. Willard, president, the first year's business was as 
 follows: Receipts, $499,756.83; payments, $228,059.95, and the ex- 
 [lenses, $3,417.39. The location of the bank was at the corner of 
 New York Avenue and Fifteenth Street. At the time of the second 
 annual statement, there were 2,114 depositors, no one of whom was 
 
 |iurcliaseil tlu' C'St;il)lishiiiont in wliii'li \w luid learned and praetieed jiliaruiacy, and 
 made a gratifying suecess of his l)UMiness. Snbsequently, he erected on Pennsylvania 
 Avenue a large building, into which he moved, and about a year afterward retired 
 from business. When James G. Berrett was Mayor of Washington, Dr. Clarke was 
 elected a member of the city Council, and he has been for many years a member of 
 the W;ishington National Monument Association. Since the death of J. B. H. Smith, 
 he has been its treasurer. He is a director in the Franklin Insurance Company, of the 
 Metropolitan Railroad Company, of the United States Electric Light Company, is pres- 
 ident of the Franklin Insurance Company, and since ls77 he has been president of 
 the National Bank of the Republic. This institution, under 1)]-. Clarke's management, 
 is one of the solid and most prosperous financial institutions in Washington. Dr. (jiarke 
 is a brother of Richard U. Clarke, LL. D., the celebrated lawyer and Catholic historian, 
 and president of the Society of American Authors, and of the late Rev. Father William 
 Francis Clarke, S. .1., at one time president of Gonzaga College. 
 
 Dr. Clarke was married to Anna M. Cripps, only daughter of William Mel.eati 
 Cripps, January 14, 1847, by whom he had three children. The eldest married Thomas 
 K. Waggaman, and, dying in 1S.S9, left three children; the second daughter died at the 
 age of sixteen; the Ihiiil is the wife of Alexander Porter Morse. 
 
HISTORY OF RANKING. 393 
 
 permitted to deposit more than $1,000. The presidents of this bank 
 have been 11. A. Willard, one year; William Stickney, 1872 to 1881; 
 V>. P. Snyder, 1881 to 1891. The vice-presidents have been William 
 Stickney, one year; Lewis Clephane, 1872 to 1891. The secretaries 
 have been Lewis Clephane, M. G. Emery, J. II. Latlirop, A. L. 
 Sturtcvant; and the treasurers, B. P. Snyder and A. L. Stnrtevant. In 
 1891, this bank went out of business so far as to cease receiving de- 
 posits, which at that time amounted to more than $1,300,000. The 
 accounts have, since that time, been steadily reduced with the view 
 of entirely closing them. 
 
 The National Safe Deposit Company, of Washington, was chartered 
 by special act of Congress, approved January 22, 1867, and commenced 
 business July 27, 1867, at the corner of New York Avenue and Fifteenth 
 Street. The first directors of tliis company were George II. Plant, II. 
 D. Cooke, S. P. Brown, George 0. Evans, William S. Iluntingtori, 
 Nathaniel Wilson, and B. P. Snyder. The first ofHcers were S. P. 
 Brown, president; George 0. Evans, vice-president; William S. Hunting- 
 ton, treasurer, and B. P. Snyder, secretary. Since that time, the presi- 
 dents have been George H. Plant, 1869 to 1877; William Stickney, 1877 
 to 1881; B. P. Snyder, 1881 to the present time. The vice-i)residents 
 have been George W. Riggs, 1869 to 1881; C. C. Glover, 1881 to the pres- 
 ent time. Secretary, A. L. Sturtevant, 1881 to the present time. Treas- 
 urers, A. L. Sturtevant, 1872 to 1882; John Cassels, 1882 to 1885; T. 
 L. Riggs, 1885 to 1889; E. Francis Riggs, 1889 to the present time. 
 
 The fine new building in which this company is now located was 
 completed in August, 1889, at a cost of $250,000. It is of brick and 
 cement, and rests on a concrete foundation. This company now has 
 over $1,000,000 in deposits, consisting largely in transfers from the 
 National Savings Bank. The departments of the business conducted 
 by this company consist of receiving money on deposit from ten 
 cents upward, upon which interest is allowed, and of loaning money 
 on standard collaterals and real estate; of deposits of securities and 
 valuables; a trust department; collection of income; registration 
 and transfers of loans and stocks of corporations. 
 
 The National Capital Bank, of Wasliington, was organized in 
 September, 1889, with a capital of $200,000. It commenced business 
 at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Third Street Southeast, in 
 a leased building, while erecting its own fine building at 314 and 
 316 Pennsylvania Avenue Soutlieast, moving into it in March, 1891. 
 The capital remains as at first, and the surplus and undivided profits 
 on March 1, 1892, were $39,608.15. The deposits at the same time 
 
394 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 amouiitetl to ii little more tluui $000,000. Tlie officers of this Ijaiik 
 have lieeii, since its organization, John S. Ilerrell, president; Thomas 
 W. 8niitli, vice-president, and W. B. Baldwin, cashier. 
 
 The Second National Bank was established about July 1, 1872, 
 with a capital of $200,000. On the above date, at a meeting of the 
 stockholders, tlie following directors were elected: John C. McKel- 
 den, George W. Balloch, D. L. Eaton, Thomas L. Tulloch, F. II. 
 Gassaway, John 0. Evans, George F. Gulick, W. W. Burdette, J. L. 
 Barbour, Lewis Clephane, and F. H. Smith. John C. McKelden was 
 elected president, John 0. Evans vice-president, D. L. Eaton cashier, 
 and F. II. Gassaway assistant cashier. Business was commenced at 
 No. 631 F Street, the bank remaining here but a short time, however, 
 when it removed to No. 509 Seventh Street, its present location. 
 
 Mr. McKelden served as president until 1877, when he was 
 succeeded by Matthew G. Emery,' who has been president ever since. 
 D. L. Eaton was cashier for about one year, when II. W. Griffith took 
 the place temporarily, and then, in 187-1, Mr. H. C. Swein became cash- 
 ier, and has been in that position up to the present time. John C. 
 
 ' Hon. Matthew (i;uilt Emery was born in Pembroke, New Hampshire, in 1818. 
 Himself and live brothers spent their youth on the farm which had been their grand- 
 father's, upon which their father was born and .spent his life, and where he died in 
 1868, at the age of ninety-two. Joseph Emery, the grandfather of M. G. Emery, 
 served six years in the War of the Revolution, first as a lieutenant, then as a captain, 
 in tlie Thirteenth Regiment, New Hampshire Militia. Matthew Gault, the maternal 
 grandfather of Mr. Emery, served four years in the patriot army, having enlisted July 
 11, 1775, at the age of nineteen. His regiment of "Rangers," raised by the colony of 
 New Hampshire, served first with General Montgomery's northern division of the 
 Continental Army. Matthew Gault afterward became a member of Captain Samuel 
 McConnell's company, with which he marched to Bennington and Stillwater. 
 
 The pioneers of the Emery family in this country were two brothers, .John and 
 Anthony, who emigrated with their families from Romsey, Hants, England, landing in 
 Boston April 3, 1(535, and settling in " Ould Newberrie," of the Massachusetts colony. 
 
 Matthew Gault Emery attended the best schools and academies in his native 
 town, and in 1837 he went to Baltimore, where an elder brother was living, and here 
 determined upon his future vocation, that of builder and architect. He patiently served 
 the time n'i|uired to make himself a skilled stonecutter, and in 1840 went with a force 
 (if men til the quarry and directed the cutting of the stone for the Post Office Depart- 
 ment building in Washington. In 1842, he established his permanent residence in 
 Washingloii, thus debarring himself from participation in general elections; but voted, 
 however, in 1840, for William Henry Harrison for President, tlie only Presidential 
 candidate for whom he has ever voted. 
 
 Mr. Emery has had contracts for the constructicin of many imjiortant buildings in 
 Washington, bnth luililic and private. Ili' did niucli of the stone work of the Cajntol, 
 and I'lit and laid tlie cunicr stmie fur its extension in 1851, Itaniel Webster delivering 
 the oration, lie also cut and s(|iiaM'd, five of exjiense, and on July 4, 1848, himself 
 
I.^^--^U--<1. 
 
HISTORY OF BANKIXG. 395 
 
 Eekloft" is assistant cashier. In 1884, Mr. M. W. Bevericlge succeeded 
 John O. Evans as vice-president, and still remains in that position. 
 
 Tlie capital of this bank, as stated above, was originall}- 8200,000. 
 In 1873, it was increased, to .S300,000, and in 1880 decreased to 
 !<225,000. At the present time, it is §225,000, and the bank has a 
 snrplus on hand of :S75,000. The present board of directors consists 
 of M. G. Emery, M. W. Beveridge, William F. Mattinglv, Lewis 
 Clephane, George W. Pearson, W. W. Bnrdette, Samuel Fowler, 
 Seymour W. Tnlloch, John L. Vogt, and A. A. Thomas. 
 
 The Citizens' JSTational Bank was organized in 1874, and occupied 
 the building formerly occupied b}- the First Jfational Bank. The 
 cajiital of the bank at lirst was 8200,000, and it was raised in 1875 to 
 $300,000. The iirst president was Jacob Tome, who served in this 
 office until 1875, when J. A. J. Creswell was elected, and served until 
 1888, wlien the present president, E. Kurtz Johnson, was elected. 
 The iirst vice-president was A. R. Appleman, who served until 
 1878, after which John Van Riswick was elected, and served until 1885, 
 when lie was succeeded by E. Kurtz Jolinson, who served in that 
 
 laid, the corner stone of the Washington Jlonument, for which service he received tlie 
 thanks of the board of directors in a series of resolutions, signed, among others, by 
 John Quincy Adams, Heniy Clay, and Robert C. Winthrop. 
 
 Before the breaking out of the War, ilr. Emery organized a militia company, 
 of which he was made captain. His commission, signed b}' President Lincoln and 
 Secretarj' of War Simon Cameron, is dated May 16, 1801. His company was sevend 
 times called out for the protection of the Government buildings, and to perform patrol 
 duty, until the arrival of the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment. During the War, Mr. 
 Emery wa-s treasurer of the Xew Hampshire .Soldiers' Aiil Association in Wa.-?hington, 
 and assisted in the care of the sick and disabled soldiers from his native .State, in the 
 discharge of these duties visiting Gettysburg and other battlefieUls. A piece of his 
 country ]jroperty, adjoining Fort Stevens, was injured during the War to the extent 
 of several thousand dollars, but no claim was ever pres^ented for damages. Early 
 in tlie War, he gave up his Brightwood home for the use of the otlicers of the 
 Union army. Being the highest point of land in that vicinity, it was made a signal 
 station, and many were the messages transmitted between it and the dome of the 
 Capitol. Evidences of the occupation of "Brightwood" by the soldiers, in the shape 
 of raised plateaus for the flooring of tents, etc., are still visible, and are looked upon 
 by the family with patriotic pride. 
 
 Mr. Emery was for many years a member of the Board of Aldermen, his services 
 proving of great value to the city. In 1S70, after a memorable struggle, he was elected 
 Mayor of Washington, as the "Citizens' Candidate," by a majority of 3,lf»4, being the 
 last Mayor of Washington, as shown in another chapter. 
 
 In 1S72, at the end of thirty years' labor in the business of builder, contractor, 
 and architect, in accordance with a resolution formed at the time of entering upon that 
 business, he disposed of his interests therein to his brother. .Samuel Emery, and he 
 has since devoted himself to his other business iat^rests. 
 
39G n/sroRv OF w.is/f/NGroN. 
 
 ciipiieity until eloctod jiresident of the l)aiil<:; and since tliat time the 
 vice-president has been Thomas Somerville. The fii'st cashier was W. 
 E. Weygaut, who served one j'ear, and was succeeded by W. N. Koach, 
 who was cashier until 1878, wlien followed by the present cashier, 
 Thomas C. Pearsall. The surplus and undivided profits, according to 
 the statement published March 1, 1892, amount to *93,7G4.41t. 
 
 The Conti-al National liank succeeded the Metro[ii)lis Savings 
 Bank, and was organized as a national bank April 11, 1878. For 
 several years, it occu[>ied the old Bank of Washington building, but 
 
 Mr. Emery was one of the seven persons who organized the ]\retro))olitau Mellio- 
 dist Episcopal Cliurcli, was cliairnian of tlie building committee, and has for twenty 
 years been president of its board of trustees. lie has been a regent of the Smith- 
 sonian Institution, and was for a long period a trustee of Dickinson College. For ten 
 years or more, he has been a regent, and he is now vice-chancellor, of the National 
 University, organized in Washington. He is also one of the incorporators of the recently 
 established American University; he is one of its regents and is also its trea.surer. 
 He has been president of, and is now a director in, the Night Lodging Association, and 
 has been for many years a director and treasurer of the Associated Charities of the city. 
 
 In 1854, he was a charter member of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and is 
 still one of its directors; he was for some time president of the Franklin Insurance 
 Company and of the National Capital Life Insurance Company, a director of the 
 Metropolitan Ins\irance Company, and was first treasurer of the Metropolitan Street 
 Railway Company. He was one of the organizers of the Washington Market House 
 Company, was its i)resident for eighteen years, and is still a director. He was for many 
 years a director in the United States Electric Light Company of Washington, and has 
 been its vice-president. At an early day, he was a director of the Patriotic Bank, and 
 afterward, in connection with Mr. Fitzhugh Coyle, he established the National Bank of 
 the Republic, of which he was a director for eight years, and one year the acting 
 loresident. In 1877, he was elected president of the Second National Bank, and has 
 held the position ever since. He was one of the organizers, and for twenty years a 
 director, of the National Savings Bank, and is a director of its successor, the National 
 Savings and Trust Comjiany. He is also a director of the American Trust Coujpany, 
 and is president of the American Printing Press Company. 
 
 The home of Mr. Emery, in Wasliington, is one of a inw of three spacious houses 
 built in 1860, by Stephen A. Douglas, John C. Breckinriilge, and H. S. Rice, all of which 
 were used for hospital purposes during the War. After the War, they were completed, 
 and the Breckinridge mansion soon purchased and presented to Cienei'al Grant by his 
 friends. When (ieneral Grant was elected President of the ITnited States, the hou.se 
 was purchased and presented to General Sherman by his friends. AVhen (ieneral 
 Sherman removed to St. Louis, in 187:i, the house was purchased by Mr. Emery, and 
 lia.s since been his home. 
 
 During a residence of lialf a century in Washington, Mr. Emery has been con- 
 stantly identilied with all the nidst important movements for the improvement of the 
 city, has been iniceasingly active in the cause of education, nnreniitting in his eHiirts 
 to advance the best interesta of the i)eoplc, without regard to rac<' or religion, :ni<l 
 above ivproach in fullilling the many positions cjf trust and honor to whirb his fellou- 
 cilizcns have so frc«|Uciil I y (billed liini. 
 
"^ 
 
HISTORY OF BANKING. 397 
 
 later it purcliased and moved into its present spacious and handsome 
 quarters at the junction of Pennsylvania Avenue and C Street at 
 Seventli Street, April 1, 1888. The capital of tlie hank is $100,000. 
 Its career has always hcen a successful one. It has paid out in 
 dividends more than $82,000, and has on hand more tlian .^10,000 
 ill undivided profits. Mr. Samuel Norment' was the president of 
 the hank from the date of its organization up to the time of his 
 death, Mareii 23, 1891, when he was succeeded hy Mr. William E. 
 Clark.- Mr. J. A. Ilutf was cashier from the ororanization of the bank 
 
 ^ Sauiuel Norment, oiif of thu most prominent business men ;uul hankers of 
 Washington, was born in Mrginia. He came to Washington City about 1840, and at 
 firat f<3und employment in the Treasury Department. His l)usiness caiialiilitie.s enabled 
 him soon to take a front rank, and when the War came on he held the highest jjosition 
 in his division, which position he then resigned. He soon became engaged in the 
 lumber business, and after a successful career of seventeen years he deteiniined to 
 enter upon the business of banking. Upon the organization of the Central National 
 Bank, April 11, 1878, he became its president, and retained the position until his 
 deatli, March 23, 1891. For several years, he was a regent of Dickinson College. He was 
 also a director of the National Bank of the Republic, and one of the commissioners of 
 the police. He was a large stockholder in the Washington Gas Light Company, in the 
 Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company, in the United States Electric Light 
 Company, in the Kingsley Company, in the jMutual Fire Insurance Coiiii>any, and in 
 the Inland and Seaboard Coasting Com{)any. 
 
 iMr. Norment was a strong believer in the education of the young, and was thus 
 led to make numerous munificent gifts to institutions of learning. He was also exceed- 
 ingly liberal in his donations to charitable institutions, an instance of this liberality 
 being the endowment of the free bed in Garfield Hospital for the benefit of sick and 
 disabled policemen. He was originally a member of Wesley Chapel, but later became 
 one of the original trustees of the Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 
 Mr. Norment was married twice; first to a daughter of Rev. Ulysses Ward, by 
 whom he had three chihlren, all of whom are living. His second wife was a daughter 
 of George W. Utermehle, by whom he had two children, both of whom are living. 
 Mr. Norment was buried March 2.5, 1S91, in Rock Creek Cemetery. Mr. Norment 
 was a most successful business man, a true friend of education, and a zealous sujiporter 
 of charitable and religious enterprises. In his death the community suffered a severe 
 if not irreparable loss. 
 
 ^ William E. Clark, president of the Central National Bank, was born in Wash- 
 ington County, Pennsylvania, March 16, 1835. His father, Abner Clark, was a farmer, 
 and William E. Clark was brought up on bis father's farm. He was educated at 
 Jefferson College, leaving there in 1855. He then removed to Baltimore and engaged 
 in the live-stock liusiness, remaining there for several years. In April, 1801, he came to 
 Washington, and again in 1862 became engaged in the live-stock business, and has been 
 interested in that business ever since. Upon the death of Samuel Norment, he became 
 president of the Central National Bank. He is also president of the Washington Abattoir 
 Company, vice-president of the United States Electric Light Company and of the National 
 Mutual Life Insurance Company, and is president of the Norfolk and \Vasliington Steam- 
 boat Company. Mr. Clark, in the year 1871, was married to Miss Fannie W. Wilhelm. 
 
398 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 until 1890, wlicii lie was succeeded by his son, A. B. Rutt'. Tiie 
 jiresent hoartl of directors are as follows: Albert Gleason, William 
 13. Webb, II. Browning, B. Cbarlton, Williuni E. Clark, 0. T. 
 Thompson, J. L. Edwards, Levi Woodbury, W. K. Mendenliall, ami 
 C. F. Norment. On March 1, 1892. the surjilus and undivided profits 
 amounted to !|147,340.98. 
 
 The Washington Safe Deposit Company was incorporated April 
 25, 1883, and organized with the following officers: W. G. Metzerott, 
 jircsi<leiit; John T. Lonnian, \-ice-prcsident, and Samuel Cross, secretarj- 
 and treasurer. Mr. Metzerott remained president one year, when John 
 T. Lenman became president, and James L. Barbour vice-president. Mr. 
 Lenman remained president until his death, March 17, 1892, when he 
 was succeeded, April 4, by W. A. Gordon. Mr. Barbour was succeeded 
 as vice president in 188G, b}- W. A. Gordon, who was followed, Aju'il 
 4, 1892, by William H. lloeke. Mr. Cross has been secretary and 
 treasurer since the organization of the company. This company's busi- 
 ness is conducted at No. 916 Pennsylvania Avenue. 
 
 The Columbia National Bank was oi-ganized in February, 1887, 
 with a capital of $250,000. Its tirst officers were B. II. Warner, 
 president; A. T. Britton, vice-president, and E. S. Parker, cashier. 
 This bank is located at 911 F Street Northwest, in a building erected 
 esiiecially for its use, at a cost of $70,000. It ccmducts a general 
 banking business, receives' money on deposit, makes loans in large 
 or small amounts, and discounts good paper. This bank makes a 
 specialty of collections. The officers at tlie lu-esent time are E. S. 
 Parker, president; A. F. Fo.k, vice-president, and Pliny M. Hough, 
 cashier. The other directors are as follows: Charles B. Bailey, W. E. 
 Barker, C. C. Duncanson, John Joy Edson, John B. Earner, Benjamin 
 F. Leighton, Frank B. Noyes, M. M. Parker, O. G. Staples, George 
 Truesdell, B. II. Warner, II. K. Willard, and S. W. Woodward. The 
 capital of this bank remains at $250, ()00, and its surplus at the present 
 time is $85,000. Previousl}- to becoming connected with this bank, its 
 president, Mr. E. S. Parker, had had twenty-three years' experience in 
 tlii^ banking Inislness in Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pennsylvania. 
 
 The Washington Loan and Trust Compaii}' was oi-ganized August 
 15, 1889, with a capital of $000,000, which, during the tirst year of 
 its existence, was increased to $1,000,000. The original purpose of its 
 organization was that of "buying, selling, loaning upon and negotiating 
 Ijonds, stocks, iironiissory notes, and other property, and of gLuii'aiitec- 
 ing, certifying, registei'ing, endorsing, and supervising the issuance' of 
 bonds, stoi'k, and (illicr securities," etc The otlicers of the company 
 
22^^^^ 
 
HISTORY OF BANKING. 399 
 
 at tirst were V>. II. Warner, president; J. J. Edson, vice-president; C. P. 
 Williams, secretary; William B. Giirley, treasurer; Jolm B. Larnei", 
 general counsel; J. J. Darlington and A. 8. Worthington, advisory 
 counsel, and Albert F. Fox, George Triiesdell, A. A. Wilson, and 
 0. C. Green, executive committee. The numljer of directors was 
 twenty-five. Tliis organization was made under tlie laws of West 
 Virginia. Business was commenced by the company October 1, 
 1889, with the office located at tlie northwest corner fif Tentli an<l 
 F streets, where it worked under the West Virginia charter until 
 December 13, 1890, at whicli time it reorganized under the act of 
 Congress providing for the incorporation of trust companies in the 
 District of Columbia, approved October 1, 1890. The act is entitled, 
 "An Act to Provide for the Incorporation of Trust, Loan, Mortgage, 
 and Certain Other Corporations within the District of Columbia." 
 This act authorized the transaction of three classes of business, tlie 
 first of which, and the class conducted by this company, is therein 
 styled, "A safe deposit, trust, loan, and mortgage business." 
 
 Upon the reorganization of the company under this act, the 
 following officers were elected: B. II. Warner, president; J. J. Edson, 
 vice-president; William B. Robison, secretary; W. B. Gurley, treasurer; 
 John B. Larner, general counsel; J. J. Darlington and A. S. Worth- 
 ington, advisory counsel. The board of directors consists now of 
 thirty members. 
 
 The building into which the company moved October 19, 1891, 
 was erected during that and the preceding year. It is a ten-story 
 building, located at the southwest corner of Ninth and F streets. The 
 building committee was composed of J. J. Edson, chairman; S. W. 
 Woodward, A. A. Wilson, George Truesdell, A. F. Fox, John A. 
 Hamilton, and B. H. Warner. The architect was James G. Hill, late 
 supervising arciiitect of the Treasury building. W. C. Morrison was 
 the builder. The principles governing the building committee in the 
 erection of tliis fine structure were beauty, safety, and convenience. It 
 is constructed of rock-faced granite, of a light color, giving it a massive 
 effect. The frontage on F and Ninth streets is divided architecturally 
 into three divisions by prominent string courses. The frontage on F 
 Street is 52 feet, while that on Ninth Street is 116 feet. An L on the 
 west side continues the south front to a distance of 112 feet. In this 
 magnificent building there are 190 rooms occupied exclusively as 
 offices. The building is tire-proof, and cost $500,000. 
 
 As stated before, this company commenced business October 1, 
 1889, the paid-up capital being then $68,000. It began to issue 
 
400 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 certificates of deposit December 20, 1889, ami on January' 2, 18'J1, 
 began to receive accounts subject to checic. Tiie growtli of tlie 
 business since this latter date lias been really marvelous among- even 
 the sound and prosperous financial institutions of Washington, the 
 records sliowing total deposits March 1, 1891, $91,542.25, and on 
 March 1, 1892, $1,095,940.07, making a gain during the year of |1,004,- 
 397.82, this amount being represented by 1885 new accounts. One 
 peculiarly attractive feature of this company's method of doing busi- 
 ness, is the paying of interest on accounts subject to check, a feature 
 seldom met with in banking. 
 
 The officers of this company at the present time are as follows: 
 Brniiuird H. Warner, president; John Joy Edson, vice-president; John 
 A. Swope, second vice-president; John R. Carmod}', treasurer; Wil- 
 liam B. Robisou, secretary, and Andrew Parker, assistant secretary. 
 
 The American Security and Trust Company was incorporated 
 October 12, 1889, under the general incoi'poratioii laws of the State 
 of Virginia. It was incorporated and reorganized November 11, 1890, 
 under the act of Congress approved October 1, 1890. Its business 
 was conducted, temporarily, at 1419 G Street Northwest, but in the 
 latter part of the year 1891 it removed to a tine new building ei'ected 
 for its own use at No. 1405 G Street. It executes all kinds of trusts, 
 and acts as executor, administrator, guardian, assignee, receiver, and 
 trustee, and accepts the management of estates and [iroperty generally. 
 Money received on deposit is subjeit to check on demand, and interest 
 is j)aid on such accounts at a rate agreed upon. It loans money on 
 real estate and approved personal security. It issues its own deben- 
 ture bonds upon deeds of trust or mortgages of real estate, in series 
 and in sums of $100, |500, or !jl,000, payable in a stated period, with 
 (piarterly or semi-annual interest, as may be agreed upon. Its safe 
 deposit feature is noteworthy, the vaults being constructed with every 
 precaution against fire and burglars. Its storage warehouse depart- 
 ment is also a valuable feature, the warehouse being situated at 1140 
 Fifteenth Street. It is especially iilanncd for storage jiuriioses, and is 
 constructed exclusively of stone, brick, iron, and cement. This company 
 also acts as financial agents in the matter of countei'signing and register- 
 ing certificates of stocks, bonds, or other obligations of any corporation, 
 association. State, or public authority, and manages sinking funds on 
 such terms as are agreed upon; and it also acts as agent or attorney 
 for the collection of interest, dividends, and all forms of income, and 
 as attorney in fad for the interest of non residents and others who may 
 desire to be I't'lieved of the care and attention of pro[ierty. 
 
^ /" / OyuJZ^r-i^ 
 
HISTORY OF BANKING. 401 
 
 A. T. Britton' is president of the conipaii}; C. G. Bell, iirst vice- 
 president; A. A. Thomas, second vice-president; Percy B. Metzger, 
 treasurer and trust officer, and George E. Emmons, secretary. The 
 directors are A. T. Britton, C. S. Noyes, Robert Dornan, James E. 
 Fitch, M. M. Parker, James G. Payne, W. S. Thompson, C. C. Dun- 
 canson, Henry A. Wiliard, S. S. Sharp, C. G. Bell, M. W. Beve- 
 ridge, M. G. Emery, John E. llerrell, Martin F. Morris, Harry F. 
 West, Henry F. Blont, Nathaniel E. Janney, John S. Jenks, Daniel 
 Donovan, A. A. Thomas, Charles Porter, Caleb J. Milne, Alan H. 
 Heed, H. S. Louchbeim, John K. McLean, W. M. Coates, William 
 Venner, John N. Hutchinson, and Benjamin H. Warder. 
 
 The Lincoln National Bank, of Washington, District of Columbia, 
 was organized February 27, 1890, with a capital of §200,000, and 
 
 'Alexander T. Britton, lawyer and financier, was burn in New York City, Decem- 
 ber 29, 1835. His father and uncles were among the last captains of the old 
 "Liners" plying between London, Liverpool, and New York. He is a charter member 
 of the Sons of the American Revolution of the District of Columbia, being a great- 
 grandson of Major Isaac Coren, aid-de-camp to General Braddock, and afterward 
 major of artillery in the Continental Army under General Knox. His grandfather. 
 Captain John Towers, first utilized the water power of the Schuylkill River at a mill 
 at Manayonk, Pennsylvania. 
 
 A. T. Britton graduated at Brown University in IS.")", and was admitte<l to the 
 bar through the Supreme Court of Rhode Island in March, 1858. He practiced his 
 profession in that State until 1860, and then at Madison, Florida, until the War of the 
 Rebellion uompelled his return North. In March, ISUl, he was appointed a clerk in 
 the General Land Oflice, and entered the service of the United States on April 15, 1861, 
 as a member of the National Rifles, to protect the Capital during the early days of 
 the War. Since that time, with an interval in 1864, when practicing law- in California, 
 Washington has been his home. In 1864, he organized the firm of Britton & Gray, and 
 ha.s since then by his ability made his name a leading one among the lawyers of the 
 city. In 1877, he was appointed by President Hayes a commissioner to codify 
 the public land laws, the result of his labors being a codification in three volumes, 
 which have several times been published by authority of Congress. 
 
 He has served Washington in many high and responsible positions. He was 
 the last president of the board of police commissioners in the early seventies. He 
 is now director in the Emergency Hospital, Columbia Fire Insurance Company, and 
 Foundling Asylum, and was one of the promoters and directors in the Georgetown 
 and Tennallytown Railroad Company, the Eckington and Soldiers' Home Railroad 
 Company, and the Columbia National Bank. He is a trustee in the Tunlaw Syndicate, 
 which has added so much to the beauty of Georgetown Heights. He built the Pacific 
 Building in 1885, and is president of the Atlantic Building. He was chairman of the 
 inaugural committee having charge of President Harrison's inauguration, and is one 
 of the World's Fair Commissioners from the District. In 1890, he organized, an<l 
 was made president of, the .\merican Security and Trust Company, and in many 
 other ways has aided in making Washington the handsome Capital it now is. Mr. 
 Britton is, and has been for many years, one of the progressive citizens, in favor of 
 all mea.sures calculated to add to the city's progress and growth. 
 
402 H/STOh'Y OF U'ASIf/NGTON. 
 
 opened its doors foi- business on March 25. At its organization, its 
 board of directors were selected from tlie most enterprising and suc- 
 cessful business men of the city. This board of directors consisted 
 of tlie following individuals: William E. Abbott, 11. Bradley David- 
 son, Edward W. Donn, Augustus Burgdorff, William O. Denison, Peter 
 Latterner, Job Barnard, Jesse C. Ergood, Frederick W. Pratt, James 
 F. Oyster, Willie S. Iloge, Frederick A. Schittely, Augustus B. Coppes, 
 and Richard A. Walker. The board was organized by the selection of 
 John A. Prescott, president; J. Harrison Johnson, vice-president, and 
 Frederick A. Stier, cashier. The success attending the Ijusiness opera- 
 tions of this bank during its tirst year was unprecedented in the 
 ])anking business of the city. At the end of this year, at the reorgan- 
 ization of the board, Mr. Prescott and Mr. Johnson resigned their 
 positions as president and vice-president, and were succeeded respec- 
 tively by Mr. Jesse B. Wilson' as president, and by Mr. H. Bradley 
 Davidson as vice-president. Mr. Stier retained his position as casliier. 
 
 ' Jesse B. Wilson, president of the Lincoln National Banlc, was born in Prince 
 George's County, Maryland, in 1830. His father was Nathaniel Wilson, who belonged 
 to one of the old and hospitable Maryland families; but both father and mother died 
 before young Jease was seven years old. He was then apprenticed by his uncle to a 
 coach maker, in Anne Arundel County, near EUicott's Mills, and by the terms of the 
 apprenticeship, which lasted about seven years, wa.s to have one year's schooling 
 during that time. However, when the time was within six months of coming to an 
 end, the stipulation with regartl to education not bavins;- been complied with, his uncle 
 took him _to his home in Howard County, and gave him two years' education in the 
 public schools. 
 
 Early ill 1S42, learning that a brother of Mi-. Washington Adams inteutled to 
 retire from the grocery business, young Wilson set out on UkA for Wa.shington and 
 made application for the vacancy. He was taken into the employ of INIr. Atlams, 
 and, developing an unusual aptitude for business, ho was afterward induced to enter 
 the establishment of Messrs. George ct Thomas Parker, which occupied two buildings 
 on Market Space, fronting on Pennsylvania Avenue, between Seventh and Eighth 
 streets. Soon after this promotion, he became the junior partner in the grocery firm 
 of Morsell & Wilson, and in the fall of 1S.")1 he bought the interest of Mr. Morsell in 
 the business. This business he conducted himself on the south side of Pennsylvania 
 .\ venue, between Sixth and Seventh streets, for nearly twenty years, increasing it year 
 by year, until 1872, when on account of failing health he retired from business for a 
 time; but upon regaining health he became engaged to a greater or less extent in the 
 real-estate business, making this, too, a success, lie then l)ecame president of the 
 Mutual Fire Insurance Company, serving in this ciijiacity until December, 1890, when 
 he was elected president of the Lincoln National Hank, l-'or several years, he has 
 been president of the Northern Market Company, and he has lici'u a member of the 
 Board of Trade since its organization. Mr. Wilson marrie<l Miss Scrivener, of Wash- 
 ington, in 1849. Since 1870, he has been a uiember of the Mt. Vernon Place Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. His election to the prcsidcui-y of the Lincoln Naliimal Bank is a 
 sutiicient indi<-atioii ul the estimaliiiu in which be is held by his Icllow-mcn. 
 
H /STORY OF n.lNk'/NG. 403 
 
 The hank lias eoiitiiHied to merit aiul receive tlie patronage of tlie 
 imhlic to a large degree by its careful, conservative method of doing 
 business, and in all probability has a long and honorable career 
 in the future. The surplus and undivided profits of this bank on 
 the second anniversary of its establishment, March 25, 1892, were $20,- 
 353.50. 
 
 The West End National Bank was organized in 1890, with a 
 capital of $200,000. It was originally located at the corner of Nine- 
 teenth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, in the west end of the 
 city, and for this reason was named the West End National Bank; 
 but after a year's experience, it was moved to its present location, 
 Xo. 1415 G Street Northwest. On the opening day of its business, 
 the deposits amounted to $40,000, and at the time of the removal the 
 deposits amounted to $130,000. The deposits at the present time 
 amount to $330,000, and the business is steadily increasing. 
 
 William R. Riley has been president of this bank since its organ- 
 ization. The vice-president, at the time of organization, was George 
 A. Mcllhenny, who was succeeded by Dr. A. P. Fardou, the present 
 incumbent of this office. Charles P. Williams has been cashier since 
 the organization of the bank. The directors are John F. Vogt, Horace 
 S. Cummings, Conrad Becker, Edward S. Westcott, R. II. Goldsbor- 
 ough, W. R. Wilcox, LeRoy Tuttle, Jr., John H. Moore, F. C. Stevens, 
 John H. Magruder, George A. Mcllhenny, Henry C. Winship, and 
 George E. Emmons. 
 
 The Traders' National Bank was organized March 3, 1890, with 
 a capital of $200,000, and with the following officers, who still retain 
 their positions: George C. Ilenning, [U'esident; William A. Gordon, 
 vice-president; Brent L. Baldwin, cashier. The })resent site was 
 bought in June, 1890, and the tine banking building erected and 
 completed in time for occupation on June 1, 1891. The directors, in 
 addition to the president and vice-president, are as follows: E. F. 
 Droop, 0. C. Green, Isadore Saks, Emil G. Schafer, Samuel S. Shedd, 
 George A. Shehan, Emmons S. Smith, and John T. Varnell. The 
 capital remains as at lir.st, and on March 1, 1892, the surplus and 
 undivided profits amounted to $50,763.25. 
 
 The Ohio National Bank is the youngest national bank in tlie 
 city, having begun business February 24, 1891, at the corner of G 
 and Twelfth streets Northwest, in a rented building. Most of those 
 concerned in the movement were Ohio men, and hence, in part at least, 
 the name of the bank. Its capital was, and is, $200,000, and at the 
 end of the first year's business the surplus was about $3,000. The 
 
404 HfSTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 officers and directors of tlie bank at its organization were, Hon. Joseph 
 D. Taylor, nieniljer of Congress from the Eigliteenth Oliio District, 
 president; Joiin (). Johnson, of Pennsylvania, vice-jiresident; Charles 
 n. Davidge, formerly of Indiana, cashier; C. A. Baker, assistant cash- 
 ier; directors — Hon. J. D. Taylor, John 0. Johnson, A. P. Lacey, 
 Hon. William Lawrence, Hon. C. S. Baker, F. J. Dieudonnc, L. M. 
 Saunders, J. B. Wimer, William C. Morrison, C. F. Scott, George H. 
 LaFetra, J. F. Batclielder, William Mayse, John Lynch, T. A. Hard- 
 ing, and Bushrod Kobinson. This banking company is at the present 
 writing erecting a fine building on the northwest corner of Twelfth 
 and G streets Northwest, at a cost, including the land upon which 
 it stands, of nearly $125,000. It is of granite, Indiana limestone, and 
 New Jersey butt' brick. It is six stories high above the basement, and 
 is an elegant and commodious structure. 
 
 The private banking firm of Lewis Johnson & Company com- 
 menced business February 1, 1858, at the corner of Pennsylvania 
 Avenue and Tenth Street. It was then conijiosed of Lewis Johnson, 
 David Walker, and Lewis J. Davis. June 1, 1891, it removed to its 
 present location. No. 1315 F Street Northwest. At the present time, 
 the firm consists of Lewis J. Davis, David Walker, and Charles N. 
 Wake. A genera! banking business is conducted by this firm. 
 
 Many other private banks have existed for a longer or shorter 
 time in Washington. Without attempting to e.vhaust the list, the 
 following may be mentioned as in existence at the present time, and 
 as enjoying the confidence of the community in a high degree: Wil- 
 liam Mayse & Company, 516 Ninth Street Northwest; Bell & Com- 
 pany, 1406 G Street Northwest; Corson & McCartney, 1419 F Street 
 Northwest; Crane, Paris, & Company, 1344 F Street Northwest; and 
 Lewis G. Tewksbury & Company, 1335 F Street Northwest. 
 
 The firm of Woods & Company is composed of Thomas E. 
 Woods and H. T. Woods, and others. It was organized for general 
 banking business in July, 1890, and commenced business in a building 
 owned by W. B. Moses, but in November, 1890, selected a site at 
 No. 1222 F Street Northwest, where they erected a new banking 
 house especially for their own use, and in April, 1891, transferred 
 their business to this location. While this firm transacts a general 
 banking l)nsiness, and deals in foreign exchange, it also receives 
 money on account and on deposit, the lowest sum received being 
 five dollars. On certificates of deposit, interest is paid monthly, 
 fjiiartei-ly, or annually, at the option of the depositor. Money is also 
 luanctl to iiny ;nnouiit on approved security. 
 
HISTORY OF BANKING. 405 
 
 Tlie Capital City Savings Bank was organized in October, 1888, 
 witii a capital of ,550,000. It is located at No. 804 F Street North- 
 west. It is the only bank in Washington owned and conducted 
 exclusively by colored men. Its officers are Hon. Joliu R. Lynch, 
 president; J. W. Cole, vice-pi'esident; Henry E. Baker, secretary; 
 L. C. Bailey, treasurer; and Douglass B. McCary, cashier. In its 
 business transactions race lines entirely disappear, all classes of citizens 
 dealing with it with equal freedom. 
 
 The Union Savings Bank was established June 10, 1891, in the 
 basement of the Second National Bank building, No. 509 Seventh 
 Street Northwest. It has a guaranty fund of |100,000. Its officers 
 are F. H. Smith, president; I. G. Kimball, first vice-president; A. 
 M. Lothroft, second vice-president; John Tweedale, secretary; T. A. 
 Lambert, treasurer, and T. T. Stewart, assistant treasurer. Ordinary 
 deposits are received, and are entitled to four per cent, semi-annual 
 dividends. Installment deposits, payable at any stated period for a 
 term of five years, sliarc in the (;arnings of the bank, the dividends 
 being compounded semi-annually. This plan, though in use in other 
 cities for years, is new in Washington, and is worthy of attention. 
 This bank also uses the savings bank stamp system. Agencies have 
 been established in over fifty stores in all parts of the city and 
 suburbs for the sale of five-cent and twenty-five-cent stamps, and 
 when a page of a book, supplied by the agent for the purpose, is 
 filled with one dollar's worth of stamps, they may be deposited as 
 so much money, and an account with the bank. 
 
 The financial institutions of Wasliington are well managed and 
 sound. Their business is large and steadily increasing. On March 
 1, 1891, the luitional banks, and the three great loan and trust 
 comj)anies, the Washington, the National Safe Deposit, and the 
 American Security and Trust Company, had an aggregate capital of 
 $5,8(36,300, and a surplus of $1,682,783; their loans and discounts 
 amounted to $11,828,923, and their total deposits to $13,980,261. 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 MERCANTILE HISTOHV. 
 
 Ivirly Business Firms - Prices of Nails — A Commercial Company P^stablisheil — Business 
 Firms in 1803 -A Fair in Washington — Regulations for Making Bread — Piano- 
 fortes First Imported — The City in l«l(i — The Coal Trade in lSo4 — Merchants' 
 F^xchange (Organized —Timber Shipments — Steamship Companies — Another Mer- 
 chants' Exchange — Changed to a Board of Trade— Tlie Present Board of Trade 
 — The Markets — The Columbian Exposition. 
 
 ^T^IIE city of Wiisliington lias never been a great commereial center; 
 J^ primarily, it is believed, because it was, up to the War of the 
 Rebellion, sniToanded by Slave States, the institution of shiver}' being 
 inimical to commerce as well as to manufactures, and nearly all forms 
 of industry. The necessities of the inhabitants of the city bad, 
 however, to be supplied, and there were consequently the usual niiuiljer 
 of retail establishments of different kinds, that number iticrcasing, ot 
 course, us the city itself increased in po})ulatiou. As this volume is 
 devoted to local history, there will be given the names of such business 
 men as were prominent in their several lines, especially of those in 
 the earlier days. 
 
 In 1800, the Washington Bookstore was kept by Rapine, Con- 
 rad, & Comiiany, at the corner of South B Street and New Jersey 
 Avenue. In November, this firm advertised the recent receipt ot 
 "Letters from Alexander Hamilton, Concerning the rublic Conduct 
 of John Adams, Esq., President of the United States," and also a 
 choice assortment of books on History, Law, Medicine, Divinity, the 
 Arts and Sciences, Classics, School Books, Novels, Romances, Biog- 
 raphy, etc., as well as all kinds of stationery, the best Dutch quills, 
 black lead pencils, blank books, etc. 
 
 In the same month, John Barnes, of Philadelphia, opened for 
 sale a large assortment of articles; fresh teas, spices, liquors, coffee, 
 stationery, ink powder, and English and American playing cards. 
 
 Henry Ingle, about the same time, opened a hardware store on 
 New Jersey Avenue, Capitol Hill, keeping a general assortment of 
 ironmongery, cutlery, saildlory, glassware, anil building material, among 
 wiiich he specified the following articles: Iron i)ots, frying pans, chaf- 
 
MERCANTILE HISTORY. 407 
 
 iiig di.slies, iidii and japanned candlesticks, [latent metal teapots and 
 saucepans, japaiuifd tea trajs, waiters and bread baskets, sadirons, 
 matlieniatical instrunients, niabogany knife cases tilled with ivory- 
 bandied knives and forks, cruet stands, ladies' dressing cases, mill- 
 pit and crosscut saws, tifty-six-, twentj'-eight-, and fourteen-pound iron 
 weigbts, also scale beams to weigh from five to ten hundredweight, — 
 "just imported in the ship Missouri from Philadelphia." 
 
 Jonathan Jackson appears to have been one of the first real- 
 estate dealers in the city, as he commenced advertising November 
 12, 1800, oftering for sale both improved and unimproved property-. 
 John Kearney, in the same kind of business, commenced advertising 
 Xoveinber 17, 1800. A conve^'ancer's office was opened about Decem- 
 ber 1, 1800, by Thomas Ilerty, on Xew Jersey Avenue, opposite the 
 Little Hotel. 
 
 Kid, Eliot, & Company commenced advertising as hardware dealers 
 December 18, 1800, also keeping a large quantity of brandy, spirits, 
 sugar, tea, and coftee, at the brick store opposite Blodgett's Hotel. 
 
 Adlington & Powers in February, 1801, opened a grocery and 
 dry-goods store on Xew Jersey Avenue, near the Sugar House. 
 
 In tliis connection it is interesting to note the advertised prices 
 of "all kinds of hammered and cut nails" iu Washington in February, 
 1801. Samuel Mclntire was selling hammered nails and brads as 
 follows: Twentypenny nails by the hundredweight or half hundred- 
 weight, at 12^(1. per pound; twelvepenny nails, 13(/. per pound; ten- 
 penny nails, 13|i:/. ; eightpenny nails, Ibd. per pound. By retail, under 
 56 pounds, twentypenny nails were ISl'l. per pound; twelvepenny 
 nails, 13|</. per pound; tenpenny nails, li^d. per pound; eightpenny 
 nails, Ib^d. per pound. Cut nails and brads were sold at the following 
 prices: Twentypenny nails, from 9^d. to 10|(/. per pound; tenpenny 
 nails, from 10(/. to lid. per pound; eightpenny nails, from 11(/. to 12d. 
 per pound; sixpenny nails, from 12d. to 13(/. per pound; fourpenny 
 nails, from 13J(/. to lid. per pound; threepenny nails, from Hhi. to 
 15^/. per pound. 
 
 John Ott opened a drug store in April, 1801. Kichard Dinmore 
 removed his grocery from Georgetown to Washington in April, es- 
 tablishing himself on Square 110, opposite the Seven Buildings, on 
 Pennsylvania Avenue. In June, 1801, Brohawn & Bogs opened a 
 lumber j-ard, "conveniently situated to the Capitol and President's 
 Square." "The schooner Dolphin and Kitty will continue to take 
 freight from this point to Annapolis and Baltimore every three 
 weeks." 
 
408 HISTORY OF WASIIINCTON. 
 
 Sliiirpless k Smith opened a new store, in which tliey kept liard- 
 wiire and dry goods, in November, 1801. Robert. Clierry carried on 
 the grocery and liqnor business on New Jersey Avenue, near the Sugar 
 House. The Mail Pilot, at this time, plied between Washington and 
 Baltimore, Piiiladeli)hia and New York, leaving Washington about 
 (3:00 A. jr. and arriving at Baltimore at 3:00 p. M., leaving Baltimore 
 next luoi'iiing and reaching Philadelphia in about twcnt^'-four hours, 
 carrying baggage " at the risk of the owner." 
 
 In June, 1802, Duane's Bookstore advertised for sale a few copies 
 of the suppressed book, "The History of John Adams's Administra- 
 tion," which was sup[)ressed by Mr. Burr; also, a number of books 
 of European importation, cheaper than liefore the peace in Europe. 
 
 Among the receipts in merchandise noted in 1803, was a cargo of 
 •'l^laister of Paris," certiiied to be genuine and of the first quality. 
 It was for sale by Stewart & Beall. 
 
 A new market was opened in Washington in December, 1801. 
 The }ieoiile were advised, through the public prints, to sustain the 
 market, and farmers in the vicinity were advised to take their pro- 
 duce there for sale. 
 
 In the latter part of 1803 and the beginning of 1804, a movement 
 was inaugurated looking to the development of the commercial inter- 
 ests of the city. This movement consisted in the establishment of a 
 commercial comjiany. At the outset, however, it was seen that the 
 great difficulty to be overcome in this movement was the fact that 
 there were but few engaged in the Government employ, and these 
 few were in the city but part of the time. The}' had for the most 
 part residences of theii' own, and wnuld cause Init little extra business 
 to spring up. The city, however, was situated on a great and noble 
 river, which came down through a rich country, and there was a 
 harbor here capable of accommodating a large quantity of shipping, 
 where vessels of the largest tonnage could load and unload witli 
 facility. And though there were perhaps bat few willing to "risque" 
 their property for the general good, yet there were some desirous of 
 forming, by subscription, a capital to be applied to commercial pur- 
 poses, and it was presumed there would not be lacking either industry 
 or enterprise to make that capital productive. It was thought that if 
 this city could become a market for the sale of domestic and foreign 
 manufactures, even on a small scale, it would not be long before the 
 doors of commerce would be open to individual enterprise, etc. 
 
 By the census of 1803, it was found that the professions, occu- 
 pations, and trades of the inhabitants were as follows: Architects, 
 
MERCANTILE HISTORY. 409 
 
 4; nierchiint tailors, li; notaries public, 1; clerks, 10; niercliaiits, 21; 
 stonecutters, 16; luniljcr merchants, 2; carters, 18; tailors, 17; gen- 
 tlemen, 15; nailers, 2; peddlers, 8; painters, 4; painters and tflaziers, 
 2; carpenters, 6-3; joiners, 12; physicians, 6; cabinet makers, 7; 
 printers, 10; laborers, 82; bricklayers, 18; turners, 1; sailmakers, 2; 
 coopers, 1; nail cutters, 1; liouse carpenters, 13; limners, 2; shoe- 
 makers, 23; pump makers, 3; millwrights, 1; tavern keepers, 9; 
 "plaisterers," 13; bakers, 6; carvers and gilders, 1; brickmakers, 1; 
 stone nuuons, 7; booksellers, 2; grocers, 2; officers of the Govern- 
 ment, 24; brewers, 1; lawyers, 4; blacksmiths, 8; masons, 2; ministers 
 of the Gospel, 3; schoolmasters, 5; shop keepers, 33; chair makers, 
 2; coach makers, 2, etc. 
 
 In 1804, preparations were made for the holding of a fair in 
 Washington. Great good, it was thought, would result, both to the 
 city and to the farmers of the vicinity. The iirst fair commenced 
 May 1, 1805, and continued three days. James Iloban, Joseph Hodg- 
 son, and Henry Ingle were appointed the first directors of the fairs 
 iield in the city. 
 
 October 18, 1805, the sloop Mary Ann, from Guilford, Connecticut, 
 arrived at the Navy Yard, and had for sale on board potatoes, onions, 
 cheese, hay, clover seed, table fish, etc. About the same time, the 
 schooner Ann arrived at Lear's wharf with eighteen hundred bushels 
 of "coals," from Nicholson k Heath's black pits, Richmond, the 
 "coals" being reputed the best in Virginia. They were ottered for 
 sale on board the schooner. 
 
 An act of the Council of Washington, adopted April 17, 1806, 
 with reference to the baking of bread, is of considerable interest. The 
 act regulated the weight and quality of bread. It provided that after 
 the 1st of June, 1806, bread made or ottered for sale in the city of 
 Washington should be made from inspected flour, either superfine, 
 fine, or middling, without any intermixture of the same, or the addition 
 of any Indian meal or flour from any other grain. All bread ottered 
 for sale was required to be stamped with the initials of the maker. 
 Any bread otFered for sale not thus stamped was to be forfeited to 
 the would-be purchaser, or to the trustees of the poor of tlie city of 
 Washington. Single and double loaves of bread, of all qualities, were 
 to be of the weights as given below: From tine flour worth from $4 to 
 ?4.50 per barrel, a single loaf was to weigh 31 ounces, double loaf, 62 
 ounces; from flour worth from §4.50 to $5 per barrel, a single loaf was 
 to weigh 30 ounces, a double loaf, 60 ounces; from flour worth from 85 
 to 15.50 per barrel, a single loaf was to weigh 27 ounces, and a double 
 
410 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 loaf, 54 ounces; from flour worth from $6 to iS6.50 per barrel, u single 
 loaf, 22 ounces, and double one, 44 ounces; from flour worth from 
 $6.50 to $7, a single loaf was to weigh 20 ounces, and a double one, 
 40 ounces; from flour worth from $7 to $7.50, a single loaf was to 
 weigh 19 ounces, and a double one, 38 ounces; from flour worth from 
 $9.50 to $10, a single loaf was to weigh 13 ounces, and a double one, 
 26 ounces, and so on as flour increased in price. The price of flour 
 was to be ascertained the last week of every month by the Mayor, or 
 by the register in the absence of the Mayor, from respectable mer- 
 chants living in the county of Washington, and published in the city 
 newspaper for the benetit of those concerned; and this i)rice was to 
 govern the size of the loaves of bread for the next month; except 
 that in case of any sudden rise in the cash price of flour, the Mayor 
 was authorized to establish the standard price of flour each week. 
 
 William S. Nicholls, in 1806, was one of the leading dry-goods 
 merchants in the city, keeping a great variety of goods in a store 
 then lately occupied by a Mr. Melvin. 
 
 In February, 1807, I'. Mauro notified the public that he had just 
 im[iorted direct from London, England, four English jiianofortes, 
 with additional keys, Astor, maker, together with other musical 
 instruments. "The above instruments have been examined by the 
 subscriber, who (flattering himself to be a judge) will, when sold, 
 warrant them to bo of superior quality and without any defect." 
 
 Tunis Chaven, dry-goods merchant, in February, 1808, removed 
 to his new st(M-e near the Navy Yard gate. About this time, F. A. 
 Wagler offered for sale two " forte}iianos," made by Broadwood, and 
 they were probably sujicrior to any in the place; also, all kinds of 
 dry and wet goods, "among the latter being brandy six years old." 
 
 The Washington Commercial Company was organized at a meeting 
 held March 16, 1808, at Stelle's Hotel. Twelve directors were chosen, 
 as follows: Thomas Tingey, Peter Miller, John McGowan, C. W. 
 Golilsborough, Joseph Forrest, James D. Barry, Alexander Kerr, Adam 
 Lindsay, John P. Van Ness, William Prout, Samuel N. Smallwood, 
 and James Cassin. Joseph Forrest was chosen president of this 
 company, which carried on a general wholesale business. In August, 
 1808, they received from New York a large shipment of various 
 kinds of goods, liquors, sugars, teas, coffees, spices, and groceries. 
 This company continued to do business many years. 
 
 The city continued to grow slowly until after the War of 1812-15. 
 At the (riose of this war, the number of stores in Washington was so 
 limited that the inhabitants were compelled to go to Georgetown or 
 
MERCANTILE HISTORY. 411 
 
 Alexandria to procure necessary articles of dr}' goods, hardware, gro- 
 ceries, china, glassware, etc., but by 181G there liad been such an 
 increase in the growth of business liouses in tlie central part of the 
 cit}' that every article of necessity, convenience, and even of luxury, 
 could be had without difKculty at home. At this time, the numbei- 
 of stores on Pennsylvania Avenue, between the Capitol and the Pres- 
 ident's Mansion, was as follows: Dry goods, 16; groceries, 7; hard- 
 ware, 2; china, glassware, etc., 2; drug stores, 2; millinery stores, 3; 
 confectioneries, 3; hats, shoes, etc., 2; books and stationery, 2; leather 
 stores, 1; cabinet stores, 3; chair factories, 1; "merchant ta^'lors," 3; 
 plate, jewelry, etc., 3; and at the same time there were plenty of 
 mechanics in the ditferent branches, two extensive hotels, and a read- 
 ing room well supplied with books, papers, etc. 
 
 In February, 1819, there was prepared and published a taitular 
 statement with reference to the commerce of the District of Columbia. 
 It commenced with 1801, as there were no statistics for 1800. The 
 entire value of exports in 1801 was S894,4G7; in 1802, $774,063. In 
 1803, the value of foi'eign and domestic produce was as follows: 
 foreign, $32,938; domestic, $1,112,050; in 1804, foreign, $294,803; 
 domestic, $1,157,195. From this time on, the value of foreign produce 
 generally diminished until 1812, when it was $12,096; but in 1818 it 
 liad increased to $138,717. With reference to the value of domestic 
 produce, it was, as has been said, in 1804 $1,157,195, and with 
 fluctuations from year to year, it was in 1818 $1,264,751. In 1804, the 
 lirst year in which the tonnage of the District was recorded, it was 
 9,915 registered tons; enrolled, 3,514; licensed, 868. And in 181G, it 
 was, registered, 7,743; enrolled, 8,976; licensed, 1,938. 
 
 Among the bookstores in the city in 1819, were those of Davis 
 & Force, and Henry Guegan. Pishey Thompson came later, but not 
 many years after 1820. On January 12, 1829, Mr. Thompson adver- 
 tised, for the tirst time in Washington, Webster's Dictionary, in two 
 large quarto volumes; price to subscribers, $20 in boards, and $25 
 in clotli. Mr. Thompson was the author of a history of Boston, 
 England, highly commended. 
 
 In 1833, Richard Wright advertised Schuylkill coal for sale at 
 $9 per ton on the wharf, and Seth Sturdevant had Lackawanna coal 
 for sale at the "reduced price of $9 per ton.'" 
 
 In September, 1854, the price of coal in Washington was so high 
 as to cause great dissatisfaction. Public complaints were numerous 
 and forcible against the dealers, who were called upon for some 
 explanation. Coal was then selling for from $8 to $9 per ton, an 
 
412 HISTORY OF W.-iSHLYGTON. 
 
 advance upon the price of the previous year of from $1 to $2 per 
 ton. This increase in the price was in ilefiance of the fact that the 
 output of coal for tiiat portion of tlie year then passed tliat for 
 tlie corresponding portion of tlie yeai" 1853. Up to August 5, 1854, 
 about 103,000 tons more coal had readied tide water from tlie Cumber- 
 land mines than in the jirevious year; over the Heading Railroad the 
 increase had been 306,000 tons; by the Schuylkill CJanal the increase 
 had been 52,000 tons, making tVcjin three pi-incipal sources of suppi}' 
 an increase of 41)0,000 tons, or about 25 per cent, more tlian was for- 
 warded the year before. The |irice of coal in London, England, was 
 then from $3 to |4 jier ton the year round, and tlie cost of transpoi'- 
 tation from the mines was quite as great there as in this country. 
 
 The amount of coal shipped to market from the Cumberland 
 mines for the year ending August 26, 1854, was 403,143.12 tons, of 
 which 103,894.17 tons passed througli the Chesapeake and Ohio 
 Canal, the rest passing over the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The 
 anionnt shipped to the same time in 1853 was 2>*9,555 tons. 
 
 In answer to the objections to the high price of coal then ruling, 
 a "Retail Dealer" said that the price was about thirty per cent, higher 
 than it was the year liefore; and to justify this increase in the price, 
 said that it was on account of the increased cost of labor at the 
 mines, the advance of tolls on railroads, the increased cost of labor 
 in shi}iping, the advance of freights over the yeai- before of about 
 thirty per cent., and the increased expenses of retail dealers. 15ut 
 above all of these items, there was the greatly increased consLimption 
 of coal, which would almost of itself justify the increase complained of 
 in the price of coal. This increase in consumption of coal had been 
 occasioned in part by the substitution of coal for wood on steamboats 
 and locomotives, and in manufacturing establisliments, which latter bad 
 greatly increased in number during the few years previous. 
 
 But there was another reason for the increase in the price in 
 coal, which was quite as potent as any given by the "Retail Dealer." 
 This was that the operators of the anthracite mines in Pennsylvania 
 combined for the purpose of lestricting the shipments of coal from 
 the mines. This combination was seriously condemned by the public 
 generally as a conspiracy against their rights, and was unfavorably 
 compared with the conduct of the Dutch, some years before, owners 
 of the s[)ice islands, who, in order to keep uj) the prices of spices, 
 allowed onl}' a certain anionnt to be sent to the market, burning all 
 the rest. The conduct of the coal operators was considered worse 
 than that of the Dnh-li in this, thai the Dutch interfered onlv with 
 
MERCANTILE HISTORY. 413 
 
 tlie price of a luxury, wliile tlie Peniis3'lvauia coul barons combiued 
 to keep up tlie price of an article which was a necessity to the poor 
 as well as to the rich. Purchasers were seriously advised to limit their 
 consumption of coal in order to bring the coal operators to terms. 
 Such movements as these of the coal operators and the Dutch pro- 
 ducers of spice, are far from being exceptional in the history of the 
 world. The Knights of Labor in the Ujiited States have frequently 
 combined to limit the amount of labor in the market, with the view 
 of controlling its price, and in the year 1891 the Farmers' Alliance 
 combined, to a considerable extent, to limit the amount of wlieat 
 ottered for sale, in order to force up the price to an unnatural height. 
 All such movements are conspiracies against the public interests, and 
 alike subject to condemnation. 
 
 Some time previous to 185iJ, the precise date not ascertained, 
 there was an attempt to organize a Merchants' Exchange. An annual 
 meeting of this society- was held December 5, 185(3, with Mr. James 
 B. Dodson, vice-president, in the chair. Numerous topics of interest 
 were discussed, and the following resolution was adopted: 
 
 "That Messrs. G. W. Riggs, William B. Todd, Hudson Taylor, 
 M. W. Gait, Philip Otterback, and John II. Semmes, being one tVom 
 each ward of the city, be, and they are hereby, appointed a committee 
 to urge upon the city authorities the absolute necessity of erecting 
 a new market house in the central portion of the city." 
 
 The officers of the association then were as follows: Samuel 
 Bacon, president; James B. Dodson, vice-president; John F. Ellis, 
 secretary; William Wall, treasurer; Walter Harper, S. P. Franklin, 
 T. J. Fisher, J. B. Clagett, A. E. Perry, T. Parker, William F. 
 Bayly, George Burns, B. F. Morsell, William B. Todd, Benjamin 
 Beall, and Hudson Taylor, board of directors. This society, however, 
 was not permanent, probably because it was premature. In February, 
 1862, several of the merchants again attempted to revive the subject 
 of a Mercliants' Exchange, inasmuch as the city was then assuming- 
 rank as a commercial center; but it was not until 18G5 that such an 
 organization became prominent. This organization, known as the 
 Board of Trade, will be treated of in succeeding pages. General 
 commercial interests will for the present claim attention. 
 
 In 1856, the coal trade was but little more satisfactory' to the 
 general public than in 1853. This was because of the breaking of 
 two of the principal dams of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, by 
 means of which canal Cumberland coal reached the city. Some of 
 the dealers, however, had unlimited confidence in the final success 
 
414 IirsTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 of tlie trade. Mr. Alexander Ku}', in this year, expended $30,000 in 
 pntting np docks and slieds, and in 1857 lie e.\pended other large 
 snms and Hanked his dock with two railroads, connectinii' with the 
 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. 
 
 Another enterprise which at that time promised to be of great 
 impoitancc was the shipping- of timber direct to foreign conntries. 
 Benjamin Thornton, of Fairfax, thongli formerly of England, dispatched 
 the brig Wabash frcnn Alexandria to Livei'pool, England, with three 
 iiundrcil tons of timber on board, and had, besides, three tbonsand 
 tons read}' for shipment from the Washington City wharves. As 
 there was then abnndancc of tindjcr on the river, both above and 
 below the District of Colnmbia, it was confidently anticipated that the 
 shipping of timber wonid become an extensive portion of the bnsiness 
 of the District. 
 
 In 1859, there was considerable commerce being cari'ied on at the 
 deep water wharves above Easby's Point. Within the week ending 
 Augnst 27, eight seagoing vessels arrived at these docks, their cargoes 
 consisting of coal, plastei", hnnlier, ice, etc. A vessel was dispatciie<l 
 with agricultnral fertilizers for lands on the Patnxent. At the ship- 
 yard and marine railway of the Easbys, the repair of vessels was con- 
 stantly going on. The machinery at these works was capabh.' of 
 hanling ont of the water vessels of from fonr hnndred to five hnn- 
 dred tons. 
 
 About this time, an event of considerable im[iortance transpired 
 with reference to the commerce of the District. This event was the 
 opening of the "New York and Washington Screw Steamship Line." 
 The first steamship of tliis line to arrive at the West Washington 
 wbarves was the Mount Vernon, a screw steamer, Captain F. C. Smith, 
 September 6. The line of steamers of which the Mount Vernon was 
 the pioneer, was owned by II. B. Cromwell & Company, of New York, 
 and was designed to run between New York and the District of 
 (/"oinnibia. Tlie Mount Vernon was of seven hnndred tons, and had 
 an engine of five hundred horse-power. She drew twelve feet of 
 water, and her speed was fifteen knots an hour. The vessel was 
 fitted up for both freight and passengers, with accommodations for 
 about thirty of the latter. The fare to New York was $7.50; round 
 trip, $13. Tlie event of the opening of this line was fittingly cele- 
 brated on Tuesday evening, September 6, at the bouse of Thomas 
 T. Everett, on M Street, in the northern liberties. At this l)ani[uct 
 George I). Fowlc, of Alexandria, nnidc an address, in which he (•ailed 
 attention to the advantagi's ibis enlci'jn-lse furnished to the people of 
 
MERCANTILE HISTORY. 415 
 
 tlie District, and tiiose of Virginia and Maryland in the viciiiitv, — cer- 
 tain, safe, regular, and cheap means of coniniunication and commerce 
 between the Capital of the Nation and the metropolis of the Nation. 
 This steamship continued to make regular trips between the two 
 cities until the breaking out of the War, when she entered tlie service 
 of the Government. The chief obstacle to her progress she found 
 during this time was a sand bar in the Potomac River, which was, 
 however, removed b}- dredging in tlie year 18G0, the work being 
 completed by August 1. The length of the area dredged was 1,500 
 yards, and the Ijreadtli 100 yards. 900 yards in length was dredged 
 6 feet deep, and tlie remainder from 4 to 5 feet, making tlie sand 
 excavated about 275,000 cubic yards. The channel at the shallowest 
 point then had a depth of 14 feet. Early in April, 1801, Ilirman 
 I'arncy, collector of tlie port of New York, informed the proprietors 
 of this line that he could not grant clearances to any ports of the 
 United States wlicre the functions of the Federal olHcers had been 
 usur[icd liy State authorities, and soon aftcrwai'd the steamers of this 
 company were engaged in the service of the United States. 
 
 The prices of the various commodities in the markets of Wash- 
 ington in February, 1865, were as follows: Flour, superfine, $11.50 
 per barrel; e.xtra, 111.75 and $12; Welch's family, $13.75 in fifty- 
 barrel lots, and $14 per dray load; Royal York, $12.75; corn — yellow, 
 $1.95; white, $1.95 to $2.05 per bushel; corn meal, $2.05 per bushel; 
 potatoes, $6 per barrel; butter, 53 to 58 cents per pound; cheese, 22 
 to 24 cents per pound; dried beef, 20 cents per pound, and other 
 things in proportion. 
 
 Early this year, the enterprising merchants and business men of 
 tlie city, in order to insure safety, speed, and regularity in the trans- 
 portation of goods between New York and the District of Columbia, 
 established a new line of steamships. They started with three regular 
 steamers, namel}', the E. C. Knight, Captain J. J. Mason; the Ann 
 Eliza; and the John Gibson, Captain W. C. Geoghegan. The steamers 
 were built by Cramp & Son, of Philadelphia. The agents for the 
 new line in Washington were William R. Snow & Compau}-, and 
 Messrs. Flowers & Barnes, of Alexandria, in that city. The steamer 
 E. C. Knight arrived in Georgetown Marcli 26, the time of sailing 
 from New York to her dock in Georgetown being forty-one hours 
 and twenty-five minutes. The name of the company operating this 
 line of steamers was "The Atlantic Steamship Companj-." Another 
 company similarly engaged was the New York and Washington 
 Steamship Company, having three steamers, named the Baltimore, the 
 
410 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Hebecca Clyde, and the Empire. C. P. Ilouo^htoii was tlieir agent at 
 Georgetown, and M. Eldridge & Conipan}- at Alexandria. 
 
 One of the hirge firms to establish themselves in business earl}' 
 after the War was Thomas Davis & William Marhnry, in tlie whole- 
 sale salt business. Mr. Davis had long been in the salt business, and, 
 more largely than any other man, had dealt in salt between Washing- 
 ton and New York. His largest warehouse was at No. 23 Water 
 Street, Georgetown, which was full of salt; and in addition to this, he 
 had warehouses in ditferent parts of the city, tilled with various kinds 
 of salt — as Ashton, refined Liverpool, etc. He had also one ware- 
 house filled with ground alum. 
 
 On October 17, 1865, tliere was a meeting field at the City Hall 
 for the purpose of organizing a Mercliants' E.Kchange. S. Norment 
 was called to the chair, and John li. Elvans appointed sccrctar}'. 
 Speeches were made by Mr. Elvans, G. I^erkins, of Chicago, A. \i. 
 Shepherd, R. M. Hall, and others. The merchants of Georgetown 
 were invited to unite in the movement. The firms represented at tiiis 
 meeting were King & liurchell, C. W. Boteler, Jr., H. Senken, W. R. 
 Snow & Company, W. G. Metzerott, R. M. Hall, J. T. Walker & Com- 
 pany, Pliillip & Solomons, A. R. Sheplierd, Samuel Bacon & Company, 
 W. n. Clagett, Barbour, Semmes, & Company, S. Norment, Lansbnrg 
 & Brother, J. B. Bryan & Brother, Blanchard & Mohun, C. B. Bayley 
 & Company, John R. Elvans & Company, J. V. Bartholow, and R. 
 (Johen. On motion of Mr. Sheplierd, a comniittoe was appointed to 
 prepare a plan of organization, consisting of Mr. Shepherd, Mr. Per- 
 kins, Samuel Bacon, C. W. Boteler, Jr., R. .\I. Hall, John R. Elvans, 
 and J. P. Bartholow. 
 
 At a meeting held October 24, 1805, the following names were 
 announced for membership: Kidwell & Son, Mohun \- Son, Henry" 
 R. Searle, J. D. Edward k Coin[)any, Kcllau, Moore, & King, .John 
 F. Bridget, C. S. Noyes, John F. Ellis, Ulysses Ward, William P. 
 Mohun, T. Edward Clark, Hall & Hume, J. il. Semmes & Company', 
 Thomas Thompson, M. McNeal, C. S. O'llare, H. O. Hood, Hays & 
 Cropley, John G. Adams, G. F. Clark, Harper & Mitchell, James T. 
 Close & Company, James Y. Davis, Z. D. Oilman, C. II. Utermehle, 
 McKnew & Bell, II. S. Johnson, Wall, Ste[)hens, it Compaii}*, Elijah 
 Edmonston, John B. Turton, James Moore, F. Jj. flarvey, B. F. Mor- 
 sell, C. B. Baker, Hudson Taylor, R. B. Clarke, Thomas A. Tolson, 
 W. II. & 0. II. Morrison, Daniel B. tMarke, Webb it Beveridge, Nagle 
 & Company, W. S. Tcci, H. Biii-ns & CJompany, J. E. Hoover, J. W. 
 Clampitt, J. R. D. -Morrison, G. .\1. Wight, and A. J. Dietrich. 
 
MERCANTILE HISTORY. 41>J 
 
 Mr. A. R. Sheplierd siibniitteil a report of tiie committee on the 
 constitution, under wliicii the merchants present organized themselves 
 into a Board of Trade of the District of Columhia. Under tliis con- 
 stitution tiie annual contribution of eacli member was SIO, a sum 
 which some considered too small to accomplish the purposes which 
 the new organization had in contemplation. One of these purposes 
 was to compete with the great monopoly, the Baltimore and Ohio 
 Railroad. Mr. Shepherd, the week before, had said that if the mer- 
 chants of Washington would organize, and make the city what it 
 should he — a commercial city, and not a mere appendage of Balti- 
 more, as it then was, they could build up the city, and make it 
 independent, lie was in favor of including all citizens in tlie benefits 
 to be derived from the organization of a board of trade, and was 
 opposed to following the example of the corporation of Washington, 
 which, in the magnitude of its wisdom, had ordained that none but 
 citizens should engage in corporation work. The Southern trade was 
 what was wanted, and Mr. Sliepiierd said that if each merchant 
 would subscriljc ^800 or .?400, the monopoly above referred to could 
 successfully be o[iposed. 
 
 At a special meeting of the Board of Trade held December 6, 
 18G5, the question discussed was as to the adoption of a resolution 
 oftered by Mr. Shepherd, inviting an expression of opinion as to 
 the propriety of urging Congress to consolidate the cities of Wasli- 
 ington and Georgetown, and the county of Washington, under one 
 municipality. In his remarks in favor of the resolution, ho called 
 attention to the fact that in the District of Columbia there were 
 five distinct governments: the corporations of Washington and George- 
 town, the Levy Court, the Metropolitan Police Commis.sioners, and 
 the Commissioner of Public Buildings. The corporation of Wash- 
 ington had but little control, as Congress could at any time enact 
 obnoxious laws, and it would therefore be better if Congress had 
 complete control. Mr. Mitchell, of the Common Council of George- 
 town, said that he had already introduced into that body a resolution 
 favoring the uniting of the two corporations. 
 
 The Board of Trade of the city of Washington continued in exist- 
 ence several years, but it seems not to have impressed the city ver}- 
 strongly with its importance, and it was permitted by the business 
 community to lapse. Georgetown also had an organization known 
 as a board of trade, established in 1866. On March 22, 1869, the 
 third annual meeting of this board was held, and the chairman 
 thereof then stated that during the previous year there had been 
 
418 lUSTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 received seven hundred and four tliousand busliels of wheat, all of 
 which had heen manufactured into Hour, and tiie corn received 
 amounted to about five liundred thousand bushels. He also hoited 
 for increased interest in the Board of Trade. Tiiis lioped for increased 
 interest did not make itself felt, for this exchange, like the old Wash- 
 ington Board of Trade, soon ceased to exist. 
 
 In recent ^-ears, an organization has been effected under the 
 name of the Washington Board of Trade, which is, however, some- 
 tliing more than its name implies. It was organized December 2, 1889, 
 with the following officers: Myron M. Parker, president; S. W. 
 Woodward, first vice-president; S. E. Wheatley, second vice-president; 
 
 A. T. Britton, general counsel; B. H. Warner, treasurer; Alexander 
 1). Anderson, secretary. The directory consisted of thirty-one members. 
 There have been, since this organization was effected, nvimerous 
 committees to carry on its affairs, and it is sufficient to present the 
 names of these committees in order to show the wide range of 
 the work of this Board of Trade, whicli might perhaps as well be 
 called a board of promotion, as its objects, as stated in its by-laws, are 
 "the consideration of, and action upon, matters concerning the com- 
 merce, prosperity, and advancement of the material interests of the 
 National Capital, and the dissemination of information relating there- 
 to." These committees are the executive, with E. Kurtz Johnson, 
 cliairnum; finance, Beriah Wilkins; taxation and assessments, Henry 
 Wise Garnett; railroads, B. II. Warner; transportation, William A. 
 Wimsatt; arbitration, A. T. Britton; commerce, Isidor Saks; public 
 buildings, Thomas ISonierville; membership, Thomas W. Smith; parks 
 and reservations, C. J. Bell; streets and avenues, George Truesdell; 
 charities, John H. Magruder; public health, F. L. Moore; trade 
 organizations, Samuel Ross; water suiii)ly, Charles Baum; improve- 
 ment of the Potomac River, S. E. Wheatley; harbor improvements, C. 
 
 B. Church; Mount Vernon Avenue, Frank Hume; universities, Alex- 
 ander D. Anderson; bridges, Theodore W. Noyes; insurance, Simon 
 Wolf; Rock Creek Tunnel, S. E. Wheatley. The membership of this 
 board at the present time is about two hundred. 
 
 In addition to the work ordinarily performed by boards of this 
 kind in the various cities of the country, the committee on universi- 
 ties, of which Mr. Alexander D. Anderson is chairman, is performing 
 great and valuable public service in aiding to build up and foster 
 the great universities established, or proposed, for the city of Wash- 
 ington. The purpose is to make Washington the great educational 
 center of the United States, 
 
MERCANTILE HISTORY. 419 
 
 Wasliiiigton lias liail market liouses, one or more, ever since its 
 earliest days. Bnt the old market houses were destroyed in 1870-72, 
 when the era of improvement commenced. There are now eight 
 puhlic markets in the District, six in Washington and two in George- 
 town. The largest, and one of the finest in the country, is the Center 
 Market, between Seventli and Ninth streets, and Pennsylvania Avenue 
 and B Street. This market house took the place of one that had for 
 years been an eyesore to the residents of the city. It was erected by 
 a private company, chartered by Congress for the purpose. The entire 
 stock of this company was taken in October, 1870, 10,000 shares at $50 
 each. Mayor Emery subscribed for 1,000 shares; Fitzhngh Coyle, 500 
 shares; A. R. Shepherd, 1,000 shares, and later for 500 shares more; 
 Moses Kelly, 500 shares; H. D. Cooke, 500 shares; E. M. Tinker sub- 
 scribed for 1 share each for five persons, one of the five being Hiram 
 Sibley, and 10 for himself; Mr. Chandler subscribed for 1 share each 
 for several different persons, and 1,245 for himself, and afterward he 
 subscribed for 1,250 more shares for himself; Mr. Hildreth subscribed 
 for 5 shares for F. B. Whiting, and 1,245 for himself; Mr. Ordway 
 subscribed for 1 share each for five individuals, and 1,245 for himself; 
 several shares were taken by parties whose names were not ascertained; 
 then, it being found that there were onl}' 220 shares left, Mr. Chandler 
 took them. November 5, 1870, the incorporators were organized by the 
 election of directors in the persons of H. D. Cooke, A. R. Shepherd, 
 II. S. Dawes, S. S. Smoot, C. Cushing, H. Van Aerraan, N. M. Ord- 
 way, John Roche, M. G. Emery, E. M. Tinker, T. C. Connolly, W. E. 
 Chandler, and T. A. Hildreth. II. D. Cooke was chosen president; 
 Moses Kelly, treasurer; and a building committee of six was chosen 
 as follows: Shepherd, Ordway, Davis, Tinker, Hildreth, and Smoot. 
 Adolph Cluss was selected as the architect, who drew up plans for 
 the building; wliich, as it stands at the present time, is as follows: 
 Whole length of market houses on Seventh, Xinth, and B streets, 740 
 feet; average width, 82 feet; length of wholesale store building, 274 feet; 
 width, 87 feet. In the central portion of the building is the armory, 
 and in the second story of the Ninth Street portion is the drill room. 
 The buildings were completed in 1872, and are of the most substantial 
 character. The retail building is a one-story brick, and covers 60,172 
 square feet of ground. The retail market has 666 stalls, and cost $350,- 
 000. The average monthly rental of the stalls is $8.35. As has been 
 intimated in the above, this market is owned by a pirivate corporation; 
 all the other markets, brief mention of which follows, are public. 
 
 North Liberty Market is on the corner of Fifth and K streets 
 
420 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Northwest. It is ;i one-story building, covering 41,600 square feet of 
 ground. It contains 284 stalls, and cost $152,000. The average rental 
 of the stalls is $5.90. 
 
 Riggs Market is on F Street, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth 
 streets. It a one-story frame structure, 130x70 feet, contains 60 stalls, 
 -and cost |5,000. The average rental is $4.3oi. 
 
 Corcoran Market is a low frame building on Street, near 
 Seventh Street, Northwest. It contains 187 stalls, the average rental 
 being $3.56. 
 
 Western Market is on the southeast corner of Twenty-lirst and 
 K streets Northwest. It contains 105 stalls, which rent for $3.63 each 
 per month. 
 
 Butchers' Market, on High Sti'cet, Ijctween First and Second 
 streets, in Georgetown, is a one-story brick structure, 80x60 feet, 
 and cost $5,000. It contains 48 stalls, each of which rents for $3.80 
 per mouth. 
 
 Georgetown Market, on Bridge Street, fronting on Market Street, 
 is a one-stoi'y bi'ick building, 36x240 feet. It contains 75 stalls, and 
 cost $60,000. Each stall rents for $1.92 per month. 
 
 Eastern Market is on Seventh and C streets Northeast. It is a 
 one-story brick building, 205x47 feet, cost $90,000, and contains 85 
 stalls, each of which rents for $3.75 per month. 
 
 While not a part of the commercial history of Washington, yet 
 it is believed that no more fitting place in tliis volume can be found 
 than this for a brief outline of the movement resulting in the Col- 
 umbian Exposition to be held in Chicago in 1893. It is due to 
 Washington, and it is also due to the truth, that such a statement 
 should somewhere liereiu be made. It is a matter of fact and of 
 record that this coming Exposition at Chicago is the outgrowth 
 of the proposed Three Americas' and World's Ex[iosition at Wasli- 
 ington. The author and projector of this proposed Exposition was 
 Mr. Alexander D. Anderson, of Washington, who, backed by the 
 citizens of Washington and of Baltimore, spent four years' time 
 and $33,000 in money in iiromoting the movement. The project was 
 first foresliadowed by him in an interview in the New York Herald., 
 Novend)er 19, 1884. lie submitted it in writing to the president of 
 the Jialtimore and Ohio Railroad Compau}-, January 1, 1885, and 
 presented it in detail to the citizens of Washington at a public meeting 
 February 26, 1886, at which meeting committees were appointed, head- 
 (piarters opened, and a vigoixnis campaign commenced. The memorial 
 of the committee was presented to tiie Senate of the United States in 
 
MERCANTILE IIISTOKY. 421 
 
 April, 1886, b^- Arthur P. Gorman, of Maryland, and this memorial 
 was published in full in the Congressional Record. 
 
 The local board was then converted into a national l)oard of 
 promotion, and, in response to notices of appointment sent out, Mr. 
 Anderson received formal letters of acceptance from the governors of 
 forty States and Territories, the mayors of fifty-iive of the leading 
 cities, one liundred and seventy-six presidents and secretaries of boards 
 of trade, and tiie officers of thirty State and Territorial granges, 
 ap[iroving of the movement, and j)ledging cooperation. 
 
 June 16, 1888, Hon. Perr}' Belmont, of New York, submitted a 
 rejjort to the House of Representatives in favor of the project, and 
 naming Washington as the place for holding the Exposition. But 
 before the report of the committee could be acted upon by tlie House, 
 New York, in the summer of 1889, attempted to appropriate the work 
 of Washington, and to secure tiie great Fair for lierself. Against this 
 attempt Chicago made a vigorous protest, and it was only wiicn tiie 
 latter cit}' saw that New York was determined to have the Fair, and 
 that there was danger of her securing it away from Washington, that 
 she herself determined to secure it away from New York. Tiie result 
 of the contest between Chicago and New York is well known to 
 everybodj'. 
 
 Mr. Anderson thereupon publicly stated that it had become the 
 duty of every American citizen to aid the Exposition to the best of 
 his ability, and to make it a success worthy of tlie Nation. He 
 projected an amendment to the Exposition bill, providing for a grand 
 review of the navies of the world in the New York harbor and 
 Hampton Roads, preceding the opening of the Fair at Chicago, which 
 amendment Senator Daniel, of Virginia, introduced into the Senate, 
 and which is now Section 8 of the Exposition act. This grand 
 review is to take place in April, 1893, immediately preceding the 
 opening of the Exposition itself at Chicago. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 MA X UFA C T URING. 
 
 Ivirly EstaljliBhuients — A Nail Faftory — A Hat Factory — The Steam Kngine — Thresh- 
 ing Machine — The Columbia Manufacturing Company — Foxall's Foundry — Manu- 
 factory of Fire Engines — The Columbia Rolling Mills — Paper Mills — Pope's 
 Threshing Machine — Bomford's Flouring Mill — George Page, Shipbuilder — Steam 
 Marble and Brown Stone Works — George Hill, Jr.'s Paper Mill — William Stick- 
 ney's Envelope Manufactory — The Washington Gas I.ight Company — The United 
 States Electric Lighting Company — Summary of Manufacturing Establishments in 
 Existence at the Present Time. 
 
 TT7ITI1 reference to miinutiicturing e.stablisliiueiits, the same remarks 
 V\ may Ije made as liave been already- made witli regard to com- 
 merce. Washington lias liad, from year to year, a considerable number 
 of such establishments of ditierent kinds, and yet not enongli to 
 render the city a distinctively manufacturing center. In December, 1800, 
 Wilson & Handy commenced the manufacture of furniture on New 
 Jersey Avenue, between the Episcopal church and the Sugar House. 
 They expressed their confidence that they should be able to give 
 general satisfaction, from the experience they had had in the principal 
 shops in Europe and America. The articles made by this firm were 
 secretary desks, portable writing. desks, chests, card tables, etc. 
 
 A nail factory was established about February 1, 1801, on F 
 Street, where all kinds of cut nails were made. John Minchen 
 moved his shoe factory from Philadelphia to Washington about this 
 time, locating near the Eastern Branch, and afterward on New 
 Jersey Avenue, near the Capitol. 
 
 In Api'il, 1802, Benjamin llenchey gave notice that he would 
 exhibit his new mode of obtaining light in a variety of thermo lamp, 
 commencing the next Friday evening after the 14th of the month, and 
 continuing until May 18, at Mr. Thompson's new brick house on 
 Pennsylvania Avenue. Tickets were |1, which would admit one gen- 
 tleman twice or a gentleman and lady twice. 
 
 Joel Broun, in 1808, established himself in Washington as a man- 
 ufacturer of hats, and in B''cbruar3', 1804, removed to Georgetown. In 
 February, 180G, Evan Evans advertised for sale an improved straw- 
 
MANUFACTURING. 423 
 
 cutter, at liis house Ijetweeii the Six Buildings and the rotoiiiac 
 "He forms tlie steel of this machine aslant so as to cause the knife 
 to cut ott' the straw at an angle of twenty-two and one-half degrees, 
 which makes it cut much easier than at right angles." Oliver Evans, 
 of Philadelphia, was the maker. 
 
 February 19, 1806, John James Dufour made a remark about the 
 steam engine worthy of note, to the eft'ect that many people attributed 
 the great prosperity of England to it, and that its introduction into the 
 United States would certainly })roduce the same result; but the great 
 question of iron, which it required for its construction, and the 
 complicated mechanism necessary to produce a rotary motion from its 
 natural motion, would operate for some time to prevent its adoption. 
 lie therefore advertised an invention of his own, whereby the rotary 
 motion could be easily effected, and urged capitalists to take an interest 
 in his invention. 
 
 Tunstall's patent threshing machine was one of the noted machines 
 of the day. Cast-iron wheels for this valuable machine could bo 
 bought at H. Foxall's Georgetown foundry, and also of T. Ilogan, on 
 F Street, Washington. This machine was callable of threshing, with 
 two horses or oxen, three hundred bushels per day, and it sold for 
 aljout §150. A quantity of straw, supposed to contain about two 
 hundred bushels of wheat, had been threshed with this machine, and 
 then rethreshed with Hails, and this second threshing produced only 
 a pint and a half of grain. 
 
 June 15, 1808, the Mayor of Washington, Robert Brent, called a 
 meeting of citizens of Washington at Stelle's Hotel for the 21st of 
 the month, for the purpose of taking into consideration the exi)ediency 
 of organizing a plan for the encouragement of domestic manufactures. 
 Of this meeting Mr. Brent was elected chairman, and John Law 
 secretary. Samuel II. Smith offered a series of resolutions, which 
 were in substance as follows: Tliat at a time when our rights are 
 trampled upon with unprecedented audacity and injustice by the 
 belligerent nations of Europe, it became tlie duty of the people 
 either to make sacrifices for their country or to unfold their energies; 
 and that whether peace or war should come, it was the duty of the 
 people to make themselves independent of the workshops of Europe; 
 that it was the duty of all sections of the Unicjii to encourage the 
 establishment and extension of domestic manufactures; that the city 
 of Washington, for various reasons, was eminently fitted for attain- 
 ing manufacturing importance, and that a plan should be reported to 
 a subsequent meeting. A committee was apjiointed, and authorized 
 
424 HISTORY OF WASHfNGrON. 
 
 to call auoUier meeting when they were read}^ to report. This 
 committee was composed of Samuel II. Sniitli, WilHam Cranch, (Gabriel 
 Diivai, Cornelius Cunningham, A. Cutting, George Blagden, Buller 
 Cocke, and Robert Brent. 
 
 The adjourned meeting was held in accordance with the call of 
 tlie committee, which reported articles of association for the Columbia 
 Manufacturing Company. There were nine articles adopted. The first 
 declared that the object of the association was to carry on the manu- 
 facture of cotton, wool, hemp, and tla.x, and to promote such other 
 domestic manufactures as should be thought advisable. The second 
 article provided that the capital stock of the company should be 
 $.')0,000, to be raised by subscription, shares to be worth $25 each, and 
 the books to be opened on August 1, that year. As soon as five 
 hundred shares should be subscribed, a meeting was to be called for 
 the purpose of devising a plan for conducting the business. If five 
 hundred shares should not be subscribed witliin si.x months from the 
 time of opening the books, then the money which had been subscribed 
 should be returned. Application was to be made to Congress for the 
 incorporation of the company. Tlie ciiairman of the meeting, Robert 
 Brent, was authorized to appoint nine commissioners to receive sub- 
 scriptions, three from Washington, three from Alexandria, and three 
 from Georgetown. The commissioners from Washington were Wil- 
 liam Cranch, William Breiit, and George Blagden, and the books were 
 opened August 1, 1808, at the ofiice of the clerk of the Circuit Court. 
 
 On the 14th of February, ISO!*, John Gardiner congratulated the 
 commissioners on having made a successful start, and ottered his 
 services as secretary of tlic company without com[)ensation, and also 
 offered to devote his leisure time to the sup)erintendency of the 
 factory, oidy asking that at the end of the year, if he then had 
 served the interests of the company well, he receive some honorary' 
 testimonial to that eftect. 
 
 But upon the organization of the company, on the 22d of Feb- 
 ruary, 1800, the following directors and otficers were chosen; Direc- 
 tors — Robert Brent, Nicholas King, Michael Nourse, William Cranch, 
 Charles Jones, Samuel H. Smith, John P. Van Ness, Thomas 
 Munroe, and Joseph Iluddleston. Robert Brent was elected president, 
 Samuel H. Smith and Michael Nourse vice-presidents, and Thomas 
 Carpenter secretary. 
 
 In November, 1809, the question was whether the company could 
 succeed in getting a start, and a series of resolutions was adopted at a 
 meeting (d' the directors, in which the opinion was expressed that 
 
M. AN UFA CTL 'R/NG. 425 
 
 tl)e success of tlic iiistitution depended upon tlie prompt payment 
 of tlie installments due upon the stock subscri[iti(»n, and re(iuesting 
 tiie president of the company to have prepared and published a 
 statement of the financial condition of the comiiany. Accordingly, 
 the secretary and treasurer, Thomas Carpenter, under date of November 
 20, presented a statement of the condition of the company, in which 
 it was shown that there had been four hundred shares subscribed, and 
 that the amount of money i)aid in was $1,414.33, of which $1,320.10 
 had been paid out. Of this latter sum $500 had been paid for a 
 carding machine, and $222 for a billy of forty-four spindles and a jenny 
 of sixty-six spindles. One bale of cotton had been purchased for 
 $51.64. In order to compel the payment of the installments due, it 
 was determined to put in operation a rule of the company by which 
 delinquent subscribers forfeited their rights and interests in the com- 
 pany, so that all of those who, by the 22d of February, 1810, had 
 not paid in nine installments should lose their interests in the com- 
 [lany. An election was liehl the same (hiy for nine directors and a 
 secretary. The factory was located on Greenleaf's I'oint. The com- 
 pany continued in operation for several years, and in 1812 John 
 Gardiner was the secretary. 
 
 Oue of the historic institutions of the early day in Washington 
 was the Foxall Foundry, established in 1800, by Henry Foxall. At 
 this foundry most of tlie lieavy guns were cast that were used in the 
 War of 1812-15. Previously to coming t(^ Washington, Mr. Foxall had 
 operated in Philadelphia, in partnership with Kobert Morris, tiio great 
 financier of the Revolution, a similar institution, called the "Eagle 
 Foundry." The guns made at the Foxall Foundry were the first 
 Ijored guns made in this country, and many of them were dragged 
 across the country by oxen to the lakes. It is said that they were 
 used by Commodore Perry in his battle on Lake Erie. 
 
 After Mr. Foxall's death, the foundry passed into the hands of 
 General John Mason, and for some time afterward was known as the 
 Columbian Foundry. In 1843, an addition was erected at its eastern 
 end, and in tliis eastern addition were cast most of the heavy guns 
 used in the Mexican War. After the close of this war, the building 
 was used as a distillery for some time, and early in the fifties it was 
 converted into a flouring mill, and is still used for the purpose of 
 manufacturing flour. 
 
 In the early part of the century, there was situated on Rock Creek 
 what was known as the Federal Mills, within one-fourth of a mile of 
 Georgetown. These mills had four pairs of stones, cajiable of mauufac- 
 
426 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 turiiig into liuur fifty thousand bushels of wheat in a season. They 
 were the property of John F. Rowles np to the time of his death, in 
 1812. What became of the property afterward was not ascertained. 
 
 In December, 1810, Philip Pyfer, Jr., commenced the manufacture 
 of iiides, on Pennsylvania Avenue, opposite the Central Market, where 
 anyone, by calling, could be accommodated with hides of any kind 
 "on the lowest terms imaginable." John Helnier was also a manu- 
 facturer of hides at that early day, and was located opposite Dr. 
 'riiornton's residence. About the same time, a blanket manufactory 
 was established in Georgetown by Elkanah Cobb and Daniel Bussard 
 & Company. 
 
 Jolin Achmann, who had "been regularly brought up in Europe 
 to the making of engines," carried on the manufacture of tire engines 
 in Washington for several years, commencing in 1812. lie had a lire 
 engine in Fredericktown, Maryland, of the following description: The 
 box of copper, the pumps of brass, and the rest of the engine, except 
 the carriage, of iron. It conveyed the water through a tube three- 
 fourths of an inch in diameter one hundred feet, through a hose one 
 hundred and four feet in length, then, with a tube one-half inch in 
 diameter, it was conveyed seventy feet. He took out letters patent 
 for his "new invented fire engine," and offered rights for sale. 
 
 The Washington Brewery was established in 1811, and was located 
 at the foot of New Jersey Avenue, — J. W. Colbert & Company, pro- 
 prietors. In December of that year, this company advertised malt 
 liquors of a superior quality. Table ale was $3 per barrel, strong ale 
 $4 per barrel, and ale $5 per barrel. 
 
 In May, 1813, R. Parrott & I. W. Westerman, of England, were 
 established in the city as manufacturers of machinery for spinning 
 and carding wool and cotton. They were then setting up macliinery 
 of their own manufacture at R. Parrott's mill, at the foot of his 
 ropewalk. R. Parrott & Company had also a "grocerj' warehouse" 
 on the wharf. 
 
 The Columbia Rolling Mills were situated near Georgetown, and 
 were the i)roperty of George French. They turned out rolled iron of 
 all descriptions. 
 
 In May, 1817, the Washington Knit Stocking Factory went into 
 operation, at which were manufactured cotton and woolen pantaloons, 
 cotton and woolen stockings, cotton and woolen waistcoats without 
 sleeves, cotton and woolen drawers, Berlin lace or tulle, etc. Isaac 
 Keller was the proprietor of this establishment. The C(jlumbia Mills 
 went into operation al)out the same time. Of these mills George 
 
MANl 'F. 4CTI 'R/NG. 427 
 
 Johnson was the proprietor, and at tlieni woolen goods were niann- 
 faetured. 
 
 Tlie Window Glass Factor}- ot A. & G. Way was establislK'd in 
 Wasliino'ton in 1810 or 1811, on the hank of the Potomac, near the 
 mouth of the Tiber. At this factory there were produced an average 
 of three thousand boxes of glass per year, eacli l)ox containing one 
 hundred square feet of glass. 
 
 A paper mill on Rock Creek was oft'ered for sale in December, 
 1821. Tliis mill was one hundred aud twent}- feet long, three stories 
 high, the tirst stor}' built of stone. It was a two-vat mill. A tlour 
 mill belonging to the same pro[ierty, situated at the Little Falls bridge, 
 tliree miles above Washington, was also ottered for sale at the same 
 time. It was a tliree-buhr mill. A woolen factory adjoining the Hour 
 mill was also ottered at the same time. This was a two-story stone 
 building one hundred aud ten feet long, with carding machines, billies 
 and jennies, twelve broad looms and a number of narrow ones, and, 
 including the flour mill, cost |40,000. 
 
 In Februar}', 1824, trope's patent threshing machine, adapted either 
 to hand or horse power, was on exhibition at Mr. Steuart's coach 
 maker's shop, on Pennsylvania Avenue, at tlic foot of Capitol Hill. 
 This machine, with tlie ordinary power of one horse, and with one 
 man to feed it and one man to take away the straw, was guaranteed 
 to thresh with ease eight bushels of wheat per hour. It was invented 
 by Joseph Pope, of Massachusetts, greatly celebrated both in Europe 
 and the United States for his philosophical researches and attainments. 
 The orrery theu in the philosophical and astronomical department of 
 Harvard College was of his invention. The threshing machine com- 
 bined all that liad long been wanting in such a machine — strength 
 and simplicity of construction, and in its operation economy of labor, 
 with the most powerful effects. 
 
 George C. Bomford had a large tlouring mill in Georgetown, which 
 was burned down in 1844. Upon the ruins Mr. Bomford erected a 
 cotton factor}', with a water wheel thirty feet high. The building- 
 was four stories in height, and had three thousand spindles and one 
 hundred looms. It furnished employment to about one hundred 
 laborers, male and female. In order to encourage the industry, tlie 
 corporate authorities of Georgetown exempted the machinery from 
 taxation. At this same time, a Mr. Davis had a iiouring mill in 
 Georgetown, grinding from three to four hundred barrels of flour 
 per day. 
 
 About the flrst of the year 1851, George Page began the build- 
 
428 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 iiio- of sliijis ill Wasliiiigtoii, on the river at tlie toot of Seveiitli 
 Street, lie liad in June, of that year, just eonipletetl a steamboat 
 called tlie Chanvpioii ., wliich was one liiindreil and tiftv foet long, twenty- 
 four foot beam, and eight feet in depth of li<ild. Her engine was of 
 one hundred horse-power, and lier wheels twenty-four feet in diameter. 
 Her captain was H. J. Strandberg, of Baltimore. He also liad on the 
 stocks a steamboat oiu' hundred and seventy-iive feet long, twenty-four 
 foot hcaiii, and nine feet depth of hold, tlie timbers for whiuli were cut 
 from the logs by niathinery invented 1)3' Mr. Page. He was also then 
 coiisti'ucting a wliarf at Seventh Street, foui' hundred feet long, from 
 wliich vessels were to run to Mount Vernon. This one hundred and 
 seventy-five foot steamer was named Wdlhua Hddcn. He also built, 
 about the same time, a boat which was owned largely by the work- 
 men, named the Jciiinj Liml, one hiindrt'd and twenty feet long and 
 of a })roportionate width. Then came a ferryboat designed to ply 
 between Washington and Alexandria, two hundrc(l and fifty feet long 
 and thirty-four feet broad. 
 
 'I'lie Willicnn Selden was a very fast boat for those times. Upon 
 one occasion, in September, 1851, a iS'ew York built steamer, named 
 the George Washington, made a fast run troin New York to Washing- 
 ton, and Mr. Page, in order to try the speed of the William Seidell in 
 comparison with that of the George Washington, went down to Piney 
 Point, and as the George Washington passed, began a race with her to 
 Washington. Wlien the William i^clden started from Piney Point, the 
 George Washivgton was about six miles ahead. The WUliam Selden, 
 however, after some time overtook and j)assed the George Washington, 
 and came to her wharf at the foot of Seventh Street in five hours 
 and fifty-six minutes, tlie entire distance being about one hundred 
 miles, and gaining about ten miles on the George Washington. 
 
 In 1852, there were several important manufacturing establishments 
 in full operation in Washington, furnishing employment to a largo 
 number of workmen, concentrating considerable capital, and building 
 up a home market for country ami other produce. 
 
 In November, 1856, Messrs. Coltman & Duncanson, who were 
 well known ami highly esteemed by the citizens of Washington, 
 erected what they named Metropolitan Mills, near the Twelfth Street 
 Bridge. Their building was large and commodious, and their engine 
 was a tine piece of machinery from tlie manufactory of Messrs. Ellis. 
 
 In 1860, Mr. Alexander Ruthei-ford had an establishment called 
 the Pioneer Steam Marble and Brown Stone Works, on the south 
 side of Pennsylvania A\'ciiuc, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth 
 
MANUFACTURING. 429 
 
 streets, wliich, as its nanio implies, was the first of its kind in Wasli- 
 itigton, though Mr. Rutherford had himself been a long- time in the 
 business in the citj-. 
 
 During the War, there was, of course, but little, if anything, 
 done in the way of cstablisliing new manufactures in the District 
 of Columbia. The War overshadowed everytliing. But in eFanuary, 
 1865, George Hill, .Fr., began tiie manufacture of paper at the foot 
 of Potomac Street, Ge<u'getown, ou an extensive scale. His building 
 was at the northwest corner of Water and P streets, and it contained 
 machinery worth about S2O,O0O. The factory was a tin'co-story lirick 
 structure, forty by ninety-five feet in size. Mr. Hill had jireviously 
 been engaged in the manufactui-e of jiapei', iiaving had mills at the 
 Chain Bridge, at Pajier .Mill Bridge, and at Cabin .John I'>i-anch. 
 
 In August, 1805, William Stickney began the manufacture of 
 envelopes at 375 D Street, near Seventli Street. Tlie machine selected 
 by Mr. Stickney was that patented l>y Mr. Negbaum, of New York, 
 August 25, 1863, which was then used in the largest envelope manu- 
 factories in the United States. The process of making envelopes is 
 extremely simjde. Evei-ything was done in Mr. Stickney's establish- 
 ment by machinery, excei)t gumming the flap. He had in his factory 
 four folding machines, making four different sizes of envelopes on each 
 machine, so that he manufactured sixteen different-sized envelopes in 
 all. In September, 1865, he was employing twelve hands, seven females 
 and five males. At this time, it was thought that Mr. Negbaum's 
 machine was the best made. B}- its use Mr. Stickney was enabled 
 to sell good envelopes at §2 per thousand, and oflicial envelopes at 
 $3.75 per thousand. However, the most wonderful machine for the 
 manufacture of enveloi)es then known was that invented by James P. 
 Heron, of Ohio, which cut, gummed, folded, counted, and packed 
 entirely, without the aid of hands, and made three hundred thousand 
 per day. 
 
 It is a remarkable fact in the history of civilization, that up to 
 about the beginning of the present century there was no good artificial 
 light, — none better than candle light. Artificial liglit is obtained either 
 as a result of combustion, or as the ettect of chemical action, or of 
 heat without chemical action. Those substances which give out flame 
 are rich either in carbon or h^'drogen, as wax, gas, and oils, which 
 are consumed in the burning either of candles or lamps. 
 
 The phenomenon of the burning of natural gas is familiar to the 
 citizens of most parts of this countr\-, but it is altogether probable 
 that few are familiar with the histor}- of the origin of the use of 
 
430 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 iirtiticial gas for liglitiiig purposes. B}- coniuion consent the merit of 
 tlic discovery ami application of artiticia! gas for ligliting pnri)Oses 
 belongs to Great I5ritain. Sir -lames Lowtlier and Dr. James Clayton 
 are believed to have been the first persons to collect and burn coal 
 gas, the experiments of the latter being made in 1739. In 1767, the 
 subject was i)ursued by Dr. Richard Watson, afterward Bishop of 
 Landarff; by Robert Murdoch, of Scotland, in 1792, at Birmingham 
 and Manchester, England; and by Mr. Winsor, in London, in 1803 
 and 1S()4. Mr. Murdoch did not succeed, however, iu lighting uji 
 the workshop of Boulton & Watt, at Birniingham, until 1798. Dr. 
 Henry, of Manchester, also assisted in the development of the infant 
 art of gas lighting, as did also Mr. Clegg, who succeeded Mr. Murdocli 
 at the works of Boulton & Watt. 
 
 Recurring to the dates given above, it may l)e said that the 
 nineteenth century, in most respects the brightest and best in all 
 histoi-y, was ushered in by the light of coal gas, the most pleasant, 
 convenient, and safe, with the possible exception of the incandescent 
 electric light, of all artificial lights yet discovered or invented. 
 
 Gas is obtained from petroleum, from oil, from resin, frotn wood, 
 and from peat. Oil gas was manufactured in New York from 1824 to 
 1828, and sold at $10 per one thousand cubic feet; resin gas was 
 supplied in New York from 1828 to 1848, at %1 per one tiiousaud 
 cubic feet most of the time. Oil gas, under the name of "solar gas," 
 was introduced into Wasliington in the latter part of 1846; and in 
 January, 1847, Mr. Crutchett, the inventor of what was called here and 
 iu Daj'ton, Ohio, a little later, "Crutchett's Solar Gas," lighted with 
 this gas Capitol Hill and North Capitol Avenue, having nine "solar 
 gas lamps" burning between the Capitol gate and his residence, at 
 the corner of First and C streets. The light emitted by this gas was 
 said at the time, by a newspaper, to be so strong and lirilliant that a 
 person could read fine print by it in the streets without the least 
 difficulty. Mr. Crutchett kept on experimenting as well as he could 
 with his gas for a year or two. The east room of the President's 
 House was lighted for the first time with this gas on December 29, 
 1848, to the satisfaction of the President and others. Mr. Crutchett 
 was then engaged in erecting his gas works in Washington. During 
 this year, the Washington Gas. Light Compau}- was organized for the 
 purpose of supplying the citizens of Washington with "solar gas," 
 it appearing that this gas could be successfully nianufacturcd from 
 oil. On .Januai'v 14, 1850, this company i)ublished an address to the 
 public, iu which they said that tbcy were able to fui'nisli light c(|Ual 
 
MANl rPA C TURING. 43 ] 
 
 to that from seventy-five thousaiul cubic feet of coal gas per day, and 
 that in a short time they slionld increase their capacity by thirty 
 thousand feet per (hiy. Tliey claimed tliej' couUl manufacture gas 
 from oil cheaper tluui it could be manufactured from coal anywhere 
 in the United States, and that they sold it cheaper than coal was 
 sold for anywhere in the country, except in Pittsburgh and Phila- 
 delphia. One foot of solar gas, they said, was equal to two and a 
 lialf feet of coal gas, and while they were selling solar gas for $8 per 
 one thousand cubic feet, coal gas was being sold for $3.50 per one 
 thousand cubic feet. Thus coal gas light equal in quality to $8 
 worth of solar gas light would cost $8.75. 
 
 From further experience, however, it was found that the manu- 
 facture of solar gas could not be made a success, and the company 
 erected coal gas works east of Four and a Half Street, between 
 Mar^dand Avenue and the City Canal, on Square C. The main build- 
 ings were eight in number. The smoke stack or tower was 70 feet 
 high, and the excavation for the gasometer was 90 feet in diameter 
 and 20 feet deep. The walls were 3| feet thick, and required 400,000 
 brick. The mast in the center of the gasometer was 50 feet long, 
 and projected into the air 20 feet. The old gas works were south of 
 Tenth Street, and cost $100,000, and the new works cost $150,000, 
 making the cost of the new establishment §250,000. In December, 
 1851, the new establishment commenced furnishing to the inhabitants 
 of Washington gas from coal. Pipes were laid from the works on 
 Square C up Four and a Half Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, and 
 then both ways on Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol and the 
 President's House. 
 
 In a circular published by the company March 14, 1856, over the 
 signature of Mr. Silas II. Hill, then president, he says: 
 
 "On account of the widely scattered population of Washington, 
 and the apparent impracticability of uniting governmental and indi- 
 vidual eftbrt in the establishment and maintenance of a company for 
 the supply of gas light, oven in the more important parts of the city, 
 several years passed away before any organized eitbrt was made to 
 accomplish this desirable object. It was not regarded by our citizens 
 as a business promising a fair remuneration, and consequently this 
 city, with all its apparent advantages, and with a fixed population of 
 forty thousand inhabitants, was among the last in the Union to enjoy 
 this almost indispensable means of illumination." 
 
 The capital is stated as "$424,000, every dollar of which has been 
 judiciously and economically expended." 
 
432 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 A retort house containing 28 benclics of 3 retorts each, in ail 84 
 retorts, Ijad Ijeen erected; tliis was caiialjJe of iiroducing 280,000 cnl>ic 
 feet of gas ev'er}- twenty-four liQurs. Also, two gas lioiders, resjiec- 
 tivelj 120,000 feet and 280,000 feet. The number of consumers liad 
 reached 1,681. 
 
 "A line of six-incli pipe, over a mile in length, was laid from 
 the vicinity of the Capitol to the Navy Yard, with only one widely 
 scattered row of street lamps, passing many squares witli scarcely a 
 dwelling liouse on each, and double lines of pipe are in that part of 
 Pennsylvania Avenue near Georgetown, with quite as uninviting a 
 prospect of private consumption." 
 
 The amount paid to their numerous employees exceeded an aver- 
 age of $2,000 per month, and their city taxes amounted to over .?1,000 
 per annum. 
 
 "For four out of the eight years of the company's existence, 
 nothing was realized but actual expenses, and since that period the 
 board have been enabled to declare dividends semi-annually of profits 
 of tliree, tiiree and a half, and, latterly, live per cent, on the cajiital 
 stock; not at any time more than the last-mentioned rate." 
 
 "Since the completion of tlie new works, in 1851, the board have 
 constantly acted on the design of supplying all the habitalile jiarts 
 of the city with gas, having laid in this period nearly twenty miles 
 of street mains." 
 
 "The average annual consumption of gas is less here, in pro- 
 portion to the length of street mains, than in any other city. This 
 company have thirty miles of street mains, and an annual average 
 consumption of 944,000 cubic ieet of gas per mile. In Baltimore the 
 average is 1,648,000 cubic feet per each mile of pipe; in Philadeliihia 
 it is 2,083,000; in New York, 1,765,000; in Boston, 2,700,000; in 
 Albany, 2,000,000; in Brooklyn, 1,330,000; in St. Louis, 1,318,000; 
 and in Charleston, 1,546,000. In most of these cities, also, the average 
 number of consumers of gas on every hundred feet of street mains is 
 live, while in Washington the number is not (piite one." 
 
 "The gas is manufactured, c'ondcnsed, and jiui'itied in the most 
 approved manner, and the intention always has been to produce the 
 very best (piality. Su)ierior bituminous coals suitable for this purjiose, 
 and at high prices, have been procured with this view, and the board 
 are contident that, with rare exceptions, the gas here has been equal 
 to that used in any city throughout the entire Union. Careful exam- 
 ination and measurement with the photometer have placed this matter 
 beyond cavil. It is true that sometimes coals from the same mines 
 
pj -/ 
 
 a M' 
 
MANUFACTURING. 433 
 
 are i'ound, ou trial, to be of unequal strength, though perfectly 
 uniform in apjiearance, and the purifying process iiia}' be deficient 
 from a similar invisible cause, but these defects are immediately 
 corrected as soon as discovered. Extraordinary severity of weather, 
 prolonged for mouths, as during tliis season, may interrupt the flow 
 of gas, and tluis incommode so many consumers at the same time as 
 to render prompt relief impossible. These are contingencies against 
 wliicb no foresiglit can eftectually guard, and, during the past winter, 
 they have operated as seriously against other gas companies, and 
 thereby caused as much annoyance to the public, as they iiave done 
 in Washington." 
 
 "With a capital of §424,000, actually and economically exjiended 
 in the business, and unincumbered by debt, with works of acknowl- 
 edged excellence, and capable of producing a supply of superior gas 
 equal to any demand; with thirty miles of street mains, covering, as 
 with a network, almost all the populous parts of the city, and so laid 
 as to admit of any future extension; witli one thousand six hundred and 
 eighty-one consumers, and this number daily augmenting, our busi- 
 ness systematized and now generally understood, the company have 
 every motive for not only accommodating the public to their utmost 
 requirement, but also for reducing the price of gas, from time to 
 time, as the adoption of every valuable improvement and the increased 
 consumption may justify." 
 
 At the present time, the company' has two liundred and forty 
 miles of street mains, nearly twenty-three thousand consumers, and 
 an annual sale of gas of about eight hundred million cubic feet. It 
 supplies gas to nearly live thousand public lamps, and pays forty 
 thousand dollars for taxes and license per annum. 
 
 The oiiicers of this company have been as follows: Presidents — 
 John H. Callan, July 14, 1848, to April 14, 1849; Ulysses Ward, April 
 14, 1849, to January 2, 1851; Silas H. Hill, January 2, 1851, to 
 June 1, 1856; George W. Riggs, June 1, 1856, to November 11, 1864; 
 Barnabas H. Bartol, November 11, 1864, to November 15, 1883; George 
 A. Mcllhenny,' November 15, 1883, to the present time. Secretaries 
 
 •George Alexander Mcllheimy was born in the north wf Ireland in 18o5. At 
 the age of eight, he came to the United States. He was educated at the public schools 
 of Philadelphia, and learned the engineer's and machinist's profession in the same 
 city. After quitting the public schools, he paid particular attention to gas engineering, 
 and at the age of twenty-two he took charge of the gas works at Macon, Georgia. He 
 came to Washington and took charge of the Washington Gas Company's works on the 
 7th of March, 1865, and has had charge of them every since. He was one of the or- 
 ganizers and the first president of the Belt Line Railroad Company, and is the author 
 
434 H/STOKY OF IVASfffNGTON. 
 
 — Jacob Bigelow, July 14, 1848, to April 16, 1849; E. Liiidslej, April 
 16, 1849, to January 8, 1851; Josepli F. Brown, January 8, 1851, to 
 January 24, 1866; Cliarles B. Bailey, January 24, 1866, to the present 
 time. Treasurers — Until the accession of Josepli F. Brown, the 
 duties of treasurer were performed by tlie president; then Whitnuin 
 C. Bestor, January 24, 1866, to November 13, 1873; Charles B. 
 Bailey, pro tempore, November 13, 1873, to January 3, 1874; Charles 
 
 C. Glover, January 3, 1874, to October 26, 1881; John C. Poor, October 
 26, 1881, to tlie present time. Assistant Secretaries — James D. Clay, 
 February 26, 1884, to March 12, 1885; William B. Orme, March 
 12, 1885, to the [)resent time. Engineers — The office of engineer was 
 created March 20, 1865, and has been continuously tilled by Mr. 
 George A. Mcllhenny, the present president and engineer. 
 
 The United States Electric Ligliting Company had its origin in a 
 novel manner. In the fall of 1881, the survivors of the Army of the 
 Cumberland gatliered together in Washington to dedicate their statue 
 of General Thomas, in tlie Thomas Circle. The people of Washington 
 contributed to tlie success of that occasion, and committees were 
 appointed to carry out various plans for the entertainment of the 
 visitors. One of the new ideas proposed was to illuminate Pennsyl- 
 vania Avenue from the Peace Monument to the Treasury Department 
 with the electric light, at tliat time beginning to be used in a few 
 cities, but entirely unknown in Washington. Gu^'s were stretclied at 
 intervals from houseto[> to housetop, and arc lamps suspended there- 
 from over the niiihlle of the street. A dynamo was connected with 
 the engine of a sawmill on Thirteenth Street, and at the appointed 
 time thousands of citizens and visitors thronged the avenues to witness 
 the novel display and to beliold night transformed into day. 
 
 Strange to relate, however, the attempt to light the avenue in this 
 way was a melanciioly failure; but the interest awakened in the 
 subject was not permitted to die out. Messrs. Stilson Ilutchins, 
 
 D. B. Aiiiger, William Dickson, Moses Kelly, and George A. Kelly 
 organized a coni[iany, named the Ileisler Electric Light Company. A 
 
 of the ticket system in tlie street railroad service. Me i.s at present a director ami 
 vice-])resident of the West End National Bank; a director in the Wiishington anil 
 Georgetown Railroad t!ompauy ; he is one of the executive committee having in charge 
 the coustrnction of the cable railroad ; is a director in the Corcoran Insurance Com- 
 pany, and is president and engineer of tlie Washington Giis I^ight Company. He is 
 president of the board of trustees of the West End Presbyterian Church. He is an 
 inventor of several gas appliances, and a writer on subjects connected with the use 
 of gas. He has had several patents issued to him, and his Mrtiilcs liavo been publishcil 
 in the proceedings of the American Gas Light Associatidii, 
 
.1/. ^ AY 'F. ACT I -RING. 435 
 
 siiiall experimental plant was established in the Washington Post 
 building, with a circuit of a few lights in the vicinity of Tenth Street 
 and Pennsylvania Avenue. These ran most of the time daring the 
 winter, and in the meantime a small station was commenced in the 
 rear of the Post building, under the supervision of George A. Kelly. 
 Mr. Kelly resigned in the spring of 1882, and Mr. Seymour W. Tulloch 
 was requested to act in his stead. 
 
 The company experienced considerable difficulty in maintaining 
 its service, and in November transferred all its property to the United 
 States Electric Lighting Company, a company organized under the laws 
 of West Virginia, October 14, 1882, with a capital ot $300,000, by 
 Stilson Hutchins, William Dickson, Robert Boyd, James L. Barbour, 
 and A. W. Fletcher. This company was organized November 9, 1882, 
 iiy the election of the following officers: James L. Barbour, presi- 
 dent; Robert Boyd, vice-president; Martin Maloney, treasurer; Wil- 
 liam Dickson, secretary, and N. W. Ellis, superintendent. An entire 
 new set of dynamos and lamps was ordered from the United States 
 Electric Light Company, of New York, and the first large contract 
 made to supply light was with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com- 
 pany, for eleven lights about their station. February 14, 1883, the 
 present efficient general manager and superintendent, A. M. Renshaw, 
 was elected, and the entire business placed in his charge. May 1, 
 1883, the first dynamo for incandescent lighting was ordered, with a 
 capacity of one hundred lights. At the first annual meeting, held 
 November 9, 1883, tliere were reported ninety-one arc lights and one 
 hundred incandescent lights in operation. 
 
 On January 8, 1884, the company resolved to apply for a permit 
 to lay an underground conduit along Penns^dvania Avenue and other 
 streets where circuits extended. This conduit was laid at great 
 expense, under the supervision of an expert from Europe. From 
 this time on, in deference to the wishes of the citizens, and in 
 harmony with the legislation of Congress, the company took front 
 rank in underground construction, and tlirough its experiments suc- 
 ceeded in perfecting its present system, which is considered the best 
 all-round system in existence, and has to-day over thirty-five miles 
 of conduits through the principal streets of the city. 
 
 The company lighted Pennsylvania Avenue without any return for 
 two years or more, but during the fall of 1884, at the request and 
 by the subscriptions of property holders and merchants along F 
 Street, preparations were made to light the same by means of under- 
 ground conduits, and this bit of enterprise was the beginning of a 
 
436 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 movement wliicli resulted in F Street becoming the business street 
 of the city, \\w\ in the greatly enliiinced value of its real estate. 
 
 The discussion of the question of an enlarged plant was brought 
 to a speedy determination on the night of July 16, 1885, the entire 
 station being that night consumed by tire. While the tire was 
 blazing, arrangements were made to lease the original Baltimore and 
 Ohio Railroad Depot, then lately occujiied by the Brush Electric Light 
 Compau}', and on the 18th of the month a new equipment was ordered 
 from the United States Electric Light Company, of New York. Within 
 two weeks, tiie principal lights were again in operation from a Brush 
 dynamo. On the 20th of August, the Thomson-Houston system was 
 adopted as the standard arc light of the company. During September, 
 the stockiiolders of the Brush Electric Light Company became iden- 
 titied with this compan}^ and on December 1, 1885, there were two 
 liundred and thirteen arc, and two hundred and sixty incandescent, 
 lamps in operation. 
 
 At the annual meeting held November 9, 1886, the stockholders 
 voted to purchase the lot, one hundred b}' one hundred and twenty 
 feet, at the corner of Thirteen and a Half and B streets, on which a 
 portion of the present station is located, and the oflicers were author- 
 ized to build and equip a permanent station. The Edison system 
 of central station lighting was adopted by the company, and at tlie 
 annual meeting held November 8, 1887, the president reported the 
 station nearly conqileted. To meet the cost of the station and its par- 
 tial equi}inicnt, and the construction of the incandescent circuits, the 
 capital stock was increased, September 4, 1888, from $300,000 to $500,000, 
 and an issue of convertible debenture certiticates authorized, the tirst of 
 their kind in the city. At the annual meeting in November, 334 arc and 
 4,236 incandescent lights were in operation. April 19, 1890, the prop- 
 erty of Mr. George Bogus, adjoining the station, and containing 22,000 
 square feet, was purchased, and on April 14, 1891, the ciiarter of the 
 company was amended, authorizing an ultimate capitalization of $2,000,- 
 000; and steps were taken to extend the station to an ultimate capacity 
 of 1,000 arc and 40,000 incandescent lamps, of whii'h at the present 
 time 542 arc and 16,829 incandescent lamps are in oi)eration. 
 
 The oflicers and directors of the comjiany are as follows: A. A. 
 Thoiuas,' president; William E. Clark, tirst vice-president; Robert 
 
 • Ammi Amery Thomas was born in Genesee County, New Ycnk, in 1S47. He 
 received a common-school and academic education in Wisconsin, in wiiich State he on- 
 listed as a soldier at the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion in 18(il. He was 
 taken prisoner by the Confederates, and detained in the prisons at Cahawl)a, Alabama, 
 
\_y\^. K_,yL^^ <^^L4L.J-<-'-^-^'CUJ<7 
 
MAN I 'F. I CTl 'RING. 
 
 437 
 
 Boyd, second vice-president; Sej'mour W. Tullock, secretary and 
 treasurer; A. M. Hensliaw, general manager; George W. Pearson, 
 C. C. Duncanson, Daniel B. Clarke, John Paul Jones, Emmons S. 
 Smith, and Peter H. Hill. 
 
 Having thus presented brief i-eferences to some of the institutions 
 devoted to manufactures, the following summary, as given in the 
 late Census Bulletin No. 158, it is believed will fittingly close this 
 chapter, showing as it does, as nearly as may be, the condition of 
 these industries in the District of Columbia at the present time. It 
 is also believed that the purposes of this work will be subserved 
 as well by combining in one summar}- the statistics for 1880 and 
 1890, as the}' would be by presenting the two sunmiaries sepa- 
 rately', and, besides this, the comparison between the two can be 
 most readily made if tiiey are together. The general statistical table 
 is as follows: 
 
 Genekai, Sub.iects. 
 
 \i 
 
 1800. 
 
 Number of establishments reported.. 
 
 Capital invested 
 
 Number of bands employed 
 
 Amount of wages paid 
 
 Cost of material used 
 
 Miscellaneous expenses 
 
 Value of manufactured goods 
 
 970 
 
 i5,527,.526 
 
 7,146 
 
 S?.,924,G12 
 
 5,365,400 
 
 11,882,316 
 
 2,300 
 
 $28,876,258 
 
 23,477 
 
 $14,638,790 
 
 17,187,752 
 
 1,603,548 
 
 .39,296,259 
 
 It is necessar}' to explain, however, that while the census report 
 of 1890 is as full and complete as it was possible to make it, that 
 for 1880 omitted several classes of industries included in that for 1890, 
 and hence the increase as shown b_y tlie above table is apparently 
 
 and Columbia, South Carolina, for upward of six months, during which perio<l he 
 experienced more than tlie usual amount of privation, suffering, and humiliation, 
 together with no small amount of romance. After an honorable discharge from the 
 army, he entered upon the study of law at Milwaukee, was admitted to practice, and in 
 1870 was appointed United States Deputy Marshal for the State for the purpose of 
 taking the census. He afterward removed to Kansas, where he received the appoint- 
 ment of register of the United States Land Office at Kirwia, holding that position there 
 and at Cawka City more than four years. At the expiration of this service, he removed 
 to the city of Washington to engage in the practice of law, naturally drifting into the 
 prosecution of claims before the several departments. In 1881, he commenced publish- 
 ing a periodical named The. Meporler, with the determination of securing reforms in 
 
438 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 greater tliaii it really was. The industries included in tlie table for 
 1890 tliat were not in Mie report for 1880 were, eliina and pottery; 
 decorating; women's clothing; druggists' preparations, except prescrij)- 
 tions; the manufacture of heating and illuminating gas; and slaugliter- 
 ing and meat packing, except retail butchering. 
 
 It is also necessary further to explain that in these details is 
 included the manufacturing carried on by the Governineut of the 
 United States for its own purposes, as the lock and mail-bag repair 
 shops of the Post Ofhce Department; the public i^rinting office and 
 binding, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Navy Yard 
 ordnance and ordnance stores, and the carpenter shops operated by 
 the War, Navy, and Treasury departments. The statistics of the 
 above Government operations are as follows: Capital employed, |7,- 
 477,290; miscellaneous expenses, ^27,815; amount of wages paid, |;3,- 
 821,176; cost of materials, $1,782,645; value of product, $5,960,931; 
 number of hands emjiloyed, 4,592. 
 
 Deducting these various sums from the corresponding amounts in 
 the preceding table, the remainders are the amounts to be credited 
 to the private manufacturing enterprises of tiie District of Columbia, 
 and the general result is that $22,093,131 in value, in one shajie or 
 another, has been added to the wealth of the District during the ten 
 years preceding June 30, 1890. 
 
 The total number of the difterent kinds of industries in the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia, as reported by tlie census bulletin, is 120, and the 
 total number of separate establishments, 2,300. Forty of these indus- 
 tries employ less than 10 men each, and there are four of them 
 employing more than 1,000 hands each. These last arc, carpentering, 
 2,428 hands; brick and tile, 1,204; printing and publishing, 3,597; and 
 paper hanging and painting, 1,134. Each of live of these industries 
 employs a capital of more than $1,000,000; namely, carpentering, $1,- 
 212,239; engraving on steel, including jilate printing, and also including 
 
 some of the methods in the departments, which luul become generally obnoxious, and 
 in this determination he was thoroughly successful. Prompted by a desire to become 
 more actively engaged in business pursuits, he became a director in the Second National 
 Bank, in the United States Electric Lighting Company, in Ww American Security and 
 Trust Company, in the Metropolitan Railroad Company, and in various other business 
 enterprises. He is now president of the United States Electric Lighting Company, vice- 
 president of the American Security and Trust Company, and in all of these companies 
 he takes a leading part in their advancement. His career throughout has been one of 
 great activity and abundant success. Captain Thomas is yet a young man, and is con- 
 spicuous among that class of young men who have contributed so much hiwanl making 
 the Capital City one of the finest cities on the globe. 
 
MANUFACTURING. 439 
 
 the United States Bureiui of Engraving and Printing, $1,546,425; malt 
 liquor, $1,174,191; painting and paper hanging, $1,108,050; and print- 
 ing and publishing, including the United States Printing OfHcc, but 
 not including the value of the lands of the latter, $1,731,504. The 
 classes of business each of which has over 100 establishments, are 
 the following: Boots and shoes, 232; carpentering, 171; men's cloth- 
 ing, 116; women's clothing, 113; painting and paper hanging, 156. 
 
 The classes of business each of which annually use more than 
 $1,000,000 are the following: Carpentering, $2,928,490; flouring and 
 grist-mill products, $1,358,238; printing and publishing, $1,254,130. 
 
 The twenty-five principal industries are the following: Bottling, 
 employing 208 hands and paying in the aggregate $118,957 in wages. 
 Brick and tile — hands, 1,204; wages, $442,929. Carpentering — hands, 
 2,428; wages, $1,754,367. Carriages and wagons — hands, 290; wages, 
 $160,170. Confectionery^ hands, 349; wages, $165,907. Engraving on 
 steel — hands, 997; wages, $849,332. Flour and grist mills — hands, 149; 
 wages, $85,718. Foundry and machine shops — hands, 311; wages, 
 $172,297. Furniture — hands, 161; wages, $94,048. Iron work — hands, 
 309; wages, $186,412. Malt liquors - hands, 120; wages, $82,422. 
 Lithographing and engraving — hands, 127; wages, $79,568. Planed 
 lumber, sash, doors, and blinds — hands, 440; wages, $258,438. Marble 
 and stone work — hands, 391; wages, $305,631. Masonrv' — hands, 661; 
 wages, $537,180. Painting and paper hanging — hands, 1,134; wages, 
 $748,728. Paving and paving materials — hands, 878; wages, $404,523. 
 Plastering and stucco works — hands, 237; wages, $148,093. Plumbing 
 and gas fitting — hands, 646; wages, $432,567. Printing and publish- 
 ing — hands, 3,099; wages, $2,494,406. Printing and publishing news- 
 papers — liands, 498; wages, $389,731. Saddlery and harness — hands, 
 106; wages, $58,636. Tinware, etc.— hands, 424; wages, $259,120. 
 Tobacco, cigars, and cigarettes — hands, 159; wages, $83,279. Watch, 
 clock, and jewelry — hands, 126; wages, $83,224. From these figures 
 the average annual wages paid in the different industries may be 
 easily deduced. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE PRESS. 
 
 The Washington Gazcltf —The Nalional InUiVnjeiicir — The Washington IhtUij Gazette — 
 The Washington Faleralist — The Washington Republican — The Weekhj Messenger 
 
 — The Wasliington Mnw — The United Slates Telegraph — The Globe — The Madi- 
 snnian — The Xatiie American — The Columbian Star — The Columbian Gazette — The 
 Washington Union — The Republic — The Spectator — The Katioiial Era — The Federal 
 Republican — The American Telegraph — The Washington Sentinel — The Constitutional 
 Union — The American Organ — The Sunday Morning Chronicle — The National Repub- 
 lican — The Daily Patriot — The Ercidng Star — T^e Washington Post — The Wash- 
 ington Critic — The Capital — The Public Sernce — The Home Magazine — The Sunday 
 Herald — The Republic — The Washington Sentinel — The National Tribune — The 
 National View — The American Farmer — The American Anthropologist — The Vedette 
 
 — Kate Field's Washington — Public Opinion — The Congressional Record — Other 
 Papers — The Electric Telegraph — Press Agencies. 
 
 THE Washington Gazette vviis first published June 15, 1796, by Ben- 
 jamin More, a bookseller. It was a semi-weekly paper, issued on 
 Wednesdays and Saturdays, at |4 per annum, from the office then 
 lately owned "by Thomas Wilson, deceased, but subsequently, for a 
 few weeks, in possession of Mr. John Crocker." The Gazette was 
 a good paper for the times in which it was printed; well made 
 up, neatly printed, and ornamented with an engraving of a shield, 
 centered with an eye darting rays in all directions, and with the 
 encircling motto, Nanquaiti dormio. Mr. More continued to publish 
 his paper for more than a year, and then, in his number of July 
 20, 1797, he published the following notice: "The Washington 
 Gazette will not be published again until the publication is attended 
 by some profit to the publisher"; and he also stated that "nothing 
 l)iit want of money stops the paper." How its publicatiDn was ever 
 to be attended with profit unless it were ]iublislied, is somewiiat difficult 
 for an Anglo-8axon intellect to [jcrceive. However, Mr. More found 
 encouragement of some kind soon afterward, for on September 16, 
 1797, the Washington Gazette again appeared, l)ut this time as a 
 weekly paper, containing the following announcement: "The Wash- 
 ington Gazette again makes its appearance, and its cditcir hopes to 
 receive that encouragement from the public' which will cnai)le him 
 
HISTORY OF THE PRESS. 441 
 
 to continue the publication uninterrupted, until he shall be able, from 
 experience, to sing of mercy as well as of judgment." Precisely what 
 was meant by this last allusion must V^e left to conjecture. After a 
 further struggle of about tliirty-five weeks, Mr. More, in his number 
 of March 24, 1798, announced as follows: "I shall not be able to 
 continue the publication of the Washington Gazette unless some friend 
 should lend a helping hand. Hope has led me into a thicket of diffi- 
 culties, and appears to be departing from me." At that time, there 
 was not a large constituency for any paper, and besides this it has 
 been suggested that Mr. More was somewhat caustic in his criticisms 
 of the commissioners then engaged in laying out the Federal Dis- 
 trict, and was at the same time a Federalist. So far as is known, the 
 Washington Gazette, under Mr. More's management, did not appear 
 again. 
 
 The National Litelligencer was established in Washington in October, 
 1800, about the time of the removal of the Federal Government from 
 Philadelphia to Washington. The first number of this paper appeared 
 October 31, and it was published in a row of brick buildings on New 
 Jersey Avenue erected by Thomas Law. The editor and pmprietor 
 was Samuel Harrison Smith, a biographical sketch of whom appears in 
 another chapter. His residence, while he lived in Washingtun, was one 
 of the conspicuous objects in the vicinity, being situated on a command- 
 ing site about three hundred feet above tide water. The paper was 
 [lublished three times each week, and was thus what is generally called 
 a tri-weekly publication. Mr. Smith in his prospectus said: "The 
 appearance of the National Intelligencer has been protra,cted to this 
 day [October 31, 1800] by the inevitable though unanticipated embar- 
 rassments attending the removal of the printing office. The vessel 
 which contained the greater part of the material sailed from Phila- 
 delphia on the 20th of September, but did not arrive in this city until 
 the 25th inst., owing to her having been driven on shore by the vio- 
 lence of the hite storm. . . . The editor, at the commencement of his 
 duties, considers it as not improper to state the nature of the plan 
 which he intends to pursue, and concisely to notice the principles by 
 which he proposes to regulate his own conduct as well as those 
 by which it is expected that correspondents will regulate theirs," 
 etc. After showing the necessity of the freedom of the press, he 
 said: "But while the editor classes with our dearest rights the 
 liberty of the press, he is decidedly inimical to its licentiousness. 
 As, on the one hand, the conduct of public men and the tendency of 
 public measures will be freely examined, so, on the other hand. 
 
442 H/S'/ORY OF W.-ISH/NGTON. 
 
 [irivate cliai'iictei' will roniain inviolable, nor shall indelicate expres- 
 sions be admitted, however disguised by satire or enlivened by wit." 
 
 Whatever nui}' be said of this paper, - as to its "interminable 
 diatribes," or as to its general character as a " National Smoothing 
 Plane," or as to its first editor as "Silky, Milky Smith," tlie high 
 tone indicated in the above extract from its first prospectus Wiis 
 steadily maintained by all its managers from 1800 down to 1870, when 
 it ceased to exist. 
 
 The terms of publication were at first announced as follows: First, 
 the paper shall be [luljlislied three times a week, on good demy paper, 
 and with new type; second, the annual subscrij)tion shall Ije $5, paid 
 constantly in advance, by all subscribers not residing in the city of 
 Washington, and $6 by those residing in the cit}', in which case the 
 payment shall be half-yearly; third, all letters shall be postpaid. 
 
 Politically, the Intelligencer supported Mr. Jefferson for the Pres- 
 idency, to succeed President John Adams. On Monday, November 
 3, 1800, it said that on the Saturday before, November 1, President 
 Adams arrived in Wasliington, and took up his residence in the house 
 ajipropriated to him b}' the commissioners, the house, however, not 
 being then finished. 
 
 Mr. Smith is entitled to great credit for tiie struggle he made for 
 the right to publish the debates in Congress as they occurred. In his 
 paper of January 19, 1801, he details his interview with the Speaker 
 of tlie House of Representatives in reference tiiereto, explaining that 
 he could only secure the Speaker's consent to his having sucli papers 
 as the clerk of the House should permit him to copy, and tliat he 
 might jHiblish an account of anything u[ion which the House had 
 come to a decision. Tiie position oi the Spealier, in full, was as 
 follows: "I have no objection to your obtaining copies of those papers 
 that are proper to be published; but you must know it would be 
 manifestly wrong to publish papers that relate to papers in an 
 unfinished state. For instance, a member may make a motion that 
 refers to a particular subject; it may be made inadvertently — its 
 meaning may be equivocal. To imblisli it in this immature state, 
 before the House has decided ujion it, might be to produce miscon- 
 ceptions, and might essentially injure the respect of the people for 
 the Government. Such papers ought not to he published. But in 
 eases in which the House has come to a conclusion, you may publish 
 what has been decided upon." 
 
 Theodore Sedgwick, of Massachusetts, was then Speaker of the 
 House of Representative's, and John Holt Oswald, of Pennsylvania, 
 
If /STORY OF THE PRESS. 443 
 
 clerk. The progress made by tlie press in securing tlic riglit to 
 pubiisli the proceedings of Congress may l)e readily measured by 
 comparing the present condition of things with that indicated by the 
 above-outlined jiosition of Sjieaker Sedgwick; and as to whether 
 the respect of the peojile for the Government iiiis been diminished, 
 that also may be estimated by a similar comparison. 
 
 Mr. Smith continued to edit and publish the Inhiliijcncer alone 
 until 1809, when Joseph Gales, Jr., of Kaleigh, North Carolina, entered 
 his employ as stenographic reporter of proceedings in Congress. This 
 fact of itself is a suggestive indication of tlie progress alread}- made 
 in the direction referred to. Young Mr. Galcs's services proved so 
 acceptable to Mr. Smith that he was soon taken into )iartnersliii>, and 
 ill September, 1810, he bought out the entire estal)lishment. The 
 paper continued to be anti-Federal, supporting Madison and Monroe. 
 To the war with Great Britain, wliieli was declared in the fourth 
 year of Mr. Madison's first term, it gave a hearty support. In 
 October, 1812, Mr. Gales was joined by his brother-in-law, William 
 Winston Seaton, a native of King William County, Virginia, a printer 
 by trade, who had served liis apprcuticeshii) in the otiice of the Vir- 
 ginia Patriot, at Richmond. 
 
 The Daily National Intelligencer was established January 1, 181^, 
 because of the necessity of the more [irompt publication of the news of 
 the war. The price was $10 per annum, payable in advance. Wlien 
 the British entered Washington in 1814, they partiall}' tore out the 
 Intelligencer office, and as a consequence it did not appear from August 
 24 to October 1, though it did not suffer so much as might have been 
 expected. The paper continued to support tlie admiuisti'ation in 
 power until President Jackson's time, when it became a strong Whig 
 paper, teaching that Whig principles were the principles of the 
 Presidents in power froin Jeti'erson to Jackson. It was strongly in 
 favor of what would in this day be called "civil service reform," and 
 hence could not tolerate President Jackson's appointment to office of 
 personal friends as a political reward, a policy at once discovered to 
 be laden with manifold evils, and from which it has not yet been 
 found possible to extricate that service. From da\- to day, during 
 1829, the first year of President Jackson's incumbency, it published 
 reports of the progress made in the "reform" going on in the various 
 departments. The editors were very friendly to the Chesapeake and 
 Ohio Canal, and extremely doubtful as to whether railroads could ever 
 be made a success in this country. 
 
 The weekly edition of the Intelligencer was established June 5, 
 
444 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 1841, at >f2 per annum, pa3"able invariably in advance. The Intelli- 
 gencer, after tlie death of President Harrison, was extremely i-eliietant 
 to part company witli President Tyler, hut was at length comjielled 
 to do so, heeauso of I'resident Tyler's ahandonment of the princii)les 
 upon vvliich he had been elected. With all its ability and conscien- 
 tiousness it fought the annexation of Texas, and as an evidence of 
 its inHuenee it published the following letter: 
 
 "Department op State, Washington, May 8, 1844. 
 "7b the Ptihlishers of the National Intelligencer: 
 
 "Gentlemen: I am directed and refpiired to discontinue the copies 
 of your semi-weekly and ilaily papers sent to this department for the 
 legations abroad. 
 
 " I am. Gentlemen, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 "Edward Stubbs, Agent." 
 
 Upon the receipt of this letter, the editor remarked: "Were it 
 not for the narrow spirit which it evinces on the part of the Secretary 
 of State,' in regard to the freedom of the })ress, we should feel lu-outl 
 of this letter as a testimonial to the proprietors of this paper of their 
 having discharged their dut}* to their countrymen, even at the hazaril 
 of the displeasure of these official personages." 
 
 The paper continued to be published by Gales & Seaton until 
 the death of Mr. Gales, which occurred at Eckington, his countrj' 
 seat, July 21, 1860, in the seventy-iifth year of his age. August 30, 
 Mr. Seaton announced that Mr. James C. Welling would be associated 
 with him in the editorial conduct of the paper in the future. Mr. 
 Welling had then been connected with the paper about ten years. On 
 Saturday, December 31, 1864, Mr. Seaton retired from the proprietor- 
 ship of the paper, and its editorial management. James C. Welling 
 also retired on the same day, and the new proprietors, Snow, Coyle, & 
 Company, took possession. April 1, 1865, the paper was enlarged to a 
 seven-column sheet. Afterward, the Express was consolidated with it, 
 and the name changed to the Intelligencer and Express. Snow, Coyle, 
 & Company continued the publication of the paper until November 
 30, 1869, when they sokl out to Alexander Delmar, then late Chief of 
 the Bureau of Statistics of the Treasury Department, who announced 
 his intention of placing it in the front rank of journalism. But on 
 January 10, 1870, he was compelled to discontinue its ptdjlication. 
 
 I linn. .Inliu (;. ('alliniiri. 
 
H/STORY OF THE PRESS. 445 
 
 It has been said of the Intelligencer that it was "Jeffersonian till 
 Jackson's time, and tlien Whig till Lincoln's time, when it became 
 rebel Democratic, and went into the lobby under Joiinny Coyle."' This 
 is psirtly true and jiartly false. It never became "rebel Democratic." 
 Its motto always was "Tlie Union and the Constitution." It was 
 always true to the Union, and, in its own way, it was always true to 
 the Constitution. In 1860, its devotion to slaver}', that institution 
 l)eing protected by the Constitution in the States at least, led it to 
 support Hon. John Bell for the Presidency as against Abraham 
 Lincoln, Mr. Lincoln being the anti-slavery candidate. In 1864, it 
 supported General McOlellan for the Presidency, because it could not 
 even then see that slavery had forfeited its right to exist by attempting 
 to overthrow the Constitution by wliich it had been protected. Presi- 
 dent Lincoln and his emancipation policy were both too intricate and 
 mj'sterious for the understanding of the Intelligeiicer, and hence it had 
 to sustain what it could understand — tlie restoration of "The Union 
 as it Was," tliat is, with slavery still unimpaired. Through the 
 stormy reconstruction period, the Intelligencer was a strong supporter 
 of Andrew Johnson and liis plan of reconstruction, and it continued 
 on this line of political thought until it gave up the ghost in 1870. 
 
 It may not be generally known that Joseph Gales, when driven 
 from England for the freedom which he exercised in the publication 
 of his paper at Sheffield, learned stenography on his way across the 
 Atlantic. This art he found extremely useful in the service of Clay- 
 poole in Philadelphia. His son, Joseph Gales, Jr., as one of the 
 editors of the National Intelligencer, found the same art also extremely 
 useful, as did likewise his partner, W. W. Seaton; one reporting the 
 Senate, the other the House. Had it not been for the presence of 
 Gales in the Senate, the great speeches of Hayue and Webster in 
 1830 would have been entirely lost to the world, and very few of the 
 debates of earlier Congresses would have been preserved but for the 
 ettbrts of Gales and Seaton, editors of the National Intelligencer. The 
 action of Congress authorizing them to write up and publish their 
 reports of the early proceedings was one of great wisdom, as through 
 this action we have preserved to us the debates of Congress in the 
 early days. Posterity is indebted to them for these, as it is to James 
 Madison for the debates of the Constitutional Convention which 
 framed the Constitution of the United States. 
 
 The Washington Daily Gazette was started in Washington October 
 
 '"Washington Outside and Inside," by G. A. Townseud. 
 
446 H/STOKY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 1, 1800, at $5 per aiinuin, jiayahle lialf ycarl\- in advance. Tlie pro- 
 jector, in his advertisement, said: "It sliall he concUicted on a fair, 
 impartial jilan, open to political discussions; hiit no jiersonal pieces or 
 irritating animadversions on parties or individuals shall he admitted." 
 This was signed hy Cliarles Cist. How long this [laper was puhlished 
 is not known. 
 
 The Washington Federalist was puhlished for several years in tlie 
 early part of tlic century, as a contem{)orary of the National Iritelli- 
 i/ciicir, hut advocating ojiposito views. It is helieved to have existed 
 ahout four years, hut no authentic data with reference to this point 
 could he ohtained. 
 
 The Weekly Register of Political News was first published iu Noveu)- 
 ber, 1807, b}' J. B. Colvin. IIow long it was published is not known. 
 
 The Washington City Gazette was established in 1812 or 1813, by 
 William Elliott. It was edited by George Watterston. William Elliott 
 was a native of England, and died December 30, 1838, at the age of 
 sixty-four 3'ears. lie was a man of considerable scientific attainments, 
 and was one of the earliest and most zealous memijers of the CoUuubian 
 Institute. 
 
 Tlie Washington City Weekly Gazette was started in 1815, by Jona- 
 than Elliott, who was also an Englishman. lie continued the publica- 
 tion of this paper as a weekly until 1817, wlien he changed it to a 
 daily. 
 
 The Wasliington Republican was first issued in 1822, b}' James C. 
 Dunn & Company, as a semi-weekly paper. It was published iu the 
 interest of John C; Calhoun. It afterward passed into the hands of 
 Haughtou & Company, and was the ostensible forerunner of Force's 
 semi-weekly National Journal, begun in Xovemljer, 1823, and of the 
 Daily National Journal, begun in 1824. 
 
 The Weekly Messenger was started in 1807, by John B. Colvin, 
 who, in 1808, changed the name to the Wasliington Monitor. This 
 paper was soon succeeded by the Washington Expositor, conducted by 
 Dinmore & Cooper. 
 
 The Weekly Messenger was first published in 1817, by Mrs. John B. 
 Colvin, the talented widow of John B. Colvin. 
 
 The National Register was first issued in 181G, by J. K. Meade, 
 and edited by George Watterston. 
 
 The Washington City Chronicle was started in 1828, by A. Koth- 
 well and T. W. Ustick, and edited by George Watterston. It was a 
 literary paper, jiublished weekly. It was transferred in November, 1830, 
 to James C. Dunn, and in 1S.';2 it was the property of B. lldmaiis. 
 
H /STORY OF THE PRESS. 447 
 
 The Wasliington Mirror was comnienced October 18, 1834, b^- 
 William Thompson, an Eni^lislinian. The name was afterward changed 
 to tlie Metropolitan, and edited by Ivut'ns Dawes. Mr. Dawes made 
 his pa^jcr popular and successful for some time, but this popularity 
 was not of great duration. In 1836, the paper was merged into the 
 United States Telegraph. Mr. Thompson assumed the position of city 
 editor on the National Intelligencer, and on July 17, 184(3, he started 
 the Saturday Eoening News, which he continued until 1858, when, on 
 account of an aftection of the eyes, he abandoned its publication. 
 
 The African Repository was first published in 1835, by Ralph l-J. 
 Gurle}', secretary of the American Colonization Socict\-, who continued 
 its publication for several years. 
 
 The United States Telegraph was established in 182G, by Dutf 
 Green. Upon the inauguration of Andrew Jackson as President of 
 the United States, the Telegraph became the organ of the Adminis- 
 tration; though, if the Hon. Thomas II. Benton is good authority, it 
 was more the organ of John C. Calhoun than of President Jackson. 
 Some time afterward, a very strong article against nuUitication appeared 
 in the Frankfort Argus, published in Kentucky, to which was called 
 the attention of the President, who, upon being informed that it 
 was written b}- Franklin P. Blair, invited him to Washington, and 
 the Globe was the result. At any rate, it can be stated that the 
 Globe was established because of ditt'erenees betweeen President Jack- 
 son and Mr. Van Buren. 
 
 The Globe, upon its establishment in December, 1830, became at 
 once a power in the Government. While it was not in the Cabinet, 
 it had a cabinet of its own, widely known as the "Kitchen Cabinet." 
 Soon after its establishment, John C. Rives became a partner with 
 Mr. Blair, and Amos Kendall became a regular contributor to the 
 paper. Amos Kendall wrote the broadside editorials of the Globe, at 
 the dictation of the President, but, of course, greatly improving the 
 President's English; for, while he could not write elegantly, yet he 
 was a vigorous thinker. The Globe had the public printing and 
 advertising for eleven years, or until General Harrison was inaugu- 
 rated, ceasing to be the Government organ on March 3, 1841; but it 
 did not cease then to be the chief organ of the Democratic Party. 
 The National Intelligencer then resumed its old position. The death 
 of President Harrison, however, brought confusion to the Whigs, and 
 the vetoes of President Tyler against the Bank bills disrupted the 
 relations of the Intelligencer with the Government, the Intelligencer 
 adhering to the fortunes of Henry Clay and the Whig Part}'. 
 
448 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 A new paper, called the 3I(iiliso)nari, wliicli had hoeii i^tai'tcd August 
 1, 1837, tlieii became the organ of the President. At its establishment, 
 it announced that it would be devoted to the elucidation of the 
 principles of the Democracy, as delineated by Mr. Madison. In its 
 prospectus, it said that the commercial interests of the country were 
 overwhelmed with embarrassment, and every ramification of society 
 was invaded by distress. The social edifice seemed threatened with 
 disorganization, and the General Government was boldly assailed by a 
 large and respectable portion of the people as the direct cause of their 
 difficulties. Open resistance to the laws was publicly encouraged, and 
 a spirit of insubordination was fostered as a necessary defense to the 
 pretending usurpations of the party in power. Some, of whom better 
 things were hoped, were making confusion worse confounded by a 
 headlong pursuit of extreme notions and indefinite phantoms totally 
 inconi[>atible with the wholesome state of the country. The paper was 
 at first edited by Tliomas Allen, and then by John Jones. However, on 
 account of the uncertainty regarding the Intelligencer, with Daniel 
 Webster in the Cabinet, a new paper was begun in December, 1841, 
 edited by Edward N. Johnson, Joseph Segar, and John II. Pleasants. 
 About the 1st of April, 1845, this paper passed into the hands of 
 Theophilus Fisk and Jesse E, Dow, who changed it to a daily, 
 semi-weekly, and weekly Democratic paper, under the name of the 
 Constellation. 
 
 When Amos Kendall severed his editorial connection with the 
 Globe, he began to juiblish, in 1841, a i)apcr which he called Kendall's 
 Ex'positor, as a semi-weekly perioilical, and continued its publication 
 until April, 1844. 
 
 The True Whig, a weekly paper, was first issued in 1841, by Calvin 
 Colton. In 1842, he converted it into a daily, and soon afterward 
 ceased its publication. 
 
 After the establishment of the Globe, the United States Telegraph was 
 continued under the management of Dutf Green, still as the organ of 
 John C. Calhoun. In 1835, it was merged with the Washington Mirror. 
 
 The Globe, after giving up its ofiicial jiosition, became the [uib- 
 lishci' of the Congressional debates, Blair and Rives being awarded 
 the contract for their publication in 184G. In 1849, Blair sold out 
 his interest to Rives, who continued to publish them until his death, 
 after which the Globe was published by his sons. 
 
 Tlie Washingtonian was started in 183G, iiy A. F. Cunningham, 
 as a temperance paper. It was u quarto in form, and its publication 
 was continued I'or a year. 
 
HISTORY OF THE PRESS. 449 
 
 The Metro'politan Churchman was first issued in November, 1838, 
 under the editorsliip of Kev. Philip Slaughter, of Virginia. It was 
 an Episeo[ial periodical, and in after years it became the Southern 
 Churchinan. For a long series of years it was a power in the Church. 
 
 In 1843, John T. Towers established the Whig Standard in the 
 interest of Ilcnry Clay, and continued its publication until the elec- 
 tion of James K. Polk. 
 
 In the same year, the Daily Capitol was started b}' an association 
 of printers. It was a penny paper, and had considerable popularity. Its 
 ostensible publishers were Coale, Dickinson, & Devaughn. In 1844, it 
 was transferred to Smith, Murphj^ & Coiripanj', the name being then 
 changed to the Democratic Capitol, antl it was made a Democratic 
 campaign paper. Its publication ceased with Mr. Polk's election to 
 the Presidenc}'. 
 
 The Daily Bee was first published August 19, 1845, by Gobright, 
 Melvin, & Smith. Its publication continued for twenty-four days, when 
 it suspended. 
 
 The Columbian Fountain first appeared January 4, 184G, under the 
 superintendence of Rev. Ulysses Ward. It was at first a temperance 
 paper, but in 1847 it became a pronounced Whig jiaper. Its chief 
 editor was supposed to be Worthington S. Snethen. 
 
 The Weekly Democratic Expositor was started about the same time 
 as the Fountain, by Rev. Theophilus Fisk and Jesse E. Dow. The 
 former had a most varied experience, and the latter was editor of 
 the Expositor from January, 1846, until it ceased to exist. Mr. Dow 
 had for a long time contributed articles to the Globe under the 
 pseudonym of "Old Ironsides." 
 
 The Native American was established in 1837, by the Native 
 American Association, which was organized a few months previously. 
 Its objects were to secure the repeal of the naturalization laws, and 
 the establi.shment of a national character and the perpetuity of the 
 institutions of the country through the means of the natives of the 
 United States. The subscription p>rice of the paper was ^2.50 per 
 year. T. D. Jones was secretary' of the association in 1839. 
 
 The Columbian Star was a weekly paper published in Washington 
 by a committee of the General Convention of the Baptist denomination 
 of the United States. Its publication was commenced, probably, in 
 1828. It was a useful and instructive publication, being faulty onl}- 
 in one particular, namely, that of its bigotry. "The editors of the 
 Star seem to think it rank heresy to confide in the representations of 
 a Catholic." This paper was published in Washington until about 
 
450 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 June 1, 1827, when it was removed to riiiladelpliiu, where it wiis 
 eomniitted to the care of Rev. Wiliiani T. Brantly, pastor of tlie 
 First Baptist Church of that city. While it was in Washington it 
 was edited by Rev. Baron Stow. 
 
 We, Iht People, was tlie name of a weekly paper started in Wash- 
 ington March 8, 1828, to oppose the pretensions of Andrew Jacicson 
 to tlie Presidency. It was friendly to the administration of John 
 Quincy Adams. It was publislied every Saturday, at §3 per annum. 
 Jonathan Elliott being both editor and publisher. 
 
 Tlie Christian Slatcsman was a weekly paper, commenced in 
 Washington in January, 1838, by R. R. Gurley. This paper advo- 
 cated the cause of African colonization of the negro as meriting the 
 earnest and liberal support of the Nation. The price was fS jier 
 annum jiayahle in advance. 
 
 The Columbian Gazette was started in Georgetown July, 1, 1829, by 
 Benjamin Homans, who had lost his office on the accession of Andrew 
 Jackson to the Presidency. The Gazette was a handsome tri-weekl\- 
 paper. In 1835, the Metropolitan appeared in Georgetown, at the 
 instance, as it was understood, of Joel R. Poinsett, an anti-Calhoun 
 South Carolinian, and was edited by Samuel D. Langtree, having as an 
 associate John L. O'Sullivan. After about two years, the paper was 
 removed to Washington, and the Potomac Advocate became the town 
 paper of Georgetown. Tliis paper was owned by Thomas Turner, but 
 Mr. Turner soon tired, and sold it to Fulton &. Smith, who, after a time, 
 dropped the word "Potomac" from the name, and called their paper 
 simply the Admcate, and still later, the Georgetown Advocate. Mr. Smith 
 at length retired from the paper, and John T. Crow became either 
 part or sole owner, and conducted it until about 1844, when ho went 
 to Baltimore and became employed on the Baltimore San. After- 
 ward, the Advocate was conducted by Joseph Crow, a brother of 
 John T. Crow, until its sale soon afterward to Ezekiel Hughes, of 
 Fredericktown, Marj-land. Mr. Hughes continued the paper for about 
 fifteen years, when he abandoned it because he could not make it pay. 
 
 Several other papers were published in Georgetown before the 
 War, but as they were all short-lived, it is not deemed worth while 
 to trace their brief careers. 
 
 The Washington Unioyi was started immediately after the election 
 of James K. Polk to the Presidency. The Nashville Union had been 
 the home paper of the Polk wing of the Denutci'atic Party, just as 
 the (Hohc, in Washington, was published in the interest of the \'an 
 Buren wing. The Kichmond Knqiiirrr had beiMi insti'unu'ntal in 
 
HfSTORY OF THF. PRESS. 451 
 
 det'eiitiiig Van Biiroii in the convention. From the Nashville Uvion 
 and the Riehnioiul Enquirer there were brought to Washington two 
 men, Thomas Ritchie and John ]*. Heiss, who purchased the Globe 
 of Blair & Rives, and establislied the Washington Union, the first 
 number of which appeared May 1, 1845. The Union continued to be 
 the organ of the Government until 1849, when the Whig Party came 
 again into power. At this time, the Republic was established as the 
 organ of the Government. The Union continued to be edited and 
 published by Thomas Ritcliie until 1859, when he sold it to A. J. 
 Donelson, who had been private secretary to President Jackson, Charg! 
 iV Affaires to Texas, Minister to Prussia, and also to the Germanic 
 Confederation. The sale was made by Mr. Ritchie because of tiie 
 immense amount of printing thrown upon him by Congress, and, 
 because of an unfortunate contract made by him, which involved liim 
 lieavily in debt. Mr. Donelson said in his salutatory that he "threw 
 himself upon the indulgence of the Republican-Democratic Party for 
 the support which ma^' be due to one who can promise so little to 
 justify in advance the confidence which has been given to me in 
 advance." 
 
 During the same year, George W. Bowman purchased the Union, 
 and changed the name to the Constitution, announcing his purpose to 
 be to make the Consiitutiov a thoroughly Democratic paper, advocating 
 the principles which the Democratic Party all over the country 
 claimed as common property. William M. Browne became the owner 
 of this paper early in 1860, and continued it until January 31, 1861, 
 when he said he was making arrangements for its reissue elsewhere 
 under more favorable auspices. 
 
 The Mepublic was started, as has been stated, immediately after the 
 inauguration of President Taylor, who did not recognize the National 
 Intelligencer because it was devoted to Daniel Webster, and Daniel 
 Webster had said that the nomination of Taylor was one " not fit to 
 be made.'' Alexander Bullitt, of the New Orleans Picayune, and 
 John 0. Sargent, of the New York Courier and Enquirer, were the 
 first editors of the Republic, but for certain reasons they could not 
 succeed in Washington. Upon the death of President Taylor, and 
 the succession of Vice-President Fillmore, with Daniel Webster in the 
 Cabinet, the National Intelligencer once more resumed its old place as 
 Government organ. But it was the last of its line — that is, of the 
 Whig organs to the Government. With President Pierce in the Exec- 
 utive Mansion, the Union was again the Government organ, and 
 continued to sustain this relation to the Government through both 
 
452 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 the administrations of Presidents Pierce and Buchanan. It then 
 became somewhat confused in its political relations, as did tlie Demo- 
 cratic Party itself, and, as has been already stated, ceased to exist 
 about the close of the control of the Government by the Democratic 
 Party. 
 
 The Spectator was puljlished in Washington under the influence 
 of Senator Rhett, of South Carolina. It iuid succeeded tlie Tclrtjraph 
 as the organ of the South Carolina section of the Democratic Party. 
 It was published by Martin & Heart, with Virgil Maxcey as one of 
 its editors. After Martin went to Paris, William A. Harris became 
 the partner of Heart, and they changed the luxme of the paper to 
 the Constitution. Subsequently, Harris went U) Buenos Ayres as 
 charge d'affaires, and Heart joined tlie Charleston, South Carolina, 
 Mercury, when the Constitution closed its career. Harris, on liis return 
 from Buenos Ayres, became connected with the Union. 
 
 The National Era was established in 1847, the iirst number appear- 
 ing January 7 of that year. A fund of $20,000 was raised by the 
 friends of freedom, with which it was established. Lewis Tappan was at 
 the head of these gentlemen. Dr. Gamaliel Bailey, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 
 was selected as the editor, and Lewis Clephaue was their clerk. The 
 publishers of the paper were Martin Buel and William Blanchard. 
 Dr. Bailey was at the time well known throughout the country, hav- 
 ing, though a young man, had an eventful career. In 1834, he cordially 
 espoused the cause of freedom and did not look back. In 1836, he 
 became connected with James G. Birney (who afterward, by accepting 
 the nomination of the Abolition Party for the Presidency, defeated 
 Henry Clay for that high office) in the editorship of the Philanthropist, 
 of Cincinnati, which paper was devoted to the cause of the slave. 
 About August 1, 1836, the office of the Philanthropist was attacked by 
 a mob, the type scattered about the streets, and the press thrown into 
 the Ohio River, causing a suspension of the paper for a few weeks; 
 but late in September it again appeared, printed in a neighboring 
 village, but published in Cincinnati. Dr. Bailey soon became sole 
 proprietor and editor, and conducted the paper without incident 
 wortliy of special note for five years, or until September, 1841, when 
 on account of the commission of some improprieties by negroes, not 
 in any way connected with the pajier, a mob assailed the office with 
 a violence which defied the municipal authoi'ities for four days, during 
 which time the type was scattered all over the streets and the press 
 broken in pieces and tiirown into the river. This scjond destruction 
 of the office, however, caused a delay in the publication of tiic Phil- 
 
H /STORY OF THE PRESS. 453 
 
 anthropist for only a few da^'S, wlien it resumed puljlication ami went 
 on as before. 
 
 Dr. Baile}', in the fall of 1846, as intimated above, was invited to 
 Washington to take editorial control of the new anti-slavery paper 
 to be established here in the then near future, where Jno pretense 
 of State rights could l)e urged as a motive or ofiered as an apology 
 for the suppression of, or interference with, the freedom of the 
 press. From tlie first, the elevated tone of its able editorials £and 
 correspondence commanded the respect of all intelligent men. The 
 regular corresponding editor was John G. Wliittier. Dr. James 
 Houston, an accomplished Irishman, wrote a series of graphic sketches 
 of men and things about Washington, and H. B. Stanton, author of 
 " Modern Reformers," was also an able contributor. Theodore Parker, 
 Alice and rhujbe Gary, Dr. Pierpont, and William D. Gallagher were 
 occasional contributors. Later in the history of the paper, such charac- 
 ters as Edward Everett Hale, S. P. Chase, Charles Sumner, Wendell 
 Phillips, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Gail Hamilton, and Mrs. Dr. Bailey 
 contributed to its columns. Mrs. Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" first 
 appeared, in 1851, as a serial story in the columns of the National Era. 
 
 The most interesting event connected with the history of the 
 National Era, in Washington, was the attack upon its office by a 
 mob, on Tuesday night, April, 1848, the attack being occasioned by 
 the supposed interest taken by the paper in the attempted escape of 
 seventy-seven slaves from their masters in this cit}-. Of these seventy- 
 seven slaves, thirty-eight were men and boys, twenty-six were women 
 and girls, and thirteen were children. The attempted escape was made 
 in a sloop, named the Pearl, which sailed down the Potomac with a 
 fair wind on Sunday, April 16, and came to anchor in Cornfield 
 Harbor, on the Maryland side of the river, near Point Lookout. A 
 party of volunteers in the steamer Salem started in pursuit, overtook 
 the Pearl, and brought her and her cargo of fugitives back to Wash- 
 ington, where H. C. Williams, a magistrate of the city, summoned the 
 parties engaged in the kidnapping of the slaves before him, and 
 committed the slaVes as runaways, and Edward Sayres, the captain 
 of the Pearl, and Caleb Aaronson, for further examination. These 
 two individuals were afterward tried and appropriately punished 
 according to the laws of those days. 
 
 On the 20th of the month, the Era gave an account of the attack, 
 highly commending Captain Goddard and others who had vigoroush' 
 sustained him in the preservation of order, for saving the press and 
 the honor of the city. The press of the entire country condemned the 
 
454 IHSTORV OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 mob — even tliat of tlie Soutlierii Stutes, which, wliih' it coiuleunieil 
 the principles advocated liy tlie Era, yet spoke in tljc liiyhest terms 
 of Dr. Bailey. The otfiee of the &a was at this time on Seventh 
 Street, between F and G streets. It was afterward removed to the 
 corner of Indiana Avenue and Second Street, into wliat is now 
 tlie Tremont House, and here, upon the election of Mr. Lincoln to the 
 Presidency, it was suhjcctcd to another attack by a mob, in common 
 with the Republican head(|uarters, which were in the same building. 
 Only slight damage was, however, done on this occasion. 
 
 While it is i)erhaps within limits of safety to say that, at the time 
 of the beginning of the war with Great Britain in 1812, Federalism 
 was confined mainly to the New England State?, yet there were many 
 Federalists in other parts of the country. This was particularly the 
 case in Maryland. A number of these Maryland Federalists in 
 Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties, desiring to 
 extend their views among their fellow-citizens as much as possible, 
 united their means and established a newspaper in Baltimore for this 
 purpose. This paper thus established was named the Federal Repub- 
 lican, and it had for its editor Alexander Contee Hamilton, who was 
 assisted by a Mr. Wagner. On Saturday, June 20, 1812, two days 
 after the declaration of war with Great Britain, the Federal Rcpubliean 
 contained an article unusually bitter in its denunciation of the Admin- 
 istration. It had, therefore, in the minds of the friends and sup- 
 porters of the Administration, fully identitied itself with the enemy 
 of tlie country. The poimlation of Baltimore became very much 
 excited over this publication, and a mob of them turned out on the 
 following Monday night, pulled down the office, scattered the type, 
 and broke the presses to pieces. The Federalists throughout the 
 country were very much excited, and did not hesitate to intimate 
 that the Government at Washington was iniplicate<l in the riot. The 
 friends of the Federal Republican resolved that if possible the liberty 
 of the jiress should be vindicated in the reimblication of their paper, 
 and on the following Monday, July 27, 1812, it reapi)eared from a 
 rented building on Charles Street, though it had been sot up and 
 worked off in Georgetown, District of Columbia. This issue of the 
 j)aper was extremely severe in its condemnation of the people, nui^'or, 
 and courts of the city of Baltimore. Anticipating the result of the 
 course they were pursuing, they had taken the precaution to station 
 throughout the building a considcralile nuuibci- of tln'ii- adlii'rents. and 
 when, in consecpunici' ol' their auimadvorsicnis upon the jn'oplt! of Bal- 
 timore, an attacking party apjicarcd in front of the building, liirowing 
 
HISTORY OF THE PRESS. 455 
 
 stones at and IjrcaUing' some of tlie windows thereof, those inside, for 
 the purpose of repelling any attack that might be made, tired a volley 
 at them, killing a Dr. Gale, an electrician of Baltimore, and wounding 
 several others. The next morning, about seven o'clock, the garrison of 
 tiie rented l)uilding, about twentj'-three in number, were marched to the 
 city jail by the military under General Strieker. Everything was quiet 
 throughout the day, and at nightfall it was unfortunately deemed by 
 the authorities safe to permit the military to repair to their homes. 
 Taking advantage of the unguarded condition of the jail, a terrible 
 mol) assembled in front of the jail, broke it open, and with clubs 
 and other weapons made a furious assault upon the umirnied and 
 unpi'otectcd inmates, Icilling General Lingan outright, and so fearfully 
 maltreating General Harry Lee, of Virginia, "Light Horse ILxrry," the 
 father of tlie rebel chieftain. General Robert E. Lee, that his eyesight 
 was ever afterward permanently impaired. Eleven of the others were 
 fearfully beaten, eight of them being thrown out in front of tlie jail 
 for dead, and two escaped.. One of these eight was Dr. Peregrine 
 Warlield, afterward a distinguished member of the medical profession 
 of Georgetown. Tlie Federal Republican did not appear in Baltimore. 
 It was removed to Georgetown, and was largely patronized by the 
 Federalists throughout the country'. 
 
 The American Telegraph was started as an afternoon paper, Mai'ch 
 25, 1851, by Connoll}', Wimer, & Magill. This paper is remarkable 
 for being the first in Washington in which the word telegram was 
 used as a heading for telegraphic dispatches. The date was the 27th of 
 April, 1852. The editor at that time was Thomas C. Connolly. lie 
 thus introduced the word telegram: '■'■Telegraph, means to write from 
 a distance; telegram, the writing itself. 3Ionogram, logogram, etc., 
 are words formed upon the same analogy and in good acceptation, hence 
 telegram, is the appropriate heading of a telegraphic dispatch. Well, 
 we'll go it; look to our heading." Mr. Connolly was, however, fol- 
 lowing the exami)le set by the Albany Evening Journal, which, on 
 April 6, 1852, first used the word in this way. 
 
 This heading was continued for some time, but, as it found no 
 favor with the press of the country generally, it was dropped on May 
 18, 1852, and the old heading, "News by Electric Telegraph,'" 
 resumed. 
 
 The Washington Sentinel was established by Beverly Tucker, in 
 September, 1853. He said in his announcement that he should support 
 the principles of the great Democratic-Republican Party of the United 
 States; but would permit his paper to be the organ of no department. 
 
45H fZ/STORY OF UASH/NGrON. 
 
 Tlie paper would upliold the Union upon the basis of tlie rights of 
 the States under the Constitution. The paper was, however, of little 
 ability, and of short life. August 20, 1856, Mr. Tucker published a 
 card in the National Intelligencer, informing his friends of his intention 
 to abandon the puldication of tlie Sentinel, and it was thereupon 
 abandoned. 
 
 The Constitutional Union was established in 1863, by Tliomas B. 
 Florence, who liad for some years been a Democratic member of the 
 House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. It was a conservative 
 dail}' paper, and struggled on for three or four years with varying but 
 not with satisfactory success. Mr. Tlorence afterward published the Sun- 
 day Gazette in Washington. Mr. Florence had previously published the 
 National Democratic Quarterly Review in tliis city, commencing it in 1859. 
 
 The American Organ was established in Washington as a daily 
 and weekly paper by an association of native Americans. In their 
 in'ospectus, they said: "We have reached an important crisis in our 
 political history. Tlie two leading parties of our country, hitherto 
 separated l)y broad lines, either of principle or of policy, difter 
 now scarcely in anything but in name. A national bank, formerly 
 an essential point of difference between the rival parties, has now no 
 advocates. A protective tariff for the sake of protection, which 
 once divided parties and distracted our national councils, has become 
 obsolete as a question of party policy, simply because a revenue 
 tariff affords incidental protection to American manufacturers. The 
 distribution of the [irocceds of the imblic lands, the improvement of 
 the rivers and harbors b}' Congressional aid, and other such questions 
 have Ijeconie obsolete; and a new era has arrived which has to be 
 distinguished by being the 'Era of Patriotism,'" etc. The daily, every 
 afternoon except Sunday, was $5 per year, and tiie weekly, every 
 Monday, $2 per year. Francis S. Evans was the agent of the associa- 
 tion. The lirst number of this paper appeared November 13, 1854. It 
 was under the editorial control of Vespasian Ellis, with K. M. Heath 
 as associate. Mr. Ellis found it necessary to deny that he belonged 
 to the Whig Party, having, as he said, mostly supported Democrats 
 for office. Tiiis paper was not published many years, and this notice 
 of it is introduced to exhibit a phase of thought that passed ovoi- 
 the country a few years before the War. 
 
 The Sunday Morning Chronicle was established in Washington 
 early in 1861, as the })roperty of John W. Forney, of the IMiiladelphia 
 Press. It was jiublished by James B. Sheridan & Company, from the 
 building at the northeast corner of Penusylvania Avenue and Seventh 
 
H/STORY OF THE PRESS. 457 
 
 Street. It was ainiouiiced as entirely independent of party politics, 
 although strongl}' devoted to tiic Union of tlie States. Joseph A. 
 Ware was editor of the paper from the beginning, bnt in August, 
 1863, he resigned, and accepted a position as private secretary to 
 Adjutant-General Thomas. John W. Forney soon became clerk of 
 the House of Representatives, and later, of the Senate, and the Sundatj 
 Morning Chronicle was overshadowed by the Daily Morning Chronicle. 
 This paper moved into new quarters on August 1, 1863, on Ninth 
 Street, between E and F streets, — a brick structure one hundred and 
 sevent}' by twenty-two feet in size and three stories high, of which 
 Thomas U. Walter was the architect. The Chronicle was sold in 1870 
 to John M. Morris, ex-clerk of the United States Senate, who was 
 also the proprietor of the South Carolina Republican, and John W. 
 Forney went back to the Philadelphia Press. This paper has always 
 been Republican in politics, and has been published since 1882 l)y 
 J. Q. Thompson & Company, Mr. Thompson being the editor. 
 
 The National Republican was established in 1860, the first number 
 appearing on Monday, November 26, that year. While tliis paper dis- 
 claimed all design of becoming an organ, yet it proposed to sn[iport, 
 so far as possible, the then incoming administration of Mr. Lincoln. 
 Lewis Clephane was the principal member of the company which 
 established this paper. The paper remained true to the Government 
 throughout the War, but toward the latter part of the sixties relaxed 
 somewhat its political tone and thereby gained somewhat in circula- 
 tion. Li 1867, or 1868, the original proprietors sold it to William 
 J. Murtagb and S. P. llanscom, the latter becoming its editor. 
 Afterward, Mr. Harris, formerly of the Patriot, became editor, tlien 
 Mr. Connery, and then John P. Foley. The- paper continued to be 
 published for several years. 
 
 The Daily Patriot was the result of an effort made by several 
 wealthy gentlemen in the Atlantic cities to collect a fund of $100,000 
 witli which to found a conservative Democratic paper at Washington. 
 Tlie office began operations November l-t, 1870. It was at that time 
 tiie only Democratic paper in tlie city. Its chief editor was James E. 
 Ilarve}', with Oscar K. Harris as chief of the news department, the 
 business manager being James G. Berrett, formerly Maj-or of Wash- 
 ington. By 1872, all of these gentlemen had retired from their 
 positions, and the general direction of the paper was then in the 
 hands of Colonel W. H. Philip, J. C. McGuire, and R. T. Merrick. 
 A. G. Allen was the editor-in-chief, and Louis Bagger local editor. 
 This paper is not now published. 
 
458 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 The EccniiKi Star was first issued as a specimen paper, Decenibei' 
 12, 1852, the reguhxr daily issue beginning December 16. Its original 
 size was but little larger than a good-sized letter sheet, and its 
 edition was but little more than eight hundred. The printing was 
 done on a hand press. It was first issued by Captain J. B. Tate at 
 the corner of Eighth and D streets, but the next year it was removed 
 to the corner of Sixth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. In May, 
 1854, it was removed to the second stor}- of a blacksmith shop on D 
 Street, near Twelfth Street, Northwest, on the site of the present 
 Franklin Engine House. Soon after this removal, Mr. Tate sold the 
 paper to W. D. Wallacb and W. 11. Hope, Mr. Wallach becoming 
 sole proprietor a short time afterward. Toward the latter part of 
 1854, the office was removed to the corner of Eleventh Street and 
 Pennsylvania Avenue, the corner recently occupied by Dovvling, the 
 auctioneer, but now included in the city post-office site. In 1855, 
 C. S. Noyes, the present editor-iu-chief, became connected with the 
 jiaper. Mr. Wallach retained his ownership until 1867, at which time 
 he sold it to C. S. Noyes, S. H. Kauffmann, Alexander R. Shep- 
 herd, Clarence Baker, and George W. Adams, for |110,000. In 
 1868, these gentlemen were incor[iorated into the Evening Star 
 Newspaper Company, by a special act of Congress. Some time 
 afterward, Messrs. Baker and Shepherd sold their interests. In about 
 1863, a Iloe rotary' press was introduced into the establishment. 
 
 In 1881, the rapid growth of the paper demanding for it more 
 commodious quarters, the Erciiing Star moved to its present loca- 
 tion, at the northwest corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Eleventh 
 Street, and at the same time addetl to its facilities by the introduction 
 of a modern perfecting i)ress and folding machine. But even this press, 
 with its wonderful speed, was unable to keep pace with the growth of 
 the paper's circulation, and the following year another press of similar 
 character was added, and since then still another press has been put 
 in, so that now three of the fastest presses wiruh invention has 
 produced, having a condiined capiacity of twelve hundred [lapei's a 
 minute, arc required to print the Star every evening in time for early 
 distribution to its subscribers. The Star, when it moved to its present 
 location, purchased the property fronting on the avenui>, and also the 
 adjoining building fronting on Eleventh Street. These two buildings, 
 however, were not sufficient to meet the growing demands of the 
 paper; so, in 1890, the company erected an additional four-stor}' build- 
 ing on Eleventh Street, having a I'ront of Hfty-tive feet and a depth 
 of onr hiiiidi-ed feet, making the entire frontage of the Star l)nildings 
 
^^--V^^-i^^ cT %^y^ 
 
HISTORY OF THE PRESS. 459 
 
 on Eleventh Street one liundrcd and eight}- feet. Recently, the 
 company purcliased the hnilding on Pennsylvania Avenne, adjoining 
 the corner, and now occupies a portion of that also. One great 
 characteristic of the jiaper is its devotion to local interests, and the 
 care and fullness with which it covers Wasliington news; hut its 
 enter[U'ise docs not stop here, for it gives every evening, with a 
 completeness and fullness never exceeded hy any evening paper, 
 the news of tlie day from all the world. Special wires hring into the 
 office the latest intelligence from all over the glohe up to the moment 
 of going to press; pi-ivatc tclciihonc wires, with improved long-distance 
 telephones, connect the otMce \\\i\\ the Capitol and the District 
 Government buildings, and other long-distance telephones give ready 
 communication not only with ever}' point in the District, liut with 
 distant cities as well. The Eroiiny Sktr, though so preemiuentl}' a 
 local ijaper, has a reputation as the representative paper of the 
 Capital, and its writers furnish mucli of the reading in the way of 
 Washington news that the people of the countrj- get, for the Wash- 
 ington correspondence of newspapers in diiterent parts of the countr}- 
 is largely borrowed from the columns of the Slar, that which appe;irs 
 in the Star in the evening being telegraphed a^'a}', and ajijicariiig 
 the next morning in the dailies throughout the country. The cii-cula- 
 tion of the Evening Star averaged, for 1891, thirty-three thousand, seven 
 hundred and seventy-five copies daily. 
 
 Shortly hefore nine o'clock, April 13, 1892, a tire broke out in 
 the Star building, which caused a loss of §22,000, in the aggregate, 
 $14,000 of which was covered by insurance. This was on the Ijuilding 
 and printing materials. The paper was, however, issued as usual on 
 tlie same day, and on Saturday, April 16, it was printed on the same 
 presses as before the fire, and with the usual-sized page. 
 
 The editorial staff of the Evening Star is composed of Crosby 
 S. Noyes,' editor-in-chief; Theodore W. Noyes, associate editor; Ku- 
 
 ' Crosby S. Noyes was born in Maine in 1825. He is a journalist, tliorougbly 
 trained in every branch of his profession. In his youth, while employed in a cotton 
 mill, in Maine, he wrote a dialect sketch, relating with rich humoi- the unhapi)y 
 experiences of "A Yankee in a Cotton Factory," which was printed in the YanLn 
 BJiiile, of Boston, and widelj' copied. Other sketches in a similar vein were equally 
 successful, and his youthful productions made their way into such books as "The Harp 
 of a Thousand Strings," which collected the best work of the recognized humorists of 
 the day. Ill health drove him from Maine to a milder climate. He entered Wash- 
 ington on foot in 1847, and became a Washington correspondent of some Lewistown, 
 Boston, and Philadelphia papers. His letters were keen, witty, and picturesi]ue. Some 
 of them gave admirable descriptions of exciting scenes in Congress, and of the pecu- 
 
4G0 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 cloli)li Kiiiitt'niiuiii, niaiiiigini;- editor; II. P. Godwin, city editor; Franklin 
 T. Howe and Alexander T. Cowell, news editors; IMiilander C. Jolmson 
 and Cieero W. Harris, editorial writers. Besides, there is ii. large staff 
 of reporters, special writers, and suljurljan correspondents. The repor- 
 torial staff includes John P. Miller, George U. Harries, W. 13. Bryan, 
 Victor Kanffniann, Thomas C. Noycs, T. H. Brooks, James Croggon, 
 J. E. Jones, Helena McCarthy, lUne Bache, N. O. Messenger, and 
 K. W. Button. 
 
 The business management of tlie paper is in cliarge of Mr. S. H. 
 Kauffmann, president of tlic Evening Star Company; Mr. Frank B. 
 Noyes, treasurer and assistant Inisiness manager, and Mr. J. Whit 
 Herron, casliier. Mr. Richard A. McLean is foreman of the composing 
 room. 
 
 Tlie Washington Post was established December (3, 1877, by Mr. 
 Stilson llutchins. It was a well-printed four-page paper, and at onee 
 attracted attention by the force' and originality of its editorial man- 
 agement and its comprehensive news service. Politically, the Post was 
 Democratic. It was not tlien so well understood as it is now that 
 the interests of neither of the great [)i)litical parties required repi'c- 
 sentative organs at tlie scat of government, where politics has no 
 organized footiiold. 
 
 The Post at once became the leading morning newspaper at the 
 National Capital, and its establishment became an assured success. 
 January 1, 1889, Messrs. Frank Ilatton and Hon. Beriah Wilkins 
 became the sole proprietors of the Post. Mr. Hatton had had many 
 years' experience in the newspaper business as editor and manager, 
 
 liarities of the great mea that figured in tliem. In 185.5, he enlarged his information 
 and broadened his views by a foot-tramp in Europe, after tlie Bayard Taylor fash- 
 ion, and described liis exi)eriences in an interesting series of letters to the Portland 
 Traraa-vpl. At the close of the same year, he became a reporter on the Ereniny 
 Star, his connection with which paper still continues. After a successful career as 
 an enterprising news-gatherer, he was made assistant editor, and in 1807 he became 
 eihtor-in-chicf and jiart projii-ietor of the Star, from which time his public history and 
 that of the Slur liavc been the same. As assistant editor and editor, he gave tn it tlic 
 ]ir('riKc chanictiT wliicli lilted tlic situation and tended to make it tlie paper (if tlie 
 people. At tlie start, when it had a place to win for itself, it was made audacinus and 
 aggressive, but since his papei' gained its ju'esent circulation and inlluence, he has 
 been more conservative, as befitted tlie paper's larger responsibilities. Through his 
 ]iaper, Mr. Noyes has been a potent factor in the develoiiment of the modern 
 Washington. With Alexander U. .Shepherd, he chafed at the spectacle of the Capital 
 liel<l up to the world's contempt because of local old-fogyism and national ni'glect, and 
 in the cohliiins (if his paper fdught steadily and cll'ectivi'ly tn a.ssist Slicplienl t(i 
 |>iit intd practical opcratidii in the National Capital tlidse imlile prdj.'cis alidut wliicli 
 
H/STORV OF THE PRESS. 461 
 
 and later was Postmaster-General in President Arthnr's Cabinet. Mr. 
 Wiikins had been a Democratic member of Congress for several terms 
 from Ohio, before which he had been a successful banker. Under tiiis 
 ownership, the Post became an independent newspaper, and entered upon 
 a broader and more successful career than it iuid ever before enjoyed. 
 
 The Post is an eight-page, eight-column paper, with from sixteen 
 to twenty-four pages on Sunday, and is at this time the only morning 
 newspaper in Washington. It has the exclusive news service of the 
 Associated Press and of the United Press for a morning paper, and 
 together with its special service, its news facilities are unsurpassed. Its 
 circulation throughout the South and West is larger than that ever 
 before attained by any paper at the National Capital. 
 
 Der Volks-Triban was established in 1875, by E. Waldecker and 
 Carl Roeser, as a German Republican weekly. It has been continued 
 bj' them in the same relations to the present time. Mr. Roeser had 
 previously been connected with some of the largest German pajiers in 
 the United States. 
 
 The Washington Critic was established in 1868, as an independent 
 daily, and in the early part of its career it enjoyed considerable 
 prosperity. It was an evening paper, published every evening in the 
 week except Sunday. In 1881, it was published by Ringwalt, Hack, & 
 Miller. Subsequently, it passed into the hands of Hallett Kilbourn, 
 and still later into those of Richard Weightman and his associates. On 
 May 14, 1891, it passed into tlie hands of a receiver, and in a few days 
 thereafter its outiit. United Press franchise, type, etc., were purchased 
 b}' the Evening Star Newspaper Company. 
 
 they had dreamed, and planned while fellow-members in the local Common Councils 
 in 1863. Afterward, he was among the foremost in the movement which led to the 
 assumption by the National Government of one-half of the debt and expenses of 
 the District of Columbia, and the reclamation of the Potomac Flats. And in every 
 great work for Washington, from that time down to and including the establishment 
 of Rock Creek Park, he has played an influential and important, though unostentatious, 
 part. Commencing in 1863, he served one term as a member of the city Council, and 
 then two successive terms as alderman, from the old Seventh Ward, now South Wash- 
 ington, since which time he has steadily declined public service. In his later yeais, 
 he has traveled much, and has contributed to his paper many articles containing 
 vivid pictures of scenes and events in foreign lands. Under a mild, quiet, unassuming 
 exterior he conceals a strong will, a steady, unflinching purpose, and the capacity for 
 a vast amount of brain work of the highest order. There could be no higher tribute 
 to his journalistic abilities than the fact that in Washington, noted, as it is, as the 
 graveyard of newspaper enterprises, he has made a conspicuously successful news- 
 paper, one which everybody reads, from the President of the Uniteil States down to 
 the casual visitor to the city of Washington. 
 
462 J f /STORY OF WASiriNGTON. 
 
 Tlie Capital was started in 1870, and was pnhlislied by the Capital 
 Pulilisliin!^' Coniiiany. TIjc paper was edited tor a nniid)er of years 
 by Don I'latt, wbo made for it a iiatioiiai I'eputation. In 1880, A. C. 
 Buell became the editor, and its publieatioii was continued until 
 1889, wlien it was discontinued. 
 
 Tlie Government Official was ostablislied by Jolm E. I'eterson, 
 who, after a time, took into partnersliii) a Mr. Hinitli, of llobert, 
 Indiana, and a Mr. White, of Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1891, tlicy 
 rctii'ed, and Mr. Peterson sold onedialf interest to (Jilbert E. Overton, 
 and later in the same 3'oar he sold the other half to Mr. Overton, so 
 that Mr. Overton became sole pro])rietor. About the same time, the 
 name of the paper was changed to the Public Sercice, and it is now 
 published by the Public Service Company, which is incorporated with 
 a capital of $50,000. James R. Young, formerly executive clerk of 
 the United States Senate, is tlie president of the company. There 
 are three vice-}iresidcnts, and Mr. Overton is secretary' and treasurer. 
 This paper, while admitting that the civil service of the Government 
 has its faults, yet advocates the elimination of those faults in prefer- 
 ence to the abolition of the system. 
 
 The Home 3Ia<jaziiie is a monthly periodical of twenty-four 
 pages, published by the Brodix I'Ldjlishiug Company, at G14 Eleventh 
 Street Northwest. It is now in its fourth 3'ear, the April number 
 of 1892 being No. 6 of the fourth volume. It is a magazine for the 
 liome, and is filled with fresh material important to the home and 
 social circle. It is edited by Mrs. John A, Logan. 
 
 The Sunday Herald was established in 18G6, by Captain I. X. 
 Burritt, and when the National Intelligencer was discontinued in Jan- 
 uary, 1870, Captain Burritt, having acquired title to the property, added 
 to the title of his paper "«?i(/ National Intelligencer," which title it has 
 retained to the present time. In a more limited field, the Sunday 
 Herald has been a worthy successor of the National Intcllujencer. Its 
 aim has always been to be a high-class social and literary paper, de- 
 voted to the interests of Washington and her people. In 1889, upon 
 the death of (3a()taiu Burritt, the paper passed into the hands ol' its 
 present proprietors, Messrs. Soule i.*i: Ilensey, who have extended its 
 Held of usefulness, enlarged its size, and improved it in many ways, 
 and it has a large local circulation. 
 
 The Republic, a straight-out lieiuiblicaii paper, issued early evei'y 
 Sunday- morning, was establishc>d in 1875, by John Brisbon Walker, 
 now editor and proprietor of the Citsmopolitan, with offices at the 
 norlhwi'st corner of Pennsylvania Avennc an<l MlesH^nth Street, Noi-th- 
 
HISTORY OF THE PRESS. 463 
 
 west. Mr. Walker sold it to the late II. J. Raiiisdell in 187ii, who, in 
 1883, sold it to M. V. S. Wilson, of whom its present proprietor, Rnfus 
 H. Darby, purchased it in 1884. Up to about six years ago, it was in 
 pamphlet form with a green cover. It was clianged to its newspaper 
 form by its present proprietor. Its weekly edition averages about five 
 thousand in circulation. Its [)resent location is at No. 1308 Pennsyl- 
 vania Avenue Northwest. 
 
 The Washington Sentinel was established July 1, 1873, bj- its 
 present i)roprietor, Mr. Louis Schade. The Sentinel is devoted to 
 general liberty, personal and religious, and it assigns that reason for 
 leaning toward the Democratic Party. It is not, however, strictly a 
 party paper, as it reserves the right to oppose the Democratic Party. 
 Wlien that party is not pursuing the right, the Sentinel opposes it, as 
 was the case in 1878, when Hon. Thomas Ewing was candidate for 
 Governor of Ohio, and again in 1891, when Hon. James E. Campbell 
 was the Democratic candidate. 
 
 The National Tribune was established in 1877, l)y Captain George 
 Lemon, the present owner, in an office at 1405 G Street Northwest. 
 Here it remained until more room was needed for its growing busi- 
 ness, when it removed to its present location in the Lemon building, at 
 1729 New York Avenue Northwest, an elegant five-story brick structure. 
 The Tribune has developed into a great national paper, its average 
 circulation during 1891 being one hundred and fifty-six thousand. 
 Its subscribers live in every State and Territory of the Union. Its 
 specialty is the interests of the old soldiers of the Union Army, and 
 the history of the War of the Rebellion. John McEIro}' is editor, 
 and Charles Flint business manager, of the Tribune. 
 
 The National Tribune Company purchased, in February, 1892, 
 the Ainerican Farmer, which was established in April, 1819, and 
 which claims to be the oldest agricultural paper in the United 
 States. 
 
 The National Vieio was established in Ma}', 1878, as an independent 
 Greenback-Labor journal of education, bj- Mr. Lee Crandall, editor 
 and proprietor, both of which relations he still sustains to the pajier. 
 It continued in the same line of thought until the Silver Convention 
 assembled in St. Louis in 1889, at which time it began the advocacy 
 of the free and unlimited coinage of silver. While it is not an 
 organ, it represents to the best of its ability the interests of the 
 People's Party, which was called into existence at Cincinnati in 
 1891, of the national committee of wliich Mr. Crandall is a mendjer. 
 He is secretary of the National Silver Committee and of the National 
 
464 HISTORY OF WASHrNGTON. 
 
 Executive Silver Committee. The otiices of tiie Vkw are at No. T202 
 reimsyivauia Avenue. 
 
 Tlie American Anthropologist is the principal jourinil in tiie United 
 States devoted to tlie science of anthropology. The initial number 
 was issued by tiie Anthropological Society in January-, 1888. It is an 
 octavo quarterly, of ninety-six pages, and is published on the first of 
 January, April, July, and October, the subscription price to non-mem- 
 bers being |3 jier annum. Its pages contain many contributions from 
 various parts of the country Ijy writers not connected with the society. 
 
 Owing to the rapid growth of the society, and the accumulation 
 of numerous valuable papers presented at its meetings, the publica- 
 tion of the Anthropologist became a necessity, that there might be 
 some means of disseminating their contents. The first editor of the 
 periodical was Mr. Thomas Hampton, whose death was announced 
 April 25, 1888. Ilis successor, Mr. Henry W. Ilenshaw, the curat(H' 
 of the society, has performed the duties of editor-in-chief from that 
 date to the present time. 
 
 The Vedette is a monthly journal devoted especially to the interests 
 of the surviving veterans of the Mexican VV^ar. Alexander M. Ken- 
 aday is the editor and proprietor. It was established in 1878, for the 
 purpose of advocating the claims of those veterans to be placed upon 
 the pension rolls upon the same footing as those of the War of 1812, 
 and through its advocacy of their cause, in part at least, the movement 
 was at length a success, Congress on the 29th of January, 1887, passing 
 an act placing about twenty-eight thousand survivors and widows on 
 the rolls at $8 per month. In 1889, the publication of the paper was 
 temporarily discontinued. 13nt in 1890, Congress having passed a Pen- 
 sion bill allowing dependent soldiers of the Union Army in the War 
 of the Rebellion from |G to $12 per month, Mr. Kenaday decided to 
 reissue the Vedette for the purpose of advocating an erpuilization of 
 pensions, so that his comrades of the Mexican War should have 
 pensions of at least §12 per montii during their natural lives. The 
 headquarters of the National Association of Veterans of the Mexican 
 War is at No. 507 F Street, from which oflice the Yedettc is pub- 
 lished. The local association of survivoi-s nuinljers about three hundred 
 members, survivors and widows. 
 
 Kate Field's Washington was established January 1, 1890, by Miss 
 Kate Field as eilitor and {troprietor. Caroline (iiraysingle is managing 
 editoi', and Ella tS. Lconai'd pnblishei-. This paper is a national inde- 
 pendent review, devoted principally to literature, society news, poetry, 
 and stories. 
 
HISTORY OF THE PRESS. 465 
 
 The Congressional Record is a Government publication, devoted to 
 the measures introduced into Congress, together with tlie speeches 
 thereon, iuid to the proceedings of Congress generally. It was estah- 
 lished to take the place of the Globe, after tiie (Uobe ceased to he 
 puhlisiied. 
 
 Public Opinion was estahlished in 1887, by F. S. Presbrey, at No. 
 306 Ninth Street. This periodical is unique in its field of work, beino- 
 devoted to the collection and publication of the opinions of the press 
 and of leading thinkers on all leading and current questions. It is 
 similar in its plan to Liitell's Living Age, but it is much wider in its 
 scope. It has recently moved into elegant quarters in the Washino-ton 
 Loan and Trust Company's building. 
 
 There are numerous other newspapers published in Washino-ton 
 devoted severally to a great variety of purposes, among them the 
 following: The Sun, established in 1877, and still published by W. D. 
 Hughes; the Washington Law Reporter, established in 1874, by Huo-h 
 T. Taggart, since then published by different parties, and at the 
 present time by the Law Reporter Company; the Western Land 
 Owner, established in 1874, now named Copp's Land Owner, published 
 by Henry M. Copp; American Anncds of the Leaf, by Edward A. Fay, 
 Ph. I)., and published at the National Deaf Mute College, Kendall 
 Green ; and several others. 
 
 In this chapter on the "Press," it may not bo out of place to 
 present a brief history of the first successful electric telegraph estab- 
 lished in this country', though, perhaps, not the first electric teleo-raph 
 in the history of the world. On this point, too, it may be well to 
 state that, according to the decision of Levi Woodbury when a Justice 
 of the Supreme Court of the United States, messages were sent by 
 means of electricity so long ago as in 1827 or 1828, the inventor of 
 this telegraph being Harrison Gray Dyar. He was proved by a Mr. 
 Cornwell to have constructed a telegraph on Long Island, at the rate 
 course, with wires on poles, using glass insulation. Dr. Bell fortified 
 this statement, having seen some of the wires, and understood its 
 operation to be by a spark sent from one end of the wire to the 
 other, which made a mark on paper prepared by some chemical salts. 
 
 In 1831, Professor Joseph Henry, of Princeton College, described 
 a method of forming magnets of intensity and quantity produced 
 from correspondent batteries, by the use of which, with rela\' mao-nets 
 prepared by him, magnetic eftects could be produced at a distance of 
 from one thousand to two thousand miles. 
 
 Professor S. F. Morse, in 1835, produced a rude working model 
 
4GG N/SrOh>y OF W.ISl^/NGTON. 
 
 of a telegraphic instrument, tluis anticipating Steinlieil in the matter of 
 a recording telegrapli. In October, 1837, Professor Morse entered his 
 first caveat for an American electro-magnetic telegraph, claiming that 
 ids first thought upon tiie subject of a magnetic telegraph was on 
 his passage across the Atlantic in 1832. 
 
 On September 7, 1887, "A New American Invention" was referred 
 to in the public prints, and at the same time a certain writer claimed 
 that this invention bj' Professor Morse was only a repetition of a 
 French invention. To this Professor Morse replied, that if it were 
 true that his method of communicating intelligence b}- moans of the 
 electro-magnetism had been previously invented, and if he could be 
 assured of that fact, he would be the last to attempt to detract from 
 the honor of the real inventor, or of his country. 
 
 Professor Morse's claims to tlie invention of the electro-magnetic 
 recording telegraph were, of course, recognized and sustained, and 
 after several years' delay, Congress on February 28, 1843, passed an 
 act making an appropriation for the construction of a telegraph line 
 from Washington to Baltimore. This line was completed on May 
 24, 1844, and on the next day, Saturday, the batteries were charged 
 and the telegraph put in operation, conveying intelligence between the 
 Capitol and the Pratt Street Depot in Baltimore. The first message, 
 according to many writers, was sent from the Capitol to Baltimore 
 by a young lady named Miss Annie Ellsworth, to whom Professor 
 Morse was at the time ardently devoted, a granddaughter of the 
 famous Governor Ellsworth, of Massachusetts, and whose father at the 
 time was Commissioner of Patents. This first message was in these 
 words: "What hath God wrought';"' At 11:30 a. m., the question 
 was asked from Baltimore: "What is the news in Washington':"' 
 and almost instantaneously the answer was flashed back: "Van Buren 
 stock is rising." Sixteen persons witnessed the experiment in the 
 Capitol. This was May 25. On the 27th, the working of this won- 
 derful instrument won universal admiration from all who were 
 fortunate enough to l)e spectators. Messages passed between Balti- 
 more and Washington at intervals during each hour throughout the 
 day. At 1:40 r. M., information was received in the Capitol building 
 of the nomination of James Carroll for Governor of Maryland; a few 
 moments later came the news of the nomination i)y acclamation, by 
 the Tyler Convention, of John Tyler for President of the United 
 States, and also of a speech of more than two hours in length by 
 Benjamin F. Bullcr, in I'avor of the majority rule in X\\k' convention. 
 On Wednesday, the 2!Kh, the telegraphic news Irom Baltimore caused 
 
H/SrORY OF THE PRESS. 467 
 
 great excitement at tlie north end of the Capitol huilding, in tliat it 
 announced on tliat day the nomination of James K. Polk, "a subal- 
 tern," for the Presidency, by the Democratic Couvention. This an- 
 nouncement was of so surprising a nature, and the telegraph was 
 of so recent introduction, that neither the announcement nor the 
 telegraph was believed; and in order to ascertain the truth, two 
 special messengers were dispatched by railroad to Baltimore, but of 
 course the result of their mission was only to confirm the telegraphic 
 announcement. 
 
 Among the many reasons given by different persons for the 
 continuance of the seat of government at the city of Washington, 
 was that of the invention of the Morse telegraph. In locating the 
 seat of government, one of the requisites was centralit}', and Mr. 
 Madison remarked that "if there could be any means of instantaneously 
 promulgating the laws throughout the country, the center would be 
 of less consequence." This means was supplied by the electric tele- 
 graph, and hence it was inferred by some that the seat of government 
 would never be removed. 
 
 On Monday, April 5, 1847, connection was made between Balti- 
 more and Alexandria by means of the telegraph passing through 
 Washington. 
 
 In the summer of 1846, the first attempt was made to determine 
 longitude by means of the telegraph. A line of wire was extended 
 from the General Post Office in Washington to the Naval Observatory, 
 and another was carried from the High School observatory in 
 Philadelphia to the main Baltimore line. Still another wire was 
 carried from the Jersey City telegraph ofiice to the Presbyterian 
 church. The observations at Washington were made under the 
 direction of Mr. Sears C. Walker; those at Philadelphia, under Profes- 
 sor Kendall, and those at Jersey City, under Professor Loomis. Each 
 observer had at his command a good clock and a transit instrument 
 for regulating it with precision. The signal used in determining 
 the difterence of longitude of these three places was the click of a 
 magnet. Signals were exchanged between Washington and Philadel- 
 phia, October 10, 1846, but none were obtained for Jersey City. On 
 August 3, 1847, the experiments were resumed upon the following 
 plan: Commencing at Jersey City at 10:00 p. m., the operator strikes 
 a key, and simultaneously a click is heard at each of the three places. 
 The observer at each place recorded the time of the click, each by 
 his own clock. Ten seconds afterward, the same sign is repeated, and 
 so on for twenty signals. The series of signals was then repeated for 
 
468 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Wasliington and Philadelpliia, and from these sixty signals, averaged 
 up, the (litt'crence of time was obtained with almost perfect accuracy. 
 The difference of time thus obtained between Jersey City and riiil- 
 adelphia was four minutes and thirty seconds. 
 
 On February 9, 1848, a paragraph in the London correspondence 
 of some American paper noticed the fact tliat the electric telegraph 
 had begun its work in England, the price charged for sending one 
 hundred words from London to Liverpool, a distance of two hundred 
 and twenty miles, being £.h, while at the same time, in this country, 
 the rate charged for sending a telegram of one hundred words from 
 Washington to New York, a distance of two hundred and twenty-five 
 miles, was only %h. 
 
 The Associated Press and the United Press l)oth have offices in 
 Washington, as well as all of the leading newspapers in the country, 
 many of which have private telegraph wires. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 ED UCA TIONA L HIS TOR Y. 
 
 Early Schools — John McLeod — Lancasterian School — Private Schools — Colored Schools 
 
 — Public Schools of Washington — Georgetown College — Columbian University — 
 Howard University — National University — The Catholic University of America 
 
 — American University — Gonzaga College — Columbia Institution for the Deaf and 
 Dumb — St. John's College — The Academy of the Holy Cross — St. Cecilia's Acad- 
 emy — The Spencerian Business College — Glen Echo Chautauqua — National Bureau 
 of Education — Norwood Institute — Wood's Commercial College — Way land Semi- 
 nary — The Ivy Institute — Mount Vernon Seminary — Columbia College of Com- 
 merce — Libraries in Washington. 
 
 PREVIOUS to the establishment of the public-school system in the 
 city of Washington, there were here, as in all other towns and 
 cities of the United States, numerous private schools, and these were 
 as various in their characters as were the teachers wlio established 
 them. It is manifest!}' impracticable to present a detailed history of 
 every one of these private schools, and it is altogether probable that 
 such a detailed history would be far from acceptable if practicable; 
 hence, the history of private education in the citj' of Washington, as 
 given in this volume, will be found to be more illustrative than 
 exhaustive. 
 
 The Colundiian Academy, of Georgetown, was one of the lirst 
 of these private schools. It was in existence as early as 1803, and 
 was then under the care of Rev. David Wiley, and had been for some 
 years. In 1803, there were seventy-tive pupils in attendance, but the 
 building was capable of accommodating one hundred. The studies 
 pursued were the common branches and the learned languages. 
 
 A Young Ladies' Academy was opened, July 16, 1806, by Mrs. 
 Reagan, in a commodious house on F Street, between Captain James 
 Hoban's and Josiah W. King's. The branches taught were tambour- 
 ing, embroidery, open work, marking, all kinds of plain sewing, 
 filigree, painting, waxwork, French, music, dancing, reading, and 
 writing. Young ladies could also be accommodated with board. 
 
 Hugh Maguire, then late a professor in St. John's College, Mary- 
 land, where he had been employed for eleven years, and a teacher of 
 twenty-three years' experience, opened an academy near the Seven 
 
470 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Buildings, in August, 1807. In tliis iicadeniy, he tauglit Latin, Greek, 
 mathematics, geography, bookkeeping, etc., for $40 per annum; Eng- 
 lish grammar, reading,' writing, and arithmetic, for $24 per annum. 
 At tirst, he had as an assistant Samuel Cantwell. After teaching 
 this school a short time, he was selected principal of tlie puljlic 
 academy, iind in a year established a school at Bladensburg, which 
 failed of support. He therefore retui-ned to Georgetown, and opened 
 a school near the Union Tavern, on the 6th of January, 1812. lu 
 this school he taught Latin, Greek, and the common English branches. 
 Some time afterward, he removed his school to commodious apartments 
 in the rear of Congress Ilall, and again associated with himself, in the 
 teaching of the common English branches, Mr. Simon Cantwell, who 
 had taught with him before, and who was highly approved of in 
 the neighboring county of Prince George, for capacity and industry 
 in his scholastic duties for the then past thirty years. 
 
 A school was opened in 1802, by the Rev. A. T. McCormick, on 
 Capitol Hill, in which he taught the common branches and the higher 
 matiiematics. Rev. Mr. McCormick kept on with this school until 
 1819, in February of which year lie was succeeded by P. Edwards, 
 under whom the instruction was almost completely changed. 
 
 Francis Donnelly opened a school on Monday, May 30, 1803, in 
 a building then lately occupied as an auction store, near the West 
 Market. Mr. Donnelly taught spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, 
 English grammar, bookkeeping, history, and geography. 
 
 About the same time, a new school was opened by J. Sewell, on 
 North F Street, in a room then lately occupied by Mr. Coates, opposite 
 the Little Hotel. For teaching English grammar, writing, etc., he 
 charged 14 per quarter; for common arithmetic, %h per quarter; for 
 merchants' accounts, geography, algebra, mensuration, surveying, iilain 
 navigation, astronomy, and the other bi'anches of mathematics, and the 
 principles of mechanics, f8 per quarter. 
 
 Madam du Cherray, a French lady, then lately arrived from 
 Moscow, Russia, where for several years she had been at the head of 
 one of the most reputable academies in that city, under the ininiediato 
 IH'otection of his Majesty, Alexander the First, Ennieror of all the 
 Russias, opened an establishment simiiai' to the one she had taught 
 in Moscow, in (he year 1808, in which she received both boarders and 
 day pupils. In her academy, she taught English, French, iiistory, 
 geograjihy, mythology, writing, arithmetic, embroidery, all sorts of 
 needlework, drawing, music, and dancing. She also taught miniature 
 portrait painting. 
 
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 471 
 
 One of the most proniiiient and pecnliiir of the earlier teachers 
 in Washington was Jolni McLeod. He commenced teaching here in 
 1808, near the Navy Yard, with four pii[iils. Soon afterward he 
 employed an assistant teaclier, and in four or live years erected an 
 academy building which cost him |6,000. After the destruction of 
 the Navy Yard in the War of 1812-15, he removed from that locality 
 and erected the Central Academy in 1816, for this purpose borrowing 
 a large sum of money. During both summer and winter, both himself 
 and his assistant teachers were at the schoolhouse by daylight, and 
 they spent daily from nine to ten hours in the schoolroom, instruct- 
 ing the youth committed to their care. This plan, Mr. McLeod 
 said, had an excellent effect upon the minds and constitutions of tlie 
 pupils. They enjoj-ed fair health, and in their early and regular 
 attendance at school they acquired good conduct and made great 
 improvement in their studies. They were not excelled, nor, perhaps, 
 equaled, by any pupils of their age in this country or any other; and 
 in rewarding their noble conduct, he had baen more liberal than his 
 circumstances would warrant. "At thirty-four public examinations 
 in Washington, I gave away upward of $2,000 in premiums. My 
 last examination cost me $200. To aid me in this expense, I never 
 received a cent from any person, except $15 from Major-General 
 Brown. This generous and unexpected present merits my warmest 
 thanks. Perhaps there is not a private institution more costly than 
 mine, of great or of no title. [Jnconnected with any faction, I look 
 for no indulgence; I know my situation well. Should I succeed in 
 this arduous and important undertaking, I expect no praise; should I 
 fail, no sympathy. My system of education, rules, and regulations are 
 fruits of my long experience. Having everything at stake, and 
 dependent entirely on my own exertions, I must attend at my post, 
 perform my duties, and my teachers must be able aud willing to do 
 the same. 
 
 "I have spent $16,000 in erecting literary institutions and in 
 rewarding my pupils since my commencement in this metropolis. 
 All those of my profession have not laid out one-fourth of that 
 sum in the same manner since the tirst foundation was laid in it. 
 There were thirty here when I commenced, and all of them have 
 deserted the employment long ago. Thus have I stated my liistory 
 since I came to Washington, and mj' present situation, which I hope 
 will be sufficient apology for changing my system. 
 
 "It is now the beginning of a new year, and I must settle my 
 accounts the best way I can, and be more exact in the future. I have 
 
472 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 $6,000 or $7,000 due, the third of wliich I never expect to see. This 
 is my own fault. I liave ahiiost ruined myself by indulging people. 
 My expenses arc very great, and without a change the Central 
 Academy cannot stand. I therefore respectfully request tliose whose 
 bills are due six months, or longer, to settle before the first of next 
 month, or witlidraw their children. Tuition bills must be actually 
 paid at the end of every quarter. I assure my beneficiaries and the 
 public that imperious necessity compels me to adopt these measures." 
 
 In 1814, when the British army approached Washington, Mr. 
 McLeod dismissed one hundred and seventy-two students from the 
 Eastern Academy, which was, as has been said, near the Xavy Yard. 
 At that time, it was tlie only decent schoolroom in Washington. In 
 1827, although it had been occupied since its abandonment 1)}' Mr. 
 .\icLeod by twelve or fourteen different teachers, it was in a very bad 
 condition, and the Bank of Washington was compelled to take it to 
 prevent it from becoming a nuisance to the neighborhood, as the 
 Western Academy building was at that time. "0 angels and minis- 
 ters of grace, protect the Central Academy from a similar fate; at 
 least, until its visionary and enthusiastic founder shall have paid the 
 last farthing of his debts in this world and in the next! Should this 
 prayer be granted, perhaps it may serve the last generation." 
 
 Mr. McLeod erected the Columbian Academy in 1835, making 
 the third academy building erected by him. In July, 1839, in his 
 advertisement he was very severe upon the practice of giving vaca- 
 tions. His school bell was rung by the dawn of day at all seasons of 
 the year. His establishment was in complete order, and his teachers 
 were at their posts at that early hour to receive their pupils, and 
 both teachers and pupils were on duty from nine and a half to ten 
 hours each day in the summer time, and about eight hours in the 
 winter. Notwithstanding this fact, Mr. McLeod said that there was 
 not a more active set of pupils in the entire Union than the pupils of 
 Columbian Academy. "The subscriber intends finishing his days in 
 the instruction of youth, and is resolved never to give more than 
 four days holiday in succession. For some days before vacation, it is 
 impossible to make pupils study. The girls must get new dresses to 
 visit in, and often where they are not welcome. Bo^'s spend their 
 time in idleness and wickedness, disturbing the public peace, destroy- 
 ing their health and character, by committing all manner of vice 
 they arc caf)ablo of," etc. Mr. McLeod complained of, or perhaps 
 rather pointi'd out, the fact that "since the commencement of the 
 Western Free A'cademy, aboul thirty years before, the [inpils attending 
 
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 473 
 
 it luul not been more than one-half the time in school that they 
 should have been, and, of course, the able and virtuous teacher [Henry 
 Ould], as the trustees call him, has received during that time about 
 $10,000, without teaching one lesson for this immense sum. The 
 citizens of Washington and myself are of the opinion that the youth 
 of this school are going exactly as they are taught and encouraged 
 to go! " 
 
 In 1841, Mr. McLeod was still teaching. lie then said that in 
 addition to the $20,000 he had expended in buildings, he had paid 
 out in premiums, at forty-two iiublic examinations, more than $6,000. 
 His motto, he said, when he commenced, was, "Order is Heaven's First 
 Law," and in his advertisement this year he said that in support of 
 this motto he had sacriiiced much, and "could, if necessary, sacrifice 
 life itself." He was glad to be able to boast that he had had under 
 his direction, during the thirty-three years of his professional life 
 ill Washington, more pupils than any other teacher in the Union. 
 
 Mr. 0. C. Wight represents him as having been a stern discipli- 
 narian, with whom the rod was a potent factor in government. He 
 hesitated not to use it, both freely and frequently'. 
 
 January 2, 1811, Charles Bowman, late professor in Georgetown 
 College, opened a school on F Street, near St. Patrick's Church, in the 
 house then lately occupied by Major Bowling. For reading, English 
 grammar, writing, and arithmetic, he cliarged $5 per quarter, and for 
 Latin and Greek, either or both, he charged $8 per quarter. 
 
 The first Lancasterian school in the United States was established 
 in Georgetown. The corner stone of the building was laid on Mon- 
 day, June 24, 1811, by the Mayor of Georgetown, after appropriate 
 ceremonies and a prayer by the Rev. Mr. Sneethen, of the Methodist 
 church. The Mayor was tx officio member of the Lancasterian Society. 
 After the conclusion of the ceremonies, there was an oration by Mr. 
 Henry Beatty. The plan of the building and the directions for its 
 construction were sent over from England by Mr. Joseph Lancaster, 
 the reputed author of the system. The system, however, originated 
 with Andrew Bell, D. D., an ordinary of the Church of England, who, 
 in 1795, while engaged in the management of the orphan children of 
 the European military at Madras, British India, on account of his 
 arduous duties in this position, resorted to the expedient of conducting 
 the school by the aid of the pupils themselves. In 1797, after Dr. 
 Bell's arrival in England, he prepared a pamphlet suggesting a system 
 by which a school might teach itself, under the superintendence of 
 the master, which pamphlet, coming under the notice of Joseph 
 
474 H/STORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Lancaster, suggested to him tlie nietliod of organizing schools in such 
 a way tliat the necessary teaching force could be thus most econom- 
 ically provided. And it was through the efforts of Mr. Lancaster 
 that this method of conducting schools became so widely known and 
 so popular throughout Germany, England, and the United States, and 
 it was because of his success in securing for the system such a large 
 measure of public recognition that it was called the Lancasterian 
 System. It was otherwise called the Monitorial System, each pupil 
 who had the management of a class of his fellow-pupils being called 
 a monitor. The number of pupils that could be taught on this system 
 depended almost altogether on the number of monitors that could be 
 found in the scliool, and might be, for one head master, as many as 
 three or four hundred. 
 
 The building erected in Georgetown, according to the directions 
 sent over by Mr. Lancaster, was 32x70 feet in size, and calculated to 
 accommodate 350 pupils. The teacher, Mr. Robert Ould, who was 
 selected the first yn-incipal of this school, was recommended by Mr. 
 Lancaster. From the second annual report made to the trustees, 
 December 7, 1813, the following facts were taken: The ojiening of 
 the school occurred November 18, 1811. During the first two 
 years, 410 pupils were admitted; 242 had left it for various employ- 
 ments; 168 remained on the rolls, and 18 teachers had been sent out 
 to difterent parts of the country to instruct on the Lancasterian 
 plan, and there were left 3 in Georgetown. This school was continued 
 for several years, and was very popular on account of its novelty and 
 economy. Its subsequent history is referred to in subsequent pages in 
 this chapter. 
 
 Miss Charlotte Ann Taylor opened a female boarding school near 
 tlie house of General Van Ness, February 15, 1813. She taught the 
 common English branches, French, Italian, music, drawing, and needle- 
 work. She was late from London, England. In Washington she was 
 a successful teacher, and in 1813 moved her school to G Street, near 
 Dr. Elzy's house. For the common English branches, together with 
 plain sewing, marking, etc., she charged $10 per quarter; for French 
 and Italian, |2.50 per quarter extra; and for music, painting, dancing, 
 and drawing there was an extra charge. 
 
 Ezekiel llildreth, then late of Harvard College, on January 13, 
 1815, opened a school for both sexes in the house contiguous to 
 Washington Boyd's, on F Street. For the classics he charged %1 per 
 quarter, and for other branches, $5 per quarter. 
 
 Mrs. Ilowaril, "having at the solicitation of several families of 
 
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 475 
 
 distinction" removed her seminary to Wasliington, opened it on 
 June 5, 1815, teaching therein tlie common and higher English 
 brunches, and all kinds of plain and fancy needlework, as well as 
 French, music, and dancing. 
 
 Mrs. Stone opened an academy in her house November, 1816, for 
 3'oung ladies. In iier school she taught geography, English grammar, 
 reading, spelling, history, composition, and necillework. Mr. Stone 
 taught French, writing, arithmetic, drawing, landscape painting in oil 
 and water colors, etc. 
 
 On January 4, 1819, D. McCurdy opened a school at his residence 
 near the Navy Yard, whore he tauglit the common branches of an 
 English education. He also published a book called the ''Colnndjiun 
 Tutor's Assistant," a work on arithmetic, 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Webber opened a classical, mathematical, and 
 commercial school for young men, and a seminar}' for young ladies, 
 January 4, 1819, at tlie corner of Bridge and Green streets, George- 
 town. Their plan of education consisted of an " interrogator}- and 
 an explanatory system by which the pupils are enabled to understand 
 their lessons with pleasure to themselves, and satisfaction to their 
 teachers." 
 
 The Washington Eastern Academy was opened in 1818, by 
 Edward Ferris, A. M. He said tliat in his academy his [)upils were 
 taught to learn, because he iiad witnessed in more than one university 
 in Europe the bad eftects of employing masters to do the dnt}- and 
 execute the tasks of the pupils. 
 
 Dr. Ilorwitz came to Washington in the fail of 1819, and for 
 some time taught the Hebrew language to private students. In 
 noticing the work of Dr. Ilorwitz, tlie National Intelligencer said that 
 the Hebrew was " perhaps the most regular, rich, and philosophical 
 of all the tongues spoken in the world." Dr. Horwitz was considered 
 not onl}' a perfect master of the Hebrew, but also a thorough classical 
 scholar, and deeply versed in Oriental learning. 
 
 Mrs. Fales started a boarding school for young ladies November 
 1, 1820, at the house then lately occupied by Mr. Petre, the French 
 consul, on Thirteenth Street, between the Avenue and F Street. In 
 her academ}' she taught the common branches, drawing, and orna- 
 mental painting on wood and velvet, embroidery, etc., besides music 
 and dancing. She had been a teacher in Marietta and Philadelphia. 
 
 William Elliott commenced a course of lectures on mathematics 
 Novendjer 13, 1820, in the " Long Room," on C Street. His course 
 consisted of Hvo lectures on numerical calculations, including loga- 
 
476 ///STORY OF WASH/NGTON. 
 
 ritlims; fifteen lectures on algebra, twenty on geometry, and ten on 
 conic sections. 
 
 The Union Acadeni}' of Georgetown and Washington was opened 
 for students in February, 1821, under the sujierintendence of James 
 D. Cobb. In it were taught the common brandies, Latin, Greek, 
 geography, history, chronology, and tlie various branches of mathe- 
 matics. Ijotii sexes were admitted. 
 
 D. llewett commenced teaching stenography in Washington in 
 October, 1828, chai'ging %'ii for a course of twelve or fifteen lessons, 
 which he said was sufKcient to acquire the theoiw, yet anyone could 
 attend witliout additional charge until the art should Ije effectually 
 acquired. Mrs. llewett tanglit the lady pupils. 
 
 Franklin Academy was located on F Street, north of the General 
 Post Office. The principal of this institution was James Caden. The 
 course of instruction embraced all the branches of an English educa- 
 tion, bookkeeping, Latin, Greek, French, and Spanish; and for young 
 men desirous of qualifying themselves for tlie countinghouse, a 
 course of lectures was given on domestic, factory, and commercial 
 accounts. Neither holidays nor vacations were given, nor were any 
 deductions made for loss of time. The terms ranged from 15 io 
 $12.50 per quarter. 
 
 The Wasliington Academy was located at the corner of II and 
 Ninth streets Northwest, directly east of General Van Ness's family- 
 mausoleum. It opened in a new building erected especially for its 
 use, on Monday, July 2, 1827, for the reception of boys. The common 
 branches of an English education, history, mathematics, Latin, Greek, 
 French, and Spanish were taught. "Long convinced of the beneficial 
 effects resulting from very early and regular attendance, the academy 
 will ]>e open througli the year for scholars ut sunrise." Z. D. 
 Brashears and R. Kirkwood were the principals. 
 
 Mrs. McOlenchan opened a school for young ladies, in 1827, on Ninth 
 Street, which she maintained for several years. Robert II. McGlenchan 
 opened a school for young gentlemen, which he named the English and 
 Mathematical School, on Eleventh Street West, over the city library. 
 He taught the English branches and a full course of mathematics. 
 
 Miss Heaney's Acadcni}' opened for students April 4, 1831, in 
 the house then lately occupied by Madam Bonfils, on the corner of 
 F and Twelfth streets. Miss lleaney was from Boston, Massachu- 
 setts, and had been tor some years principal of the Derby Academy, at 
 llughens. She taught the elementary English branches, and also 
 those of a liberal education. 
 
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 477 
 
 Tlie Washington Female Seminar}' was established in 1824, bj- 
 Mrs. E. M. Haven, assisted by Miss Laura A. Haven and Miss Jane 
 A. Hoskins, in a large and commodious building on G Street, two 
 doors west of Eighteenth Street. In this academy four courses of 
 study were pursued. The terms for board, tuition in English, Freucli, 
 and pencil drawing, were |150 for five months; for lessons and use 
 of piano, $25; oil painting and iHifier-maclw work, $10; floral, leather, 
 and pastel drawing, $5; Latin and phonography, $5. 
 
 Masonic Hall Academy was established in 1827, I)}' John Devlin. 
 In the latter part of tliis jcai', he advertised that he would continue 
 to enforce the same rigid observance of scholastic discipline, to pursue 
 tlie same efficient system in tiie communication of instruction, and to 
 use the same untiring industry in the discharge of his professional 
 duties, which had [)reviously invariably distinguished him. lu his 
 school were taught the common English branches, and a thorough 
 course of mathematics. Mr. Devlin concluded his advertisement as 
 follows: 
 
 "At a time like the present, when every pretender to literature 
 and science lauds in turgid language his own institution and ever^-thing 
 connected with it, the principal of the Masonic Hall Scliool, conscious 
 of the extent and solidity of his researches in the branches of the 
 sciences above enumerated, has the confidence to assert that he will 
 instruct the youth in them, not superficially, but according to principles 
 susceptible of conclusive proof in the rigid language of irrefragable 
 demonstration." 
 
 Mr. Delvin taught in Washington about six years, and then opened 
 the Prince Street Academy, in Alexandria. Still later, in 1833, he asso- 
 ciated with himself Philip Smith, and opened a scliool on F Street in 
 Washington, in which were taught the common English branches, the 
 mathematics, and the classics. 
 
 Miss English's Academy, in Georgetown, was opened February 27, 
 1826, in a small two-story brick building on the corner of Washington 
 and Gay streets. The building gradually' grew in size, by additions, 
 until it was a large building, and it was known for many years as 
 "Miss English's Seminary." It was six and three stories high, and 
 contained about twenty rooms. Miss English died in 1865, at the age 
 of sixty-six. She was the daughter of Mr. David English, a gentleman 
 well known for many years as the cashier of the Union Bank. When 
 she retired from her profession as teacher, she was succeeded by Rev. 
 Mr. Clarke, and he was succeeded, in 1857, by Miss Harrover. 
 
 Difficulties in the way of educating colored youths were, in the 
 
478 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 early ilays, quite iiuniorous. Prejudice, stronger a tliird of a century 
 after tlie founding of the city tlian at its inception, compelled all 
 efforts to partake largely' of a personal character. The race, however, 
 began to establish schools within two years after the wliites organized 
 their work. Many of their schools were taught by colored, but most 
 of tlieni by white, teachers. 
 
 The first schoolhouse erected especially for the education of the 
 colored youth was built about 1807, by George Bell, Nicholas Frank- 
 lin, and Moses Liverpool, all of whom had been reared as slaves, in 
 Maryland and Virginia. It was a fair onc-steiry frame building, and 
 stood on tlie site of the present Providence Hospital. As soon as it 
 was finished, a full school was opened under tlie management of 
 Mr. Lowe, a white teaclier. It continued for several years, wlien the 
 building was used for a dwelling. 
 
 At that time, the total colored population of Washington was 
 one thousand, four hundred and ninety-eight, of which number the 
 aggregate free colored, from which class only such a school could be 
 recruited, was four hundred and ninet^'-four. 
 
 Of these colored pioneers in school work, Franklin and Liverpool 
 were calkers at the Navj' Yard, to which place they had come from 
 the lower parts of Virginia. They were freemen, but it is not known 
 how they secured their libertj'. They were unable to read and 
 write, but were desirous that their children and the children of their 
 neighbors should be more fortunate. In this educational enterprise, 
 the leading spirit, however, was George ]]ell. He lived beyond the 
 Eastern Branch, and had been the slave of Anthony Addison. His 
 wife, Sophia Browning, saved from the sale of market products $400, 
 witli wliich she purchased her husband's freedom. He, in turn, 
 subsequently bought hers for five pounds, Maryland currency. In 
 process of time, they purchased the freedom of their children. 
 
 Bell and his family were, for a time, the recognized leaders of 
 the colored people in all matters educational and religious, and fully 
 impressed their personality upon the future of their race in the city. 
 
 In 1818, the Bell Schoolhouse, which had for a number of years 
 been used for a dwelling, was again taken for educational purposes. 
 The school was known as the "Resolute Benelicial Society," of which 
 William Costin was president, James Harris secretary, and George 
 Bell treasurer. An evening school was organized in October, to 
 continue thi-ough the season. Children were instructed in reading, 
 writing, ai'ithmctic, English grammar, or other branches. The school 
 continued several years, willi an averau'e attendance ol' sixty pupils. 
 
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 479 
 
 The first teacher was a Mr. Pierpont, of Massachusetts, and the second 
 was John Adams, the first colored teacher in the District. 
 
 The third scliool was established b}- Henry Potter, an English- 
 man, about 1809, in a brick building which stood on the southeast 
 corner of F and Seventh streets. He had a large attendance; but 
 after several years, removed to Clark's Row, on Thirteenth Street, 
 between G and H streets. 
 
 About this time, Mrs. Anne Maria Hall began a school on Capitol 
 Hill, on First Street East. She changed about quite frequently, and 
 continued in the work, with great success, for some twenty-five years. 
 
 Of the early teachers of colored children in Washington, none 
 are mentioned with greater reverence than Mrs. Mary Billino-s, the 
 projector of the first colored school in Georgetown. She was an 
 Englishwoman. Her husband, a cabinet maker, came from EnHand 
 to Washington in 1800, and dying in 1807, left his wife to maintain 
 and educate three children. At first she taught botli white and col- 
 ored pupils, l>ut prejudice arising, she concluded to devote her enero-ies 
 wholly to colored youth. Accordingly, she established a school, about 
 1810, in a brick house on Dunbarton Street, between Congress and 
 High streets, and continued it until the winter of 1820-21, when she 
 came to Washington and opened a school on H Street, near the 
 Foundry Church. She conducted a night school, and had pupils 
 from Bladensburg and the surrounding country. She died in 1826. 
 
 Mrs. Billings's successor at Georgetown was Henry Potter; and 
 following him, Mr. Shay, an Englishman, who subsequently came to 
 Washington, and for many years conducted a large colored school in 
 a brick building known as the "Round Tops," in the western part of 
 the city, near the Circle. Later, he removed to the Western Academy, 
 corner of I and Seventeenth streets. He continued until about 
 1830, when, for assisting a slave to freedom, he was convicted, and 
 sent to the penitentiary. 
 
 About 1823, Henry Smothers, a pupil of Mrs. Billings, built what 
 was known as the Smothers Schoolhouse, in the rear of his own dwell- 
 ing on the corner of Fourteenth and H streets. Ho had taught in 
 Georgetown, on Washington Street, opposite the Union Hotel and 
 removing to Washington, opened his work in the old corporation 
 sclioolhouse built in 1806, but subsequent!}' known as the Western 
 Academy. His own house being completed, he removed to it in 
 1823, and for two years conducted a flourishing school, the attendance 
 reaching one hundred to one hundred and fifty pupils. 
 
 In 1825, John W. Prout, a man of rare ability, succeeded to the 
 
480 HISTORY OF WASH/NGTON. 
 
 management of the school. It was placed under a board of trustees, 
 and known as tiie "Columbian Institute." Tuition tor a time was 
 nominally free, a charge of twelve and one-half cents per month being 
 made. The attendance averaged one hundred and fifty, necessitating 
 the emplo^'iiieut of Mrs. Anne Maria Hall as assistant. 
 
 In August, 1834, Prout was succeeded in the school by Jolm ¥. 
 Cook, brother-in-law of George Bell, of whom mention has been 
 made. He bad been a slave, whose liberty was purchased eight 3'ears 
 previous by liis aunt, Alatheia Tanner. He had been for some time 
 assistant messenger in the Land Office. Ilis school numbered a hundred 
 pupils in the winter, and a hundred and fifty in the summer. His 
 prosperity, however, was interrupted. What was known as the Nat 
 Turner Insurrection in Virginia, in August, 1831, and the Snow Kiot, or 
 "Snow Storm,"' in Washington, in September, 1835, created a panicky 
 feeling among both colored and white people. The feeling in Wash- 
 ington was extremely intense. Colored citizens, private houses, churches, 
 and schoolhouses were assaulted, and in some cases destroyed. To 
 avoid violence. Cook fled froni the city and went to Columbia, Penn- 
 sylvania, where he taught school for a time. Returning in August, 
 1836, he resumed his labors in the school which had, for several 
 years, been known as Union Seminary. The course of study embraced 
 three years, and the line of work was quite thorough, attracting 
 much attention. 
 
 Shortly after, Mr. Cook began to study for the ministry, and 
 was finally ordained, and served in that capacity for some twelve 
 years. Teaciiing and preaching constituted his occupation until the 
 time of ilis death, March 21, 1855. His son, John F. Cook, continued 
 tlie work until May, 1857, wlien it passed into the liands of a j'ounger 
 sou, George F. T. Cook, who changed it from the old Smothers house 
 to the basement of the Presbyterian church, in the spring of 1858, and 
 maintained it until Jidy, 1859. An interregnum existed from this date 
 until 1862, owing to the outbreak of the War. In 1862, however, John 
 F. Cook, Jr., having erected a new scboolhousc on Sixteentli Street, 
 reorganized the work, and continued it until the founding of schools 
 tliroughout tlie city in 1867 rendered his work no longer neccssai'y, 
 and he retired to other fields. 
 
 Louisa Parke Costin's sciiool was established, as a contemporary of 
 the Smothers school, in 1823, on Capitol Hill. The Costins came to 
 Washington from Mount X'crnon shortly after the dcatii of .Mai'tha 
 Washington, in ]802. The father, William Custin, whose death oc- 
 curreil in 1S42. had been a nu'ssenu'er for IwcntN-four \ears in Ihc 
 
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 481 
 
 Bank of Washington. Louisa Parlce Costin opened iier school at 
 the age of nineteen, in lior father's liouse, and continued it with 
 success until her .sudden death in 1831. After her death, her younger 
 sister, Martha, who had bceu educated in a colored convent in Balti- 
 more, took the school and continued it some eigiit years. 
 
 James Enoch Ambush, a colored man, began, April, 1833, a large 
 school in the basement of Israel Bethel Church, on Capitol Hill, and 
 continued it in various places for ten years, until 1843, when he built a 
 schoolhouse on E Street South, in which was established the Wesleyan 
 Seminary. It maintained a successful existence until August, 1865. 
 Mr. Ambush studied medicine, and became a Botanic physician. 
 
 The first seminary for colored girls in tiie District was established 
 in 1827, in Georgetown, b}- Father Vanloman, a Catholic priest. Maria 
 Becraft, a talented young colored woman, was the teacher in charo-e. 
 She became so popular and successful in her work that she was finally 
 transferred to a convent in Baltimore, where she was a principal teacher 
 until she died. 
 
 The Myrtilla Miner Seminary- for colored girls originated in 
 Washington. The projector, Myrtilla Miner, was born in Madison 
 Count}-, Xew York, in 1815. Burning with a zeal to accomplish 
 something beyond the mere drudgery of domestic life, she souo-ht 
 ever}' opportunity to qualify herself for philanthropic work. She 
 finally prosecuted her studies in a seminary at Rochester. Subse- 
 quently, she went to Mississippi to superintend the education of 
 planters' daughters. While there, she saw so much of the despotism 
 of slavery that she returned to the North, determined to do what 
 she could for the amelioration of the colored race. She chose Wash- 
 ington as the tield of her laljors. In the autumn of 1857, siie 
 commenced her work in a small room, fourteen feet square, on 
 Eleventh Street; near New York Aveuue. After many changes and 
 discouragements, she was instrumental in securing, from various promi- 
 nent sources, means with which to purchase a school site of three 
 acres bounded by Nineteenth and Twentieth, and N and streets 
 Northwest. The price paid was -^4,000. The building, a small frame 
 dwelling of two stories, and three small cabins, constituted the outfit 
 for this institution. Miss Miner was encouraged by W. H. Seward 
 and his wife, and prominent members of Congress; aud yet the feelino- 
 of opposition and persecution was bitter against her. She was threat- 
 ened with conflagration. Even the Mayor of the city, Walter Lenox 
 decried against her through the public press. This bitter feelino- 
 culminated in the spring of 1860 in the firing of her house while 
 
482 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 she was asleep. She was aroused, however, in time to save herself 
 and the Ijiiildiiig from the Hames. The War coming, and her health 
 constantly failing, she relinquished her post to regain her health and 
 collect funds for the erection of suitable buildings on her chosen site. 
 In this work she continued until her death, December, 18(J(J. 
 
 After her death, the trustees sought means b}' which to build a 
 structure and continue the enterprise. General O. 0. Ilmvard offered 
 $30,000 for erecting a suitable building. The scheme did not mate- 
 rialize; and not till within the last three years lias the school 
 reappeared; tlien in a building on the corner of Four and a Half 
 Street and Maryland Avenue Southwest. It is a primary institution, 
 under the management of trustees. 
 
 Charles II. Middleton began his career about the time when John- 
 son was retiring. He was encouraged to engage in his work by Jesse 
 E. Dow, a member of the Common Council. It was really the first 
 movement for a free colored public school, and occurred in 1848-49. 
 
 With the opening of the War of the Kebollion, a new condition 
 of things began. Schools were disorganized. The city was tilled with 
 troops and refugees, necessitating the organization of work by societies. 
 One of these, the Colored Orphans' Home, was the outgrowth of the 
 efforts of some philanthropic women. It was incori)orated as "An 
 Asylum for Aged and Destitute Colored Refugees and Colored Or- 
 phans," February 16, 1863. It first took possession of a property on 
 Georgetown Heights, owned by Richard S. Cox, a major in the Con- 
 federate service; but he having been par(h)ned by President Johnson, 
 the society had to relinquish its claim, and buy another site north 
 of the cit^' for $2,000. The Freedmen's Bureau erected a temporary 
 home. Its work, however beneficent, was cramped for the lack of 
 adequate means. 
 
 Other agencies occupied this period of chaos and strife. Among 
 these were St. Aloysius" school for girls, the Colfa.\ Industrial Mis- 
 sion, Miss Walker's Industrial Scliool, the Wayland Theological 
 Seminary, and Howard University. 
 
 Slavery in the District of Columbia was abolished on the ItUh 
 of April, 1862. On the 21st of May, IbUowing, Congress passed an 
 act requiring "ten per centum of ta.xcs collected from persons of 
 color in Washington and Georgetown to be set apart for the pur- 
 pose of initiating a system of prinniry schools for tiic eilucation of 
 colored children." This jirovision of the law was a failure, the 
 receipts in Washiiigtim in 1862 being !:?2u6.25; in I860, §410. 89; in 
 Georgetown, in the latter year, $69.72; total, $736.86. 
 
EnrCAT/ONAL HfSTORY. 483 
 
 lieufo, anotlier act was passed June 25, 186-i, giviiig the coloreil 
 people a due iiroportiou of tlie funds available to the District. On 
 the 23(1 of July, 18(3(1, an additional act was passed, still further 
 equalizing the revenues arising for school purposes. It accomplished 
 its aim, the funds enabling the trustees to inaugurate a system of 
 public colored schools in the two cities. 
 
 The tirst public colored school in the District was opened March 
 1, 1864, in the Ebenezer Church of the city. Miss Emma V. Brown, 
 of Georgetown, an educated colored girl, was employed as teacher 
 at $400. Her associate was Miss Frances W. Perkins, from New 
 Haven, Connecticut. The attendance began with forty, but soon 
 increased to more than one hundred. 
 
 Miss Perkins was instrumental in securing the tirst public school- 
 house for colored children. From a lady in New Haven she obtained 
 $1,000, to aid in the enterprise. The trustees, securing some additional 
 means, purchased a lot, forty-two by one hundred and twenty feet, on 
 Capitol Hill, on C Street, between Second and Third streets, and 
 erected, in the winter of 1864-65, a two-story frame building, forty- 
 two feet square, two rooms on eaeli tloor. The school was moved 
 into it, and dedicatory services were held May 1, 1865. 
 
 The question of the establishment of public schools attracted early 
 attention in Washington. In June, 1804, a committee, appointed by 
 the chambers of the city Council, reported a bill which they advised 
 be made into a law, and which contained the following [irovisions: 
 
 1. That the superintendence of the public schools in the city of 
 Washington be placed under the sup)ervision of thirteen trustees, seven 
 of whom should be chosen by the joint ballots of the Councils, and 
 six to hold their appointments for life by contributing to the promotion 
 of the schools as provided in the bill. In case of a vacancy in the 
 number of the life members; the board itself was empowered to fill 
 the vacancy, the newly chosen member to be a life member; and in 
 case of a vacancy occurring among the members elected by the Coun- 
 cils, the Councils were authorized to supply the vacanc}', the person 
 chosen to serve until the next succeeding annual election. This board 
 was to make ample provision for the education of the children 
 residing within the city, whose parents were unable to send them 
 to school. 
 
 2. The tax already laid, or to be laid, on slaves and dogs, on 
 licenses on carriages and on hacks, for ordinaries and taverns, for the 
 retailing of wines and spirituous liquors, for billiard rooms, for the- 
 atrical and other public entertainments, for liawkers and peddlers, 
 
484 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 should be appropriated to the siiii[)()rt of sucli schools as should be 
 established under the act. 
 
 3. The two chambers of the Council, within three weeks after 
 the passage of the act, were to appoint three of their own number to 
 take all necessary prelimiiiar}' steps for carrying the act into effect, 
 and they were themselves, or through agents, to solicit subscri[)tions 
 at a distance; and at a (imc to be fixed upon, all persons who should 
 have contributed §10 or more were to meet in person, or by prox}-, 
 and elect the six life members. 
 
 The bill was passed by the iir.st chamber, unanimously, July 3, 
 1804, the members being Cunningham, Smalhvood, Ilerford, Smith, 
 Alexander, Carpentei', Rapine, Blagden, and Bromle}'. In the second 
 chandjer, the vote for the bill was Nicliolas King, Mr. Hodgson, and 
 J. C. King; and against it, AndreAvs, Sinclair, McCormick, and Jones. 
 
 "Thus has a measure destined to be of incalculable benefit to 
 the city, by enlightening the minds and ini[)i-essing (he moi-als of the 
 rising generation, by rescuing the metropolis from its darkest regret, 
 and by rendering it worthy of the esteem of the rising Nation, failed 
 for the want of a single vote," etc. Twelve members of tlie two 
 Councils voted for the bill, and four against it, thus causing its defeat, 
 and showing liow thoroughly were the rights of the ndnority protected 
 in a republican form of government. 
 
 Afterward, however, the movement for the establishment of public 
 schools on this plan was made a success, and a meeting of the board of 
 trustees was held August 5, at the Capitol. Thomas Jefferson, Presi- 
 dent of the United States, was chosen president of the board, but, as 
 he was absent, Robert Brent was chosen chairman of the meeting, 
 and Nicholas King secretary. It was found from the returns that 
 the following gentlemen composed the board: Thomas Jefferson, 
 Robert Brent, John Taylor, Nicholas King, Gabriel Duval, John 
 Dempsie, Thonnis Tingey, Tliomas Munroe, William Brent, William 
 Cranch, George Blagden, James Barry, and Samuel II. Smith. 
 
 Mr. Smith moved the api)oiiitment of a committee to report 
 to the board the proper steps to be taken for t'arrying into opei-ation 
 the act of the Council establishing the "rermanent Institution for the 
 Education of Youtli in the Cit\' of Washington." In accordance 
 with this motion, Messrs. Smith, Tingey, Cranch, Blagden, and Duval 
 were appointed. 
 
 On September 19, the board publislicd llu-ir by-laws for (he 
 estal)lisbment of (lie Aca<lemy, these by-laws pro\-idiiig thai (liis 
 academy should consis(, of as man}' schools as circums(ances would 
 
Eni'CATIONAL HISTORY. 485 
 
 permit, but tliat :it first it should cousist of but two, one of wbicli 
 should be situated within half a mile of the Capitol, and the other 
 within half a mile of the President's House, subject to removal. Poor 
 children were to be taught reading, writing, grammar, and arithmetic 
 free of expense, while the price of tuition to others was tixed at |5 
 per quarter. The board was authorized to appoint a principal for 
 each school, wlio should receive for his services $500 per year, and 
 in addition to this the tuition money of pupils until they amounted 
 to fifty, and beyond, as determined by the board. But out of his 
 income he was to pa}' schoolhouse rent, for his fuel, and for such 
 other incidentals as might be necessary, and also for such assistants 
 as he might ueed. There was provided a committee of three for eacli 
 school, who were styled the superintending committee, whose duties 
 were to see to the admission of poor children, etc. Robert Brent was 
 vice-president of the board, and Washington Boyd secretary. 
 
 The Washington Academy opened for the reception of impils 
 January 20, 1806, under the direction of Mr. White, principal teaclier 
 at the schoolhouse on Pennsylvania Avenue, west of the President's 
 House, and near Major Sevan's. For the admission of pay pupils, 
 application was made to Mr. White; and for the admission of those 
 whose parents could not afford to paj', application was made to the 
 superintending committee, which at that time consisted of Samuel H. 
 Smith, Nicholas King, and Thomas Munroe. 
 
 The school in the eastern part of the city was opened, May 19, 
 1806, in a commodious brick building owned by Daniel Carroll, north 
 of Stelle's Hotel. The first principal in this school was Rev. Robert 
 Elliott, A. M. Pay pupils applied for admission to Mr. Elliott, while 
 others applied to William Cranch, William Brent, or John Dempsic, 
 superintending coniiriittee. 
 
 July 14, 1806, the following gentlemen were elected trustees of 
 the Washington Academy, by the city Council: Thomas Jeti'erson, 
 William Cranch, Nicholas King, Abraham Bradley, William Brent, 
 Frederick May, and Samuel Hanson. On July 21, the contributors 
 elected the following trustees: Gabriel Duval, Robert Brent, James 
 Davidson, Elias B. Caldwell, James Laurie, and Samuel H. Smith. 
 
 In November, 1806, the trustees of the public schools determined 
 to erect two schoolhouses, one in the eastern and one in the western 
 part of the city, and appropriated $2,400 for the purpose. Mr. 
 Elliott taught his school the second year, and engaged an assistant 
 teacher. On October 16, 1807, Hugh Maguire, who is mentioned 
 elsewhere as having just previously established a private school, was 
 
486 IIISIORY (>/■ WASHINGTON. 
 
 engaged as [jriiaipal of the west side seliool, in place of Mr. White, 
 who liud resigned. Mr. Magnire remained in tiiis position nntil 
 1810, at whieii time tlie compensation was §400 per year from tlie 
 children of the poor, and $20 per [uipil fron) each one that paid. 
 
 In July, 1810, the trustees of this institution elected by the 
 corporation were Thomas II. Gilliss, Daniel Rapine, E. B. Caldwell, 
 Tunis Craven, Mo.ses Young, John P. Van Ness, and Alexander 
 Kerr. Those elected by the contributors were Samuel II. Smith, Jumes 
 Laurie, Gabriel Duval, Robert Brent, William Craiich, and Joseph 
 Mechlin. 
 
 On July 15, 1811, the following trustees were elected: By the 
 contributors, Samuel H. Smith, Gabri^el Duval, James Laurie, Thomas 
 H. Gilliss, Joseph Mechlin; and by the corporation, William Cranch, 
 John P. Van Ness, Elias B. Caldwell, Daniel Rapine, Buller (Jocke, 
 Moses Young, and Buckner Thruston. 
 
 On July 19, 1813, the contributors elected as trustees Gabriel 
 Duval, James Laurie, Elias B. Caldwell, George Blagden, James 
 Davidson, and Joseph Mechlin. On July 28, the Boards of Aldermen 
 and Couucil having failed to elect trustees, the Mayor appointed the 
 following persons: Samuel N. Sniallwood, Alexander McWilliams, 
 Franklin Wharton, Andrew Hunter, William Matthews, Moses Young, 
 and John Haw. 
 
 lu November, 1813, it was determined to build and endow two 
 public schools in Washington, and to build a penitentiar}'. To this 
 end a lottery was established, or provided for, by the corporation, and 
 three citizens from each ward appointed managers of the lottery — 
 i'rom the First Ward, John Davidson, Thomas Muuroe, and John 
 Hewitt; Second Ward, Washington Boyd, Andrew Way, Jr., and 
 Joseph Gilliss, Jr.; Third Ward, William Brent, John Law, and S. 
 N. Sraallwood; Fourth Ward, Buller Cocke, William Brent, and John 
 Dobbyn. 
 
 At a meeting of the board of trustees held August 14, 1814, the 
 following officers were elected: President, Rev. James Laurie; vice- 
 president, Thomas II. Gilliss; secretary, John D. Barclay; superin- 
 tending committee for the Eastern School, George Blagden, Samuel 
 TI. Smith, and William Dougherty; aiul for the Lancastcrian School, 
 Rev. William Matthews, Andrew Way, and Moses Young. 
 
 August 1, 1815, the Mayor api>ointed Josiah Meigs, Dr. William 
 Matthews, Benjamin Ilomans, Moses Young, S. N. Sniallwood, (leorge 
 Blagden, and William Prout trustees of the public schools. On the 
 7th, the hoard organized as follows: President, Ucw James Laurie; 
 
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 487 
 
 vice-president, Josiali Meigs; secretary, John D. Barclay; treasurer, 
 Moses Young. Tlie superintending committee of tljc Western Academy 
 were Benjamin llomans, Rev; James Laurie, and Joseph Mechlin; of 
 the Eastern Academj*, William Brent, George Blagden, and William 
 Dougherty; and of the Lancasterian School, Rev. William Matthews, 
 Moses Young, and Andrew Way. 
 
 On June 28, 1816, the city was divided into two school districts, 
 the First and Second wards constituting the first district, and the Third 
 and Fourth wards the second. Each district had a separate board of 
 trustees, that of tlie first consisting of nine members, six of whom 
 were chosen by the joint Ijallot of the two parts of the city Council, 
 of which number three were taken from the First Ward and three from 
 the Second, and the three remaining members were to be chosen annu- 
 ally by the contributors who had contributed $10 or more toward the 
 support of the scliools. The board of trustees of the second district 
 was chosen annually by both parts of the city Council, and consisted 
 of seven members. The contributors elected as trustees Joseph An- 
 derson, James Davidson, and Andrew Way, Jr. The trustees elected 
 by the corporation were Rev. James Laurie, Rev. William Matthews, 
 Josiah Meigs, Benjamin llomans, Joseph Mechlin, and Moses Young. 
 
 The Lancasterian School was carried on successfully for four 
 years, when a gale of wind so injured the building that it was 
 considered unsafe. This was in tlie spring of 1816. Tiie iiouse 
 was then advertised for sale, and then, in consequence of the rapid 
 increase of population in the Second Ward, the superintending com- 
 mittee could find no building at all. The lottery authorized by law, 
 Ity means of which it was hoped to raise the monc}' necessary to 
 build the Lancasterian schoolhouse, failed to raise the amount, and on 
 this account Mr. Robert Quid was retained at a reduced salary until 
 the schoolhouse should Ijc built; but, in December, 1816, iiaving no 
 hope from the lottery, and not knowing when the corporation would 
 build a schoolhouse, the trustees rented a room on F Street, between 
 Ninth and Tenth, and in that room opened the school on Decemher 
 17, 1816. 
 
 Tlie officials of the public schools elected August 3, 1817, were as 
 
 follows: President, Rev. James Laurie; vice-[iresident, ; 
 
 secretary and treasurer, .John D. Barclay. The superintending com- 
 mittee for the Washington Academy were Joseph Ander.son, Rev. James 
 Laurie, and Rev. William Hawley; and for the Lancasterian Sciiool, 
 Josiah Meigs, Rev. William Matthews, and Thomas II. Gilliss. 
 
 A most interesting occasion was that of the visit to this country 
 
488 ///S/Oh')- OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 of Mr. Joseph Liincaster, wlio delivered a lecture in Congress Hall 
 January 2G, 1819. 
 
 July 3, 1820, the trustees elected were, for the first district, Josiah 
 Meigs, William Williamson, James Iloban, William Matthews, James 
 II. Handy, John P. Van Ness, and Andrew Ooyle; for the second 
 district, Andrew Hunter, Daniel Carroll of Duddington, Charles B. 
 Hamilton, John Crabb, George Watterston, Daniel Rapine, and James 
 Carberry. The board for 1822 was as follows: First district, Thomas 
 Munroe, James 11. Handy, William Williamson, C. W. Goldsborough, 
 James Iloban, William Matthews, and George Sweeney; for the second 
 district, Edmund S. Lewis, George Watterston, A. T. McCormick, S. 
 N. Smallwood, M. Wright, Daniel Rapine, and Samuel Miller. 
 
 Ill June, 1826, the following trustees were appointed: First 
 district, Rev. William Matthews, Rev. Robert Little, Rev. David 
 Baker, C. W. Goldsborough, Christ Andrews, John Wells, and George 
 Sweeney; second district. Rev. A. T. McCormick, Rev. Ethan Allen, 
 George Watterston, George Blagden, Daniel Rapine, Edmund S. Lewis, 
 and Timothy Winn. 
 
 Robert Ould was still principal of the Lancasterian School, estab- 
 lished in 1811, into which there had been received 1,101 pupils; 879 
 had left, and 222 remained. 
 
 June 29, 1827, the trustees elected for the first district were Rev. 
 William Matthews, Daniel Baker, Robert Little, C. W. Goldsborough, 
 John N. Moulder, James Larned, and George Sweeney; for the second 
 district. Rev. A. T. McCormick, Ethan Allen, George Watterston, John 
 Coyle, Jr., William A. Smallwood, Charles B. Hamilton, and G. W. 
 Peter. 
 
 June 27, 1828, the trustees of the public schools elected were: For 
 the first district, Rev. William Matthews, Rev. William Hawley, James 
 Larned, George W. Dashiell, John N. Moulder, William G. Elliott, and 
 George Sweeney; for the second district. Rev. A. T. McCormick, George 
 Watterston, G. W. Reter, Charles B. Hamilton, John Coyle, Jr., C. T. 
 Coote, and Edward W. Clarke. 
 
 For Ihc public schools, trustees were aiiiuially elected until 1837, 
 up to which time the only system of public education recognized in 
 the District of Columbia was that supported in part by the corpora- 
 tion and in part by individual subscriptions. The free schools, of 
 which Ihcrc were two, wvw started by the corporation with money 
 derived from lotteries; but so far, the free schools were totally inade- 
 quate to the necessities of the youth of the city. There were tiien 
 about 3,000 white chihlren from iive to fifteen years of age, and of 
 
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 489 
 
 these about 1,200 were being educated at private academies, and about 
 350 only at the public schools. Thus about 1,400 of the children of 
 the ages mentioned were entirely destitute of educational facilities, 
 and if tiic same ratio were applied to the entire District, it api)eared 
 that there were ui)ward of 2,300 children growing u[i in ignorance 
 within the Ten Miles Square. At the same time, there were many 
 among the poorer classes who would not send their children to the 
 free schools for fear of incurring the stigma of having them educated 
 by public charity. This unreasonable, but natural, feeling could only 
 be removed by some such admirable system as that of the public 
 schools of New England, where the children of the jioor men enjoyed 
 the same privileges as the chihlren of the rich, and where there was 
 made uo discrimination in the public mind as to the different classes 
 of children attending the public schools. In snch a system of educa- 
 tion no stigma applied to one that did not apply to all, and hence 
 there was no stigma at all applied to any. 
 
 Congress had not appropriated any money for schools in the 
 District of Columbia. This was not attributed, however, to the par- 
 simony of Congress, liut to the neglect of the city authorities of 
 Washington, who had never presented the claims of the children 
 of the District to that body of legislators. In fact, the corporate 
 authorities of the city, instead of placing the subject of education 
 among those of first importance, had always treated it as of but 
 minor consequence. They had spent their time upon canals, railroads, 
 banks, and other public institutions, and permitted public education 
 to suffer and almost perish from neglect. 
 
 But in the earh^ part of 1837, the trustees of the corporation free 
 schools, by the direction of the Council, appointed a committee to 
 bring the necessities of the District of Columbia to the attention of 
 Congress, and to ask of that body such assistance as would lay the 
 foundation of a general system of education to embrace the entire 
 population of the District of Columbia from five to fifteen years of 
 age. The memorial prepared by this committee was presented to the 
 appropriate committee of the Senate during its session of 1836-37, 
 but, as that session drew to a close with but little prospect of action, 
 it was suggested to the citizens of Georgetown and Alexandria that 
 they appoiiit committees to make similar demands upon Congress at the 
 beginning of its session of 1837-38, so that measures might be adopted 
 which should apply to the children of the entire District of Columbia, 
 and under which the children of the poorest should enjoy the same 
 educational privileges and advantages as the children of the rich. 
 
490 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 On July 3, 1837, trustees of the public schools were elected as 
 follows: First district, Rev. William MattViews, Rev. William Ilawley, 
 Lewis II. Maciiem, James Larned, John D. Barclay, John W. Maury, 
 and William B. Magruder; second district, Rev. A. T. McCormick, John 
 Coyie, Thomas Blagden, Ricliard Barry, William Speiden, James 
 Marshall, Marmaduke Dove, and James Carberry. 
 
 In the first district, for the year 183(3-37, J. Laurens Ilenshaw 
 was the teacher. According to liis rei)ort, msule to the trustees, for 
 tiie year ending June 28, 1837, there had been admitted to the school, 
 which was still conducted under the act of October, 1808, from its 
 commencement, in February, 1812, 1,488 boys and 675 girls, an aggre- 
 gate of 2,163 pupils; and at tlie time of making the report, there 
 were in attendance 207 pupils — 186 boys and 21 girls. 
 
 In 1839, the question again arose as to why it was that the cor- 
 porate authorities paid so little attention to the education of girls. In 
 the Western Free Schools they were not admitted at all, in conse- 
 quence, it was thought, of the immoral tendency of mingling together 
 so great a number of the two sexes, both in and out of school. While 
 this exclusion, for this reason, was considered proper, yet it was not 
 thought proper that no provision should be made for the education 
 of tlie girls. 
 
 July 1, 1841, J. Laurens Ilenshaw made his report of the condi- 
 tion of the scliools in the iirst district, consisting of the First ami 
 Second wards. There had been in attendance two luiiulred and sixty- 
 nine pupils ill school during the year. 
 
 The condition of education in Washington in Februai'y, 1842, is 
 shown by the following statistics: The number of public schools was 
 2, and of private schools 19. The number of white persons under 
 twenty years of age was 9,000; the numlier between five and fifteen 
 years of age, 4,488; and it was estimated that the nuniljcr between 
 four and sixteen years of age was 4,900. The estimated number under 
 four and above sixteen, of school age, was 500; so that the total school 
 population of the city was 5,400. From official sources it was learned 
 that the number in actual attendance at school was 989, leaving the 
 large number of 4,411 that did not attend school at all. The cost of 
 educating the 989 that did attend was estimated to be as high as 
 $35,000, and some thought it was considerably higher; and it was 
 believed that by means of a thorough system of pulilic schools all 
 the cliildren in the city might be cdiU'atod for a less sum. 
 
 Such considerations as the above led the committee on publico 
 schools lo submit to the Boards (if Aldermen and tVunmon (!!oiiiicil. a 
 
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 491 
 
 report in relation to tlio establishment and snp[)ort of connnon and 
 high schools in the city of Washington. This rciiort was snbmitted 
 November 7, 1842. The annnal message of the Mayor had discussed 
 the subject of education, and tiie committee said: "Provision should 
 be made for the education of the entire youth of the cinnniunity at 
 the public expense and at tlie earliest possible period. At present, no 
 systematic or efHcient plan exists,'' etc. The cost of educating the 
 one thousand two luindred cliildren, or thereabouts, that attended 
 school, inchiding tiie cost of books, stationer}', etc., fell but little, if 
 au}-, sliort of |40,000 pei' year. Onc-lialf of that amount judicionsl}' 
 expended, so it was thought, would give equal if not better instruc- 
 tion to the school population of tlie city. The committee therefore 
 suggested the establisliment of a number of schools sufficient to meet 
 the wants of the peo[)le, by the imposition of a tax upon tlie assess- 
 able property of tlie city. 
 
 The committee, at tliat time, had in contemplation the establish- 
 ment of a high school in connection with the proposed system of 
 common schools, admitting to tlie high scliool those who proved most 
 proficient in scholarship in the common schools. Their propositi(Mi 
 was to erect seven schoolhouses, and to appropriate $15,000 with 
 which to pay tiie teachers and to purchase the necessary books, sta- 
 tionery, etc. Their report was quite long, and very able and compre- 
 hensive. The committee consisted of James F. Haliday, C. A. Davis, 
 John T. Towers, John A. Lynch, John E. Neale, and E. W. Clarke. 
 
 But in Washington, as in ail other parts of this country, when it 
 was proposed to establish schools in whieli the children of the poor 
 should be educated at the expense of the ricii, there were those who 
 could not be convinced of the justice of the system by even the most 
 forcible and logical reasoning. And here, as elsewliere, the objection 
 was raised, that under this plan the poor would be taxed to educate 
 the children of the rich! This was, of course, a great perversion of 
 reasoning faculties, and a great misapprehension of tiie purposes and 
 plans of the committee. 
 
 On January 16, 1843, the Board of Aldermen convened to listen 
 to a report from tlie committee appointed to talce into consideration 
 the advantages to l:)e dei'ivcd from the establishment of common and 
 liigh schools in the city. The report was not long, but it is not 
 deemed necessary to present it in full in this connection; it is therefore 
 summarized, as follows: The corporate authorities of the city of 
 Wasiiington have the necessary power to establisli sucli a system 
 of schools, granted to them in the charter in the following words: 
 
492 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 "The corporation shall liave full power uiul authority to lay and collect 
 taxes upon the real and personal property within the said city, provided 
 tiuit no tax shall be laid upon real proi)erty at a higher rate than 
 tlirce-t'ourths of one jier centum on the assessed value thereof, except 
 for the special purjiose hereafter provided"; and "the said corporation 
 shall also have power and authority to jirovide for the establislinient 
 and superintendence of public schools, and to endow the same; and 
 to lay and collect taxes for the expense thereof." 
 
 But, notwithstanding' the fact, as the committee reported it, that 
 the corporation had sufHcient authority to establish such schools, it 
 yet thought that it would be inexpedient to exercise the power at 
 tliat time, for the reason that when the rate of taxation was increased 
 to pay the interest on the Holland loan, the result was to check and 
 almost to prevent the making of improvements in the city. "The 
 noise of the busy workman, so cheering to the friends of the city, 
 was rarely heard." " When, however, through the kind liberality of 
 Congress, tlie load of debt under which we were struggling was partly 
 removed and the taxes restored to the original rate, the city, rousing 
 from its lethargy, has increased and prospered at a ratio wiiich, under 
 all circumstances, has rarely been exceeded by any city east of the 
 mountains. Sliall we again, l)y an increased imi)osition of taxes upon 
 real and personal property, the very means by which our city is 
 extended and improveil, ciieck those imjirovements, and again have to 
 lament the stagnation of mechanical and other business, and the cessa- 
 tion of our present prosperity'? We are sure that the voice of the 
 [leople will answer, No!" etc. The committee was therefore opposed 
 to imposing a tax upon real and personal property at that time. They 
 were also opposed to taxing certificates of stock and also to asking aid 
 from Congress. They then recommended the indefinite postponement 
 of the petition. Their report was adopted by a vote of yeas, 9, to 
 nays, 2. 
 
 On July 24, 1843, the Mayor, W. W. Seaton, submitted to the 
 Boards of Aldermen and Common Council some statistics with refei'- 
 ence to the schools. The teacher of the Western Free Schools reported 
 the attendance, during tiio year then closing, of 336 pupils, an increase 
 of 134 over the previous year. Tiic teacher of the Eastern Free School 
 rcpoi'tcd 174 scholars in attendance. The two female charity schools, to 
 which the corporation had for some years contributed pecuniary aid, 
 continued to llourisli, and to do honor to the benevolent ladies by 
 whom they wei'i' instituted. The report of the managers of the Cen- 
 ti'al Schools siiuwcd I hat I lie number of pupils registered was 80, 
 
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 493 
 
 iiiid the iittciulaiice (iO. Tlie Cupitol Hill school hud 85 registered 
 pupils. 
 
 Mr. Seatoii then said that he regretted the postpoiieinent of the 
 adoption of the i)ublic-sehool system. "Anxious as I was to see 
 introduced the wise and admirable system of the North, by which 
 education is amply placed within the reach of the poor and rich 
 alike, the diversity of views which the scheme has encountered, and 
 the doubts which are found to exist in regard either to tlie power of 
 imposing taxes for its support, or the expediency of imposing them, 
 must, I fear, forbid for the present the hope for its adoption." 
 
 Notwithstanding the adverse action of the Council, the Mayor 
 recommended the estublishmout of an additional public school. Tlie 
 income from the school fund was then 1^3,000, and the two schools 
 then in operation cost the city but $1,800 per year, leaving a surplus 
 of |1,200, which might be devoted to the support of a third school. 
 Yet the Councils did not take immediate action on the Mayor's 
 recommendation. 
 
 There were members in the Council quite as anxious as was the 
 Mayor for a system of public education. On October 2, 1844, Ignatius 
 Mudd introduced a bill into the Common Council entitled, "An Act 
 to Increase the Number of Public Schools," which was read twice, ami 
 referred to the committee on public sciiools by a vote of 13 to 5. At 
 length, on December 6, 1844, an ordinance was adopted by the cor- 
 porate authorities to increase the number of public schools in the city 
 of Washington and for other purposes. By this act the city was 
 divided into four public-school districts, as follows: The first district 
 was composed of the First Ward and that part of the Second Ward 
 north of the canal; the second district consisted of all that jiart of 
 the Third Ward north of the canal; the third district consisted of the 
 Fourth and Sixth wards and that part of the Fifth Ward east of 
 tlie canal, and the fourth district, the rest of the city. 
 
 This act provided for the election by the Boards of Aldermen 
 and Common Council of a board of school trustees of three persons 
 from each school district, who, together with the Mayor of the city, 
 should have the management of the schools of the city. The Mayor 
 was authorized to have erected a good and substantial school house on 
 that portion of Judiciary Square granted by the President of the United 
 States for that purpose, for the second district; and he was required 
 to secure ground and have erected thereon a good schoolhouse for 
 the fourth district. The cost of the schoolhouse in the second district 
 was uot to exceed $2,000, and that of the house in the fourtli district 
 
494 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 was not to exceed ^1,300. Tliere was appointed one male teaclier for 
 each of the schools, who was the priiieipai thereof, and who iiad 
 charge of the scliool. All wliite children botwoeii the ag-es of six 
 and sixteen j'ears were admitted to the schools niider this ai't, at a 
 tnition not to exceed fifty cents poi' month, to he paid in advance. 
 
 C)n Decendjer 1(), 1844, the trnstees elected under this act were 
 as follows: First district, liobert Farnham, George J. Abbott, and 
 John F. Hartley; for the second district, Peter Force, Tliomas Donoho, 
 and dolin C. McKelden ; third district, John P. Ingle, Noble Young, and 
 William M. Ellis; fourth district, Isaac S. Miller, Ignatius Mudd, 
 and Thomas Blagdcn. 
 
 February 28, 1845, an act was passed b}' the corporation, appropi-i- 
 ating |475 to procure a U)t and to cause to be erected thereon a gocxl 
 and substantial schooliiouse for the fourth district, sufficient to accom- 
 modate not less than one hundred and fifty pupils. On April 
 7, Dr. T. Watkius was elected teacher in the second district, and 
 Henry Hardy in the fourth. 
 
 In the summer of 1848, the jmy feature of the public-school 
 system was abolished, and it was ho[ied that all the dissatisfaction 
 which had existed under the old system would disapi)car, and that in 
 a short time all classes would be united in the support of the public 
 schools. 
 
 Novend)er 22, 18.50. the corporation established four male primary 
 schools, to which females were not, under any circumstances, admitted, 
 eitiier as pupils or teachers. For tlie support of these four schools the 
 following appropriations were made: For compensation to teachers, 
 S1,G37.50; for books, maps, and stationery, $100; for fuel, |00; for 
 furniture and desks, $280; for rent of schoolrooms, !?180; for contingent 
 expenses, ?45; total, $2,302 50. 
 
 By 1851 the public schools of the city were placed in a flourish- 
 ing condition, and great interest was taken in tiieir success b}' the 
 people. Prizes and diplomas were given to meritorious pupils. August 
 16, 1851, Dr. Tobias Watkins, who had been principal of the Second 
 District School ever since the establishment of the system, declined 
 u renomination for tiie position, and was succeeded by T. M. Wilson. 
 Tiic expenses of the imblic schools for 1850 were $11,519.14, and for 
 1851 $12,935.92. Under the law of November 22, 1850, mentioned 
 above, four new primary schools were established at the beginning of 
 the following year, making tln> total number In actn'C operation 23 — 
 111 prinuiry and t disli'ut schools. There were 33 teachers — 23 males 
 and lit lemak's. The nundjer of pujiils admitted througli the year 
 
EDCCAriONAL HISTORY. 495 
 
 was 3,317, and tlie average attendance for tlie year ending June 30, 
 1851, was 1,755. In 1854, there were 3G teacliers, at an aggregate 
 annual salary of §12,400. Tlie highest salary paid at that time was 
 1800 per annum. The lowest was $200. All white children between 
 the ages of six and sixteen were admitted to the schools. The act 
 under w-hich the schools were then operated imposed a tax of %\ upon 
 all white male citizens of twenty-one years of age and u[)wai'd. In 
 September, 1854, there were still four school districts in the cit}". In 
 the first district there were 10 teachers; in the second, 10; in the 
 third, 11, and in the fourth, 6. The principals in the districts were as 
 follows: First district, S. Kelly; second district, Thomas M. Wilson; 
 third district, dolm Fell; fourth district, J. E. Thompson. There was 
 as yet no snjierintendeut of the public schools, nor an\' high school. 
 The total expenses of the schools for the year were 817,633.88. The 
 number of pupils on the roll was, in the first district, 552; second, 
 504; third, 631, and fourth, 378; total in the four districts, 2,065. 
 
 From 1854 to 1861, much improved school furniture was intro- 
 duced, the municipal authorities cooperating with school trustees in 
 extending facilities for instruction. 
 
 An attempt was made in 1857 to establish the office of superin- 
 tendent of public instruction, but the measure was vetoed by the 
 Mayor. The total appropriations for this period were §257,721.74. 
 
 The period from 1862 to 1866 begins to mark the development 
 of the school sj'stem. Thirty schools of different grades were author- 
 ized. The Wallach sehoolhouse, the pioneer of the present excellent 
 public-school buildings, was erected at an expense of some |30,000. 
 It was pointed at by many at the time as " Wallach's folly"; but 
 time has vindicated the wisdom of its erection. Steps were taken 
 also for the erection of the Franklin building. The aggregate expen- 
 ditures for this period were $390,727.10. Tiie gross appropriations for 
 school purposes within the District from 1805 to 1866, a period of 
 sixty-one years, were §918,090.89. 
 
 September 1, 1862, an act was passed by the city Councils grad- 
 ing the public schools and fixing the salaries of the teachers. This 
 act provided that the schools should be known as primary, secondary, 
 intermediate, and grammar schools. There were then four school 
 districts, each of which was divided into male and female grammar 
 schools, male and female intermediate schools; and there were as 
 many secondai-y and primary schools as were necessary. The pre- 
 ceptors of the male grammar schools received under this act |1,200 
 per annum; of the female grammar schools, §550 per annum; the ' 
 
490 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 teachers of the male intermediate schools, $500 per auuura; and of 
 tlie female intermediate schools, $450 per annum. Other teachers re- 
 ceived smaller salaries. 
 
 When the schools opened in the fall of 18(34, there were 8 gram- 
 mar schools, 8 intermediate schools, 27 secondary schools, and 20 
 jiriniary schools; total number of schools, 03; capacity of the build- 
 ings, 3,780. 
 
 A new public-school building was erected in 1869 on Four and a 
 Half Street in South "Washington, between M and N streets. It was 
 two stories high, thirty-two by seventy-two feet in size, and cost |0,500. 
 it contained four schoolrooms, each tliirty feet square in the clear. 
 
 Ill 1870, the statistics for the pultlic schools were as follows: 
 There were 131 schools authorized by law, and there were established 
 117. The foui' districts had the following numbers of scholars: Dis- 
 trict No. 1, 1,271; No. 2, 1,430; No. 3, 1,554, and the fourth, 1,156; 
 total, 5,411. (_)f the teachers then employed, J. E. Thompson was 
 first appointed in December, 1847; Mrs. M. E. Kodier, in 1849, as 
 was also Miss Moss; Miss Emily Billings, in 1850; and Mrs. Emily 
 Myers, in 1852. In the four districts the lots upon which the pub- 
 lic schoolhouses stood were valued at $94,804, and the buildings at 
 $319,000. Tlie furniture, apjiaratus, etc., in the four districts were 
 valued at .?40,115; total value of school property, $453,979. 
 
 The period from 1807 to 1870 was marked by some new depart- 
 ures in school administration. The office of public superintendent 
 was created in September, 1809. In 1873 a normal school was estab- 
 lished, and Miss Lucilla E. Smith was chosen the first principal. 
 
 In 1871, the municipal government was changed and placed under 
 the control of a Territorial governor and legislative assembly. It 
 continued until 1874, when the present triumvirate commission was 
 established. The aggregate expenditures on schools during this period 
 (1807 to 1876) were $2,404,000. 
 
 The superintendency of the city schools has been confined to 
 but few men. The first was Zalmon Kichards. He was succeeded, after 
 many years' service, by Professor J. Ormond Wilson, who held this 
 position for some fourteen years, to be followed b}- the present incum- 
 bent, Pi'ofessor W. B. Powell, from Illinois. 
 
 The colored schools have likewise a superintendent. Professor 
 G. T. ('ook, who is equally responsible with Superintendent Powell 
 for the management of the scliools of his race. 
 
 The following table, showing list of i)ublic-school buililings owned 
 and occupied, has not only statistical but historical interest: 
 
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 
 
 497 
 
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 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 
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ED UCA TION. 4L HIS TOR Y. 
 
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500 
 
 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Tlie report of the city schools for the school year ending June 
 30, 1891, contains some statistics which show progress in the develop- 
 ment of poi)uhu' education. They are significant, when compared 
 with the facts given in the preceding portion of this chapter. 
 
 The lirst table shows the enrollment of pupils, with the per cent, 
 of increase, from 1880 to 1891, inclusive. 
 
 Ybae. 
 
 Enrolled. 
 
 Per Ct. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Enrolled. 
 
 Per Ct. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Enrolled. 
 
 Per Ct. 
 
 1880 
 
 21,600 
 
 
 1884 
 
 23,867 
 
 1.11 
 
 1888 
 
 28,553 
 
 2.95 
 
 1881 
 
 22,061 
 
 2.13 
 
 1885 
 
 25,157 
 
 5.40 
 
 1889 
 
 29,565 
 
 3.54 
 
 1882 
 
 22,826 
 
 3.46 
 
 1886 
 
 26,011 
 
 6.97 
 
 1890 
 
 30,366 
 
 2.70 
 
 1883 
 
 23,594 
 
 3.36 
 
 1887 
 
 27,733 
 
 3.05 
 
 1891 
 
 31,301 
 
 3.07 
 
 During the school year closing June 30, 1891, the following ex- 
 hibit was made: 
 
 
 Total Enrollment. 
 
 Teachers Employed. 
 
 School. 
 
 White. 
 
 Colored. 
 
 Total. 
 
 White. 
 
 Colored. 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 45 
 
 1,659 
 
 22,525 
 
 26 
 
 376 
 
 13,745 
 
 71 
 2,035 
 36,870 
 
 
 
 
 High 
 
 Gramiuar & Primary 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 24,229 
 
 14,147 
 
 38,376 
 
 530 
 
 265 
 
 795 
 
 
 
 The aggregate expenses for all causes during the year were: For 
 day schools, |683,120.33; night schools, |6,468.85; total, $089,589.18. 
 Compared with the expenditures prior to the War, these figures arc 
 cpiite startling, and show that the schools are tirndy planted in public 
 confidence. 
 
 Georgetown was incorporated as a city in November, 1789. No 
 trace of legislation touching public schools is found prior to Decem- 
 ber, 1842, when the system was established. I'rior to 1810, educational 
 opportunities were confined to private schools. About the close of the 
 year 1810, the "Lancasterian School Society" was organized. Undt'r 
 its protection a school was opened, November 18, 1811, by liobcrt 
 Ould, a pupil of Joseph Lancaster, the founder of the system. 
 
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 501 
 
 This school was maintained by private aid until 1815, when 
 the Georgetown corporation appropriated* $1,000 for its support, and 
 continued that appropriation annually' until 1842, when the school 
 was suspended. Subsequent to this time, the primary education of the 
 place was taken charge of by the board of guardians, and schools 
 became practically free to all. 
 
 In August, 1844, the city authorities authorized the guardians to 
 receive donations for the support of the schools. Four years later, the 
 guardians were directed to charge, not exceeding $1 per month, all 
 pupils whose parents were considered able to pa}' tuition. 
 
 In August, 1849, the board of guardians were authorized to 
 purcliase a churcli edifice, on Montgomery Street, for school purposes, 
 and to issue bonds in .the sum of $1,200 for its ])ayment. Tiie 
 sum of $800 was also appropriated to retit. the property. Ajipropria- 
 tions ranging from $1,500 to $2,500 were made annually to support 
 the schools, and this arrangement continued until 1857, when the 
 Washington plan of assessing $1 upon each free white male resident 
 twenty-one years of age and upwards was adopted. In 1859, the city 
 made the requisite appropriation to build a commodious house on High 
 Street, at an expense of $4,500. In April of the next year, applica- 
 tion was again made to Congress for an appropriation for educational 
 purposes, but in vain. 
 
 Georgetown College, located on the Potomac, within the District 
 of Columbia, is the oldest Catholic and one of the first American 
 institutions of learning. The germ of the college may be traced to a 
 promise, made about 1640, almost contemporaneous with the founding 
 of Harvard University, by the English provincial of the Jesuits to 
 Father Ferdinand Poulton, who was sent from England, in 1638, as 
 superior of tlie Maryland missions. One of Poulton's darling schemes, 
 on coming to America, was the establishment of a seat of learning in 
 Maryland; and it is asserted by those versed in the origin of the insti- 
 tution, that his purpose was to locate it at or near the present site of 
 the city of Washington. Accordingly, he wrote to the English provin- 
 cial to obtain sanction, and received, in reply, this assurance: "The 
 hope of establishing the college which you hold forth, I endjrace with 
 pleasure, and shall not delay my sanction to the plan when it shall 
 have reached maturity." 
 
 This plan, in its gradual nnfolding, included work done by migra- 
 tory academies near Calverton Manor, on the Wicomico River; at 
 Newton Manor, and at other places. In these peripatetic institutions, 
 driven hither and thither by frenzied persecution, were developed 
 
502 H/SVOR]' OF WASH/NGTON. 
 
 both tlie iiK'ii and the iirincililes wliieh shouUl ultiiiiutely guide the 
 elierislied enterprise to success. One of these men, John Carroll, was 
 specially trained for his work. lie became the first Archbishop of 
 Baltimore. The cherished "maturity" had finally arrived. Accord- 
 ingly, with a zeal nursed in the thorough appreciation of the necessity 
 for scholastic training, Father Carroll began to move toward the estab- 
 lishment of a place of higher education. 
 
 At a meeting of the clerg}', held at Whitemarsh, November 13, 
 1786, Dr. Carroll laid l)efore that body a plan for the establishment 
 of an academy, and recommended the site finally selected. 
 
 The following year, a committee, of which Dr. Carroll seems to 
 have had large control, agreed with William Deakius, Jr., and John 
 Threlkeld for a tract enclosing about an acre and a half, the price 
 being seventy-five pounds. 
 
 Much difficulty was experienced in securing a building. It was 
 a three-story brick structure, fifty by sixty-three feet, capable of 
 accommodating all the students likely to enter its walls. In a letter 
 to his friend Plowden, under date of February 24, 1790, Dr. Carroll 
 said: "I am greatly obliged to you for your anxiety about our pro- 
 posed academy, as well as for your generous intentions respecting 
 it. I think we shall get enough of it completed this summer to make 
 a beginning of teaching; but our great difficulty will be to get a 
 ])roiicr president — a superintendent. The fate of the school will 
 depend much on the first impression made upon the public, and a 
 president of known ability and reputation would contribute greatly 
 to render that impression a very favorable one." 
 
 As a result of his earnest desire, Bishop Carroll finally succeeded 
 in securing Rev. Robert Plunkett, a man of great piety, learning, and 
 experience, to preside over the new institution. It opened its doors 
 for students in September, 1791. The first pupil to matriculate was 
 William Gaston, of Nortli Carolina. He was a young man of great 
 brilliance, and became an orator of remarkable power. lie was a 
 compeer, in Congress, of such men as Webster, Calhoun, and Clay, 
 the latter of whom, it is alleged, he once vanquished in debate. Rev. 
 Pluidcett remained in charge of the institution but two years, 1791-93, 
 and then resigned, to enter the missionary work of the Church. His 
 labors, howcvci', were sufficient to impart an educational impulse to 
 the academy, and established it in the confidence of the people. 
 
 Krw IMunkctt was succeeded in the presidency by Rev. Robert 
 Molyneux, .lunc 14, 1793. Shortly after his installation, preparations 
 bc^an to be made for the enlargement of facilities. A rectangular 
 
RDUCAT/ONAL HISTORY. 503 
 
 lot north of tlie otlier tract, and containing about two acres, was pur- 
 chased of John Threlkeid for £97 5s. In 1795, a new building, with 
 a frontage of one hundred and Hftj-four feet and an elevation of 
 three stories on one side and four on the other, was erected, adding 
 to the facilities and patronage of the school. 
 
 It will not be within the scope of this work to follow this insti- 
 tution through all the changes and trials which have characterized 
 its development. Tliat has been faithfully done in a large memorial 
 volume, giving a history of its tirst century's growth, to which the 
 reader is referred. It is proper, iiowever, to note that on the 27th 
 of January, 1815, William Gaston, a former student, but then au 
 active member of Congress, introduced into the House a resolution 
 which greatly increased its scope, by empowering it to confer tiie 
 usual college degrees. The bill was approved by President Madi- 
 son, March 1. 
 
 Prior to this date, the college was under the charge of the 
 incorporated clergy of the State of Maryland. Gentlemen under 
 twelve years of age paid ^200 per year, and those over twelve paid 
 .?220 per year, except in cases where the student in theology, having 
 extraordinary expenses, had indulgences allowed liiin, and paid |250 
 per year. The students were taught English, Latin, Greek, all the 
 branches of a classical education, sacred and profane history, geog- 
 raphy, the use of globes, arithmetic, algebra, and geometry, and all 
 other portions of matliematics. The greatest care was taken to teach 
 the students the duties of religion and morals, and they were constantly 
 under the eye of some of the jjrofessors. While the institution was 
 a Catliolic one, yet students of any faith, or of no faith, were admitted; 
 and about this time (1815), the course of study was enlarged to 
 include German, French, and Spanish, rhetoric, belles-lettres, the fine 
 arts, and divinity. 
 
 In 1831 was begun, under the administration of Kev. Thomas 
 F. Mulledy, S. J., the erection of a large building for chapel, 
 refectory, study hall, and rooms for students. Mrs. Decatur, widow 
 of a distinguished naval officer, aided by the loan of $7,000 for that 
 purpose. 
 
 In 1851, initial stei)s were taken to eidarge the sphere of the 
 institution by adding a medical depiartment. Dr. Joshua A. Ritchie, a 
 graduate of the class of 1835, was tiie moving spirit. The organiza- 
 tion began with a full faculty, on the 1st of May, 1851. Improvised 
 rooms had to be secured for this new department; finally', in 1882, a 
 new building was erected on II Street, between Ninth and Tenth 
 
504 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 streets, the old quarters on the coriier of Tenth iind E streets proving 
 insufficient. 
 
 The law department was established in 1870, its regular courses 
 beginning in October of that year. Its organization consisted of Kev. 
 John Early, president; Judge Charles P. James, vice-president; Charles 
 W. Hoft'man, secretary and treasurer, and a full corps of professors. 
 The new structure erected in 1891 is a iine one, on E Street between 
 Fifth and Sixth streets. 
 
 On the 12th of December, 1877, the first stone of a new college 
 structure was laid, and by the next December the roof was placed 
 on the completed north pavilion. During the next two years, other 
 important additions were made to the structure. 
 
 During the first century of its active existence, Georgetown Col- 
 lege has been presided over i)y some of the ablest men within the 
 ranks of the Cluir^'b of which it has been the pioneer institution of 
 learning. The following is the list: 
 
 Eev. Robert riunkett, 1791-93; Rev. Robert Molyneux, 1793-96; 
 Rev. William L. Du Bourg, 1796-99; Rt. Rev. Leonard Neale, D. D., 
 1799-1806; Rev. Robert Molyneux, S. J., 1806-08; V. Rev. William 
 Matthews, 1808-10; Rev. Francis Neale, S. J., 1810-12; Rev. John 
 Grassi, S. J., 1812-17: Rev. Benedict J. Fenwick, S. J., 1817-18; Rev. 
 Anthony Kohlniann, S. J., 1818-20; Rev. Enoch Fenwick, S. J., 1820-22; 
 Rev. Benedict J. Fenwick, S. J., 1822-25; Rev. Stephen L Dubisson, 
 S. J., 1825-26; Rev. William Feiner, S. J., 1826-29; Rev. William 
 Bcsehter, S. J., 1829; Rev. Thomas F. Mulledy, S. J., 1829-37; Rev. 
 William McSherry, S. J., 1837-40; Rev. Joseph A. Lopez, 1840; Rev. 
 James Ryder, S. J., 1840-45; Rev. Samuel A. Mulledy, S. J., 1845; Rev. 
 Thomas F. Mulledy, S. J., 1845-48; Rev. James Ryder, S. J., 1848-51; 
 Rev. Charles IL Stonestreet, S. J., 1851-52; Rev. Bernard A. Maguire, 
 S. J., 1852-58; Rev. John Early, S. J., 1858-65; Rev. Bernard A. 
 Maguire, S. J., 1866-70; Rev. John Early, S. J., 1870-73; Rev. Patrick 
 F. Healy, S. J., 1873-82; Rev. James A. Doonan, S. J., 1882-88; Rev. 
 Joseph Havens Richards, S. J., 1888 . 
 
 The institution is in a prosperous condition, its various depart- 
 ments having a liberal patronage. 
 
 The Columbian College was incorpoiatcd by an act of Congress 
 in February, 1821. The movement resulting in this incorporation was 
 started early in 1817, by a returned missionary from Lidia, Rev. Luther 
 Rice, who conceived the idea of founding such a college in Washington, 
 for the education of ministers of tlu' (lospcl in the sju'cial service of 
 I lie r>:i[ilisl iliii()iiiiii:itioii of Christians. Aroiuxl this college, he 
 
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 505 
 
 projected schools of philosophical, scieutitic, and classical culture, 
 which were to be national in their aims and nonsectarian in their 
 discipline. 
 
 A "Literary Association," formed of Eev. Mr. Kice, Rev. Oba- 
 diah B. Brown, Rev. Spencer H. Cone, and Enoch Reynolds, purchased 
 a, piece of ground containing forty-six and one-half acres adjoining 
 the city of Washington, paying therefor $7,000. This was in 1819. 
 Among the contributors to this sum were John Quincy Adams, Wil- 
 liam II. Crawford, and John C. Caliioun, members of President 
 Monroe's Cabinet, together with thii'ty-two members of Congress and 
 many of the citizens of Washington. The trustees named in the act 
 of incorporation were Obadiali B. Brown, Luther Rice, Enoch Rey- 
 nolds, Josiah Meigs, Spencer H. Cone, Daniel Brown, Return .1. 
 Meigs, Jr., Joseph Gibson, Joseph Cone, Thomas Corcoran, Burgiss 
 Allison, Thomas Sewall, and Joseph Thaw. The first meeting of 
 this board of trustees was held March 5, 1821, and on the 6th Rev. 
 Obadiah B. Brown was elected president of the board, Enoch Rey- 
 nolds secretary, and Luther Rice treasurer. 
 
 The erection of a college edifice had been commenced in 1820, 
 and it was completed in 1822, at a cost of |35,000. This building was 
 one hundred and seventeen feet by forty-six feet in size, and four 
 stories high. There were also erected a Philosophical Hall, and two 
 dwelling houses for the professors. Rev. William Staughton, D. D., a 
 native of England, and an eminent pulpit orator, was the first presi- 
 dent of the institution. The first circular of the college was issued 
 June 27, 1821; the theological department opened on September 5, 
 1821, and the classical department on January 9, 1822. For admission 
 to the freshman class, it was necessar}' to be able to write Latin 
 correctly, and to read with facility Csesar's Commentaries, Virgil, 
 Sallust, Cicero's Select Orations, the Greek of the New Testament, 
 and the QraEca 31inora, and to have an acquaintance with common 
 arithmetic, English grammar, and the elements of geography. 
 
 The expenses of those who only attended the preparatory school 
 during the day were less than $50 per annum; while of those who 
 boarded in the institution, the expenses were $2.(35 per week for board, 
 lights, fuel, and incidentals; for librar\', room rent, and furniture, $20 
 per annum. Tuition in the college classes was $50 per annum, and in 
 the preparatory school, $32 per annum. 
 
 As early as November 15, 1821, the project of establishing a school 
 of medicine was discussed, and but a short period afterward it was 
 decided that a law school should be instituted "at no distant day." 
 
50G HTSTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Tlie t'dllowinu- year, Liitlier Kicc; agitated tlie founding of a philo- 
 sopliical department, and tiie selienie was iiraetically adopted in 
 1823, a cireiilai- being addressed Ij}- tlie college autliorities to mil- 
 itary and naval autliorities in tlie United States to secure their 
 cooperation in collecting illustrative material for the institution. From 
 these indications it will be seen that the institution was rapidly assum- 
 ing the scope and character of a university. 
 
 The tirst college commencement occurred on the 15th of Decem- 
 ber, 1824, its exercises being witnessed b}' the President of the United 
 States, certain members of the Cabinet, prominent members of Con- 
 gress, and General Lafayette. 
 
 The opening of the college was auspicious. The attendance was 
 quite good; but the heavy expense attending the erection and equip- 
 ment of buildings and the paying of salaries had the eftect, in the 
 face of small tuition receipts and the absence of an endowment fund, 
 to produce a financial panic. The crash came in 1827, when the 
 facultv resigned, and threw a pall over the enterprise. The following 
 year the doors were reo[)eued, and the institution entered upon a 
 more prosperous career. Like other institutions of a similar character, 
 the college had to struggle for existence and growth. The sacrifices 
 of trustees, presidents, and professors ultimately prevailed, and guar- 
 anteed a more prosperous future. 
 
 Dr. Staughtou resigned the presidency of the college in 1827, and 
 was succeeded, in 1828, by Kev. Steiilien Chapiii, D. D., who held the 
 position until he resigned, in 1841. During his administration, the 
 college was freed from the distrust and debt which encumbered it 
 when his career began. 
 
 In 1843, Rev. Joel S. Bacon, D. D., the third president, began 
 the establishment of an endowment fund, which has been accumulat- 
 ing ever since. Among the early contributors to the fund of the 
 college were John Quincy Adams, who at one lime loaned it §18,000, 
 and snbse(juently remitted a [lart of the sum; and John Withers, of 
 \'irginia, who, lietween 1835 and 18(31, made gifts for various purposes 
 to the amount of |70,000. Li 18(55, William VV. Corcoran presented to 
 the college a building for the mcilical school, valued at ?130,000. 
 Seven years later, he proll'ei-ed an estate near the city on t-ondition 
 that §100,000 additional should be obtained for a permanent endow- 
 ment. This amount was obtained, and the college realized from his 
 estate, in 1SK5, the sum of §85,000. In 1883, he gave $30,000 foi- 
 the new university building, and three years later, §25,000 for the 
 permanent endowment fund. 
 
EnrCATIONAl. HISTORY. 507 
 
 111 1873, Mrs. Elizabetli J. Stone, of Wasliington, bequeathed 
 some valiiiible works of art which are now in the ninseuni of tlie 
 university. 
 
 It has been [U'eviously stated that a medical cleiuirtinent was 
 projected in 1821. Thinnas Sewall, M. D., and James M. Staughton, 
 M. D., were chosen pi'ofessors. The school, however, did not formally 
 commence operations until March 30, 1825, when a tlirce-months" 
 course, with twenty-two students, was begun. The school was con- 
 tinued without interruption until 1834, when a sus[)eiision began 
 that continued for tive years, no well-defined cause being known for 
 the suspension. 
 
 The medical department held its sessions in a building at the 
 corner of Tenth and E streets until 1844, when Congress authorized 
 the use of a building on Judiciary Square. This building, enlarged 
 and remodeled in 1853, was occupied for school and hospital purposes 
 until the breaking out of the War, when tlie Government took 
 possession again. For several years, temporary quarters were occupied. 
 This condition was interrupted in 1866, when the Corcoran building 
 on II Street was secureil, and has been used ever since. 
 
 The law department was not opened until February 3, 1826, when 
 a faculty, consisting of Hon. William Cranch, LL. D., Chief Justice 
 of the Circuit Court of the United States, and IIou. Thomas Carroll, 
 clerk of the Supreme Court, was chosen. Owing to financial and 
 other embarrassments, it was discontinued from 1827 to 1865. At the 
 latter date, it was reorganized in a building on Fifth Street, and has 
 become one of the leading institutions of its kind in this country. 
 The Corcoran Scientific School was established in 1884. It has been 
 very successful in its work. In 1887, the dental school was estab- 
 lished, and is rapiiUy growing in numbers and intiuence. 
 
 By act of Congress, dated March 3, 1873, the corporation was 
 changed to that of "The Columbian University." In 188-3-84 , a new 
 university building was erected on the corner of Fifteenth and II 
 streets at a cost of $75,000. The university buildings are worth half 
 a million of dollars. 
 
 The presidents of the institution have been the following: Rev. 
 William Staughton, D. I)., 1821-27; Rev. Stephen Chapin, D. D., 
 1828-41; Rev. Joel Smith Bacon, D. D., 1843-54; Rev. Joseph 
 G. Binney, D. D., 1855-58; Rev. George VV. Samson, D. D., 1859-71; 
 James Clark Welling, LL. D., 1871—. 
 
 The university is in a prosperous condition, and well patronized, 
 as will be seen from the accompanying statistics taken from the 
 
508 ir/STORY OF U'AS-f//NG'/-ON. 
 
 I'cport of tlic iitteiulaiicc during the session of 1890-91: I'reiiaratory 
 school, 95; college proper, 06; Corcoran Scientific School, 110; medical 
 school, 155; school of dentistry, 17; law school, 312; total, 755. 
 
 Howard University was chartered by Congress March 2, 1807. 
 The preparatory department was opened in May, 1868, on Seventli 
 Street, in a leased structure near the site of the university building. 
 The number of students with which the university opened was 5; but 
 it soon increased to 60. The entire number enrolled the first year 
 was 127. The first teacher employed was a i'ailure, but finding this 
 to be the case, he resigned. Tlien A. L. Barber, a graduate of Ober- 
 lin College, took ciiarge, with Miss Julia A. Lord, of Maine, as assis- 
 tant. At the close of the first term of this school, there were 32 
 male students in attendance, and 4 females; but as there were then 
 5,000 colored pupils in the District of Columbia, it seemed certain 
 that these numbers must be greatly increased. 
 
 November, 24, 18(!8, tlie pupils moved into the new university 
 l)uilding. About this time the hiw department of this university 
 was put in operation by the election of John M. Langston, on October 
 12, and A. G. Riddle, December 29, as professors. The department 
 opened Januai'y 1, 1869. It was considered then that the opening 
 of this department was of great historical significance, as it was the 
 only law school ever established for the especial benefit of the colored 
 race. The original members of this class were as follows: From the 
 District of Columbia, C. II. W. Stokely, W. H. Lewis, L. A. Bell; 
 from Pennsvlvania, George D. Johnson; from North Caroliiui, G, L. 
 Mabson; from Ohio, Solomon Johnson, Henry Thomas, 0. G. B. 
 Wall, and John H. Cook. Subsequently, seven other members joined 
 the class. The work of the session closed March 31, 1869, the lecture 
 room being tilled with those interested in the question of the educa- 
 tion of the negro. 
 
 The medical department of this university was opened in 1860, 
 with the following faculty: Major-General O. 0. Howard, LL. D., 
 jiresldent; Silas L. Loomis, M. D,, dean, and professor of chemistry 
 and toxicology; Robert Reybiini, M. D., professor of the principles 
 and practice of medicine; Josejih Taber Johnson, secretary, and 
 professor of obstetrics and diseases of women and children; Edwin 
 Bentl}', professor of descriptive and pathological anatomy; I'hineas II. 
 Strong, professor of the principles and practice of medicine; Charles 
 B. Purvis, professor of tlie materia medica and therapeutics; Robert 
 l\eyburn, professor of practical and operative surgery; Alexander 
 T. Augusta, practical aiuitomy. Lectures began October 6, 1869. The 
 
EIUrCATIONAL HISTORY. 509 
 
 fees were as follows: Mutriculatioii, $5; course of lectures, $135; 
 graduation, $30; single tickets, $20, and clinical instruction, free. 
 
 The originators of llowai'il University were all jSTortlicrn men, and 
 all of them connected with the new Congregational church of Wash- 
 ington. The prime mover in the enterprise was Rev. JB. F. Morris, of 
 Cincinnati, Ohio, who was, at the time, in Government service, and 
 who subsequently, in a tit of melancholy, committed suicide at Spring- 
 iield, Ohio. His father, Thomas Morris, a Senator from Ohio from 1833 
 to 1839, was a native of Virginia, but a strong anti-slavery man and 
 cliampion of freedom. 
 
 Two of Morris's able coadjutors were Rev. Charles B. Boyuton, 
 pastor of the Congregational church, and Mr. II. A. Brewster, who 
 had also philanthropic impulses. The first design was to organize an 
 institution for the preparation of colored men for the ministry. This 
 was modified to include the qualitying of persons for teaching. It was 
 originally intended to admit only colored students, but this was 
 changed to embrace white students, tbus reversing the order established 
 at Oberlin College. 
 
 The university site, one hundred and fifty acres, was purchased 
 of John A. Smith, for $147,500, the deed being delivered May 25, 
 186(3. The sum of $5,000 additional was paid Thomas Coyle for tlie 
 surrender of a lease for a term of ^-ears to take sand from the ground. 
 The university structure is a four-story building of commanding ap- 
 pearance. It and the dormitory structure cost in the aggregate about 
 $100,000. The funds were furnished by the Freedmen's Bureau. 
 
 The presidents of the university include the following: Rev. 
 Charles B. Boynton, D. D., Rev. Byron Sunderland, D. D., Rev. Wil- 
 liam W. Patton, and Rev. James E. Rankin, D. D., LL. D., present 
 incumbent. 
 
 The idea of a national university is much older than a national 
 university'. President Washington, on January 8, 1796, warmly urged 
 upon Congress the establislnnent of such a university, and again on 
 December 7, 1796, as well also as the establishment of a military- 
 academy. A few days afterward, the commissioners of the city of 
 Washington, Gustavus Scott, William Thornton, and Alexander White, 
 presented a memorial to Congress asking for authority to accept dona- 
 tions for such an institution, and stated that President Washington had 
 donated a square of land in the new city containing nearly twenty 
 acres, and that he had ottered to donate fifty shares of stock in the 
 Potomac Companj'. December 21, 1796, Mr. Madison reported that 
 it was expedient that authority be given, iu accordance with the 
 
510 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 memorial, to proper persons to receive and hold in trust pecuniar}' 
 donations in aid of appropi-iations already made toward the establisliment 
 of a national university. 
 
 When Mr. Madison, the father of the Constitution, Itecame Presi- 
 dent of the United 8tates, he also earnestly I'ecommended to Congress 
 the estal)lisliment of such a universit}', which was referred to a com- 
 mittee; while this committee admitted that Congress liad exclusive 
 jurisdiction over the District of Colundiia, and although it said tiiere 
 was no constitutional impediment to the incorporation of such a 
 university, yet the money of the people seemed to them reserved for 
 other uses, etc. Mr. Madison, again on December 5, 181G, urged 
 upon Congress the establishment (>f a national univci'sity, whieh 
 i-cconiniendation was referred to a committee consisting of Mr. Wilde, 
 of Georgia; Mr. Sergeant, of Pennsylvania; Mr. Calhoun, of South 
 Carolina; Mr. Siiett'en, of Vii'ginia; Mr. Herbert, of Maryland; Mr. 
 Savage, of Xe\\' York, and Mr. Ornisby, of Kentucky. On February 
 20, 1817, Mr. Wilde reported a bill "For the Establishment of a 
 National University," which provided that such an institution should 
 be established in the District of Columbia, by means of any money 
 in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. This bill was not taken 
 up for discussion until March 3, 1817, when on account of the pend- 
 ino' adjournment of Congress, it was indefinitely postponed. 
 
 Though various efforts were made, from time to time, for the 
 realization of this iride.sceut project, notliing really tangible was 
 accomplished until 1879, when the National University, undenomina- 
 tional in purpose and composition, was incorporated under tiie general 
 laws of tlie District, by tlie following gentlemen: Hon. Arthur 
 MacArthur, Hon. M. G. Emery, ILjii. Ti:omas Wilson, Hon. Samuel 
 F. Miller, S. S. Baker, Esq., Dr. H. H. Barker, Dr. G. Wythe Cook, 
 Hon. Henry Strong, H(Ui. II. O. Claughton, Eugene Carusi, Esq., and 
 William C. Wittemore, Esq. 
 
 The law department was the first division to organize, that occur- 
 ring at the time of the incorporation. A two-years' course, with a 
 one-year post-graduate annex, was established. Its sessions were iield 
 and are now lield at night, for the accommodation of the large army 
 of clerks in Government service wlio avail themselves of this means 
 of develo[nnent. 
 
 The mcdit-al and dental departments were cstablisiied in 1884, and 
 are both in a tli^urisliing condition, being located in a comfortable 
 building on the corner of Eighth and K streets Northwest. 
 
 Prior to 1890, the President of tiie United States was ex officio 
 
EnrCATIONAL HISTORY. 511 
 
 chancellor of the university. In that year, however, a change occurred, 
 and Hon. S. F. Miller, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, was 
 selected. This position he held until the time of his death, in the 
 autnniu of 1890, since which time Hon. Arthur MacArthur has held 
 the position. 
 
 Of the medical and dental departments, John T. Winter, M. D., is 
 president, and Howard H. Barker, M. D., is dean. 
 
 Of the law department, Hon. Arthur MacArthur, LL. D., is presi- 
 dent, and Eugene D. Carusi, Esq., is secretary and treasurer. 
 
 The institution is in need of a suitable building for general pur- 
 poses. The law school occupies a comfortable building of its own, on 
 Thirteenth Street, near New York Avenue. It was erected in 1890. 
 
 The Catholic University of America, one of the prominent edu- 
 cational institutions of the National Capital and of the country, is 
 pleasantly and advantageously located at the corner of Liucoln Avenue 
 and Fourth Street East Extension. It was incorporated on the 21st 
 of April, 1887, and is, therefore, but a young institution. In addition 
 to its original commodious buildings, it is securing such means as 
 will enable it greatly to increase its facilities for accommodating all 
 departments of work. 
 
 At a meeting of the board of directors on the 8th of April, 
 1891, it was determined to erect, at once, a new building for the 
 Hall of Philosophy. The means therefor were obtained from a 
 bequest by Rev. James McMahon, rector of St. Andrew's Church, City 
 Hall Place, New York City, amounting to some §400,000. 
 
 Dr. McMahon's generosity is a fine supplement to the bequest 
 made by Miss Caldwell, which furnished the magnificent building 
 now occupied for theological and other purposes. 
 
 Of the board of directors. Cardinal Gibbous, of Baltimore, is 
 chancellor. Tlie rector of the university is the Rt. Rev. John 
 J. Keane, D. D.; vice-rector, Rev. P. J. Garrigan, D. D. ; academic 
 secretary. Rev. Joseph Pohl, D. D., Ph. D.; secretary to the rector, 
 Merwin-Marie Snell, Esq. 
 
 The officers of the Divinity College are: President, V. Rev. 
 .Tohn B. Ilogan, S. S., D. D.; librarian, Rev. Alexis Julius Orban, S. S., 
 D. D.; assistant librarian, Mr. W. A. Willyams; dean, V. Rev. Mon- 
 signor Joseph Schroeder; director of the observatory. Rev. George 
 M. Searle, C. S. P.; superintendent of the grounds, Nicholas Crook. 
 Liberal plans for the development of the university are in contem- 
 plation. 
 
 On the 29th of May, 1891, the American University, an educa- 
 
512 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 tioiial institution of niitional importance and eonimanding the support 
 and coutidence of all Protestant people, was regularl}' organized by 
 the following [lersons, at the parlors of the Arlington Hotel: Gov- 
 ernor K. E. Pattison, of Pennsylvania; Mark Iloyt, Colonel Joim 
 A. Wright, Senator James McMillan, Representative William M. 
 Springer, Rev. Charles W. Buoy, Hon. Julian S. Carr, Bishop John 
 F. Hurst, Mrs. John A. Logan, Miss Elizabeth J. Somers, Hon. 
 M. Gr. Emery, B. H. Warner, Andrew B. Duvall, B. F. Leighton, 
 H. B. Moulton, Benjamin Charlton, John E. Beall, S. W. Woodward, 
 John E. Andrus, and Rev. David H. Carroll. 
 
 Mark Hoyt, of New York, was chosen president of the board; 
 Bishop John F. Hurst, D. D., LL. D., chancellor of the university; Rev. 
 Charles W. Baldwin, of Washington, secretar}', anel Rev. Albert 
 Osborn, of Buffalo, registrar. 
 
 Bishop Hui'st announced that the sum of ^100,000, which w:is to 
 be raised by the people of Washington to secure a site for the uni- 
 versity, had nearly all been subscribed. It was determined, also, to 
 take earl}' steps for making an appeal to tlie people of the country 
 of America for $10,000,000, with which to found and endow the 
 university. 
 
 The certificate of incorporation was tiled in the office of the 
 recorder of deeds on the '^A of June, 1891. The institution is to 
 l)e under tlio auspices of the Methodist E[ii8copal C'liurch, under the 
 title of "The American University," and two-thirds of its trustees 
 and the chancellor are ever to be identitied with that denomination. 
 
 The site purchased embraces ninety-tvvo acres at the northwestern 
 end of Massachusetts Avenue, and cost $100,000. 
 
 Gonzaga College, located on I Street Northwest, between North 
 Capitol and First streets, was started as "The Washington Seminary" 
 in 182G (some sa}% 1816). It is a j)ro(luct of Georgetown College, and 
 under the same order of the Church. When it began, the Catholic 
 population was comparatively sparse and poor. Tuition charges were 
 made in the .seminary, which was contrary to the instructions of the 
 order under whicli it was established. ShortI}', an order came from 
 headquarters to suspend the school. It was done, and the institution, 
 for lack of support, was closed. In 1848, the order of suspension was 
 revoked, and the scminai'v reopened. In 1858, it was chartered under 
 the titk: of "Gonzaga College," "to have and to enjoy the power and 
 facultv of conferring and confirming . . . such degrees in the liberal 
 arts and sciences as are usuall}' granted to colleges." 
 
 The course of study is divided into two departments: The college 
 
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 513 
 
 course proper, incliuling Latin iuul Greek classics, ami the iion-elassical, 
 embracing English language, literatui'c, mathematics, ami natural 
 science. The officers of the institution consist of Rev. Cornelius 
 Gillespie, S. J., president and treasurer; Rev. Arthur J. MacAvoy, 
 S. J., vice-president, prefect of schools; and Rev. Anthony M. 
 Ciampi, S. J., chaplain. 
 
 Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, located on the 
 grounds known as "Kendall Green," in the northeastern part of the 
 city, is one of the eleemosynary institutions of the city in which is 
 centered much interest. The site, embracing at first but a few acres 
 and a small building, and later twent^'-live acres, included, after the 
 purchase made in 1872, the entire one hundred acres whicli constituted 
 the estate of the Hon. Amos Kendall, Rostmaster-General from 1835 
 to 1840. 
 
 The institution was regulary incorporated February 16, 1857, by 
 Byron Sunderland, J. C. McGuire, David A. Hall, and George W. 
 Riggs, of Washington City; Judson Mitchell, of Georgetown, and 
 Amos Kendall and William Stiekne}-, of tlie county of Washington. 
 The title to grounds and buildings was vested in the United States. 
 The Secretary of the Interior was autliorized to pay |150 per year 
 for the maintenance and tuition of such persons as were sent to 
 the institution, viz., deaf-mute children of the District of Columbia, 
 and of the army and navy. In 1864, a collegiate department was 
 organized b}- act of Congress, and named the National Deaf-Mute 
 College. The institution is accessible to both se.\es. The president 
 of the institution is Professor E. M. Gallaudet, who has been identitied 
 witli it from its organization. 
 
 The Rittenhouse Academy was established on Indiana Avenue, 
 near Third Street, in 1840, by Rev. C. H. Nourse, a citizen of Wash- 
 ington. After a time it passed into the hands of his brother. Professor 
 J. E. Nourse, of the navy, from whom it was purchased at the open- 
 ing of the year 1849 by Professor 0. C. Wight, and continued in 
 the same building. During the following summer, Mr. Wight took out 
 the old-fashioned seats and furnished it with modern furniture from 
 l>oston, the first of the kind introduced into Washington. Though 
 forty-three years of age, the furniture still looks comparatively new. 
 
 Mr. Wight is a native of Massachusetts, and a graduate of Dart- 
 mouth College, of the class of 1842. For the live years preceding 
 his coming to Washington, he taught in Rockville, Maryland. He 
 has been a teacher for nearly fifty-eight years; and during his last 
 forty-nine years' continuous work in the Rittenhouse Academy, he 
 
514 HISTORY OP WASHINGTON. 
 
 lias lost no time except dui'iiig ;i inoiitirs illness from la grvpfe daring 
 the winter oi" 1891-92. 
 
 The work of the academy has been the preparation of yonng 
 men for college; and its students have been admitted to the classes 
 of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Lehigh, West Point, etc. Many 
 of them occupy prominent positions in life; among tliem the Professor 
 points with pleasure to Judge Bradley, C. C. Glover, of the tirm of 
 Kiggs & Company, and various bank cashiers. The army, navy, and 
 business men of Washington have given the academy a liberal 
 patronage. 
 
 St. John's College, conducted by the Brothers of the Christian 
 Schools, is an English, classical, and commercial <U\y school tor bo^-s 
 and young men. It is pleasantly located on Vermont Avenue, near 
 Thomas Circle. It was founded in 1865, and incorjiorated under the 
 general laws of the District. Tlie tirst building was a two-story brick 
 structure on K Street, near Fourteenth. In 187(3, the site on Vermont 
 Avenue was purchased by Brother Tobias, who erected tiie present 
 handsome structure. The institution has had but two presidents, 
 Brother Tobias, from 1865 to 1890, and Brother Fabrician, present 
 incumbent, since the latter date. 
 
 The Academy of the Hoi}- Cross, located at 1312 Massachusetts 
 Avenue Northwest, is an institution of learning under the direction of 
 the Sisters of the Holy Cross. It originated in a j)rivate house, on 
 Fifteenth and H streets, in 1870, and was projected b}' Dr. Charles 
 I. White, pastor of St, Matthew's Church. In 1879, the present com- 
 modious brick structure on Massachusetts Avenue was erected, and 
 the academy removed. 
 
 St. Cecilia's Academy, corner of East Capitol and Sixth streets, 
 was established on C Street, between First and Second, Southeast, in 
 a private dwelling, in September, 1868, by Rev. Father Boyle, then in 
 charge of St. Peter's Parish. In 1874, the present structure, a three- 
 story brick with basement, sixty by seventy-live feet, was erected, and 
 the academy removed. In July, 1877, it was regularly incorporated. 
 It is under the control of the Sisters of the Holy Cross. Sister 
 Ambrose was the first mother superior, and held the position for a 
 number of years. She was succeeded by Sister M. Aquina, the pres- 
 ent incumbent. The course of study is thorough, covering a period 
 of eleven years. The attendance is large, the number of pu])ils 
 in English branches being one hundred and sixty-eight, and the num- 
 ber in music seventy. In addition to these, there are pupils in other 
 subjects. 
 
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 515 
 
 Tlie Spenceriau Business College, in the National Bank of tlie 
 Republic building, corner of Seventh and D streets Northwest, is 
 the result of a consolidation of two business institutions. The National 
 Union Business College was founded in 1866, by Professor Henry 
 N. Copp, in the LUeUigencer building, corner of Seventh and D 
 streets. The same year, he extended to Mr. Henry C. Spencer, for 
 some time connected with the chain of Bryant and Stratton Business 
 colleges as superintendent, an invitation to become an associate with 
 him. Shortly thereafter, the same request was given to Mrs. Sara A. 
 Spencer. 
 
 In the autumn of 1867, Mr. Copp purchased the Bryant and Strat- 
 ton College, and the resulting institution was known as the Consoli- 
 dated Business College. It was fixed m the National Bank of the 
 Republic building. On the 1st of October, 1870, this institution was 
 purchased by H. C. Spencer, and the following summer was removed 
 to Liberty Hall, corner of Seventh and L streets, where it remained 
 ten years. In 1881, a tornado unrooting^ the building and destroying 
 much jiroperty, the college was removed to Lincoln Hall building, 
 corner of Ninth and D streets. In this location it remained and 
 prospered until December 6, 1886, when tire destroyed the buildino-, 
 with the prosperous college. Recovering from the ashes, the college 
 sought its present quarters and at once began to retrieve its losses and 
 reassert itself as the exponent of a practical business education. 
 
 Its course of study is thorough and practical. Its college com- 
 mencements, conmianding the most distinguished speakers of the 
 country, and its courses of lectures, are usually conducted in the most 
 capacious halls to be had. Its enrollment of difterent students during 
 the year 1891 was six hundred and twenty-five, representing the 
 children of the most prominent families of the city. 
 
 Professor Henry C. Spencer, principal of the college, died August 
 30, 1891, honored and revered by student, neighbor, and friend. His 
 wife and long pedagogical associate, Mrs. Sara A. Spencer, became 
 his successor, and is now devoting her best energies to the work 
 of practical education. 
 
 Glen Echo Chautauqua, a national summer school projected on 
 the plan of the pioneer organization at Chautauqua, New York, was 
 caused to materialize in the early summer of 1891. The organization 
 embraced Edwin Baltzley, A. S. Pratt, Edward Baltzley, James B. 
 Henderson, and A. H. Cillet, who constituted its first board of trus- 
 tees. On the 20th of May, 1801, the corner stone of the arch in the 
 main entrance of the stone amphitheater was laid with appropriate 
 
516 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 ceremonies. The first regular session, with full line of lectures and 
 entertainments, was held during the summer of 1891, Rev. A. II. 
 Gillet chancellor. 
 
 The National Bureau of Education, under the direction of the 
 Department of tlie Interior, originated in a general demand of the edu- 
 cators of the country for a central agenc}' to collect, preserve, and 
 publish educational statistics. It was created by an act of Congress, 
 March 2, 1867, General Garfield being chairman of the committee 
 in Congress wliich reported the bill, and the most prominent supporter 
 of the measure on the floor. Its functions are succinctly stated in 
 the act: "For tlie purpose of collecting such statistics and facts as 
 shall show the condition and progress of education in the several 
 States and Territories, and of ditfusing such information respecting 
 the organization and management of sciiool systems and methods of 
 teaching as shall aid the people of the United States in the establish- 
 ment and maintenance of efficient school systems, and otherwise 
 promote the cause of education." The bureau is not administrative, 
 and hence has no control over State systems. It is conducted by a 
 Commissioner of Education appointed by the President. Tiie first 
 incumbent of the office was Hon. Henry Barnard, LL, D., of Con- 
 necticut, who held the position for three years from 1867. He was 
 succeeded in 1870 by General John Eaton, LL. D., of Tennessee, who 
 performed the duties of the position until lie was followed, in 1886, by 
 Dr. Nathaniel II. R. Dawson, of Alabama. A change of national 
 administration occurring. Dr. Dawson was superseded in the summer 
 of 1889 by Dr. William T. Harris, of Concord, Massachusetts, formerly 
 superintendent of the schools of the city of St. Louis. The bureau, 
 never endowed as fully as it deserves, occupies humble apartments on 
 the corner of G and Eighth streets Northwest. 
 
 Norwood Institute, a select preparatory and classical school, is 
 located at 1407 and 1409 Massachusetts Avenue and 1212 and 1214 
 Fourteenth Street Northwest. It was organized September 26, 1881, 
 by Mr. and Mrs. William D. Cabell, as principals, and is still under 
 their management. The institution has a good course of study, and 
 is supported by the patronage of leading citizens of the city. 
 
 Wood's Commercial College, located on East Capitol Street, was 
 founded by Court F. Wood as a night school. In the latter part of 
 1891, it secured new quarters in Baum's Hall, and instituted day ses- 
 sions. A little later in the season, the proprietor piurchased Starin"s 
 Ci)nimcrcial School, conducted on E Street, between North Cai>itol 
 and First, Northwest, and consolidated it with his own. 
 
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 517 
 
 Wayland Seminary, on Meridian Hill, nortli of the eit}-, was 
 founded in 1865, by the Baptist Churcii, for tlie education of colored 
 preachers and teachers. The Ijuilding, a three-story brick with accom- 
 modations for two hundred students, was erected in 1873-74 at a cost 
 of 135,000, voluntarily contributed by friends of the institution. Tbe 
 work on the structure was all done by colored labor. 
 
 The Ivy Institute is an institution specially devoted to private 
 instruction, with a view to qualifying patrons for passing examinations 
 in the Civil Service for various governmental positions. It began in 
 1876, under the direction of Professor Thomas Flynn, A. M., its present 
 manager. The school is located on the corner of K and Eighth streets. 
 
 Miss Balch, on Tentli Street Jfortlnyest, has been for several years 
 conducting a similar school. Her patronage has been quite extensive. 
 
 Mount Vernon Seminar}', corner of M and Eleventh streets 
 Northwest, is one of the largest and most piopular schools for young 
 ladies, not only in the city, but in the country. It began, in 1875, 
 on F Street, with but two or three pupils; and under the energetic 
 and skillful management of its founder and principal, Mrs. Elizabeth 
 J. Somers, has reached its present prosperous and commanding posi- 
 tion. The location is a pleasant one, and the view in all directions 
 most gratifying. The Ituildings are convenient and commodious, 
 aftbrding every modern facility for both boarders and day pupils. The 
 faculty embraces some twenty-live instructors, representing leading 
 American colleges. The pati'onage conies from leading families in 
 Washington and throughout the United States. The enrollment 
 during the scholastic year of 1891-92 is upwards of sixty boarding 
 pupils, and one hundred and tifteen day pupils. Extensive additions 
 were made to the buildings during the year 1891; and all these build- 
 ings are neatly furnished, thoroughly heated and ventilated, and 
 admirably adapted to their purpose. 
 
 Columbia College of Commerce, located at 623 Louisiana Avenue, 
 opposite the post office, was founded in May, 1885, by Mr. C. K. 
 Urner, for iifteen years preceding that time an instructor in tlie 
 Eastman Business University, of Poughkeepsie, New York. It is a 
 practical business school, with day and eveuiug sessions to meet the 
 wants of the large class of young [)eo[ile who must attend classes 
 when they can find it suitable to do so. The organization consists of 
 C. H. Urner, president; C. K. Urner, principal, and Mrs. M. N. Urner, 
 secretary' and treasurer. 
 
 Following is a list of the libraries in Washington, together with 
 the number of volumss and pamphlets in each: 
 
518 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Academy of tl)e Visitation, 1,000; American Medical Association, 
 7,000; Bar Association, 7,000; Bureau of Education, 17,500; Bureau 
 of Medicine and Surgery, 16,000; Bureau of Ordnance, 3,000; Bureau 
 of Statistics, 5,000, 6,500 pamphlets; Carroll Institute, 3,000; Coast 
 and Geodetic Survey, 8,000, pamphlets, 7,000; Columhia Institution for 
 Deaf and Dumb, 4,000; Columbian University, 6,000; Department of 
 Agriculture, 24,000, pamphlets, 8,000; Department of Justice, 20,000; 
 Department of State, 50,000, pamphlets, 8,000; Department of the 
 Interior, 10,500; District of Columbia, 2,000; Executive Mansion, 4,000; 
 General Land Office, 3,000; Geological Survey, 30,000, pamphlets, 42,- 
 000; Georgetown College, 35,000; Gonzaga College, 10,000; Government 
 Hospital for the Insane, 2,480; Health Department, District of Col- 
 umbia, 2,000; House of Representatives, 125,000; Howard University, 
 15,000; Hydrographic Office, 8,000; Library of Congress, 650,000, 
 pamphlets, 200,000; Library of Supreme Cnuncil 83, Southern Juris- 
 diction, United States of America, 15,000; Light Battery C, Thinl 
 Artillery, 2,000; Light-house Board, Treasury Department, 3,500; 
 Marine Hospital Bureau, 1,500, pamphlets, 1,000; Masonic Library, 
 3,000; Nautical Almanac Office, 1,600; iSTaval Observatory, 13,000, 
 pamphlets, 3,000; Navy Department, 24,100, pamphlets, 1,000; Patent 
 Office Scientific Library, 50,000; Post Office Department, 8,000; St. 
 John's College, 4,000; Senate Library, 47,000; Soldiers' Home, 5,700; 
 Solicitor of the Treasury, 7,000; Surgeon General's Office, 102,000; 
 jiamphlets, 152,225; Treasury Department, 18,000; War Department, 
 30,000; Weather Bureau, 12,000, pamphlets, 2,500; Young Men's 
 Christian Association, 2,000. Total number of volumes, 1,412,880; 
 pamphlets, 426,225. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 LITERATURE AND ART. 
 
 Warden's and Elliott's Works — Ctber Authors — Literary Writers of Washington — 
 G. A. Townsend — Ben: Perley Poore — Mrs. Southworth — Professor Baird— Gen- 
 eral H. V. Boynton — Dr. J. M. Toner — George Bancroft — Mrs. Burnett — Scientific 
 Writers — Wilham B. Webb — J. W. Powell— W. J. McGee— Architects — Hallett — 
 Hadfield — Hoban— Latrobe — Bulfinch — Mills — Walter — Clark — Cluss — Schulze 
 — Mullett — Hill — Page — Poindexter — Frazier — Corcoran Gallery of Art — Artists. 
 
 EARLY ill the century, niucli was written about the city of Wash- 
 ington, because it had then recently become the Capital of the 
 Nation. Some articles were written for magazines and some were 
 published in book form. One of the earliest of the books upon the 
 District to attract attention was '-The Chorographical and Statistical 
 Description of the District of Columbia," published in 1816, the author 
 being D. B. Warden. Jonathan Elliott, in 1830, published a book 
 entitled "The Ten Miles Square," which contains much interesting 
 original historical and documentary matter relating to Washington, 
 and which is quoted to-day as the best autliority upon the subject so 
 far written. 
 
 In 1845, William Q. Force published "Force's Picture of the City 
 of Washington," containing a brief historical sketch of the city, de- 
 scriptions of the Government buildings, of the statuary, and of the 
 public and educational institutions, etc., of Washington, and a sketch 
 of Georgetown, of Alexandria, and of Bladeusburg. 
 
 In 1848, Joseph B. Varnum, Jr., published a work called "The 
 Seat of Government of the United States," whi-eh was a review of 
 the discussions in and out of Congress on the site and plan of the 
 Federal City. In 1854, a second edition of this work was published. 
 It contains one hundred and twenty pages. 
 
 Colonel John S. Williams, in 1857, published a "History of the 
 Invasion and Capture of Washington, and of the Events which Pre- 
 ceded and Followed." It was written with the view of removing the 
 obloquy which, in his opinion, has been undeservedly cast upon 
 the American troops in the battle of Bladeusburg. According to 
 Colonel Williams, the blame for the result of this battle properly 
 
520 HISTORY QF WASHINGTON. 
 
 lay witli tlic Govcninient itself and with the coninianding general, 
 anil this he lahors to prove. 
 
 There are many other books written thus early by Washington 
 authors, but further particularizatiou would perhaps be tedious. 
 
 Among those who have contributed to the fame of Washington 
 as a literary center, the following may be referred to: Professor 
 Joseph TIenry, Ainsworth R. Spotford, Mrs. Southvvortb, George Alfred 
 Townsend, Don Piatt, Ben: Perley Poore, Albert Pike, Walt Whitman, 
 Mrs. Lippincott ("Grace Greenwood"), Harriet Prescott Spoftbrd, and 
 Di'. J. M. Toner. Some of these and several others are specially 
 mentioned below. 
 
 John Burroughs was a contributor to the Atlantic 31onthly, his- 
 articles being mainly on natural history. Walt Whitman was for a 
 time a clerk in the office of the Attorney-General, and was pronounced 
 by the Westminster Review "the first and only representative of art 
 of the American Democracy"; which criticism indicates that while 
 this good gray poet may not have been universally admired b}' his 
 own countrymen, yet he had warm admirers in Europe. 
 
 Mrs. Helen C. Weeks was one of the first of the story writers 
 for children, surpassed only, perhaps, by Miss Aleott. 
 
 George Alfred Townsend is at least one of the most prolific of 
 American writers, and while he occasionally repeats the mistakes 
 of his authorities, yet he is alwa^'s exceedingly entertaining, and 
 usually instructive. He has been in all parts of the civilized world, 
 and has contributed to numerous papers and magazines in both 
 Eui'ope and the United States. He came to Washington in 1868, and 
 resided here several j'ears. The Chicago Tribune jjaid him $20,000 for 
 one thousand columns of preferred matter, furnished at the rate of 
 three hundred columns per year. Since then, he has been a regular 
 and invaluable correspondent of the Cincinnati Enquirer, giving that 
 pajicr its chief value to the general reader. His local work on Wash- 
 ington, entitled "Washington, Outside and Inside," partly historical, 
 partly descri})tiv(', and [)artly discursive, is very entertaining, and in 
 the discursive portion is an excellent illustration of a niai'ked char- 
 acteristic of hunnm nature, — that of excessive severity against former 
 friends, having, on account of their faults and imperfections, become 
 their enemy. 
 
 Ben: Perley Poore was educated for tlu' law, but always lived the 
 life of a Bohemian, because that life was free and unrestrained. He 
 early hccanic Kuroiiean corresjiondcnt i)l' the Pn)ston Atlas, and afterward 
 married in ( Jccngi'iown, wliirh city was the liiilhj)lace of his mother. 
 
LITERATURE AND ART. 521 
 
 He became a newspaper correspondent in Washington in 1838, but 
 did not become a regular correspondent until his return from France 
 in 1847, and then for the Boston Journal. Besides tliis paper, he cor- 
 responded for the New York Commercial Adcertiser, the New Orleans 
 Times, and Harper s Weekly. He was also the author of several books, 
 among them "The Rise and Fall of Louis Philippe"; but his greatest 
 work was probably his " Personal Keminiscences." Every one consults, 
 and every one is dissatisfied with, his index of Government publica- 
 tions; but could any of his critics have prepared a better one? 
 
 The career of Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth as an author, while 
 a most remarkable one, is well known to most readers. Slie was 
 born in Washington in 1819. Her first story was entitled the "Irish 
 Emigrant," and was published in the Saturday Visitor, of Baltimore. 
 Her "Wife's Victory" was begun in 1846, in the Visitor, hut was 
 completed in the National Era, of Washington. She afterward became 
 a contributor to the Philadelphia Saturday Eoening Post, and then to 
 the New York Ledger, and was perhaps the most popular of its con- 
 tributors. 
 
 Professor Spencer F. Baird wrote many monographs on natural 
 history. Dr. Albert G. Mackay was the author of several standard 
 works on Freemasonry. Judge Charles G. Nott wrote " Sketches of 
 the War." Theodore N. Gill wrote numerous papers for scientific 
 journals, his specialty being ichthyology. General A. A. Humphreys 
 wrote "The Physics and Hydraulics of the Mississippi River"; Miss 
 Martha Thomas, the novel, "Life's Lessons"; Professor Benjamin 
 Peirce, many works on physics and mathematics. Edward McPherson 
 wrote a "Political History of the United States during the Rebel- 
 lion," and a "History of Reconstruction," and has since published 
 a political manual every two years. Professor J. E. Hilgard is the 
 author of numerous scientific papers. Nathan Sargent, or "Oliver 
 Oldschool," was one of the Nestors of Washington journalism, Mr. 
 E. Kingman being another. J. R. Dodge wrote "The Red Men 
 of the Ohio Valley," and other works. Dr. N. C. Towle wrote "His- 
 tory and Analysis of the Constitution." Joseph J. Woodward, M. D., 
 wrote a volume of poems. Rev. Charles B. Boynton, D. D., wrote 
 "The Four Great Powers," and several other works. Samuel Tyler 
 wrote several books and reviews of poetry, philosophy, etc. Charles 
 D. Drake was the author of a learned treatise on the law of suits 
 by attachment. Mrs. Mary Clemmer wrote many letters for the New 
 York Independent, "Ten Years in Washington," novels, and other works. 
 D. W. Bartlett was a voluminous writer, and Rev. J. P. Newman wrote 
 
522 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 "From Dan to Beersheba"; Professor S. M. Sluite, "A Manual of 
 Anglo-Saxon"; and George Taylor, "Indications of Creation." 
 
 ^Qw: Perley Poore has already been mentioned. He died in 
 1887. He was succeeded as the "Dean of the Press" by General 
 H. V. Boynton, who has been a prominent newspaper correspondent 
 since 1866. For many years he was the special correspondent of tlie 
 Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, but within the last year or two he has 
 severed his connection with that paper and is now one of the special 
 writers for the Washington Post. 
 
 Dr. J. M. Toner is the author of "The Medical Men of the liev- 
 olution, with a Brief History of the Medical Department of the 
 Continental Army"; "Wills of the American Ancestors of George 
 Washington, in the Line of the Original Owner and the Inheritors of 
 Mount Vernon"; "Contributions to the Study of Yellow Fever"; "The 
 Toner Lectures," instituted to encourage the discovery of new truths 
 for tiie advancement of medicine; "Address before the Rock}' Moun- 
 tain Medical Association, Containing Some Observations upon the 
 Geological Age of the World"; "The Appearance of Animal Life 
 upon the Globe," and numerous other works of value. 
 
 George Bancroft, the eminent historian, wrote a vohime of poems, 
 and published translations of Heeren's "Politics of Ancient Greece" 
 and Heeren's "History of the Political S^'stem of Europe." His "His- 
 tory of the United States," which jilaced him among the great writers 
 of the age, was issued in ten volumes from 18-34 to 1874. The tirst 
 three volumes are devoted to the Colonization, and the next seven 
 to the Revolutionary, period. "A History of the Forn)ation of the Con- 
 stitution of the United States" was afterward written. He was also 
 the author of numerous other works. Dr. Bancroft was born at Wor- 
 cester, Massachusetts, in 1800, and died in Washington, 1891. 
 
 Alexander Graham Bell has written "Facts and Opinions Relat- 
 ing to the Deaf," "Memoir upon the Formation of a Deaf Variety 
 of the Human Race," " Upon the Method of Teaching Language to 
 a. Very Young Congenital Deaf Child," "Upon the Electrical Experi- 
 ments to Determine the Location of the Bullet in the Body of the 
 Late President Garfield," "Upon the Production of Sound by Radiant 
 Energy," and other works. 
 
 John Shaw Billings, M. D., besides other works, wrote " liibli- 
 ography of Cholera," "Hospital Construction and Organization," "A 
 Treatise on I'ublic Health and Hygiene," "The National Medical 
 Dictionary', Including English, FrL-nch, German, Italian, and Latin 
 Technical Terms used in Mcdii-ine and the Collateral Sciences"; but 
 
LITERATURE AND ART. 523 
 
 his great work is tlie "Iii<iex CuUilogue of the Libnin- of the Surgeon 
 General's OfHce." 
 
 Swan Moses linniett has written "A Case of Choroiditis Exsu- 
 dation, Accompanied witii I'ai'tial Micropsia, Metainorphopsia, and 
 Chronnitopsic Scotoniata of Siiiguhirly Regular Forms," "A Case of 
 Diplacusis JBinauratis, with Remarks," "A Case of Restricted Range 
 of Audition," " How We See," and otiier works. 
 
 James C. Welling, M. D., president of Columbia University, has 
 written "Connecticut Federalism, or Aristocratic Politics in a Social 
 Democracy," and "The Fundamental Elements of Intellectual Edu- 
 cation." 
 
 Robert Fletcher, M. D., has written "On Prehistoric Trephining 
 and Cranial Amulets," "Paul Broca and the French School of An- 
 thropology," "A Study of Some Recent Experiments on Serpent 
 Venom," "Tattooing among Civilized People," and" other works. 
 
 Frances Hodgson Burnett, wife of Dr. S. M. Burnett, came with 
 her husband to Washington in 1875. She wrote "That Lass o' Low- 
 rie's," "Kathleen Mavourneen," "Pretty Polly Pemberton," " Theo," 
 and other stories, for a Philadelphia paper. Afterward came " Ha- 
 worth's," her second novel; "A Fair Barbarian"; "Through One 
 Administration," and "Little Lord Fauntleroy," the latter of wiiich 
 has been frequenth' dramatized. 
 
 Edward Miner Gallaudet has written "Manual of International 
 Law," "A Life of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet," "The Combined Sys- 
 tem of Educating the Deaf," and "International Ethics." Dr. Gallaudet 
 came to Washington in 1857, and took charge of the Columbian Insti- 
 tution for the Deaf, Dundj, and Blind. 
 
 Madam M. V. Dahlgren wrote a "Memoir of John A. Dahlgren," 
 and several novels. 
 
 Clarence E. Dutton wrote "On the Chemistry of the Bessemer 
 Process," "The Geology of the High Plateaus of Utali," "Tertiary 
 History of the Grand Canon District," and a large number of articles 
 on scientific subjects. 
 
 Henry Gannett is the author of "Boundaries of the United States 
 and the Several States and Territories, with a Sketch of Territorial 
 Changes"; "Meteorological Observations during 1872, in Utah, Idaho, 
 and Montana"; " .VIoderu History and Present Distribution of the 
 North American Indians," and other works. 
 
 Theodore Nicholas Gill has written "Arrangement of the Families 
 of Fishes, or, Classes Pisces, Marsipobranchii, and Leptocardii "; "Ar- 
 rangement of the Family of Mammals, with Analytical Tables"; 
 
524 HISTORY nr wwsiungton. 
 
 "Arraiigenieiit of Fainiiies of Moihisks"; "The Doctrine of Uiirwiii," 
 and many other valuable scientific works and articles. 
 
 George Brown Goode has written "American Fisheries: A History 
 of Menhaden"; "Bibliographies of American Naturalists"; "The Origin 
 of the National Scientific and Educational Institutions of the United 
 States"; "Contributions to the Natural Histor}' of the Bermudas," etc. 
 
 Gardner Greene Hubbard is the author of "American Railroads"; 
 "The Education of Deaf-Mutes: Sliall it be by Signs, or Articula- 
 tion?" etc. 
 
 Garrick Mallery is the author of "Customs of Courtesy"; "Intro- 
 duction to the Study of Sign Language among the North American 
 Indians, as Illustrating the Gesture Speech of Mankind"; "The Rela- 
 tions of President Garfield to Science," etc. 
 
 Thonnis Corwin Mendenhall is the author of "A Century of Elec- 
 tricity," and other valuable scientific works. 
 
 Professor Simon Newcomb is the author of man}' able and valuable 
 works, among them "The A B C of Finance"; "A Critical Examina- 
 tion of Our Financial Policy during the Southern Rebellion"; "Dis- 
 cussion and Results of Observations on the Transits of Mercury from 
 1677 to 1881"; "Elementary Theorems Relating to the Geometry of 
 a Space of Three Dimensions, and of Uniformity Curvature in the 
 Fourth Dimension"; "Measures of the Velocity of Light Made under 
 the Direction of the Secretary in 1882"; " Newcomb's Mathematical 
 Course"; "Popular Astronomy," and others. 
 
 Charles Valentine Riley has written a great deal on the subject 
 of Entomology, among his works being "The Cotton Worm of the 
 United States," "Darwin's Work in Entomology," "Little Known 
 Facts about Well-Known Animals," "The Periodical Cicada," etc. 
 
 Lester F. Ward has written "Dynamic Sociology'," " Haeckel's 
 Genesis of Man," "Mind as a Social Factor," "Politico-social Func- 
 tions," " T^'pes of the Laramie Flora," "Botany of the District of 
 Columbia," etc. 
 
 William B. Webb is the author of "A Digest of the Laws of the 
 Corporation of Washington City, and of the Charter and Other Acts 
 of Congress Concerning the Same," and of a part of Fortes' "Eco- 
 nomic Legislation Relating to Incorporated Companies." 
 
 William Torrey Harris has contributed largely to magazines on art, 
 education, and philosophy, and has published numerous works, among 
 them "A Statement of American Education," "On the Function of 
 the Study of Latin and Greek in Education," "Emerson's Orientalism," 
 " Hegel's Logic," " The Idea of the State and its Necessity," etc. 
 
LITER, ITrUR AND ART. 52o 
 
 Samuel Clagett Biisey, M. D., lias written iiiimerous treatises on 
 medical snhjects, some of them being the following: "Congenital 
 Occlusion and Dilatation of Lynqili Channels"; "The Mortality of 
 Young Children: Its Causes and Prevention"; and also on other 
 subjects, as "Inmiigratiou : Its Evils and Consequences." 
 
 Charles Daniel Drake, recently deceased, wrote " Canip Jackson: 
 Its Histor}' and Significance"; "Ciiristianit}', tlie Friend of the 
 Working Classes"; "The Duties of American Citizens"; "The Veto 
 Power: Its Nature and History." 
 
 Stephen Johnson Field is the author of "Personal Reminiscences 
 of Earh' Days in California, and Other States," " Kernarks on the 
 Electoral Commission on the Florida Case," etc. 
 
 Olive Risley Seward wrote "Around the World Stories," and 
 edited William Henry Seward's "Travels around the World." 
 
 - Anna Laurens Dawes, daughter of Senator Dawes, of Massachu- 
 setts, has written "How We are Governed," "The Modern Jew, His 
 Present and Future," and other works, and a "Life of Charles Sumner." 
 
 A. W. Greel}' is the author of "American Weather," "Isother- 
 mal Lines of the United States," "Three Years of Arctic Service; an 
 Account of the Lady Fraid-clin Bay Expedition of 1881-84," etc. 
 
 Samuel Pierpont Langley has written "The Xew Astrtmoiu}-," 
 "Researches on Solar Heat and its Absorption by the Earth's Atmos- 
 phere," "The Temperature of the Moon," etc. 
 
 John George Nicolay is the author, in conjunction with John 
 Hay, of "Abraham Lincoln: A History," publishedj in the 'Century 
 Magazine, and afterward in book form. 
 
 Charles Nordhotf is the author of "America for Free Working- 
 men," "How Slavery Injures the Free Workingman," "California 
 for Health, Pleasure, and Residence," "God and the Future Life," 
 " Politics for Young Americans," etc. 
 
 Ainsworth Rand Spoftbrd, Librarian of Congress, is the author of 
 "Annual Report of the Librarian of Congress," "The American 
 Almanac," "The Binding and Preservation of Books," "The Found- 
 ing of Washington City, with Some Considerations on the Origin of 
 Cities and Location of National Capitals," "The Higher Law Tried 
 by Reason and Authority," etc. 
 
 John Hay was editor-in-chief for several months of the New York 
 Tribune, and has published "Pike County Ballads," " Castiiian Days," 
 and with John G. Nicolay, wrote "Abraham Lincoln: A History." 
 
 Anna Hanson Dorsey is a native of Georgetown, District of Col- 
 umbia. She is the author of a great many works of fiction, one of 
 
52G H/STORY OF W.JS/ffNGTON. 
 
 wiiicli, "May Brooke," is reniurkable for having been republished in 
 Seotiaiid, and for being tlie first Catholic book issued in Scotland since 
 the Eeforniation. She has also writen, among other works, "The Stu- 
 dent of Blenheim Forest"; "Flowers of Love and Memory'"; "Oriental 
 Pearls"; "Coaina, the Rose of the Algonquins"; "Gun, the Leper"; 
 "The Fate of the Dane, and Other Stories." 
 
 Miss E. Ruhamah Scidmore is the author of "Alaska, Its South- 
 ern Coast, and the Sitka Archipelago"; "The Berkeleys and Their 
 Neighbors," etc. 
 
 Molly Elliott Seawell is the author of a number of popular novels. 
 Among them is "Hale Weston, a Novel"; "Little Jarvis"; "Mid- 
 shipman Paulding," and others. 
 
 Henry Adams, grandson of John Quincy Adams, is an historical 
 and biographical v^'riter, among his works being " Historical Essay's," 
 "History of the United States of America," "John Randolph," "The 
 Life of Albert Gallatin," and other works. 
 
 Major J. VV. Powell, Director of the Geological Survey, is one of 
 the most voluminous of Washington writers. His public reports, as 
 well as his private writings, are so numerous that not even a complete 
 list of them can be presented. Some of the more important of his 
 public works -are: "Report of Special Commissioners, J. W. Powell 
 and G. W. Ingalls, on the Condition of the Ute Indians in Utah, and 
 Other Tribes"; "Exploration of the Colorado River of the "West and 
 its Tributaries"; "Report on the Geology of the Uinta Mountains"; 
 "Introduction to the Study of Indian Languages"; "Report on the 
 Lands of the Arid Regions of the United States": "Report on the 
 Method of Surveying the Public Domain"; Annual Reports, 1 to 12, 
 inclusive, of the Bureau of Ethnology, the seventh annual report con- 
 taining one of this author's most important papers, entitled, "Indian 
 Linguistic Families of America North of Mexico," being a classifica- 
 tion of these tribes on a linguistic basis; Annual Reports, 2 to 12, in- 
 clusive, of the United States Geological Survey, 10, 11, and 12 in 
 two parts, the second parts of each relating to irrigation. No attempt 
 is made to present a partial list even of his private publications, for 
 the reason that justice could not be done him in such an attempt. In 
 addition to his many books, he has written many articles which have 
 been published in the principal periodicals of the day, and now has in 
 press a most interesting work called "The Canons of the Colorado." 
 
 Professor W. J. McGee is also a voluminous writer of scientiiic 
 works. Those that are mentioned here pertain either directly or indi- 
 rectly to the geology of the District of Columbia: "Geologic Forma- 
 
LITERATURE AND ART. 527 
 
 tions of tlie District of Columbia," "The Columbian Forniation,"' "The 
 Geolog}' of the Head of Chesapeake Bay," "Three Formations of the 
 Middle Atlantic Slope," "Paleolithic Man in America," "The Geologic 
 Antecedents of Man in the Potomac Valley," and numerous other 
 works of a similar nature, some of which have been quoted from in 
 former chapters of this work. 
 
 Alexander D. Anderson is the author of numerous important 
 works, the principal one being entitled "The Silver Country of the 
 Great Southwest," published in 1877. It is a review of the mineral 
 and other wealth, the attractions and material development, of the 
 former kingdom of New Spain, comprising Mexico and the Mexican 
 cessions to the United States in 1848 and 1853. He is also the author 
 of "Tehiiantepec Inter-Ocean Eailroad," 1881; "Mexico from the 
 Material Standpoint," 1884; "The Tehuantepec Ship Railway," 1884; 
 "Our Foreign Commerce of the Second Century," 1884; "The Mis- 
 sissippi River and its Forty-four Navigable Tributaries," published by 
 resolution of the United States Senate, 1890. It is, however, only 
 proper to state that Mr. Anderson's literar\' work has all been per- 
 formed with some ulterior object in view other than literature; his 
 main object having been to promote the success and closer union of 
 the Three Americas. 
 
 Richard P. Jackson, in 1878, published "The Chronicles of George- 
 town, District of Columbia," a book of three hundred and iifty 12mo 
 pages, divided into nine chapters, on various features of the history 
 of the city of Georgetown. It is a valuable work, containing much 
 information about Georgetown not to be found in other works. 
 
 James Wood Davidson is the author of "The Living Writers of 
 the South"; "School History of South Carolina"; "The Correspondent"; 
 "The Poetry of the Future," in which is advanced a new theory of 
 beauty, and the poetical; and "The Florida of To-day," pronounced by 
 the New York Sim the best book on Florida that has ever appeared. 
 
 George E. Harris, formerly of Mississippi, has written and pub- 
 lished the following works: "Chronological Register of Decisions, 
 with Abbreviations, of English, American, and Scotch-Irish Law 
 Rooks"; "Contracts by Married Women"; "Law of Subrogation"; 
 "Damages by Corporations"; "Law of Certiorari," and other books 
 upon ditterent features of the law. 
 
 The architects of the Capitol have been mentioned in connection 
 with the history of that building. Stephen L. Hallett appears to have 
 been the architect of no building in Washington, except so far as he 
 was the architect of the Capitol. George Iladlield was the successor 
 
528 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 of Hallett, and besides his work on the Ciipito], has left evidences of 
 liis ability and genius in the City Hall. James Ifoban came next as 
 the architect of the Capitol. He was also the architect of the Presi- 
 dent's House, and of the first post office in Washington, as well as 
 of many other good buildings. After its destruction by fire, in 
 1814, he rebuilt the President's House. Succeeding James Hoban, 
 came Benjamin H. Latrobe, who was undoubtedly a man of genius. He 
 was the builder of the wings of the old Capitol. After the destruction 
 of the Capitol by the British, he returned to Washington and took 
 charge of its reconstruction. He designed what Madison named the 
 American order of architecture. Besides his work on the Capitol, 
 he erected St. John's Church, and the Van Ness and Brentwood 
 mansions, remaining in the city until 1817, when he removed to 
 Baltimore. He was the preceptor of Strickland, as Strickland was 
 of Walter, and Walter of Clark, the present architect of the Capitol. 
 
 Charles Bulfinch came next after Latrobe, in 1817. He had 
 erected numerous buildings in New England, and was architect of 
 the Capitol thirteen years. He also built in Washington the church 
 for the Unitarians, and the old penitentiary at Greenleafs Point, in 
 which the conspirators and assassins were imprisoned, tried, and 
 hanged in 1865. Robert Mills succeeded Bulfinch, but had very little 
 to do with the Capitol. He designed the Washington Monument, the 
 center building of the Treasury Department, with its colonnade, and 
 the First Presbyterian Church. He was also architect of the Patent 
 Office until 1852, when he was succeeded by Thomas U. Waiter. 
 After Mr. Mills came perhaps the greatest genius of all the archi- 
 tects of the Capitol, Thomas U. Walter, of Philadelphia, mentioned 
 above as the pupil of Strickland. He was architect of the wings of 
 the Capitol from 1851 to 1865, and designed the great dome. Dui'ing 
 this time he assisted in the erection of the Treasury building, the 
 Patent Office and the General Post Office extensions. In 1865, he 
 was succeeded by the present architect, Edward Clark, his pui)il, wim, 
 besides his work at the Capitol, has designed numerous houses in 
 Washington. 
 
 Besides these architects of the Capitol, there have been man}' 
 meritorious artists in this line in Washington, especially since 1871, 
 when the era of improvement began. .Mr. Adolph Cluss is a German, 
 whose designs arc peculiarly' his own. He designed the Center 
 Market House and several of the public schoolhouses, among them 
 the Wallach, the Franklin, and the Jefierson; private residences 
 too numerous to mention; the National Museum, and the Army Medical 
 
LITERATURE AND ART. 529 
 
 Museum. Paul Scliulze has boeu liis partner for many years. Walter 
 S. West came from Virginia, and evidences of his skill are visible in 
 the changes made in the old Crawford property on Highland Place, and 
 in several private residences. On the Treasury building the architect 
 next succeeding Robert Mills was A. B. Young, who superintended 
 the work for several years. Following him was Supervising Architect 
 A. B. Mullett, who, up to the time of his death, was at the head of 
 the firm of A. B. Mullett & Sons. He was the architect of the noble 
 pile known as the State, War, and Navy Departments building, and 
 of many buildings erected by the Government iu various parts of the 
 country. Mr. Mullett also designed the new jSTational Theater and 
 the Sun building, on F Street, the first of the high buildings erected 
 in Washington. 
 
 James G. Hill succeeded Mr. Mullett as Supervising Architect of 
 the Treasury. His principal works in Washington are the National 
 Bank of Washington and the Washington Loan and Trust Company's 
 building. Harvey L. Page was the architect of Albaugh's Theater 
 and of many private buildings. William M. Poindexter has designed 
 many private residences, but his principal work is the new Columbia 
 University building. Charles E. Frazier is the architect of the Blaine 
 mansion and the Cameron mansion, besides numerous other buildings. 
 There are, of course, many other meritorious architects in VVashino-- 
 ton, but further detail would doubtless be tedious to the genei-al 
 reader. 
 
 The Corcoran Gallery of Art, iududing ground, building, its con- 
 tents, and endowment fund, is the gift of William Wilson Corcoran' to 
 the public. The building stands on Pennsylvania Avenue, opposite the 
 
 ' William Wilson Corcoran was the fifth child and third son of Thomas Corcoran, 
 a native of Limerick, Ireland, who came to Baltimore in 17o4. He was born December 
 27, 1798, and commenced his school days in 1S03, and in 1805 he entered a school kept 
 by Thomas Kirk, a highly educated Irish gentleman, remaining therein until 1810. He 
 then studied the languages one year with Rev. William Allen, a graduate of Aberdeen. 
 In 1811, he entered Georgetown College, remaining there one year, and then studied 
 with Rev. Addison Belt, a graduate of Princeton. In 181.5, contrary to the desires of 
 his father that he should have a classical education, he entered the dry-goods store of 
 his brothers, James and Thomas, and in 1817 they established him in business under the 
 tirm name of VV. W. Corcoran & Company. In 1819, this firm purchased the two-story 
 brick building at the corner of Bridge and Congress streets, to which they added a 
 third story, and commenced the wholesale auction and commission business, carrying 
 on a very extensive and prosperous business until 1823, when, on account of the finan- 
 cial crisis of that year, they were compelled to suspend, being only able to pay their 
 confidential debts, consisting of endorsements, commission accounts, and borrowed 
 money, compromising all other debts at fifty per centum. Then for some years, Mr. 
 
530 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 War and Navy Departments building. It lias a front of one liundred 
 and six feet, and a depth of one hundred and twenty-iive feet. It is 
 of brick, with brown-stone facings and ornaments, mansard roof, and 
 Uirge central pavilion, with two smaller ones at tlie corners, and it 
 is in the Renaissance style of architecture. The cost of the building 
 and ground was $250,000, and the original collection of pictures and 
 statuary was wortli $100,000. The institution is maintained by an 
 endowment fund of $900,000, the income of which is managed by a 
 Imard of trustees consisting of nine mendjers, who are empowered to 
 till vacancies in their nundjer by election. 
 
 The first story in the building is devoted mainlj' to statuary, the 
 second to paintings and to selections from the choicest sculpture, includ- 
 ing the Greek Slave and other tine works. The first stor^' is twenty 
 feet high and the second twenty-four, with an arched ceiling thirty- 
 eight feet high in the center. In the second story are displayed numy 
 of the choice works of art of American and European painters, which 
 form one of the most valuable collections on the continent. 
 
 The building was designed by Mr. James Renwick, architect, and 
 was begun in 1859; but before completion, it was taken possession of 
 by the Quartermaster-General's Department, and occupied from early in 
 1861 to 1869. May 10, 1869, Mr. Corcoran placed it in the hands of 
 nine trustees for the purposes already named, and the institution was 
 incorporated b}' Congress May 24, 1870. By the act of incorporation, 
 the biulding and its contents were declared free from all taxation. 
 After the incorporation, the work of reconstruction and ailaptation of 
 the building to its original design was begun, and carried to comple- 
 
 Corcoran devoted himself to the interests of his fatlier, collecting his rents and super- 
 intending his property. In 1828, he took charge of the real estate and suspended debt 
 of the Bank of the United States, with which and with the affairs of the Bank of Col- 
 uud)ia he was occupied until 183G. 
 
 In 1824, Mr. Corcoran was appointed a first lieutenant of volunteers by President 
 Jlonroe, and in 182.5 he was appointed to a captaincy by President John Quincy Adams; 
 and in 1827 he was appointed a captain of artillery by the same President. In 1830, he 
 was appointed a lieutenant-colonel by President Jackson, and a colonel in 1832. 
 
 December 23, 1835, he was married to Louise Amory Morris, daughter of Commo- 
 dore Charles Morris, and by her he had the following children: Harriet Louise, born 
 September 22, 183G, died September .5, 1837; Louise Morris, born March 20, 1838, died 
 December 4, 1807; and Charles Morris, born July 10, 1840, died August 11, 1841. 
 
 In 1837, Mr. Corcoran commenced the brokerage business in Washington, in a 
 small store ten by sixteen feet, on Pennsylvania Avenue, near Fifteenth Street. Here 
 his business was eminently successful, and in 1839 he removed to the old Bank of the 
 Metropolis building, at the corner of Fifteenth and F streets. Having taken into part- 
 nership George W. Kiggs, under the firm name of Corcoran & Eiggs, this firm, in 
 
LITERATURE AXD ART. 531 
 
 tioii ill 1871. The geiitlenieii luimed in the act of incorporation were 
 James M. Carlisle, James C. Hall, George W. Riggs, Anthony' Hyde, 
 James G. Berrett, James C. Kennedy, Henrj' D. Cooke, and James 
 C. McGuire, of the city of Washington and of Georgetown, District 
 of Columbia, and William T. Walters, of Baltimore, Maryland. They 
 were styled " The Trustees of the Corcoran Gallery of Art." 
 
 On the 22d of February, 1871, Mr. Corcoran gave a grand ball 
 and reception in the building in honor of the day, the proceeds of 
 which lie presented to the fund of the Washington Monument Society. 
 In 1873, a trustee went to Europe, enipoweretl to purchase works of 
 art for tlie gallery, and Mr. Corcoran's private collection of paintings 
 and statuary was placed in it. iSTovember 6, 1873, the board of trustees 
 completed the organization of the institution. January 19, 1874, the 
 picture galleries, the octagon room, and the hall of bronzes were 
 thrown open for private exhibition by day and night, Mr. Corcoran 
 receiving the congratulations of his friends on the occasion. April 
 29, 1874, the halls of sculpture and of bronzes were opened to the 
 public, and in December, 1874, the two side galleries of sculpture 
 adjoining the main hall; so that all the rooms of the institution for 
 exhibition purposes were then opened to the public. 
 
 The front of the building under the main and corner pavilions 
 is divided by pilasters into recesses, and is ornamented with wreaths 
 and with the monogram of the founder, and over the central pavilion 
 is the inscription, "Dedicated to Art." On the front of the build- 
 ing are four niches with statues seven feet high — of Phidias, Rajihael, 
 Michael Angelo, and Albert Diirer; and on the side are seven niches 
 
 184.5, bought tlie olil t'liiteil .States Bank building, at tlie corner of Fifteenth Street and 
 New York Avenue, togetlier with all its property and effects uncollected. In 1S47 
 Mr. Corcoran settled with all his old creditors of 1823, paying them in the aggregate 
 about $46,000, including principal and interest. In 1848, the firm of Corcoran & Riggs 
 (Mr. George W. Riggs having been succeeded by his brother, Elisha Riggs), having on 
 hand about twelve millions of the six per cent, loan of 1848, the demand for which 
 had fallen ofl", and which was at a discount, Mr. Corcoran determined to try the 
 European markets, and after a short time spent in negotiation, sold five millions to six 
 of the most prominent houses of London, England. This success brought great relief 
 to the money market, and secured that amount of exchange for the United States. The 
 stock then gradually advanced until it reached one hundred and nineteen and a half 
 enabling the firm to realize a handsome profit, instead of sufTering a great loss which 
 would otherwise have been the result. April 1, 1854, Mr. Corcoran retired from the 
 firm of Riggs & Company, and for the rest of his life devoted himself to his private 
 interests, and in dispensing the immense wealth he had so honorably acquired. His 
 benefactions are very numerous, and his magnificpnt mniiiticence is his proudest monu- 
 ment. His death occurred February 24, 1888. 
 
532 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 containing statues of Titian, Da Viuci, Rubens, Rembrandt, Murillo, 
 Canova, and Crawfoi'd. These were all executed by M. Ezekiei, a 
 native artist. In the central pediment is a large bronze medalion 
 profile portrait of Mr. Corcoran, with foliage decorations, and on the 
 tops of the two eoluiinis are bronze groups of children holding gar- 
 lands, and the emblems of architecture and music. These were also 
 the work of M. Ezekiei. 
 
 On either side, resting on the stone coping of the steps at the 
 entrance to the building, are a pair of colossal bronze lions. They 
 were cast from molds made over the famous lions by Canova, at the 
 tomb of Clement XIII., in St. Peter's, at Rome. 
 
 In the rear of the gallery, facing on Seventeenth Street, is a build- 
 ing twenty-four feet wide, and extending back one Imndred and six 
 feet, erected during the summer of 1889 for the accommodation of 
 the Corcoran School of Art. This building is one story high in 
 front, this portion containing three class rooms, each lighted by an 
 ample skylight. In the rear, on the first floor, is a room forty-four 
 by twenty-four feet, communicating with the sculpture hall of the 
 gallery, and containing the Tayloe collection, bequeathed to the gallery 
 by Mrs. B. 0. Tayloe, of Washington, District of Columbia. Over this 
 is a room of the same size, for the life class of the school. 
 
 The chief interest attaching to tliis gallery of art is, of course, in 
 the interior of the building. The nuiin hall is ninety-five feet by 
 twenty-four feet, is lighted b^' windows on the north side, and opens 
 into two adjoining galleries of sculpture on the east side of the 
 building, and into the room containing the Tayloe collection. On 
 the west, it opens into the hall of bronzes, sixty-two feet by nineteen 
 feet. The central portion of the ceiling of this hall is supported by 
 four Corinthian columns with gilt capitals. 
 
 The picture galleries are in the second story. The main picture 
 gallery is ninety-five feet by forty-four feet, twenty-four feet in height 
 to the corner of the arched ceiling, and thirty-eight feet to the inner 
 skylight. This room is handsomely decorated, by Mr. Vincenzo 
 Stiepevitch. On the east and west sides of the main hall are smaller 
 galleries, which open into two corner ones in the front of the building. 
 Between these corner galleries, and immediately opposite to the entrance 
 to the main gallery, is the octagon room, containing the Greek 
 Slave as the chief ornament. 
 
 The board of trustees at the present time is as follows: Charles 
 M. Matthews, James C. Welling, Edward Clark, Samuel II. Kaufl'nuin, 
 Frederick B. McGuire, Walter S. Cox, Charles C. Clover, Calderon 
 
LITERATURE AND ART. 533 
 
 Carlisle, and W. M. Gait. James C. Welling is president; Charles M. 
 
 Matthews, vice-president, and , secretary and treasurer. 
 
 The curator is Dr. F. Sinclair Barbarin, and the teacher of the art 
 school E. F. Andrews. 
 
 The artists in Washington, aside from architects, who have con- 
 tributed to the fame of the city as an art center, are Harold McDon- 
 ald, Robert C. Hinckley, Edmund C. Messer, Eleazer H. Miller, 
 Richard Brooke, Max Weyl, S. J. Uhl, and E. F. Andrews, all 
 painters in oil; William H. Holmes and Delancy Gill, painters in 
 water colors, and U. S. Dunbar and Clarke Mills, sculptors. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 CH UE CH HIS T 11 Y. 
 
 Trinity Catliolic Churcli — St. Patrick's Cliurch — St. Peter's Church — St. Matthew's 
 Church — St. Mary's Cljurch — St. Dominic's Church — St. Aloysius' Church — 
 Other Catholic Churches — St. Paul's Episcopal Church — Christ Church — St. 
 John's Church, Georgetown — St. John's Church, Washington — Other Episcopal 
 Churches — Dunbarton Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, Georgetown — Fourth 
 Street Church — Foundry Church — Wesley Chapel — Ryland Chapel — Other Meth- 
 odist Episcopal Churches — Jlethodist Protestant Churches — West Street Presby- 
 terian Church, Georgetown — First Church — F Street Church — Second Church 
 
 — New York Avenue Church — Fourth Church — Other Presbyterian Churches 
 
 — Congregational Churches — First Bapti.st Church — Second Church — E Street 
 Church — Other Baptist Churches — German Evangelical Lutheran Church — St. 
 Paul's English Lutheran Church — Trinity Church — St. John's (Johannes') Church 
 
 — Other Lutheran Churches — The Reformed Churches — United Brethren Church 
 
 — Unitarian Churches — Vermont Avenue Christian Church — Ninth Street Church 
 
 — The Washington Hebrew Congregation — The Adams Israel Congregation — The 
 Church of the Holy City. 
 
 TRINITY CATHOLIC CHURCH, of Georgetown, was estubli-sbcd 
 prior to 1795; for on April 6 of that year, according to tlie 
 church records, a marriage was solemnized, and on tlie 14tli of May 
 a baptism. These records were signed by Rev. Francis Neale, S. J., 
 the tirst pastor. Tlie lot had been purchased some years before by 
 Bishop Carroll, and tlie church edifice was paid for by contributions 
 from the people of the adjoining counties. It was erected at least no 
 later than 1797, by Andrew Boyle, who contributed of his own means, 
 — according to some, donating the lot. On this lot stood a blacksmith 
 shop, in whicli mass was said until the means for the erection of the 
 church could be collected. The donation of the lot appears to have 
 been upon the condition that two of Mr. Boyle's sons should be 
 educated in Georgetown College; for when the last son left that 
 institution, there still remained an unexpired term of tuition due the 
 estate, wliich was paid by the college in money. 
 
 Rev. Father Neale was succeeded in 1818 by Rev. C. de Thou.v, a 
 Belgian preacher, who conducted the first confession in the (•hiii-cli. 
 During his charge, accessions were numerous, rendering the enlargenu'iit 
 
CHURCH HfSTORY. 535 
 
 of the church a necessity. Arches were opened through the side walls 
 and sheds were erected, and galleries were reached from the outside 
 by means of staircases. The next pastor was Rev. Steplien Duboison, 
 formerly private treasurer to Napoleon. He was succeeded by Rev. 
 James F. M. Lucas, the founder of St. Peter's Church. Next came 
 Rev. Philip A. Sacchi, an exile from Russia on account of his religion. 
 He was, in turn, succeeded by Rev. Peter P. Kroes, and he by Rev. 
 Peter O'Flannagan, whose pastorate of eleven years closed with 1852. 
 In 1852, Rev. Joseph Aschwanden became pastor, taking charge of 
 the new church erected in 1849-50. The church was dedicated on 
 Sunday, June 15, 1851. 
 
 The next pastor was Rev. Anthony Cianipi, who remained one 
 j'ear. He was followed by Rev. Thomas Mulledy, who remained until 
 1858. Rev. Aschwanden returned antl remained until tlie time of his 
 death, in 1868. In this year Hippolyte Gache, becoming pastor, erected 
 a pastoral residence near the church. After two years, he was 
 succeeded by Rev. Charles H. Stonestreet, who continued until 1874. 
 Rev. John S. DeWolf, the next jiastor, made an addition to the 
 church for the benetit of the parochial school for bo^'s, which for 
 several years liad occupieil a building on tlie opposite side of the 
 street. In 1877, Rev. J. J. Murphy, S. J., became pastor again, but 
 continued only one year, when Rev. Anthony Ciampi returned. Sub- 
 sequent pastors have been Rev. Julius Maitrugrees, Rev. S. A. Kelle^', 
 Rev. Robert W. Brady, and Rev. William J. Scanlan, S. J., the present 
 incumbent. Tlie membership of the church is now about three 
 thousand. 
 
 St. Patrick's Catholic Church was organized in 1797, some of tlie 
 original members being Thomas Carberry, Ennis Casenaves, and 
 families by the name of Young and Clarke. The first pastor was 
 Rev. Andrew CafFrayes, and the second the Rev. William Matthews, 
 from 1800 to 1854, fifty-four years, — one of the longest pastorates in 
 the history of tliis country. 
 
 The first church building erected by this congregation stood on 
 F Street, near Tenth Street, and was erected in 1810. It was one- 
 hundred and twenty by eighty-five feet in size, and was a plain brick 
 building in the form of a Latin cross. It was furnished with a liand- 
 some pnlpit of rich foreign wood, presented to the church organiza- 
 tion by Mr. Ribello, then representative in Washington of the Empire 
 of Brazil. This cliurch was used until near the beginning of the 
 War of the Rebellion, when a new and much larger church was 
 erected and completed. Its erection was provided for at a meeting 
 
536 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 held May 10, 1857, upon a lot received as a bequest from Rev. Wil- 
 liam Matthews, located on Tenth Street, between F and G streets. 
 This cliurch has cost up to the present time $120,000, and though 
 not completed, it was dedicated in 1884. After the death of Rev. 
 Mr. Matthews, which occurred in April, 1854, the pastor was Rev. 
 Timothy J. O'Toole, who, on April 8, 1860, severing his connection 
 with the church, was succeeded by Rev. J. A. Walter, of Baltimore, 
 who is still the pastor. 
 
 St. Peter's Roman Catholic Chui'ch was organized May 10, 1820, 
 some of the original members being as follows: Rev. William 
 Matthews, Daniel Carroll of Duddington, William Brent, James 
 Iloban, j^icholas L. Queen, James Scallan, Ed. Mattingly, James 
 Spratt, and James Barry. The church building, erected in 1821, after 
 being enlarged from time to time, was toru down in 1889, and the 
 present marble building erected ou the site of the old church, at 
 the corner of Second and C streets Southeast, and it was dedicated 
 November 23, 1890. It cost over $100,000. Out of the territory 
 assigned originally to St. Peter's Church, two other parishes have 
 been formed. The present membership of the church is four 
 thousand. The pastors of this church have been: Revs. James 
 F. M. Lucas, first pastor; M. P. Deagle, James Hoener, S. Sheiber, 
 Joseph Van Horseigh, Edmund H. Knight, F. E. Boyle, Desederius 
 DeWulf, J. O. Sullivan, George W. Devine, and J. M. O'Brien, the 
 present pastor. An event of unusual interest to this congregation 
 occurred in October, 1885, in the elevation of its pastor. Rev. J. 0. 
 Sullivan, to the vacant See of the Diocese of Mobile, and his 
 consecration in the venerable sanctuary. 
 
 St. Matthew's Catholic Church was established in 1841 or 1842, 
 the church building being consecrated May 15, 1842. The first pastor 
 was Rev. John P. Donelan, who was succeeded by John B. Byrne. 
 Afterward, Rev. James B. Donelan became pastor of the church. Sep- 
 tember 28, 1856, an addition was made to the church building, upon 
 which occasion high mass was said by Rev. E. Lyman, of Baltimore, 
 who had formerly been an Episcopal clergyman, Mrs. C. Young, of 
 Baltimore, being the singer. In 1858, Rev. Charles J. White, D. D., 
 was pastor, with Rev. E. Q. S. Waldner as assistant. Since then the 
 pastors have been Rev. Francis Boyle, Rev. P. L. Chapelle, D. D., and 
 Rev. Thomas L. Lee. 
 
 St. Mary's Catholic Church, Fifth Street, near II, Northwest, was 
 organized in October, 1844, with some twenty families. The ground 
 on which the church stands was furnished by General Van Ness. The 
 
CHURCH HISTORY. 587 
 
 corner stone of the first house — a brick structure — was laid March 
 25, 1846, and the house was completed early in 1847, the first services 
 being held August 15. The structure cost $45,000. The present 
 coniniodious brick edifice was erected iu 1891, at a cost of $81,000. 
 On tlie grounds are a fine brick parsonage and a good, two-story 
 brick building, the lower story of which is used for school, and the 
 upper for ladies' dwelling, purposes. The last-named building was 
 erected in 1866. The membership of the congregation includes one 
 hundred and fifty families. 
 
 St. Dominic's Church was organized in 1856, and was situated on 
 F Street, between Sixth and Seventh streets. Rev. J. A. Wilson was 
 pastor. In 1858 Rev. X. D. Young was pastor, and iu 1862 Rev. 
 Father Sherman, who died that year. In April, 18(')5, this church 
 erected a great bell weighing 3,145 pounds, which was then by far 
 the largest bell in the District of Columbia. The fine church edifice 
 belonging to this congregation was destroyed by fire March 12, 1885, 
 a sad blow to the members and friends of the parish. The great bell 
 tolled its doom just before the walls fell in. Scarcely had the smoke 
 ceased to rise from the ruins when plans were matured for the 
 erection of another church edifice, which within a short time stood 
 in place of the old one. Nearly all the Catholics of southwest 
 Washington belong to St. Dominic's, and hence its membership is very 
 large. The pastor at the present time is V. Rev. P. A. Dinahan. 
 
 St. Aloysius' Catholic Church is located at the corner of North 
 Capitol Avenue and I Street. It was organized in 1859, and its fine 
 church edifice erected during that year. It was so far completed as 
 to be dedicated on Sunday, October 16, The introductory services 
 were conducted by Rev. Mr. Villager, S. J., and the sermon of the 
 occasion was delivered by the V. Rev. John Hughes, Archbishop 
 of New York. The dimensions of the church building were one hun- 
 dred and sixty by eighty feet, and the height of the interior of the 
 audience room was fifty-seven feet. Over the main altar there was 
 hung a p)ortrait representing the first communion of St. Aloysius, by 
 Mr. Brimidi, who had done so much of the decorative work of the 
 Capitol building. There were also busts of St. Ignatius Loyola and 
 St. Francis Xavier. The seating capacity of the audience room was 
 about one thousand t\v(^ hundred. The building was planned and the 
 plan carried out by Rev. B. Sestini, S. J., the cost of it when com- 
 pleted being about $50,000. The pastor of the church at that time 
 was the Rev, C. H. Stonestreet, S. J. 
 
 St. Aloysius, the patron saint of this church, was born in Murcii, 
 
538 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 1568, in the Castle of Custiglioiie, in Lombard}-, very near the spot 
 upon wliich was fought the great battle of Solferino, in June, 1859, 
 and died in Rome, June 21, 1591. 
 
 In connection with the churcli, and under direction of its pastor, 
 Rev. C. Gillespie, is Gonzaga College, a brief sketch of which is given 
 elsewhere. 
 
 The Church of the Inmiaculatc Conception, located at the corner 
 of Eighth and IST streets Northwest, was begun in 1864. The edifice 
 erected in 1865 was a two-story structure, forty-three by seventy-five 
 fget in size, and was dedicated Sunday, July 2, 1865, by Archbishop 
 Spaulding. A schoolhouse was erected at the same time, and a second 
 one for girls within the last few years, the latter building being a fine 
 brick structure four stories in height, on P Street. Tiie present pastor 
 is Rev. S. F. Ryan. 
 
 St. Stephen's Catholic Church, located on the corner of Pennsyl- 
 vania Avenue and Twenty-fifth Street Northwest, was organized 
 October 22, 1865, at which time it was decided to erect a church 
 worth f30,000. The corner stone of this new structure, built in the 
 Byzantine style of architecture, of pressed brick, and fifty-three by one 
 hundred and fifteen feet in size, was laid June 3, 1866, by Rev. C. L. 
 White, and on December 29, 1867, the basement story was completed 
 and dedicated. Tiie church edifice, finished at a cost of |60,000, was 
 dedicated December 27, 1868, by V. Rev. Tiiomas Foley. The member- 
 ship of the church is now about three thousand three hundred. The 
 pastors of this church have been Revs. John McNally and John Gloyd. 
 
 St. Augustine's Catholic Church commenced in a two-story brick 
 building erected for school purposes, with less than one hundred com- 
 municants, in the year 1866. Their new church building was erected 
 in 1874. The building is sixty-five by one hundred and thirty-five 
 feet, and the ceiling is fifty-five feet in the clear from the fioor. There 
 wore placed high up around the altar likenesses of three of the patrons 
 of the church, the most prominent of which is St. Augustine, after 
 whom the church was named. On the right is the portrait of Martin 
 de Porras, after whom the church was originally named, the change 
 of name being made according to the necessities of canon law, which 
 declares that only saints can be patrons of the churches. On the left 
 is the portrait of Peter Claver, whose memory is revered by all good 
 Catholics. The seating cajiacity of the church is one thousand five 
 hundred. The building was dedicated June 11, 1874. This has been 
 a pros[)erous clrnrch organization, and its pastor at the present time 
 is Rev; Miciiacl .1. Walsh. 
 
CHURCH HISTORY. 53P 
 
 St. Josepli's Komiiii Cutholiu (JIuircli is located at tlie corner of C 
 and Second streets Northeast. Tlie [larisli was organized by Rev. B. 
 Wiget, Oetoljer 25, 18G8, and ttie corner stone of the churcli building- 
 was laid the same day by Bislio}! Gibbons, of Nortli Carolina, who 
 also delivered an aildress in English, after which an address was 
 delivered in German by Rev. F. X. Weininger, S. J. The cliurch, 
 which was designed only as a tem[)orary structure, was partly of brick 
 and partly of wood, and was of the Gothic style of architecture. The 
 projector of this enterprise was Rev, Mr. Wiget, president of Gonzaga 
 College. The plan of the building was copied from the Cathedral of 
 Cologne. There were also erected a parochial schoolhouse and a pastoral 
 residence. Rev. V. F. Schmitt, who had been pastor at Frostburg, 
 Maryland, for over eighteen years, was appointed to St. Joseph's 
 Church October 7, 188<!. To aid liim in the reorganization of this 
 parish, which from a German congregation had become an English 
 one, the Rev. J. F. Donahue, of St. Peter's Church, was assigned as 
 his assistant. A new parociiial schoolhouse, forty feet by one hundred 
 feet in size and two stories high, was erected in 1887. In the spring 
 of 1888 tlie present fine brown-stone church ediiice was begun, finished 
 in January, 1891, and dedicated on the 18th of that month by Cardinal 
 Gibbons, the Rev. J. J. Keane, rector of the Catholic University, 
 preaching the dedicatory sermon, and Rev. Dr. Chappelle, the present 
 coadjutor 13ishop of Sante Fe, New Mexico, celebrating the first 
 solemn high mass. The present ti^je Gothic church building, with 
 its elegant interior finish, new marble altars, and a large three-manual 
 organ, is second to none in the cit}' of Wasliington. The building is 
 seventy-five feet by one hundred and fifty-six feet in size, has a seating 
 capacity of twelve hundred persons, and cost $80,000. The cliurch 
 is at the present time very prosperous. 
 
 St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, located at the corner of 
 Fifteenth and V streets Northwest, was organized December 25, 188t). 
 The first pastor, who is still pastor of the church, was Rev. James 
 F. Mackin. The brick chapel cost $15,000, and was dedicated May 19, 
 1887, by Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore. The original 
 membership was about six hundred, and the membership in February, 
 1892, was about one thousand, nine hundred and fifty. The church 
 was begun as a mission of St. Matthew's Church in 188G, and became 
 an independent church September 1", 1889. 
 
 The Holy Name Catholic Church was organized in a jirivate 
 house, 716 H Street Northwest, February 1, 1891, by Rev. J. T. 
 Delaney. It is a colony from St. Aloysius' Church, and the member- 
 
540 UrSTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 ship at this time is one tliousiuid. A two-story brick cliurch edifice 
 was erected in 1891 on a lot on the corner of Eleventh and K streets. 
 The dedication of this new building took place June 12, 1892. 
 
 St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Rock Creek Parish, is the pioneer 
 Episcopal church of this region. Its origin is traced to 1719, when 
 Kev. John Frazier, rector of St. John's Parish, was instrumental in 
 erecting a small chapel on the site of the present structure. One of 
 the contributors to this enterprise was John Bradford, of Prince 
 George's County, Maryland, who gave one hundred acres of land and 
 one thousand pounds of tobacco for the purpose. In 1729, St. Paul's 
 Parish was formally separated from St. John's, and Rev. George 
 Murdock was chosen rector. The second rector was Rev. Alexander 
 Williamson, who served from 17G1 to 1770. About this time, or 
 jirior (perhaps 1775), the present edifice was begun, the size being- 
 forty by sixty feet. 
 
 The succeeding pastors were: Rev. Thomas Reed, 177(5-1814; Rev. 
 C. C. Austin, 1820; Rev. William McCormick, 1828; Rev. R. Ash, 
 1830; Rev. Christian Wiltburger, 1831; Rev. B. M. Miller, 1837; Rev. 
 K. J. Stewart, 1839; Rev. W. A. Harris, 1841; Rev. Wood, 1849; Rev. 
 Kerr, 1851; and Rev. James A. Buck, present incumbent, since 1853. 
 
 The original building was decided, in 1820, to be too large, and 
 walls were erected within the walls; in 1850, however, the interior walls 
 were removed, and the liouse restored to its original size. During the 
 rectorship of Mr. Buck, many changes and improvements have been 
 made to the property, adding artistic to historic interest. 
 
 Christ Church, Protestant Episcopal, of Washington Parish, was 
 organized in 1794; or, stated more precisely, Washington Parish was 
 then organized, and covered the entire territory of the city. During 
 the continuance of the Revolutionarj' War, there was a modest frame 
 building standing on what is now New Jersey Avenue, near D Street 
 Southeast, which Inul been used as a barn. In tliis frame building- 
 religious services were held, and the little congregation was attached 
 to St. John's Parish, in Prince George's County, Maryland. It was 
 known as Christ's Church, and many of the prominent men of this 
 part of the country worshiped therein. This little building was used 
 for nearly thirty years, and Rev. A. T. McCormick held services in 
 it as late as 1807, the year in which the present Christ Churc-h was 
 organized. The churcli on the present site, however, was not used 
 until August, 1809, nor formally dedicated until October 7, following, 
 the building being dedicated by Rt. Rev. Thomas John Clagget, Bishop 
 of Maryland. 
 
CHURCH HISTORY. 541 
 
 On May 25, 1795, the iirst vestry was electeil, and the Rev. George 
 Ralph chosen rector. In electing Mr. Ralph rector, the vestry reserved 
 the right to elect a rector for tliut portion of the parish within tiic 
 limits of Georgetown, and suhseqnently elected Rev. Edward Gant to 
 tliat position. 
 
 In 1795, James Greenleaf presented the vestry with a lot on Square 
 450, east of the post office, and Samuel Blodgett presented the church 
 with the timber necessary for the erection of its hnilding. 
 
 On May 11, 1806, Mr. William Prout gave the land on whioii 
 the present church is situated, — Nos. 6 and 7, Square 877, on the 
 north side of G Street, between Sixth and Seventh streets, Southeast, 
 the condition being that the church should be erected within a 
 year. On May 4 Rev. A. T. McCormick was elected rector, and tiic 
 church was opened for services on Sunday, Angust 9, 1807. The 
 name was then changed from Christ's to Christ Churcli, the old one 
 on JSTew Jersey Avenue being known by the former name. Square 
 1,026, on H Street, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets, South- 
 east, was purchased for a burial ground; but proving too low for such 
 purpose, its use was abandoned, and in March, 1808, Square 1,115, 
 between E and G, and Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets, Southeast, 
 was purchased for §200, and named "Washington Parish Burial 
 Ground." According to the original rules, no person of color, nor 
 anyone "known to deny a belief in the Christian religion," is allowed 
 to be buried therein. In 1816, the vestry set apart one hundred grave 
 sites for members of Congress, and subsequently three hundred more, 
 and the privilege was extended to heads of departments and their 
 families, and to the families of members of Congress. 
 
 Rev. Mr. McCormick officiated as pastor until 1823, when he was 
 succeeded by Rev. Ethan Allen, who resigned in 1830. Since then tlie 
 rectors have been Rev. Henry II. Bean, who resigned in 1835; Rev. 
 W. Hodges, who resigned in 1855; Rev. Joshua Morsell, Rev. Mark 
 Olds, 1865; Rev. C. H. Shield, to 1869; Rev. William McGuire, until 
 1872; Rev. C. D. Andrews, until 1887, and then Rev. Gilbert F. Wil- 
 liams, until the present time. The church is in a very prosperous 
 condition. It has one general society, called "Christ Church Guild," 
 and the Sunday-school is remarkably large and active in its work. 
 
 St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church, of Georgetown, was 
 organized as early as 179G, through the efforts of Rev. Walter D. 
 Addison, assisted by Rev. Dr. Balch, a Presbyterian divine. Rev. Mr. 
 Addison was then settled in the parish of Broad Creek, Prince 
 George's County, opposite Alexandria. Upon visiting some Episco- 
 
542 HISTORY OF U'.^SH/XGTON. 
 
 paliaiis living in Georgetown, ho was invited to hold services in Dr. 
 Balch's chiireh, and was by hiui assisted to organize tiiis ciiurcli. 
 Colonel William Deakins donated a lot for the church editice to stand 
 upon, and $1,500 was collected toward its erection. This sum carrie<l 
 up the walls to the first range of windows, and it remained in an 
 uiifinisiied condition for six or seven years, and it was not until 1803 
 that a meeting of the citizens of Georgetown was held to take 
 measures for completing the building, which resulted in sufficiently 
 finishing the building to allow of public worship therein. Early iii 
 1804 the trustees advertised for a rector, and in April Rev. Mr. Sayres 
 was chosen rector, and at once entered upon his duties. The church was 
 in excellent condition until 1809, when Rev. Mr. Sayres died. It was 
 attended through his ministry by the fashionable people of the })lacc. 
 In January, 1809, Rev. Walter D. Addison became rector of this 
 church, at which time it was as largely attended from Washington 
 as from Georgetown, there being at that time no church in Wash- 
 ington except Christ Church, at the ITavy Yard. In 1811, owing to 
 the large congregations, it was deemed necessary to enlarge the 
 building. The plan failed, however, because of tlie difficult}' of raising 
 the necessary means, and because the pew holders would not consent 
 to retain their pews at the same price as the}' had been paying ami 
 at the same time be at a greater distance from the pulpit, as would 
 be the case in consequence of the eidargcment of the church. Fi'om 
 this period until 1817, the church continued in operation, but with a 
 moderate measure of prosperity. Rev. Mr. Addison was furnished 
 with au assistant in May, 1817, in the person of Rev, Ruel Keith, who 
 remained in this position until the organization of Christ Church, 
 Georgetown, when he was chosen rector of the new organization. 
 From this time, St. John's was in a feeble condition, and in 
 1821 Mr. Addison resigned, and took charge of Rock Creek Church 
 and Addison Chapel, near Bladensburg, and was succeetled in the 
 rectorship of St. John's by Rev. Stephen S. Tyng, who remained until 
 1823, and then removed to Queen's Parish, Anne Arundel County, 
 Maryland. Rev. Mr. Addison was then recalled and renuuned rector 
 until 1827, when, owing to the complete failure, he again resigned, lie 
 was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. James, wlio remained with the cliurch 
 between one and two years. Then came, lor a short time. Rev. 
 Sutherland DoLiglass, who was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Addison, who, 
 though totally blind, held an occasional service until 1831, when the 
 church was finally abandoned to the possession of a sculjjtor antl 
 the birds, and thus acquired the name of "The Swallow Barn." 
 
CHURCH HISTORY. 543 
 
 In 1838, the property was sold for taxes, .$50 being paid; it was 
 repurchased and refitted for church purposes. Rev. Dr. Alexander M. 
 Marhury was chosen rector, remaining until 1841, wiien he was 
 succeeded by Rev. C. M. Butler. Governor Cooke and his brother, 
 Jay Cooke, contributed largely toward the rebuilding of the church, the 
 organ being a present from the Governor. Rev. Mr. Butler's successor 
 was Dr. John S. Lindsey, who officiated until 1888, when he was 
 succeeded by the present rector, Rev. J. A. Regerter. 
 
 St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church, of Washington, was pro- 
 posed in 1814 or 1815, the corner stone of the building laid with 
 public ceremonies February 16, 1816, the parish organized and set off 
 from that of Christ Church, Washington, July 17, 1816, and the lirst 
 wardens, W. W. Seaton and Davitl Easton, were elected August 5, 
 1816. The original edifice was erected from designs furnished by 
 Benjamin H. Latrobe, one of the architects of the Capitol, in the 
 form of a Greek cross, but so arranged as to admit of enlargement 
 on the plan of a Roman cross. This building cost $25,000, and was 
 opened for religious services in December, 1816. This church was 
 lighted by means of a lantern on the dome, and by means of semi- 
 circular windows in each arm of the cross, and by windows above 
 and below on each side of each arm. In 1821, the west transept was 
 added, and also a portico and steeple; and in 1883, the building was 
 enlarged and in^jroved. The church as originally erected was conse- 
 crated December 27, 1816, by Rt. Rev. James Kemp, D. D., Bishop of 
 the Diocese of Maryland. Rev. William H. Wilnier was the first rector, 
 serving until April, 1817, when he was succeeded by Rev. AVilliani 
 Hawley, who remained rector until his death, which occurred January 
 28, 1845. lie was succeeded by Rev. Smith Pyne, who had been his 
 assistant rector, and who was rector until iSTovember, 1864, when 
 Rev. John Vaughn Lewis succeeded him. He, in turn, was succeeded 
 by Rev. William A. Leonard, who resigned wlien elected bishop, and 
 was succeeded by Rev. George William Douglass, who entered upon his 
 duties November 1, 1889. lie was assistant rector of Trinity Church, 
 New York City, when called to this rectorship. This church is very 
 jirosperous, and contributes annually for all purposes about $50,000. 
 The President's pew, set apart December 7, 1816, was occupied by 
 every President of the United States down to the time of President 
 Lincoln, and subsequently by President Arthur. 
 
 Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church, at the northeast corner of 
 Third and C streets Northwest, was established in 1828, and its 
 church edifice erected the same year. It was located on Fifth Street, 
 
544 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 between D and E streets, facing Jndieiary Sqnare, and was dedicated 
 in 1829. Rev. Henry Vand3'lve Johns was the first rector. As time 
 passed, the menibersliip of the cluirch grew to large projiortions; tlie 
 cliurch on Fiftli Street became too small, and it was decided to erect 
 a new building. In the meantime, however, there had been several 
 rectors, succeeding Rev. Mr. Johns, who, on Februar}- 16, 1832, ac- 
 cepted a call to a church in Rochester, New York. He was succeeded 
 b}- Rev. Chauncey Cottou; and on December 1, 1833, Rev. William F. 
 Cliesley, the successor of Rev. Mr. Cotton, preached here for the first 
 time. Rev. John Owens was rector of this church in 1839, and Rev. 
 n. Stringfellow"] in 1844 and 184(3. At the time the present site of 
 Trinity Church was chosen, the rector was Rev. Clement Butlei'. The 
 corner stone of the new building at this location was laid April 2, 
 1850, by the rector, and interesting addresses were delivered by Rev. 
 Mr. Tillinghast, Rev. Mr. Gilliss, and others. An address was also 
 delivered by Hon. Mr. Berrien. The new building was opened for 
 religious services March 9, 1851, Rev. Dr. Butler preaching the sermon. 
 Rev. Dr. Butler renuxined with this church until September, 1854, his 
 rectorship having lasted seven years. He was succeeded by Rev. G. 
 D. Cummins, who remained until July, 1858. After Dr. Cummins 
 left. Rev. Henry J. Kershaw acted as rector for several months. About 
 January 1, 1859, Rev. Dr. Butler was recalled, and was succeeded by 
 Rev. R. J. Keeling, who was rector during the War. He was succeeded 
 May 12, 1867, by the present rector. Rev. J. G. Addison, D. D. There 
 are about four hundred communicants in this church, and it has a 
 large and flourishing Sunday-school, of which Dr. Ilickling is the 
 superintendent. Henry Clay and Daniel Web.ster were both commu- 
 nicants of this church. 
 
 The Church of the Epiphany originated in a mission enterprise 
 in 1841, under charge of Rev. John W. French, formerly chaplain 
 to the House of Representatives, and afterward city missionary. On 
 January 6, 1842, the day of the Feast of tlie Epiphany, at a meeting 
 of about thirty persons held at the ln)use of Mrs. Easton, on the 
 corner of I and ' Nineteenth streets, it was decided to organize a 
 new congregation and to adopt the name of Epiphany Church. A 
 vestry was elected August 10, 1842, and the new parish admitted by 
 the Convention of the Diocese of Maryland in May, 1844. The corner 
 stone of this cliurch building was laid August 12, 1843. The edifice 
 erected was a [)lain, rectangular structure, with low ceiling and 
 pointed windows, ui)0u a lot given by Miss Harrison, and dedicated 
 in June, 1852. After the retirement of Rev. Mr. French, in 1856, be 
 
CHURCH HISTORY. 545 
 
 having been appointed cliuplaiii to tlie niilitaiy academy at West 
 Point, various ministers preaclied occasionally for tiiis church, among 
 them Rev. Dr. Harold, acting missionary- of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in Washington; but on Christmas da}' of that year. Rev. 
 C. H. Hall began his ministry as the regular successor of Rev, Mr. 
 French. He remained until 1869, when he left to take charge of 
 Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn. In 1857 and 1858, the transepts, 
 tower, and a chancel were erected, and a new altar and a new font 
 provided. In 1869, Rev. Dr. Hall was succeeded by Rev. Thomas 
 A. Starkey, D. D., now Bishop of ISTorthern New Jersey, who remained 
 until 1871. During his ministr}-, a recessed chancel was erected. Rev. 
 Wilbur F. Watkins succeeded Dr. Starkey, being installed January' 
 5, 1873, and remained until 1875. During bis ministry, the building 
 was so rebuilt and remodeled that but little of tlie original structure 
 remained, the cost of the improvements being more tlian |50,000. 
 In 1875, Rev. William Paret, D. D., became rector, remaining until 
 1884, when he was consecrated Bishop of Maryland, but during his 
 ministry here the remainder of an old building debt was paid off, and 
 his first act as bishop was to consecrate the reconstructed church, 
 January 14, 1885. Rev. Dr. Samuel H. Giesy then became rector, 
 and remained until his death, in 1888, when he was succeeded by the 
 present rector, Rev. R. II. McKim, D. D., who was called from Trin- 
 ity Church, New Orleans. A mission house and chapel was erected 
 in 1891 at the corner of Twelfth and C streets, at a cost of $30,000. 
 The Church of the Ascension, standing at the corner of Massa- 
 chusetts Avenue and Twelfth Street, was organized in May, 1844, 
 Rev. L. J. Gilliss, then acting as missionary in that part of the 
 city, being called to the rectorship. The trustees at the -time were 
 T. H. Gilliss, William J. Darden, John M. Duncanson, William 
 A. Bradley, A. Ilolmead, James Reeves, and Samuel Butt. This 
 organization was given a site for its building by General and Mrs. John 
 P. Van Ness, a short time previous to the death of Mrs. Van Ness, but 
 until able to build, they occupied Mr. McLeod's academy, on Ninth 
 Street. The corner stone of the new church building was laid 
 September 5, 1844, on II Street, near the Orphans' Asylum, by Rt. 
 Rev. Bishop W. R. Whittingham. The edifice erected here was 
 fifty-four by eighty-five feet in size, and of the Gothic style of 
 architecture. The chui'ch was opened for public worsliip December 
 14, 1845, many distinguished persons being present, among them 
 Major-General Scott. Rev. Dr. Stanley, after being associated with 
 Dr. Gilliss, succeeded him to the rectorship, and was himself followed 
 
546 ■ HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 by Rev. VVilliuin rinckney, wiio beyan bis miuistiy liere October 
 11, 1857. Upon the resign iiti on of Dr. Pinckne}-, Rev. Orhindo 
 Hutton, D. D., became rector, and :it tlie close of liis ministry. Rev. 
 Dr. Pinckney returned on the condition that lie sbonld have an 
 assistant. In 1873, Rev. John H. Elliott, D. U., became associate 
 rector. 
 
 In 1874, the corner stone of a new cliurcb building was laid on 
 Massachusetts Avenue and Twelfth Street. In December, 1875, the 
 congregation took possession of the new building. The entire cost 
 of this building was §205,000, of which sum Mr. Corcoran gave 
 $100,000. Improven\ents, including a new pipe organ, have recently 
 been added. On the death of Bishop Pinckne}', Dr. Elliott became 
 rector, aud is still in the position. This churcli has two missions, one 
 for colored people near the Freedmen's Hospital, and the other for 
 Chinamen. 
 
 Grace E|)iscopal Churcli was established in 1851, in the Seventh 
 Ward, a separate parish having been laid oli' by the Convention of the 
 State of Maryland. A Sunday-school has been maintained for several 
 years by the exertions of ladies of the vicinity, but church services 
 had been only occasionally enjoyed. Rev. Alfred Ilolmead was elected 
 pastor, aud regular services held. Measures were then taken looking 
 to the erection of a new church building, and the corner stone was 
 laid October 7, 1851, Rev. Smith Pyne being the principal actor in 
 the ceremonies, assisted by Rev. Mr. Holmead. The church was 
 erected at the corner of D aud Ninth streets Southwest, and was 
 seventy by thirty feet. The present rector is Rev. .1. W. Phillips. 
 
 St. Alban's Protestant Episcopal Church, on the turnpike leading 
 from Georgetown to Rockville, was established in 1854. Its present 
 pastor is Rev. Neilson Falls. 
 
 St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, on the corner of Fourteenth and 
 Corcoran streets, was established as a parish in 1857, and began to 
 erect an edifice on the site of the Lutheran Memorial Church, on 
 Fourteenth Street, near Thomas Circle. The War coming on, the 
 parish became demoralized, aud the site, which had been donated by 
 Hon. Caleb Cushing, was sold for taxes. By decree of court, the 
 property reverted to Mr. Cushing, who sold it and divided the pro- 
 ceeds between several parishes. 
 
 For a number of years after this loss of site, St. Andrew's was 
 maintained as a mission station by tlie Rev. Harris. In 1881, the 
 present site was acquired, and Rev. Josiah B. Perry became rector. 
 The chapel was erected at the time, and has been enlarged several 
 
CHIRCH HISTORY. 547 
 
 times since. The cliurcli lias over four huiulred coniniiinicaiits, and 
 is ill a prosperous condition. 
 
 The Church of the Incarnation (Episcopal), at Twelfth and N 
 streets Northwest, was founded in 1865. The comer stone of the 
 present church editice was laid June 18, 1866, and on December 24, 
 1867, the first service was held in the completed building. Rev. Charles 
 Hall delivering the discourse. The church cost $21,000. The first 
 rector was Eev. James R. Hubbard, who served from July 16, 1871, 
 to May 31, 1874. He was succeeded by the present rector. Rev. I. L. 
 Townsend, on October 18, 1874. The present membership is three 
 hundred and twenty-five. 
 
 St. Paul's Episcopal Church, located on Twenty-third Street, be- 
 tween Pennsylvania Avenue and I Street, Northwest, was organized 
 in 1866, when it was separated from the parish of St. John's. The 
 St. Paul Parish is geographically small, extending from Twenty-second 
 Street to the boundary, thence around on the borders of Rock Creek 
 to Twenty-fifth Street, to H, and thence to Twenty-third again. The 
 number of its communicants is over four hundred and fifty. 
 
 Immediately after the founding of the church, work began on the 
 edifice, which is one of the neatest and coziest in the city. The first 
 rector of the parish was Rev. Augustus Jackson, who retained his 
 position fourteen years. His successor was Rev. William Barker, who, 
 in 1887, was followed by the present rector. Rev. Alfred Harding. 
 This congregation has given special attention to music, it being the 
 first in the city, it is alleged, to introduce the choral service. 
 
 St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal Church, located on Third Street, 
 near A, Southeast, was organized in May, 1869, with thirty-tive 
 members, by Rev. A. Floridus Steele, the only rector. The first 
 building was a wooden one, standing in the rear of the present struct- 
 ure, and was thirty-five by sixty-five feet. In 1889, the present brick 
 editice was erected, at a cost of $21,000. The new house has not yet 
 been consecrated. 
 
 This congregation is a colony from Christ's Church. It is sus- 
 taining the Mission of the Good Shepherd, with forty attendants, at 
 312 K Street Northeast. The congregation lias grown to two hundred 
 and forty. 
 
 St. James' Episcopal Church, on Eighth Street, near Massachusetts 
 Avenue, Northeast, was organized June 26, 1873, from Washington 
 Parish. The building, not yet finished, is constructed of Potomac 
 blue stone, with interior lining of brick. The part first built was 
 occupied March 2, 1884. Thus far the structure has cost $15,000. 
 
548 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 The membersliip at tlie date of organization numbered twentj'-seven ; 
 at present, two hundred and ten. The rectors from the iirst have 
 been Eevs. James A. Ilarrold, J. M. E. McKee, F. W. Winslow, I. L. 
 Townsend, and J. W. Chirk, the present incumbent. 
 
 The Dunbartou Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, of George- 
 town, was founded in 1792, and was the first church of this denomi- 
 nation established in the District of Columbia. The doctrines of this 
 Churcb were preached in Georgetown as early as 1772, and it is 
 reasonably certain tbat the tirst sermon was preached here by Robert 
 Williams, an Englishman, who came to the United States in 1769, and 
 that this first sermon was preached in October, 1772, when Mr. Wil- 
 liams was en route to Norfolk, Virginia, accompanied by William 
 Walters, a young native preacher, who was received into the regular 
 ministry the following year, 1773, and who became the tirst native 
 American itinerant, "having honor never to be shared, never im- 
 paired."' This first apostle of Methodism was also the founder of the 
 same denomination in Virginia and North Carolina. 
 
 Three of the most prominent pioneer preachers — Robert Straw- 
 bridge, who built the first Methodist chapel in America; Richard 
 Owings, the first American local preacher, and William Walters, the 
 first native American itinerant, were all connected with Methodism in 
 Georgetown. They were followed by Philip Gatch, who was boru 
 in Baltimore County, Maryland, and was the second native American 
 itiuei'ant. Philip Gatch suffered much persecution. At one of his 
 appointments near Bladensburg, he was seized by a mob and tarred. 
 The last stroke made with the paddle with which the tar was 
 applied, was drawn across his naked eye-ball, causing severe pain, 
 and from the ettects of which he never fully recovered. Of this event 
 Mr. Gatch wrote: "If I ever felt for the souls of men, I did for 
 theirs. When I got to my appointment, the spirit of tiie Lord so 
 overpowered me that I fell prostrate in prayer before him for my 
 enemies. The Lord, no doubt, granted my request, for the nuui who 
 put the tar on, and several others, were afterward converted." 
 
 It is not certain where the first place of public worship of this 
 (leuonii nation in Georgetown was located, but it is considered toler- 
 ably safe to say that the first meetings were held in a cooper shop 
 belonging to a Mr. Williams, and standing near the intersection of 
 Gay and Congress streets. It is probable that the first house built 
 especially for religious purposes by this organization was erected on 
 
 1 Abel Stevens. 
 
CHURCH HISTORY. 549 
 
 Montgomery Street in the early part of 1795. Bishop Asbnry speaks 
 of this building under date of November 2, 1795, as a "new chapel." 
 The l:)uilding was a small brick one, and the ground upon wlncli it 
 stood was conveyed to the society March 22, 1800, for five shillings. 
 In 1806 the building was enlarged, and in 1849 it was sold for a 
 school buiUling. In 1849, during the pastorate of Rev. Ilenr}' Slicer, 
 the present ediiice was erected. Funds from abroad to the amount of 
 s?2,500, and from the home field to the extent of $7,000, were collected. 
 In 1868 the church was thorouglily repaired and refurnished; and in 
 1882 it was refrescoed, repainted, and provided with new doors, carpets, 
 and cushions. The site of the present church edifice was purchased 
 from David English for |500, the deed bearing date of May 16, 1849. 
 
 From this congregation a number of colonies have sprung. In 
 1828, forty-four members withdrew and organized the "Associate Meth- 
 odist Church," now known as the Protestant Methodist Church, else- 
 where described. 
 
 In 1854, a mission school was established in West Georgetown by 
 Edward H. Brown and James A. White. In 1855, a church was built, 
 of which the first pastor was Rev. William F. Speake, now pastor 
 of Fourth (Ebenezer) Church, Southeast. This congregation is now 
 known as the "Calvary- Methodist Episcopal Cliurch." 
 
 A colored church was in existence at a very early date. It was, 
 until 1855, under the control of the white congregation, the junior 
 preacher of the charge usually looking after the interests of the 
 colored congregation. 
 
 Inasmuch as this is the parent congregation of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Churclj in the District, the list of preachers from the first 
 is appended: Robert Strawbridge, Richard Owings, Philip Ebert, 
 Edward Drumgole, Philip Gatcb, Robert Strawbridge, William Wal- 
 ters, Freeborn Garrettson, Martin Rodda, Samuel Spraggs, Caleb Ped- 
 dicord, Richard Garrettson, William Glendenuing, William Walters, 
 Thomas Foster, Charles Scott, Jonathan Forrest, Reuben Ellis, Philip 
 Cox, Michael Ellis, Ignatius Pigman, William Phcebus, John Magary, 
 Isaac Smith, Jonathan Forrest, William Ringgold, Samuel Breeve, 
 Michael Ellis, Joseph 0. Cromwell, Jonathan Forrest, Benton Riggin, 
 Benjamin Roberts, Robert Green, John Allen, James Wilson, Jolin 
 Childs, George Haggerty, John Regan, John Rowen, Aquilla Garrett- 
 son, Joshua Wells, Thomas Bell, Morris Howe, Rezin Simpson, F. 
 Garrettson, Jr., Edmund Wayman, John Chalmers, William Bishop, 
 John Bloodgood, D. Martin, Aquilla Garrettson, Thomas Lucas, Lasley 
 Matthews, Joseph Rowen, Wilson Lee, and John Potts, to 1800; 
 
550 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Thomas Lyell, William Walters, John Potts, Seely Buiin. From 1801 
 to 1804, the society in Washington at the "Point" was supplied by 
 the preachers stationed in Georgetown. In 1805, the pastor in George- 
 town, after tlie lirst quarter, changed ever}' other Sabbath with 
 William Walters, stationed in Washington. John Bloodgood, Enoch 
 George, Thomas F. Sargent, Stephen George lioszel, Nicholas Snetlien, 
 Robert R. Roberts, Asa Shinn, Stephen G. Roszel, William Ryland, 
 Thomas Burch, John Davis, Beverly Waugh, James McCann, Job 
 Guest, to 1825-26; Norval Wilson, Robert S. Vinton, John L. Amiss, 
 Henry Furlong, -James M. Hanson, Charles B. Tippitt, Henr}' Slicer, 
 William Hamilton, William B. Edwards, Littleton F. Morgan, James 
 S. Ilansberger,' Stephen Asburj* Roszel,' Stephen George Roszel,' Alfred 
 Griffith, William Wicks,' Henry Tarring, William Taylor,' Thomas 
 Sewell, Henry Slicer, William H. Wilson,' Charles McElfresh,' John 
 Lanahan, Samuel Rodgers,' to 1850; Andrew J. Myers, ' Samuel 
 Brison, John C. Dice,' John Landstreet,' Benjamin F. Brooke, B. 
 Newton Brown, William B. Edwards, N. J. B. Morgan, William 
 H. Chapman, William B. Edwards, James A. McCauley, John H. 
 Dashiell, B. Peyton Brown, to 1875; Richard Norris, J. McKendree 
 Reiley, J. J. G. Webster, William I. McKenney, W. S. Edwards, 
 M. F. B. Rice, J. Edwin Ames, and George Elliott. Of this long line 
 of esteemed pastors, four were elected bishops: Enoch George, Robert 
 R. Roberts, Beverly Waugh, and William Taylor. 
 
 The Fourth Street Methodist Episcopal Church, on Fourth Street, 
 between South Carolina Avenue and G Street Southeast, is the pioneer 
 oi'gauization of this denomination in the cit}-. 
 
 All Methodist history connected with Washington prior to 1802 
 is largely inferential. At the Baltimore Conference, iield that year, 
 William Walters was appointed pastor at Georgetown and Washing- 
 ton. At that time the nucleus of Methodism was Greenleaf's Point, in 
 the southern part of the city. At the corner of what is now South 
 Capitol and N streets, stood the "Twenty Buildings," in one of which 
 the Methodists, under the direction of Mr. Walters, held their first 
 services. Of the attendants at the Point may be mentioned Mrs. 
 Elizabeth Lipscomb, Joseph Wheat, Peter Miller, and George Col- 
 lard. Mention is made of these members in connection with a church 
 meeting at Georgetown, April 7, 1803, in which it was stipulated that 
 the "friends at the Point" agreed to pay one-third of tiie salary and 
 one-fourth of the board of the preacher in charge. Rev. John Potts. 
 
 ■Junior i)ieii(.'liers in cliarge of tlic colored cliurcli. 
 
CHCRCH HISTORY. 551 
 
 About 1807, the congregation changed from "the Point" to 
 Dudley Carroll's barn, which stood on Kew Jersey Avenue, south 
 of E Street. It was the home of the Methodist congregation from 
 1807 to 1811. During this period (1807-11), tlie niemberslii}) increased 
 from one hundred and two to one hundred and lifty-niiie. 
 
 On the 5th of October, 1810, the trustees, consisting of Henry 
 Foxall, John Brashears, Electiui Middletou, Ambrose White, James 
 Vauzeuette, John A. Chambers, Leonard Machall, John Eliason, and 
 Jacob Hoftman, bought a lot of William Prout, for the sum of 
 §227.64. Under the pastorate of Kev. Beverly Waugh, tliey began 
 the erection of the first church edifice owned by the Methodists in 
 Washington. It was a brick structure of modest pretensions, and 
 was dedicated in Xovendjer, 1811. A chapel was erected by its side 
 for school purp)oses a few years later. The church was not supplied 
 at first with benches or chairs, and the sexes were separated by a 
 partition. This church was called Ebenezer. 
 
 lu 1830, a number of members, seceding, established what is now 
 called the First Methodist Protestant Church, on the corner of Fifth 
 Street and Virginia Avenue Southeast. 
 
 The present house of worship was erected in 1857, under the 
 pastorate of Rev. W. H. Chapman. 
 
 Foundry Methodist Episcopal Church was established in 1814 
 and organized in 1815. The man who above all others was deserving 
 of credit for its establishment was Rev. Henry Foxall, whose foundry 
 is mentioned in the "Manufacturing" chapter. In 1814, Mr. Foxall 
 purchased a lot at the corner of Fourteenth and G streets, erected 
 a church edifice upion it, and presented it to the society. The first 
 trustees of this church were Isaac Owen, Leonard Machall, John 
 Eliason, William Dcnighty, Joel Brown, John Lutz, and Samuel 
 McKiuney. This first church building was dedicated September 10, 
 1815. Soon after building the church, Mr. Foxall went to England, 
 and in his absence the congregation built a parsonage, a two-story 
 frame building, which displeased Mr. Foxall, as it was his intention 
 to erect a fine parsonage for the church at his own expense. He died 
 near his native village in England in 1823. With regard to the 
 name of the church, it was supposed to have been adopted from 
 the fact that John Wesley and his associates, when driven out of the 
 English church, first occupied an old foundry, and to the additional 
 fact that Mr. Foxall established this church with money nuule in his 
 owu foundry. 
 
 The building at the corner of Fourteenth and G streets was used 
 
552 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 without repiiir until 1835, when it was repaired. It was again repaired 
 in 1849, wlien tlie galleries, till then occupied by the colored members, 
 were taken down, and the floor of the church raised so as to make 
 a basement, which was then used for a Sunday-school. A separate 
 church was erected for the accommodation of the colored members on 
 Eleventh Street, named Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, organ- 
 ized, at tliat time, with about three hundred members. The Fouiuh-y 
 Church, as improved according to the plan last mentioned, was used 
 until Ma}^, 1864, when it was torn down and a now building erected 
 in its place, the corner stone being laid July 20, 1864, with Masonic 
 ceremonies. This church edifice was dedicated November 4, 1866, Rev. 
 D. W. Bartine, D. D., of Philadelphia, delivering the address. 
 
 The first pastor of this church was Rev. Thomas Burcli, an Irish- 
 man, and the second was Rev. William Ryland, in 1816; Rev. Mr. 
 Burch in 1817; Rev. -John Emery, 1818-19; Rev. William Ryland, 
 1820-21; Rev. Samuel Davis, until September, 1822, when ho died, and 
 then Rev. Joseph Baer; Rev. William Hamilton, 1823-24; Rev. William 
 Ryland, 1825-26; Rev. John Davis, 1827-28; Rev. Stephen Roszell, 
 1829-30; Rev. James M. Ilan.son and Rev. George Nildt, 1831-32; 
 Rev. John Baer, 1833; Rev. Samuel Brayson and Rev. Thomas B. 
 Sargent, 1834-35; Rev. William Hamilton and Rev. Charles B. Tip- 
 pet, 1836-37; Rev. Henry Sheer, 1838-39; Rev. Thomas C. Thornton, 
 184U and half of 1841; Rev. John A. Robb, remainder of 1841; Rev. 
 John Davis, 1842-43; Rev. Henry Tarring, 1844-45; Rev. Nicholas 
 J. B. Morgan, 1846-47; Rev. John Lanalian, 1848-49; Rev. Littleton 
 F. Morgan, 1850-51; Rev. Jesse T. Reck, D. D., 1852-53; Rev. Elisha 
 P. Phelps, 1854-55; Rev. Samuel Register, 1856-57; Rev. B. H. Nadal, 
 D. D., 1858-59; Rev. William B. Edwards, D. D., 1860-61; Rev. Wil- 
 liam Hearst, to August, 1862; Rev. J. R. Eflinger and Rev. Josepii 
 B. Stitt, remainder of 1862; Rev. W. M. D. Ryan, 1863-65; Rev. B. 
 Peyton Brown, 1866-68; Rev. Alexander Gibson, D. D., 1869-71; Rev. 
 Samuel A. Wilson, 1872; Rev. Horace A. Cleveland, 1873-75; Rev. 
 B. Peyton Brown, 1876-77; Rev. John Lanahan, D. D., 1878-80; 
 Rev. Frank Ward, 1881-83; Rev. Henry R. Nayl.u-, D. D., 1884-86; 
 Rev. George Elliott, 1887-1891. 
 
 Wesley Chapel, of the Metliodist Episcopal Church, locateil at the 
 southwest corner of Fifth and F streets Northwest, was organized in 
 1828. In its earlier years, it was visited, at times, by tlie prominent 
 meml)ers of the denomination. Rev. Bishop McKendree occupied its 
 pulpit on the 17th of May, 1829. In 1838, Rev. G. S. Cookman 
 became [)astor, and remained until 1841. 
 
CHURCH HISTORY. 553 
 
 Some of the pastors who came after Rev. Mr. Cookmaii were: 
 John Davis, 1841-43; W. B. Edwards, 1843-44; Nerval Wilson, 1844- 
 48; II. Slicer, 1848; Dashiell, 1855; W. Krebs, 1856-58. The first 
 house of worshiii, erected about the time of the organization of the 
 cliurch, served its purposes until 1856, when it was taken down and 
 replaced b\' a new and larger one, with a seating capacit}' of two 
 thousand five hundred, and at a cost of $16,000, which was dedi- 
 cated December 26, 1856, during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Krebs. In 
 March, 1858, Rev. E. D. Morgan, D. D., became pastor. Its jaresent 
 membership is four hundred and thirtj'-four, under the pastorate of 
 Rev. L. B. Wilson. 
 
 Ryland Chapel is on D and Tenth streets Southwest. It was 
 organized in 1843. Its house of worship was not comjileted for a 
 year or two later. Hev. F. S. Evans was pastor. The conference 
 report for 1891 shows four hundred and seven members, and a churcli 
 property valued at |25,000. Rev. J. A. Price is serving as pastor. 
 
 McKendree Methodist Episcopal Church is on Massachusetts Ave- 
 nue, near Ninth Street, and was organized in 1844. A house was 
 begun, but not finished, that year. In 1845, Rev. William G. Eggle- 
 ston was pastor; in 1847, Rev. T. M. Reese; in 1856, Rev. Geoi-ge 
 Ilildt; in 1857, Kev. Dabney Bale; in 1859, Rev. William Hamilton; 
 in 1861, Rev. Dr. Ryan; in 1863, Rev. J. Thrush; in 1868, Rev. Mr. 
 Krebs. It is now one of the large churches of the denomination. Its 
 membersiiip for 1891 was reported as four hundred and thirty-one. 
 Tlie pastor is Rev. L. T. Widerman. 
 
 Union Chapel Metliodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1846. 
 It is situated at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Twentieth 
 Street. Ii has a membership of two hundred and eighteen, and 
 Rev. Joel Brown is pastor. 
 
 The Metro[)olitan Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 
 1858, at a time when Rev. R. L. Dashiell was agent for the District of 
 Columbia. Tlie idea connected with its establishment was that it should 
 give increased accommodations to strangers visiting the metropolis, and 
 hence it was intended to build it on the free-seat plan. The trustees 
 of the church were C. W. Boteler, Sr., T. H. Havenner, "W. G. 
 Deale, T. Pursell, C. 11. Lane, Samuel Fowler, F. Howard, S. Nor- 
 lucnt, and Z. W. McKncw. The bishops of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, under date of March 16, 1858, had issued a circular strongly 
 recommending the enterprise, and in compliance with a request from 
 the Baltimore Annual Conference, appointed Rev. Henry Slicer agent 
 for the new church. 
 
554 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 The church building which it was then designed to erect, was to 
 be situated on the corner of C and Four and a Half streets, and was 
 to be seventy-five feet front on C Street, and one hundred and eight 
 feet deep on Four and a Half Street. Tlie corner stone was laid 
 October 23, 1854, the address of the occasion being made by Bishop 
 Simpson. The walls of this building were erected to a hcigiit of a 
 few feet above the surface of the ground, and then, on account of 
 want of funds, caused by the impractibility of making collections in 
 the Southern States because of the breaking out of the War, were 
 permitted to remain in that condition until 1868, when a determined 
 efiort was made to complete the edifice. Rev. Francis S. De Hass 
 was appointed general agent, and he succeeded in raising over $100,- 
 000 toward its completion. The church erected in part with this 
 money is a brown-stone structure in the Gothic style of architecture. 
 At the time of the dedication, March 7, 1869, it had cost $225,000, 
 the tower and steeple not then being completed nor the chimes put 
 in. To do this would cost, as was then supposed, $;25,000 more, 
 bringing the entire cost of the church up to $250,000. The main 
 entrance to the building is on C Street, and from the vestibule rise 
 commodious stairways to the galleries, besides which three doors 
 admit to the main audience room. This room is sixty- four by eighty- 
 five feet in size, seating comfortably one thousand two hundred 
 persons, and being at that time considered the finest I'oom in the 
 District. In the gallery is a superb organ, manufactured by Johnson, 
 of Westfield, Massachusetts, and presented to the church by Carlos 
 Pierce of that State, at an expense to him of $15,000. In the audi- 
 torium there were set apart pews for each State and Territory, the 
 President, and the Cabinet otficers. The rest of the pews were rented, 
 except those in the gallery, which were free. The fountain in bronze 
 was designed by Clarke Mills. It represented Hagar in the Wilder- 
 ness. The trustees at that time were President U. S. Grant, S. P. 
 Chase, M. G. Emery, S. Norment, S. Fowler, F. A. Lutz, F. Howard, 
 T. L. TuUock, and D. A. Burr. The dedicatory exercises were of a 
 most interesting nature. The morning address was delivered by Bishop 
 Simpson, the afternoon address by Rev. W. Morley Punshon, one of 
 the greatest pulpit orators of England, and the evening address by 
 Rev. J)r. T. M. Eddy, of the NortluL^estcvn Christian Advocate. Fifteen 
 thousand dollars were raised on the day of the dedication. 
 
 Subsequently to this time, the steeple was erected, carried to a 
 height of two hundrcil and twenty-five feet, and a chiine of bells, 
 sixteen in iiiiiiiIht, piil in. ()n the wall west of the pid[iit, beneath 
 
CHURCH IirSTORY. 555 
 
 the gallery, are two mural tablets, erected respectively to the memory 
 of General U. S. Grant and General John A. Logan, both of whom 
 were regular attendantt< at this church. Since this time, the ministers 
 of this churcli have been: Rev. J. P. Newman, D. D., elected bishop 
 in tlie midst of liis term; Rev. T. M. Eddy, D. D., elected missionary 
 secretary at the beginning of his term; Rev. 0. II. Tiftaii}', D. D.; 
 Rev. H. R. Naylor, afterward presiding elder of this district; Rev. 
 R. N. Baer, D. D., Rev. E. D. Huntley, D. D., and Rev. George 
 H. Corey, D. D., the present pastor. 
 
 Fletcher Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church was established in 1853. 
 It is situated at the corner of Fourth Street and New York Avenue 
 Northwest. At first it was a mission in charge of McKendree Chapel. 
 Its membership is ninety-nine, and Rev. W. C. GriiBn is pastor. 
 
 Waugh Chapel, corner Third and A streets Northeast, was first 
 known as Capitol Hill Methodist Episcopal Church. It was organized 
 in 1853, and September 5, 1854, the corner stone was laid. Rev. Beverly 
 Waugh, bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Revs. N. Wil- 
 son and A. Griffith officiating. In March, 1857, Rev. R. R. S. Hough 
 became pastor, during whose ministry the structure was completed. 
 The dedication occurred February 7, 1858. At this time, the indebted- 
 ness on the church was S2,000, steps for the liquidation of which were 
 taken. It was on this occasion, too, that the name was changed from 
 Capitol Hill to that of Waugh Chapel. 
 
 In March, 1858, Mr. Hough was succeeded by Rev. Theodore 
 Carson. Without attempting to give the full list of intervening 
 pastors, it may be stated that the present pastor is Rev. Alexander J. 
 Gibson. The church has a comfortable parsonage attached, and is in a 
 flourishing condition, its mendjership being five hundred and sixteen. 
 
 Grace Methodist Episcopal Churcli is located at the corner of 
 Ninth and S streets Northwest. It had its origin in a mission 
 Sunday-school in 1863, sustained by teachers from Wesley Chapel. 
 George W. Riggs gave the ground for a building site, and a temporar}^ 
 frame structure was erected, and a mission church organized. At the 
 session of the Baltimore Annual Conference for 1871, this mission 
 church was erected into a station, and Rev. M. F. B. .Rice appointed 
 pastor. He desired a new church building, and, the membership 
 endorsing the suggestion, raised $4,000 for the purpose. The' corner 
 stone of this new church was laid October 14, 1872, the building when 
 complete costing about $20,000. Its present membershii) is reported 
 at one hundred and sixty-two. Rev. Samuel Shannon is the pastor. 
 
 Fifteenth Street Methodist Episcopal Church is located at the 
 
556 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 corner of Fifteentli and R streets Nortliwest. It was organized in 
 1872. According to the conference report of 1891, it has two hundred 
 and nineteen members, and the pastor is Rev. L. A. Threlkeld. 
 
 North Capitol Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 187(J, 
 with seventj'-seven members. The first church l)nilding was a frame 
 one, standing at the corner of Nortli Capitol and K streets Northeast, 
 and cost about fl,000. This building served the purposes of the 
 congregation until 1891, when a new brick building was erected on 
 the same site, costing $18,000. This new church has not as yet been 
 dedicated, but will be sometime during the year 1892. The pastors 
 of this church have been as follows: Revs. D. M. Browning, Charles 
 T. Wiede, Harry Boggs, James McLaren, F. II. Ilavenner, W. H. Reed, 
 J. Clarke Ilagey, Charles T. Wiede, and Charles O. Cook, present 
 pastor. The membership in 1878 was eighty-one, and in 1891 one 
 hundred and forty-six. 
 
 Hamline Methodist Episcopal Church, corner of Ninth and P 
 streets Northwest, was organized in 1867. It is the largest church of 
 the denomination in the city. Its membership is eight hundred and 
 thirty-seven, and the property of the church is worth §75,000. The 
 pastor is Rev. Henry R. Naylor. 
 
 Independent Methodist Episcopal Church, located on Eleventh 
 Street, between G and I, Southeast, was organized in 1887, by Rev. 
 Jacob D. Wilson. The congregation is not under the jurisdiction of 
 any conference, but is guided and guarded by its pastor, Rev. Wilson. 
 
 Douglas Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, corner of Eleventh 
 and H streets Northeast, was organized with a few scattered members 
 in 1878, and named in honor of Miss Flora Douglas, who subsequently 
 married the Rev. George Markham. It was then a mission chapel. It 
 has grown rapidly in consequence of the growth of the city in that 
 vicinity, and its mend)erslii[i is now more than four hundred, with a 
 Sunday-school enrolling over six hundred. The little Ijrick chapel is 
 consequently too small to accommodate the congregations that attend, 
 and steps have been taken to erect a commodious building. The 
 pastorate has been filled by W. H. Reed, W. M. llammack, Charles 
 T. House, William Rogers, D. M. Browning, and E. 0. Eldridge. 
 The latter has just entered upon his work. 
 
 Twelftli Street Methodist Church, corner of Twelfth and E streets 
 Southeast, is a small congregation, having, in 1891, seventy-four mem- 
 Ijers, with a cliurcli pro[ierty valued at |9,000. Kcv. Henry Baker is 
 pastor. 
 
 Mount A'ernon IMace Methodist Episcopal Church, South, corner 
 
CHrRCH 17 fS TORY. 557 
 
 of Niiitli and K streets Northwest, was organized in 18(39. The pastor 
 is Rev. J. D. Weio'htnian. 
 
 Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was organized in 1886. 
 Tiie tirst services were held in the Odd Fellows' Hall, on Pennsylvania 
 Avenue Southeast. Not long afterward, the church at the corner 
 of Seventh and A streets Northeast was purchased, and has ever 
 since been used as a place of worship. At the time ot the organiza- 
 tion of the church, there were twenty-seven members, while at tlie 
 present time tliere are one hundred and twenty. It^ tirst pastor, 
 Rev. J. C. Jones, was ai)pointed in 1887, and served four years. lie 
 was succeeded b}- Rev. Harry C. Febrey in March, 1891. 
 
 Mount Olivet Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is at the corner 
 of Seventh and C streets Southwest, and the pastor is Rev. John K. 
 White. 
 
 Congress Street Methodist Protestant Church, located on Thirty- 
 first Street Northwest (Georgetown), was organized in 1828. In 
 1829, the lot on whicii the church structure stands was purchased for 
 $1,035. The first edifice was erected in 1830, during the pastorate of 
 Rev. W. W. Wallace. In 1857, it was replaced by another, which in 
 1867 was enlarged and imj^roved, and in February, 1868, dedicated, 
 the sermon being preached by Rev. Augustus Webster. The parsonage 
 was built in 1841, during the i)astorate of Rev. L. 11. Reese, at a cost 
 of $4,000, on a lot purchased in 1839 for §615. 
 
 The list of ministers includes the following: Revs. W. W. Wal- 
 lace, Dennis B. Dorsey, Frederick Styer, Thomas H. Stockton, John 
 W. Porter, Josiah Varden, Augustus Webster, Bignal Appleby, Levi 
 R. Reese, John G. Wilson, Joseph Warden, William Collier, John 
 Everest, J. J. Murray, S. R. Cox, J. B. Sutherland, Dr. Murray, David 
 Wilson, Washington Roby, Daniel E. Reese, Daniel Bowers, D. A. 
 Shermer, Dr. Bates, T. D. Valiant, J. T. Murray. This list extends 
 to 1878. The present pastor is Rev. W. R. Graham. 
 
 The Central Methodist Protestant Church was organized A[iril 
 3, 1829, with members from the Foundry Methodist Episcopal Church 
 wlio joined the movement resulting in the Methodist I'rotestant 
 Church. Its first class leader was Rev. W. C. Lipscomb. 
 
 On April 14, 1836, at the annual session of this denomination 
 held in Washington, the number of members reported as belonging 
 thereto was about four thousand, with eight hundred children in the 
 Sunday-schools. The appointments for Washington and Georgetown 
 were: Georgetown, Rev. Josiah Varden; Ninth Street, Rev. Levi 
 R. Reese, and East Washington, Rev. Thomas G. Clayton. In 1838, 
 
558 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 tliere was no regular minister in the pulpit of tliis clinrch, but Rev. 
 William Laiiphier preaclied occasionally. Kev. A. Webster became 
 pastor April 14, 1839, ami in 1844 it was Rev. U Ward. Following 
 is a list of the pastors from that time to the present: Rev. William 
 Mitchell, 1845-46; Rev. S. K. Cox, 1846-47; Rev. L. R. Reese, 1847- 
 49; Rev. William Collier, 1849-50; Rev. William T. Eva, 1850-52; 
 Rev. Daniel E. Reese, 1852-55; Rev. T. Light Wilson, 1855-57; Rev. 
 F. Swentzel, 1857-59; Rev. L. W. Bates, 1859-GO; Rev. P. Light 
 Wilson, 1860-62; Revs. W. Roby and W. M. Strayer, 1862-63; Rev. 
 C. T. Cochol, 1863-64; Rev. J. T. Ward, 1864-66; Rev. Dr. E. J. 
 Drinkhouse, 1868-74; Rev. Dr. W. S. Hammond, 1875-76; Rev. Dr. 
 David Wilson, 1877-80; Rev. P. T. Hall, 1880-81; Rev. J. T. Smith, 
 1882; Rev. Dr. J. T. Mills, 1883-87; Rev. S. Reese Murray, 1887 to 
 the present time. 
 
 The first building erected by this church was a frame structure, 
 called "The Tabernacle," at Twelfth and II streets, forty-nine by 
 twenty-one feet in size, witli a seating capacity of two hundred and 
 fifty, and dedicated by Rev. Levi R. Reese, December 23, 1832. In 
 A[iril, 1835, a new brick church on Ninth Street, between E and F 
 streets, was erected, si.xty-tive by fifty feet in size, and dedicated July 
 9 by Rev. Josiah Varden. In 1879, this church was remodeled and 
 enlarged by Rev. Dr. Wilson, at a cost of |11,000. In 1887, under 
 the pastorate of Rev. S. Reese Murray, the congregation erected a 
 chapel at Twelfth and M streets Northwest, paying for the ground 
 $33,000, and for the erection of the chapel $10,000. 
 
 This church differs from other Methodist churches in many par- 
 ticulars: It has no titled bishops; it admits laymen in equal numbers 
 with clei'gymen in the annual and general conferences; it elects its 
 officers annually; and it has no time limit to ])astoral appointments. 
 
 The First Methodist Protestant Church, corner Fifth Street and 
 Virginia Avenue Southeast, was organized in 1830. It was a colony 
 of the Fourth (Ebenezcr) Methodist Episcopal Church. The house 
 of worship is a frame structure of good dimensions. A frame par- 
 sonage adjoins the building. The property is valued at $17,000. The 
 pastor. Rev. J. E. Nicholson, has recently removed to New Jersey, and 
 •his successor has not been installed. 
 
 The North Carolina Avenue Methodist Protestant Church was 
 organized in 1872, with seventeen members. It is located at the 
 corner of North Carolina Avenue and Eighth Street, on Capitol Hill. 
 Its pastors have been Revs. S. G. Valiant, J. Shreve, J. VV. Trust, 
 P. T. Hall, W. J. Neepier, J. W. Tomb, A. W. Mather, and David 
 
CHURCH HISTORY. 559 
 
 Wilson, the present pastor. For the last four years, the membership 
 has been about oue hundred. 
 
 Mt. Tabor Methodist Protestant Church, on Tiiirty-seeond Street 
 Northwest, was organized in 1874. Rev. H. C. Gushing is pastor. 
 
 The first presbytery organized for this region was the Presb^-tery 
 of Baltimore, in 1786. In 1823, the Presbytery, of the District of 
 Columbia was formed by the Synod of Philadelphia, on the petition 
 of the Presbytery of Baltimore, and the new presbytery held its first 
 meeting at Alexandria, May 11, 1824, with Kev. J. Breckenridge as 
 moderator, the churches represented having at that time a member- 
 ship of two hundred and sevent^^-seven. The General Assembly of 
 1836 transferred this presbytery from the Synod of Philadelphia to 
 that of Virginia, the membership of the churches being then oue 
 thousand, two hundred and fifty-nine. lu 1837 and 1838, the Pres- 
 byterian Church was separated into two branches, — the Old and New 
 schools, and in 1839, when a vote was taken on receiving a raaudate 
 from the Synod of Virginia, requiring adherence to the acts of the 
 Assembly of 1838 exscinding several of the Northern synods from 
 the Church, tlie Presbytery of the District of Columbia divided, — 
 Messrs. Laurie, Harrison, Bosworth, and Breckenridge representing 
 their churches, and Revs. I. L. Skinner and J. McVeau, without pas- 
 toral charges, withdrawing from tlie body, and declining to recognize 
 its further jurisdiction. The Presbytery of the District of Columbia 
 thereupon dropped their names from the rolls, the General Assembly, 
 Old School, recognizing them, however, as the true body of that 
 name. They retained this name until 1841, when they were merged 
 into the Presbyter}- of Baltimore. In 1858, they were set ofl' from 
 this presbytery to form the Presbytery of the Potomac'.' 
 
 From 1839 to 1870, therefore, the condition of the churches in 
 the District of Columbia with reference to the two schools into 
 which the Presbyterian Church was divided, was as follows: From 
 1839 to 1841, some of them were under the Presbytery of the District 
 of Columbia, Old School, while the others were uuder the Presbytery of 
 the District of Columbia, New School; from 1841 to 1858, some were 
 under the Presbytery of Baltimore, Old School, while the others 
 were under the Presbytery of the District of Columbia, New School; 
 and from 1858 to 1870, some were uuder the Presbytery of the Poto- 
 mac, Old School, while the others were under the Presb3'ter3- of the 
 District of Columbia, New School. 
 
 In 1870, when the union of the two schools was effected, these 
 two presb^'teries were united iu one, the union beiug effected June 20 
 
5G0 H/STORY OF W.ISH/NGTON. 
 
 of tliat yciir, umler tlic iiiuiie of the Pvesljytcry of Wasliington City. At 
 tliis time, the luenihcrship of the elmreiies belonging to the two 
 presbyteries was two thousand, eight hundred and ninety-three, and in 
 1888 it had increased to four thousand, seven hundred and seventy-six. 
 In 1892, the membership of the churches belonging to the Presb^'tei-y 
 of Washington is about six thousand. 
 
 The West Street Presbyterian Church, Georgetown, was tiie result 
 of a movement begun in 1780, when Rev.. Stephen B. Balch, a native 
 of Maryland, and a licentiate of the old Donegal Presbytery, of Penn- 
 sylvania, on his way to make a missionary tour of the Carolinas, 
 preaclied to a few persons in Georgetown, who were of Scotcli and 
 New England descent. Some of them were descendants of Colonel 
 Ninian Beall, who, at an earlier date, had liberally befriended the old 
 Marlborough Church in Mar^daiid. The next year Rev. Mr. Balcli, 
 under his commission as an evangelist, organized a church. This 
 congregation worshiped for two years on the site of tlie ]iresent 
 Presbyterian mission on Market Street, and then built a small churcli 
 editice, thirty feet square, at the corner of Washington and Bridge 
 streets, a location fitly chosen to accommodate those who desired to 
 attend. In 1821, this building was replaced by one of mucli larger 
 dimensions. Toward the latter part of Rev. Mr. Balch's pastorate, he 
 had as an assistant Rev. John C. Smith, who, upon the death of 
 Dr. Balch, September 7, 18B3, became pastor, and remained in this 
 position until called to the pastorate of the Fourth Presbyterian 
 Churcli of Washington, April 9, 1839. He was succeeded by Rev. 
 R. T. Berry, October 3, 1841, to August 28, 1849; Rev. J. M. P. 
 Atkinson, March 12, 1850, to February 12, 1856; Rev. J. H. Boeock, 
 D. D., February 17, 1857, to May 27, 1861; Rev. F. T. Brown, June 
 9, 1801, to February 6, 1865; Rev. A. A. E. Taylor, June 21, 1865, 
 to May 3, 1869; Rev. D. W. Moftat, May 6, 1870, to April 10, 1872; 
 Rev. 8. H. Howe, May, 1872, to 1883; Rev. T. S. Childs, a short 
 time that year, and then Rev. Thomas Fullerton, D. D., the present 
 pastor. 
 
 In 1871, the question of a removal became a question for discus- 
 sion, and the present site, on P Street, near Thirty-first Street, was 
 selected. The new edifice was dedicated June 8, 1879, and Rev. Dr. 
 Howe installed jjastor. The roll of membership in 1887 contained 
 the names of two hundred and ninety individuals, and numerous 
 additions have since been made. The membei-ship of the Sunday- 
 school is upward of four hundred. The church properties, the build- 
 ing, chapel, manse, and mission, are worth $60,000, and they are free 
 
CH('RCH J //STORY. 501 
 
 from debt. The chapel, witli its lot und thiit of tlic churcli, was the 
 gift of Messrs. Darby and Cissel, when residents of Georgetown. 
 
 The First Presbyterian Church, located at the present time on 
 Four and a Half Street, had its origin as early as 1795; for the records 
 of Baltimore Presbyter}- for April 29, that year, show that a call was 
 presented "from the churches in Washington for the services of Rev. 
 John Breckenridge"; and on the 24th of June of the same 3'ear, at 
 a called meeting at Bladensburg, on the report of "a committee respect- 
 ing the churches in said town and its vicinity," measures were taken 
 for the future installation of Rev. Mr. Breckenridge. The first services 
 of this new congregation were held in a carpenter shop erected for 
 the use of the workmen engaged in building the Presidential Mansion, 
 and when this shop was taken down, a frame chapel was erected on 
 F Street, near St. Patrick's Church. In 1803, this small congregation 
 was weakened by the withdrawal of several of the members to form 
 F Street Presbyterian Church by those who had previously belonged 
 to the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, who 
 had removed to Washington when it became the seat of government 
 of the United States; but for a time, the services of Rev. Mr. Breck- 
 enridge were continued with what remained of the congregation under 
 his appointment from the General Assembly, and he also preached 
 to the Presbyterians at Bladensburg, the Washington services being 
 held in the Eastern Academy building. 
 
 In 1810, George Blagden, Elias B. Caldwell, John Coyle, Daniel 
 Rapine, and John McClelland formed themselves into a committee to 
 attempt the building of a house of worship;, but until this church 
 edifice was completed, religious services were held in the basement of 
 the north wing of the Capitol. On June 25, 1812, the church erected 
 by this building committee was entered for the first time, and its 
 dedicatory sermon preached by Rev. Mr. Breckenridge. It was situated 
 on South Capitol Street, and among the contributors toward its 
 erection were President Madison, Hon. James Munroe, William R. 
 King, John Lambert, and Josiah Quincy. Its first cost was !^4,000, but 
 it was afterward enlarged at a cost of $3,000. Rev. Mr. Breckenridge 
 was installed July 4, 1813, and was pastor of the church until 
 May, 1818. After his resignation, the pulpit was supplied by John 
 McKnight, Andrew Hunter, and John Clark, until the call, in 1819, 
 to Rev. Reuben Post, who was installed June 24 of that year. 
 
 On account of the persistent growth of the city toward the 
 west, the congregation did not grow as it had been hoped. The site 
 of the present building on Four and a Half Street was selected and a 
 
562 HISTORY OF WASH/NGTON. 
 
 coiitruet for u new cliurcli tliereoii entered into for $8,000. Tlie 
 corner stone of this cliurcli \v:is laid April Ifl, 1827, and the building 
 was dedicated December 9 of the same year. Rev. Dr. Post remained 
 pastor until June 24, 1836. The next regular pastor was Rev. W. 
 McLaiii, who was installed January 11, 1837, and remained with the 
 church until failing health compelled him to resign, in 1840. lie, 
 however, remained in the service of the presbytery as stated clerk, 
 and also held the office of secretary of the American Colonization 
 Society until his death, February 13, 1873. 
 
 Rev. Charles Rich was installed pastor of this church Novemlicr 
 30, 1840, and remained three years, when he resigned on account of 
 ill health. Rev. William T. Sprole was called to this church in the 
 fall of 1843, and was succeeded March 1, 1848, by Rev. Elislia Ballen- 
 tyne, who remained until 1851, resigning on account of ill health. The 
 next regular pastor was the present one. Rev. Byron Sunderland, D. D., 
 who was installed April 21, 1853. Soon after Dr. Sunderland became 
 pastor, it became necessary to enlarge the church building, which was 
 accomplished by raising it and extending it over the rear portion of 
 its grounds, increasing the seating capacity to one thousand. The 
 building, as thus enlarged, was dedicated December 9, 1860, the 
 services being by the Rev. Dr. Spring in the morning, Rev. C. H. 
 Read in the afternoon, and Rev. J. Jenkins in the evening. These 
 three ministers represented the Old School, the New School, and the 
 Southern School of the Presbyterian Church as it existed at that ilay. 
 
 Dr. Sunderland's pastorate has been a remarkable one, extending 
 from April, 1853, almost continuously to the present time, a period of 
 thirty-nine years, the only intermission or break in it being while the 
 Doctor was abroad in Paris during a portion of the years 1864 and 
 1865, as pastor of the American Chapel in that city. It could not be 
 expected that perfect harmony should exist in such a church during 
 its entire existence. On several occasions there has been misunder- 
 standing, which has tended to weaken the church by a withdrawal ot 
 a portion of its members. In 1866, one of these occasions occurred, 
 because of dissatisfaction on the part of some that Frederick Douglass 
 was permitted to deliver a lecture in the church for the benefit of the 
 National Home Association of colored orjihans, the lecture being 
 upon "Tiu' Assassination and its Lessons." Chief Justice Chase 
 presided, and the audience was a very large one, part of whom being 
 negroes. The use of the church for this purpose was very distasteful 
 to many of the members, and they protested against it in vigorous 
 terms. But the lecture having been delivered in spite of the protest, 
 
CHURCH HISTORY. 563 
 
 man}- of the members withdrew, and even some of those who insisted 
 on its delivery. 
 
 Numerous other embarrassments have been encountered, but, not- 
 withstanding all of them, the First Presb^-terian Church has continued 
 to grow, and it is strong and active in all directions to-day. 
 
 The F Street Presbyterian Church, as has been stated in the 
 sketch of the First Church, was organized in 1803, from members 
 retiring from that church. At a meeting of the Synod of Phila- 
 delphia in 1823, this church was ordered to be enrolled in the Presby- 
 tery of the District of Columbia. At the time of the organization 
 of this church. Rev. James Laurie, of Edinburgh, then visiting here, 
 was invited to assist in the collection of a congregation, and he was 
 installed pastor in 1804:. A church building was erected in 1808, 
 and Mr. Laurie remained the sole pastor uutil 1841. He was then 
 affected with a protracted illness, and was assisted in his duties 
 by Rev. Dr. Van Rensselaer, then by Rev. Dr. Septimus Tustin, 
 then by Rev. Ninian Bennatyne, then by Rev. L. H. Christian, and 
 by Rev. D. X. Junkin, who remained uutil after Dr. Laurie's death, 
 which occurred April 17, 1853. March 2, 1854, Rev. Phineas D. 
 Gurley was installed pastor as the successor of Rev. Dr. Laurie, and 
 remained the pastor until the consolidation of tliis church with the 
 Second Presbyterian Church in 1859. 
 
 Second Presbyterian Church was organized May 9, 1820, with 
 fortj--one members, and constituted October 13, following. Juue 6, 
 1821, Rev. Daniel Baker was elected pastor, who remained until 
 called, in 1828, to the Independent Presbyterian Church of Savannah, 
 Georgia. Rev. Luther Halsey, of Princeton, having declined a call 
 to this church, Rev. J. N. Campbell served as stated supply until the 
 fall of 1830, from which time to 1845 the church was supplied by 
 the pastors. Revs. E. H. Smith, P. II. Fowler, George Wood, R. W. 
 Clark, W. W. Eels, and J. Knox. Then there were temporary supplies 
 until 1849, wheu Rev. James R. Eckard became the pastor, remain- 
 ing until 1853. A short supply followed, by Rev. J. D. Matthews, 
 and then the church was supplied by Rev. Dr. James G. Hamner 
 until the union with the F Street Church, above referred to. 
 
 New York Avenue Presbyterian Church resulted from the above 
 consolidation. Rev. Dr. Gurley, who had been largely instrumental in 
 securing the union, merged his pastorate of F Street Church into that 
 of the united congregations. The building of the F Street Church 
 was sold for something more than ^2,000 to the Messrs. Willard, and 
 is now known as Willard Hall. Rev. Dr. Gurley died September 30, 
 
564 HTSTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 1868, and in November, 1869, was succeeded in the ministry of this 
 church by Kev. S. S. Mitchell, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, who 
 remained until 1878, when he accepted a call to the Reformed church 
 in Brooklyn, and was followed here by Rev. J. R. Paxton, who re- 
 mained until February 19, 1882, when he was succeeded by the present 
 pastor, Rev. Dr. William Alvin Bartlett, who was installed October 24, 
 1882. The estimated value of all the property held by the trustees of 
 this church is in excess of $100,000. The new building on New York 
 Avenue was dedicated on Sunday, October 14, 1860, the discourse of 
 the occasion being delivered by Rev. Dr. Boardman, of Philadelphia. 
 The Fourth Presbyterian Church was established in 1828. In 
 November of that year, the "Central Presbyterian Society of Wash- 
 ington" was formed by twenty members at a meeting held at Jacob 
 Gideon's house, on Seventh Street, and Rev. J. N. Danforth was invited 
 to take charge of the congregation. November 24, the "Fourth 
 Presbyterian Church of Washington" was organized at the same place, 
 D. M. Wilson being the presiding elder. At first the new organiza- 
 tion worshiped in Z. D. Brashear's schoolroom, on the southeast corner 
 of Ninth and II streets. A woman's prayer-meeting was organized 
 under the guidance of Mrs. Jacob Gideon, and was held in her house 
 every week for twenty-five years, until her death, in 1853. The first 
 church edifice erected by this church was a one-story structure, and 
 was without seats or chimneys. It was erected on a lot purchased of 
 John P. Van Ness, and was dedicated March 1, 1829, by Rev. John 
 Breckenridge, D. D. Great success attended the ministry of Rev. 
 Mr. Danforth, the number of communicants being sixty-three at the 
 time of the dedication of this building. In 1832 Mr. Danforth was 
 succeeded in his pulpit by Rev. Mason Noble, from Troy, New York. 
 He was succeeded September 27, 1839, by Rev. J. C. Smith, who had 
 preached in Georgetown seven years. On March 1, 1840, Dr. Smith 
 preached from Nehemiah 2:18, "And they said. Let us rise up and 
 build," the result of which sermon was that the corner stone of a 
 new structure was laid June 24, 1840. The building was sixty-one 
 feet by eiglity feet in size, the largest church edifice then in the city. 
 It was dedicated June 20, 1841, the dedicatory sermon being preached 
 by Rev. E. N. Kirk, D. D., of Boston, Massachusetts, Rev. Dr. 
 Smith, on Scptendjcr 10, 1864, preached the twenty-fifth anniversary 
 sermon, stating that at that date there were three hundred and thirty- 
 seven names on the rolls, and that he had baptized six hundred and 
 twenty-one persons. Dr. Smith was succeeded by Rev. J. T. Kelly 
 January 23, 1878, who remains pastor at the present time. 
 
CHURCH HISTOkY. 565 
 
 The Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church was organized May 
 14, 1842, as tiie "First Colored Presbyterian Church of Washington." 
 Forty communicants of tliis organization worshiped in Cook's school- 
 house, at H and Fourteenth streets, until they were enabled, by the 
 assistance of the First, Second, and Fourth churches, to erect a small 
 frame building on the site of their present church, on Fifteenth Street, 
 between I and K streets, in 1853. Rev. John F. Cook was the pastor. 
 Rev. W. Catto was installed pastor in 1858, and Rev. B. F. Tanner 
 ill 1861. In 1864, the pulpit became vacant, and was thereafter sup- 
 plied by Rev. W. B. Evans and others, until the installation of Rev. 
 W. H. Garnett, who remained until October 3, 1866, when he was 
 followed by Rev. J. H. Muse. Rev. Sella Martin was pastor from 
 December 27, 1868, until February 18, 1870. From this time until 
 the settlement of Rev. G. Van Deurs, in 1874, the pulpit was supplied 
 by Rev. Septimus Tustin. Rev. Mr. Van Deurs was succeeded in 
 1875 by Rev. J. Brown, and he, in 1878, by Rev. F. J. Grimke, who 
 remained until 1885. From this time until 1887, the pulpit was filled 
 by Rev. C. II. A. Buckley, D. D., one of the professors of Howard 
 University. Rev. J. R. Riley was installed pastor January 18, 1887, 
 and is the present pastor. The building is worth $55,000, and was 
 erected and furnished largely by other Presbyterian churches in Wash- 
 ington. 
 
 Assembly's Presbyterian Church was organized March 1, 1853, as 
 the Fifth Presbyterian Church, and was tlie result of work done by 
 Rev. John C. Smith, D. D., pastor at the time of the Fourth Presby- 
 terian Church, by Rev. A. G. Carothers, and George S. Gideon. The 
 corner stone of the building was laid September 1, 1852, at the corner 
 of Fifth and I streets, and the church edifice was dedicated JSTovember 
 6, 1853. Rev. Mr. Carothers preached January 30, 1853, and accepted 
 the call to the pastorate in March following, being installed on the 
 20tli of that month. After the completion of the dedicatory cere- 
 monies. Rev. John C. Smith gave a short history of the church, and 
 stated that it had received assistance from twenty-three States, and the 
 Choctaw nation of Indians, besides being substantially assisted by 
 the heroine of Tampico. The land was donated by Silas H. Hill and 
 Joseph D. Varnum. The edifice cost |13,000, being turned over to the 
 church free from debt. In 1860 Rev. Mr. Collins became pastor of 
 this church, and in 1861 Rev. T. B. McFa'ds, remaining until 1868, 
 when he was succeeded by Rev. William Hart. 
 
 As a result of the War, and of the withdrawal of members to form 
 a Southern Presbyterian Church (Central Presbyterian), this church in 
 
5G6 HrSTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 1870 had become greatly reduced in numbers and strength. The Cen- 
 tral Congregational Churcli, which had been formed from the First 
 Congregational Church by those who had withdrawn therefrom some 
 two years before, together with their pastor, Rev. Dr. Boynton, were 
 without a building. They dissolved their organization, and joined As- 
 sembly's Presbyterian Church by letter in August, 1870. The present 
 pastor, Eev. Mr. Little, was called in 1873. Since the consolidation 
 above mentioned, the churcli has been most prosperous and united, and 
 has shown a steady and encouraging growth. 
 
 The Sixth Presbyterian Church was the result of the labors of 
 Rev. Mason Noble, who, in 1851, held a series of prayer-meetings in 
 private residences in South Wasliington. The first public services were 
 held August 28, 1852, in "Island Hall."' On January 23, 1853, at a 
 meeting presided over by Dr. Noble, thirty-two members were enrolled 
 and John Knight elected ruling elder. Dr. Xoble served the churcli 
 from the date of its organization until 1855, and again from 1858 to 
 1862, and also from 1870 to the time of his death, October 24, 1881. 
 During his first absence, the pulpit was filled by Rev. B. F. Morris. 
 Rev. George H. Smyth was pastor from 1864 to 1869, and Rev. George 
 P. Noble was stated supply from 1869 to 1870. On September 27, 
 1882, Rev. Frank H. Burdick was elected pastor, and served until 
 1887. Rev. Scott F. Hershey, Ph. D., tiie present pastor, was installed 
 October 5, 1887. The membership of the church is about one hundred 
 and seventy-five. 
 
 The Western Presb^'terian Church was organized in 1853, and 
 worshiped temporarily at the corner of E and Twenty-second streets. 
 On July 3, 1854, Rev. 0. Smith, the pastor, purchased of Silas B. Hill 
 and Joseph B. Varnum, Jr., a lot on H Street, near Nineteenth Street, 
 and received from them a donation of |600 toward the payment 
 therefor. Rev. T. N. Haskell was the pastor of this churcli at the 
 time. A church building was erected on this lot which was dedi- 
 cated June 7, 1857, Rev. Mr. Haskell preaching the dedicator}' 
 sermon. At night Rev. Byron Sunderland, D. D., preached the clos- 
 ing sermon of the daj'. 
 
 At the time of the dedication of the church there had l>ccn 
 expended $16,000, and all debts had been paid but about |2,000. The 
 church was built in the Elizabethan style of architecture. 
 
 Ou May 18, 1858, an important meeting was held in this church, 
 the Presbytery of the District of C'olumbia convoning on that day to 
 pass upon the dissolution of the pastoral relations of Rev. Mr. Haskell 
 with the cliurcb, and the authorization of his acceptance of the niiii- 
 
CHVRCH HfSTORY. 567 
 
 istry of the Congregational Society of Boston, Massachnsetts. The 
 presbytery also reported favorably upon the attainments of Dr. James 
 M. Wilson, M. D., of Washington, and declared him qualified to 
 preach. Eev. J. R. Bartlctt was installed pastor August 31, 1859, 
 bat removed to the South at the beginning of the War of the 
 Rebellion. In March, 1862, Rev. J. N. Coombs, formerly a Methodist 
 minister, was received and installed, and remained pastor until Decem- 
 ber 27, 1874. Rev. David Wills became pastor March 1, 1875, and 
 remained until January 28, 1878, and was succeeded by the present 
 pastor. Rev. T. S. Wynkoop, who was installed October 23, 1878. The 
 membership of this church is about three hundred. 
 
 Westminster Presbyterian Church was organized June 14, 1853, 
 by the name of the Seventh Street Presbyterian Church of Washing- 
 ton. The site on Seventh Street was donated to the churcli b}' Charles 
 Stott. In December, 1873, b^- a vote of the congregation, the name 
 was changed to "Westminster." Rev. John M. Henry, installed in 
 1853, remained pastor until 1855, when he was succeeded by Rev. E. 
 B. Cleghorn. Rev. Dr. B. F. Bittinger was installed pastor March 12, 
 1857, and remained until 1863, when Rev. William Y. Brown became 
 stated supply, followed by Rev. W. W. Campbell, the latter being 
 installed pastor in 1865. Dr. Bittinger succeeded him, being installed 
 January' 5, 1868, and remains pastor at the present time. 
 
 Capitol Hill Presbvterian Church was, at the time of its oro;ani- 
 zation, the only church of that denomination in its section of the 
 city, including the Capitol and the Navy Yard, the territory under 
 consideration comprising more than a third of the area of the city 
 and a population of more than fifteen thousand. The initial steps 
 toward this organization were taken in the fall of 1863. Rev. John 
 Chester, son of Rev. William Chester, secretary of the Presbyterian 
 Board of Education, by invitation came to Washington to labor in 
 this promising iield. In February, 1864, a small number of persons 
 met in a small l)uilding known as the mission schoolhouse, in which 
 on the 28th of that ni'Mith Rev. Mr. Chester preached to them his 
 first sermon. This mission schoolhouse stood on First Street East. 
 The Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church was organized April 11, 1864, 
 under the sanction of the Presbytery of Potomac, with thirty-two 
 members of other churches and two b}- profession of faith, Rev. 
 Mr. Chester being installed i)astor on the same day. A lot was pur- 
 chased and a chapel was comiileted so as to be dedicated February 
 12, 1865, the new society having been assisted in its efforts to raise 
 the money by other Presbyterian cimrches in Washington and Ijy the 
 
568 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON, 
 
 Board of Church Extension, which contributed $1,000 toward the result. 
 When the little chapel was dedicated, it was entirely free from debt. It 
 stood on Fourth Street East, near Pennsylvania Avenue. 
 
 In February, 1866, the corner stone of the present building was 
 laid, and then the Presbytery of Potomac proposed to the General 
 Assembly to incorporate with the chui-ch the jiroceeds of the property- 
 on E Street Northwest, which had been held for a long time with the 
 view of establishing there a Metropolitan church, and the transfer was 
 accordingly' ordered by the Greneral Assembly' in 1868. After consider- 
 able delay, the property was transferred and the church erected, and the 
 name changed to the Metropolitan Presbyterian Church. The church 
 edifice, which stands at the corner of Fourth and B streets Southeast, 
 was dedicated December 8, 1872, and by the spring of 1878 it was 
 entirely free from debt. Rev. John Chester is still pastor of this 
 church, which, a few years since, spared a colony for the establish- 
 ment of a mission in the eastern part of the city. 
 
 The North Presbyterian Church was organized December 10, 1865. 
 Under the care of Rev. L. R. Fox, the church was organized with 
 twenty-three members, and Mr. Fox was installed pastor December 
 31, 1865. The church edifice had been dedicated on the 3d of the 
 same month. Rev. Mr. Fox was succeeded by Rev. Charles B. Rams- 
 dell, who was installed December 13, 1875. In 1878, the original 
 building was enlarged, and at the present time the estimated value of 
 the church property is about $30,000. The seating capacity of the 
 church is about five hundred, and the membership about two hundred. 
 
 The Central Presbyterian Church was organized May 31, 1868, 
 with twenty-nine members. The movement resulting in this organiza- 
 tion began in the preceding January, when twelve individuals favoring 
 it held a meeting in the old Trinity Church, then the Columbia Law 
 building, the rent of which was guaranteed b}' General Thomas Ewing. 
 The members present at once inaugurated plans for the selection of a 
 site for a church edifice, one of the leading members being Mrs. Ellen 
 Adair, who contributed nearly $2,000 toward the enterprise, and another 
 being Miss Mary E. Coyle. B3' November, 1871, a lot was selected, 
 and in December, 1871, it was purchased. It has a front of fifty-eight 
 feet on I Street and one hundred and forty feet on Third Street. The 
 chapel erected thereon was ctunpleted January 1, 1873, ami dedicated 
 January 19, 1874. The main edifice was completed November 14, 1885, 
 and dedicated December 6, 1885. The seating capacity of the audience 
 I'oom is seven hundred, and with the chapel thrown into it, which 
 can rcailiiy be doiio, i( is one thousand Iwn Ininilrcd. Tin' architcc- 
 
CHURCH HISTORY. 569 
 
 tiire of the building is Gothic. Rev. A. W. Pitzer, D. D., the founder 
 of the church, is still its pastor, and the membership is at the present 
 time about two hundred. This is the only Presbyterian church in 
 Washington connected with the Southern General Assembl}'. 
 
 Tlie Eastern I'resb^'terian Church was organized Ma}' 9, 1875. 
 The lots on Eighth Street, upon which a frame chapel was erected, 
 were donated to the enter[)rise b}' Moses Kelly. Rev. J. T. Kelly 
 supplied the pulpit for a time, and then Rev. George B. Patch was 
 installed, November 1, 1875. Kev. Mr. Patch resigned in 1881, and 
 Rev. S. S. Wallen wiis installed his successor April 10, 1882, and re- 
 mained pastor until the fall of 1883i when he was succeeded by 
 Rev. Eugene Peck, who was installed February 13, 1884. The present 
 pastor, Rev. M. N. Cornelius, D. D., succeeded Rev. Mr. Peck. The 
 present membership is about one hundred. 
 
 Unity Presbyterian Church was organized with tifty members, 
 March 15, 1882. Rev. G. B. Patch was the first, and has been so 
 far the only, pastor of the church. The first place of worship was 
 Clabaugh Hall, located on Fourteenth Street, between Corcoran and 
 Riggs streets, which was rented for religious services until such time 
 as a church building could be erected. The second and present place 
 of worship was and is the brick chapel located on the corner of Four- 
 teenth and R streets, which cost §8,000, and was dedicated November 
 15, 1884. At this time, the membership was one hundred and ten, and 
 on April 1, 1891, it was two hundred and seventy-four. This church 
 organization is out of debt, ami owns the edifice and grounds upon 
 which it stands and the vacant lot on the corner of Fourteenth and 
 R streets. 
 
 The origin of the Church of the Covenant was as follows: In the 
 spring of 1883, a meeting was held at the house of Justice Strong, who 
 had interested himself in the apparent necessity for tlie Ijuilding of a 
 Presbyterian church in the northwestern portion of the city, for tlie 
 purpose of discussing the feasibility of organizing such a church. 
 Those present at this meeting were, besides Justice Strong, Justice 
 Matthews, James G. Blaine, Gardiner G. Hubbard, M. W. Gait, Wil- 
 liam M. Gait, Admiral Colhoun, Admiral Carter, Samuel Sliellabarger, 
 James Fitch, Otis Bigelow, and William Ballautyue. Soon after this 
 meeting was held, the site now occupied by the cliurch, at the corner 
 of Connecticut Avenue and Eighteenth Street, was selected. At a 
 subsequent meeting, a committee, composed of Justice Strong, James 
 G. Blaine, Gardiner (\. Hubbard, William M. Gait, William Ballau- 
 tyue, and James E. Fitch, was appointed to solicit subscri[)ti()ns and 
 
570 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 secure the lot by making a payment. Among the early subscribers 
 to the fund for the purchase of this lot were Senator Cameron, James 
 G. Blaine, William Walter Phelps, Colonel John Hay, Ex-Senator 
 Yulee, Judge Strong, and Gardiner G. Hubbard. 
 
 The Covenant Presbyterian Church was organized October 1.3, 
 1885, with iifty-three members. The church building is one of the 
 largest and most unique of the church edifices of Washington. The 
 walls are of stone, but the main feature of the exterior is the tower 
 or campanile, which is twenty feet square and rises to a height of 
 one hundred and forty-eight feet to the top of the finial. The body 
 of the church forms a paraUelogram. The front is on Connecticut 
 Avenue. It is flanked on one side by the tower, and on the other by 
 a low projection, forming the vestibule for one of the main entrances, 
 the other entrance being in the tower. Tlie interior of the church is 
 very handsome. Semicircular arches, springing from four large pillars, 
 support the lantern with its domed roof. The walls and ceilings are 
 decorated in plaster in low relief, from cartoon designs, in the Italian 
 style. The pillars are bronzed. The windows are filled with cathedral 
 glass, with the exception of the large double window on the north 
 side, which is filled with stained glass. The design represents the 
 extreme scenes in the life of Christ — the annunciation to the shepherds 
 and the appearance after resurrection. This window was the gift of 
 Mrs. Martha M. Kead as ii memorial to her father, Admiral Dahlgren. 
 
 The organ made for this church is enclosed in an oak case, 
 enriched with carving. It has three manuals and has thirty-nine 
 stops. It is one of the best organs made. The pulpit and com- 
 munion table are of unique design, and were the gift of the pastor. 
 Rev. Tennis S. Hamlin, D. D., the first and only pastor of this 
 church, who had the wood of which the}- are made imported in 
 the log from the Holy Land. In Itoth pulpit and tabic there are 
 three varieties of wood — olive, oak, and cedar. The top of each is a 
 solid piece of olive, which is susceptible of a high polish. The chan- 
 delier, which was presented by the children of the Sunda^'-school, cost 
 $800. It is a cop3' of tlie chandelier in the mosque of St. Sophia in 
 Constantinople. The chapel was occupied for public worshi[) October 
 11, 188.''>, and the principal edifice about a 3'ear afterward, l)ut it 
 has not yet been dedicated. The membership of the cliurcli when 
 organized was fifty-three; January, 1892, it was four luinilred and 
 thirty-five. 
 
 This churcli supports the Peck Memorial Chaiicl, located at the 
 corner of Twenty-eighth and M streets, besides Sunday-school, Indus- 
 
CHURCH HISTORY. 571 
 
 trial school, reiidiiig room, etc., Rev. Charles Alviii Smith being in 
 charge. 
 
 The First Congregational Church of Washington, corner of Tenth 
 and G streets Northwest, was organized November 12, 1865, and recog- 
 nized by council November 15. Long before this time, however, there 
 had been made several attempts to establish a church of this denomi- 
 nation. The first of these attempts was on August 3, 1847, when a few 
 gentlemen met in the law office of Bigelow & Peugh, on the corner of 
 E and Seventh streets, and resolved to organize a Congregational chui'ch 
 essentiall}' on the plan of the Cambridge platform, whose standard of 
 piety should be high, whose doctrines should be evangelical, and which 
 should favor the leading reforms of the da}', including Bible, mission- 
 ary, tract, anti-slavery, Sunday-school, and temperance efforts. It has 
 been stated by some that this was the tirst religious bod}' in the city 
 and indeed in the entire South, to insert an anti-slavery plank in its 
 creed, though anti-slavery work had been done by the Methodists in 
 Tennessee at least forty years before. 
 
 Meetings were held in many different places, and there was 
 occasional preaching and a Sunday-school. At length, one of tiieir 
 members offered to build a church and rent it to them. This offer of 
 Mr. Cookman was accepted and the first Congregational church build- 
 ing was erected, and afterward twice enlarged. It was on Eighth 
 Street, is still standing, and is now, and for many years has been, used 
 as the Jewish synagogue. The church, however, was not popular 
 in Washington, as it was not always easy to distinguish between 
 anti-slavery principles and abolitionism. Besides this, there was a still 
 greater difficulty in their way — division among themselves on the 
 slavery question; some being extreme in their convictions as to the 
 sin of slavery, and at the same time intolerant of opposite opinion. 
 On account of these internal quarrels, the council refused to constitute 
 them a church, and gradually thinning off in numbers, they quietly 
 dissolved, and as an organization have never been heard of since. 
 
 The next attempt to organize a Congregational church was made 
 in 1852. This organization was to be both anti-slavery and Congre- 
 gational. The difficulty still was abolition. Rev. Dr. Charles B. Boyn- 
 ton, of Cincinnati, twice declined to fill the pulpit. J. B. Grinnell, who 
 had just graduated from an orthodox theological school, and who was 
 warranted sound on the slavery question, came and preached a short 
 time, but could not hold the congregation. Then came the Rev. Alex- 
 ander Duncanson, who had just arrived in the United States from 
 Scotland. At this time the old Trinity Church property came into 
 
572 HISTORY OF WASHfNGTON. 
 
 nuirket, and Mr. Qriniiell went to New York and Now England to 
 raise the money with wliich to buy it, and caine Itat-k to Washington 
 with money enougli to make the first payment, and with tliis payment 
 secured tiie possession of the premises. Thus the Congregationalists 
 of Washington again had a building in which to hold religious services. 
 Then upon the invitation of Mr. Grinneli, in belialf of this churcli, a 
 council of three hundred pastors and delegates came from all parts of 
 the country to visit the church. Of this council Professor Calvin E. 
 Stowe was chosen moderator. Before this large council the young 
 Scotch preacher had to state his theological views, which he succeeded 
 in doing to the satisi'action of the council until he came to the 
 doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. Here, unfortnuatel}- for 
 his hope of becoming pastor of this new church, he stated his helief 
 that Christians sometimes fall from grace, which so shocked the 
 learned gentlemen composing the council that he was rejected. The 
 council adjourned on Saturday. It had, during the week, heard one 
 Congregational sermon, from Henry Ward Beecher, one of its mem- 
 bers, but only one of the council was invited to preach in any of 
 the Washington churches on Sunday, this one heiiig the Rev. Dr. 
 Sweetser, of Worcester, Massachusetts, a special friend of Mrs. Presi- 
 dent Pierce, who was invited by Rev. Dr. Gurley, at the request of 
 Mrs. Pierce, to preach in the New York Avenue Preshyterian Church. 
 
 Scarcely had the council adjourned, when every Department clerk 
 who belonged to this church received a notice that he must choose 
 between his anti-slavery church and his position under the Govern- 
 ment, and every one of them gave up his connection with the church. 
 Rev. Mr. Duncanson having been rejected, the little church began 
 looking round for another pastor. An invitation was extended to 
 Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, but he declined. Rev. Horace James, of 
 Worcester, Massachusetts, was then invited to the pulpit, but he also 
 declined. In August, 1856, Rev. E. H. Nevins, D. D., of Massachu- 
 setts, accepted a call, but remained oidy a short time, and then Rev. 
 George W. Bassett became the pastor and remained until 1858, when, 
 on account of financial reverses, he could no longer serve without 
 }iay, as he had been voluntarily doing, and the church was too feeble 
 to pay him, so he left the pulpit; and after a brave struggle against 
 numerous difficulties, the little church gave up the ghost. 
 
 The third attemjit to found a Congregational church in Washington 
 was made in 1805, and was this time a success. A society having been 
 formed, a meeting was held, September 17, in the Unitarian church on 
 the corner of D and Sixth streets, Rev. Charles B. Boynton, D. D., for 
 
CHURCH HISTORY. 573 
 
 twenty years previously a popular pastor in Cincinnati, officiating twice 
 that day. After remaining liere a short time, Metzerott's Hall, on 
 Pennsj'lvania Avenne, was secured and occupied for some time. After- 
 ward, Snding that old Trinity- Clinrcli had been purcliased l)y Columbia 
 College, and that its lecture room would be an excellent place for 
 Sunday service, the congregation moved into it, remaining througli 
 the summer, and then, by arrangement, into the hall of the House of 
 Representatives, the pastor of the church having been elected chaplain 
 of the House. 
 
 At the first informal meeting of the members of this church, 
 October 11, 1865, fiftj'-six persons agreed to join tlie proposed new 
 church. At the time of the organization of the churcli, one hundred and 
 four joined, and two weeks later nineteen more were added. A council 
 was held October 2, 1866, to install the newly elected pastor. Rev. Dr. 
 Boynton, The question of a site for a churcli building soon began 
 to agitate the membership, and at length a lot on the corner of Tenth 
 and G streets was purchased, and the corner stone of a new cliurch 
 building was laid October 2, 1866, at which time Major-General 0. 0. 
 Howard was introduced by Dr. Boj'nton, and Rev. Edwin Johnson, of 
 Baltimore, delivered an address. The building erected on this site had 
 a full seating capacity of two thousand five hundred persons. In the 
 erection of this building, assistance was received from the Church of 
 the Pilgrims, iu Brooklyn, which contributed over $7,000 toward the 
 building fund, and suggested tliat the church be named tlie "Howard 
 Monumental Church." 
 
 November 18, 1868, a council from the diiiereut Congregational 
 churches throughout the North and Northwest convened in Washing- 
 ton, in response to an invitation sent out October 24, to consult as to 
 the best method of adjusting difficulties then existing in this churcli, 
 which had arisen through their pastor's ministrations. This council 
 was called by a minority of the church, and when it met in the 
 church on Tenth and G streets, the proposition was made to the 
 majority that they should consent to consider it a mutual council. To 
 this proposition the majority declined to accede, saying that a mutual 
 council had been called to meet January 13, 1869, and that any mem- 
 ber of the minority of the church would have the same right to be 
 heard in the mutual council as anj- other member. On the next day, 
 the council listened to tlie charges against the pastor made by the 
 minority, as likewise to Dr. Boynton's reply; but the charges and 
 the reply would occujjy more space than can be granted to them in 
 this work, except to say that Dr. Boynton took exceptions to being 
 
574 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 tried by an ex "parte council, especiully when a mutual council had 
 been called, and to say, also, that a statement was published, signoil 
 by over one hundred members, to the effect that, in their opinion, the 
 difficulties then existiri"' had been caused, not by the course pursued 
 by the pastor, but by the determined eftbrts of the minority, by 
 whom the ex -parte council had been called. One of the principal 
 difficulties seems to have been in reference to what was termed 
 "amalgamation," the pastor having charged that General Howard 
 was an "amalgaraationist," meaning by this term the commingling of 
 both white and black people in the same church and the same school. 
 "Some time since. Dr. Boynton preached a sermon on the subject of 
 colored people entering the church, just at a time when colored chil- 
 dren were introduced, a noticeable feature of which was that not one 
 word was in it to encourage the intermingling of colored with white 
 children in the schools." 
 
 The mutual council referred to above convened in Washington 
 January 13, 1869. Dr. Boynton presented his preliminary statement. 
 He said that it was a fundamental principle of the Congregational 
 Church that the majority must rule, antl that if, after a full discussion 
 of questions at issue, the minority couhl not be reconciled to the gov- 
 ernment of a majority, they must withdraw. He was quite willing- 
 there should be a full investigation of every charge. Wednesday and 
 Thursda}- were consumed in the discussion, and on Frida}' General 
 Howard made a statement as to the financial condition of the church, 
 showing that the building had cost about $100,000, of which |60,000 had 
 been subscribed. It became evident, through the discussion, that Gen- 
 eral Howard and Dr. Boynton could only settle personal differences 
 personally, and that church troubles must be settled by the council. 
 On Saturday morning, the 16th, the committee to which had been 
 referred the troubles in the church made a report, stating that the 
 attitude of the church toward the colored people had excited painful 
 interest throughout the country, and that the council was not sur- 
 prised that the controversy had arisen, yet they did not believe either 
 the pastor or the majority of the church was opposed to the colored 
 people; notwithstanding this, however, they believed that the blacks 
 could best work out their own salvation apart from the whites. 
 
 April 22, a meeting was held to consider the question that agi- 
 tated and disturbed the church, at which time, in order to open up a 
 way foi' a reconciliation, Dr. Boynton resigned, and his resignation 
 was at once accepted. James S. Delano then presented a petition, 
 signed by a large number of the members, asking letters of dismission 
 
CHURCH HISTORY. 575 
 
 for the purpose of forming a new church, and on motion of General 
 Howard, the letters asked for were granted. The meeting then ad- 
 journed, and a meeting of the seceding members was immediately 
 organized, at which Dr. Boynton was chosen moderator. The name 
 suggested at that time for this new organization was the " People's 
 Church," of which, hy April 25, there were about one hundred and 
 twenty-iive members. The Young Men's Christian Association rooms 
 were secured, and Rev. Dr. Boynton was elected pastor. The church 
 thus organized held its meetings for a time in the Thirteenth Street 
 Baptist Church, until the Young Men's Christian Association rooms 
 were completed. 
 
 The First Church occupies its own fine edifice on the corner of 
 Tenth and G streets, and its present pastor is Rev. S. M. Newman. 
 
 The People's Congregational Church, located on Street, between 
 Seventh and Eighth, Northwest, was organized in 1869, and its first 
 pastor was Rev. Charles B. Boynton, D. D. The causes leading to its 
 organization are detailed in the sketch of the First Church, and need 
 only to be referred to. The congregation is in good condition. The 
 pastor is Rev. J. H. Dailey, residing at 2028 Vermont Avenue. 
 
 The Tabernacle Congregational Church was organized in 1881. It 
 is located on Ninth Street, between B Street and Virginia Avenue, 
 and is under the pastoral supervision of Rev. G. J. Jones, Ph. D. 
 
 Lincoln Memorial Congregational Church, corner of Eleventh and 
 R streets Northwest, was organized in 1881. Its pastor is Rev. 
 George W. Moore. 
 
 Plymouth Congregational, corner Seventeenth and P streets North- 
 west, was organized also in 1881. Rev. Sterling N. Brown is serving 
 as its pastor. 
 
 The Fifth Congregational Church was organized May 13, 1886, 
 with fifteen members. The first and present pastor is Rev. B. N. 
 Seymour, who began September 17, 1887, and was ordained in 
 November, 1887. Services are held in Milford Ilall, at the corner of 
 Eighth and I streets Northeast, which was purchased in May, 1888, 
 for $5,000. The membership of this church on January 1, 1892, was 
 seventy-five. 
 
 The First Baptist Church was organized March 7, 1802, with six 
 members, in a private house, by Rev. William Parkinson, at that time 
 and for some years afterward chaplain of one of the Houses of Con- 
 gress. The six members of this church at the time of its organization 
 were Charles P. Polk, Cephas Fox, Charles Rogers, John Buehan, 
 Joseph Borrows, and Sarah Borrows. They proceeded at once to 
 
576 HISTORY OF WASIUNGTON. 
 
 secure a church huilding, and purchased a lot on the southwest corner 
 of Nineteentli and I streets. Upon tliis lot they erected a brick 
 clinrch building, and occupied it for the first time in the following 
 November. Tlie building thus early begun was not finished, however, 
 until 1809. The church was without a reguhir pastor until 1807, though 
 it had had services by Rev. Mr. Parkinson and others from time to 
 time. In 1807 Rev. Obadiah B. Brown became the pastor, and 
 remained until 18.50. At the beginning of his pastorate, the congre- 
 gation consisted of twenty-seven members, while at its close the 
 membership was composed of one hundred and lifty persons. He was 
 succeeded by Rev. Steplien P. Hill, D. D., from Baltimore. 
 
 Under Rev. Mr. Brown's ministr}', the churcli building was from 
 time to time improved. In 1809 wide galleries were put in, so wide 
 indeed that an old member, presumably an old salt, remarked that the 
 church reminded him of the hatchway of a ship. At this time the 
 system of pew renting was adopted, and forty-four pews were rented 
 for the aggregate sum of !?300 per annum. A converted actor, named 
 Spencer H. Cone, of Baltimore, removed to Washington, joined tiiis 
 church, and was ordained to preach, becoming pastor of the Baptist 
 church at Alexandria. Oliver C. Comstock, a member of Congress 
 from New York, was also converted and ordained to the ministry. In 
 addition to these two, the following were ordained ministers of the 
 Gospel: Joseph H. Jones, William Sedgwick, Robert W. Cushman, 
 Luther Rice, James D. Knowles, Baron Stow, George F. Adams, 
 John Pratt, Joseph T. Robert, Robert B. C. Howell, Stephen Cliapin, 
 and Henry W. Dodge. 
 
 Previous to 1826, the question had been discussed of erecting a 
 church in the central portion of the city. A lot was purchased on 
 D Street, between Eighth and Ninth streets. Northwest, for |100, but 
 the Unancial condition of the congregation was so low that no action 
 could be taken for several }ears. In 1833, the question was again 
 taken up as to a change in the location of the church, and this time 
 it was pushed to completion. Lot No. 10, in Square 877, on the east 
 side of Tenth Street, between E and F streets, Northwest, was secured, 
 and the erection of a new church building begun in Jul}-, 1833. This 
 building was of brick, sixty-five feet long and forty-five feet wide, with 
 a Sunday-school room and lecture room in the rear, twenty-two by 
 thirty feet, and a tower in the front. The cost of the church was 
 somewhat upward of $8,000. This church was located on the site 
 subsequently made historic from the assassination of President Lincoln 
 in Ford's Theater, built upon the spot. 
 
CHURCH HISTORY. 577 
 
 Soon after the removal to the new church huilding, a large 
 portion of the colored members of tlie church were formed into a 
 separate organization and granted the use of the old ehurcii Ijuilding, 
 and this colored Baptist church is still in existence. 
 
 In 1840, the new churcli building was damaged by fire, and in 
 1843 there was a revival of religion, as there had been in 1816 and 
 in 1839. As has been stated above, Rev. Stephen P. Hill, D. D., suc- 
 ceeded Rev. Mr. Brown, and during the pastorate of Dr. Hill, the 
 church property on Tenth Street was sold. This was on account of 
 a consolidation of this church with the Fourth Baptist, and the 
 removal of the First Church to the property of the Fourth Church 
 on Thirteenth Street. The proceeds of the sale of the Tenth Street 
 church property were used in paying off a portion of the debt of the 
 Fourth Church. At tlie time of the consolidation, Rev. Isaac Cole 
 was pastor *of the Fourth Church, and he became joint pastor of 
 the new congregation with Dr. Hill. In February, 1862, the church 
 building was greatly' damaged bj- a hurricane. The steeple was blown 
 down, and, falling on the roof of the church, crushed through, com- 
 pletely wrecking the interior. The damage having been repaired, the 
 building was taken for a hospital by the Government, the congrega- 
 tion meeting in the meantime in the New York Avenue Presbyterian 
 Church, the use of which was tendered them; and thus the New 
 York Avenue Church reciprocated a similar favor conferred upon it 
 some 3'ears before by this church. The joint pastorate terminated 
 in 1860, when the Rev. Dr. Samson, president of Columbia College, 
 accepted the pastorate of this church, and served without pay for three 
 years, for the purpose of assisting the church. He was succeeded by 
 Rev. A. D. Gillettee, D. D., who remained five years. Rev. J. H. 
 Cuthbert, D. D., then became the pastor, and remained seventeen 
 years. The Rev. Charles A. Stakely succeeded Dr. Cuthbert, and was 
 installed pastor in December, 1887. He is still the pastor. 
 
 The Second Baptist Church, corner of Fourth Street and Virginia 
 Avenue Southeast, was organized June 1, 1810, with five members 
 dismissed from the First Baptist Church. The first house of worship 
 stood near the Navy Yard, for which reason it was sometimes called 
 the Navy Yard Baptist Church. The congregation belonged to the 
 Columbia Baptist Association, composed principally of churches in 
 Virginia. In 1826, it had about one hundred and sixty members. 
 The first regular pastor was Rev. Osborn. Some of his successors 
 were: Rev. Barton, Rev. Lynd, Rev. Rollin Neale, Rev. Leland 
 (1839), Rev. G. W. Samson (1844), Rev. J. W. Greer (1871), Rev. P. 
 
578 HISTORY OF WASH WG TON. 
 
 Warren (died Marcli 12, 1871). One of the most conspicuous men in 
 the list of early pastors was Rev. Stephen Cone, at one time chaplain 
 of the House of Representatives. He had, also, pastorates in several of 
 the leading Eastern cities. The present pastor is E. Hez Sweni, under 
 whom the congregation has reached a membership of five hundred and 
 seventy-eight. 
 
 The present house of worship, a brick structure, was erected 
 some thirty-five or forty years ago. Eunds are being raised for the 
 erection of a new and enlarged edifice during the year 1892. 
 
 The E Street Baptist Church, located on E Street, between Sixth 
 and Seventh, Nortiiwest, was organized in 1842. One of the early 
 pastors was Rev. G. W. Samson. He was finally chosen president 
 of Columbia College and was succeeded b}' Rev. J. Spencer Kennard, 
 who entered upon his duties October 23, 1859. This congregation 
 has a comfortable brick structure, and is one of the active Baptist 
 churches of the city. It reported in 1891 a membership of three 
 hundred and seventy-four souls, and held property estimated to be 
 worth 190,000. Its total receipts for the year were $5,836.88. Its 
 pastor is the Rev. J. J. Muir. 
 
 Fifth Baptist Church, located on D Street, between Four and a 
 Half and Sixth, Southwest, was formerly known as Island Baptist 
 Church. It was founded in June, 1857. In September of that year, 
 a site was purchased on Virginia Avenue, between Four and a Half 
 and Sixth streets, and on the 23d of said month a committee of 
 delegates from the various Baptist churches of the city met to examine 
 Mr. C. C. Meader as to his fitness, and to prepare for his ordination. 
 The day selected was September 27, when he was ordained to the 
 work. He has remained pastor ever since. The congregation enrolls 
 four hundred and fifty-two members. 
 
 Calvar}' Baptist Church was organized June 2, 18G2, with thirty- 
 five constituent members. Services were at first Ijeld in "Old Trinity 
 Church," on Fifth Street, between D and E streets. Rev. T. R. Hew- 
 lett, D. D., being the first pastor. The corner stone of the first church 
 building erected by this organization was laid September (i, 1803, Rev. 
 Mr. Howlett, Rev. G. W. Samson, and Rev. Dr. Gillettee taking part 
 in the ceremonies. The lot upon which this church was erected was 
 on the corner of II and Eighth streets Northwest, and was purchased 
 for the church by Hon. Amos Kendall, at a cost of $8,000. Mr. Ken- 
 dall also placed at the disposal of the church a building fund of 
 113,000, and donated the income of $25,000, which, besides paying 
 the pastor's salary, gave a handsome sum for other purposes. The 
 
CHURCH HISTORY. 579 
 
 church building tlms erected was a fine specimen of tlic Gothic style 
 of architecture, and cost $50,000. It was seventy-five by ninety-five 
 feet in size, and the tower terminated in an octagonal open-work iron 
 spire, bearing a cruciform flower, and was one hundred and sixty feet 
 high. The spire was sixty feet high, and beneath it was suspended a 
 bell weighing four thousand pounds. Under the bell was a clock with 
 a face eight feet square. The entire cost of the church, ground, and 
 furniture was more than |115,000, more than iialf of which was con- 
 tributed by Hon. Amos Kendall, who was then more than seventy-six 
 years of age. This church was dedicated June 3, 1866. When com- 
 pleted, it had one of the finest auditoriums in the city. This church 
 organization has also erected Kendall Chapel, on Thirteen and a Half 
 and D streets Southwest, at a cost of $8,000, and Memorial Cliapel, of 
 brick, at Fifth and P streets, at a cost of $15,000. In 1872 the mem- 
 bership of this church was three hundred and five, and in 1892, one 
 thousand and one hundred. 
 
 Since Rev. Dr. Howlett's pastorate closed, the pastors have been 
 Rev. J. W. Farker, D. D., Rev. A. F. Mason, D. D., and the present 
 pastor. Rev. S. H. Greene, D. D., whose pastorate began in 1880. 
 During this time, more than one thousand two hundred persons have 
 united with the church. In 1867 the church edifice was destroyed by 
 fire, and a new edifice was erected in 1869. 
 
 Gay Street Baptist Church, corner of Thirty-first and N streets, 
 Georgetown, was organized June 19, 1866, by Rev. James Nelson, now i 
 of the Richmond Female Seminary, with eleven members. For two 
 years, the congregation was permitted to use the Presbyterian chapel 
 on Market (now Thirty-third) Street. It then secured grounds and an 
 edifice, through the generosity, largely, of Mr. James S. Welch, and 
 a legacy from John McCutchen, deceased. The house of worship, a 
 frame structure, was erected during the pastorate of Dr. ISTelson, the 
 dedication occurring October 11, 1868. The seating capacity is for 
 six hundred persons. The list of pastors includes the followino-: 
 Revs. James Nelson, A. J. Huntington, George W. Beale, Georo-e 
 
 E. Truitt, Joseph Walker, ■ Lodge, George W. McCullough, 
 
 W. S. 0. Thomas. The present membership is one hundred and 
 seventy-one. In this number is Mrs. James S. Welch, widow of the 
 late James S. Welch. She was the first person baptized after 
 the church was organized, and is recognized now as a true mother 
 in Israel. 
 
 The Metropolitan Baptist Church was organized February 27, 1878, 
 with thirty-one members, there having been a society in existence for 
 
580 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 some time, but no regular cliurcli organization. Tlie first building 
 erected by them was a chapel built in the fall and winter of 1875-76, 
 which was intended as the rear portion of a larger church to be 
 erected subsequently, the foundation of which was laid in the fiill 
 of 1886, at the corner of A and Sixth streets Northeast, the super- 
 structure of which was erected in 1887 and 1888. The pastors of 
 the church have been the following: Rev. Stephen H. Mirick, Rev. 
 Dr. Joseph W. Parker, Rev. William M. Ingersoll, Rev. William 
 H. Young, B, D., and Rev. Green Clay Smith, the present pastor. 
 The membership, at first thirty-one, has gradually increased to two 
 hundred and forty-four. 
 
 The Grace Baptist Church, located on South Carolina Avenue 
 and Ninth Street Southeast, until May 7, 1891, known as "The East 
 Capitol Street Baptist Church," was organized December 28, 1884, 
 with some thirty members. For over six years, the congregation met 
 in a hall on the corner of Fourth and East Capitol streets. Finally, 
 without a pastor, it bought a site, and erected in 1890-91 a brick 
 edifice with stone trimmings. It was first occupied in June, 1891, but 
 was not dedicated until October 25th of that year. Its membership 
 is one hundred and five. The pastorate has been filled in succession 
 by Revs. Owen McVey Miller, Frank Gardner, and James D. Smith. 
 
 Maryland Avenue Baptist Church, corner of Maryland Avenue 
 and Fourteenth Street Northeast, was organized in 1891. It reported 
 fifty-seven members in 1891, and property valued at $8,000. Its pastor 
 is Rev. S. R. White. 
 
 Concordia Lutheran Church is located on the corner of Twentieth 
 and G streets Northwest, and in 1833 was organized by a small band 
 of Germans under the name of the German Evangelical Lutheran 
 Church, worshiping for a time in the City Hall. They then erected 
 a church at the above location, which, in 1853, was enlarged. On 
 December 27, 1846, Rev. Samuel D. Finkle entered upon the active 
 duties of his ministry, and as the church grew and prospered, a par- 
 sonage was built, a school established, and a society organized having 
 for its object the assistance of the congregation in pecuniary and other 
 affairs. The pastor now is Rev. Ernest Drewitz. 
 
 St. Paul's English Lutheran Church was started in 1842, the 
 Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Maryland, at its session 
 in October, that year, appointing Rev. Albert A. Muller to the station 
 at Washington and Georgetown, with a view of establishing such a 
 church at one or both of these places. Services were held for a time 
 in Mr. Todd's new hall on Pennsylvania Avenue. June 18, 1844, the 
 
CHURCH HISTORY. 581 
 
 corner stone of the new chnrch building was laid at the intersection 
 of H and Eleventh streets Northwest, with imposing ceremonies, the 
 address being delivered by Rev. Dr. Morris, of Baltimore. Rev. A. A. 
 Mnller was followed by Rev. J. G Butler, who, August 14, 1859, 
 preached his tenth anniversary sermon. A neat church building was 
 then possessed by the congregation, and the burden of debt had been 
 removed. In May, 1861, Rev. Mr. Butler accepted the chaplaincy 
 of the Fifth Pennsylvania Regiment. The present pastor is Rev. S. 
 Domer, D. D. 
 
 Trinity German Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 
 1851. The church is located at the corner of Fourth and E streets 
 Northwest, is of brick, and cost $12,000. It was dedicated November 
 22, 1857, by Rev. Wilhelm Nordmann, then pastor of the church. 
 The pastors have been, since Rev. Mr. Nordmann, Revs. Ernst Burger, 
 Peter Brand, Wilhelm Lubkert, and Heinrich Christian, the latter 
 since November, 1876. At the present time, there are ninety-five 
 voting members, and nearly four hundred confirmed members. There 
 is a parochial school connected with the church, with two teachers 
 and sixty-eight pupils. 
 
 St. John's (Johannes') German Evangelical Lutheran Church, 
 located at No. 318 Four and a Half Street Southwest, was organized 
 in 1853. The church edifice is a brick structure, and the present 
 membership includes one hundred and forty-four families. There are 
 several organizations within the church, viz.: St. John's Benefit 
 Association, with 24 members; St. John's Woman's Society, with 26 
 members; St. John's Young People's Society, with 38 members. In 
 the list of pastors there have been the following: Rev. Meister, the 
 first; Rev. Schloegcl, Rev. F. P. 11. Heiininghausen, Rev. A. Frey, 
 Dr. Keitz, Rev. Diehl, Rev. John II. Mengert, Rev. Kurtz, Rev. 
 Selinger, Rev. E. Lehnert, and Rev. H. K. Miiller. 
 
 Zion's Lutheran Church, at the corner of Sixth and P streets 
 Northwest, was established in 1867, and erected a frame building, 
 which was dedicated March 30, 1873. The first pastor was Rev. Wil- 
 liam A. Frey, and those succeeding hira have been Revs. Emil Henck- 
 ell, Mr. Steihauer, A. Eisenliauer, G. W. S. Landau, H. Unglaub, and 
 the present pastor, A. Ilomrighaus. The present membership is about 
 one hundred and fifty. English preaching has become a main feature 
 of the service. 
 
 Memorial Lutheran Church is situated at the corner of Four- 
 teenth and Vermont Avenue Northwest. The lot upon which this 
 church stands was purchased in March, 1866, from Hon. Caleb Cush- 
 
582 IITSTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 ing for $8,000, b}' the people of St. Paul's English Lutheran Church, 
 the subscription for the entire amount being secured from them on 
 a single Sunday morning. The memorial chapel in the rear of the 
 present church was dedicated February 5, 1868. Tiie foundation 
 of the new church was begun in the summer of 1870, the corner 
 stone being laid October 31, that year. The jn-esent pastor is Rev. 
 J. G. Butler. 
 
 The Church of the Reformation (Lutheran) was organized in 
 April, 1870, in a frame chapel which stood on First Street, near C, 
 Southeast, by Rev. W. E. Parson, with twenty-three charter members. 
 The little chapel was used until 1881, when a site was purchased on the 
 corner of Pennsjdvauia Avenue and Second Street Southeast, and a 
 commodious two-story brick editiee, with lecture room in basement, 
 was erected. The church has a membership) of two hundred and fifty 
 communicants. The pastors, in regular order, have been: W. E. Par- 
 son, 1870-72; Philip Graif, 1872-75; Louis Hay, 1776-79; W. E. Par- 
 son, 1879, present incumbent. 
 
 The Evangelical Lutheran Church, corner of Thirty-second and 
 Q streets, Georgetown, is comparatively new as to its organization, 
 but old as respects the title to church property. Colonel Charles 
 Beatty, one of the founders of Georgetown, had, in 1769, set apart for 
 the sole benefit of the Lutheran Church a plat of ground containing 
 from one-half to three-quarters of an acre, and caused the same to be 
 so entered and designated in the town plat. Subsequently, the site 
 was used by the Lutherans for school purposes, and for a burial 
 ground. Their title to the property has been afBrmed by the Supreme 
 Court. About 1865, the Germans raised funds under the direction of 
 Rev. S. Finkle, U. D., to erect the present neat brick Gothic 
 structure. The dedication of the house occurred June 5, 1870, and 
 in the autumn of the same year an organization with some twelve 
 members was consummated. The first pastor was Rev. J. J. Suman. 
 He was succeeded in the spring of 1871 by Rev. George A. Nixdorff, 
 of Frederick, Maryland, who has canceled the debt tluit hung over 
 the church. 
 
 Grace Lutheran Church, situated at the corner of Thirteenth and 
 Corcoran streets Northwest, was organized in 1876. Rev. Emanuel 
 G. Tressel has the sjiiritnal supervision of its membership. 
 
 Our Reelecmer Lutheran Church is located on Eighth Street, above 
 Florida Avenue, Northwest. It was organized in 1885, and is now 
 under the pastoral oversight of Rev. D. E. Wiseman. 
 
 St. Mark's Lutheran Church was organized in 1889, in rotomac 
 
CHURCH HISTORY. 583 
 
 Hall, with fifteen members. Its church edifice stands on C Street, 
 between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, Southwest, is a brick structure, 
 and cost $12,000. It has not yet been dedicated. Rev. W. 11. Gotwald 
 was the first, and is the present, pastor. The membership is now about 
 sixt}'. It is the only Lutheran church in the city in connection with 
 the General Synod where the pastor wears the robe and the full 
 Common Service is regularly used. 
 
 Keller Memorial Lutiieran Church, corner of Ninth Street and 
 Maryland Avenue Northeast, has but a recent origin. The beautiful 
 edifice was erected during 1891-92. The main audience room has a 
 seating capacity' for six hundred. 
 
 The First German Reformed Trinity Church was organized Decem- 
 ber 8, 1867. Of the original membership, only one now remains 
 alive, Charles Schroth, of this city. The first pastor of this church 
 was Rev. J. W. Ebbinghaus. A frame church was erected at the 
 corner of N and Sixth streets Northwest, and a new brick building 
 was dedicated October 25, 1891. The church has a membership now 
 of about one hundred families, and works in connection with the 
 Reformed Church of the United States. The pastors who have suc- 
 ceeded the first one mentioned above have been Rev. Robert Reitzel, 
 Rev. Mr. Schild, Rev. M. Treiber, Rev. Mr. Wetterstrom, Rev. M. G. 
 J. Stern, Rev. R. A. Guenther, Rev. H. A. Maier, Rev. W. L. Elter- 
 ich, and Rev. Gustav Facius, the present pastor. 
 
 The Grace Reformed Church of the United States, located on 
 Fifteenth Street, between P Street and Rhode Island Avenue, was 
 organized in 1877, through the labors of Dr. Thomas G. Apple, of 
 Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Dr. Staley, of Baltimore, and Dr. Eschbach, 
 of Frederick. The present house of worship is a brick chapel, which 
 was erected in 1881. The congregation has about one hundred mem- 
 bers. The first pastor was Rev. C. F. Sontag, who officiated some 
 eight years. He was succeeded by Rev. A. T. G. Ajiple, the present 
 incumbent. 
 
 In the summer of 1891, a movement was made toward the erection 
 of a church by ,the LTnited Brethren in Christ. A lot one hundred by 
 one hundred and twelve feet, on the northwest corner of North Capitol 
 and R streets, was purchased for the sum of $11,200. Arrangements 
 are now being perfected for the construction of a building during the 
 coming year. The congregation is receiving financial assistance from 
 the Church-Erection Society of the United Brethren Church. The 
 pastor is Rev. C. I. B. Brane, A. M., for many years the Washington 
 correspondent of the Iieli(/ious Telescope, of Dayton, Ohio. 
 
584 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Tlui Clmrcli of Our Father, Uiiiversiilist, stands at the corner of 
 Tliirtecnth and L streets Northwest. The first movement toward the 
 organization of a Universalist church in Washington was made in 
 181)7, l)y the Cicnoral Convention of this denomination. l\ev. E. G. 
 Broolvs preached two Sundays, and Rev. A. A. Miner, D. D., of 
 Boston, Massachusetts, also preached two Sundays. The first services 
 were held in Union League Hall, on Ninth Street. Meetings were 
 held afterward in Masonic Temple, and in Motzerott Hall, on Pennsyl- 
 vania Avenue, services being conducted 1)\' different ministers. The 
 society, named Murray Universalist Society, was organized in May, 
 1869. 
 
 When the charter for the church organization was secured, in 
 1S74, the name given to the organization was "The First Universalist 
 Ohurch in Washington, District of Columbia." This charter was 
 obtained during the ministry of Rev. C. H. Fay, who came here from 
 Middletown, Connecticut, in 1873. About the time of the organization 
 of the church, the services were transferred to Talmage Hall, and were 
 held there and at Masonic llall, and at Lincoln Ilall, until the present 
 church building was ready for occupancy. Rev. Mr. Fay remained 
 pastor until May, 1877, when he resigned, and in the following fall he 
 was succeeded l)y Rev. Alexander Kent, who had [ireviously preached 
 at Baltimore, Maryland. At the beginning of Rev. Kent's mitnstr}', 
 there were fift3'-six members in the church, and as their numbers 
 increased, Mr. Kent, with the consent of the General Convention, in- 
 augurated a movement looking toward the erection of a new church 
 building. This was begun in 1879, the larger portion of the contribu- 
 tions being from friends outside of Washington. This church Ijniiding 
 was completed and occupied for the first time in May, 1883. It was 
 dedicated in October following, under its present name, "The Clmrcli 
 of Our Father." The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. A. A. 
 Miner, D. I)., of Boston, Massachusetts. Rev. Mr. Kent remained 
 pastor i>f the church until 1890, with the exception of about one 
 year, resigning in October, 1888, being recalled in June, 1889, and 
 entering upon the second portion of his pastorate in Septend)cr, 1889. 
 At the time of his retirement, there were about one hundred and 
 twenty members in the church. Ife was succci'ded by Professor S. A 
 Whitcomb. The Optimist CUdi of tlie Universalist Ciinrch was organ- 
 ized October 13, 1874. 
 
 All Souls' Unitarian Chnroli was I'stablished in 1820. Karly in the 
 spring of 1821, active measures were taken to erei't a chuidi Imilding, 
 which was dedicated Thnr.sday, June 9, 1822, Rev. Mr. Little lueaching 
 
ciirKcn iirsTORY. 585 
 
 tlie dedicatory sernimi in tiie morning, and Mr. Kalpii Eddowes, of 
 Philadelphia, preacliing in the afternoon. The bell erected upon this 
 church was the first church bell in the city. It was cast at the foundry 
 establislied near Boston by the famous Paul Revere, and was purchaseil 
 with subscriptions by John Quincy Adams, John C. Caliioun, and 
 other distinguished men. This bell was rung for public purposes until 
 1861, but then its use was discontinued, because it had on the day of 
 the death of old John l>rt)wn rung a re(|uiem for him. 
 
 The precise date of Mr. Little's retirement from this church does 
 not appear, but it must have been in 1826, for in the iile of the papers of 
 that year (the paj)ers then and for many years afterward being almost 
 devoid of reference to local events) there were occasional notices of 
 ministers of this denomination preaching in the First Unitarian 
 Church. Of these occasional supplies may be mentioned Rev. Dar- 
 nelle; Rev. Mr. Walls, of Cambridge, Massachusetts; Rev. Mr. Motte, of 
 Charleston, South Carolina, and Rev. Mr. Green, of Lynn, Massachu- 
 setts. For the most of 1828 and 1829, Rev. Andrew Bigelow was 
 pastor of this church. During the winter of 1829-30, the church 
 was looking for a minister, and at length secured Rev. Cazneau Palfrey, 
 who was ordained October 5, 1830, sermon and charge by Rev. Francis 
 Parkman, of Boston, his ministry continuing until January, 1836. 
 During the time of his pastorate, in the winter of 1833-34, Hev. Mr. 
 Palfrey delivered a series of lectures tju the doctrines of the Unitarian 
 Church, the titles being "The Person, Character, and OfBce of Christ," 
 "The Holy Spirit," "Total Depravity," and "The Paternal Character 
 of God." In 1839, Rev. Stephen G. Bnllinch, son of the architect of 
 the Capitol, became the pastor, and remained six years. Rev. Edward 
 Everett Hale next became the pastor, from October, 1844, to March, 
 1845. 
 
 Rev. J. Angier [)reached for this church a short time in 1846, and 
 then Rev. Orville Dewey became pastor of this church. Dr. Dewey 
 preached during the succeeding winter, and in the spring of 1847 
 Rev. Samuel Longfellow preached for one month. For the next three 
 years the minister was Rev. Joseph Henry Allen, who was succeeded 
 b}' Dr. Orville Dewey in the winter of 1851-52. During this year, 
 Dr. Dewey, who was one ot the matchless orators of Unitarianism, 
 delivered to the Lowell Institute, of Boston, a course of lectures upon 
 Natural Theology, enlarging its scope, however, to include the entire 
 problem of human destiny. This course of lectures was repeated in 
 Washington by request. Dr. Dewey remained with this chiircli until 
 July, 1853, with a short intermission in 1852. Then came Moncure 
 
586 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Daniel Conway. He was installed minister Febrnar}' 28, 1855, and 
 remained until tlie close of 1856. For a short time the minister was 
 Rev. W. D. Haley, who was followed b^' Rev. William Henry Chan- 
 ning. At this time the city was full of sick and wounded soldiers, 
 and, under the lead of Mr. Chan nine;', the congregation promptly 
 ottered the use of the church for hospital purposes — the first church 
 in the city to manifest its piatriotism. The officers of the Government 
 soon oiiered the Senate chamber to the church for Sunday worship, 
 and in December, 1863, Mr. Channing was elected chaplain of Con- 
 gress. During the two winters of his chaplaincy, the American 
 Unitarian Association sent to Washington many of the ablest minis- 
 ters of the denomination, and services were held simultaneously every 
 Sunday at the church and at the, hall of the House of Represent- 
 atives. February 12, 1865, Mr. Channing invited Rev. Mr. Garnet to 
 preach for him in the House of Representatives, "the first colored 
 preacher ever heard in the National Capitol." 
 
 Rev. Dr. Rufus P. Stebbins preached during the winter of 1867-68 
 for six months. Then, for a short time, came Rev. William Shargan, 
 and for iive years, from December, 1870, to December, 1875, the 
 minister was Rev. Frederick Hinckley. Soon after 1870, when 
 the center of population was moving rapidl}' toward the northwest, it 
 was felt that, the old church building becoming, as it was, dilapidated, 
 ill-placed, and inaccessible, a new church building, more eligible in 
 location, larger, and more attractive, was essential to the continued 
 lirosperity of the congregation. At the Saratoga Conference of 1876, 
 an appeal for assistance was made to the denomination at large, and 
 the delegates present pledged their several charges for $25,000, which 
 amount was collected the next year. The bequest of Mr, Winn, of 
 Woburn, Massachusetts, of !ffl00,000 was made about this time, and 
 of this amount $10,000 was granted for the purpose of the erection of 
 the new church. The old church property was sold to the city for a 
 police court for $20,000, and additional contributions in the city 
 brought the amount up to $65,000. With this sum, the present lot 
 was purchased for $20,000, the building was erected for $40,000, and 
 the organ was purchased for $5,000, thus completing the purchase 
 and pa^'ment for the entire property for the sum secured, and without 
 incurring any debt. 
 
 While the new church building was being erected, the society 
 was reorganized in accordance with the laws of the District of Col- 
 umbia, and changed its name to "All Souls' Church," and adopted, 
 June 4, 1877, a bond of union, constitution, and by-laws. Sunday, 
 
C/H'RCH HISTORY. 587 
 
 Jiil^' 2, Rev. Cla}' MacCiiiiley was invited to settle as niiiiister, ami 
 was installed January 30, 1878. The new church building was dedi- 
 cated January 29, 1878, Rev. Henry W. Bellows preaching the dedica- 
 tory sermon. Rev. Mr. MacCauley remained until the summer of 
 1880, and is now a missionary of the Unitarian Association in Japan. 
 The next and present minister was the Rev. Rush R. Shippen, who 
 was installed April 13, 1881, Rev. Robert Collyer preaching the instal- 
 lation sermon. His first sermon was preached ou the next Sunday, 
 which was Easter Sunday. The membership at the present time, 
 January 1, 1892, is two hundred and twenty. 
 
 The Twentieth Century Club was organized in April, 1890, by the 
 women of the church. The "Lend-a-Hand" was organized by twenty- 
 two young women of the congregation in October, 1890, The Clian- 
 ning Club was organized January 20, 1891. The above, together wiMi 
 the Parish Union, constitute the working forces of the church outside 
 of its own organization, and all perform efficient and acceptable labor. 
 
 The People's Church is the name of an organization which began 
 in this city in the autumn of 1891. Its first meetings, conducted by 
 Rev. Alexander Kent, the originator, were held in Union Hall, after- 
 ward changed to the Academy of Music, and still later to the Builders' 
 Exchange, on Thirteenth Street Northwest. The fatherhood of God, 
 the brotherhood of man, and the oneness of the life divine and human 
 were announced as fundamental principles. The acceptance of this 
 announcement was not made a condition of membership; but sympa- 
 thy with the purpose and a desire to work for the attainment of these 
 ends were all that was required. 
 
 Vermont Avenue Christian Church was organized in 1848, by 
 Dr. Barcla}-, subsequently a missionary to Jerusalem and author of a 
 large work entitled "The City of the Great King." The organization 
 occurred in the southwest part of the city, in a small frame school- 
 house which stood ou Maryland Avenue. 
 
 The first house of worship owned by the congregation was a frame 
 structure purchased from the Southern Methodist Church, and removed 
 from M Street to the site ou Vermont Avenue, the dedication being 
 conducted by Elder J. Z. Taylor in 1869. Owing to the fact that 
 President Garfield was a member of this congregation, an appeal w-as 
 made shortly after his assassination to the organization throughout 
 the United States for means to erect a structure which would be a 
 Memorial Church. The appeal was successful. A fine structure was 
 secured, which, including site, cost about $67,000. In this new structure 
 is preserved the old family seat of President Gartield. The new edifice 
 
588 HISTORY OF WASHfNGTON. 
 
 was dedicated January 20, 1884, bj' President W. K, Pendleton, of 
 Betliany College, West Virginia. 
 
 Much of the preaching was at first done by supplies. Protracted 
 meetings were held, from time to time, by such men as D. P. Hender- 
 son, of Missouri; Knowles Shaw, of Indiana, and others. The regular 
 pastors have been Dr. J. T. Barclay, Henry T. Anderson, 0. A. Bar- 
 tholomew, and F. D. Power. During Mr. Bartholomew's pastorate, the 
 membership reached two hundred. Under the efiicient labors of Mr. 
 Power, it has grown to five hundred and fifty; and in April, 1891, it 
 sent to the corner of Ninth and D streets Northwest a colony of 
 eighty-five, called "Ninth Street Christian Church," which has grown 
 to three hundred and eighty-five under the charge of E. B. Bagley. 
 
 The Washington Hebrew Congregation was organized in 1854. 
 Its synagogue is located on Eightli Street, between II and I streets, 
 Northwest, The building was erected h}' the First Congregational 
 Church, and twice enlarged by them. The Hebrew Congregation took 
 possession of this building May 20, 1859, Rev. Landsberg being the 
 rabbi at the time. In March, 1863, steps were inaugurated to secure 
 funds with which to acquire a larger and better building. The result 
 was the present commodious brick structure. It had been used by 
 the United States Government for hospital purposes. It has been 
 twice renovated and enlarged, viz., in 1877 and 1886. The list of 
 pastors has embraced lievs; Mela, Jacobi, Landsberg, Weil, Jacobson, 
 Stemple, Goldberg, and L. Stern, present incumbent. He was installed 
 in 1872. The present membership is two hundred and eight families. 
 
 The Adams Israel Congregation (Orthodox), whose synagogue is 
 situated on the corner of Sixth and G streets Northwest, was organ- 
 ized in 1875. Its present pastor is Rev. Leopold lleiman. 
 
 The Church of tlie Holy City is situated on Dupont Circle, 
 Northwest. Rev. Jabez Fox was the first regular pastor of the 
 congregation. The present pastor is Rev. Frank Sewall. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 MEDICAL HISTORY. 
 
 Introduction of Vaccination in the District of Columbia — Early Physicians — Healthful- 
 ness of Washington — Board of Health — Cholera Epidemic — Its Prevention by 
 the Board of Health — Deaths from Cliolera — Sketches of Physicians — Medical 
 Societies. 
 
 VACCINATION was introduced in Washington during the summer 
 of 1801, the President receiving some aura vaccina from Dr. Water- 
 house, Cambridge, with a view of having its effects tried here. This 
 tirst virus was given to Dr. Grant, of Georgetown, and was used by liini, 
 
 December 14, 1801, Dr. Tongue informed the citizens of Washing- 
 ton through tlie public prints, as was then the custom everywliere, that 
 he practiced physic, and jiartieularly surgery. He had been, he said, a 
 private pupil of Dr. Rush, to whom lie referred. 
 
 T. Bruff", dentist, and inventor of the perpendicular extracting 
 instruments, notitied the public December 28, 1801, that he had arrived 
 in Georgetown, and that he offered his services to the ladies and 
 gentlemen of the District. 
 
 In September, 1803, it became known to the satisfaction of the 
 authorities of the city of Alexandria that a malignant fever prevailed 
 in a portion of Alexandria, and the authorities of tiie city of Wash- 
 ington were officially notitied of the fact. The Council immediately- 
 passed "An Act for the Relief of Certain Persons," and authorized 
 the Mayor to borrow money for the purpose of assisting such of 
 those from Alexandria who miglit temporarily take up their residence 
 in Wasliington in order to escape the fever. The trustees of the 
 poor were authorized to render assistance to any of the inhabitants 
 of Alexandria that might stand in need. Three hundred dollars were 
 appropriated, and the Mayor was authorized to borrow $2,000 if the 
 money in the treasury should prove insufficient for the emergency. 
 While it was not thought possible for the fever to spread in Wash- 
 ington, yet every precaution was taken to prevent it. According to 
 the health department of Alexandria, the greater number of deatlis 
 and the increase in sickness were in great measure owing to the 
 "uncommon drouth" of the season. In order to more effectually 
 
590 H/STORY OF \i:iSH/.\'GTON. 
 
 assist the distressed in Alexandi-ia, a subscription paper was placed 
 in the hands of Daniel C. Brent, and the public were requested to 
 subscribe to the extent of their ability. 
 
 October 2, 1805, Dr. Benson announced that lie had removed to 
 the house opposite Mr. Morin's tavern. 
 
 April 21, 1806, Dr. Starling Archer, then late of the navy, died 
 on account of a wound received in a duel on the 17th of the same 
 month. He was universally esteemed, and his death was lamented b}' 
 all who knew him. 
 
 Dr. Briscoe, in 1806, was located a few doors west of the "Seven 
 Buildings,'" on Pennsylvania Avenue, and kept at his house a supply- 
 of useful medicines and other articles needed by physicians. 
 
 In January, 1808, Dr. Lancaster located in Washington, on Penn- 
 sylvania Avenue, and announced that be had bad several years' 
 experience. 
 
 In the following September, Dr. William Grayson began the 
 practice of medicine in Washington, locating two doors from Semmes's 
 Tavern, in Georgetown. 
 
 Dr. Robert French began the practice of medicine and surgery 
 in Georgetown about May 1, 1809, and had his "shop" in the house 
 then lately occupied by Dr. John Weems, deceased. 
 
 Dr. John Willis had been in the city some time in 1809, and was 
 then located on Pennsylvania Avenue. He died April 4, 1811. He 
 was a wealthy man and a valuable member of society. At the time 
 of his death, his home was in Orange County, Virginia. 
 
 The precise time when Dr. George A. Carroll first established 
 himself in the city cannot be positively' stated, but he resumed the 
 practice of physic here in 1813, in the corner house next door to Gen- 
 eral Van Ness. 
 
 In 1815, Dr. William Gardner was a great advertiser, curing- 
 cancers, tumors, etc. 
 
 Dr. John Ott, of Georgetown, died April 8, 1818. lie was spoken 
 of at the time as having had no superior in every relation of life. He 
 was a father to the poor, a friend to the distressed, and an example 
 to others in the performance of every civil and social dut}-. 
 
 In December, 1816, Dr. Henderson came to Georgetown, and estab- 
 lished himself in the practice of medicine, surgery, and midwifery. 
 
 Dr. E. Harrison came in April, 1817, and located near Timmon's 
 Hotel. He died about August 25, 1819. 
 
 Dr. James H. Blake was one of the most prominent and most 
 highly respected of the physicians and citizens of early Washington. 
 
MEDICAL HISTORY. 591 
 
 He was a native of Calvert Couutj, Mar^-laml, dwelt several j'ears in 
 Virginia, and came to Washington in 1807, where he lived the rest of 
 his life. As a public man he was successively magistrate in Virginia 
 and in Washington, District of Columbia. He was a member of the 
 Legislature of Virginia, and was several times elected Mayor of 
 Washington, and was for a time collector of internal revenue. At 
 the time of his death, which occurred July 29, 1819, he was register 
 of wills for Washington County. He died after a long and painful 
 illness, sincerely- mourned by the entire community. 
 
 Mrs. Edward Davis, " niece of the late Mrs. Whitewood," estab- 
 lished herself in Washington and Georgetown, as a midwife, in 
 March, 1823. She came highly recommended by Jonathan Barber, 
 lecturer on anatomy and physiology, and Fellow of the Medical 
 Society of London and Royal College of Surgery. 
 
 Dr. Richard Randall began the practice of medicine and surgery 
 here in June, 1825. Dr. John Sinnott, A. M., M. D., commenced the 
 practice of medicine, surgery, and midwifery in Washington in De- 
 cember, 1825, with his office at Mrs. Sinnott's Academy, in Varnum's 
 Row, on D Street. He had had fifteen years' experience in the vari- 
 ous branches of his profession. Dr. Sinnott advertised in French as 
 well as in English. 
 
 Dr. Gilroy commenced the practice here about July, 1826, as also 
 did Dr. Adam B. Hooe, Jr. Dr. Thomas began here in August, 1827, 
 having his oflice next door to Dr. Huntt, on Fourteenth Street. About 
 the same time. Dr. A. B. Hayden, dentist, having determined to settle 
 permanently in Washington, offered his services to the people of the 
 District of Columbia. 
 
 Reports of the number of deaths in the city began to be made 
 in 1819, and they were for the next few years as follows: For 1819, 
 279; for 1820, 327; for 1821, 355; for 1823, 356; for 1824, 290. The 
 greatest number of deaths were caused by cholera infantum and con- 
 sumption. From the former in 1819 there were 15; in 1820, 43; in 
 1821, 31; and from consumption, in 1819, 101; in 1820, 42; and in 
 1821, 87. 
 
 As always has been tlie case, the people of Washington in the 
 early day were sensitive over the question of the comparative healthful- 
 ness of their city, aud to show that cities further north had nothing 
 to boast of over Washington in this respect, the following table was 
 prepared and published, showing the proportion of deaths to the entire 
 population: 
 
592 
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 ISH/NG TON. 
 
 
 ci 
 
 
 
 
 ci 
 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 &D 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Ph 
 
 ■ 
 
 3 
 
 S 
 
 g 
 
 >* 
 
 
 as 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 fe 
 
 
 ;S 
 
 ^ 
 
 cq 
 
 C3 
 
 iz; 
 
 
 1820 
 
 40.51 
 
 39.83 
 
 38.60 
 
 35.16 
 
 33.90 
 
 1821 
 
 38.72 
 
 32.73 
 
 32.07 
 
 37.01 
 
 36.82 
 
 1822 
 
 48.13 
 
 40.88 
 
 28.71 
 
 43.04 
 
 33.21 
 
 1823 
 
 41.40 
 
 45.10 
 
 32.54 
 
 42.85 
 
 26.46 
 
 1824 
 
 52.57 
 
 42.30 
 
 48.14 
 
 36.05 
 
 28.26 
 
 1825 
 
 70.00 
 
 40.19 
 
 47.12 
 
 33.09 
 
 33.29 
 
 182G 
 
 57.41 
 
 49.13 
 
 39.01 
 
 35.42 
 
 31.22 
 
 Average 
 
 49.82 
 
 41.45 
 
 38.02 
 
 37.12 
 
 31.89 
 
 From the facts brought to light in the above table, it was sug- 
 gested to the Philadelphia and New York insurers of lives tiiat it 
 would be e.xpedient for them to omit from their policies the stipula- 
 tion that the persons insured by them should not go so far south as 
 the Potomac River. 
 
 In 1824, the members of the Board of Health were Drs. Thomas 
 Sim, Henry Huntt, Thomas Sewall, Frederick May, and C. B. Hamilton. 
 In January, 1828, there was a case of varioloid at Qreenleaf's Point, in 
 the city of Washington, and as it was easy of communication to others 
 and was occasionally fatal to hunuin life, it became the duty of the 
 Board of Health to do what they could to prevent its spread. They 
 therefore issued rules and regulations for the government of the people 
 in respect to the case. They were not to have any intercourse with 
 tlie patient, and those attending upon the patient were not to mingle 
 with society until all danger was passed. Vaccination was urged upon 
 all who had not been vaccinated, the poor to be vaccinated free 
 of expense by calling upon the physician of their ward. Henry 
 Huntt was president of the Board of Health, and Andrew Coyle 
 secretary. 
 
 The Board of Health was provided for bj- an act of the corpora- 
 tion passed March 30, 1822. It was by this act invested with the 
 power to form a code of regulations with reference to the health of 
 the city, especially with respect to contagious diseases, which, however, 
 were not to be repugnant to the act of incorporation or charter of 
 
MEDICAL HISTORY. 593 
 
 the city. It was given power to declare wluit in its opinion were 
 nuisances or sources of disease, such opinion to be published, and 
 thereupon each member of the board was required to give notice to 
 the ward commissioner of any nuisances in his ward, and upon receipt 
 of such notice the commissioner was required to have the same 
 removed. The board had conferred upon it such other powers as are 
 common to such organizations. 
 
 The first great necessity that came upon the board for the exercise 
 of what were considered by many extraordinary powers was in con- 
 nection with the cholera e^tidemic of 1832. The cholera appears to 
 have first been noticed in tliis country that year in New York City, 
 June 26, 1832, and but twelve deaths occurred up to the 7th of July; 
 but during that month it rapidly increased in severit}-. About August 
 10, the disease first made its appearance in Washington, several deaths 
 occurring from other causes, however, being thought by some to have 
 been caused by cholera, but which the physicians said were from 
 typhus fever. But one man, named John Nally, a printer, aged about 
 twenty-one, after having been afliicted with diarrhea for several weeks, 
 was suddenly seized with cholera, and died in twenty-five hours. "This 
 unfortunate young man had been an habitual drunkard for four years, 
 and for six weeks prior to his death had indulged in all manner of 
 excesses, and had scarcely been sober during that time." It was com- 
 monly observed that tlie intemperate man was by far the greatest 
 sufi"erer. A full report of this case was published by the attending 
 physician, Dr. Alexander McD. Davis, in the National Ldelligencer of 
 August 17, 1832. 
 
 In order to prevent the spread of this "great epidemic of the 
 world," as it was then called, the Board of Aldermen and Board of 
 Common Council of the city of Washington appointed six persons for 
 the First, Second, and Third wards, and four persons for the Fourth, 
 Fifth, and Sixth wards, to serve as police commissioners, and to be 
 associated with the Board of Health for four months; and the Mayor 
 was authorized to appoint such additional number of scavengers as he 
 might think proper. The Board of Health recommended that relig- 
 ious bodies refrain from holding night meetings, and resolved tliat the 
 vending of ardent spirits in whatever quantity was a nuisance; and 
 inasmuch as they had the authority to do any and everything neces- 
 sary to preserve the health of the city, directed the discontinuance of 
 the sale of such spirits for ninety days from August 14, 1832. 
 
 On August 16, the board, "after due deliberation, have resolved 
 and do now declare that the following articles are in their opinion 
 
594 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 liiglily prejudicial to lieiilth at the present season. Believing them in 
 the light of nuisances, they liereby direct that the sale of them, or 
 their introduction within the limits of the city, be prohibited from 
 and after the 22d instant, for the space of ninety days. 
 
 " Cabbage, green corn, cucumbers, peas, beans, parsnips, carrots, 
 eggplant, simblins or squashes, pumpkins, turnips, watermelons, canta- 
 loupes, muskmelons, apples, pears, peaches, plums, damsons, cherries, 
 apricots, pineapples, oranges, lemons, limes, cocoanuts, ice creams, tish, 
 crabs, oysters, clams, lobsters, and crawfish." 
 
 "The board also recommend that the city authorities prohibit for 
 ninety da^'s all theatrical performances or other exhibitions which 
 be calculated to produce large collections of persons." The board 
 opposed quarantine regulations, "as tending to create a false confidence 
 in such provisions to the neglect of more important preservatives 
 from the disease." They also recommended that the heads of families 
 make rigid daily inquiries into the health of all those committed to 
 their charge. 
 
 On August 17, 1832, physicians were appointed to the several 
 hospitals in the city, as follows: Western Hospital — Attending phy- 
 sicians, Drs. Waters and Briscoe; consulting physicians, Drs. Sim, 
 Thomas, and Jolmson. Central Hospital — Attending physicians, Drs. 
 A. McD. Davis, Thomas R. Miller, James Waring, and B. Miller; con- 
 sulting physicians, Drs. Huntt, Causin, and Sewall. Eastern Hospital 
 — Attending physicians, Drs. Young and Bo^'d; consulting physicians, 
 Drs. May and McWilliams. 
 
 Thus were preparations perfected for warfare with the dread 
 disease. But it was scarcely to be expected that such sweeping regu- 
 lations as those adopted by the Board of Health should fail to give 
 much dissatisfaction to those who had the articles for sale that were 
 prohibited entrance into the city. A certain writer, in a lengtliy 
 article published in the papers at the time, which was written with 
 considerable force and intelligence but with little confidence in the 
 wisdom of the physicians, objected to the regulations, because, as he 
 said, neither the Board of Health nor the corporate authorities of the 
 city possessed the legal authority to prohibit the sale of watermelons 
 in the city. "It would be riglit for you to exclude this article of 
 trade if it were certain, or even if good reasons existed to induce the 
 belief, created by facts, that watermelons produce cholera. None such 
 do, or can, or have been shown to exist, except in the speculating 
 honesty and contradictory theories of physicians. Before piiysiciaiis 
 can, with safety, say what is or what is not proper to be eaten during 
 
MEDICAL HISTORY. 695 
 
 the prevalence of cholera, they must lirst know the disease and its 
 cause. This they are perfectly ignorant of, and every opinion expressed 
 by them is speculation and conjecture." 
 
 Many others had the same opinion as to the wisdom of the course 
 then pursued by the Board of Health, and also as to its authority to 
 impose such restrictions. A public meeting was therefore called, of 
 the citizens, at the City Hall for the evening of August 21, "at half 
 past seven o'clock, to take into consideration the restrictions attempted 
 to be imposed upon the productions of the earth and of honest industry 
 by the despotic proceedings of the Board of Health of the 16th in- 
 stant. A full meeting ou this occasion is obviously important to every 
 citizen, as well as to the cultivators of the soil, and to the caterers of 
 our markets; and a free discussion of the merits of the subject, so' 
 deeply involving the reserved and inalienable rights of freemen, is 
 particularly invited. Among other matters of moment which will 
 doubtless be developed, it will be easy to show that the Board of 
 Health have either turned their eyes aside from the real nuisances 
 that abound in the city, or have overlooked them, or connived at 
 them; if not in open and agreed expressions of purpose, at least in 
 effect, as the real nuisances have not been subdued; and have substi- 
 tuted for their denunciations the wholesome and seasonable productions 
 of the earth, with the obvious tendency to paralyze industry and 
 superinduce famine, which is as bad as the plague. It will be equally 
 easy to show that the moderate use of the productions of the season 
 is eminently conducive to health, and that total abstinence from them 
 is highly injurious to digestion, and invites disease. It will be easy 
 to convince every intelligent man that tomatoes, beets, potatoes, and 
 onions, the only articles that Und favor in the eyes of the sage Board 
 of Health, are not produced in sufficient quantity to substitute for 
 twenty or thirty other vegetables which they have proscribed, nor, 
 indeed, are they more wholesome than most of those which their 
 sapient heads have forbid," etc. 
 
 The editors of the National Intelligencer were careful to have it dis- 
 tinctly understood that they took no part in the controversy, because 
 it was not in their line. 
 
 At the meeting thus called, at the City Hall, Dr. Mayo was called 
 to the chair, and John H. Beale made secretary. Dr. Mayo, having 
 prepared some resolutions to present to the meeting, asked leave to 
 call some one to the chair while he read his resolutions. Being per- 
 mitted to do so, he called upon Mr. Moulder to preside while the 
 resolutions were being read and discussed. After reciting the sanative 
 
596 I-irsrORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 regulations as adopted by the Board of Health, the resolutions were 
 presented, as follows: 
 
 ^^Mesolved, That we, the citizens of Washington, in general town 
 meeting assembled, do hereby enter our solemn protest against the 
 authority above assumed, and positively forbid any attempt to execute 
 the edict above quoted. 
 
 ^^Besolved, That we will contribute our individual and united aid 
 to abate nuisances in masses of putrid matter and stagnant water. 
 
 ^^Eesolved, That we request the Mayor and corporate authorities of 
 the city to interpose in behalf of the citizens in vindicating the free- 
 dom of the markets." 
 
 A public meeting of other citizens was also held at the City 
 Hall to approve the regulations of the Board of Health. 
 
 On the 21st, the board reported on four cases of cholera that had 
 been found during the preceding three days; one white man, con- 
 valescent; one colored man, intemperate, dead; one colored woman, 
 dead; one colored man, intemperate, dangerously ill. 
 
 On the 22d, the Board of Health published an address to the citi- 
 zens of Washington, in which they said that they had been appointed 
 by the constituted authorities of the city without solicitation; they 
 were aware that ignorance and selfish cupidity and vicious propensities 
 would find themselves thwarted and opposed, and from these sources 
 opposition was to have been anticipated to any measure which might 
 be prescribed. Measures were being taken calculated to cast odium 
 upon the action of the board, which, if successful, would render the 
 exertions of the board fruitless and unavailing, and, left without the 
 support of public opinion, the consequences would be chargeable to 
 others, not to them. 
 
 On August 23, there were 2 deaths from cholera; August 24, 1; 
 August 26, 6; August 27, 1; August 28, 2; August 29, 1; August 
 30, 1; August 31, 3; September 1 and 2, 8. It was stated in the 
 papers, that up to the 1st of September about half of the cases that 
 had occurred had been reported. The greatest number of cases had 
 occurred in the square southwest of the General Post Office. On Sep- 
 tember 1, Drs. Nathaniel P. Causin and Alexander McWilliams made 
 a solemn appeal to the people to neglect no symptom which indicated 
 an attack of the disease, stating that they had learned from experi- 
 ence that the preliminary symptoms, when taken in time, uiiifoi-mly 
 yielded to treatment by calomel and opium, followed by a gentle 
 dose of castor oil, or rhubarb, or magnesia; but if the preliminary 
 symptoms were neglected, and a sudden and severe attack of the 
 
MEDICAL HISTORY. 597 
 
 disease should supervene, more tluin uiueteen-tweutieths of those thus 
 stricken must surely die. 
 
 On September 3, there were 13 deaths, besides several among the 
 colored people of which there was no report. September 4, there 
 were 10 deaths. The Intelligencer said it had the names of 12 persons 
 who had died between noon of Sunday, the Ist of September, and 
 noon of Monday, the 2d, none of whom had been reported. It was 
 believed that the number between noon of Monday and noon of 
 Tuesday was fully as great, 25. September 5, the number reported 
 was 11; on the 6th, 10; the 7th, 8; the 9th, 15; 10th, 13; 11th, 6; 
 12th, 8; 13th, 6; 14th, 10; 15th, 4; 16th, 3; 17th, 6; 18th, 5; 19th, 9; 
 20th and 21st, 1; 22d and 23d, 2; 24th, 2; 25th, 1; 26th, 1. 
 
 By October 1, the cholera was believed to have disappeared. On 
 January 1, 1833, the official report of the cholera epidemic of 1832 was 
 made to the Board of Health by Dr. Henry Huntt, Thomas Sewall, and 
 Nathaniel P. Causin. As to the number of deaths from cholera, the 
 report gave: Males, 269; females, 190; total, 459. Whites, 251; 
 blacks, free, 162; slaves, 46. As to age — Under ten, 45; from ten to 
 twenty, 51; from twenty to thirt}-, 93; from thirty to forty, 108; from 
 forty to fifty, 59; from fifty to sixty, 48; over sixty, 55. 
 
 Frederick May, M. D., was a native of Boston, Massachusetts, born 
 November 16, 1773. He studied medicine with Dr. John Warren, and 
 came to Washington in 1795. He was for many years the chief physician 
 and surgeon of the place. He was professor of obstetrics in Columbia 
 College from 1823 to 1839, at which time he resigned. At the time of 
 his death, which occurred January 23, 1847, he was president of the 
 Medical Society of the District of Columbia. Dr. May was always one of 
 the most prominent citizens of Washington while he lived in the place. 
 
 Henry Huntt, M. D., one of the most prominent of the early 
 physicians of Washington, was a native of Calvert County, Maryland. 
 When about eighteen years of age, he went to live with an uncle. Dr. 
 Clement Smith, a most respectable and learned physician, in Prince 
 George's County. Here he became a student of the healing art. In 
 1805-06, he attended a course of lectures in the University of Penn- 
 sylvania. Returning to Maryland in the spring of 1806, he became 
 a partner with his uncle, and soon became distinguished by his atten- 
 tion and kindness to his patients. In 1808 and 1809, he was led to 
 make observations on the nature and treatment of diarrhea and 
 dysentery, more especially upon the chronic forms of those diseases, 
 and the result of his investigations was that he substituted in their 
 treatment an acid for a mercurial and alkaline treatment. 
 
598 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 A country practice atibrding too limited a field for professional 
 preferment for one of Dr. Hnntt's ambition, he abandoned his practice 
 in Prince George's County, and came to Washington City in the fall 
 of 1810, with the intention of applying for the position of surgeon's 
 mate in the United States Navy. He received the desired appointment 
 June 2, 1811, and performed the duties of that station for more than 
 two years. Considerations of a private nature caused him to resign 
 this appointment May 31, 1813, with the determination to enter into 
 private practice; but in 1814 a greater demand than usual existed 
 for hospital surgeons in the army, and applying for one of these posi- 
 tions, he was appointed by the Secretary of War to Burlington 
 Hospital, Vermont. Here he soon attained rank in the highest grade 
 of surgeons, performing many notable operations. 
 
 At the close of the War of 1815, he returned to Washington, and 
 became permanently established here in private practice. With the 
 view of attaining greater efficiency, he abandoned surgery and obstet- 
 rics. The prevalence of pneumonia in this section of the country' at 
 that time led him to publish his views of the pathology and treatment 
 of the disease. 
 
 In 1820 he was connected with the health office in Washington, 
 and was for several years the acting officer. Afterward he succeeded 
 in having organized a more efficient Board of Health, of which in 
 1824 he was elected the first president, serving in this position until 
 1833, when he retired. His death occurred when he was in the fifty- 
 sixth year of his age. 
 
 Dr. Huntt was especially noted for his success in the treatment of 
 diseases of children, fevers, scarlatina, and pneumonia, and his judg- 
 ment and discernment were of a high order. His mind was a store- 
 house of facts, and he never lost a useful hint in his profession from 
 want of careful observation. He did not receive the degree of doctor 
 of medicine in regular course, but it was conferred on him in conse- 
 quence of his eminence as a physician, by the University of Maryland, 
 in 1824. He was a member of the celebrated Ph. K. B. Society, was 
 one of the founders of the Columbian Institute, of the Medical Society 
 of the District of Columbia, and of the Medical Association in Wash- 
 ington, and was a zealous supporter of scientific medicine. 
 
 Benjamin Schenkmyer Bohrer, M. D., was born in Georgetown, 
 District of Columbia, April 6, 1788, and died of paralysis, at his home 
 in Georgetown, December 19, 1862. Finishing his preliminary educa- 
 tion at a private academy, he began the study of medicine in the 
 office of Dr. Charles Worthington, then a prominent practitioner of 
 
MEDfCAL HISTORY. 599 
 
 the District of Columbia, and graduated from the Uiiiversit}' of Penn- 
 sylvania in 1810. He practiced for some time in Georgetown, and 
 in 1822 moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he had been appointed to 
 fill the chair of materia medica in the Ohio Medical College. After 
 serving in that position for several sessions, he returned to Georgetown, 
 where he acquired a highly lucrative practice. He was one of the 
 charter members of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, 
 and was a member of the Medical Association of tiie District of 
 Columbia, and one of the earl}- visitors appointed by the President 
 of the United States to inspect the United States Hospital for the 
 Insane. He was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown, District of 
 Columbia. 
 
 Thomas Sewall, M. D., was born in Augusta, Maine, in 1786. 
 He studied medicine and took his professional degree in Boston. He 
 was engaged in the practice of medicine at Essex, Massachusetts, for 
 several years, and removed to Washington in 1820. He was instru- 
 mental in organizing the medical department of Colund)ia College, was 
 a member of the first faculty, and was appointed professor of anatomy 
 in 1825, from which time, up to the time of his death, he was punctual 
 in the delivery of his course of lectures. He was a fine scholar, a life- 
 long student, and publislied a number of papers on phrenology, medi- 
 cine, and temperance, his essay on temperance being translated into 
 German, and having a large circulation in Europe. He died in Wash- 
 ington, April 10, 1845. 
 
 John B. Blake, M. D., was a son of James H. Blake, who was 
 prominent in Washington for many years, and who was Mayor of 
 the city during the administration of President Madison. He was 
 born at Colchester, Maryland, August 12, 1800, and received his 
 education at Charlotte Hail Academy, St. Mary's County, Maryland, 
 and at Georgetown College, where he graduated. Having graduated 
 in medicine ai the University of Maryland, in Baltimore, he began 
 the practice of medicine in Washington with Dr. William Jones, and 
 was in partnership with him for several years. He was appointed 
 by President Jackson to a clerkship in the office of the Register of 
 the Treasury, filling this position until 1855, when he was appointed 
 by President Pierce to the office of Commissioner of Public Buildings, 
 in which position he remained until after the election of Mr. Lincoln 
 to the Presidency. He served as president of the National Metropolitan 
 Bank about ten years, and he was for a long time secretary of the 
 Washington National Monument Societ3\ Toward the close of his 
 life he was president of the Metropolitan Fire Insurance Company. 
 
600 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 He was a commuuicaut of Trinity Episcopal Church for more than 
 fifty years, and at the time of his death was president of the Oldest 
 Inhabitant Association. He died October 26, 1881, and was buried 
 in Oak Hill Cemetery. 
 
 Joshua liiley, M. D., was born in Baltimore, Maryland, January 
 19, 1800, and died in Georgetown, February 11, 1875. He came to 
 Georgetown at the age of eighteen, and was employed in the drug 
 store of John Little for some time. He graduated from the University 
 of Maryland in 1824, and immediately afterward began the practice of 
 medicine in Georgetown. He soon acquired, and enjoyed during his 
 professional life, a large and lucrative practice, and won the esteem 
 and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. From 1844 to 
 1859, he was engaged as professor of materia medica in the National 
 Medical College, and was active in founding the Washington Infirm- 
 ary, the first clinical school in the District. He was president of the 
 .Medical Association of the District of Columbia for several years. He 
 died of paralysis, in Georgetown, February 11, 1875, having been an 
 active practitioner for more than fifty years. He was a man of marked 
 ability, genial manners, and unspotted reputation. 
 
 Harvey Lindsly, M. D., was descended on both sides of his family 
 from English parentage. He was born in Morris County, New Jersey, 
 January 11, 1804. He prepared for college at the classical academy in 
 Somerset County, New Jersey, conducted by Rev. Dr. Finley, afterward 
 president of the LFniversity of Georgia; graduated at Princeton, and 
 studied medicine at New York and Washington, taking his medical 
 degree in 1828. He immediately began the practice of medicine in 
 Washington, and resided here until his death, but for the last twelve 
 or fifteen years of his life he was not in active practice. He was a 
 member of the Medical Society of Washington, of the American Med- 
 ical Association, and of numerous other medical societies in difterent 
 parts of the country. For several years he was professor of obstetrics, 
 and afterward professor of the i^rinciples and practice of medicine, in 
 tbe National Medical College of the District of Columbia. He con- 
 tributed a number of valuable papers to the l^orth American Review, the 
 American Journal of Medical Science, and the Southern Literary Mes- 
 senger. Ilis death occurred April 28, 1889. 
 
 Noble Young, M. D., was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was born 
 in Baltimore, Maryland, June 26, 1808. lie prepared for college at 
 the Catholic seminary in Washington, and graduated from the .medical 
 department of Columbia College, District of Columbia, in 1828, and 
 immediately began I ho practice of medicine in Washington. At tiie 
 
lJ^^ ^^U<— 
 
MEDrCAL HISTORY. 601 
 
 time of his deatii, he was the oldest practitioner in the city. He was 
 a man of extensive acquirements, and a most entertaining conversa- 
 tionalist. He was one of the chief promoters and founders of the 
 medical department of the University of Georgetown, and held 
 the chair of princii)les and practice of medicine until 1876, when he 
 resigned and was elected emeritus professor. He was one of the charter 
 members of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, and was 
 an original member of the Medical Association of the District. His 
 death occurred April 11, 1883. 
 
 Thomas Miller, M. D., was born in Port Royal, Virginia, February 
 18, 1806, and died at his residence, in Washington, September 20, 1873. 
 His father was Major Miller, who came to Washington and became 
 attached to the Navy Department during the administration of Presi- 
 dent Madison. He received his early education under the care of tlie 
 Jesuits at the old Washington Seminary, now known as Gonzaga 
 College, and began the study of medicine under Henry Huntt, M. D. 
 In 1827 he went to Philadel[ihia, graduated in 1829, and began the 
 practice of medicine in Washington the same year. From that time 
 on, for forty years, he was connected with every movement looking to 
 the advancement of the profession. In 1830, Dr. Miller, with a few 
 others, formed the Washington Medical Institute for the purpose ot 
 giving instruction to students, and in 1832 he began a course of lec- 
 tures in practical anatomy. In the same year he was one of the 
 physicians to the Central Cholera Hospital, and in 1833 he was one 
 of the originators of the Medical Association of the District of 
 Columbia. In this year he was married to the daughter of General 
 Walter Jones. In 1839 he became professor of anatomy in the Na- 
 tional Medical College. On his retirement, he was made emeritus 
 professor and president of the faculty. Dr. Miller was the first presi- 
 dent of the Pathological Society organized in 18-41; for many years 
 he was a member of the Board of Health and of the Board of 
 Aldermen. He was one of the consulting staff of Providence Hospital 
 and of the Children's Hospital. 
 
 James Crowdhill Hall, M. D., was the son of William Hall, a 
 native of England, a prominent citizen, and a successful merchant of 
 Alexandria, Virginia. He was born October 10, 1805, and his father 
 died in 1810. His mother afterward married Rev. James Laurie, a 
 popular and eloquent Presbyterian minister of Washington. James 
 C. Hall was sent to the classical academy of Rev. James Carnahan, of 
 Georgetown, District of Columbia, who was afterward the distinguished 
 president of Princeton College for thirty years. When sufficiently 
 
602 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 advanced, young Hall was sent to Jeft'erson College, Pennsylvania. 
 Returning home, he selected medicine as his profession, beginning its 
 study with Dr. Thomas Henderson, at that time professor in the 
 medical department of Columbia College. In 1825, he went to Phila- 
 delphia to attend lectures, and became a student of the University 
 of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1827, taking a special course in 
 both anatomy and chemistry. He then spent a year in Blockley 
 Hospital, and after an extensive clinical experience returned to Wash- 
 ington, " undoubtedly the most accomplislied and higlily educated 
 ph3siciau in the place." In the sick room. Dr. Hall was the model 
 physician; quick of perception, sympathetic in manner, kind and assur- 
 ing in disposition, he speedily won the confidence of his patients, and 
 was thus the more easily successful in the treatment of disease. He 
 acquired a considerable estate. He never married, but gave liberally 
 to a half-sister and her children, and made a handsome bequest to 
 the Washington City Orpliaii Asylum in memory of his mother, known 
 as the "Laurie Fund." He was interested in the Children's Hospital; 
 was oue of the trustees of the Corcoran Art Gallery, and was connected 
 in an official capacity with many other associations and societies in 
 Washington. He attended professionally all the Presidents of the 
 United States from John Quincy Adams down to Abraham Lincoln. 
 He died, highly respected by all who knew him, June 7, 1880. 
 
 William B. Magruder, M. D., was the son of James A. and 
 Milicent Magruder. He was born February 11, 1810, and studied 
 medicine with Dr. Benjamin S. Bohrer, of Georgetown, District of 
 Columbia, graduating from the University of Maryland in 1831. He 
 began the practice of his profession the same 3'ear, remaining in 
 Georgetown until 1832, when the cholera epidemic having driven 
 away the resident physicians of that part of tlie city known as the 
 West End, First Ward, he took charge of the cholera hospital, and 
 was for a time the only physician in that section of the city. He was 
 connected with the city government for nearly tliirty years, and was 
 Mayor from 1856 to 1858. On March 2, 1843, he was made a Mason 
 by Hiram Lodge, and was afterward elected worshipful master. In 
 1854, he was elevated to the position of most worshipful grand master. 
 He died May 30, 1869, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. 
 
 Louis Mackall, M. D., was the son of Benjamin and Christiana 
 (Beall) Mackall, and was born in Georgetown, District of Columbia, 
 January 1, 1801. He was educated at Dr. Carnahan's classical institute 
 in Georgetown, and graduated in medicine from the University of Mary- 
 land in 1824. lie first actively engaged in tlic practice of his profession 
 
niEDICAL HISTORY. 603 
 
 in Prince George's County, Maryland, and returned to Georgetown in 
 1840. He wrote an essay on "Physical Force," and also one on "The 
 Law of Muscular Action." He was married twice, tlie first time to 
 Sarah Somerwell, and the second time to Mary Bruce. 
 
 William P. Johnston, M. D., was born in Savannah, Georgia, June 
 11, 1811, and died in Washington October 24, 1876. He was the son 
 of Colonel James and Ann Marion Johnston, and grandson of Dr. 
 Andrew Johnston, a native of Scotland, and a graduate of the Univer- 
 sity of Edinburgh. Dr. Johnston's early education was completed at 
 Round Hill School, in Northampton, Massachusetts, at the head of 
 which was the distinguished George Bancroft. He then entered the 
 sophomore class at Yale College, graduating in 1833. After spending 
 the winter of 1833-34 in Georgia, he repaired to Philadelphia ami 
 began the study of medicine under the direction of Professor William 
 Horner, attending lectures at the University of Pennsylvania and at 
 the summer school of medicine at the Philadelphia Medical Institute. 
 He graduated in 1836, and was appointed one of the resident physi- 
 cians at the Blockley Hospital, serving there one year. 
 
 In the spring of 1837, lie became physician to the Philadelphia 
 Dispensary, taking charge of the southwestern district. In the autumn 
 of 1837, he went to Europe, where he remained three years, spending 
 most of the time in Paris in attendance upon hospitals and in acquir- 
 ing knowledge of special diseases, one year being spent in travel on 
 the Continent and in England. 
 
 Dr. Johnston's intention, on returning, was to commence the prac- 
 tice of his profession in Philadelphia, but a visit to Alexandria and 
 his marriage to Miss Hooe induced him to settle in Washington, in 
 December, 1840. In coming to this determination he was aided by 
 Dr. James C. Hall. In 1842 Dr. Johnston was elected professor of 
 surgery in the National Medical College, but in 1845 he was at his 
 own request transferred to the chair of obstetrics and diseases of 
 women and children, lecturing almost uninterruptedly from this time 
 until 1871. He was concerned with other members of the faculty 
 in establishing the Washington Infirmary, where clinical lectures were 
 given in connection with the didactic course. This hospital remained 
 in successful operation up to the beginning of the War, when it was 
 taken by the Government for use as a hospital, and was afterward 
 burned. 
 
 Dr. Johnston was one of tlie originators of the Pathological Soci- 
 ety in Washington in 1841, and he was an active member of the 
 Clinical Society of the District of Columbia, being elected to all its 
 
604 HISTORY OF WASHfNGTON. 
 
 offices. He was also a nieinber of tlie Medical Association of the 
 District of Columbia and of the American Medical Association, being 
 vice-president of the latter in 1888. He conceived the idea of estali- 
 lishing an association for the yonng and active members of the 
 profession, in which they might acquire greater freedom of debate 
 than in the older body, suggesting the founding of the "Clinico-Path- 
 ological Societj'," which for some j'ears was a snecessfnl working 
 organization. It has recently been revived, and is now a thriving bod}'. 
 
 For many years. Dr. Johnston was a member of the advisory 
 and consulting board of Providence Hospital, and gave clinical lectures 
 in its wards. He was an active participant in the founding of the 
 Children's Hospital, and to the furthering of the prosperity of this 
 charity devoted a great deal of time and energy. At the time of his 
 death, he was president of the medical board. He was devoted to his 
 profession and its interests, giving his entire time to the most laborious 
 work, and rarelj' seeking rest and recreation. He was also activel}' 
 interested in the development of the material prosperity of Wash- 
 ington, and was one of the founders and original directors of the 
 Arlington Fire Insurance Company. 
 
 Dr. Johnston's genial and courteous manners, together with the 
 regard he always had for the feelings of others, gained for iiim the 
 esteem of the profession and of the public; and his kindness of heart 
 and sympathy for distress and affliction endeared him to all who ever 
 solicited his advice. It was this feeling that i)rompted him to aid the 
 imprisoned Confederates in the Old Capitol Prison, for which purpose 
 he obtained the permission of Secretary Stanton for Dr. J. C. Hall, 
 F. B. McGuire, and himself to visit the prisoners, and for a long 
 time lie ministered to their urgent material necessities. It was only 
 when reports came of the maltreatment of the Union soldiers in 
 Southern prisons that this permission was taken away. 
 
 During the thirty-five years of his professional career, Dr. John- 
 ston enjoyed the most uninterrupted good health, being noted for his 
 vigor and untiring energy. But in time, the organ that had borne 
 the brunt of great physical exertion began to show signs of disturb- 
 ance, and after a few months' illness, with marked symptoms of cardiac 
 disease, he passed away. 
 
 Grafton Tyler, M. D., was descended from a family of Tylers 
 that came from England and settled in Maryland in UiGO. He was 
 born November 21, 1811, and was the second son of Grafton and 
 Ann H. (Plummer) Tyler, and brother of Professor Samuel Tyler, of 
 Columbia College, Washington. Dr. Tyler began the study of jnedi- 
 
^y^<^j^u^ ^^-^^^;^ 
 
 ^^ 
 
l\IEniC,\L HISTORY. 605 
 
 cine with Dr. Richard Hockett, and attended lectures at the University 
 of Maryland, and was an office student of Samuel Baker, Sr., of 
 Baltimore. He graduated from the University of Maryland in 1833. 
 Although at first inclined to surgery, he gradually settled down to 
 general family practice. In 1843 he removed to Georgetown, where he 
 acquired a good husiness and was for many years physician to 
 Georgetown College. In 1846 he was elected to the chair of pathol- 
 ogy and practice of medicine in the Medical Department of the 
 Columbian University, and a few years later to that of clinical medi- 
 cine in the Washington Infirmary. In 1859 he resigned both positions, 
 but was immediatel}' elected emeritus professor. For six years he 
 served as a member of the board of visitors to the Government hos- 
 pital for the insane. He was a member of all the medical societies and 
 associations of Washington, and was consulting phj'sician to Providence 
 Hospital and president of its medical board from its opening in 1868. 
 He also contributed largely to the medical literature of his day. He 
 died August 26, 1884, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. 
 
 James Ethelbert Morgan, M. D., an eminently successful physician 
 of Washington, was a descendant of the Morgans of Monmouthshire, 
 in "Wales, and of the Cecils of Kent, England. The Morgans, being 
 Catholics and adherents of James I., were, upon a change of rulers, 
 compelled to leave Great Britain and seek an asylum with Lord 
 Baltimore in Maryland. James E. Morgan was the son of George 
 and Maria (Cecil) Morgan, and was born in St. Marj-'s County, Mary- 
 land, September 25, 1822, and received his education at St. John's 
 College, at Frederick, Maryland. In 1845, he graduated in medicine 
 from the Columbia Medical College, and settled in Washington as a 
 practitioner, soon securing a large and lucrative practice in all branches 
 of his profession. He also collected around him a considerable number 
 of young students, to whom he gave clinical lectures in his office. In 
 1848 he was appointed demonstrator of anatomy in the National Med- 
 ical College, and in 1852 he accepted the chair of physiology' in the 
 medical department of the University of Georgetown. In 1858, he was 
 transferred to the chair of materia medica and therapeutics, which he 
 continued to fill until 1876, when he retired from active duties, but 
 continued as emeritus professor. He took charge of the Soldiers' Rest, 
 an institution for the reception of sick and disabled soldiers on their 
 way from the Union armies in the South. He was appointed, in con- 
 nection with Robert King Stone, to investigate the National Hotel 
 disease, which, while it lasted, caused such an excitement throughout 
 the United States. He was president of the Medical Society of the 
 
GOG H/SrnRY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 District of Columbia, and was one of tlie earlier members of tbe Amer- 
 ican Medical Association. He filled numerous offices, civil and profes- 
 -sional, all of whicb serves to indicate the character of the man. He 
 died June 2, 1889. 
 
 Robert King Stone, M. D., was a native of Washington, and one 
 of its most distinguished physicians. He was born in 1822, and died 
 from apoplexy April 23, 1872. At an early age he entered Princeton 
 College, and ranked among its brightest students, graduating with the 
 bachelor's degree in 1842. Returning to Washington, he entered the 
 office of Dr. Thomas Miller, by whom he was selected as assistant 
 in the dissecting room. After attending a course of lectures at the 
 National Medical College, he entered the University of Pennsylvania, 
 graduating therefrom in 1845. He then attended the hopitals of 
 London, Edinburgh, Vienna, and Paris, making a special study of 
 ophthalmic surgery and the diseases of the ej'e and ear. His favorite 
 studies, however, were comparative anatomy and operative surgery, in 
 both of which he acquired more than ordinai-y distinction. Returning 
 to Washington in 1847, he began a course of lectures on general 
 practice, and became assistant to the chair of anatomy in the National 
 Medical College, and in 1848 was appointed adjunct professor to the 
 chair of anatomy and physiology. His brilliant career was suddenly 
 cut short by a painful accident, being thrown from his carriage and 
 having his thigh fractured in such a way that recovery was extremely 
 slow, and he never again engaged in active practice. In 1849 Dr. 
 Stone married a daughter of Thomas Ritchie, founder of the Richmond 
 Ertqidrer, and in 1845 of the Washington Union. 
 
 Alexander Yelverton Peyton Garnett, M. D., was a son of Muscoe 
 and Maria Willis (Battaile) Garnett, and was born in Essex County, 
 Virginia, September 19, 1820. He graduated from the University of 
 Penns\'lvania in the spring of 1841, and entered the United States 
 naval service as assistant and past assistant surgeon, serving until 
 1848, when he resigned and located in Washington, where he began 
 the practice of medicine, and continued thus engaged here until the 
 time of his death, with the exception of the period when he was in the 
 service of the Confederate States. During this time he was in charge 
 of the two hospitals at Richmond, and he was a member of the board 
 of medical examiners for the Confederate Army. From 1858 to 18G1, 
 and again from 1867 to 1870, he was professor of clinical medicine in 
 the National Medical College, and was afterward emeritus professor of 
 the same institution. He married, June 13, 1848, Mary E. Wise, 
 daughter of the Hon. Henry A. Wise, of Virginia. 
 
MF.nrCAL HISTORY. 607 
 
 Louis Mackiill, Jr., son of Louis Mackali preceding, by liis first 
 wife, was born in i'rince George's Count}-, Maryland, April 10, 1831. 
 He was educated in Georgetown, District of Columbia, at W. H. Abbott's 
 classical seminary, and at Georgetown College. He graduated in medi- 
 cine from the University of Maryland in 1851, and began the practice 
 of medicine in Georgetown. For some time be licld the cliair of 
 cliniea] medicine in Georgetown College, and was subsequently profes- 
 sor of piiysiolog}- in tbe same institution. He was married in 1851 to 
 Margaret W. McVeam, of Georgetown. 
 
 Daniel Randall Ilagner, M. D., is tbe son of Peter Hagner, who 
 for nearly iifty years held tbe position of Third Auditor of the Treasury. 
 He was born in Washington July 10, 1830; was educated at St. James 
 College, in tbe medical department of Columbia College, and in tbe 
 medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating 
 from the latter institution in 1851. In the same year, he established 
 himself in Washington, paying sjiecial attention to diseases of the 
 chest. He was a member of tbe Medical Society of tbe District of 
 Columbia, and published an important work entitled "Vaccination 
 and Revaccinatioii," \vbicb was published by order of tbe Medical 
 Society of the District of Columbia. For ten years be was attending 
 pliysician at Providence Hospital, a member of tbe advisory and 
 consulting board, and also attending physician to St. Anne's Infant 
 Asylum, and also a member of tbe advisory and consulting board. 
 
 John C. Rile}-, M. D., son of Joshua Rilej-, M. D., was born in 
 (ieorgetow-n, District of Columbia, December 15, 1828, and died at bis 
 residence Februarj- 22, 1879. He studied and graduated at Georgetown 
 College, and became a student in the National Medical College in 
 Washington, graduating in 1851, and immediately entered upon tlie 
 practice of medicine. In 1859, be succeeded bis father in the chair of 
 materia medica, pharmacy, and therapeutics in the medical department of 
 tbe Columbian Universit}-, and occupied the chair until within a few- 
 years of his death. He w-as a member of the various medical associa- 
 tions in Washington, and was consulting physician to Providence 
 Hospital, to the Central Free Dispensary, and to tbe Washington 
 Eye and Ear Iniirmary, and it is believed that his assiduous devotion 
 to his duties caused his early death. 
 
 William Gray Palmer, M. D., was the son of W. P. I'almer, of 
 Montgomery County, Maryland, and was born in that county Feb- 
 ruary 22, 1824. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania 
 in 1844, and removed to Washington in 1852. He was a member of 
 tbe Medical Society and of the Medical Association of the District 
 
G08 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 of (Columbia, in 18tJ3 beiiio- made secretai'}- of the former, and in 
 1872 its president. lie was also a member of the city Council. In 
 1847 he married Miss Jaukson, of Washington, a member of the 
 Lowndes family of Maryland. 
 
 Nathan Smith Lincoln, M. D., LL. 1)., was born at Gardner, Mas- 
 sachusetts, and is the eldest son of Gracia Eliza Smith and the 
 Rev. Increase Sumner Lincoln. His ancestors on both sides are 
 English, his father being a descendant of the famous Lincolns of 
 llingham, Massachusetts, who emigrated to this country in 1(335, to 
 which family I'resident Lincoln also belonged. On the maternal side, 
 Br. Lincoln is descended from the Rev. Peter Bulkle^-, of Bulkley 
 Manor, England. Ilis great-grandfather was General Jonathan Chase, 
 of Revolutionary fame, and it is a curious coincidence that while, on 
 the one side. General Chase drew up the articles of surrender foi' 
 Burgo3'ne's arm}' at Saratoga, General Benjamin Lincoln received the 
 sword of Cornwallis, when he surrendered to Washington at Yorktown. 
 
 Dr. Lincoln belongs to a family distinguished not onl}' in war, but 
 in the ranks of science and learning. His grandfather. Dr. Natlian 
 Smith, was the most celebrated surgeon of his day, having founded 
 the medical schools of Yale and Dartmouth, occupying the surgical 
 chair of Yale at the time of his death in 1829. He was also professor 
 of surgery at Bowdoin College and the Universitj' of Vermont. 
 
 At the time of Dr. Lincoln's birth, and for many years after, lii^ 
 father, the Rev. Increase Sumner Lincoln, held the pastorate of 
 the First Congregatioiuil Church of Gardner, Massachusetts, until he 
 became a Unitarian. He was widely known as a scholar, and associ- 
 ated himself with the Abolition Party at an early stage of its exist- 
 ence, being a warm friend of Wendell Phillips and William Lloyd 
 Garrison. He died in 1890, at the advanceil age of ninety-one, at 
 that time being the oldest Unitarian minister in the United States, 
 and having been actively engaged in the ministr}- for sixty-live years. 
 
 Dr. Lincoln was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1850, re- 
 ceiving at that time the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of 
 Arts, and since then that of Doctor of Laws from his alma mater. He 
 studied medicine under his uncle, Dr. Nathan R. Smith, of Baltimore, 
 at the same time attending medical lectures at the University of Mary- 
 land, and received his degree of Doctor of Medicine from that institution 
 in 1852. Until January, 1854, he practiced his profession in Baltimore, 
 and since that date has been established in Washington, holding numy 
 otht'os of distinction. In 1857 he was elected professor of chemistry in 
 Columbian University; in 1859, was made professor of theory and 
 
"1 d-^i^^ ^1,^/^^ 
 
MEDICAL HISTORY. 609 
 
 priU'tice of medifiiic; in ISGO, pi'ot'essor of anatomy and pliysiolog-y, 
 and ill 1801, professor of surgery. Tlie latter cliair was retained until 
 1874, when he resigned it on account of the pressure of private prac- 
 tice. After serving for several years as one of tlie surgeons to the 
 Washington Intirniary, he was appointed by President Lincoln, in 
 1861, surgeon to the District of Columbia volunteers, and having 
 served tliree months, was then made surgeon-in-ehief of the hospitals 
 established in Washington by the Quartermaster's Department of the 
 army, a position which he held during the War of the Kebellion and 
 for some months after its close. In 18GG he was elected one of the 
 surgeons to the Providence Hospital, an appointment that lie resigned 
 in 1875. He was, for a number of years, physician to the Deaf-Mute 
 College and to several other institutions. Having made a specialty of 
 surger}', he has performed successfully a large number of important 
 operations, including amputations at the hip joint, lithotomy, remov- 
 ing tumors from the region of the head and neck, ligation of the 
 large arteries, etc. He is a member of the District of Columbia 
 Medical Society, was its vice-president in 1872, and its })resident in 
 1875-76; a member of the American Medical Society, and of the 
 Arcb!T?ological Society of the United States; president of the Alumni 
 Association of the University of Maryland, and a mendjer of the 
 Philosophical Society- of Washington. 
 
 Joseph Meredith Toner, M. D., was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- 
 vania, April 30, 1825. He received bis classical education at Western 
 Pennsylvania University and at Mount St. Mary's College, and grad- 
 uated at Vermont Medical College in 1850, and at Jefferson Medical 
 College in 1853. After a short residence at Summitville, Alleglieny 
 County, Pennsylvania, and at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, he settled at 
 Washington, District of Columbia, in 1855. He was one of the found- 
 ers of Providence Hospital and of St. Anne's Infant Asylum, to both 
 of which he was for some years visiting physician. Since 1856 he 
 has been attending physician to St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum. 
 
 Being aware of the perishable nature of the early medical litera- 
 ture of this country, he devised a plan for a repository of medical 
 works by the American Medical Association, tliat should be under 
 the control of the medical profession and located at Washington. Tliis 
 collection now contains six thousand volumes, and is dei)Osited in the 
 Smithsonian Institution. In 1871 he founded the Toner Lectures, plac- 
 ing !$3,000, which has now increased to .$5,000, in the hands of trustees 
 who are charged with the duties of procuring two lectures annually 
 containing some new fact valuable to medical science. The interest of 
 
610 HISTORY or WASfirNGTON. 
 
 tliis I'uiid, except ten per cent., vvhicli is annually added to tlie prin- 
 cipal, is paid to the authors of the lectures, which are included in tlic 
 regular Smithsonian puhlications. This was the first course of lectures 
 endowed in this country on these conditions. In 1875, and for thrt'o 
 subsequent years, he gave the Toner nioihil at Jefferson Medical Col- 
 lege to the person presenting the best tiiesis embodying the results of 
 original investigation, and for man}- years he has given a medal to 
 tiie University of Georgetown to encourage original observations. 
 
 lie was president of the American Medical Association in 1873, 
 and of the American Healtli Association in 1874. He was a vice- 
 president of the International Medical Congress in 1876, and a vice- 
 president and registrar of the Ninth International Congress in 1887. 
 lie has devoted much time and research to early American medical 
 literature, and has collected more than one thousand treatises published 
 before 1800, and has in preparation a " Biographical Dictionary <if 
 Deceased American Physicians." In 1882, Ite gave his entire librai-y, 
 consisting of twenty- eight thousand books and eigliteen tliousand 
 pamphlets, to the Government of tlie United States, to be known as 
 "The Toner Collection," and this liljrary is now a portion of the 
 Congressional Library, thougii it is required by law to be kept sepa- 
 rate, and treated as rare books. He has contributed largely to UKMlical 
 literature, a number of his works l)oing named in another chapter in 
 this volume. 
 
 Thomas Antisell, M. D., was the son of a law^-er, and his ancesti-y 
 is traced back to the last English crusaders. He was born in Dublin, 
 Ireland, .Tanuary 1<1, 1817, anil was educated at Trinity College, Dub- 
 lin, at the Dublin School of Medicine, at the Irish Apothecaries" Hall 
 School, and graduated from the Ivoyal College of Surgeons, London, 
 in November, 1839. He practiced in Dublin until 1848, in New \o\\^ 
 until 1854, and came to Washington in 185(j. During most of his 
 medical career, he was a teacher of medicine, his specialties being 
 analytical and technical chemistry. He was a member of the various 
 medical and scientific societies of the District of Columbia, and con- 
 tributed liberally to medical literature. During tlie War of the 
 Rebellion, he had charge of the military hospital at Charlottesville, 
 from July, IHlil, to May, 18G-2, and from Septeml)er, 18U2, to the 
 close of the War. In the interval, he bail charge of the hospital in 
 Danville, Virginia. 
 
 "W. W. Johnston, M. D., son of Dr. William i'. dolinston, was 
 born in Washington December 28, 1848, and gi-adinited IVtun the 
 University of Pennsylvania in March, 18G5. He was one year resident 
 
^ /i^-i-^jt^ y/^.^ 
 
^^F.nlCA[. iffsroRY. 611 
 
 ill Bellevue Hospital, Xcw York, and for six months ii; Cluirity and 
 other hospitals on BlaekwelTs Island. Going to Edinburgh, he became 
 clinical assistant to Professor J. Hughes Bennett, and also assistant to 
 Dr. T. Granger Stewart, pathologist to the Royal Infirmary. After- 
 ward he pursued his studies in Paris. In 1858, he returned to 
 Washington, and has since been engaged in general medical practice. 
 Since 1871, he has been professor of the theory and practice of medi- 
 cine in the medical department of Columbian University; is consulting 
 physician to the Children's Hospital, and has served as president of 
 the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, of the Medical Asso- 
 ciation, and of the Washington Obstetrical and Gynecological Society. 
 
 Armistead Peter, M. D., was a son of Major George Peter, who 
 entered the army of the United States in 1709, and who was a member 
 of Congress from Maryland. He was born in Montgomery' County, 
 Maryland, February 23, 1840. He studied medicine at the National 
 Medical College of the District of Columbia, and in the medical depart- 
 ment of the Columbian University, graduating in 1861. Immediately 
 afterward, he settled in Georgetown in the practice of medicine. He 
 was a member of the medical societies of the District of Columbia, was 
 a member of the Georgetown board of health, and during the War 
 was acting assistant surgeon of the United States Army. He married 
 in 1867 Martha C. Kennon, daughter of Commodore Beverly Kennon, 
 of the United States Navy. 
 
 Charles Mason Ford, M. D., was the son of John N. Ford, of 
 Troy, New York, and was born May 15, 1840. He died of rheumatic 
 fever in Washington, February 15, 1884. He began the study of 
 medicine with Dr. Alfred Watkins, of Troy, and graduated from the 
 University of Pennsylvania in 1861. He was soon afterward appointed 
 assistant surgeon of the navy, and assigned to duty with the Ilunts- 
 ville blockading squadron under Captain Cicero Price. Contracting 
 rheumatism, he resigned and came to Washington, where he was 
 appointed assistant surgeon and assigned to duty at Clifton Hospital, 
 and afterward to special duty at the Old Capitol Prison. As soon as 
 he determined to settle permanently in Washington, he became con- 
 nected with Providence Hospital, and for more than fourteen years 
 was on the medical statf of that institution. For some years he was 
 physician at the Washington Almshouse, and at the time of his 
 death, which occurred February 15, 1884, he was surgeon to the Bal- 
 timore and Potomac Railroad Company. Dr. Ford stood high in his 
 profession, as he did in Masonry, and was greatly beloved by both 
 his professional and Masonic brethren. 
 
612 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Gitleoii Stinsoii PalnitT, M. D., was born in Gardiner, Maine, Jnne 
 14, 1813. lie graduated from Bowdoin College in 1838, and afterward 
 studied medicine and graduated at the Maine Medical School in 1841. 
 At the beginning of the War, he enlisted as a volunteer surgeon, and 
 served as brigade surgeon on General Howard's staff in the Army of 
 the Potomac until the close of the War. He was in charge of Lincoln 
 Hospital, and of the army hospital at Annapolis, retiring with rank 
 of brevet lieutenant-colonel. In 1860, at the request of General 
 Howard, he took the chair of physiology and h^-giene in the medical 
 department of Howard Universit\% and was for many ^ears dean of the 
 university faculty, and surgeon in charge of the Freedmen's Hospital. 
 He died December 8, 1891, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. 
 
 Daniel Webster Prentiss, M. D., was born in Washington, District 
 of Columbia, May 21, 1843, as were his parents before him. His 
 fatlier, William Henry Prentiss, was born in 1706. The father of 
 William Henry Prentis was William Prentiss, a son of Calel) Prentiss, 
 of Cambridge, Massachusetts. William Prentiss was a merchant, and 
 was associated with Joseph Greenleaf in building a row of brick houses 
 on Greenleaf"s Point about the year 1707, in one of which houses Wil- 
 liam Henry Prentiss was born. William Henry Prentiss married Miss 
 Sarah A. Cooper, daughter of Isaac Cooper, a merchant in Washing- 
 ton. Dr. D. W. Prentiss's grandmother, on tiie father's side, was 
 Eunice Payne (Greenleaf) Prentiss, a niece of Robert Treat Payne, and 
 a cousin of John Howard Payne, author of "Home, Sweet Home"; so 
 that William Henry Prentiss was grandnephew to Robert Treat Payne 
 and second cousin to John Howard Payne. The general education of 
 Dr. Prentiss was obtained in the schools of Washington and at Coluni- 
 liian University, from which institution he received, in 1861, the degree 
 of IJachelor of Philosophy, and the degree of Master of Arts in 1864. 
 He received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of 
 Pennsylvania in 1864. He was married to Emilie A. Schmidt, daughter 
 of Frederick Schmidt, of Rhenish Bavaria, October 12, 1864. Their chil- 
 dren are Louise, married to Frederick W. True, of the United States 
 National Museum; Eunice, who died at the age of seventeen, and three 
 gons — Spencer Baird, Daniel Webster, Jr., and Elliott. In 1864, he 
 became engaged in the general practice of medicine in Washington, and 
 has since then continuously held a prominent position in the profession. 
 Since 1870, he has been professor of materia medirn and therapeutics in 
 the medical department of Columbian I'ni versify. He was a member 
 of the Board of Health in 1864; lecturer on dietetics anil administra- 
 tion of medicines in the .Vurses' Training School, and dean of the 
 
.^rfUCUu ff'-^^i^^ 
 
^rF.n^cAL h/story. 613 
 
 medical faculty <>{" tlie Training School in 1878-83; a trustee in that 
 school in 1880-84, and president of the board in 1884; physician in 
 charge of the eye and ear service of Columbian Dispensary, 1874-78; 
 visiting physician to Providence Hospital in 1882, and a commissioner 
 of pharmacy of the District of Columbia since its organization, and 
 president of the board since 1888. Dr. Prentiss is a member of the 
 Medical Society, Medical Association, Obstetrical and Gynecological 
 Society, Clinico-Pathological Society, the Philosophical, the Biological, 
 Geographical, and Antliropological societies of the District of Colum- 
 bia; is a member of the American Medical Association, the American 
 Association for the Advancement of Science, the Association of Amer- 
 ican Physicians, and was a delegate to the International Medical Con- 
 gress at Copenhagen, in 1884, and to Berlin in 1890. He has delivered 
 numerous lectures under various auspices in his native city. " Hypno- 
 tism in Animals," given in a popular course at the National Museum, 
 appeared in the American Naturalist, September, 1882. By invitation 
 of Spencer F. Baird, he delivered a course of lectures on materia medica 
 at the National Museum in 1883. Some of the leading papers which 
 Dr. Prentiss has contributed to medical literature are the following: 
 
 "Report on Disinfectants to the Board of Health of the District 
 of Columbia," 1867, in the Journal of American 31edical Science; "G. 
 S. W. through the Pelvis,'" October, 1865; "Case of Morphine Poi- 
 soning," 1867; "Diphtheria and Tracheotomy, Membranous Croup, and 
 Operations for Radical Cure of Hernia," 1868; "Case of Inflammation 
 of Fibrous Capsule of Eyeball," 1868; "Case of Spurious Labor Pains 
 at Fifth Month"; "Convulsions after Profuse Hemorrhage from Abor- 
 tion at the Sixth Week"; "01)struction of Bowels in an Infant, with 
 Autopsy," 1870; "Hysterical Tetanus," 1870; "Case of Mastoid Abscess 
 Opening into Lateral Sinus, and Death from Pyiemia," 1882; "Is Croup- 
 ous Pneumonia a Zymotic Disease?" "Chorea in Pregnancy, and Abscess 
 of the Liver," 1874; "Case of Double Hydronephrosis, with Specimen, 
 and Remarkable Case of Hysteria with Paralysis and Aphasia," 1883; 
 "Cases of Poisoning by Atropia, by Opium, and by Quinine," 1890; 
 "On Revision of Pharmacopd'ia of 1880"; "Death from Diphtheretic 
 Paralysis"; "Remarkable Change in the Color of the Hair from Light 
 Blonde to Almost Black in a Patient while under Treatment by 
 Hypodermic Injections of Pilocarpine"; "Case of Prolonged Anuria," 
 1881; "Membranous Croup Treated with Pilocarpine"; "Change in 
 the Color of the Hair," 1881; "Overdose of Podophyllin," 1882; "Ma- 
 ternal Impressions — Eflect on Foetus," 1882; "Answer to a Protest 
 Against the Use of the Metric System in Prescribing," 1883; Croupous 
 
614 H/SrORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Piieiununia,"" rejiort of eleven cases occurring in private practice from 
 Foljniary to June, 1878, read before the Medical Society of the Dis- 
 trict of Colund)ia; a, " Keiiort of the riiarinacop(cia Convention of 
 1880," as a delegate from the National Meilical College, 1880; a "Re- 
 view of the Sixth Decennial Kevisi^ju of the riiarmacopceia of 1880"; 
 "Avi-Fauna Columliiana," being a list of the birds of the District of 
 Cohnnbia, revised and rewritten by Dr. Elliott Cones and Dr. D. W. 
 Prentiss, 1883; "Gall Stones or Soap," 1889; a "Report of Five 
 Hundred Consecutive Cases of Labor in Private Practice," 1888; "Case 
 of Change of Color of Hair of Old Age to Black, Produced by .labo- 
 randi," 1880; "Three Cases of Poisoning b}- Japanese Lacquer, liy 
 Pellets Laijclcd 'Rhus," and by Cashew Nuts," 1889; "Report of a 
 Remarkable Case of Slow Pulse," 1889; "Purpura Hemorrhage Rlieu- 
 matica," 1890; "Apoplexy Following La Grippe,"" in the Philadelpiiia 
 Medical News, August 29, 1891. 
 
 John R. Piper, M. D., ths first piiysician to intrc^duce homeopathy 
 into Wasliington, was born in Baltimore in 1811, and was educated 
 in his native city, studying medicine at, and graduating from, the 
 University of Maryland in 1839. After living in the South and West 
 for some years, he returned to Baltimore, and embraced the priueijjles 
 of homeopathy. He located permanently in Washington, District of 
 Columbia, in 1849, and, during a period of thirty years, was a most 
 successful practitioner, despite the opposition which the new system of 
 practice encountered here, as elsewhere, in the United States, During 
 tlie latter years of his life, he was afHicted with cancer in the face, 
 and went to Europe with the hope of obtaiiung relief, if not absolute 
 cure, being ti'cated there by the most eminent homeopathic physician 
 in Europe next to Hahnemann. Uiion his return to America, he con- 
 sulted a celebrated cancer physician in Philadelphia, but the treatment 
 of this physician, if followed, failed to effect a cure, and on account 
 of his disease Dr. Pi])er was compelled to coutine himself to office 
 lirac:tii-e after his return to Washington. His death occurred March 
 16, 1871. Dr. Piper was one of the first mendjers of the American 
 Institute of Ilomeopatiiy, and it is due to liim that this system of 
 practice was first recogni/.cd as a success in Washington. 
 
 Dr. (ireeii was one of the earliest of the homeopathic physieians 
 to settle in Washington, but the precise year of his coming could not 
 lie ascertained. His oflice was on Four and a Half Street, and ju; 
 reniaincd in practii-e here about seven years. 
 
 Dr. Apjileton came \\v\i afli'r Dr. Green, remaining about four 
 years. 
 
MED/CAL HISTORY. 615 
 
 Gustavus William Pope, M. D., is tlie eldest son of Dr. G. W. 
 Pope, Sr., and was born in December, 1820. His early education was 
 received at Whitesborongb Institute. Matriculating at the University 
 of New York in 1847, remaining tliere three years, and graduating 
 at Albany in 1851, he became assistant physician to the Xew York 
 State Lunatic Asylum in 1852; but the close continement of his 
 position affecting his health, he resigned, returned to his father, and 
 assisted him in his practice. For two years he was physician to the 
 Oneida Almshouse, and while thus engaged his attention was directe<l 
 to the claims of Homeopathy, and after giving the subject thorough 
 attention for three successive years, he became convinced of its sujieri- 
 ority over the allopatliic system of practice. He removed to Wash- 
 ington in 1856, where he soon secured an extensive practice. At that 
 time there were Imt two homeopathic physicians in Washington, Dr. 
 Piper and Dr. Green, and upon the death of these two physicians 
 Dr. Pope became the senior homeopathic physician in Washington. 
 Dr. Pope has made notable discoveries in medicine, one of them 
 being the antidotive action of belladonna and opium, fully twenty 
 years before the subject was mentioned in medical journals, lie was 
 the first to introduce into homeopathic practice in Wasliington the 
 Vcratrtitn riride and Gilsemivm. In 1856 Dr. Pope treated the first 
 case of diphtheria that ever appeared in Washington, and during 
 that year and 1857 he treated about one hundred cases, losing only 
 three. It is probably just to say that to Dr. Pope is due the firm 
 establishment of homeopathy in Washington. 
 
 Tullio Suzzara Verdi, M. D., is a native of Italy, having l)een burn 
 in Mantua in 1820. lie was educated at the Mantuau Gymnasium of 
 Science and Literature, and entered the Sardinian arm}- in 1848, under 
 King Charles Albert, who was then moving into Lombardy against 
 the Austrians, and after the defeat of tlie Piedmontesc army at Nova- 
 rara, in 1849, by Marshal Radetsky, young A^erdi escaped into Switzer- 
 land, thence to Paris, thence to England, and from England he came 
 to the United States. In Brown University, he familiarized himself 
 with the English language while teaching the Italian and French. 
 Three years later, he succeeded Professor G. W. Greene as professor 
 of modern languages, and while engaged with the duties of this 
 professorship, devoted all his spare time to the study of mcijicine 
 under Dr. Okie. In 1854 he attende<l medical lectures in Philadel[iliia, 
 graduating from both the allopathic and homeopathic schools. For 
 some time he practiced in Rhode Island, but removed to Washington 
 in 1857, where he has since been engaged in the practice of medicine 
 
616- H/STOKY OF u:iSH/xr,rox. 
 
 according to the principles of lioiueopatliy. In 1871, he was appointed 
 In- the President of tlie United States a member of tiie only board of 
 liealtli of the District of Columbia created by Congress. On April 
 15, 1873, Governor Cooke appointed him sanitary commissioner to 
 visit the principal European cities with the view of perfecting a 
 sanitary system for the city of Washington. Dr. Verdi still continues 
 in practice in this city. 
 
 Dr. Simon I. Groot was born in Glenville. New York, March 16, 
 1820, graduated from the Berkshire Medical College, Pittsiield, Mas- 
 sachusetts, in 1816, and commenced practice in Virginia, remaining 
 there until 1861, when he came to Washington, and has been engaged 
 here in the practice of medicine according to homeopathic j)riiiciples 
 most of the time since then; tliough in May, 1888, he sold liis practice 
 to Dr. James A. Freer, who thus became his regular successor. Dr. 
 Groot is probably the only homeopathic physician licensed by tlie 
 Medical Society of the District of Columbia, but this was mainly, if 
 not wliolly, on the ground of his having graduated from a regular 
 school of medicine. 
 
 Dr. Cliarles Walilemar Sonnenschmidt, a native of Suhl, Prussia, 
 was born January 2, 1832. Both his father and grandfather were 
 Lutiieran ministers, lie was educated by his father and in various 
 institutions until old enough to be subject to military service in liis 
 own country, and then- he emigrated to the United States. lie gradu- 
 ated at Georgetown College, District of Columbia, and commenced 
 the piactice of medicine in Washington in 1867. lie has ever enjoyed 
 a quiet and comfortable practice. Dr. Sonnenschmidt is a member of 
 the American Institute of Ilomeopatliy, and served for some years as 
 secretary of the Homeopathic Medical Society of Washington. 
 
 The Medical Society of the District of Columbia was organi/A-d 
 September 26, 1817, and was subsequently chartered by Congress, by 
 an act approved by the President of the United States Februar}- 16, 
 18in. By this charter the society was authorized to license dul}- 
 qualitied physicians to practice medicine within the District of Col- 
 nniliia. The tirst otKcers were: Dr. Charles Worthington, president; 
 Drs. Arnold Elzey and James II. Blake, vice-presidents; Dr. Henry 
 Iluntt, corresponding secretary; Dr. Thomas Henderson, recording sec- 
 retary; Dr. W. Jones, treasurer, and Dr. II. Weiglitman, librarian. 
 
 A new hall for this society was commenced in 1867, and it was 
 comjjletcd and dedicated in 1869, the ceremony occurring January 27. 
 This hall is located on the south side of F Street, west of Tenth 
 Street. It is three stories high, with a handsome jiressed-brick front. 
 
MEDICAL HISTORY. 617 
 
 A.t the time of the erection of tliis hall, I)r. Thomas Miller was 
 president of the society, Dr. F. Howard first vice-iiresident. Dr. Louis 
 Mackall second vice-president, Dr. J. W. Lovejoy corresponding sec- 
 retary. Dr. William Lee recording secretary, Dr. William Marlniry 
 treasurer, and Dr. J. M. Toner librarian. 
 
 At the present time, the officers are as follows; D. W. Prentiss, 
 president; J. B. Hamilton and J. T. Winter vice-presidents; Thoreias 
 C. Smith, corresponding secretary; S. S. Adams, recording secretary; 
 C. W. Franzoni, treasurer; J. H. Mundell, librarian. 
 
 The Medical Association of the District of Columbia was formed 
 January 4, 1833, under the name of the " Washington Medical Associ- 
 tion." The physicians of Georgetown were admitted to membership 
 June 6, 1848, and the present name of the association adopted. The 
 object of this association is the elevation of the medical profession, 
 the establishment of a code of ethics and a fee bill, and the promotion 
 of harmony and good fellowship among its members. The member- 
 ship consists of the regular practitioners of medicine of the District of 
 Columbia. Frederick May, M. D., was the first president of the society. 
 The present officers are: C. W. Franzoni, president; G. B. Harrison 
 and C. W. Richardson, vice-presidents; J. Dudley Morgan, secretary; 
 and S. S. Adams, treasurer. 
 
 The Homeopathic Medical Society was organized in 1870, under 
 a charter granted by Congress. At first there • were seven niendiers, 
 which number has increased to about forty. The society holds regular 
 monthly meetings in the rooms of the Washington Homeopathic 
 Medical Dispensary. The officers of the society at the present time 
 are as follows: Dr. L. B. Swormstedt, president, and Dr. Z. B. Bab- 
 bitt, secretary. 
 
 Besides tlie above societies there are in Washington the Meilical 
 and Surgical Society of the District of Columbia, the Medico-chirur- 
 gical Society, the Woman's Clinic, and the Washington Obstetrical 
 and Gynecological Society. 
 
CHAl'TEK XVIII. 
 
 PIBLIC AND CHARITABLI-: I.\STJriJTJON,S. 
 
 The Smithsonian Iiistitntion — I'niteJ Status Naval Observatory — Tlie Congressional 
 Library — Tiie Navy Yard — The Soldiers' Home — National Asylum for the In- 
 sane — Providence Hospital — Columhia Hos|)ital — Washington Orphan Asylum — 
 St. Vincent's Female Orphan Asylum — Garfield Memorial Hospital — Other Puhlic 
 and Charitable Institutions. 
 
 TIIE Sniitlisoiiiaii Iiistitntion, the iiiinie of which is now fiiiniliar 
 to every intelligent individnal in Christendom, is situated on the 
 Mall, between Seventh and Twelfth streets, in the southwest part of 
 Washington. It is on "the Smithsonian Grounds," wliich cover fifty- 
 two acres, finely hxid out with fine driveways, handsome lawns, and 
 beautiful groves of luxurious trees. The laying out of the grounds 
 was designed and partially executed by the distinguished landscajie 
 gardener and horticulturist, Andrew J. Downing, but he died in 
 1852, before his work was completed. To his memory the American 
 Pomological Society erected a monumental vase in the eastern part 
 of the grounds. The building of the institution was constructed of 
 red santlstone, from cpiarries near Washington, on the upper Potomac. 
 The style of architecture is the Byzantine. The front of the building 
 is four hundred and twenty-six feet in width. The center is two 
 hundred b}' fifty feet, and there are two wings, the eastern one having 
 a vestiliulc and porch attached, and the western one a semicircular 
 jirojection. It was designed by James Renwick, .Ir., and was the 
 first building, not an ecclesiastical edifice, of this order of architecture 
 erected in this country. The interior is substantially constructed, and 
 conveniently arranged for the purposes for which it was designed. 
 The center of the building is used mainly for the exhibition of objects 
 of nalni'al history, and the wings are utilized for the apartments <if 
 till' olfuials and employees. The building is surinounte<l by nine 
 towers, of different designs and altitudes, the highest one being one 
 liiindi'ed ami forty-live feet abovi' the ground. 
 
 The liistdi-y of this institution, and es[iecially of the bequest by 
 means of which it was founded, is extremely interesting, and it is 
 given somewhat in detail in this work, for tlic beucfit of those readers 
 
prnrjc and cirARiTAni.R /xst/ti't/oxs. gi9 
 
 thereof who may not be familiar tlierewitli. It was made by an 
 Englishman, named James Smitlisou, wlio died at Genoa, Italy, June 
 27, 1829, having made a will disjxising of liis estiito, a eopy of wiiieh 
 is here inserted in full. 
 
 "I, James Smithson, son of Hugh, first Duke of Northumberland, 
 and Elizabeth, heiress of the Hnngerfonls, of Audley, and niece of 
 Charles the Proud, Duke of Somerset, now residing in Bentick Street, 
 Cavendish Square, do, this 23d day of October, 1820, make this, my 
 last, will and testament. 
 
 "I bequeath the whole of my property, of every nature and kind 
 soever, to my bankers, Messrs. Druramoml, of Charing Cross, in trust, 
 to be disposed of in the following manner, and desire of my said 
 executors to put my property under the management of the Court 
 of Chancer}" : 
 
 "To John Fitall, formerly my servant, but now cmiiloyed in the 
 London docks, and residing at No. 27 Jubilee Place, North, Mile End 
 Old Town, in consideration of his attachment and fidelity to me, and 
 the long and great care he has taken of my etfects, and my having 
 done but little for liim, I give or bequeath the annuity or annual sum 
 of £100 sterling, for his life, to bo paid to him quarterly, free from 
 legac}', duty, and all other deductions; the first payment to be paid 
 to him at the expiration of tliree months after m\" death. I have at 
 divers times lent sums of money to Henry Honore Juilly, formerly 
 my servant, but now keeping the Ilungerford, in the Rue Canmartin, 
 at Paris, and for which sums of money I have undated bills or bonds 
 signed by him. Now I will and direct that if he desires it, these 
 sums of mone}' be let remain in his hands at an intei-cst of five per 
 cent, for five j^ears after the date of the present will. 
 
 "To Henry James Hungerford, n\y nephew, heretofore called Ilenr^' 
 James Dickinson, sou of my late brother. Lieutenant -Colonel Henry 
 Lewis Dickinson, now residing with Mr. Auboin, at Bourg la Reine, 
 near Paris, I give and bequeath for his life the whole of the income 
 arising from ni}' property of every nature and kind whatever, after the 
 payment of the above annuity; and after the death of John Fitall, that 
 annuity also, the payments to be made at the time the interest or 
 dividends become due on the stocks or other propert\- from which the 
 income arises. 
 
 "Should the said Henry James Hungerford have a child, legiti- 
 mate or illegitimate, I leave to said child or cliildren, his or their 
 heirs, executors, or assigns, after the death of his or their father, the 
 
G20 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 whole of my property of every kind, absolutely and foi-ever, to be 
 divided between tliem, if there are more than one, in the manner tiieir 
 father shall judge proper; and in case of his omitting to decide this, 
 as the Lord Chancellor shall judge proper. 
 
 "Should m3' nepliew, Henry James Hungerford, marry, I empower 
 him to make a jointure. 
 
 "In case of the death of my said nephew, without leaving a child 
 or children, or in case of the death of the child or children he may 
 have, under the age of twenty-one years, or intestate, I then bequeath 
 the whole of my property, subject to the annuity of £100 to John 
 Fitall, and for the security of the payment of which I mean stock to 
 remain in this country, to the United States of America, to found at 
 Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an estab- 
 lishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men. 
 
 "I think it proper here to state that all the mone}' which will be 
 standing in the present five per cents., at my death, in the name of 
 the father of my above-mentioned nephew, Henry James Hungerford, 
 and all of that in my name, is tlie property of my said nephew, being 
 what he inlierited from his father, or what I have laid up for him 
 from the savings of his income. 
 
 "JaiMe.s Smithson." 
 
 The following letter to Hon. Aaron Vail, Chary! d' Affaires of the 
 United States at L(jndon, was the tirst intimation that the fund 
 mentioned in the will of Mi-. Smithson was at the disposal of the 
 United States, when the projjcr steps should be taken to secure legal 
 possession of the same: 
 
 "Craven Strket, Strand, July 21, 1835. 
 
 "Sir: We send you enclosed the copy of the will of Mr. Smith- 
 son, on the subject of which we yesterday did ourselves the pleasure 
 of waiting upon you; and we avail ourselves of the opportunity to 
 repeat in writing what we verbally communicated. 
 
 "Pursuant to the instructions contained in the will, an amicable 
 suit was, on the death of the testator, instituted in chancery by Mr. 
 Hungerford against Messrs. Drummond, the executors; under which 
 suit the assets were realized. They were very considerable; and there 
 is now standing in the name of the accountant-general of the Court 
 of Chancery, as the trustees of the will, stock amounting to about 
 tlOU,000. During Mr. lluugerford's life he received the income arising 
 from this property; but news lias just reached England that Mr. Hun- 
 gerford has died abroad, leaving no child to survive him. 
 
PUBLIC AND CHARITABLE IXSTITmONS. fi21 
 
 "It now becomes necessary iliiit measures be taken for tlie pur- 
 pose of causing tbe decision of tlie Court of Chancery, as to the furtlier 
 disposition of the property. On reference to tbe will, it will appear 
 that it is not very clcurl}' defined to whom, on behalf of the United 
 States, the property should be jmid or transferred; indeed, there is so 
 much doubt that we apprehend tliat tiie Attorney-General must, on 
 belialf of the Crown of England, be joined in tbe proceedings wliich 
 it is requisite that tiie United States sliould institute. 
 
 " We act in tiiis matter for Messrs. Drumniond, the l)anlvers, wlio 
 are mere stockholders, and who are read}- to do all in their [lOwer 
 to facilitate getting the decision and carr^-ing into ett'ect the testator's 
 intentions. We shall therefore be happy to communicate with sucii 
 professional advisers as your (government may think tit to appoint 
 to act for them in this country. In the meantime, we may i>erhaps 
 be permitted to add that it is pcrfectl}' conn^etent for us to carr}' on 
 the proceedings on behalf the United States, and possibly some 
 expense and dehi}' maj- be avoided by our so doing. 
 
 "Having thus briefly stated the nature of the business, we at 
 present abstain from making any suggestions as to the party in whose 
 name proceedings should be adopted, considering the point should 
 be determined b}' our counsel here after the opinion of the jiroper 
 law officers in the United States has been taken on the subject. 
 
 "Any further information you may recpiire we shall be happ)' to 
 give you, and are, sir, 
 
 "Your most f)bedient servants, 
 
 "Clarke, Fvnmore, i Fl.^ugate. 
 
 "A. Vail, Esq., 49 York Terrace." 
 
 Soon after receiving this communication, Hon. Mr. Vail wrote to 
 Hon. John Forsyth, Secretary of State of the United States, at 
 Washington, as follows: 
 
 "Legation of the United States, London, July 28, 1835. 
 
 "Sir: The papers which I have the honor iierewith to communicate 
 to you will acquaint 3'ou with the particulars of a bequest of prop- 
 erty to a large amount left to the United States by Mr. James 
 Sraithson, for the purpose, as stated in the will, of fouiHling at 
 Washington an institution for the increase and diffusion of knowledge 
 among men. The letter of Messrs. Clarke, Fynmore, .k- Fladgate, the 
 solicitors b}' wliom I was apprised of the existence of the will, together 
 with the inquiries I have made, leave no doubt of its having been 
 
G22 HISTORY OF WASIirNGTON. 
 
 established, and its disposition recognized by the Court of Chancery; 
 the iirst legatee under it having for several years, and to the time of 
 liis deatli, received the iiu-onie of the property, «'hich i.s stated to liave 
 amounted to upwai'il of £4,000 jter annum. 
 
 "According to the view taken of the case by the solicitors, it is 
 now foi' the United States, in the event of their accepting the bequest 
 and the trust loupled with it, to come foward by their representative 
 and make themselves })arties to an amicable suit before the Lord 
 Chancellor, for the purpose of legally establishing the fact of the 
 demise of the first legatee without children and intestate; prove their 
 claim to the benefit of the will, and obtain a decree in chancery- 
 awarding them the proceeds of the estate. Messrs. Clarke, Fynmore, 
 & Fladgatc are willing to undei'take the management of the suit on 
 the part of the United States, and from what I have learned of their 
 standing, may safely be confided in. Not being acquainted with the 
 exact structure of our institutions, they are unable to point out the 
 exact manner in which the United States should be represented in 
 the contemplated suit; but they believe that their diplomatic agent 
 here, if constituted for that purpose the legal representative of the 
 President, would be recognized In' the Court of Chancery as the 
 proper organ of the United States for all the purposes of the will. 
 
 "Slionld it be thought necessary to await the action of Congress 
 to authorize the institution of the requisite legal proceedings, and 
 should the course suggested by the solicitors meet the views of the 
 President, his power of attorney authorizing the diplomatic agent here 
 to act in his name will, I appreliend, be necessai'y; and as the suit 
 will involve some expense not connected with the contingent fund of 
 the legation, youi' instructions njion this briinch of the subject will 
 likewise be desirable. 
 
 "I am, with great respect, youi' obedient servant, 
 
 "A. Vail. 
 
 "John Forsvtu, Esq., 
 
 " Secretary of State of the United States, Washington." 
 
 To this letter the following repl}' was sent: 
 
 "Department of State, Washington, September 2G, 1885. 
 "Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 dispatch of the -JSth of July last (No. 111?) relative to the bequest 
 of ju-oiierty to a. large amount Icit to the United States by Mr. James 
 Smithsoii, tor the [pur[)ose of founding an institution for the increase 
 and ditl'nsion of knowleilge among men, and to inform you that your 
 
PUBLIC AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. G23 
 
 letter and tlie papers which afcompanied it have been submitted to 
 the President, who has detei-mined to lay the subject before Congress 
 at its next session. The result of its deliberations, when obtained, 
 shall be coinniunicated to you, with the necessary instructions. 
 
 "Of the course intended to bo pursued in relation to this matter, 
 as above e.\i>lained, you will take occasion to acquaint the solicitors 
 who apprized you of the existence of Mr. Smithson's will. 
 "I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 "John Forsyth. 
 "Aaron Vail, 
 
 " Chargt d' Affaires of the United States, London." 
 
 On the 17th of December, 1835, President Jackson transmitted 
 to Congress all the correspondence and information in his possession 
 in reference to the subject, and said: "The Executive having no 
 authority to take an}' steps for accepting the trust and obtaining the 
 funds, the papers are communicated with a view to such measures as 
 (/ongress may deem necessar}'." 
 
 The select committee appointed by the House of Representatives 
 to consider this matter, consisted of the following members: lion. 
 John Quincy Adams; Mr. Thonuis, of Maryland; Mr. Garland, of 
 Virginia; Mr. Pearce, of Rhode Island; Mr. Speight, of North Caro- 
 lina; Mr. McKennan, of Pennsylvania; Mr. Hannegan, of Indiana; 
 Mr. Garland, of Louisiana, and Mr. Chapin, of New York. This 
 committee submitted the question to Congress whether it was com- 
 petent to the United States, whether it comported with their dignity, 
 whether it was expedient and proper, that the United States should 
 appear as suitors in a court of justice in England to assert their claim 
 to the legacy in question as trustees for the intended charitable insti- 
 tution to be founded at Washington. The conclusion arrived at was 
 that the United States must be regarded as the Parens Patria- of the 
 District of Columbia, and that in that character they had a right and 
 were in duty bound to assert a claim to any property given to them 
 for the purpose of founding a charitable institution of an}' kind within 
 the District of Columbia, and concluded with recommending the adop- 
 tion of a joint resolution authorizing the President to take measures 
 for the recovery of the said legac}'. 
 
 On the 5tii of January, 1836, Mr. Leigh, from the Judiciary Com- 
 mittee, made a report to the Senate, informing that body of the fact of 
 the bequest having been made, and also giving a succinct history of the 
 proceedings so far taken, including the correspondence presented above. 
 
624 HISTORY OF WASinNGTON. 
 
 Ill the House of Representatives, on Jaiinary 14, Mr. Adams, from 
 the House select committee, made a report in whicli lie stated that 
 Congress, in its representative capacity, was alone competent to 
 accept the bequest, and added some interesting- historical reflections. 
 
 "The testator, James Smithson, a sulyect of Great Britain, declares 
 himself, in the caption of the will, a descendant in blood from the 
 Percys and the Seymours, two of the most illustrious historical names 
 in the British Isles. Nearly two centuries since, immediately after 
 the restoration of the royal family of the Stuarts, in 16G0, an ancestor 
 of his own name, Hugh Smithson, received from Charles the Second, as 
 a reward for his eminent services to that liouse during the civil wars, 
 the dignity of a barony of England, a ilignity still held by the Dukes 
 of Northumberland, as descendants from the same Hugh Smithson. The 
 father of the testator, by his marriage with the lady Elizabeth Sey- 
 mour, who was descendant by a famous line from the ancient 
 Percys, and by subsequent creation of George the Third, in TTlitJ 
 became the first Duke of Northumberland. His son and successor, the 
 Ijrother of tiie testator, was known in the history of the Revolutionary 
 War by the name of Lord Percy, was present as the British officer at 
 the sanguinary opening scene of our Revolutionary War at Lexington, 
 and at tlie battle of Bunker Hill, and was the bearer to the British 
 Government of the dispatches from the commander-in-chief of the 
 royal forces announcing the event of said memorable day; and the 
 present Duke of Northumberland, the testator's nephew, was the ambas- 
 sador extraordinary of Great Britain, sent to assist in the coronation 
 of the late King of France, Charles the Tenth, a few months only 
 before the date of this bequest from his relative to the United States 
 of America. . . . The father of the testator, upon forming his alliance 
 with the heir of the Percys, assumed, by an act of the British 
 Parliament, tliat name, and under it became Duke of Northumber'- 
 land. But, renowned' as is the name of Percy in the historical annals 
 of England; resounding as it does from the summit of the Cheviot 
 Hills to tlie ears of our generation in the ballad of Chev}- Chase, with 
 the classical conmientary of Addison; freshened and renovated in our 
 memory, as it has recently been, from the purest fountain of poetii-al 
 inspiration, in the loftier strain of Alnwick Castle, by a bard of our 
 own luitive laud; doubly immortalized as it is in the deathless dramas 
 of Shakespeare; "confident against the world in arms,"" as it uiust 
 have been in long ages past, and may still be in the virtues of its 
 present possessoi's by iidieritance, let the trust of James Smithson 
 to the United States of Amerit'a be faithfully executed by their 
 
PUB L/C .LVn CHARITARLE TXSTfTVTIONS. 025 
 
 Kcpreseiitatives in Congress; let tlie result accomplish his ohject; and 
 a wreath of more unfading virtue shall entwine itself in the lapse of 
 future ages around the name of Smithson, tliun the niiited hands 
 of tradition, history, and jioetry have braided round the name of 
 Percy, through the long perspective of a thousand yeai's,"' etc. 
 
 As a conclusion to the report, the committee sul)mitted the fol- 
 lowing bill: 
 
 "A Bill to Authorize the President of the Ignited States to Assert 
 and Prosecute with Effect the Right of the United States to the 
 Bequest of James Smithson, late of London, Deceaseil, to Found 
 at Washington, under tlie Name of the Smithsonian Institution, 
 an Establishment for the Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge 
 among Men: 
 
 '■'■Be it enacted, etc., That the President of tlie United States be, 
 and is hereb}', authorized to constitute and appoint an agent or agents 
 to assert and prosecute, for and in behalf of the United States, and in 
 their authority', as ma}' be advisable, in the Court of Chancery or 
 prtlier tribunal in England, tlie right of the United States to the 
 legacy bequeathed to them b}- the last will and testament of James 
 Smithson, late of London, deceased, for tiie purpose of founding at 
 Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an insti- 
 tution for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men; and 
 to empower such agent or agents to receive and grant acquittance for 
 all such sums of money or other funds as may or shall be decreed or 
 adjudged to the United States for or on account of said legacy. 
 
 "Sec. 2. That said agent or agents shall, before receiving any 
 part of said legacy, give a bond or bonds in the penal sum of f500,- 
 000 to the Treasurer of the United States and his successors in 
 ofhce, with good and suliicient security to the Secretary, for the faitli- 
 ful performance of the duties of the said agency, and for the faithful 
 remittance to the Treasurer of the LTnited States of all and every 
 sum or sums of mone}', or other funds, which he or they may receive 
 in payment in whole or in part of said legacy, and the Treasurer of 
 the LTnited States is hereby authorized and required to keep safely- 
 all sums of money or other funds which ma}- be received by him in 
 virtue of the said bequest, and to account therefor separately tVoui all 
 other funds of his ofKce, and subject to such further disposal thereof 
 as ma}- be hereafter provided by Congress. 
 
 "Sec. 3. That any and all sums of money or other funds which 
 shall be received for and on account of said legacy, shall be applied in 
 
620 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 such manner as Congress may liereafter direct, to the purpose of 
 founding and endowing at Washington, under the name of the Smith- 
 sonian Institution, an establishment for tlie increase and ditt'usion of 
 knowledge among men, to wliich application of the said moneys and 
 oth§r funds the faith of the United States is hereby pledged. 
 
 "Sec. 4. To the end that the claim to the said bequest may be 
 prosecuted with etfect, and the necessary expenses of prosecuting the 
 same be defrayed, the President of the United States be, and he is 
 hereby, authorized to apply to that purpose an}' sum not exceeding 
 S10,000 out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated." 
 
 This act was approved by the President July 1, 1830. And under 
 its authority the President appointed Richard Hush, of Pennsylvania, 
 the agent to recover the funds in England; who, having arrived in 
 England, notified Messrs. Clarke, Fynraore, ct Fladgate of that fact 
 September 14, 1836. The work was begun as soon as practicable, but 
 had not progressed far when a complication arose with reference to the 
 interest of Henry James Dickinson, named in the will. It then tran- 
 spired that Henry James Dickinson was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Henry Lewis Dickinson b}* a Mrs. Coates, wlio was still living, and 
 was married to a Frenchman named De la Batut. During the lifetime 
 of young Dickinson he had made his mother ample allowance for her 
 support, but at his death this allowance ceased. Mr. Rush was satis- 
 fied that under the will of Mr. Smithson she had no claim against the 
 fund bequeathed to the United States, and stated tliat her claim was 
 under the will of Henry Lewis Dickinson, made at Paris in 181!>, by 
 which he left all his property in trust to his brother, Mr. Smithson, for 
 his (Dickinson's) son, Dickinson, or Ilenr}- James Hungerford. Half 
 of the interest of it, however, was to go to Mrs. Coates while she 
 lived, and it thus appeared to Mr. Rush that the fee of the French 
 attorney, which had been presented for payment out of the Smithson 
 bequest, could not be charged to this fund. During the progress of 
 the suit, however, Mr. Rush consented to a certain amount being- 
 allowed to Madam De la Batut for tlie sake of preventing delay, and 
 at liMigth the Chancery Coui't decided to retain for her benefit a sum 
 which should produce an annuity of XlaO ILv., which, together with 
 arrears, as she had received nothing since 1834, amounted to £5,542. 
 On May 9, 1838, after numerous and vexatious delays, the court decreed 
 that the Smithson bequest belonged to the United States. On the 5th 
 of June, the attorneys, Clarke, Fynmore, i*l: Fladgate, informed Mr. Rush 
 that everything was completed, and the following sums had been trans- 
 
PCRIJC AND CHARFTARLF. fXST/TI'T/OXS. 627 
 
 ferred to liis iiaiiii', and that tliey were entirely at his disposal, free 
 from the control of the Court of Chancery. These sums were as fol- 
 lows: £64,535 18s. ri(/. consols; £12,000 reduced annuities; £16,100 
 bank stock. On the 9th of the month, Mr. Rush shipped to the 
 United States by the ship Mediator, in gold, the net proceeds of this 
 amount, whicii was £105,565 12.s. 5(/., the gross amount being £106,- 
 370 7s. 'M. Upon its arrival in the United States, it was, by the 
 direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, deposited in the mint at 
 Philadelphia, and amounted in dollars to .$508,318.46. 
 
 In the meantime, on July 7, 1838, an act was passed by Congress 
 to provide for the supjiort of the military academy of the United 
 States at West Point for the year 1838. The sixth section of this 
 act was as follows: 
 
 "That all money arising from tlie bequest of the late James 
 Smithson, of London, for the purpose of founding at Washington, in 
 this District, an institution to be denominated the Smithsonian Insti- 
 tution, which may be jiaid into the treasury, is hereby appropriated, 
 and shall be invested by the Secretary, with the approval of the 
 President of the United States, in stocks of States, bearing interest 
 at not less than live per cent, per annum, which said stocks shall 
 be held by the Secretary in trust for the uses specified in the last 
 will and testament of said Smithson, until provision is made by law 
 for carrying the purpose into eftect; and that the annual interest 
 accruing on the stock aforesaiil shall be in like manner invested for 
 the benefit of said institution." 
 
 Under authority of this act, granted as will be seen before the 
 money was received in the treasury, the Secretary of the Treasury, 
 on the 4th of September, 1838, invested §499,500 of the money in 
 the purchase of five hundred $1,000 bonds of the State of Arkansas, 
 bearing six per cent, interest, payable semiannually, on the 1st of 
 January and July of each year after September 4, 1838; and the 
 further sum of §8,270.67 in the purchase of eight bonds of the State 
 of Michigan, bearing six per cent, interest, payable semiannually on 
 the first Monday in January and July in each year after the 1st of 
 May, 1838. The remainder of the money was left in the treasury. 
 Thus the United States became pledged for the faithful application 
 of the }iurpose of the testator — the increase and diffusion of knowl- 
 edge among men. 
 
 On December 6, 1838, the President invited the attention of Con- 
 gress to the obligation resting upon the United States to fulfill the 
 object of the bequest, and on the next day transmitted to Congress 
 
628 H/SrORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 reports tVdiii tlie tSeiU'otary of the State and of I lie Treasnr}' in coiii- 
 jiliaiH-e with a resohition of the House of Representatives of the Otii 
 of July preceding, requesting all sueh documents, coniniunications, etc., 
 as might be in the possession of the Executive, or wliich could be 
 ol)tained, as should illustrate the origin, ju-ogress, and consummation of 
 the jirocess by which the Smithsonian bequest had been recovered, etc. 
 
 A variet}- of projects had been presented b}' individuals, whicli 
 were referred to the committee for consideration; but as they all 
 contemplated the establishment of a school, college, or university, the 
 committee did not consider them suitable for carrying out the purposes 
 of the testator. The committee agreed from the first that no part of 
 the fund should be applied to the establishment of any such institution 
 or ecclesiastical establishment, and they also agreed that they would 
 recommend that the capital of the fund should be preserved entire and 
 uninn)aired, and so invested as to yield an income of six per cent, per 
 annum, which income only should be annually applied by Congress, 
 and that the capital itself should be increased, rather than diniinisheil. 
 
 While the committee was deliberating upon the means of carrying 
 into effect these objects by special enactments, the Senate, on January 
 12, 1839, adopted a joint resolution to the effect that a joint committee 
 of seven members of the Senate, and as many members of the House 
 as the House should think proper to appoint, should be appointed 
 to consider the entire question of establishing an institution for the 
 application of the legacy of James Smithson, of a charter for the 
 institution, etc., and to consider the expediency of wa^'s and means 
 to be provided by Congress other than said legacy, but in addition 
 thereto, and in aid of said benevolent intention, and to report by 
 bill, or otherwise. Thus two widely divei'gent plans were suggested 
 liy the House and Senate respectively, and after considerable discus- 
 sion it became apparent that further joint deliberation would offer 
 no prospect of concurrence. 
 
 February 0, 1839, a series of resolutions was presented to the joint 
 conmiittec for consideration, which were to the effect that no part nf 
 the Smithsonian Fund ought to be aiiplied to tlu; education of childi-en 
 or 3i)uth of the United States, nor to any school, college, university, 
 or inslitute of education. These resolutions were ado[ited on the loth 
 of that month. The report of the committee of the House, drawn up 
 liy a master iiiind, one fully alive to the value of tlu' increase (if 
 knowledge, — that of no less a personage than the venerable John 
 (^uinciy Adams, — strongly urged the establishment of an astronomical 
 observatory at Washington, and gave in a. most lucid and comp)rehen- 
 
PUR Lie AND CHARITABLK INSTITUTIONS. 629 
 
 sive manner the liistory of astroiioni}-, and presented in the clearest 
 language an estimate of the immense importance to the world, espec- 
 ially to couimeree and navigation, of the Royal Observatory of 
 England and of France. In Europe, at that time, according to the 
 able and interesting report, there were one hundred and twenty 
 astronomical observatories, while in the United States there was not 
 one. With such observations, the committee submitted the follow- 
 ing bill: 
 
 "A Bill for the Di8[)osal and Management of the Fund Bequeathed 
 by James Smithson to the United States, for the Establishment 
 of an Institution for the Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge 
 among Men: 
 
 '•'•Be it enacted, etc., That the Vice-President of the United States, 
 the Cbief Justice of the United States, the Secretary of State;, of the 
 Treasury, of War, of the Navy, the Attorney-General, and the Mayor 
 of the city of Washington, all during the time for wliich they shall 
 hold their respective offices, together with three members of the Senate 
 and four members of the House, to be annually elected by their respec- 
 tive Houses on the second Wednesdaj' of December, and to continue 
 in ofKce until others are elected in their stead, shall be and hereby are 
 constituted a body politic and corporate by the style and title of the 
 'Trustees of the Smithsonian Institution for the Increase and Diffusion 
 of Knowledge among Men,' with perpetual succession and the usual 
 powers, duties, and liabilities incident to corporations. 
 
 Section 2 gave the corporation thus constituted power to appoint 
 a secretary and treasurer, and to prescribe their duties. Section 3 
 provided that the sum of So08,ol8.46, jilaced in the treasury of the 
 United States September 1, 1838, as the proceeds, in part, of the 
 bequest of James Smithson to the United States, together with all 
 the sums which had been or might be thereafter realized, should be 
 placed to the credit of the fund to be denominated the Smitlisoii 
 Fund in the treasury of the United States, and the faith of the United 
 States was pledged for the preservation of said fund, undiminished 
 and unimpaired, to bear interest at the rate of si.\ per cent, a year, 
 payable on the first days of January and July, to the treasurer of 
 the board of trustees of the Smithson Fund, to be applied to the pur- 
 poses of the fund, conformably to the laws, and subject to the rules 
 and regulations of the board of trustees. 
 
 Section 4 provided that no part of the saitl Smithsonian Fund, 
 principal or interest, should be applied to any school, college, univer- 
 
630 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 sitv, institute of education, or ecclesiastical estal)Iislimeiit. Section 5 
 {irovided that tlic aiipropriations made from time to time by Congress 
 sliould be for the accruing interest, and not for principal of the fund, 
 etc. Section 6 provided that the sum of $30,000, part of the first 
 year's interest, be applied toward the erection, at the city of Wash- 
 ington, of an astronomical observatory, adapted to the most eltective 
 and continual observations of the phenomena of the iieavens, etc. 
 Section 7 provided that the site should be in the city of Washington, 
 on land belonging to the United States, etc. 
 
 There were live other sections to the bill, the 12tli setting apart 
 from the second and third years" interest the sum of ?60,000, which 
 was to be invested, and the interest arising from such investment was 
 to be ajiplied to the jiaymcnt of the salary of an astronomical 
 observer, and to the incidental and contingent expenses and repairs 
 upon the building. 
 
 February 25, 1839, the Senate having taken up the bill introduced 
 by Mr. Robbins, of Rhode Island, providing for the appointment of 
 nine commissioners annually — three by the Senate, three by the 
 House, and three by the President, to take charge of the Smithson- 
 ian Fund, to draw up an act of incorporation for the institution, and 
 to constitute a portion of its board of trustees, when incorporated, 
 lion. John C. Calhoun then made the following remarkable speech: 
 
 "This is a bill making provision for the common benefit of man- 
 kind; but we are restricted in our powers. The question whetlier we 
 have the power to establish a university or not, was the subject of 
 consideration at an early stage of our Government, and President 
 Washington decided that Congress had the power; but the (lucstion 
 was voted down, and never revived. And now what would we do? 
 We accept a fund from a foreigner, and would do what we are not 
 authorized to do by the Constitution. We would enlarge our grant 
 of power direct from the States of the Union. Sir, can you show me 
 a word that goes to invest us with such a power? I not only regard 
 the measure proposed as unconstitutional, but to me it appeai-s to 
 involve a species of meanness which I cannot describe, a want of 
 dignity wholly unworthy of this Government. Some yeai's ago, we 
 accepted a statue of Mr. Jefferson, which is no more like him than I 
 ani, and we made a tacit iidmission, by its acceptance, that we were 
 too stingy to purchase one worthy of the man and tlie Nation; and 
 now what would we do by this? We would accept a donation from 
 a foreigner, to do with it what we have no right to do, and just as 
 if we were not rich enough ourselves \o do what it proposed, or too 
 
PUBLIC AND CHAR /TABLE LWSr/TUT/ONS. 631 
 
 mean to do it if it were in our power. Sir, we are rieli enough our- 
 selves, and if we are not, tliis bequest cannot give ns tlie power." 
 
 lion. Tlionius II. Benton spoke in a similar strain to tliis of Mr. 
 Calhoun, that "it was a violation of the Constitution,'" as did also 
 Mr. Xiles, of Connecticut; while Robert J. Walker of Mississippi, 
 Aml>rose II. Sevier of Arkansas, Mr. Wright and Richard A. Bayard 
 of Delaware, were strongly in favor of the resolution. The bill was 
 laid on the table by a vote of 20 to 15. 
 
 March 16, 1840, the Secretary of tlie Treasury, in obedience to 
 a resolution of Congress, submitted the following statement of the 
 moneys of the United States invested in State stocks: In bonds of 
 the State of Arkansas, $523,000; in bonds of the State of Michigan, 
 S8,000; and in bonds of the State of Illinois, $26,000. September 
 8, 1841, the Senate passed a bill to amend so much of the sixth sec- 
 tion of tlie act for the support of the military academy at West 
 Point, of 1838, referred to above, as required the Secretary of the 
 Treasury to invest the annual interest accruing on the investment of 
 the money arising from the becpiest of James Smithson in the stocks 
 of the States, and required him instead to invest the money or interest 
 so accruing in any stock of the United States bearing interest not le.=s 
 than five per cent., and on the 10th of the month the House concurred 
 in this amendment. On the 0th of September, a statement was sent to 
 Congress by Hon. Thomas Ewing, Secretary of the Treasury, showing 
 the following investments of the Smithsonian Fund. In bond of the 
 State of Arkansas, $538,000; in Illinois bonds, |56,000; in Ohio bonds, 
 $18,000, and in Michigan bonds, $8,000; total, $620,000. 
 
 In the debate upon the amendment to the sixth section of the 
 act to support the military academy, adopted as above narrated, Hon. 
 Lewis ¥. Linn, of Missouri, in the Senate, called attention to the 
 fact that the Democratic Party, during the Presidential campaign of 
 1840, had been slandered, vilified, and abused with the most unfounded 
 charges of designs to discredit the States of the Union. The Dem- 
 ocratic Party had been denounced from one end of the LTnion to 
 the other, for having prostrated the whole credit system; yet now 
 what spectacle do we behold? What but that to be expected from 
 tlie Whig Party, which had so notoriously proved to the world 
 that their professions out of power were one thing, while their per- 
 formance in power were quite another thing? Now they have the 
 first opportunity, they offer the most outrageous, treacherous, and 
 fatal stab to the State stock credit system that was ever attempted 
 by any of the representatives of the people or of the States, etc. 
 
632 HIS TORY OF ]]' lS/HXGT(h\'. 
 
 Hon. Henry Clay, in his usual clear and intelligent manner, replied, 
 that the relation between the Government of tlie Tinted States and 
 those of the separate States, of the latter being debtor to the former, 
 ought always to be avoided; for what means could V)e used to coerce 
 the States if the}' shc)uld refuse to pay the bonds? The Government 
 had stocks of its own in which the trust fund could l)e invested, and 
 he preferred the adoption of this principle, that in all cases of trust 
 funds an account should be kept with the United States. He regarded 
 the Smithsonian Fund as a sacred trust, wliich the Government would 
 be bound to restore if it should be lost. The Government had 
 assumed the responsibility for the money, and it should remain in 
 the treasury under the control of the Government so long as the 
 Government was responsible. 
 
 Future events showed in the clearest possible manner tliat what 
 Mr. Clay said might at least have been prompted Ijy the commonest 
 principles of business sagacity, as it was certainly the clearest of com- 
 mon sense. 
 
 President Tyler, in his message to Congress, of the Gth of Decem- 
 ber, 1841, made the following recommendation: "I suggest for your 
 consideration the propriety of making, without further delay, some 
 s{)ecitic application of the funds derived under the will of Mr. Smith- 
 son, of England, for the ditfusiou of knowledge, and which have 
 heretofore been vested in public stocks until such time as Congress 
 should thiidc jiroper to give them a specific direction. Nor w-ill you, 
 I feel confident, permit any abatement of the principal of the legac\- 
 to be made, should it turn out that the stocks in which the invest- 
 ments have been made have undergone a depreciation." 
 
 The select committee of the House to carry into effect this 
 recummendatiou of the President, was comjioscd of Hon. John Quincy 
 Adams; Hon. Richard W. Habersham, of Georgia; Hoik Truman 
 Smith, of Connecticut; Hon. Josejih R. Underwood, of Kentucky; 
 Hon. Benjamin Randall, of Maine; Hon. Charles J. Ingersoll, of 
 rennsylvania; Hon. H. M. T. Hunter, of Virginia; Hon. George 
 S. Houston, of Alabama; and Hon. Samuel S. Bowne, of New York. 
 
 December 10, 1841, Mr. Adams, from tliis committee, reported to 
 the House that the |500,000 loaned to the State of Arkansas was not 
 jiayablc before the 2(!th of October, 18(!0, and the *o8,000 sub.secpicntly 
 loaned to that State was not jiayable l)efore January 1, 1861. Thi' 
 bonds of till' other States in which this fund bad been invested did 
 not mature until about the same time, and some of them were not 
 redeemable until 1870, and many of them were payable only at the 
 
PUBLIC AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 633 
 
 pleiisnre of the State! The account with the several States then stood 
 as follows: Arkansas, §538,000; Michigan, §;8,000; Illinois, §46,000; 
 Ohio, $18,000; the United States, §1,291.86. 
 
 June 7, 1844, Mr. Adams, from the select committee of the House, 
 submitted a report in which he showed from documents submitted 
 likewise that the Government had invested in bonds of the State of 
 Arkansas the sum of §538,000, upon which up to December 31, 1843, 
 that State had paid §93,591.73 interest, and that there remained due 
 at the same date the sum of §75,687.84, and that the interest was 
 accumulating at the rate of §32,000 per year. Michigan owed at the 
 same time §480 in interest; Illinois owed §3,360, and Ohio owed 
 nothing. The interest due from the three States amounted to §79,- 
 527.84, which, added, to the principal, §620,000, made a total sum of 
 §699,527.84. And if the fund should continue to be invested in this 
 manner, for which there was no remedy, the aggregate amount would 
 be, by December 31, 1846, more than §800,000. Xone of the bonds 
 were payable before 1850, and some of them not before 1870, and all 
 payable at the pleasure of the States, and yet Congress, on July 1, 
 183H, in accepting the bequest, solemnly pledged the faith of the 
 Government of the L'nited States that all the sums of money and 
 other funds received from and on account of this legacy should be 
 applied to the humane and generous purjiose of the testator. For the 
 redemption of this pledge it was absolutely necessary that the funds 
 then locked up in the bonds of the States, and the accruing interest 
 on the same, should be made available for the disposal of Congress, in 
 order that Congress might execute the trust which it had assumed. 
 For this purpose the committee reported a bill for the appropriation 
 of the sum of §800,000, to be invested in certificates of stock of the 
 I'^nited States bearing interest at the rate of six per cent., payable 
 semiannually, and redeemable at the pleasure of Congress by the 
 substitution of other funds of equal value, which sum of §800,000 
 was to be constituted permanent funds, as follows: To replace the 
 §508,318.46 deposited in the mint at Philadelphia September 1, 1838, 
 and invested as already narrated, and $300,000 to supply the place of 
 the interest that would have accrued by December 31, 1846. 
 
 This bill thus introduced by Mr. Adams provided for the erection, 
 at the city of Washington, of an astronomical observatory, adapted to 
 the most effectual and continual observation of the phenomena of the 
 heavens, and providing the necessary machinery for carrying out 
 the intention and will of Mr. Smithson; but it was not acted upon 
 during that session of Congress. 
 
634 HISTORY or ]\- ISH/XGTON. 
 
 December 12, 1844, Benjaniiii Tapiiiin, of Ohio, introduced a bill 
 into tlie Senate to establisii tlio Smithsonian Institution, providing for 
 the ainiointmcnt of a hoard of managers who should select the location 
 (if tlie institution from that part of the Mall west of Seventli Street, 
 and providing also that the institution to be established should be 
 devoted to agriculture, horticulture, rural economy, chemistry, natural 
 history, geology, architecture, domestic science, astronomy, and naviga- 
 tion. In other words, according to this bill, the institution was to be 
 a scliool or college. This plan was discussed in a most able manner 
 from the day it was introduced until January, 1845, by Rufus Ohoate, 
 of Massachusetts; James A. Pearce, of Maryland; Mr. Tappan ; John 
 J. Crittenden, of Kentucky; William Allen, of Ohio; Robert J. Walker, 
 of Mississippi, and was finally passed January 23, 1845. 
 
 The idea of the Ilciuse of Representatives was somewliat different 
 from that embodied in the above bill. The question came up early 
 in the session of 1845-46, ami on February 28, 1846, Robert Dale 
 Owen, chairman of the select committee, made an earnest appeal to 
 the House to dispose of the subject, and presented for the considera- 
 tion of the House the condition of the Smithsonian Fund; Arkansas 
 was then behind in the payment of interest due up to December 31, 
 1845, $132,841.52; Illinois, |1,680; Michigan, ¥180.07; total interest in 
 arrears, $134, 701. 50. The question came up April 22, 1846, as the 
 special order of the (biy, and Mr. Owen made another most earnest 
 and able appeal to the House to dispose of the subject. He said it was 
 then sixteen years since Mr. Smithson died; it was nearly ten years 
 since Congress accepted the trust; it was nearly eight years since tlie 
 money arrived in this country, and yet though distinguished men, 
 notably the Hon. John Quincy Adams, from Massachusetts, had nuide 
 noble efforts to accomplish sometliing, yet notliing had been done. lie 
 said that he knew that tltere were some strict constructionists in tiic 
 House who would, even at this late day, vote to return the money to 
 the "British Court of Chancery; and immediately uiioii the making of 
 this remark, George W. Jones, of Tennessee, distinguished himself by 
 saying that he most certainly would. Upon the conclusion of Mr. 
 Owen's speech, Mr. Jones moved to strike out all after the word 
 "be" ill the sixth line of tlie first section, and insert the following: 
 
 "I'aid by the Secretary of the Treasury to the lieirs-at-law, or 
 next of kin, of tlie said James Smithson, or their authorized agents, 
 whenever they shall dimiand the siinu^; provided that the Secretar}- 
 of tlie Treasury shall, in paying oven- said money as herein directed, 
 deliver to said heirs all State bonds or other stocks of every kind 
 
PI 'n L/C AA^n CHARITAnLE INSTTT('TrO\'S. 635 
 
 which liave been purchased with said money, or any part thereof, in 
 lieu of so much of said mone^' as shall have been invested in said 
 bonds or other stocks. And the Ijalance of said sum of money, if 
 any, not so invested, shall be paid out of any money in the treasury 
 not otherwise appropriated." 
 
 If the above amendment should be rejected, then Mr. Jones said 
 he was in favor of turning over to the Smithsonian Institution the 
 same said bonds and stocks, and let that institution get what it could 
 out of them. John S. Chipman, of Michigan, supported the dis- 
 lionest and dishonorable plan of Mr. Jones. Mr. Owen's speecli in 
 reply to all the objections to the bill was most able and just; showing 
 their flims}* and unreasonable character, and the essential injustice 
 and lack of principle which the most of them involved. Notwith- 
 standing Mr. Owen's convincing arguments and statements, Andrew 
 Johnson could not be made to understand them, and he, like his col- 
 league, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Chipman, favored sending the money 
 back to England, and moved to add to the substitute of Mr. Jones 
 the following words: "Not actually paid into the treasury \>^ the 
 States which have borrowed and used the fund." But to the ever- 
 lasting honor of the House of Representatives, when the substitute 
 of Mr. Jones came to be voted upon it was overwhelmingly defeated 
 by a vote of 8 yeas to 115 nays. Finally, after numerous attempts 
 to amend the bill, some of wiiich were successful, the hill was passed 
 by a vote of 85 yeas to 76 na3's. 
 
 In the Senate, the bill passed August 10, 1846, by a vote of 26 to 
 13. It was signed by the President on the same day, and regents were 
 appointed by both Houses of Congress. The chancellors of the insti- 
 tution have been the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United 
 States since that time, and the Secretaries. By far the most import- 
 ant officers connected with the institution have been the following: 
 Professor Joseph Henry, elected in December, 1846, and who serve<l 
 until May 13, 1878, the date of his death; his successor. Professor 
 Spencer Fulton Baird, who had been assistant to Professor Henry since 
 1850, and who served until his death, August 19, 1887; and Professor 
 Baird's successor, the present incumbent. Professor S. P. Langley, who had 
 been assistant to Professor Baird. Dr. G. Brown Goode is the assistant 
 at the present time, and is in charge of the National Museum. William 
 J. Rhees was chief clerk of the institution from the time of Ins appoint- 
 ment in 1853 until October, 1891, when he was succeeded Ij}' William C. 
 Winlock, son of the celebrated astronomer Winlock, though now the 
 title of Mr. Wiulock is not chief clerk, but assistant in charge of office. 
 
63G HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Professor Henry was a most eniineiit physicist. He was especi- 
 ally successful ill his researches into the phenomena of electricity, and 
 it is perhaps not too nuicli to say that to him are we really iiulchtoil 
 for the electric telegraph. He also instituted a great many elaborate 
 experiments njion illuminating materials, and made man}' discoveries 
 with reference to the burning of ditforent kinds of oils. He also 
 made valuable iliscoverios with reference to the laws of sound as 
 ajiplied to tiie construction of public buildings and lecture lialls, and 
 also as applied to the production of fog signals. One of his first 
 administrative acts as secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, was to 
 organize a large and widespread corps of observers of meteorological 
 conditions, and to make ai-rangements for simultaneous reports liy 
 means of the telegraph. That is, he was the first to apply the 
 telegraph to meteorological research and to utilize the generalizations 
 made in weather forecasts, embracing the entire N^orth American 
 Continent under a single system. 
 
 Professor Baird, the successor of Professor Heiiiy, was an eminent 
 naturalist, and had been connected with the great surveys of the West. 
 He iiad contributed valuable reports relating to the products of the 
 West, which are yet standard authority. After he became secretary 
 £»f the Smithsonian Institution, lie was made Fish Commissioner, and 
 instituted many valuable researches into the habits and food of fishes, 
 resulting in a great extension of knowledge of such matters. 
 
 Professor Laiigley, the present secretary, was selected as an eminent 
 astronomer and solar ph3'sicist. He had made important conti'ibutions 
 to solar physics, and has continued his experiments since he became 
 secretary. He has also taken great interest and expended considerable 
 time in researches into the laws and conditions of aerial flight. An 
 astro-pliysical observatory has reccntl}' been established in connection 
 with the institution, in which the professor is engaged in making 
 nbservations on the solar atmosphere. 
 
 To close this history of the Smithsonian Institution, it may be 
 proper to note the present amount of its funds. liesides the sum 
 mentioned abov5, as the Smithsonian bequest, Mr. Smithson left what 
 is known as a i-esiduary bequest, amounting to £5,015, which was 
 retained for the use of Madam de la Batut, who died in 18G1. This 
 sum was turned over to George Peabody & Company, in 18(34. In 
 their hands it had increased by March 3, 1865, to $26,210.03 in goM. 
 Ditt'erent portions of this amount were sold at ditfereiit preminms, 
 and when all was thus sold it netted to the fund $54,165.38. 
 
 Witli reference to the sums invested in State bonds, it should be 
 
PUBLIC AND CHARITABLE LXSTLTUTIONS. 037 
 
 stated that no State iletkulted but Arkansas, and also that nothing 
 was lost even bj- the investment of the §500,000 in Arkansas bonds; 
 for in adjusting accounts between ' that State and the Tnited State's 
 the debt of Arkansas to the Smithsonian Fund had been retaineil 
 in the United States Treasury. In 1891 the fund was increased by a 
 donation thereto by Thomas G. llodgkins, of Setanket, Long Ishunl, 
 of !s;200,000, and at the present time the fund amounts to $903,000, 
 authority being granted by Congress February 8, 1807. to increase it 
 to $1,000,000. 
 
 The United States Xaval Observatory was authorized by an act of 
 Congress approved by President Tyler August 18, 1842. This institu- 
 tion, though not the finest, is yet one of the finest and most useful to 
 science, navigation, and commerce in the world. When its usefulness 
 and the dignity it confers upon the Nation are taken into considera- 
 tion, it is a remarkable, if not a surprising, circumstance that so long 
 a time should have elapsed before the establishment of any institution 
 in the United States claiming the name of an astronomical observa- 
 tory, e.\cepting a few temporary structures erected during colonial 
 times for special purposes. 
 
 Efforts had before been made, all looking in this direction. Action 
 for the establishment of such an observatory originated in the earliest 
 movements for the finding of a first meridian of the United States, a 
 history' of which may be found elsewhere in this volume. Memorials 
 toward this object by Mr. William Lambert, of Virginia, were 
 presented to the House of lieiu-esentatives in 1810, 1815, and 1818. 
 These memorials were approved by the House, and Mr. Lambert was 
 appointed to make the necessary astronomical observations for deter- 
 mining the longitude of the Capitol from Greenwich, England. 
 
 The first superintendent of the Coast Survey, Mr. F. R. Hassler, 
 in his report maile on returning from tlie purchase of his instruments 
 in London, England, in 1816, recommended the establishment of an 
 astronomical observator}- in Washington, "as a national object, a scien- 
 tifie ornament, and a means for encouraging an interest for science in 
 general." Among the eminent men wlio supported Mr. Hassler's views 
 were President Madison and Secretary of State A. J. Dallas. Mr. 
 Hassler submitted a detailed plan for an observatory, and selected a 
 site for it nortii of the Capitol. 
 
 Most prominent, however, among those who early advocated and 
 persistently urged upon the Nation the founding of an astronomical 
 observatory, was John Quincy Adams. In October, 1823, while Sec- 
 rectary of State to President Monroe, in a letter to a member of the 
 
638 H /STORY OF WASHING TON. 
 
 corporation of Ilarvard College, Mr. Adams urged the establisluiient 
 of sucli an ob.servaior^' at Cambridge, offering to contribute 81,000 
 toward tbis object, [H'ovided tlie requisite sum should be raised witliiii 
 two years. At the expiration of tiiat time, tiie amount not having 
 been raised, Mr. Adams renewed iiis otter. But these etlbrts failed, 
 tiie scientific spirit not liaving been sufficient!}' developed even in 
 Harvard at that time. 
 
 In 1825, in his lirst message to Congress, he earnestly urged upon 
 that bod}' the establishment of a national observatory, the adoption ot 
 a uniform standard of weights and measures, the establishment of a 
 naval academy, a nautical almanac, and a national university. Con- 
 gress, however, treated all of these wise and patriotic recommendations 
 with indittercnce and neglect. The reason, in part at least, for this 
 neglect on the part of Congress, was the prevalence at that time 
 among the dominant political party in that body, not only of an in- 
 tense party rancor, but also of a bitter personal hatred of Mr. Adams 
 himself, which made it impracticable for the intellectual vision of those 
 memliers of Congress, influenced b}- those feelings, to perceive tlie 
 great and permanent value of the recommendations to the country. 
 
 There were some members, however, who were not thus prejudiced 
 and blind, lion. C. F. Mercer, of Virginia, as chairman of the select 
 coniinittec of the House of Representatives to which, in the order 
 of regular routine, the subject had been referred, strongly advocated 
 the views of President Adams, and reported to the House, on Marcli 
 18, 1826, a bill for the erection of a national observatory at tlie city 
 of Washington, together with sundry documents containing estimates 
 of the cost of erecting the necessary buildings for such an establish- 
 ment, for the instruments and books which it would require, anil for 
 the compensation of a principal astronomer, two assistants, and two 
 attendants. These estimates were based u})on the principle of provid- 
 ing the establishment at the smallest possible expense, to which end 
 it was provided that the observator}' should be attached to the engi- 
 neer's office in the Department of War, and that the nuithematioal 
 and astronomical instruments then belonging to that do[)artment should 
 be transferred to the observatory. But the recommendations of the 
 President and of the comn)ittee were [>ermitted to lie on the tables of 
 both Houses unnoticed, and it was reserved for the Emperor Nicholas, 
 of Ivussia, to make the capital of his nation what the Cajutal of the 
 L'nited States should have been — the center of astronomical science, 
 by the t'stablishnient of Pulkowa ( tbservatory, the noblest observatory 
 in the world. 
 
PUBLIC AND CHARITABLE IXSTITVTIONS. 039 
 
 The first structure in Washington which may be properl}' termed 
 ii fixed astronomical observator\- was erected on Capitol Hill in 1834, 
 liy Lieutenant Wilkes, for the naval depot of charts. It was equipped 
 with a three and three-quarter inch transit instrument, made in 1815 
 fill- the Coast Survey, and loaned to the Navj' Department on applica- 
 cation of Lieutenant Wilkes, and with some portable instruments made 
 for the use of an exploring expedition contemplated by the Govern- 
 ment in 1828. 
 
 In June, 1838, information was received in this country that Mr. 
 Smithson's bequest had been received for the founding of an institution 
 at Washington, and Mr. Adams again made strenuous exertion for 
 the establishment of an astronomical observatory as a part of that 
 institution. Mr. Adams waited upon President Van Biiren, and urged 
 his views upon the subject, and a few months later, at the request of 
 the Secretarj' of State, reduced his views to writing, advocating the 
 ajipropriation of a part of the Smithsonian Fund to the establishment 
 of an astronomical observatory. Altliough concurring in the views of 
 Mr. Adams, President Van Buren took no action in the matter. Ree- 
 (immendations for the establishment of an observatory had been made 
 i»y Mr. Branch, Secretary of the Navy, in 1830; by his successor, Mr. 
 Dickerson, in 1835, and by Mr. Paulding in 1838. In this year a 
 series of observations was commenced in the small observatory con- 
 nected with the depot of charts, under charge of Lieutenant James 
 M. Gilliss, of the United States Nav}-, near the Capitol. These obser- 
 vations were continued until 1842, and aided materially in bringing 
 about the establishment of the present observatory. Hon. A. P. 
 Uiishur directed Lieutenant Gilliss to prepare a plan for an observ- 
 atory', and the report of Lieutenant Gilliss, presented November 
 23, 1843, was accepted by the department, and the construction of a 
 Ijuilding, with its equipment for astronomical work, was placed in his 
 charge. 
 
 Thus it is seen that there were many eminent men in high posi- 
 tions in the Government who favored the establislimeut of sucli an 
 institution. The reason for President Van Buren's inaction is perliaps 
 to be found in the fact tiiat the dominant political party, to which 
 he belonged, and from which he expected future honors, was so filled 
 with and actuated by animosity toward Mr. Adams, that whatever he 
 favored they most necessarily opposed. Of this feeling Mr. Adams's 
 biographer used the following language: "Opposition to the design 
 became identified with party spirit, and to defeat it no language of 
 contempt or of ridicule was omitted by the partisans of General Jack- 
 
640 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 soil. In every approiiriation whicli it was iippreheiided might be 
 converted to its accoiii[)lisiiiiient, tlie restriction, 'and no other,' was 
 carefully inserted." An illustration of this careful opposition is pre- 
 sented ill the second section of an act passed July 10, 1832, providing 
 for the survey of the coast of the United States, by the following 
 insertion : 
 
 '■'■ Pro dial, That nothing in this act, or in the act hereh}' revived, 
 shall be construed to authorize the construction or niaintcnance of a 
 permanent astronomical observatory'." 
 
 Ill August, 1838, the United States E.xploration Expedition having 
 been organized, Lieutenant Gilliss was directed to take charge of the 
 apparatus at the little observatory erected b}' Lieutenant Wilkes, and 
 to observe moou-culminatiiig stars as often as possible for use in 
 determining differences of longitude in connection with the expedition. 
 The building being found unsuitable for the purpose designed, it was 
 remodeled by Lieutenant Gilliss, who procured two good clocks, — one 
 for mean time, the other for sidereal time, — a three and one-fourth 
 inch achromatic telescope, and a meridian circle. The observatory 
 thus equipped was the first working observatory in the United States. 
 
 On March 5, 1840, (?) Mr. Adams, as chairman of the select 
 committee on tlie Smithsonian Fund, made a report again advocat- 
 ing the views which he had so often urged before. While the questicm 
 was pending, the Senate passed a joint resolution providing for a joint 
 committee on the Smithsonian Fund. Tlie House, concurring, appointed 
 as its portion of this committee the members of the select committee. 
 The two portions of the committee failed to agree, and preseiitetl to 
 their respective Houses separate reports. Mr. Adams, for his portion 
 of the committee, made a report favoring the application of a portion 
 of the income from the Smithsonian Fund toward the erection of an 
 astronomical observatory; and Mr. Preston, of South Carolina, for the 
 Senate portion of the committee, presented a directly coiitrar}- report. 
 
 On April 12, 1842, Mr. Adams, as chairman of the committee on 
 tlie Smithsonian Fund, presented a third report, in the form of a bill, 
 for the disposal of the Smithsonian Fund, including in his jilan the 
 construction and maintenance of an astronomical observator}', and 
 while Mr. Adams's plan was rejected, yet that very Congress, at that 
 very session, established an astronomical observatory under a fictitious 
 name, through a bill authorizing the construction of a depot for charts 
 and instruments of the Navy of the United States, and this bill linally 
 became a law August 31, 1842, in the following form: 
 
 ''Be it evaded, etc., That the Secretary of the Xa\y he and he is 
 
PURIJC AND CHARnABLE LXSTITUTIONS. (Ul 
 
 lierc'by authorized to eontriict for tlie building of ;i suitable house for 
 !i depot of charts and instruments of tiie Navy of tlie United States, 
 on a plan not exceeding in cost the sum of i$25,000. 
 
 "2. Tliat the sum of $10,000 be and is liereby appropriated out 
 of any money in tlio trca-sui'y not otiierwise appropriated, toward 
 carrying tliis law into ett'ect. 
 
 "3. That tiie said establishment may be located on any portion 
 of the public lands in the District of Columbia which the ['resident 
 of the United States may deem suited to the purpose." 
 
 Upon the recommendation of Lieutenant Gilliss, wiio was ap- 
 pointed by the Secretary' of the Navy to prepare plans for the con- 
 struction of the depot of charts provided for l)}- this law. Reservation 
 No. 4, as marked on tlic original plan of the city of Washington, 
 was selected by President Tyler as the site of tiie jjroposed observa- 
 tory. This reservation had been designated by President Washington 
 in a letter written by him October 21, 179G, to the commissioners to 
 lay out the citj' of Washington, as the site of a scientific institution, 
 and had long been known in Washington as "University Square." 
 This square lies on the north l)ank of the Potomac River, in the 
 southwest part of the city of Washington; the north fronting on E 
 Street, 810 feet; the east, on Twenty-third Street, 1,103 feet; the 
 west, on Twenty-fifth Street, G20 feet, and the soutii fronting on 
 the Potomac River. The area of the square is somewhat more than 
 seventeen acres. 
 
 The site of the main building erected on tliis square is ninet^'-tive 
 feet above high water in the Potomac. Its elevation gives a liorizoiital 
 range of one and a quarter miles to the north, and of eight miles to 
 the south. 
 
 The central building of the observatory is fifty feet and eight 
 inches square, on the outside, from the foundation to a height of 
 two feet and six inches above the ground. All the foundations to 
 tlie ground line are of blue rock, and two feet thick; the remainder 
 of the outside walls is of brick, and eighteen inches tliick, finished 
 in the best manner; the partition walls are of brick, and fourteen 
 inches thick. The building is two stories high above the basement, 
 with a parapet and balustrade of wood surrounding the top. It is 
 surmounted by a revolving dome twenty-three feet in diameter, rest- 
 ing on a circular wall built up to a height of seven feet above the 
 roof. To the east, west, and south of this central building, wings 
 were erected by Lieutenant Qilliss, the eastern and western wings 
 being twenty-six feet in length and twenty-one feet wide, and the 
 
642 HISTORY OF WASHfNGTON. 
 
 south wing being twenty-oiic feet in leiigtii ;intl tlie Siune width as 
 tlie others. 
 
 After consulting Americans most conversant with subjects of this 
 ivind, Lieutenant Gilliss went to Europe to consult witli foreign astron- 
 omers. In March, 1843, he returned iiome, and began the erection of 
 the observatory as described above. The building was completed, the 
 iiiistrumcnts mounted and adjusted, and the library procured within 
 eigiiteen months, and all was ready for occupancy and use by Septem- 
 ber, 1844. On October 1, 1844, Lieutenant M. F. Maury was assigned 
 to the charge of the institution, and directed to remove thereto the 
 nautical books, charts, and instruments of the depot of charts. A 
 corps of tiiree lieutenants, si.v midshipmen, and one other assistant 
 were assigned him, and soon afterward four more lieutenants were 
 assigned to the observatory. Within the year, three professors wore as- 
 signed to the corjis, and the assistance of Mr. Sears C Walker 
 was procured, who was doubtless then one of the most practical 
 and accomplished astronomers that the United States had produced. 
 Mr. Walker, however, on account of difficulties with Lieutenant 
 Maury, remained at the observatory only until March, 1847, when 
 he resigned; but during the time of his stay, he fixed the latitude of 
 the dome of the observatory at thirty-eight degrees, fifty-three min- 
 utes, and thirty-nine and twenty-five hundredths seconds. 
 
 In 1847 quarters were erected east of the main building, for the 
 superintendent. In 1848 the east wing was extended twenty-four 
 feet, connecting these quarters with the main building, and furnishing 
 .a store room for chronometers. In 18G8 the observing-room for the 
 transit circle was erected, and the large dome for the twenty-six inch 
 equatorial was completed in 187:1 
 
 As has been alread}' stated, the latitude of the observatory', de- 
 duced from observations nuule with the mural circle by Sears (!. 
 Walker in 1845 and 1840, is thirty-eight degrees, tifty-three minutes, 
 and thirty-nine and twenty-five hundredths seconds. From observa- 
 tions made with tlie same instrument in 18G1 and 1804, inclusive, the 
 latitude was found to be thirty-eight degrees, fifty-three minutes, and 
 thirty-eight and eight-tenths seconds. The point to which all ditier- 
 ences of longitude measured fnmi the observatory are referred, is the 
 center of the dome, and the most probable value of its latitude is 
 that last given above. For the determination of its longitude from 
 Greenwich, l)y telegi'apli, the following dala were coniniuiiiiuted in 
 an official letter of the Supcriiilendent of tlie Coast Survey, August 
 10, 1872: 
 
Pl'RIJC AXn CHARITAnLF. IXSTITCTIOXS. ^43 
 
 Hours. Minutps. Seconds. 
 
 Determined in isii? .> S 12.11 
 
 Determined in 1S70 .5 8 ll'.Ki 
 
 Determined in 1.S7- 5 S 12.10 
 
 Mean Ditl'erence nf time 5 S 12.125 
 
 This gives for the longitude of the dome of tlie observatory 
 seventy-seven degrees, three minutes, and one and eight iiundred and 
 seventy-live thousandtiis. Tlie instruments in use in tiiis observatory 
 are as follows: 
 
 The mural circle, 5 feet in diameter, mounted in 1844; the transit 
 instrument, a 7-t'oot achromatic, with a clear aperture of o.85 inches, 
 mounted in 1844; the ju-ime vertical transit instrument, with an object 
 glass of 4.86 inches aperture, and a focal length of 6 feet and 5 
 inches, mounted in 1845; the 9.6-inch equatorial, with an object glass 
 having a clear aperture of 9.62 inches, and a focal length of 14 feet 
 4.5 inches, mounted in 1845; the transit circle, having telescope with 
 clear aperture of 8.52 inches, and focal length of 12 feet .7 inches, 
 mounted in 1865; the 26-inch equatorial, which was provided for b}^ 
 act of Congress approved July 15, 1870, and cost |46,000, with a 32- 
 foot tube, a clear aperture of 28 inches, and the principal focal dis- 
 tance of nearly 390 inches, mounted in 1873; a chronometer, with 
 barrel 6 inches in diameter and 13.5 inches long; a comet seeker, 
 with an object glass 3.9 inches in diameter and 32.4 inches focal 
 length, and 5 eyepieces magnifying from 13.6 to 41.6 diameters; a 
 standard sidereal clock, a counting clock, a standard mean time 
 chjck, a barometer of the cistern form, a thermometer with Fahren- 
 heit scale graduated from — 36 degrees to -|- 157 degrees, a spectroscope, 
 a dynameter, a sidereal clock, a driving clock, and a chronograph. 
 
 Following is a list of the superintendents of the observatory: 
 Commander M. F. Maury, from October 1, 1844, to April 20, 1861; 
 Captain J. M. Gilliss, from April 22, 1861, to February 9, 1865; Rear 
 Admiral C. H. Davis, from April 28, 1865, to May 8, 1867; Rear Ad- 
 miral B. F. Sands, from May 8, 1867, to February 23, 1874; Rear 
 Admiral C. H. Davis, from February 23, 1874, to May 1, 1877; 
 Rear Admiral John Rodgers, May 1, 1877, to May 5, 1882; Commander 
 William T. Sampson, temporarily, June 3, 1882, to July 1, 1882; Vice- 
 Admiral S. C. Rowan, July 1, 1882, to May 2, 1883; Rear Admiral 
 R. W. Shufeldt, May 2, 1883, to February 21, 1884; Rear Admiral S. R. 
 Franklin, February 21, 1884, to March 31, 1885; Commander A. D. 
 Brown, temporarily, April 2, 1885, to May 31, 1885; Captain (now 
 Rear Admiral) George E. Belknap, June 1, 1885, to June 7, 1886; 
 
644 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 ComniiiiKli'r A. D. Brown, temporarily, June 7, 1886, to November 
 15, 188H: Cuptiiiii R. L. Pliytliian, November 15, 1886, to June 28, 
 1890; Captain F. V. McNair, June 28, 18!t0, to the present time. 
 
 Tiie nucleus of a library was formed in 1843 by Lieutenant 
 (jiiHiss, when in Europe, by the receipt of donations of Ijooks amount- 
 ing to nearly' three hundred volumes, on astronomical and other 
 scientitic subjects. The donors were the Royal Astronomical Society, 
 the Royal Society, the Admiralty, the East India Company, and the 
 directors of the observatories at Greenwich, Berlin, Brussels, and 
 Munich. Besides tbese donations there were upward of seven hun- 
 dred volumes purchased by Lieutenant Gilliss. Up to 1874 the 
 number of volumes had increasetl to about six thousand volumes, by 
 an annual e.\change of publications made l)y the observatory with 
 most of the scientitic institutions in the world, of scientific treatises. 
 The nund)er of volumes contained in the librar}- in 1891 was about 
 thirteen thousand, besides about three thousand unliound pamphlets. 
 
 Following is a list of those who have acted as librarians of the 
 Naval Observatory since its foundation: 
 
 .1. S. Hubbard, professor of mathematics, from May, 184.i, lo 
 August, 1863; William Harkness, professor of nuithematics, from 
 August, 1863, to October, 1865; J. E. Nourse, professor of nuithe- 
 matics, from October, 1865, to February, 1870; E. S. Ilolden, pro- 
 fessor of mathematics, from February, 1879, to February, 1881; P]. F. 
 Qualtrough, lieutenant United States Navy, from February, 1881, to 
 June, 1882; G. E. Yardley, lieutenant United States Navy, from 
 June, 1882, to July, 1883; J. C. Wilson, lieutenant United States 
 Navy, from July, 1883, to August, 1885; L. L. Reamey, lieutenant 
 United States Navy, from August, 1885, to May, 1887; W. D. Hori- 
 gan,' assistant in library (acting librarian), from May, 1887, to May, 
 1889; II. M. Paul, assistant astronomer, from May, 1889, to date. 
 
 ' Diiiintr the interval fnmi May, 1887, to May, ISS'.l, \w one was foiiiially aKsitrnecl 
 ti) llie iliarge of the library; but Mr. W. D. Horigaii, who had been an a(*si.stant in the 
 library tor several years, performed all the duties of an acting librarian. Beginning 
 with .Inly 1, 1891, a regular position of a-ssistant librarian has been provided for by 
 (Jongress, and Mr. Horigan has been appointed tf) that position. No salary for a libra- 
 rian has ever been provided by Congress, aiul at present it is necessary to take one 
 of the assistant astronomers entirely from a.strononiical work to perform this duly. 
 The library is the most com])lete and important in the literature of astronomy ami 
 iiiatbematics to be found in this country, and Congress shouM provide for it.-< proper 
 care and growth by provMing a salary ade(|uate to secure the services of a librarian 
 not oidy trained in modern library methods, but also thoroughly familiar with the 
 literature and hist<iry of mathematics and astronomy. 
 
PrRLfC .IXf) CHARirAni.F. rXSTfTCTlONS. 645 
 
 A new ohserviitory building lias recently been erected in George- 
 town, to which the instrnnients are at the present time (1892) being 
 removed. 
 
 The Congressional Librar\ was established in 1800, with a number 
 ot books obtained from London by Albert Gallatin, Dr. Mitchell, and 
 others. The following is the list thus obtained: "212 folios, 164 
 (juartos, 581 octavos, 7 duodecimos, and magazines,"' — 973 volumes 
 in all. It was then the only library of reference possessed by the 
 Government. In 1804 the number of volumes had increased to nearly 
 1,500, of different languages. During the session of Congress of 
 1805-06, an appro[)riation was nuule for the purchase of books, and 
 placed in the hands of a joint committee of the two Houses, consisting 
 af Messrs. Mitchell and Baldwin of the Senate, and J. Clay, T. M. 
 Rudolph, and Dana of the House. Mr. Beckley was at this time 
 librarian. The library was then beginning to attract the attention 
 of the country, and the suggestion was frequently made to authors 
 that they leave a copy of each of their works to it, "as it would be 
 a better advertisement than could be secured otherwise." 
 
 December 6, 1811, an act was passed b}' Congress appropriating 
 $1,000 per year for five years, which was to be added to what remained 
 on hand from former appropriations, for the purchase of books. Pre- 
 vious to the War of 1812-15 the number of books had increased to 
 three thousand, but during the invasion of the city by the British 
 in August, 1814, they were all destroyed. Thereu})on, Mr. Jefi'erson 
 ottered his valuable collection tt) Congress, consisting of about seven 
 thousand volumes, considered then the finest in the country, and this, 
 purchased for $23,950, became the nucleus for the new library. To 
 its purchase, however, objections were made, on account of the great 
 number of Bibles it contained, as well as the infidel character of 
 sonic of the other volumes. George Watterston was appointed libra- 
 rian Ijy Bresident Madison in 1815, and superintended the removal 
 of the library three times. His successor was appointed by President 
 Jackson in 1829. 
 
 The room for the iibraiw was finished in 1824. It is entered from 
 the gallery of the principal stairway west of the rotunda. As first occu- 
 pied, it was ninety-two feet long, thirty-four feet wide, and thirty-five 
 feet high. This was the main room, and in addition there was a room 
 adjoining, making the whole in the form of an L, the wing portion 
 being of the same width and height as the main room. This main 
 room was divided into twelve arched alcoves, ornamented with pilas- 
 ters copied from the pillars of the celebrated octagonal tower at 
 
646 . H/STORV OF WASH/NGTON. 
 
 Atlieiis. Oil tlie roof, wliicli \v;is ten feet above tlie ceiling, were 
 the skylights, through whicii, iuul also tliroiigli tlic windows on the 
 west, the room was lighted. The principal room, as well as the 
 reading-room on the north, attached to it, was fnrnished with sofas, 
 mahogany tables, desks, brussels carpets, etc. At each corner (jF tlic 
 apitrtmcivt was a staircase leading to the galleries above, of which 
 there were three extending all round the room, and which were 
 calculated to hold several thousand volumes. These galleries were so 
 arranged that an3-onc could read or write in them with comfort and 
 convenience. 
 
 The Congressional Library was destroyetl by lire December 24, 
 1851. Immediately afterward, Mr. T. LT. Walter, at that time architect 
 of the public buildings, in olicdiencc to a request, nuide an investiga- 
 tion as to the extent of the injury, and made jilans and estimates for 
 repairing the damage. On the 27tli of February, 1852, Mr. Walter 
 submitted a design for the reconstruction of the principal apartment 
 of the library within its original limits, and an act was passed by 
 Congress appropriating |72,500 for carrying out Mr. Walter's design. 
 A contract for supplying the iron needed in this work was entered 
 into June 21, 1852, with Messrs. Janes, Beebe, k Company, of New 
 York. The work went on as rajiidly as possible, and when complete 
 it may be described as follows: 
 
 It embraced the entire western projection of the Cajiilol as it 
 then was. The main room occupying the center of this western projec- 
 tion is ninety-one feet long, thirty-tive feet wide, and thirty-eight feet 
 high. At each end it connects with a room of corresponding height, 
 twenty-nine feet and six inches wide, and seventy feet long. The 
 three rooms are fitted up with iron cases and iron ceilings. They are 
 roofed with copper laid on iron rafters, and lighted by ornamental 
 skylights. There are also two additional aparrments, each eighteen 
 feet and six inches I)}- thirty-five feet in size, thus forming a suite nl' 
 live rooms, embracing an extent of three hundred and two feet. 
 
 The main library room occupies the space of the old library 
 before the fire. On each side of the room are three stories of iidii 
 cases, each nine feet and six inches in height. The lower story 
 consists of alcoves projecting eight feet and six ini'hes into the 
 room, with cases on each side of tlu' projections. The second story 
 has similar alcoves, excepting that their extension into the room is 
 but five feet, leaving a platform three feet and six iiu'hes in width 
 i'(!sting on the t'ascs below, which constitutes a commodious gallery. A 
 similar platform is constructed on the alcoves of the second story, 
 
PCRIJC AXn CHARITARl.E rXSTfTrTfOXS. 647 
 
 forming a gallery to approach the upper cases; tlins making three 
 stories, receding as they ascend, and the galleries are continued across 
 the cnils of tlie room. Tiic galleries are all floored with cast-iron plates, 
 and are protected by pedestals and railings. They are approached hy 
 two semicircular staircases of cast iron, recessed in the end of the walls 
 of the room. 
 
 At the time of the tire of December 24, 1851, there were in the 
 lilirary fifty-live thousand volumes, of which thirty-tive thousand were 
 destroyed, besides a number of valuable paintings, including Gilbert 
 Stuart's portraits of the tirst five Presidents. Since then, as the 
 value of such an institution has been more and more appreciated, 
 the library has constantly grown. In 1866, through the efforts of 
 l^utlierford I?. Hayes, then a member of Congress from the second 
 Ohio district, who was L-hairman of the committee on the library, 
 the invaluable collections lielonging to Peter Force of Washington 
 were purchased for §100,000, and deposited in the library. These 
 collections of books, pam[dilets, etc., pertaining to early American 
 history, are of inestimable va'ue. In 1866 the Smithsonian Library 
 was added to the Library of Congress. In 1882 this library was 
 enriched by the addition of the Toner Library-, mentioned in tlie 
 sketch of Dr. J. M. Toner in the "Medical"' chajiter of this volume. 
 According to the latest published report of the librarian, that for the 
 year ending December 31, 18!t0, the aggregate number of volumes 
 in the library was then si.x hundred and forty-eight thousand, nine 
 hundred and twent^'-eight, and of pamphlets about two hundred and 
 seven thousand. Two copies of all copyright publications are required 
 to be deposited in this library. 
 
 John S. -Meehan was appointed librarian May 28, 1839; John 
 G. Stephenson, May 24, 1861; and Ainsworth H. Spotford, December 
 31, 1864, retaining the jiosition up to the present time. 
 
 The Navy Yanl at the city of Washington was established b\- 
 an act of Congress ajiproved March 27, 1804. It contains within its 
 limits about twenty-eight acres of land on the right bank of the 
 Eastern Branch. All the vessels that were afloat at the beginning of 
 the War of 1812-15 had been thoroughly repaired at this yard. Before 
 the war, there had been built here the following vessels: Ships, the 
 UVt.sp and the Ari/>i-'^: the brig Viper, the frigate Esficx, and twelve 
 gunboats. After the war, and i)revious .to 1830, there were built the 
 Columbus, of 74 guns; the frigates Potomac and Brandy wine, each of 
 44 guns; the schooners Shark and Grampus, each of 12 guns; the sloop 
 of war St. Louis, of 24 guns; and the frigate Columbia, of 44 guns. In 
 
648 H /STORY OF WASH/NGTON. 
 
 1830 there were employed in the Navy Yard about two hundred men, 
 and when ships were being built, the number of men employed was 
 increased according to the necessities of the case. The manufactures 
 about the Navy Yard were such as main aiicliors, chain cables, cam- 
 hooses, blocks, ordnance fixtures, and all kinds of stores, brass and 
 other castings. A great deal of labor-saving machinery was erected 
 to cari'y on operations in the yard, the most important of wliicli, 
 previous to 1830, was a fourteen horse-power steam engine, by which 
 there were kejit in motion nearly five liundred feet of shafting. There 
 }iad also been erected a gang saw, by which a log of any dimensions 
 could be cut into lumber by one passage through it. There were 2 ham- 
 mers for forging hammers, 2 hydraulic pulleys, 2 circular saws, 1 turning 
 and boring lathe, which was capable of being converted into a machine 
 for boring steam-engine cylinders; turning lathes, 5 grindstones, anil 
 four drill lathes for boring sheaves, and other macliinery. 
 
 Tliere is in the yard a beautiful monument erected by the otHcers 
 of the navy to the memory of their associates who fell in the Tripol- 
 itan War. It is a small Doric column with emblematical designs, 
 and is crowned with an eagle in the attitude of flight. The base is 
 sculptured in basso-relievo, representing Tripoli, its forts, the Mediterra- 
 nean Sea, and the American Heet in the foreground, and on eacli angle 
 stan<ls an appropriate marble figure. One represents CoUnnbia, directing 
 the attention of her children to History, who is recording the daring 
 deeds of American heroes; the third reiu'esents Fame, with a wreath of 
 laurel in one hand and a pen in the other; wliile tlie fourth represents 
 Mercury, or the god of commerce, with his cornucopia and caduceus. 
 
 In 1850 a new foundry was put in operation, which made brass 
 cannon, shells, shot, and machinery necessary for the various shops 
 of the yai'd itself, and tliere wei'c numerous shops for anchors, cables, 
 tanks, etc., in full operation. An improvement was made in 1851, in 
 the erection of a building two hundred i)y si.xty feet in size, in which 
 machinery was erected for rolling copper, etc. 
 
 On April 21, 1861, tiie commandant of the Navy Yard, Captain 
 Franklin Buchanan, received an order from the Secretary of the 
 Navy to have the steamers Baliimure, Mount Vernon, JViilailclp/iia, and 
 Powhalan equipjted for service forthwith. Upon its receipt, he resigned 
 his commission and joined the Confederate forces. All the officers of 
 the yard at that time who were of Southern birth, with one shining 
 exception in the {)crson of John Rainbow, followed the example of 
 Captain Buchanan. The next day Commander John A. Dahlgren \\ as 
 appointed commandant of the yard. 
 
PVR Lie AND CHARITARLE mST/TCTfOXS. 649 
 
 It is manifestly impracticiiblo to go into details with reference to 
 tlie history of the Navy Yard during the whole period of its exist- 
 ence. Snflice it to say that, in accordance with an order issued April 
 14, 1886, the Navy Yard was changed into an ordnance yard. It is 
 now utilized for the nianufiictnrc of all kinds of ordnance, the largest 
 guns so far made being twelve-inch guns, weighing 101,300 pounds, 
 and of a total lengtii of 36 feet 8 inches. The greatest diameter of 
 these guns is 45 inches, and tlie charge is 425 pounds. The projectile 
 weighs 850 pounds, and the distance to which it is thrown is 12 miles. 
 The yard has just commenced to buihl thirteen-inch guns, the weigiit 
 of wliich is 135,500 pounds, or tiTi tons. The length of tiiese guns is 
 40 feet; the greatest diameter, 40 inches; the charge, 550 pounds; and 
 the projectile weighs 1,100 pounds. The penetrating power is 26.5 
 inches of steel, and the distance to whicli the projectile is thrown is 
 13 miles. 
 
 The Soldiers' Home, formerly called the Military Asylum, occupies 
 a site once the property of George W. Riggs, from whom it was 
 purchased by the Government. At the time of the purchase there 
 were two hundred and eighty-five acres in the tract, but since that 
 time it has been increased to tive hundred acres. It is situated about 
 three miles north of the Capitol, and a mile north of Florida Avenue. 
 A large edilice of native marble, whose white tower may be seen for 
 miles in all directions, was lirst erected, and was ready for occupancy 
 January 1, 1857. It contains spacious sleejiing-rooms, sufiicient to 
 accommodate two hundred and fifty inmates. While this building 
 was in process of erection, the inmates, numbering seventy-four, 
 occu^iied the mansion built by Mr. Riggs. In 185(), besides the main 
 building, two large nninsions were upon the property, one occupied 
 by Colonel M. M. Payne as governor of the home, the other by Dr. 
 Benjamin King, secretary and treasurer, and who was then also in 
 temporary charge of the sick. Major Larkin 8mitli was deputy 
 governor. 
 
 In the early history of the home, the old soldiers could do pretty 
 much as they pleased, yet they were subject to certain wholesome 
 regulations, and there were workshops provided where they could 
 work at their trades, and the products of their industry were pur- 
 chased by the Ordnance and (Quartermaster's departments at fair 
 prices. Those who were then entitled to the benefits of the asylum 
 or home were the following: 
 
 1. Those who had served faithfully in the United States Army 
 for twenty years. 
 
650 HISTORY OF KASHINGTOX. 
 
 2. Soldier.s and members of the Marine Corjis wounded or disabled 
 by disease in tiic Mexican War. 
 
 o. Soldiers wlio had contributed to the funds of the asylum, 
 under certain conditions. 
 
 The commissioners in charge of the asylum in 1856, l)y virtue 
 of tlieir offices, were Genei'al VVinfield Scott, General George Gibson, 
 • and General Thomas S. Jesup, the Surgeon-General of the United 
 States Army, and Colonels Cooper and Larned. The funds of the 
 asylum were snjiplied from a montldy contribution by the rank and 
 tile of the army, added to the proceeds of a large sum of money 
 brought from Mexico by General Scott at the close of the war with 
 that country. Upon his return from Mexico, General Scott labored 
 assiduously with Congress to procure the passage of a law authorizing 
 the establishment of this home, and at length bis efforts were success- 
 ful. In the spring of 1852, the War Department detailed as arcliitect 
 of the buildings. Captain B. S. Alexandei', of the corps of engineers 
 of the L'nited States Army who had constructed a lighthouse at 
 Minot's Lodge, below Boston Harbor. The work of construction was 
 given to Mr. Gilbert Cameron, then late of New York. The day 
 upon which the building was required to be completed was Decend^er 
 1, 1855, but on account of changes in the plan made and determined 
 u|)ou while the work was in progress, the building was not completed 
 on time, and about that time the contractor and his men were 
 expelled from the building and he was informed tiiat if he again 
 appeared upon the grouml he would be arrested as a trespasser. The 
 work was then transferred to other persons, the building l)eing com- 
 pleted at the expense of the institution. The building was constructed 
 of white marble from quarries in New York, as were also the General 
 Post Ottice and Brown's Hotel. After the expulsion of the contractor, 
 other changes were made, involving a large exjicnditurc of the funds 
 proper of the institution. 
 
 There are five public enti'ances to the grounds of the Soldiers' 
 Home — Whitney Avenue Gate, on the west side; Ivy and Scott 
 gates, on the nortii side; by way of Rock Creek Church road, and 
 East Gate, by Sherman ajid Harcwood roads, on the cast side. The 
 grounds, which are vevy beautiful, are ojien eveiy day in the yi'ar. 
 This was the tirst home of the kiiul ever established, and is used 
 exclusively for soldiers of the regular army. 
 
 The main building is the one already mentioned, and stands in 
 the northern end of the grounds. It is named the Scott building. The 
 south front of this building was tirst erected of marble, and in the Nor- 
 
PUBLIC AXD CHARITABLE IXSTlTlTlOyS. 051 
 
 man style of arcliitecturo. Tliis portion has recently undergone 
 important improvements, an additional story having been added at a 
 cost of $80,000. The ornamentid capstones have cut into them emhlems 
 of diiierent arms of the service. A tine view of the surrounding 
 country and the city of Washington is presented from the large s(|uare 
 tower, which rises to a height of one hundred aiul twenty feet, and was 
 designed by W. M. Poindexter, the well-known Washington architect. 
 
 The Sherman building connects with this addition on the uortii. 
 It was named in honor of General W. T. Sherman, the first president 
 of the board of conin»issioners after the reorganization in 1883. This 
 building contains one of the iiandsomest military mess halls in tiie 
 world. A billiard room is in the northwest corner of the building. 
 The dormitory contains accommodations for one hundred and twenty- 
 tive inmates. The Scott and Sherman buildings, as will readily be 
 seen, are in reality but one structure, though its parts were erected 
 at different times. The entire structure, when viewetl from the east 
 or west, resembles the outlines of a capital II. 
 
 The King dormitory stands immediately east of the Scott build- 
 ing, and is a plain brick editicc. It was named in honor of Captain 
 lienjainin King, the first secretary and treasurer of the asylum. Next 
 to the Scott building it is the oldest structure on the grounds. Ninety- 
 five inmates are accommodated in this building, among thcni the colored 
 veterans. 
 
 The Anderson building, named in honor of General Robert 
 Anderson, of Fort Sumter fame, is west of the Scott building. This 
 building is aho known as the "President's Cottage," having been the 
 summer home of some of the Presidents of the United States. It 
 was once the country residence of the liiggs family, and was erected 
 nearly eighty years ago. Thirty-five inmates and the band of the 
 Home are accommodated in this building. 
 
 The Library building is immediately north of the Sherman build- 
 ing. It contains reading-rooms and other appropriate conveniences. 
 The library has five thousand volumes, and the reading-room is well 
 supplied with periodicals and papers. 
 
 West of the Library building stands the Sheridan building, named 
 after General P. H. Sheridan, who was president of the managers of 
 the home when the building was erected. This is the most popular 
 of the dormitories connected with the home, all its appointments being- 
 first-class. It contains accommodations for one hundred and twenty-five 
 inmates, besides the Temperance Hall and theater. This is a square 
 brick building, surrounded by three tiers of balconies. 
 
tjr)2 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Tlic gardener's cottage and the chapel are south of the Scott 
 building. From the front of the former is obtained a %'iew of the 
 Capitol, by means of wliat is called the Cajiitol Vista. The chapel is 
 of Seneca freestone, and has two vestry rooms and a movable altar. 
 Services are lield on Sundays, nruk'r the auspices of three different 
 denominations — tlie Roman Catholics in the morning, Lutherans in the 
 afternoon, and the Episcopalians in the evening. At the soutlieast 
 cornel- of the chapel is a granite monument, erected to the memory 
 of Henry Wilson, of Massaciiussetts, and bearing the following inscrip- 
 tion: "Henry Wilson, tlie soldiers' friend, died, Vice President of the 
 United States, November 22, \%llt. Erected by the enlisted men of 
 the army."' 
 
 In the distance directly south are I3arnes' Hospital, ambulance, and 
 carriage houses, and hospital steward's cottage, pump house, and dead 
 house. Tlie hospital is a model institution, and has accommochitions 
 for eiglity-tive patients. Its annual expenses aruount to 120,000. A 
 pretty summer house stands on the high ground west of the hospital. 
 The lodges at the diti'erent gates and two other buildings, one of these 
 being the old farm house on what was formei'l}- the Wood farm, the 
 other a small house north of the mansion, are the only ones jirovided 
 for the families of inmates of the home. 
 
 In the southern portion of the grounds is tlie dairy farm, once 
 the property of W. W. Corcoran, containing two hundred and fifty 
 acres. The Corcoran cottage was erected on tliis tract about 18,')0. 
 Directly south of it is a fine spring and spring house, and just beyond 
 is the southern limit of the home grounds. The proposed new city 
 reservoir is outside the fence, and in the middle of this reservoir is 
 the famous Capitol spring, which formerl}- supplied the Cajiitol build 
 iiig with water. 
 
 Following is a list of the governors of the liome: I. 15. 
 (Jrane, colonel First Artillery', December 20, 1851, to September 1:3, 
 1852; Larkin Smith, brevet major, September 13, 1852, to November 
 5, 1855; M. M. Payne, brevet colonel, November 5, 1855, to July 
 4, 1857; .1. A. Haskins, brevet major, July 4, 1857, to November 7, 
 1857; M. M. Payne, colonel Second Artillery, November 7, 1857, to 
 February 10, 1858; J. A. Haskins, February 10, 1858, to May 0, 
 1858; I. L. Alexander, major Eighth Infantrj', deputy governor. May 
 8, 1858, to November 23, 1863; Justin Dimick, colonel United States 
 Army, November 23, 18(13, to April 1, 1868; I. B. Mcintosh, brevet 
 major-general, April 1, 1868, to July 1, 1868; A. Cady, colonel aii<i 
 brevet brigadier-general, July 1, 1868, to January 29, 1869; A. S. 
 
nrnrjc and charitable /.xsT/Trr/oxs. 053 
 
 Lee, brevet lieutenaiit-colouel, January 29, 1869, to October 5, 1871; 
 T. G. Pitcher, brevet brigadier-general United States Army, October 
 5, 1871, to July 1, 1877. J. H. Potter, colonel Twenty-fourth lutantry, 
 July 1, 1877, to July 2, 1881; S. D. Sturgis, colonel First Cavalry, 
 Ijrevet major-general United States Army, July 2, 1881, to May 
 15, 1885; Henry I. Hunt, brevet major-general United States Army, 
 May 15, 1885, to September 23, 1885; R. Catiin, captain Unite.l 
 States Army, deputy governor, Sejitember 23, 1885, to May 20, 1880; 
 Henry I. Hunt, brevet major-general United States Army, May 20, 
 1886, to February 28, 1880; Orlando B. Willcox, brigadier-general, 
 retired, February 28, 1889, to the present time. 
 
 The home has an excellent brass Ijand, organizcil in 1886. Its 
 members are inmates of the home, and tliey receive extra compensa- 
 tion. The band plays every afternoon, except Saturday, on the parade 
 ground or in the hall, and every Wednesday afternoon between four 
 and five o'clock it plays in front of Barnes' Hospital. The band also 
 attends all funerals of inmates. 
 
 General Scott levied on the city of Mexico i|300,000 for the viola- 
 tion of a truce. Of this money Congress appropriated $118,719 toward 
 the erection of the Scott building. Since then the expenses of the insti- 
 tution jiave been paid out of its own funds. The revenues of tiie home 
 are derived from the interest on a sinking fund, a tax of twelve and 
 a half cents eacli month on each eidisted man in the army, from 
 money due deserters, from fines, court-martial forfeitures, and from 
 the pi'oceeds of the unclaimed effects of deceased inmates. The 
 amount realized annuall}' is near $200,000, tlie regular annual expenses 
 being about $200,000. Tiie iiermanent sur[)lus fund now amounts 
 to $2,348,529.43, which draws interest at the rate of three per 
 cent, per annum. The treasurer of the home is Major Riciiard C. 
 Parlver, wlio of course, has charge of the fimmcial interests of tlie 
 institution. 
 
 The first inmate was William Daily, a<lniitted in May, 1851. The 
 total number of inmates admitted to date is 7,097. There were on 
 the rolls January 25, 1892, 1,228, of whom twenty-five are colored. 
 The number steadily increases from year to year. 
 
 The movement resulting in the establishment of a national 
 asylum for the insane comraeuced at least as early as 1841, on the 
 5th of January- of that year the Hon. William Cost Johnson, of 
 Maryland, asking unanimous consent to consider a bill making tem- 
 porary provision for the lunatics of the District of Columbia. The 
 bill was taken up on a suspension of the rules, and after considerable 
 
Cr)4 HrSTORY OF WASH/NCTON. 
 
 discussion it was defeated by a vote of 72 to 82. Ou January 7, on 
 motion of Mr. Fillmore, the vote was reconsidered, and the Ijill jiasscd 
 the House by a vote of 110 to 59. Those oiijiosing tiie iiill did so 
 on constitutional groniuls; those favoring it favored it from motives 
 of right, justice, and chaiity. 
 
 At that time tlio coi-poration of Washington was allowing §2 
 per week for tiic can' of each insane jierson, and asked the assistance 
 of Congress only in case of persons requiring restraint. Tiic insane 
 were then kept in the old jail. 
 
 Tlie District of Columbia, in appealing to Congress for aid, justi- 
 fied herself by the consideration that many of the insane whom she 
 iiad to support belonged in distant jiarts of tlie conntr}-. Some of 
 them were old men who came to Washington to secure pensions, 
 which were in many cases refused, and in many of these cases tlie 
 applicant became insane. Others came to Washington as inventors of 
 many a crazy scheme, and failed to obtain a patent, and then became 
 insane. Still others came to seek oflice under the Government, and 
 being in man}' cases disappointed, became insane, like the ajiplicants 
 for pensions and patents. Hence, it was not just that the cai'c of all 
 the insane in the District should be taken care of by the District. 
 
 February 2, 1841, an act was approved making an appropriation 
 of .$.3,000 to this object, and on August 3, 1841, another act wns 
 approved appropriating |3,500 to the same purpose, and authorizing 
 the marshal of the District to provide for the pauper lunatics at any 
 public asylum in the United States, consulting economy in the selection. 
 
 During the session of 1851-52, Congress appropriated !$100,000 for 
 the purpose of founding in the District a hospital for the insane of the 
 District, and of the arm\' and navy, to be erected on the beautiful 
 jilace of Mr. Blagden, south of the Anacostia JJiver. This result 
 was brought about chieH}- through the labors of Miss Dix, widel}' 
 known for her philanthropic efforts in favor of the insane. Its erection 
 was commenced in 1855 or 1856, and was about one-third completed 
 in October of that year. At that time there were 95 patients in the 
 institution; white males, 47; white females, 36; black males, 8; lilack 
 females, 4. Dr. Nichols had charge of the hospital, and was assisted 
 by Dr. William Young. The matron was Mrs. Montgomery. 
 
 This asylum is situated on Nichols Avenue. It is a national 
 institution, and receives all the insane of the army and navy and 
 the I'cvcnuc marine service, and also the indigent insane of the 
 District of Coluiidjia. United States convicts, becoming insane, are 
 also sent to this hospital by order of the Secretary of the Interior, on 
 
PUBLIC AND CI-lARITARLE INSTITUTIONS. 655 
 
 tlie request, of tlie Attorney-General. W. W. Godiling, M. D., is at 
 this time superintendent of the hosi)itai. 
 
 Providence Hospital is situated at the corner of Second and D 
 streets Southeast. It was for several years in the old "infirmary," 
 until that was destroyed by fire in 1859, and then a new building 
 becoming an absolute necessity, the pi-esent building was provided 
 for. It was commenced in June, 1861. AH classes of patients were 
 received, except those afflicted with contagious diseases. From the 
 first, it has been in charge of Sisters of Charity, who, in 1866, on 
 account of the limited accommodations at their command compared 
 witb their field of usefulness, commenced the erection of a new build- 
 ing, the corner stone of which was laid July 5, 1866. The building 
 then erected is one hundred and eighty-one feet in length and ninety- 
 nine feet in depth, and it cost |110,000. The resident physicians are 
 W. Don Cannon and Henry L. Hayes, and the medical and surgical 
 stali' is composed of some of the most distinguished physicians of 
 the city. 
 
 The Columbia Hospital for Women was established in 1866. The 
 first meeting of its incorporators was held June 21, 1866, at which 
 A. D. Gillette, D. D., was elected president; C. H. Hall, D. D., and 
 P. D. Gurley, D. D., vice-presidents; Hev. J. Coombs, secretary; Moses 
 Kelly, treasurer. J. II. Thompson, M. D., was the physician in 
 charge. Dr. Nictols and W. B. Matchett were appointed a committee 
 to apply to Congress for an appropriation of $10,000 to defray the 
 current expenses for that 3'ear. There were at first forty beds in 
 the hospital whicli were supported by voluntary contributions, and 
 fifty to be supported by popular subscription. Charles Knapp and 
 H. D. Cooke had been the chief contributors to the support of the 
 hospital up to this time. This hospital is finely situated at tlie corner 
 of Pennsylvania Avenue and Twenty-fifth Street. 
 
 The Washington Orphan Asylum was established October 10, 1815, 
 and during its earlier history it was managed by an association of 
 benevolent ladies of the city. Mrs. Madison, wife of President Madi- 
 son, was its first directress; Mrs. John P. Van Ness was her successor, 
 and for many years she devoted herself to the interests of the asylum 
 with a zeal and liberality both helpful to the society having tlie 
 institution in charge and highly honorable to herself. The asylum 
 was first opened for girls, in a house on Seventh Street, between H 
 and I streets, and afterward a large building was erected for its use 
 on what was known as Mausoleum Square, fronting on H Street, 
 between Ninth and Tenth streets. The corner stone of this bnildiiiif 
 
650 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 was laid b}' Mrs. Van Ness, in tlie presence of a large nnniber of 
 people. Tiie institntion was incoi'iiorated by Congress in May, 1828, 
 by tlie name of tbe "Washington City Orphan Asylum." This new 
 building was occupied from 1826 to September, 1866, and from the 
 time this house was occupied, orphans of both se.xes were admitted. 
 In 1848 Mr. Matthew Wright, tlien late of Wasliington, bequeathed 
 the interest of $10,000 to aid in the support of the institntion. Con- 
 gress had previously donated lots in tlie city to the institution, valued 
 at 110,000. 
 
 St. Vincent's Female Orphan Asylum was established by Rev. 
 William Mathews and the Catholics of Washington about 1825, and 
 it was chartered by Congress in 1831. It is situated on Tenth and G 
 streets Northwest, and its management is entrusted to the Sisters of 
 Charity. It is supported by private charity and voluntary contribu- 
 tions. In 1834 it received from Congress a donation of lots in Wash- 
 ington worth $10,000. It is one of the most prominent of the public 
 charities in the city. 
 
 Garfield Memorial Hospital is situated at the head of Tenth Street 
 Northwest, and owes its origin to a philanthropic movement begun 
 within a month after President Garfield's death. Those interested in 
 the establishment of this institution were some of them of national 
 prominence — James G. Blaine, W. T. Sherman, S. F. Miller, William 
 Windom, and Mrs. John A. Logan. It was incorporated in 1882, with 
 Hon. S. F. Miller, president; B. G. Lovejoy, secretary, and Edward 
 Temple, treasurer. Upon the death of Judge Miller, Justice John 
 M. Harlan became president. Tlie Ladies' Aid Society has alwaj's 
 done eflicient service in sustaining the claims of the hospital. The 
 entire property of this hospital, including its five acres of ground and 
 five buildings, is valued at $250,000. Tbe medical staff has always 
 been exceedingly eiiicient. Congress makes an appropriation annually 
 of about $15,000 for the current expenses of free wards, the general 
 expenses, amounting to some $20,000 per annum, being met by tbe 
 efforts of the Ladies' Aid Society. The capacity of the institutitni 
 has increased from ten beds, in 1883, to one bnndrcd and twenty at 
 the present time. The number of patients admitted in ISUl was i'our 
 liundred and ninety-five. 
 
 Besides tbe above-mentioned public inslitutions, there ai'e also the 
 following: The National Homeopathic Hospital, at the corner of N 
 and Second streets Northwest; the Ilomeoiiathic Dispensaiy and 
 Emergency Hospital, on Massachusetts Avenue, near Seventh Street; 
 the Aged Women's Home, of which Mrs. B. Kennon is president and 
 
PUBLIC AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 05? 
 
 Mrs. J. B. Nourse secretary, and whicli is situated at 1255 Thirty- 
 second Street Northwest; the Chihlren's Hospital, on W Street, near 
 Thirteenth Street, Nortliwest, of wiiich M. W. Gait is president and 
 W. S. Thompson secretary; tiie Church Orphanage Association, St. 
 John's Parish, at 525 Twentieth Street Northwest; the Colored 
 Women's Home, St. Matthew's Parish, at 1909 R Street Northwest; 
 the Emergency Hospital, at the corner of Fifteenth and D streets 
 Northwest; the Epiphany Church Home for Aged Women, at 1319 II 
 Street Northwest; the Freedman's Hospital, at the corner of Ponieroy 
 and Fifth streets Northwest, supported hy tlie General Government; 
 the German Orphan Asylum, on Good Hope road; the Home for 
 Friendless Colored Girls, on Erie Street, between Seventeenth and 
 Eighteenth streets. Northwest; the Home for the Aged, of the Little 
 Sisters of the Poor, at the corner of H and Third streets Northeast; 
 the House of the Good Shepherd, at the corner of Tliirty-sixth and 
 T streets Northwest; the House of Mercy, 2408 K Street Northwest; 
 tlie Lenthall Home for Widows, at the corner of Nineteenth and G 
 streets Northwest; the Methodist Home for Aged Women, at the corner 
 of Twelfth and N streets Northwest; the National Association for the 
 Relief of Colored Women and Children, on Eighth Street, near Grant 
 Avenue, Northwest; the National Temperance Home, 218 Four and a 
 Half Street Northwest; St. Ann's Infant Orphan Asylum, at 2300 K 
 Street Northwest, founded in August, 1860, and under the care of tlie 
 Sisters of Charity; St. Joseph's Male Orphan Asylum, on II Street, 
 near Tenth Street, Northwest, in charge of the Sisters of the Holy 
 Cross; the Washington Home for Incurables, on Meridian Avenue, 
 Mount Pleasant; the Washington Hospital for Foundlings, at 1715 
 Fifteenth Street Northwest; the Women's Christian Association Home, 
 at 1719 Thirteenth Street Northwest; and the Young Women's Chris- 
 tian Home, at 401 Sixth Street Northwest. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS. 
 
 The Capitol— The President's Mansion— The City Hall — The Treasury Department — 
 The Patent Office — Department of Agriculture — Pension Building — The Bureau 
 of Engraving and Printing — The State, War, and Navy Department Building — The 
 New Congressional Library Building — Washington National Monument — Greeu- 
 ough's Statue of Washington — The Jackson Statue — Mill's Statue of Washington 
 
 — Mrs. Hoxie's Statue of Farragut — The Lincoln Statue — The Scott Statue — The 
 Rawlins Statue — The "Emancipation" Statue — The Statue of Peace — The Mc- 
 Pherson Stiitue — The Greene Statue — The Thomas Statue — The Franklin Statue 
 
 — The Marshall Statue — The Garfield Statue — The Henry Statue — The Dupont 
 Statue — The Luther Statue — The Lafayette Statue. 
 
 THE Capitol, in which Congress holds its sessions, is lociited on Cap- 
 itol Hill. It consisted originally of two wings and a rotnnda in 
 the center. It is of the Corinthian order of arehitectnre, and was built 
 of freestone from the quarries of Acqnia Creek, Virginia. The coni- 
 niissioners appointed to lay out the city of Washington were directed 
 to procure suitable buildings for the accommodation of Congress and 
 of the President, and for the public use of the Government of the 
 United States. Siiortly after the city was surveyed, they entered 
 upon tliis portion of their duties. The Federal House of Congress 
 was designated on Major L'Enfant's plan of the city as "The 
 Capitol," and this name was adopted on the approval of President 
 Washington. From the surveys it was ascertained that the hill in 
 the eastern section of the city was nearly in the center of the Dis- 
 trict, and it was for this reason that the Capitol was erected upon 
 it, facing eastward, in which direction a spacious plateau extends about 
 two miles, upon which plateau it was believed and expected that the 
 best houses would be erected. Hence the Capitol was built facing- 
 eastward, but for reasons given in anothei' part of this history', the 
 growth of the city was almost entirely toward the west, and so to-day 
 the Capitol stands with its back toward the most populous part of the 
 Capital. 
 
 A preininni of §500 and u building lot was ottered by the com- 
 missioners in an advertisement for the best design of a Capitol 
 building, and in response to this advertisement sixteen designs were 
 
GOl'ERNMENT BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS. 659 
 
 submitted to the coiniiiissioiiers by architects in dilierent parts of the 
 country. But upon a careful exaniiuation of these designs by Mr. 
 Jefferson, then Secretary of State, who really possessed nearly all the 
 taste and ability in tliis direction that was possessed by the Govern- 
 ment officials, they were promptly rejected. Mr. Jefferson preferred 
 the adoption of the models of antiquity, which had the approval of 
 thousands of years. In July, 1792, a French architect living in New 
 York, named Stephen L. Hallett, sent a sketch of a design to the 
 commissioners which met with favor, and he was invited to Wash- 
 ington to examine the locality chosen for the Capitol, in order that 
 he might perfect his designs, which in some particulars were satis- 
 factory. 
 
 About the same time, an amateur draughtsman, named Dr. "William 
 Thornton, an Englishman who had resided some years in the West 
 Indies, and had then come to the United States, presented to President 
 Washington an elaborate and highly colored design, which greatly 
 pleased the President, and he wrote to the commissioners suggesting 
 the substitution of Dr. Thornton's plan in place of Mr. Ilallett's, and 
 that Mr. Hallett be engaged as supervising architect, as Dr. Thornton 
 had no practical knowledge of architecture. 
 
 This letter of President Washington's was written January 31, 
 1793. In it he said that he had under consideration the two plans 
 mentioned above. He said that he thought Mr. Ilallett's had a great 
 deal of merit; but he preferred Dr. Thornton's for grandeur, sim- 
 plicity, and beauty, the propriety with which the apartments were 
 distributed, and the economy in the mass of the whole structure. He 
 therefore thought it best to give the Doctor time to finish liis plan, 
 and for this purpose to delay, until the next meeting of the commis- 
 sioners of the District, a final decision. He said some difficulty arose 
 with reference to Mr. Hallett, who was led into his plan by ideas " we 
 all expressed to him"; but that ought not to induce the acceptance 
 of his plan in preference to a better, and that it would be best to 
 liberally requite him for the time he had expended upon it, that his 
 feelings should be soothed as much as possible, and left it to the 
 commissioners to prepare him for the possibility of the Doctor's plan 
 being preferred to his. 
 
 On March 3, 1793, the President wrote a letter introducing Dr. 
 Thornton to the commissioners, and he came down to Washington 
 from Philadelphia to show them his design. July 23, 1793, the Presi- 
 dent wrote again to the commissioners in favor of a plan of the Capitol 
 by Judge Turner, and said: "The dome which is suggested as an 
 
G(JO HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 lulditioii to tlie center of tlie editice, would, in my opinion, give a 
 beauty and grandeur to the pile; and might be useful for the recep- 
 tion of a bell, clock, etc. . . . Could such a [)laii as Judge Turner's 
 be surrounded with columns and a colonnade like that which was 
 presented by Mr. Ilallett, without departing from the principles of 
 architecture, and yet not to be too expensive for our means, it would, 
 in my judgment, be a noble and desirable structure; but I would liave 
 it understood in tliis instance and always that I profess to have no 
 knowledge of architecture, and think we should be governed by the 
 established rules laid down by the professors of this art." 
 
 July 25, 1793, President Washington again wrote the commis- 
 sioners on the same subject from Philadelphia, stating that objections 
 to the plan of Dr. Thornton for the Capitol building had been 
 made by both the persons, Mr. Carstairs and Mr. Williams, chosen 
 by Dr. Thornton as practical architects and competent judges of such 
 things; that Mr. Hallett's plan was free from the objections of Dr. 
 Thornton's, and would not cost more than half as much. Mr. Iloban 
 was therefore informed that the foundation would be begun according 
 to Mr. Hallett's plan, "leaving the recess in the east front open for 
 further consideration. But it was the wish that the portico of the 
 east front, which was in Dr. Thornton's plan, should be preserved 
 in that of Mr. Hallett's, the recess which Mr. Hallett proposed strik- 
 ing every one unpleasantly, as the space between the two wings was 
 too contracted to give it the noble ai:)pearance of the buildings of 
 which it was an imitation; but whether the portico or the recess 
 should be finally decided upon, would make no difference in the com- 
 mencement of tlie foundation, except in that particular part." 
 
 The question of plan continued to give the commissioners trouble 
 for a considerable time, and for several weeks the different aspirants for 
 the distinguished honor of furnishing the plans for the Capitol build- 
 ing of the new American nation worked with intense rivalry and 
 bitter feelings. At length, however. Dr. Thornton's [ilan was in the 
 main adopted, at which Mr. Hallett felt greatly aggrieved, and in order 
 "to soothe his feelings," as President Washington had expressed it, 
 be was made supervising architect of the Capitol, with a salary of 
 $400 per year, and at once began work on the edifice.' 
 
 The corner stone of this building was laid in the southeast corner 
 
 'Sec l>r. TlioriitonV aililress "To the Members of the House of Representatives 
 of the Uiiiteil StJites," of .January 1, 180."). It is there clearly shown that Mr. Hallett, 
 as supervising arehitect of the Capitol, worked in the main arcording to l)r. Thorn- 
 ton's plan. 
 
GO\-ERN.MENT nUILDlNGS AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS. 661 
 
 of the north wing September 18, 1793, in the presence of President 
 Washington and a large assemblage of citizens. A grand Masonic, 
 military, and civic procession was formed on the square in front of 
 tlie President's grounds, whence it marched to the Capitol square with 
 martial music and flying banners. The ceremony was botli imposing 
 and grand, large numbers from various portions of the country being 
 in attendance. On the corner stone was placed a large silver plate 
 inscribed with the following words: 
 
 "This southeast corner stone of the Capitol of the United States 
 of America, in the city of Washington, was laid on the 18th da}- of 
 September, 1793, in the eighteenth year of American independence, in 
 the first year of the second term of the presidency of George Wash- 
 ington, whose virtues in the civil administration of his country have 
 been as conspicuous and beneficial as his military valor and prudence 
 have been useful in establishing her liberties, and in the year of 
 Masonry 5703, by the President of tlie United States, in concert with 
 the Grand Lodge of Maryland, several lodges under its jurisdiction, 
 and Lodge No. 22, from Alexandria, Virginia." 
 
 A few months after the corner stone had been laid, a difficulty 
 sprang up between Mr. Hallett as architect and Dr. Thornton, who 
 had been appointed one of the commissioners. Mr. Hallett was re- 
 quested to furnish the commissioners with his various drawings and 
 designs, which he refused to do, and was in consequence dismissed 
 from the public service. George Iladtield, from England, coming 
 highly recommended by Benjamin West and by James Hoban, archi- 
 tect of the President's House, was then appointed to the place, and 
 Mr. Hadfield and Mr. Hoban were associated most, or all, of the time 
 during which the north wing was in progress. It was completed 
 in 1800. 
 
 In 1803 the construction of the south wing of the Capitol was 
 placed in charge of Benjamin Henry Latrobe, who had come from 
 London, England, to the United States in 1796. He had studied 
 architecture in London with Mr. Cockrell, one of the leading archi- 
 tects of his day. He was introduced to Judge Bushrod Washington, a 
 nephew of President Washington, at Norfolk, Virginia, and was 
 taken to Mount Vernon to be introduced to General Washington by 
 Judge Washington. General Wasliington was favorably impressed 
 with Mr. Latrobe, and afterward frequently consulted him in reference 
 to the public buildings. Mr. Latrobe was given by the commissioners 
 full power to construct the soutli wing of the Capitol, and to remodel 
 the north wing according to his own plans. Mr. Latrobe finished 
 
662 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 his work iti 1811, completing the iiall for the reception of Congress, 
 tmd connecting the two wings hy a large wooden building or bridge 
 which occupied the place of the present rotunda. Such portions of 
 the building as were necessary for the public use being completed, 
 work upon it was suspended during the War of 1812-15. The walls 
 of the wings were ccjnstructed of sandstone from quarries at Acquia 
 Creek, and the bricks used in the interior were made by Andrew 
 Ilokc at the site on the Capitol Ilill, selected by Ciiptain Elisha 
 Williams. The commissioners made the contract for three hundred 
 thousand brick for this purpose with Mr. Iloke, May 1, 1792, agree- 
 ing to give him fifteen shillings per thousand for good merchantable 
 brick, 9 inches long, \\ inches wide, and 2^ inches thick. Congress 
 commenced to occupy this building in 1800, and continued to occupy 
 it until it was partially demolished by the British troops August 24, 
 1814. It cost the Government previous to that war $789,070.98 — the 
 nortli wing, completed in 1800, $480,262.57, and the south wing, com- 
 pleted in 1811, $308,808.41. The hall of the House of Representa- 
 tives was in the second story of the south wing, and was sixty feet 
 high to the highest point in the ceiling. The Senate chamber was 
 in the north wing of the building and was seventy-four feet in its 
 greatest length and forty-two feet in lieight. 
 
 In the evening of August 24, 1814, "the British army, commanded 
 jointly by General Ross and Admiral Cockburn, reached Capitol Hill, 
 iiushed and excited by their victory at Bladensburg. As General Ross 
 rode toward the Capitol, his horse was killed by a shot tired from a 
 house in the vicinity. The shot was apparently aimed at the British 
 general, and it so enraged the troops that, after setting fire to the 
 house containing the sharpshooter, they marched quickly to the Cap- 
 itol, and fired several volleys into its windows. A regiment then 
 marched into the hall of the House of Representatives, the drums 
 and fifes playing 'The British Grenadiers,' and the soldiers were 
 formed around the Speaker's chair. Admiral Cockburn was escorted 
 to the post of honor, and, seating himself, derisively called the excited 
 assemblage to order. ' Shall this harbor of Yankee democracy be 
 burned? All for it say, Ayel' he shouted. There was a tumultuous 
 cry of afiirmation, and then the order was given to burn the building. 
 The pitch-pine boards were torn from the passageway between the 
 wings; the books and papers of the Library of Congress were pulled 
 from their shelves and scattered over the fioor; valuable paintings in 
 a room adjoining the Senate (chamber were cut from their frames, and 
 the torch applied to the combustible mass. Presently clouds of smoke 
 
GOVERNMENT BUH. DINGS AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS. 663 
 
 and columns of iire aseeiuled from the Capitol, and it seemed doomed 
 to destruction. The soldiers discharged army rockets through the roof 
 of each wing, and when the fire was burning furiously, left the build- 
 ing and marched up Pennsylvania Avenue to fire the other public 
 edifices. The wooden passageway and the roofs and exterior of the 
 wings were burned, but the walls were saved, as the flames were 
 extinguished in time by a severe rain, which set in within half an 
 hour after the fire had begun, and continued all the evening." 
 
 After the Britisli invasion. Congress held its first session in Blod- 
 gett's Hotel, wliich occupied the site of the present post oflice 
 building. Afterward, while the Capitol was being rebuilt. Congress 
 assembled in a building erected for the purpose by the patriotic citi- 
 zens of Washington, near the eastern grounds of the Capitol. Here 
 it held its session for several years. The building has always been 
 known as the "Old Capitol Building." At the time of the burning 
 of the Capitol, Mr. Latrobe was in Pittsburgh, engaged in the con- 
 struction of a steamboat for Robert Fulton; but he was immediately 
 recalled to Washington to superintend the reconstruction of the 
 Capitol, which, after a thorough examination, he reported as capable 
 of easy restoration, the foundations and walls remaining for the most 
 part unimpaired. To him is due the credit of the old hall of the 
 House of Representatives, now the national statuary hall; the old 
 Senate chamber, now the hall of the Supreme Court; the Law 
 Library, and the old lobbies. He remained in charge until 1817, 
 when he resigned and was succeeded by Mr. Charles Bulfinch, who 
 was entrusted with the further prosecution of the work with the 
 understanding that the Capitol should be completed according to 
 the designs of Mr. Latrobe. 
 
 Mr. Bulfinch was a native of Massachusetts, and had constructed 
 the old statehouse at Boston, besides other notable buildings. He 
 remained at work on the Capitol building ten years, and for the most 
 part followed the designs of Mr. Latrobe, executing under these designs 
 the Senate chamber and the hall of Representatives, and completing 
 what were then called the wings. He also connected these wings by 
 the central rotunda, which for many years was called the "Rotundo," 
 and completed it with a low dome. He also built the main hall of 
 the Library of Congress, etc., and in 1827 reported to Congress that 
 the Capitol was complete. When finished, it was declared by every 
 one majestic, and perfect in all its adaptations. It stood on a com- 
 manding situation on Capitol Hill, was imposing in its appearance, and 
 was admirably adapted to the uses for which it was designed. It 
 
004 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 covered \\ acres of ground, and was surrounded by 22J acres. It was 
 in length 352 feet 4 inches; the depth of the wings was 121 feet 6 
 inches; the eastern pi'ojection of the steps was 65 feet, and the western 
 jirojection of steps 83 feet. Tlie height of the wings to the top of 
 tiie baUistrade was 70 feet; the lieight to tlie top of the center of 
 the dome, 145 feet; the diameter of the rotunda was ftO feet, and the 
 height of the rotun(hi 96 feet; the greatest length of the Representa- 
 tives' hall was 95 feet, and the greatest width 60 feet; the greatest 
 length of the Senate chamber was 74 feet, and the greatest svidth 
 42 feet. The cost of the center building, which was commenced in 
 1818 and completed in 1827, was $957,647.35; and the entire cost of 
 the building up to that time, including wluit Mr. Bulfiucli had done 
 (Ml the wings, was $2,433,814. 
 
 From this time until 1850 the Capitol was large enough for the 
 uses of the Nation, and during this period it was in charge of Robert 
 Mills, a Washington architect, who made several small improvements 
 as suggested by the necessities of the occasion. But in 1850, the 
 number of members of both branches of Congress having been 
 largely increased, the necessity for ampler and better accommodations 
 became evident. The mode of eu'largement decided upon was the 
 extension of the wings by greater wings or extensions, to be con- 
 structed of marble and to be connected with the original Capitol by 
 wide corridors. The architect engaged for this work was Thomas 
 U. Walter, of Philadelphia, who had constructed Girard College. 
 Mr. Walter immediately began the work of construction according 
 to plans designed by himself. General Montgomery C. Meigs, an 
 accomplished engineer, being appointed as general superintendent and 
 inspector. 
 
 The corner stone of the House of Representatives extension, on 
 the south wing, was laid by President Fillmore, assisted by the Grand 
 Lodge of Masons of the District of Columbia, the Grand Master 
 weariiig the regalia worn by President Washington as Master Mason 
 «'hen he laid the corner stone of the original cdiiice. On this latter 
 occasion an eloquent oration was delivered by Daniel Webster, Secre- 
 tary of State, which was listened to by a vast assemblage of 
 people. Beneath this corner stone was deposited the following record: 
 
 "Gn the morning of the first day of the seventy-sixth year of 
 the independence of the United States of America, in the city of 
 Washington, being the 4tli day of -luly, 1851, this stone, designated 
 as the corner stone of the extension of the Capitol, according to a 
 
GOVERNMENT BUILniNGS AND PUBLIC J\[ONUMENTS. (365 
 
 plan approved by tlie President, in pursuance of au act of Congress, 
 was laid by Millard Fillmore, President of the United States, assisted 
 by the Grand Master of the Masonic Lodges, in the presence of many 
 members of Congress; of officers of the Executive and Judiciary 
 Departments, National, State, and District; of officers of the Army 
 and Navy; the corporate authorities of this and neighboring cities; 
 many associations, civil, military, and masonic; officers of the Smith- 
 sonian Institution, and National Institute; professors of colleges and 
 teachers of schools -of the District of Columbia, with their students 
 and pupils; and a vast concourse of people from places near and 
 remote, including a few surviving gentlemen who witnessed the lay- 
 ing of the corner stone of the Capitol by President Washington on 
 the 18th day of September, 1793. If, therefore, it shall hereafter be 
 the will of God that this structure shall fall from it8 base, that its 
 foundations be upturned, and this deposit brought to the eyes of 
 men, be it known that, on this day, the Union of the United States 
 of America stands lirm; that their constitution still exists unimpaired, 
 and with all its original usefulness and glory, growing every day 
 stronger and stronger in the aii'ections of the great body of the 
 American people, and attracting more and more the admiration of 
 the world. And all here assembled, whether belonging to public or 
 to private life, with hearts devoutly thankful to Almighty God for 
 the preservation of the liberty and happiness of the country, unite 
 in sincere and fervent prayers that this deposit, and the walls and 
 arches, the domes and towers, the columns and entablatures, now to 
 be erected over it, may endure forever! God save the United States 
 
 of America! 
 
 "Daniel Webster, 
 
 "Secretary of State of the United States." 
 
 The old Capitol building was surmounted by tliree domes, the 
 middle one, standing where stands the present one, being of wood 
 and extending to a heiglit one hundred and forty-two feet lower than 
 the one that supplanted it. This wooden dome was removed in 
 1856, when the construction of the present magnificent one was 
 commenced. In order to support so vast an additional weight the 
 Capitol building was trussed up, and strengthened, so that it might 
 be able to bear it. This new dome is divided into four sections, the 
 first occupied by thirty-six columns of cast iron, twenty-seven feet 
 high, and three feet in diameter, and decreasing to two and a half 
 feet at the top. The columns rest on a cast-iron foundation, which 
 
666 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 again rests on a circular wall, bolted, girded, clamped, and compacted 
 by every imaginable contrivance into a mass of solid matter, forming, 
 as it were, but a single bod}'. On these thirty-six columns, which are 
 hollow, fluted, and about an inch thick, is placed a ring to form the 
 touiulation for a superimposed section of pilasters smaller than the col- 
 umns but equal in number, on which is placed strong panel work 
 constituting a third section. The fourth section is the dome proper, 
 which differs from other domes b}' having an elliptical section instead 
 of a circular one. To be more specific, the external contour is approxi- 
 nuitely elliptical from the top of the columns; the main ribs are in 
 the form of a pointed arch, and the ceiling is approximately circular. 
 The whole is surmounted by circular plates of iron, of considerable 
 thickness, bearing an altar-like structure girded with fasces, all in 
 iion, and supporting a globe, around which is a belt with the inscription 
 "E pluribus unum." Upon this globe stands the Goddess of Liberty, 
 capped with eagle feathers, and holding in her right hand a sheathed 
 sword, and in her left a wreath and sliield. Around her forehead is 
 a fillet studded with thirteen stars. 
 
 This dome rests on a continuous wall of masonry, while most of 
 the domes of the old world rest on piers. According to the calcula- 
 tions of the architect, the weight of the dome completed is 13,477 
 pounds on each square foot, while the stone sustaining it is capable 
 of sustaining a weight of 755,280 pounds per square foot. The pres- 
 sure of the new dome upon the foundation walls at the level of the 
 cellar floor is 51,292,253 pounds, while the pressure of the old dome 
 was only 48,756,221 pouiuls, and the weight of the statue of Liberty 
 is 15,000 pounds. 
 
 The most remarkable feature of this Goddess of Liberty is its 
 headdress. As it is not generally known how this peculiar feature 
 came to be selected, the explanation is here inserted, as given by 
 Hon. Jett'erson Davis, who was Secretary of War at the time of the 
 selection of the figure to grace the dome. To aid in the execution 
 of the work, he appointed Captain M. C. Meigs superintendent of 
 construction. Several of the most distinguished American statuaries 
 were invited to accept orders, among them Hiram Powers, who sub- 
 mitted for the dome of the Capitol a colossal female figure, on the 
 head of which was the liberty cap. To this cap Mr. Davis objected, 
 because it was among the Romans the badge of an emancipated 
 slave; and as the jieople of the United States were born freemen, he 
 considered it inaiii>ro}iriate to them. Mr. Powers yielded to the objec- 
 tion, and designed a headdress of feathers for the figure, which was 
 
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS. GG7 
 
 accepted, because feathers seemed to him, in view of tlie al)original 
 inhabitants, appropriate to a statue tj'pical of America, leaving- the 
 question of taste to tlie critics, which we also do. Crawford received 
 |3,000 for the plaster model of the statue, and Clarke Mills received 
 |9,800 for the casting in bi'onze. The additional expense for labor 
 and metal ran the entire expense up to $23,796.82. 
 
 The new hall of the House of Representatives was ligiited up for 
 the tirst time December 2, 1857, and the lighting was considered a 
 great success. There were fortj'-tive open squares in the ceiling, in 
 five rows of nine in each row. Each square has within it a smaller 
 square, surrounding which were arranged twenty-eight burners, mak- 
 ing twelve hundred and sixty burners in all, and all were lighted in 
 twenty seconds. The method of lighting used was the invention of 
 Captain M. C. Meigs, who was in charge of the Capitol extension. 
 The entire number of jets used in the lighting was forty-five thousand, 
 and the quantity of pipe laid in the skylight was nearly three-fourths 
 of a mile. 
 
 The heating apparatus was, at the time it was put into the Capitol, 
 thought to be superior to anything of the kind ever invented. Pure 
 air was brought into a large rapidly revolving wheel or fan, the hol- 
 low circumference of which was divided into pockets, and was thrown 
 thence into a chamber cummunicating with some seven or eight miles 
 of iron pipes coiling about each other, and about one inch apart, in 
 which pipes it was warmed by steam. Passing through this mass of 
 iron pipes the heated air goes into a closed well, whence it arises and 
 enters into the Senate chamber, the conmiittee rooms, and other rooms. 
 
 On Tuesday, January 4, 1859, the Senate met in the old chamber 
 for the last time, and on motion of Senator Crittenden, moved into 
 their new hall, the one they have over since occupied. The occasion 
 was one of great interest to the people of Washington, and not- 
 withstanding the inclemency of the weather and the bad walking, for 
 there were then no street cars, there were present more people than 
 could get into either the old hall or the new one. It was generally 
 considered that the new Senate chamber was in stricter taste than 
 the hall of the House of Re[iresentatives, that it was less heavily 
 embellished, but this was perhaps owing to the smallness of the hall, 
 and the small number of the Senators to be accommodated. The 
 President of the Senate sits directly opposite the Speaker of the 
 House, and each is visible to the other when the doors of the two 
 halls are open, and distant from each other about eight hundred feet. 
 
 The columns surrounding the two wings of the Capitol, as erected 
 
668 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 from 1851 to 1865, were from tlio marble quarrj' of John F. Connolly, 
 about a mile west of Cockeysville, on the line of the Northern Central 
 Eailroad. The number required for the fronts of the Capitol extension 
 was 100, each weighing 23 tons. The contract price for them was 
 $1,550 for each column. These columns are 25] feet long, 3 feet 
 8 inches in diameter at the base, 3 feet in diameter at the top, and 
 are fluted. In June, 1860, the first of these columns was taken from 
 the quarry to the Bolton depot, and thence over the Howard Street 
 track to the Camden station. Bj' December 1, 18G0, twenty' of them 
 had been delivered, and throe of them were finished and placed in 
 the building with tlieir beautiful capitals, which are in the ornate 
 Corinthian order. 
 
 The dome of the Capitol was finished on Friday, August 26, 
 1864, and there were at that time ahoiit thirty marble workers at 
 work on tlie marble columns in front of the edifice. By November 
 1, 1864, tlie eastern portico of the north wing was finished. The 
 shafts of the columns were all monoliths, and the pedestals also were 
 each wrought out of a single block of marble. The capitals were 
 executed in two courses, with the foliage sculptured out of the solid 
 marble. The architrave over each center columniation is also mono- 
 lithic, and the ceilings are entirely composed of massive blocks of 
 marble deeply paneled and richly ornamented. The eastern portion 
 of the south wing, however, was not then finished. 
 
 The rotunda, mentioned above, occupies the center of the Capitol 
 building, and is ninety-six feet in diameter and ninet3'-six feet high. 
 It is divided in its circuit into jianels by lofty Grecian pilasters or 
 ant(B, wliich support a bold entablature ornamented with wreaths, 
 with an hemispherical dome rising above filled with large plain cais- 
 sons. The panels of the circular walls are appropriated to jiaintings 
 and basso-relievos of historical subjects. Panel No. 1 contains a 
 painting of the "Signing of tlie Declaration of Intlependence"; I'anel 
 No. 2, the "Capitulation of Saratoga"; Panel No. 3, the "Capitulation 
 of Yorktown"; Panel No. 4, "Washington Crossing the Delaware," 
 b}' Trumbull; Panel No. 5, the "Baptism of Pocahontas," b} 
 Chapman; Panel No. 6, the "Embarkation of the Pilgrims at Delft 
 Haven," by Weir; Panel No. 7, the "Landing of Columbus," by 
 Vanderlyn, and Panel No. 8, the "Discovery of the Mississippi by Do 
 Soto," by Powell. 
 
 The bronze folding doors hanging at the east front of the Capitol 
 were cast at Munich, Bavaria, in the latter part of 1861, b}' the artist 
 Rogers, who iiad been commissioned some years previously by the 
 
GOVERNMENT BlULDINGS AND PUBLFC MONUMENTS. GG9 
 
 Govenimeut of the United States for that purpose. The doors were 
 designed and modeled at Rome, but cast at the Royal Foundry at 
 Munich. The workmanship is admirable, there being a sharpness in 
 the lines and a finish in the details which are seldom seen. Each 
 door is divided into four panels, and these, with tlie semicircular 
 space above, make nine divisions. In each of these divisions is 
 represented an important epoch in the life of Columbus. The figures 
 stand out in full relief. The crowning event in his career occupies 
 the space above the doors. Standing on a mound, Columbus here 
 forms the central figure, having just landed from a l)oat, and with 
 the standard of Aragon and Castile jdanted upon the virgin soil of a 
 new continent, and with sword upraised in his right hand, he takes 
 possession of the land in the name of his sovereign. In one com- 
 partment is represented the triumpiial entry of Colundnis into Madrid 
 on his first return from America. Another shows Columbus in chains 
 about to embark for Europe. Another shows him on his deathbed, 
 attended only by some priests and a nun. In the thickness of the 
 doors niches are formed at certain intervals, in which are small 
 whole length figures of contemporaries of Columbus. The large bosses 
 so often seen in doors ;irc in this case supplied by the heads of 
 the most prominent of the historians who have written about Col- 
 umbus, and the ornaments below each niche are the heads of animals 
 indigenous to the country, with fruits and flowers entwined which are 
 also characteristic of the New World. The cost of the Capitol up to 
 July 15, 1870, was -?! 2,256,150.(39. 
 
 Statuary Hall, the old hall of the House of Representatives, eon- 
 tains statues of many of the prominent statesmen of the Nation's 
 history, and the east portico of the Capitol is ornamented with stat- 
 uary suggestive of epochs in the history of the United States and 
 the world. 
 
 The President's Mansion, or White House, as it is usually called, 
 is situated at the upper end of Pennsylvania Avenue. It was erected 
 in accordance with plans presented by Captain James Hoban, an 
 Irishman, and one of the early architects of the Capital City. This 
 plan was presented because of the offer b^- the commissioners of 
 premiums for competitive plans. Captain Hoban being the successful 
 competitor. The corner stone was laid October 13, 1792, and the build- 
 ing, which was modeled after the palace of the Duke of Leinster, 
 although not completed was yet so far advanced as to be occupied 
 by President John Adams upon his arrival in the new Capital, 
 November 1, 1800. It is one hundred and seventy feet front by 
 
670 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 eighty-six feet deep, and has the appearance of being built of white 
 marble, but is in reality of freestone painted white. It has a rectan- 
 gular Ionic portico in front, and a semicircular Ionic portico in the rear. 
 It is two stories high, each story being twenty-two feet. It stands 
 at the intersection of Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and 
 Vermont avenues, the entrance fronting to the north upon an open 
 square. From the south side is presented a fine view of the Potomac 
 River, the Washington Monument, and a portion of Virginia. In 
 1814 it was almost destro^'ed b}' the British, nothing but the walls 
 being left standing, and it was rebuilt upon [)laiis furnished by 
 Captain Iloban. 
 
 From the rectangular portico at the north fi'ont a spacious vesti- 
 bule is entered, and from this to the east is the East Room, the one 
 public apartment in the White House. On this floor are three other 
 apartments — the Green itooni, the Blue Room, and the Red Room, 
 and also an apartment called the State Dining Room, all of whicii 
 are closed to visitors during the day, except that occasionally a party 
 is conducted through them during the morning hours by an usher. 
 State receptions are held in the Blue Room. The upper story of the 
 mansion is devoted to business offices and the private apartments ot 
 the President. Those of public interest are the Library Room, where 
 the President receives callers during the day, and the Cabinet Room, 
 where Cabinet meetings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays. The 
 Library Room is a ver}' interesting apartment. The numerous book- 
 cases are filled with a fine library, the nucleus of which was established 
 in 1851, soon after Congress had made an appropriation of $2,000 for 
 that purpose. When this was done, it was thought strange that it 
 had not been done before. Almost immediately after the passage of 
 the appropriation act, however, C. Lanman, who was at the time libra- 
 rian of the War Department, purchased nine hundred volumes upon 
 law, history, science, and general literature. Duplicate copies of public 
 documents being found in the War Department, the Secretary of Wai- 
 immediately transferred them to the President's library, and thus an 
 excellent nucleus of a library was collected. Since then, the library 
 has grown so that it now numbers five thousand volumes. 
 
 The City Hall is one of the oldest buildings in the city. It is 
 situated on the south portion of Judiciary Square, and fronts on Four 
 and a Half Street. Its corner stone was laid August 22, 1820, with 
 Masonic ceremonies, in the presence of a large number of jieople. 
 The plans were by Architect George Iladfield, and it was claimed 
 for the building that when it should be completed it would bo the 
 
GOVERNMENT nriLDINGS AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS. 071 
 
 finest specimen of elniste iirchitccturo in tlie United States. The liistorv 
 of this building, if written in detail, might be made exceedingly inter- 
 esting. It was erected l)y the corporation of Washington; but a few 
 years since, it was sold tf) the Government of the United States 
 for 175,000. 
 
 Tbc Treasury' Department of the Government was established by 
 an act passed by the first Congress in 1789. When the Government 
 removed to Washington in 1800, a small wooden building was erected 
 for tbe use of the Treasury Department, whicb served its i)urposcs 
 until burned down by the British in August. 1814. Another building 
 was speedily constructed, which served until Marcli 31, 1833, wlien it 
 was destro^'ed by fire. Tliere was then some dela^' in reference to 
 tbe construction of a new Treasury building. An act was at lengtli 
 passed b}' Congress, providing for the erection of a new building, in 
 July, 1836. According to this act, the President was authorized to 
 have erected a fireproof building upon such a plan and of such materials 
 as he might deem most advantageous. It was then proposed by those 
 entrusted with the work of constructing this proposed building to 
 locate it further down the tract on which tlie other buildings had 
 been erected, in order that there might be a clear and unobstructe<l 
 view all along Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol and from the 
 President's House; but Robert Mills, the architect, was so long in 
 selecting a location (?) that the President became impatient, and, 
 walking over the ground one morning, planted his cane in the extreme 
 northeastern corner, and said: "Here, right here, I want the corner 
 stone," and the corner stone was laid in obedience to his commands. 
 The huge building for this reason stands on Pennsylvania Avenue, 
 breaking the continuity of this magnificent avenue, and preventing the 
 President from seeing the Capitol from the windows of his residence. 
 But in determining upon the plan of the building. President Jackson 
 called upon his Secretary of the Treasury, Hon. Levi Woodbur}', for 
 the number of rooms the Treasury Department would need. Mr. 
 Woodbury informed the President that it would require one hundred 
 and eight rooms, thirty-six in the center building and thirty-six in 
 each of the wings. The President tliereupon endorsed upon the note, 
 "Let the foundation be laid accordingly, for center, and north and 
 south wings." In December, 1837, when the foundation of the entire 
 building had been laid more than a year, when more than $145,800 
 had been expended upon it, and when the work had progressed so 
 far that it was impossible to construct the rooms according to such ii 
 plan without great loss, Mr. Woodbury gave notice that the business 
 
672 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 of the~^dopartmeiit would need one luindred and thirty-two rooms 
 instead of one hundred and eight. Up to tliis time, or a little later, 
 there seems to have been no estimate of what the cost of the building 
 would be, and so far as plan is concerned there appears to have been 
 a design to erect a niagniiicent building without regard to cost. July 
 6, 1836, Mr. Mills, the architect, submitted a plan to the President 
 which the President approved. The diagram had one entire front, 
 with a center building running back, to correspond in appearance with 
 the State Department building, which, by being altered somewiiat 
 in appearance, was to form the north wing. On the soutli there 
 was a building projected and referred to as the general building of the 
 department. 
 
 According to the report of the architect, the style of architec- 
 ture adopted in this building was the Grecian Ionic, with its richest 
 ornamentations. The granite approaches were from Pennsylvania and 
 New York avenues, and the gateways opposite these approaches would 
 show the drive np to the portico, etc. The first appropriation for this 
 building was $100,000. In June, 1838, the plan of the building was 
 exhibited to Congress, and the estimate of its cost was then $500,000. 
 By August, 1839, the building was so far completed that it was 
 occupied by the following officers: The Secretary of the Treasury, 
 the Treasurer, the Kegister, the First Comptroller, the Attorney-Gen- 
 eral, the Solicitor, and the Commissioner of the General Land Office. 
 The floors of the corridors of the two principal stories were paved 
 with black and white marble tiles, and the attic corridors were 
 paved with German white and red flagstones, and the basement cor- 
 ridor floor was paved with Seneca freestone. The main corridor 
 running north and south was three hundred and forty feet long, and 
 that running east and west was one hundred and seventy feet long. 
 The grand staircase of white marl)le, when thrown into connection 
 with the hall studded with massive Doric columns supporting a fretted 
 ceiling, was at once striking and picturesque. There are three main 
 approaches, upon the colonnade level, to the interior of the building, 
 leading to the same number of marble stairways, which lead to ditter- 
 ent stories of the building and down to the basement. The building 
 contains one hundred and fifty rooms of ditt'erent dimensions. 
 
 By January, 1842, there had been e.vjicnded on the building 
 1608,807.84, and $53,000 more was asked for, making $661,867.84. If 
 the entire building were to be completed according to the original 
 plan of the architect under the date of May 26, 1841, the cost would 
 he as follows: Soutii wing would require $265,000; the north wing. 
 
GOVERNMENT nVfl.DINGS AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS. 678 
 
 8245,000, out buildings and grading, $50,000; to finisli the building 
 already erected, $40,000; total, $600,000, which added to the amount 
 already expended, the sum was $1,208,867.84. And if the actual 
 cost of the wings should exceed the estimate as much as had the cost 
 of the main building, the entire cost would reach |1, 500, 000. The 
 committee on public expenditures severely criticised the executive 
 otiicers of the Government for their extravagant plans, and for their 
 having kept these plans secret as long as possible, so as actually to 
 lead Congress into an extravagant expenditure of the public money. 
 
 Notwithstanding the great cost of the building, it was found neces- 
 sary, in 1855, to add extensions, designs for whicli were furnished 
 by Thomas U. Walter. The building so far had been constructed 
 of Virginia freestone, and the extensions were constructed of Maine 
 granite. These were tinished in 1869. The total cost of the building 
 up to this time was nearly |7, 000, 000, and since then large sums have 
 been expended in alterations and interior decorations. At the present 
 time the building extends four hundred and sixty feet on Fifteenth 
 Street and two hundred and sixty-four feet on Pennsylvania Avenue. 
 There are four fugades, those on the north, west, and soutli having 
 massive porticos with Ionic columns. Each portico has a broad flight 
 of steps descending to a spacious platform. The north side is orna- 
 mented with a fountain, and the superb architectural design of the entire 
 building gives it a majestic appearance. It would seem as though this 
 building were large enough for any business the Treasury Department 
 would ever have to transact, but this is far from being the case, as at 
 present some of the bureaus have to find accommodations elsewhere. 
 
 The Patent Office was established by an act of Congress passed 
 Ajiril 10, 1790, "to promote the progress of the useful arts by securing 
 for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their 
 respective writings and discoveries." Under this law the Secretary 
 of State, the Secretary of War, and the Attorney -General, or an^' 
 two of them, were, on application, to grant patents for an invention, 
 provided they thought it sufficiently useful and important. From the 
 passage of the act until July 31, 1790, these three officials awaited a 
 successful applicant for a patent. Upon that day appeared Samuel 
 Hopkins, who had discovered a new method of making pot and pearl 
 ashes, for which he was granted a patent, the first issued by the Gov- 
 ernment of the United States, and the first of nearly a half million 
 of patents of inventions and discoveries more or less useful. The 
 act of signing that patent to Samuel Hopkins is called by the present 
 Commissioner of Patents "an act of historic grandeur," when the 
 
674 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 wonderful tr.ansforiniitions of a century are takoti into contemplation. 
 Fifty-seven patents in all were granted under the law of 1790, and 
 in the determination of the question as to the advisability of granting 
 a patent in these cases, so much labor, research, study, and scientific 
 learning were required that it was at length an impossibility for the 
 otKcers of tiie Government, liaving other important duties to perforu), 
 to give to tliis study and research the time necessary to an efficient 
 performance of their duties as patent commissioners. A new law was 
 therefore passed in 1793, making it the duty of the Secretary of State 
 to issue patents, subject to the revision of the Attorney-General. This 
 law prevailed until the great law of 1836 was enacted. Under the law 
 of 1793 there were issued upward of nine thousand [latents, no other 
 condition being imposed upon the applicant for a patent than that the 
 fees be paid, the oath to the invention be made, and other unimportant 
 forms be complied witli. But under this law there was not, as there 
 had been under the law of 1790, any power to refuse to grant a 
 patent, if the conditions just recited were conn)lied with, and as a 
 consequence, many useless inventions were patented, and, as many- 
 were infringements on public and private rights, the evil was increas- 
 ing every day, until 1836, wdien a new law was passed on the subject 
 of patents. 
 
 The first superintendent of the Patent Office was Dr. W. Thorn- 
 ton, a gentleman of great and varied attainments, who continued to 
 officiate for many years. In 1836 the office was destroyed by fire, and 
 likewise nearly all the records, models, etc., as well as the post office 
 and General Post Office. This was considered, as it really was, an 
 appalling disaster, as, after the smoke of the fire had blown away, 
 there lay in ashes and ruin all of the accumulations of the previous 
 thirty-six years, including the extensive correspondence of Dr. Thorn- 
 ton with the ingenious and scientific men of the United States and 
 Europe, carried on for a period of upward of twenty-three years The 
 Patent Office was then moved into the City Hall, and the new Patent 
 Office building was begun soon afterward, and was conifileted, except 
 as to the additions made in later years, toward the latter part of 
 1839. This colossal structure stands on a Government reservation 
 of four acres, extending from Seventh to Ninth streets, and from F 
 to G streets. Northwest, the reservation being the one set apart by 
 Major L'Enfant in his plan of Washington for a great national 
 cliureh. Jt is four hundred and ten feet from east to west, and two 
 hundred and seventy-five feet iVom north to south. 
 
 The basement story of this building contains one long room 
 
GOVERy.MEJMT BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS. 675 
 
 232 by 62 feet in size; two otlier rooms 30 by 20 feet; eight rooms 
 each 20 by 22; besides a spacious wing for storage, 86 by 38, a corridor 
 15 feet wide, and four small rooms 20 by 10 feet in size. The second 
 floor is similarly divided into rooms. The basement is of split granite, 
 except the base of the portico, which is of dressed granite. The super- 
 structure is of freestone. The main building is two hundred and 
 seventy feet long and seventy feet wide. After the wings were added, 
 the fagades were two hundred and fort}' feet. The east wing was added 
 in 1853, and the north and west wings some years later. The east 
 and west wings were constructed of Maryland marble, and the north 
 wing of granite. The building is of the Doric style of architecture. 
 The main entrance is on F Street, through a massive portico of two 
 rows of large columns, designed after the entrance of the Parthenon 
 in Athens, and is precisely of the same dimensions. The portico is 
 reached by a lofty fliglit of broad granite steps. On the Seventh 
 Street side is another great portico, and there are smaller ones on the 
 other two sides. The entire number of compartments is nearly two 
 hundred, besides the extensive halls of the museum of models. The 
 architects were Robert Mills, who constructed tliQ original portion, 
 Thomas U. Walter, and Edward Clark, who constructed the extensions. 
 
 Originally, Congress authorized the erection of a building that 
 should cost 1108,000, to be borne by the Patent Office Fund. This 
 sum, however, did not suffice to complete the front, which was only 
 about one-fourth of the edifice according to the original plan, and it 
 fell short of the actual cost of that portion of the building by about 
 $309,550, which was supplied by the public treasury. By authority of 
 an act of Congress passed March 3, 1849, the erection of the wings 
 was carried on. The south front was then erected at a cost of 
 $417,550, the Patent Fund contributing $108,000. For the east wing 
 there was appropriated $250,000, of which the Patent Fund furnished 
 $211,000 and the public treasury $39,000. In 1850 it was estimated 
 that to complete the east wing it would require $200,000 more, which 
 would make the contribution from the public treasury $239,000, so 
 that when the east wing should be completed, the cost of the entire 
 building would be $867,550, of wliicli the [lublic treasury would con- 
 tribute $548,550 and the Patent Fund the rest. 
 
 The Department of Agriculture building is situated in South 
 Washington, just north of B Street Southwest, and opposite Thir- 
 teenth Street. It was erected in 1868, and is three full stories iu 
 height above a basement, and has a mansard roof. It is 170 by 61 
 feet in size, and cost $140,420. 
 
(17(5 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Tlie reiisioii Ijiiilding is located on tlie north portion of Judiciary 
 Square. It is an immense brick structure, 400 by 200 feet in size, and 
 75 feet bis^b. It covers 1.84 acres of ground, and is fireproof tbrougli- 
 out. Tbe noticeable feature of the exterior is the frieze over the first 
 story, consisting of a terra cotta sculptured band three feet wide 
 extending all round tbe building, representing military and naval 
 subjects. This building required 15,000,000 brick in its construction, 
 and cost |1,000,000. The interior court will accommodate 18,000 
 persons at an inauguration ball, and will hold 59,000 persons. It is 
 used, of course, for the headquarters of tbe Pension Department of 
 the Government. General Montgomery C. Meigs was the architect and 
 builder, and modeled it after the Farnese Palace at Florence, Italy. 
 
 The Bureau of Engraving and Printing stands on the corner of B 
 and Fourteenth streets Southwest. Tbe building was erected in 1878-80, 
 and is 220 by 135 feet in size. Its cost was $300,000. It is used by 
 tbe Government for tbe manufacture of paper money ami bonds. 
 
 The new State, War, and Navy building is situated at tbe corner 
 of Pennsylvania Avenue and Seventeenth Street, west of tbe Execu- 
 tive Mansion. It was designed by A. B. Mullett, late supervising 
 architect of the Treasury Department. It consists of four buildings 
 harmonizing with each other, and united by connecting wings, which 
 constitute altogether one of the finest buildings, if not the finest 
 building, in the world. From north to south it is five hundred and 
 sixty-seven feet, and from east to west it is three hundred and forty- 
 two feet, thus covering an area of four and nine-twentieths acres. Tbe 
 Department of State occupies the south wing of this building; the 
 Department of tbe Navy, the east wing; and the De[>artMient of War, 
 tbe north wing. The height of tbe building is one hundred and 
 forty-five feet, and it contains five hundred and sixty- six rooms 
 and two miles of corridor. The cost of the building was nearly- 
 $11,000,000, and it is of what is called tbe Renaissance style of 
 architecture. 
 
 Tbe new Congressional Library building, now in process of erec- 
 tion, occupies the center of a site of ten and a half acres, between 
 First and Second streets East, and East Capitol and B streets Soutli, 
 and is about nine hundred feet east of the south wing of tbe Capitol. 
 Tbe ground was purchased in 1887 for |585,000. The ground plan 
 of the l)uilding is four hundred and seventy feet from north to south 
 and three hundred and sixty-five feet from east to west, thus covering 
 a trifle more than three and three-tenths acres of ground, and being 
 surrounded by an esplanade of somewhat more than six acres. The 
 
GO\-RRNMENr lUUI. DINGS AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS. 677 
 
 building is constructed of granite and marble, and consists of a cellar 
 and two stories, aggregating sixty-nine feet from the ground. It is 
 in the Renaissance style of architecture. The reading-room in the 
 central rotunda is one hundred feet in diameter, and opens into the 
 book repositories, which radiate from the center, and of which there 
 are nine stories. The capacity of this library is eight million volumes, 
 and the building is estimated to cost |6,000,000. 
 
 The Washington Monument is situated on the Government res- 
 ervation bounded by Fourteenth Street West and the Potomac River. 
 The site was designated by Congress in 1848, and is said to have been 
 selected by Washington himself, when he was President of the United 
 States. The monument is a plain obeliscal shaft, rising to a height of 
 555 feet above its base, and stands upon a mound having an elevation 
 of 17 feet above the general level of the surrounding surface, so that 
 the top of the monument is 572 feet higher than the same general 
 level. The base of this mound extends out from the base of the 
 monument to a distance of 350 to 450 feet, gradually sloping down to 
 the general level. The foundation of the shaft is 126 feet square and 
 37 feet below the base of the shaft. The shaft is 55 feet square at 
 the base, 30 feet square at the top, and is surmounted by a pyramid 
 55 feet high. The lower portion of the monument is constructed of 
 blue gneiss, and is faced with large crystal marble, the upper portion 
 being of the same marble cut with granite backing. In the interior 
 lining are set 82 blocks of stone presented by the States and cities 
 of the Union, by various societies, and by foreign countries, all of 
 which are appropriately inscribed, and can be easily read in ascending 
 the monument, this ascension being provided for by an elevator and 
 a staircase around the elevator shaft in the interior. The shaft is 
 lighted by electricity, the only openings being the doorway at the 
 bottom and small windows at the top. 
 
 This monument is the highest artificial structure in the world, 
 with the exception of the Eiffel Tower at Paris. It rises many feet 
 above the Capitol, and above any of the cathedral spires in Europe 
 and the East. It is fifteen feet higher than the main tower of the 
 new city hall at Philadelphia, thirty feet higher than the great 
 cathedral at Cologne, and ninety-live feet higher than St. Peter's at 
 Rome. The prospect from the summit of the monument is very fine. 
 It extends from the Allegheny Mountains on the west to the Atlantic 
 Ocean; and covers the city of Washington on the north and east, and 
 extends beyond into Maryland, and south far into Virginia. 
 
 The question of a national memorial to the Hero of the Revo- 
 
(i78 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 lutioii began to be discussed at an early day. In 1783 the Continental 
 Congress adojjted a resolntion For the erection of a statue "in honor 
 of George Washington, the illustrious Coniniander-in-Chief of the 
 United States Army during the war which vindicated and secured 
 thcii- liberty, sovereignty, and independence"; but the resolution was 
 not carried into effect, as it was understood that Washington did not 
 desire a statue to be erected while he was living. In the House 
 of Representatives, December 21, 1799, Mr. Marshall, of Virginia, 
 submitted the following resolution, which ])assed ncnwie contradi- 
 cente: 
 
 "■Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
 States, in Congress assembled, That a marble monument be erected by 
 the United States at the Capitol in the city of Washington, and tliat 
 the family of General Washington be requested to permit his body to 
 be deposited under it; and that the monument be so designed as to 
 commemorate the great events of his military and political life." 
 
 On January 8, 1800, the President sent the following letters to 
 Congress: 
 
 " Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: 
 
 "In compliance with the request in one of the resolutions of 
 Congress of the 21st of December last, I transmitted a copy of those 
 resolutions, by my secretary, Mr. Shaw, to Mrs. Washington, assuring 
 her of the profound respect Congress will ever bear to her person 
 and character, of tlieir condolence in the late afflicting dispensation 
 of I'rovidence, and entreating her assent to the interment of the 
 remains of General Washington in the manner ex[)resse(l in the reso- 
 lution. As the sentiments of that virtuous lad}', not less beloved by 
 this Nation than she is at p)resent greatly afflicted, can never be so 
 well expressed as in her own words, I transmit to Congress her 
 original letter. 
 
 "It would be an attempt of too much delicacy to make any 
 comments upon it, but there can be no doubt that the Nation at 
 large, as well as all branches of the Government, will be highly 
 gratified by an arrangement which will diminish the sacrifices she 
 makes in her individual feelings. 
 
 "JouN Adams. 
 
 "United States, 8th January, 1800." 
 
 Following is Mrs. Washington's letter, referred to by President 
 Adams: 
 
GOrERNMEN'f BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS. 679 
 
 "Mount Vernon, 31st December, 1799. 
 
 "Sir: While I feel, with the keenest anguish, the lute dispensa- 
 tion of Divine Providence, I cannot be insensible to the mournful 
 tributes of respect and veneration which are paid to the memory of 
 my dear deceased husband; and as his best services and most anxious 
 wishes were always devoted to the welfare and happiness of his 
 country, to know that they were truly appreciated and gratefully 
 remembered, afibrds no inconsiderable consolation. 
 
 " Taught by the great example which I liave so long had before 
 me, never to oppose my private wishes to the public welfare, I must 
 consent to the request made by Congress, which you have had the 
 goodness to transmit to me, and in doing this I need not, and I can- 
 not, say what sacrifice of individual feeling I make to a sense of 
 public duty. 
 
 "With grateful acknowledgments and unfeigned thanks for the 
 personal respect and evidences of condolence expressed by Congress 
 and yourself, I remain 
 
 "Very respectfully, Sir, 
 
 "Your most obedient and humble servant, 
 
 "Martua Washington. 
 
 "To the President of the United States." 
 
 Notwithstanding the consent of Mrs. Washington was thus ob- 
 tained to the depositing of the remains of General Washington in the 
 Capitol building, and the early recognition of the duty of the Gov- 
 ernment to appropriately remember the services of the first General 
 and the first President of the Nation, the subject was postjjoned in 
 the Senate until the next session, and then postponed again from 
 year to year, for about twenty years, nothing being done by Con- 
 gress except to pass resolutions upon the propriety of carrying out 
 the early designs of Congress, and again postpone action. In the 
 meantime, many people throughout the Union felt deeply mortified 
 and chagrined at the neglect of Congress to fittingly express its 
 appreciation of the great services of the first soldier and the first 
 President of the Republic, and as a consequence a popular movement 
 was attempted by which it was iioped to raise the money necessary 
 to carry out the design of erecting a suitable monument to the 
 memory of Washington. The plan was to raise if possible a popular 
 subscription of $1 from each family throughout the United States, 
 and by 1812 about |35,000 was thus raised. It is to be noticed, 
 however, that during all these first years, and first eftbrts, the design 
 
GSO H /STORY OF WASHfNGTON. 
 
 wiis to deposit the remains of General Wusliiiigtoii under the moiin- 
 nient to be erected to his memory in the Capitol building at Washing- 
 ton, to erect a mausoleum, or to establish a national university. The 
 popular movement here mentioned was in view of such a university, 
 Washington himself having left a portion of his property to be 
 devoted to such an institution. 
 
 At lengtii, on the loth of January, 1824, Mr. Buchanan, of Penn- 
 sylvania, introduced a resolution into the House of liepresentatives to 
 the effect that a committee be appointed whose duty it should be 
 to inquire in what manner the resolution of Congress of December 
 21, 1799, relative to the erection of a monument in the Capitol at 
 the city of Washington to commemorate the great events in the 
 military and political life of General Washington, might best be 
 aecomiilished, and that the committee be permitted to report by 
 bill or otherwise. Mr. Buchanan made an able speech in favor of 
 Congress doing something to show that they honored the memory 
 of the founder of the Nation. There was, however, some opposition 
 even to the performance of this act of justice to the memory of the 
 great Washington, and it is only surprising that the objections to 
 the erection of the proposed monument were not based on constitu- 
 tional grounds. Mr. Carey, of Georgia, made a speech in opposition 
 to the movement, deprecating the practice of erecting monuments of 
 this kind to the memory of illustrious men. lie said it was a prin- 
 ciple of vanity which had given existence to the practice. Classical 
 enthusiasm beclouded the judgment, and persuaded us to bring associa- 
 tions derived from the venerable sculpture of ancient times to times ot 
 a wholly different character, and to a countr}^ in wholly different 
 circumstances. Mr. Trimble opposed "the present consideration of the 
 question," and ujion a vote being taken, the subject was laid on 
 the table by a vote of 97 to 67. 
 
 February 22, 1830, on motion of Mr. Mitchell, of Maryland, the 
 resolution adopted by Congress in 1799, together with the correspond- 
 ence between President Adams and Mrs. Washington, was referred 
 to a committee, with power to report by bill or otherwise, and on 
 motion of Mr. Clay this committee was composed of one member 
 from each State in the Union. Here the matter rested until 1832, 
 when, on the 13tli of February, a joint committee of the two Houses 
 was ap[iointed for the purpose of making preparations to celebrate 
 in an appropriate matter the one hundredth anniversar}- of the birth 
 of General Washington, and to revive the project, which had so 
 frequently been postjioncd, of erecting a moiiunicut to iiis memory. 
 
GO]T.RNMENT BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS. 681 
 
 It was tlie design to have, as a part of the celebration, an oration on 
 the character of Washington delivered by John Marshall, Chief Justice 
 of the United States; but Justice Marshall was compelled to decline 
 the part assigned to him on account of enfeebled health. It was also 
 a part of the design for that celebration to have the bod}' of General 
 Washington removed to the vault in the Capitol prepared years before 
 to receive it, and also to remove the remains of Mrs. Washington to 
 the same vault at the same time; to have the President, James Madison, 
 Charles Carroll of Carrollton, besides most of the high functionaries 
 of the Government, participate in the celebration, and to make it 
 one of the most imposing ceremonies ever witnessed. But the 
 intention of Congress to remove the I'emaius of General and Mrs 
 Washington at this time was frustrated by the refusal of the proprietor 
 of Mount Vernon to permit them to be removed; but, .notwithstanding 
 this failure. Congress by its attempt to remove the remains, redeemed 
 its pledge from discredit; the wisdom of President Washington's 
 maxims of republican policy was revered in the debate on the subject 
 of their removal, and full gratitude for his services in tlie Revolution- 
 ary War was feelingly and abundantly expressed. The day was 
 however fittingly celebrated in "Washington. 
 
 October 31, 1833, at a meeting held for the purpose, the Wash- 
 ington National Monument Society was organized, Daniel Brent 
 being chairman of the meeting and Peter Force secretary. Tiie 
 following persons were elected as the officers of the society: Presi- 
 dent, Chief Justice of the United States; vice-presidents, William 
 Cranch, Joseph Gales, Jr., and W. W. Seaton; treasurer, Samuel 
 H. Smith; secretary, George Watterston; managers. General T. S. 
 Jesup, Colonel George Bomford, Colonel James Kearney, R. 0. 
 Weightman, Colonel N. Towson, William Brent, Peter Force, Colonel 
 A. Henderson, Thomas Carbery, Thomas Munroe, M. St. Clair Clarke, 
 W. A. Bradley, and J. McClelland. The ex officio members of the 
 board of managers were the President and Vice-President of the 
 United States and all the members of the Cabinet. 
 
 A constitution for the society was at the same time adopted. Tlie 
 name adopted and incorporated into the constitution was "The Wash- 
 ington National Monument Society," and the object for which the so- 
 ciety was organized was stated to be the erection of a great national 
 monument to the memory of Washington at the seat of the Federal 
 Government. Section 2 provided for the above-named officers and 
 four general collectors. Section 6 divided the United States into four 
 general collection districts; the first embracing that portion of the 
 
(582 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 country containing Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, 
 Connecticut, and New York; the second, the other middle States, the 
 District of Columbia and Virginia; the third, the other Southern 
 States, except as below; and the fourth, the Western States, Tennes- 
 see, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. 
 
 The duty of these general collectors was to call in person, or by 
 deputy, upon every one in their respective districts, and receive such 
 sums of money as they might be disposed to contribute, retaining ten 
 per cent, for their services. The regular officers of the society were 
 to be elected at each annual meeting of the society on February 22. 
 
 By the death of Chief Justice John Marshall, the presidency of 
 this society became vacant, and Ex-President James Madison accepted 
 tiie appointment to the position July 25, 1835. 
 
 State after State was visited by the agents of tins society, Ohio 
 and Maine being the first to manifest an encouraging interest in the 
 movement. February 1, 1837, Mr. Watterston, to satisfy inquirers 
 that some progress was being made, published a report of what had 
 been accomplished up to that time. This report showed that Ohio 
 had contributed $5,834.45; Maryland, |3,030.94; Pennsylvania, $2,000; 
 Mississippi, |2,120; New Jersey, $1,251.74; New York, $1,000, and 
 other States smaller amounts, the total amount collected being $22,- 
 238.64. There were several of the States in which no attempt had 
 then been made to collect money for this object. 
 
 The board of managers wishing to lay the foundation stone as 
 soon as practicable, made application to Congress for a portion of 
 the Mall as a site for the proposed monument. The bill passed the 
 House, but was overlooked in the Senate. June 10, 1887, several 
 designs having been presented to the board of managers, the follow- 
 ing resolution was ptassed: 
 
 "That the thanks of the board of managers be j)resented to 
 Robert Mills, of Washington; S. M. Stone, and Benne & Piatt, of 
 New Haven; Thomas McClelland, of New York; E. Barasius, of Bal- 
 timore; George Hadlield, William Elliott, and others, for the handsome 
 designs submitted by them respectively to the board, which, in the 
 opinion of the board, indicate a genius and skill highly credital)le to 
 the artists." 
 
 Progress in the collection of money was still slow, and on June 
 20, 1838, representations derogatory to the character of the boanl of 
 managers having appeared in the imhlic i>rints, a detailed statement 
 of the receipts and expenditures of the board was published by Secre- 
 tary Watterston, as follows: Receipts — From Maine, $1,G00; Vcr- 
 
GOVERNMENT RIULDINGS AND PUnLIC MONUMENTS. 683 
 
 moiit, $31.95; Connecticut, $1,488.61; New York, $1,167.21; New 
 Jersey, $1,419.61; Pennsylvania, $2,102.85; Delaware, $361.98; Mary- 
 land, $3,057.99; Virginia, $1,500; South Carolina, $570; Kentucky, 
 $1,610; Ohio, $6,391; Louisiana, $701.25; Indiana, $340; Illinois, $700; 
 Mississippi, $2,120; District of Columbia, $836.36; Florida, $227; officers 
 and sailors of the army, $565.89; of the navy, $228.25; total, $26,970.14; 
 interest on so much as had been invested, $1,608.73, making in 
 all $28,578.87. The expenses had been inconsiderable. 
 
 In December, 1840, impatience with the progress of the work be- 
 came again so manifest that the secretary, or some one on his author- 
 ity, replied to a complaining correspondent from Warren County, Ohio, 
 that about $40,000 had been collected, adding that "your noble 
 State of Ohio has contributed nearly one-fourth of that sum." Desir- 
 ing to make a commencement of the proposed work, the board again 
 made application to Congress for a portion of the public .Mall for a 
 site; but, to the astonishment of every one, it was not only refused in 
 the Senate, but the members of the board were grossly calumniated 
 by the two Senators from Ohio,' the State from which the largest col- 
 lection had been made. This wanton attack upon the characters of 
 men who had devoted gratuitously tlieir time and services to the 
 accomplishment of an object which it was believed every patriotic 
 American sincerely desired to have accomplished, and the refusal of 
 the Senate to grant a portion of the Mall for a site for the monument, 
 put a stojj for a time, and to a considerable degree, to further collec- 
 tions. The board of managers then sought to enlist the services of 
 the marshals and the deputy marshals throughout the country who 
 were engaged in taking the census to obtain additional subscriptions; 
 but in this they met with another disappointment, the Secretar}' of 
 State' forbidding the enumerators to engage in that kind of work. 
 
 February 27, 1841, Samuel II. Smith, treasurer of the society, 
 published a report showing that since 1835 the total receipts for the 
 erection of the monument up to January 10, 1841, had been $39,- 
 700.47. On March 29, 1841, Mr. Smith published a statement to the 
 efl'ect that Dr. James Hagan, collector of funds for the society in 
 Mississippi, had collected $3,213.36, which he had sent in, except his 
 commission. On January 17, 1842, Mr. Smith made his annual 
 report, showing a total amount collected of $41,370. February 26, 
 1844, according to Mr. Smith's annual report for the previous year, 
 there had been raised $47,061.85. 
 
 "^ William Allen and Thomas Morris. 
 *John Forsyth, of Georgia. 
 
G84 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 November 30, 1844, at a meeting of the board of managers it was 
 
 ^'■Resolved, That a committee of three members be appointed to 
 procure a suitable design for the monument of Washington, witli 
 authority to confer witli the Committee on Public Buildings and 
 Grounds, or other persons, in relation to a proper site for said mon- 
 ument, and that said committee report to the board before any final 
 action thereon." 
 
 The committee appointed consisted of W. W. Seaton, Peter Force, 
 and George Watterston. January 30, 1845, the amount of money on 
 hand was $49,783.70. November 18 of that year, Samuel II. Smith, 
 the treasurer of tliis society, died, and he was succeeded by his son, 
 J. B, H. Smith. November 21, 184G, the amount of money on hand 
 was $55,359.60. 
 
 About this time the board of managers decided to resume col- 
 lections of money throughout the United States, with which to carry 
 forward their great design, and in order to systematize the work and 
 thus guarantee its success, they appointed Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, of 
 Oiiio, as general agent, with power to appoint subagents according 
 to his own judgment. Tiiey said that the delay in commencing the 
 work of erecting the moimmeut was occasioned by the want of a 
 liroper site upon which to erect it. They had long hoped that a site 
 would be granted by Congress, and they then hoped that such a 
 site would be given at the next session. The board of managers then 
 consisted of the following gentlemen: Major-General Winfield Scott, 
 General N. Towson, Colonel J. J. Abert, Colonel James Kearney, 
 General Walter Jones, Thomas Munroe, Thomas Carberry, Peter 
 Force, W. A. Bradley, P. R. Fendall, and John P. Ingle. The 
 officers of the society were as follows: The President of the United 
 States, president ex officio; William Brent, W. W. Seaton, and General 
 A. Henderson, vice-presidents; treasurer, J. B. II. Smith; secretary, 
 George Watterston. About tiiis time an otter of a site was nuxde 
 by George W. P. Custis, on tiie Arlington estate, and of another 
 near the canal, one hundred feet above tide water. To these generous 
 offers Mr. Watterston replied that the constitution of the society 
 limited the location to the city of Washington, and that therefore 
 it was impossible to accept either of the valuable proffers. 
 
 January 26, 1848, a joint resolution granting a site for the monu- 
 ment was passed by the House of Representatives, as it had come 
 down to them from the Senate, and the board of managers, thcrenjion, 
 with the approval of the President of the United States, selected the 
 ground lying west of Fifteentii Street, where the monument now 
 
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS. G85 
 
 stands. At that time it was ttie intention of the society to erect the 
 monument six hundred feet high, but tliis design was subsequently 
 changed. Excavations for its foundation were at once commenced, 
 and they were completed by June 1 following. The corner stone of 
 the monument reached the railroad depot June 5, and on the next 
 day it was removed to its destined location, attended by a large 
 procession of the citizens, preceded by the Marine Band and a body 
 of marines under command of Major Pulizzi. The American fliig 
 was hoisted on the car which conveyed the stone from the depot, and 
 a live eagle was placed on the corner stone itself. After a delay at 
 the Fourteenth Street bridge, caused by the wheels of the car getting 
 oli' the track, the stone was safely deposited in the afternoon of 
 Wednesday, June 7, where it was permanently to remain. It is a 
 block of white marble, weighing twenty-four thousand live iuindred 
 pounds. It is six feet eight inches square, and nearly three feet 
 thick. It came from the marble quarries of Mr. Symington, fourteen 
 miles from Baltimore, Mr. Symington having presented it to the citj', 
 together with a cover two feet six inches thick. It 'was transported 
 by the Susquehanna, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, 
 free of charge, to the depot in Washington. The wagon on which 
 it was conve^-ed from the dejiot in Washington to the place on the 
 monument was furnished by Mr. Philip Ennis. 
 
 The laying of this corner stone was an imposing affair, and was 
 participated in by the military and by a large number of citizens, 
 including all kinds of civic organizations. Joseph H. Bradley was 
 the marshal of the day. The oration on the occasion was delivered 
 by one of the most eloquent orators in the country, lion. Robert 
 C. Winthrop, of Massachusetts. The prayer was by Rev. Mr. McJil- 
 ton, of Baltimore, and the Masonic address was delivered by B. B. 
 French, Grand Master of the District of Columbia. Robert Mills was 
 the architect of the monument. The American eagle, which was so 
 conspicuous on this occasion, with its dark plumage, piercing eye, and 
 snowy head and tail, was the same that surmounted the arch of wel- 
 come erected at Alexandria to Lafayette, and was afterward presented 
 to M. Vattemare for the National Museum at Paris, France. 
 
 January 1, 1849, the funds of the society amounted to $56,289.06. 
 About May 1, 1849, an offer was received from Mr. D. Sayre, of 
 Alabama, proposing on the part of some of the citizens of that State 
 to quarry and prepare a block of marble from the quarries of Talla- 
 dega County, to be placed in the monument. The marble was very 
 beautiful, finely grained, and susceptible of a high polish. The offer 
 
686 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 of Mr. Sa3're was accepted, and the suggestion published by Mr. Wat- 
 terston tliat, if any other State or any public institution should be 
 disposed to furnish a stone to be placed in the monument, the IjDard 
 of managers would take pleasure in having it placed therein in an 
 appropriate position, that of Alabama to be placed first. The dimen- 
 sions given out by Mr. Watterston for these memorial marbles were as 
 follows: Four feet long, two feet high, and one foot six inches broad, 
 with a front bevel of one-fourth of an inch to a foot. By June 
 oO, besides Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Vir- 
 ginia, and Delaware had reported their intention of complying with 
 the suggestion thus thrown out. Next came Maine and Mississippi. 
 
 The first, however, to be inserted in the monument was one fioni 
 the Franklin Fire Company' of Washington, District of Columbia, in- 
 scribed with the name of the company and "Initiated, 1827. We 
 Strive to Save." The second stone inserted was of freestone, three 
 feet long, two feet high, and two feet wide, and bore this inscription: 
 "Presented by George Watterston, Secretary of the Washington Na- 
 tional Monument Society, as a Testimonial of his (ii-atitude and 
 Veneration, A. D. 1849." This was in October of that year, at 
 which time the structure had risen forty-four feet above the ground. 
 The army and navy furnished contributions to aid in the construction 
 of the monument, and the Choctaw Indians sent a stone to be inserted 
 similar to those of the States. The forty children of the Washington 
 City Orphan Asylum, accompanied by Miss Latimer, on November 1 
 marched to the monument, and tendered their monthly donation of one 
 cent each. This was in accordance with a plan then recently adopted, 
 which it was hoped would be adopted by every school in the country. 
 
 December 5, 1849, among other subscriptions received, was one 
 from Mr. James Lenox, of New York City, of $500. January 15, 
 1850, the thanks of the society were tendered to the liaidv of the 
 Metropolis for its subscription of flOO, and shortly afterward also to 
 the Bank of Washington for a subscription of the same amount. On 
 this same day' a resolution was introduced into the Kentucky Senate 
 by Hon. J. Speed Smith, as follows: 
 
 " Resolved, by the. General Assembly of the State of Kentucky, That 
 the Governor be, and he is hereby, authorized and requested to cause 
 a suitable block of native marble to be conveyed to Washington City 
 to take its proper place in the monument now being erected to the 
 memory of the Father of his Country, and that the following words 
 be engraved thereon: 'Under the auspices of Heaven, and the precepts 
 of Washington, Kentucky will be the last to give up the Union.'" 
 
GOl'ERN.UENT RUn.DINGS AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS. 087 
 
 The National Greys contributed a block of wliite niarijle. The 
 Legislature of Indiana made provision for a block of marble for the 
 monument to bear tins inscription: "Indiana; Knows no North, no 
 South; nothing but the Union." The council of the Chickasaw 
 Indians appropriated $200 to the monument fund in February, 1850. 
 Louisiana passed an act to provide a stone for the monument, to 
 bear the following inscription: "The State of Louisiana, Ever Loyal 
 to the Constitution and the Union." Massachusetts, on March 1, 
 1850, directed a stone to be prepared for the same purpose with the 
 following inscription: "Massacliusetts; Our Country is safe while 
 the memor}^ of Washington is revered." Maryland directed the 
 following inscription to be placed on the stone contributed by 
 her: "Maryland; the Memorial of her regard for the Federal Con- 
 stitution, and of her 'cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment 
 to the American Union.'" California, February 2, 1850, passed a 
 joint resolution providing for a block of marble or granite from her 
 own quarries to be placed in the monument. Thus the States, one 
 by one, and rapidly succeeding each other, adopted resolutions, or 
 passed acts, jiroviding for the placing of an emblem in the monument, 
 and by April 12, 1850, all of them Lad taken action but two. The 
 memento of Michigan was a bloc^k of native copper, the exposed 
 surface of which was to be three by one and oue-half feet, and to 
 bear the following inscription in letters of native silver: "From 
 Michigan; an Emblem of her trust in the Union." May 31, 1850, 
 tlie city of Washington appropriated |2,500 to the monument fund, 
 to be i)aid in live annual installments. Professor Francis Lieber, of 
 South Carolina, contributed a box of sand from the mound erected 
 at Cracow to the memory of Kosciusko. 
 
 July 4, 1850, was celebrated at the monument in an appropriate 
 manner. Prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Butler; the Declaration of 
 Independence was read by Walter Lenox, Mayor of Washington; the 
 oration of the day was delivered by Hon. H. S. Foote, of Mississippi!; 
 (general Walter Jones presented the Washington block of marble in 
 the name of the city; George W. P. Custis delivered a patriotic 
 address, and the benediction was pronounced by the liev. Mr, Mor- 
 gan, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. At this time there was a 
 wide-spread interest in the enterprise, and contributions kept coming 
 in from all parts of the country. From January 1 to November 1, 
 1850, the contributions averaged |2,800 per month. 
 
 During the first ten months of 1850, the contributions amounted 
 to $28,000, and by the 1st of January the monument had attained 
 
088 H/STORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 a heiglit of eighty feet from the base. December 27, 1850, a com- 
 mittee appointed l)y a convention of subordinate lodges of tlje Odd 
 Fellows of the county and city of Philadelphia addressed a letter t(^ 
 Hon. Millard Fillmore, President of the United States, informing liini 
 that they had performed a duty imposed upon them by seventy-two 
 contributary lodges of that order, of preparing and presenting a block 
 of marble for the monument. December 30, the President acknowl- 
 edged receipt of the letter, and said in reply that wc wci'e bound by 
 every consideration, human and divine, to transmit tiic union unim- 
 paired to our posterity. The block of marble was a beautiful piece 
 of tine-grained marble, six feet long, b}' four feet wide, and two feet 
 thick, weighing about four tons. It was appropriately inscribed with 
 the names of the seventy-two lodges referred to above, together with 
 the three links of the order. 
 
 A number of Indian tribes of the West contributed a block tVom 
 the far famed "Starved Rock," near Ottawa, Illinois, upon which the 
 last surviving remnant of the Illinois Indians gathered, where they 
 were beseiged on ever}- side, and when at last, compelled by hunger 
 and in desperation, they attempted to force a passage through the 
 ranks of their enemies, they were slain almost to a man, leaving 
 scarcely enough to tell the tale. The Indians, having no land of 
 their own, had inscribed on their contribution the following: "This 
 step the red man gives to the pale face to build him a path to the 
 better hunting ground." 
 
 Wheatland, in Monroe County, New York, set a good example 
 to the rest of the country, several of her citizens subscribing sums 
 varying from |50 down to iifty cents, in the aggregate more than 
 .|;l,200. July 4, 1851, W. W. Corcoran subscribed to the monument 
 fund $50, aud announced his intention of subscribing the same amount 
 each year, on the 4th of July, until the monument should be com- 
 pleted. December 24, 1851, Lewis Cass, Jr., of the United States 
 Legation at Rome, wrote to Mr. George Watterston informing him that 
 it was the intention of the Pope, through Cardinal Antonelli, Secre- 
 tary of State of the Roman Government, to contribute a block of 
 marble toward the erection of the monument, which Mr. Watterston 
 acknowledged in suitable terms. Some time afterward a passionate, 
 but not wise, address was published in opposition to the placing of 
 this stone in the monument by Mr. J. T. Weishampel, of Baltimore, 
 wiio thought he could see in the proi)Osition the pur}iose of the Pope 
 to remove to Amerii'a, and that this was indicateil by the proi)Osed 
 inscri()tion, "Rome to America." 
 
GOVERNMENT BU/LD/NGS AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS. (J89 
 
 By March 1, 1852, tliere luul been collected about |130,000, and 
 tlie monument had risen to a height of somewhat more than one 
 hundred feet. June 3, 1852, an ordinance was adopted by the cor- 
 poration of Savannah, Georgia, making an annual appropriation of 
 $100, from that time until the monument should be completed. This 
 fitting and patriotic action was appropriately acknowledged by tlio 
 society, as was also the receipt of |60 from the family of Francis 
 A. Evans, of Louisiana. August 13, J. Y. Hendrick, pastor of the 
 Presbyterian church at Clarksville, Tennessee, sent forward a contri- 
 bution from his church of $50, and about the same time Joel 
 M. Smith, of Nashville, Tennessee, sent $78 as a contribution from 
 McKendree Church of that city. September 9, J. W. Jones, of 
 Augusta, Georgia, sent a contribution of $425 from various churches 
 and citizens of his city, and about the same time Mr. Cardigan, of 
 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, sent $280 collected by Richard Wall. 
 
 A movement was made in the fall of 1852 to secure contributions 
 to the national monument at the time of voting for President, Novem- 
 ber 2, the first response being from Cincinnati, Ohio, which city sent 
 forward $177.76. Returns from this attempt kept coming in all the 
 fall and winter, and it is probable tliat in this way nearly, if not 
 quite, $20,000 was raised. In October, 1852, the Swiss Republic pre- 
 sented a block of marble for the monument, which was received in 
 November, and suitably acknowledged by the Hon. Edward Everett, 
 Secretary of State. February 22, 1853, the Sansome Hook and Ladder 
 Company contributed $1,000 toward the monument, and Madam Bis- 
 caccianti contributed the proceeds of a concert, $500, toward the same 
 object. 
 
 George Watterston, secretary of the society charged with the 
 erection of this monument, died February 4, 1854, and on the 14th 
 of the same month John Carroll Brent was elected to the vacancy 
 thus caused. Contributions continued to be made, but in decreasing 
 amounts, and at length, in 1856, when the monument had attained a 
 height of one hundred and seventy-four feet and had cost $230,000., 
 all that had been contributed, the work upon it was discontinued 
 until 1876, when Congress took charge of the work and approp)riated 
 money for its completion. In August, 1884, the monument reached 
 a height of five hundred feet, from which elevation the square 
 pyramidal roof begins, and rises to an additional height of fifty-five 
 feet. The cap stone was placed in position December 6, 1884. It 
 was formally opened to the public in 1888, since which time ascen- 
 sions have been made free, by means of the elevator or the ii-on 
 
G90 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 stairwa}', on week days from 9:00 a. m. to 5:30 p. M. The amount of 
 money appropriated by Congress to complete this noble monument 
 was $1,000,000, so that its entire cost was $1,230,000. 
 
 The Washington Statue, by Greenough, was sculptured in Flor- 
 ence, Italy, and was received at the Navy Yard, in Washington, in 
 October, 1841, and removed to its appointed place, in the rotunda of 
 the Capitol, in December following, where it was raised to its lofty 
 [)edestal. Here it remained until August, 1843, when it was removed, 
 and in September following was elevated to its present position, east 
 of and facing the Capitol. This statue was described, at the time, in 
 the following language: 
 
 "Nothing can be more human, and at the same time more God- 
 like, than this colossal statue of Washington. It is a sort of a 
 domestic Jupiter. The sublime repose and simplicity of the whole 
 iigure, united as it is with exceeding energy of expression, so perfectly 
 classical without the slightest abstract imitation, for the artist seems 
 to have embodied Seneca's admirable advice as to style, 'Similem esse 
 te volo, quomodo lilium, non quomodo imaginem,' as there is no mis- 
 taking the pure lineage of this statue, being intended to fill the central 
 position of the Capitol, he has addressed his statue of Washington to 
 a distant posterity, and nuxde it a physical abstract of his whole career, 
 rather than the chronicle of any one deed, or any one leading feature 
 of his life. He is tlierefore seated as a first magistrate, and extends 
 with his left hand a sword, the emblem of his military command, 
 toward the people; as a sovereign he points heavenward with his 
 right hand. By this double gesture is conveyed the idea of an entire 
 abrogation of self, and making the patriot a conductor between God 
 and man. 
 
 "The chair in which he is seated tells also its history. The 
 superior part is richly ornamented with acanthus and garlands of 
 fiowers, while the base is solid, simple, and massive, which plainly 
 indicates that high cultivation is the proper result of sound govern- 
 ment, and that nations, when well planned and well tilled, must 
 flourish as well as grow. Upon the picture of Columbus, which leans 
 against tlie back of the chair on the left side, is connected the history 
 of America with that of Europe; while that of an Indian chief, on 
 the right, is emblematic of the state America was in when civilization 
 dawned upon it. The bas-relief on the right side of the chair, which 
 was the first crest of the American national arms, is the rising sun, 
 under which is inscribed, 'Magnus ab integro sectorum nascitur ordo.' 
 Tiie relievo on the left side represents the genii of North ami South 
 
GOVERNMENT nVlLDINGS AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS. 691 
 
 America, under the infants Hercules and Iphicles, the latter shrinking 
 in dread, while the former struggles successfully with the ohstacles and 
 dangers of an incipient [)olitical existence. The motto for this relief is 
 'Incipe posse pucr cui non risere parentes.' In this statue Qreenough 
 has achieved a glorious work, and one that cannot fail to reach its 
 destination, — the distant posterity to which it is addressed." 
 
 The motto on the back of the chair in which Washington is 
 represented as sitting is as follows: "Simulacrum istud ad magnum 
 libertatis extemplum, nee sine ipsa duraturum." 
 
 The famous Jackson Statue was cast in the latter part of 1852 
 by Clarke Mills. As soon as the pedestal was prepared to receive 
 it, it was placed thereon, and inaugurated or dedicated January 8, 
 1853. The procession formed in front of the City Hall at about 
 eleven o'clock in the morning, passed down Four and a Half Street 
 to Pennsylvania Avenue, and thence to Lafayette Square. Most of 
 the executive ofKcers of the Government were present. Rev. Dr. 
 Butler opened the ceremonies with prayer, and then Hon. Stephen 
 A. Douglas delivered an address. Mr. Mills was then introduced and 
 enthusiastically cheered. Mr. Mills was a native of New York, but 
 had settled in Charleston, South Carolina, had become a citizen of 
 that State, and had there, to the astonishment of all, when only a 
 mere plasterer, executed a fine marble cast of Hon. John C. Cal- 
 houn. While on his way to Italy to prosecute his studies, at the 
 time when the Jackson Statue committee was in search of an artist, 
 in 1848, Mr. Mills became acquainted with some of the members 
 of the committee in Washington, whose names were as follows: Hon. 
 Cave Johnson, Hon. Amos Kendall, General John P. Van Ness, 
 James Hoban, John W. Maury, Charles K. Gardner, Jesse E. Dow, 
 William A. Harris, Charles P. Sengstack, Francis P. Blair, John 
 C. Rives, Thomas Ritchie, and B. B. French. Afterward, in con- 
 sequence of the death of John P. Van Ness, James Hoban, and Jesse 
 E. Dow, and the resignation of William A. Harris, John M. Mc- 
 Calla, George W. Hughes, Andrew J. Donelson, and George Parker 
 were chosen to fill their places. This committee collected $12,000, 
 for which, after some doubts as to Mr. Mills's ability to make a satis- 
 factory equestrian statue were removed, it was decided to give him 
 the contract. After surmounting great difficulties in the erection of 
 his foundry, and making his own cast of the statue, he succeeded in 
 the accomplishment of his task, the entire cost of the statue being 
 S19,000, including the five years of labor of Mr. Mills. 
 
 The foundations of the equestrian statue of General Washington 
 
092 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 wore laid in 1859, within the circle at the intersection of Pennsylvania 
 Avenue, K Street, New Hampshire Avenue, and Twenty-tliird Street. 
 In January, 1860, the greater part of the casting was taken from 
 Clarke Mills's foundry, near Bladenshurg, to this position, and the 
 completed statue was dedicated February 22, 1860, the oration of 
 the occasion being delivered by Hon. Thomas S. Bocock, of Vir- 
 ginia. Mr. Bocock said it was tiie tardy completion of a work 
 resolved upon by the Continental Congress immediately after the 
 Revolution, the delay being caused perhaps by the failure to lind 
 sooner a suitable artist. He then proceeded to give a history of 
 the event in the battle of Princeton which the pose of the statue 
 was designed to commemorate, and which was the turning point in 
 the War of the Revolution. After the oration the President of the 
 United States dedicated the statue, and in his remarks said: "I accept 
 the auspicious omen which the heavens at this moment present to us 
 — a calm sunset almost without a cloud, after a boisterous and tem- 
 pestuous day," and at the conclusion of the President's address there 
 was an address by Mr. Mills, who said that the statue was intended 
 for a greater elevation than that upon which it stood, but the appro- 
 priation was inadequate to carry out the original design. 
 
 The Farragut Statue, by Mrs. Vinnie Ream Hoxie, was the first 
 monument erected in the National Capital to commemorate the serv- 
 ices of one of the country's naval heroes. Twenty years before this 
 time, there were but three monuments in the city dedicated to the 
 memory of distinguished men. Greenough's Statue of Washington, 
 variously estimated, was the first, unveiled in 1843; the bronze eques- 
 trian statue of Washington, erected in Lafayette Square, was the 
 second, and the equestrian statue of Washington, at the intersection 
 of Pennsylvania Avenue and New Hampshire Avenue, was the third. 
 Next as a work of art came the Statue of Liberty, designed by Thomas 
 Crawford, and cast by Clarke Mills, completed in 1865. 
 
 The Lincoln Statue, in front of the City Hall, came next. Tiiis 
 was the work of Flannery Brothers, sculptors, Washington, and was 
 paid for by funds raised from voluntary subscriptions l)y friends and 
 admirers of the martyr President. The business part of tiie work 
 connected with the erection of this monument was conducted by the 
 Lincoln National Monument Association, organizeil April 25, 1865. 
 The president of this association was Richard Wallach; vice-presi- 
 dent, Joseph F. Brown; secretary, Crosby S. Noyes; treasurer, George 
 W. Riggs. There were fifty directors, of whom the following belonged 
 in Washington: Joseph F. Brown, Asbury Lloyd, John B. Tnrton, 
 
GOl'ERNMENT B VI f. DINGS AND PUBLIC I\/ONUMENTS. fiOS 
 
 Dr. W. G. H. Newman, George 11. Pliint, Z. Richards, N. D. Larner, 
 E. C. Carriiigton, John P. Pepper, S. J. Bowen, George F. Gulick, 
 B. B. French, George K. Ruft", C. V. Morris, John G. Dudley, John 
 H. Seninies, James Kelly, William P. Ferguson; from Georgetown, 
 Henry Addison, William H. Tenney; from Washington County, S. P. 
 Brown and Dr. C. 11. Nichols. 
 
 Tiic monument was dedicated April 16, 1868, in the presence of 
 an immense concourse of people, the arrangements being in charge 
 of Mayor Wallach. Ati address was made by Hon. B. B. French, 
 and E. B. Olrastead read a poem written for the occasion. The 
 monument was then unveiled by President Andrew Johnson. 
 
 The bronze equestrian statue of General Wintield Scott, at the 
 intersection of Massachusetts and Rhode Island avenues with Six- 
 teenth Street, was ordered by Congress, and cast from cannon captured 
 by the General in Mexico. Tlie model was designed by H. K. 
 Browue, the sculptor, and the statue was cast in the foundry of Wood 
 & Company, of Piiiladelphia. The pedestal on which stands the 
 statue is a marvel of skillful work, and is formed of blocks of New 
 England granite, the largest ever successfully quarried and carried 
 to a great distance. They weigh four hundred tons. 
 
 The bronze statue of General John A. Rawlins, adjutant-general 
 of General Grant's staff, and also his Secretary of War when Presi- 
 dent, was ordered by Congress, and unveiled in 1874. It was first 
 erected in Rawlins Square, between New York Avenue and Potomac 
 Flats, above Eighteenth Street. It was designed by Bailey, and 
 cast in Wood & Company's foundry. The General is represented 
 in the uniform of his rank, and is of lieroic size. The statue of 
 General Rawlins was afterward moved to its present location, on 
 Pennsylvania Avenue and Ninth Street, in accordance with a resolu- 
 tion of Congress. 
 
 Tiie bronze statue of Lincoln in Lincoln Park, called "Emancipa- 
 tion," was designed by Ball, the sculptor, and cast in Munich. It 
 was unveiled April 14, 1876, an anniversary of his assassination. This 
 monument is the result of the labors of the emancipated citizens of 
 the United States. The first contribution therefor came from Char- 
 lotte Scott, of Virginia, formerly a slave, the amount being |.5, and 
 being the first earned by her as a free woman. At the unveil- 
 ing, Frederick Douglass was the orator, the entire ceremonies being 
 conducted by the people of the race President Lincoln had made free. 
 
 The Statue of Peace, standing on Pennsylvania Avenue and First 
 Street, was designed by Admiral Porter, and the work was done in 
 
(1(^)4 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Rome by the sculptor Franklin Sininions, of Maine. It is made of 
 beautiful Carrara marble, and was erected to the memory of those 
 officers, sailors, and marines who died in defense of their country 
 during the War of the Rebellion. Architect Clark designed the foun- 
 dation, for which Congress made an appropriation. It is composed of 
 a circular base, steps, and platform; but many persons think the loca- 
 tion is illy adapted to such a beautiful work of art. 
 
 The bronze statue of General McPherson stands in McPliorson 
 Square. It was unveiled in October, 1876, with appropriate ceremo- 
 nies. General John A. Logan being the orator of the day, who delivered 
 a most impressive and impassioned tribute to the young Major-Gen- 
 eral who came to such an untimely end in the battle of Atlanta. Tiie 
 monument was erected by the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, 
 the statue being the work of Louis T. Rebasso. The pedestal was 
 built with mone}' appropriated by Congress, and contains a tomb 
 designed for the remains of General McPherson, but as the citizens 
 of Clyde, Ohio, his native city, objected to their removal, they were 
 not placed in this receptacle. 
 
 The bronze equestrian statue of General Nathaniel Greene, one 
 of the great soldiers of the Revolutionary War, was erected in Greene 
 Square, at the intersection of Massachusetts and Maryland avenues, 
 Capitol Hill, in 1877. It was designed by II. K. Browne, and cast 
 iu the foundry of Wood & Company, of Philadelphia. The General 
 is represented as wearing the uniform of his rank in the Continental 
 Army, riding rapidly and pointing forward with the most intense 
 purpose, and at the same time looking backward as if urging his 
 troops to follow. 
 
 The bronze equestrian statue of Major-General George II. Thomas 
 was unveiled November 19, 1879. It adorns the circle named after 
 him, at the intersection of Massachusetts and Vermont avenues. It 
 was erected by the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, in honor 
 of the General. The oration on the occasion of the unveiling was 
 delivered by Hon. Stanley Matthews. 
 
 The marble statue of Benjamin Franklin, designed liy Ernest 
 Plassman, standing on Pennsylvania Avenue and Tenth Street, pre- 
 sented to the city in 1889 by Stillson Hutchins, stands on a granite 
 pedestal eleven feet high, and is eight feet six inches high. The 
 philosopher is represented in the costume of the days of his diplomatic 
 residence at '^/ersailles, France. 
 
 The heroic bronze statue of Chief Justice John Marshall is situ- 
 ated at the loot of the terrace on the west side of tiio (-apitol. It 
 
GOVERNMENT DlULniNGS AND PUBLIC MONUMENTS. 695 
 
 vviis erected in 1884 by Congress and tlie Bar of the United States, 
 and cost |40,000. 
 
 The bronze statue of James A. Garfield is at the Maryhmd 
 Avenue entrance to the Capitol grounds. It was erected by the 
 Army of the Cumberland in 1887, at a cost of §33,500, upon a pedes- 
 tal erected by Congress at a cost of $31,500. The recumbent figures 
 represent the student, warrior, and statesman. 
 
 The semi-heroic bronze statue of Professor Joseph Henry, first 
 secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, erected on the Smithsonian 
 grounds, was unveiled in 1881. It was erected by Congress at a cost 
 of $15,000. 
 
 The heroic bronze statue of Rear Admiral Samuel F. Dupont 
 stands on Connecticut Avenue, one square from the British Legation. 
 It was ordered by Congress in 1882, and was erected in 1884 at a 
 cost of $14,000. 
 
 The heroic bronze statue of Martin Luther is imniediatcly nortii 
 of the Thomas Statue, in front of the Memorial Lutheran Church. It 
 was erected in 1884, in commemoration of the birth of Luther, Novem- 
 ber 10, 1483, and cost, with pedestal, $10,000. 
 
 The statue of Lafayette and his compatriots, Count de Kocham- 
 beau and Chevalier Duportail, and Counts D'Estaing and DeGrasse, is 
 in the southeast corner of Lafayette Square, opposite the Presidential 
 Mansion. It was ordered by Congress in 1884, and erected in 1890. 
 The total elevation to the toi) of the surmounting statue is forty-five 
 feet. The female figure in front represents America ofiering the sword 
 of liberty to Lafayette. The juvenile figures in the rear of the monu- 
 ment are the "The Children of Liberty." The entire cost of this 
 monument was nearly $60,000. The sculptors were Antoiue Falquiere 
 and Antonin Mercie, of France. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 CEMETERIES. 
 
 First Burying Ground — Congressional Cemetery — Oali Hill Cemetery — Kock Creek 
 Cemetery — Glenwood Cemetery — Arlington Cemetery — Other Cemeteries. 
 
 THE first buryinsij ground in tlie city of Washington was Square 
 No. 109, situated between Eightli and Boundary streets, and 
 Nineteentli and Twentieth streets, Northwest. Prior to 1796, tliis 
 property was owned by Anthony Hoi mead, and was part of a large 
 estate, but in that year, wben the division of the city into squares 
 occurred betweeu the commissioners and the proprietors, Square No. 
 109 was allotted to the commissioners. 
 
 On February 28, 1798, this square was set aside as a cemetery, 
 and public notice was given to that effect. By an act of May 
 15, 1802, the corporation of Washington was authorized to take care 
 of and regulate burial grounds, and these grounds were fitted up as 
 a suitable place for the burial of the dead. Up to 1816, this was the 
 most popular burying ground in Washington. The last interment 
 made therein occurred in 1859 or 1860. 
 
 An act of Congress of March 3, 1879, granted to tbe District of 
 Columbia the right and title of the United States in and to Square 
 109, to be used for public schools, and authorized the commissioners 
 to sell any part or the whole of the square. The proceeds of the sale 
 were directed to be used exclusively for the purchase of sites for public 
 schoolhouses. The same act also authorized tbe commissioners to 
 remove all bodies and tombstones. Subsequently an act was passed 
 appropriating |3,000 for the exliumation and removal of such bodies 
 as were identified to such cemeteries as the relatives or friends might 
 select. This was done in 1880, with the exception of about two 
 thousand bodies, which afterward, in accordance with arrangements 
 made witli the proper autlioritics, were removed to Graceland and 
 Rock Creek cemeteries. The old burying ground, Square No. 109, 
 was subsequently sold. 
 
 The Congressional Cemetery was established curly in the history 
 of tbe city. The project was carried out April 4, 1807, b}' a few of 
 
CEMETERIES. 697 
 
 the most prominent inhabitants of the place, belonging to difterent 
 denominations of Christians in the eastern part of the city. These 
 projectors of this celebrated repository for the dead, in a most com- 
 mendable spirit, placed the prices of the lots so low that individuals 
 in humble circumstances could avail themselves of equal advantages 
 with their more prosperous neighbors. It was agreed by the associa- 
 tion that us soon as they should be reimbursed for the money expended 
 in the purchase of the ground and in its improvement, the entire 
 property should be placed under the direction of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal church, the vestr}- of which was an incoriiorated body. 
 
 Among the original signers to the subscription paper were Henry 
 Ingle, George Blagden, GrifHth Coombs, S. N. Smalhvood, Dr. Freder- 
 ick May, Peter Miller, John T. Frost, and Commodore Thomas Tingey. 
 It is believed that the first interment was that of Hon. Uriah Trace}', a 
 member of the United States Congress from Connecticut. The site, 
 as described in 1841, was four hundred and seventy-eight feet l)y four 
 hundred and thirteen feet, with a gentle slope toward the south. The 
 ranges of lots are designated north and south by letters, and east and 
 west by numbers. One of the most conspicuous monuments in this 
 cemetery is that to the lion. George Clinton, a pyramid of freestone 
 about twelve feet high and reared on a broad base. One side presents 
 a bold relief profile likeness, cut in marble, beneath which appears the 
 following inscription: 
 
 "To the Memory of George Clinton. He was born in the State 
 of New York on the 26th of July, 1739, and died at the city of 
 Washington, 20th of Aj^ril, 1811, in the seventy-third year of his 
 age. lie was a soldier and statesman of the lievolution, eminent in 
 counsel, distinguished in war. He filled with unexampled useful- 
 ness, purity, and ability, among many other high oflices, those of 
 governor of his native State, and of Vice-President of the United 
 States. While he lived, his virtue, wisdom, and valor were the pride, 
 the ornament, and the security of his country; and when he died, he 
 left an illustrious example of a well-spent life, worth}- of all imitation. 
 
 " This monument is affectionately dedicated by his children." 
 
 There is also a splendid pyramidal monument erected to the mem- 
 ory of Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts, Vice-President of the United 
 States at the time of his death. He died suddenly on his way to the 
 Capitol to preside in the Senate, November 23, 1814, at the age of 
 seventy years, tlius fulfilling his own injunction, "It is the duty 
 of every citizen, though he have but one day to live, to devote that 
 day to the service of his country." 
 
(lltS HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Tliere is also a inoiiunieiit to the memory of Major-General Jacob 
 Brown, wlio died in 1828, at the age of fifty-three years. In 1839 it 
 was under the care of Christ Episcopal Church. A general receiving 
 vault stands on one of the main avenues, erected by Congress for 
 those for whom no graves had been prepared. It is of freestone, has 
 an iron door, and is surrounded by a neat iron paling which encloses 
 an area devoted to trees and shrubs. The rule with reference to this 
 vault is that bodies may remain therein for two months, when they 
 must be removed and interred. In early days, however, this rule was 
 not rigidly enforced, as the remains of the author of the "British Spy" 
 were permitted to i-emain in the vault ten mouths. To him his 
 friends and the membere of the bar had promised to erect a suitable 
 monument, provided his burial was permitted in the cemetery; but 
 the pledge was not redeemed, and the remains of the illustrious Wirt 
 were, after a long delay, at length, thrown into an obscure grave to 
 niolder with the common and undistinguished dead. William Pinkney, 
 of Maryland, the most eminent orator of his age, also lies buried hero. 
 
 Besides the above-named distinguished dead, many others are 
 buried in this cemetery, to present a complete list of whom is mani- 
 festly impracticable. The cemetery is well worth a visit from the 
 stranger. 
 
 Oak Ilill Cemetery is located on the heights of Georgetown and 
 bordering on Rock Creek. It was previously known as " Parrott's 
 Woods." It owes its origin to W. W. Corcoran, who purchased 
 fifteen acres of land of Lewis Washington, and when the charter for 
 Oak Hill Cemetery Company was obtained from Congress, March 3, 
 1849, he conveyed this land to the company for the purposes of a 
 cemetery. The size of the cemetery has since been increased, until 
 now it contains nearly forty acres. The incorporators were Lorenzo 
 Thomas, John Marbury, Edward M. Linthicum, and George Poe. 
 
 There have been buried in this cemetery a great many distin- 
 guished personages. One of these was Edwin M. Stanton, the great 
 War Secretary of President Lincoln. To his memory there lias been 
 erected a gray granite monument about twenty feet high, tapering 
 from base to top like a slender pyramid. It bears the inscription: 
 "Edwin M. Stanton. Born December 19, 1814. Died December 
 24, 1869." 
 
 There is also a monument to General Jesse Lee Reno, who was 
 killed at the battle of South Mountain, September 14, 1862. There 
 is one to the memory of Hon. Samuel Hooper, a Representative in 
 Congress from Massachusetts, who died February 14, 1875, and also 
 
CEMETERIES. 699 
 
 one to Alexander de Bisco Bodisco, Russian minister to tlie United 
 States, who died November 23, 1854. Charles B. Fisk, chief engi- 
 neer of the Chesapeake and Oiiio Canal, is also remembered by a 
 monument. There are two mausolenms — one erected by W. W. Cor- 
 coran, the other being that of the Van Ness family, transferred from 
 its former position on H Street. This latter is said to be a cop}' of 
 the Temple of Vesta. Professor Joseph Henry has a monument in 
 this cemetery. He was born December 17, 1797, and died January 
 13, 1878. This cemetery is also the last resting place of John Howard 
 Payne, author of " Home, Sweet Home." He was born June 9, 1791, 
 and died at Tunis, Algiers, April 9, 1852. Others of more or less 
 note lie within these sacred precincts, but further mention is forborne. 
 Rock Creek Cemetery lies immediatel}- north of the Soldiers' 
 Home. It contains one hundred acres, upon which is also St. Paul's 
 Church, Rock Creek Parish. In colonial times the land was given to 
 this parish to be held in perpetuity for church purposes. A portion 
 of the ground has long been used for burying purposes. The ceme- 
 tery was staked in in 1852, by the rector and vestry of Rock 
 Creek Parish, ten or more acres being inclosed in a substantial man- 
 ner. It was then highly ornamented by nature, and regularl}' appro- 
 priated to the purposes above mentioned. At that time Rev. David 
 Kerr was rector, and the vestry consisted of John Agg, James M. 
 Carlisle, William H. Duudas, Darius Clagett, George McCeney, Eras- 
 mus J. Middleton, C. II. Wiltberger, and Hezekiah Davis. Since 
 then, part of the "Glebe," as the whole piece of ground has long 
 been known, was surveyed and laid out for cemetery purposes. It 
 is for the most part shaded by forest trees of great age, and being- 
 secure from the encroachments of the city, it is a favorite place for 
 the sepulture of the dead. At the present time, the cemetery com- 
 mittee is composed of Rev. James A. Buck, John Miller, and General 
 Thomas I. Pitcher; the secretary and treasurer is J. B. Wiltberger, 
 and the superintendent, M. L. Moudy. 
 
 Glenwood Cemetery is located on Lincoln Avenue, about half a 
 mile from Florida Avenue, on high ground overlooking the city, and 
 is about one and a half miles north of the Capitol building. It con- 
 tains about ninety acres of ground, and is laid out on the plan of 
 Greenwood Cemetery, New York. It was incorporated July 27, 1854, 
 and dedicated by Rev. Dr. Butler, August 1, 1854. The act of incor- 
 poration was amended February 27, 1877, the control and direction 
 of the cemetery by this amendment being committed to a board of 
 trustees, annually elected by the lot owners. 
 
700 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Arlington Cemetery is one of the principal national cemeteries 
 in which repose so many of the dead soldiers of the Union. It lies 
 across the Potomac, in Virginia, directly west of South Washington 
 and directly south of the Aqueduct bridge at Georgetown. It is 
 elevated more than two hundred feet above the Potomac, and the 
 old estate of which the famous Arlington Mansion was the home- 
 stead originally contained eleven hundred acres. It was the property 
 of Daniel Parke Cnstis, the first husband of Mrs. George Washing- 
 ton. Washington left it to his wife's grandson, his own adopted 
 son, George Washington Parke Custis, who died in 1857, leaving 
 the estate to his daughter, Mrs. Robert E. Lee, during her lifetime, 
 and then to his grandsons, Custis and Fitzhugh Lee. As it was not 
 the property of General Robert E. Lee, it could not be confiscated; 
 but because of the large accumulation of ta.xes upon it, Virginia 
 ordered it to be sold, and it was bought in 1864 by the Government 
 of the United States for |23,000. In May, 1865, it was established 
 as the first of the eighty-two national cemeteries for the remains of 
 the Nation's dead. Some years afterward George W. Lee, the eldest 
 son of General Lee, brought suit to recover the estate, upon the 
 ground that it had been illegally sold, and after a long litigation 
 established his claim. lie then conveyed it to the Government for 
 1150,000. The cemetery contains two hundred acres of land enclosed 
 by a low wall of masonry. The ground is shaded by oaks of two 
 hundred years' growth, and the drives and walks wind around and 
 through beautiful green lawns, and parterres of flowers and variegated 
 jilants. There are some fifty or sixty acres of graves, the soldiers 
 buried here numbering sixteen thousand, two hundred and sixty-four, 
 the graves being arranged in regular rows, the natural level of the 
 grass rolling over all. Each grave is marked by a white marble 
 headstone, bearing the name of the soldier buried beneath, so tar as 
 the names were known. There are also buried in the cemetery the 
 remains of a few of the soldiers of the Confederacy. 
 
 Perhaps the most interesting monument in this cemetery is the 
 tomb erected to the memory of the dead soldiers, two thousand, one 
 hundred and eleven in number, who could not be identified. The}' 
 were gathered mostly from the battlefields of Pull Run and the 
 road to the Rappahannock. The inscription ujion this tomb reads as 
 follows: 
 
 "Beneath this stone repose the bones of two thousand, one hun- 
 dred and eleven unknown soldiers, gathered after the War from the 
 fields of Bull Run and the Route to the Rappahannock. Their remains 
 
CEMETERIES. 701 
 
 could not be identified, but their names and deaths are recorded in 
 the archives of tiieir country, and its grateful citizens honor them as 
 of their uoble army of martyrs. May they rest in peace. September, 
 A. D. 1866." 
 
 The effect of the entire cemetery is to suggest neatness, coolness, 
 and rest. A visit to the cemetery can scarcely fail to awaken or to 
 enliven the spirit of patriotism, over which the varied forest trees, the 
 oak, the chestnut, the walnut, the hickory, the elm, cast no shadows 
 of mourning. While they laid down their lives, their country has 
 survived. 
 
 Other cemeteries in or near Washington are the following: Battle 
 Ground, lirightwood Avenue; Grraceland, Fifteenth and H streets North- 
 east; Harmonia Burial Ground, Brentwood road, two miles from the 
 city; Mount Olivet, Bladensburg road; Prospect Hill, Lincoln Avenue; 
 and Soldiers' Homo, National. 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 SOCIETIES. 
 
 Masonry — Its Introduction into the United States — In Georgetown — Federal City 
 Lodge, No. 15 — Potomac Lodge, No. 43, and No. 5 — Lorenzo Dow and Masonry 
 
 — Masonic Hall in Georgetown — Masonic Hall Association in Washington — 
 Masonic Temple — Grand Masters of the District of Columbia — Masonic Lodges 
 
 — Knights Templar — Other Organizations — Odd Fellowship Introduced into the 
 United States — First Lodge in Washington — Grand Lodge in the District of Col- 
 umbia — Odd Fellows' Hall — Lodges in Washington — Grand United Order of Odd 
 Fellows — Knights of Pythias — Washington Library Company — Washington Bible 
 .Society — Young Men's Christian Association — Women's Christian Association — 
 Patriotic Orders — Scientific Associations. 
 
 FREEMASONRY has iiussod throiigli two stages of development, 
 and is in its third stage. For several centuries it was a mere 
 operative body; tlien for some liundreds of years it was botli operative 
 and speculative, and finally it became wholly speculative. The last 
 change in its nature occurred soon after the deatli of Sir Christopher 
 Wren, by the formation of the Grand Lodge of England in 1717, by 
 the four lodges then in active work in the south part of England 
 at the celebrated Apple Tree Tavern; and having now dropped its 
 operative feature and become wholly speculative, it rapidl}' spread 
 throughout the world. In its new form it was introduced into France 
 in 1725; into Ireland, in 1729; into Holland, Russia, and Spain, in 
 1731; into Italy, in 1733, and into Scotland, in 1736 — the Grand 
 Lodge being organized in Scotland in 1736 on the same principles as 
 in England in 1717. 
 
 In 1730 an attempt was made to introduce the organization into 
 the English colonies in America by the appointment of a provincial 
 grand master for New Jersey, but it is not known whetlier the incum- 
 l>ent established many lodges. However, a lodge was organized in 
 Boston, Massachusetts, in 1733, and others then speedily followed in 
 other colonies. After the establishment of independence by the colo- 
 nies, the lodges of this country availed themselves of the privileges 
 possessed by similar bodies in all independent countries, and censed to 
 derive their warrants from the grand lodges of England or of Scot- 
 land, as had previously been the case. 
 
SOC/RT/KS. 703 
 
 Masonry is of ancient date in Georgetown. Wliat was known 
 for many years as Potomac Lodge, No. 5, Free and Accepted Masons, 
 was reorganized in 1806. At tlie time of this reorganization its 
 membersliip was composed mainly of Scotchmen. One of its ancient 
 relics of which it came into possession at this time is a Bible, having 
 on the flj-leaf the following inscription: "A present from Mr. Colin 
 Campbell to St. Andrews Lodge, 1773, Bladensburg." This Bible was 
 used by this lodge until 1818. The lodge from which Potomac Lodge 
 was the regular descendant was known as Lodge No. 9, and it 
 belonged to the Grand Lodge of the State of Maryland. Little is 
 known of this Lodge No. 9, except that on August 21, 1789, a peti- 
 tion was presented to the Grand Lodge of Maryland praying for a 
 warrant authorizing them to convene as a regular lodge, which peti- 
 tion was granted, authorizing the lodge to meet at Georgetown, in 
 Maryland. It is also known that Lodge No. 9 and Lodge No. 22 of 
 Virginia assisted in the ceremonies of the laying of the corner stone 
 of the Capitol building, at Washington, September 18, 1793, and that 
 the marble gavel used at tliat time by President Washington, and 
 which was manufactured for that express purpose, was presented to 
 Lodge No. 9 of Maryland, being received by Valentine Reintzel from 
 the hands of the President himself. Valentine Reintzel was master of 
 Lodge No. 9 at that time, and was made grand master of the Grand 
 Lodge of the District of Columbia, when that lodge was formed in 
 1811. Soon after 1793 Lodge No. 9 ceased to exist, and if annalists 
 are to be believed, from a most remarkable cause, the great accession 
 to its membersliip. 
 
 Federal City Lodge, No. 15, the iirst lodge formed in Washing- 
 ton, was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Maryland, September 
 12, 1793, precisely six days previous to the laying of the corner stone 
 of the Capitol. Columbia Lodge, No. 19, was chartered October 22, 
 1795, but had only a brief existence, suspending prior to 1806. 
 
 Potomac Lodge, No. 43, was organized December 19, 1806, and 
 retained this name until the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia 
 was formed, in 1811, when it became Potomac Lodge, No. 5, of the 
 jurisdiction of the District of Columbia Grand Lodge. This grand 
 lodge was formed by delegates from five lodges, January 8, 1811, and 
 as has been before stated, Valentine Reintzel was the first grand 
 master. 
 
 An incident worthy of note in the history of Masonry in the 
 District of Columbia is this: That during the anti-Masonic frenzy 
 which swept over the country from 1827 to 1836, Lorenzo Dow, on 
 
704 If /STORY OF U.1SH/NGT0A\ 
 
 May 10, 1830, delivered an address to the members of Lodge No. 5, 
 ill which he avowed himself a Mason, and gave some wholesome 
 advice to the lodge. Dow died in 1834, in Georgetown, at the house 
 of George W. Haller, and was buried therefrom Februaiy 4, in IIol- 
 mead's buiying ground. 
 
 A new Masonic Hall was completed in Georgetown in July, 1859, 
 and was opened on the 25th of that month. It then surpassed any 
 room in the District of Columbia devoted to similar purposes. The 
 lodge principally concerned in the erection of this hall then owned 
 the marble gavel used by General Washington, when he laid the 
 foundation stone of the Capitol of the United States, September 18, 
 1793. It passed to Columbia Lodge, No. 19, of Maryland; then to 
 Potomac Lodge, No. 43, and at length it became the property of 
 Potomac Lodge, No. 5. The hall opened as above mentioned cost 
 $12,000, and it was looked upon as a real ornament to the town. This 
 hall was dedicated October 18, 1859, the Knights Templar, Roj-al 
 Arch Masons, and Master Masons meeting to the number of two 
 thousand, and being addressed by Grand High Priest Mackay, of 
 Charleston, South Carolina. 
 
 After several preliminary meetings, the Masonic Hall Association 
 was organized March 14, 1865, with B. B. French president, E. L. 
 Stevens secretary, and W. S. Huntington treasurer. B. B. French 
 served as president until December, 1870; J. J'urdy, until December, 
 1875; N. Acker, until December, 1877; P. II. Ilooe, until December, 
 1885; R. B. Donaldson, until March 8, 1887, and I. L. Johnson, until 
 the present time. E. L. Stevens served as secretary until December, 
 1866; Noble D. Larnor, from that time to December, 1875; P. Ball, 
 until December, 1877; and Noble D. Larner, again, from December, 
 1877, until the present time. W. S. Huntington served as treasurer 
 until December, 1871; the oihce was then vacant one year; N. Acker, 
 from December, 1872, to December, 1875; A. T. Loiiglc\', until Decem- 
 ber, 1877; W. II. Goods, until the present time. 
 
 This association, in March, 1865, purchased propert}- at the north- 
 west corner of Ninth and F streets from Gonzaga College for $20,000, 
 upon which the}' erected the Masonic Temple now standing there, at 
 a cost of about $200,000, war prices accounting for its great cost. It 
 is a four-story building, with a front on Ninth Street of 51 feet 5 
 inches, and on ¥ Street of 131 feet 5 inches, and on the west cud an L 
 extends to the north 92 feet 10 inches. The t'tn-ner stone of this 
 building was laid May 30, 1868, by V>. 13. French, grand master; 
 Andrew Johnson, then President of the United States, not only 
 
SOC/ET/ES. IQb 
 
 taking part in the ceremonies, Init niarcliing in tlio procession over 
 the entire rente. 'Die address was delivered l)}- Past Grand Master 
 H. P. H. Bromweli, of Illinois, then a member ot the House of Repre- 
 sentatives. The temple was finished and dedicated May 20, 1870, the 
 address being delivered by Ben: Perley Poore, of Massachnsetts. Noble 
 D. Larner was grand secretary on both occasions. 
 
 Following is a list of the grand masters of the District of Col- 
 umbia from 1811 to 1892: Valentine Reintzel, 1811; A. McCormick, 
 1812-13; Amos Alexander, 1814; John Davidson, 1815-16; Amos 
 Alexander, 1817; Daniel Kurtz, 1818-19; William Hewitt, 1820-21; 
 W. W. Seaton, 1822-24; Samuel Birch, 1825; John N. Moulder, 
 1826-27; William Hewitt, 1828-29; John N. Moulder, 1830-32; R. 
 C. Weightman, 1833; Clement T. Coote, 1834; William W. Billing, 
 1835-37; John N. Moulder, 1838; M. Dove, 1839; Robert Keyworth, 
 1840-41; John Mason, 1842; William M. Ellis, 1844; W. B. Magru- 
 der, 1845-46; B. B. French, 1847-53; W. B. Magrnder, 185i; Charles 
 S. Frailey, 1855-56; George C. Whiting, 1857-61; C. F. Stansbury, 
 1862; Y. P. Page, 1863; J. E. F. Ilolmead, 1864; George C. Whit- 
 ing, 1865-67; B. B. French, 1868; R. B. Donaldson, 1869-70; C. F. 
 Stansbury, 1871-74; I. L. Johnson, 1875-76; Eldred G. Davis, 1877-78; 
 H. A. Whitney, 1879; Joseph S. McCoy, 1880; Noble D. Larner, 
 1881-82; E. II. Chamberlin, 1883; M. M. Parker,' 1884-85; T. P. 
 Chiffelle, 1886; J. M. Yznaga, 1887; J. W. Lee, Jr., 1888; H. Ding- 
 man, 1889; James A. Sample, 1890; Thomas F. Gibbs, 1891, and 
 Fred G. Alexander, 1892. 
 
 The number of Masonic lodges in the District of Columljia on 
 the 1st of January, 1867, was si.xteen, fourteen of which were in 
 
 > Myron M. Parker was Ijorn in Fairfax, Vermont, in 1843. He was. preparing for 
 college at the breaking out of the War, when he left school and enlisted in the First 
 Vermont Cavalry, with which command he .served until the close of the War. In 1SG5 
 he received an appointment in the War Department, where he served several years, 
 holding positions of trust and responsibility. 
 
 He graduated from the law department of the Colundjian University in 1876, and 
 has since taken a lively interest in that institution, donating annually to the post-grad- 
 uate class the " Myron M. Parker " prize. 
 
 In 1879 he was appointed assistant postmaster of the city. He was secretary of the 
 Washington committee on the ceremonies incident to the laying of the corner stone of 
 the Yorktown Monument. In Masonic circles he has been very prominent. He was 
 Grand blaster of Jlasons in 1884-85, and officiated as such at the dedication of the Wash- 
 ington Monument. He was chairman of the Triennial Committee to receive and entertain 
 the Grand Encampment, Knights Templar of the United States, at its twenty-fourth 
 conclave, held in Washington in 1889, and is at present an oflicer of the Grand 
 Encampment. 
 
70G ms TOR y OF w : \snfNC ton. 
 
 Washington and Geoi'getown, as follows: Federal Lodge, No. 1; Naval 
 Lodge, No. 4; Potomac Lodge, No. 5; Lebanon Lodge, No. 7; New- 
 Jerusalem Lodge, No. 9; Hiram Lodge, No. 10; St. John's Lodge, No. 
 11; National Lodge, No. 12; Washington Centennial Lodge, No. 14; 
 B. B. French Lodge, No. 15; Dawson Lodge, No. Ill; Ilannony 
 Lodge, No. 17; A.cacia Lodge, No. 18, and Lafayette Lodge, No. 19. 
 Tiiere were then also three chapters and two conimanderies. 
 
 At the present time, besides tlie above, there are the following: 
 Columbia, No. 3; Hope, No. 20; Anacostia, No. 21; George C. Wliit- 
 ing. No. 22; Peutalpha, No. 23; Stansbury, No. 24; Arniinins, No. 25, 
 and Osiris, No. 26. 
 
 The Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, meets in Masonic Temple 
 on the second Wednesdays of June and December. 
 
 There are the following chapters of Royal Arch Masons: Col- 
 umbia, No. 1; Washington, No. 2; Mount Vernon, No. 3; Eureka, 
 No. 4; Lafayette, No. 5; Washington Naval, No. 6; Mount Horeb, 
 No. 7; and Potomac, No. 8. 
 
 Of Knights Templar there arc the following conimanderies: 
 Washington, No. 1; ColundMa, No. 2; Potomac, No. 3, and DeMolay 
 Mounted Commandery, No. 4. 
 
 Of Scottish Rite Masons there are the following: Supreme Coun- 
 cil, 33, Southern Jurisdiction of the United States; Mithras Lodge of 
 Perfection; Evangelist Chapter; Robert De Bruce Council of Kadosli; 
 Albert Pike Consistory, and Orient Lodge of Perfection. 
 
 Of the Royal Order of Scotland there is the Provincial Grand 
 Lodge of the United States. 
 
 In addition to the above, there arc the following: The Masonic 
 
 In 1S82 Mr. Parker actively engaged in the real estate business, in wliioh he has 
 been very successful, his transactions running into the millions. 
 
 He has always been interested in the advancement of Washington, and has taken 
 a leading part in all public enterprises, contributing largely of his time and means. 
 He was one of the promoters of the projiosed Constitutional Convention in 1889, the 
 World's Columbian Exposition in 1892, and was one of the three selected to present 
 the claims of Washington before the committee of Congress. 
 
 Mr. Paiker has been closely identified with the growth and prosperity of Wash- 
 ington, and is connected with many of her leading financial institutions, being a director 
 in the American Security and Trust Company, the Columbia National Bank, the Colum- 
 bia Fire Insurance ('onipany, the Columbia Title Comjjany, Pxkington and SoUliers' 
 Home Riiilroail, and other financial institutions. Mr. Parker also takes interest in 
 cliaritable institutions, being a director in the Emergency Hospital, Washington Hospi- 
 tal for Foundlings, and Training School for Nurses. 
 
 lie was one of the organizers of the Washinglon llnard nf Trade, and fnr ihe past 
 tliree years has been its president. 
 
soaF-TJj':s. 707 
 
 Voteran Assouiatioii; the Miisoiiic Mutual Relief Association; St. 
 John's Mite Association, and the District of Columbia Association 
 of Fraternal Beneficial Societies. 
 
 Of colored Masonic organizations there are the following: The 
 Grand Lodge, which meets on the second Wednesdays of June and 
 December, and on December 27; ten lodges; the Grand Royal Arch 
 Chapter, and four subordinate chapters; the Grand Commandery of 
 Knights Templar and four subordinate commanderies; the Scottish 
 Rite Supreme Council, 33, Southern Jurisdiction of the United States; 
 Galahad Lodge of Perfection, 14, Buddah Chapter of Rose Cross, 18, 
 Loraster Council of Kadosh, 30, and Jonathan Daviss Consistory, 32. 
 
 In the latter part of the eighteenth century, societies of mechanics 
 and laborers existed in London, England, calling themselves "Ancient 
 and Honorable Loyal Odd Fellows." From them the "Union Order 
 of Odd Fellows" sprang, and spread rapidly throughout England. The 
 order was at this time convivial in its nature, and attempts were 
 made to abolish that feature. From these attempts a new system 
 arose in 1813, and several seceding lodges formed the "Manchester 
 Unity." This Unity now embraces most of the Odd Fellows in 
 England. 
 
 The first lodge of Independent Odd Fellows formed in the United 
 States was the Washington Lodge, in Baltimore, Maryland, April 26, 
 1819. At this time there were but five persons duly instructed in the 
 principles of the order, but as only five members were required for the 
 incipient structure of a lodge, arrangements were made to secure a 
 chai'ter from the Manchester Unity in England, for which purpose 
 Thomas Wildey proceeded to the mother country for the charter, and 
 procured a charter for the Grand Lodge of Maryland and the United 
 States. Upon his return to Baltimore, the lodge above named was 
 organized by Mr. Wildey and four others. At this time there were a 
 few lodges in the United States, in New York City and Boston; but 
 they were in no way national in their character. The second lodge 
 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was organized in Boston 
 March 26, 1820, and another was organized in Philadelphia December 
 26, 1821. Both of these lodges received their charters from Baltimore 
 in 1823, Maryland being regarded as the headquarters by virtue of 
 the charter brought over from England. Maryland, however, shortly 
 afterward relinguished this right to a body formed of representatives 
 from difterent States, the name of which was " The Grand Lodge of 
 the United States." 
 
 The first lodge established in Washington was named Central 
 
708 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Lod^^'e, No. — , and was instituted November 26, 1827. The Grand 
 Lodge of the District of Columbia was instituted November 28, 1828. 
 In the following October, Concord Lodge, No. — , was formed in this 
 city, and soon afterward a lodge was established in Alexandria and 
 also in Georgetown. All of these lodges, with the exception of Central 
 Lodge, surrendered their charters, but previously to the surrender a 
 portion of the menibers of Central Lodge had branched to form 
 Washington Lodge in 1833, so that they were entitled to maintain 
 their District Grand Lodge, which prevented them from reverting 
 to the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the United States. 
 
 In 1839, Central Lodge having passed through a period of depres- 
 sion and again rcviveil, lost a [)ortion of her members residing in the 
 eastern part of the city, in the vicinity of the Navy Yard, who formed 
 Eastern Lodge, No. 7. About the same time Potomac Lodge, No. 8, 
 was formed at Alexandria. In 1841 and 1842, two other lodges were 
 organized, namely, Harmony Lodge, No. 9, and Union Lodge, No. 11, 
 both in tlie vicinity of the Navy Yard. 
 
 A new Odd Fellows' Hall was erected in 1845, on Seventh Street, 
 fronting on that street sixty-five feet, eighty feet in depth, and three 
 stories high. The first story was of granite, and the otlier stories of 
 brick. This hall was dedicated May 25, with most interesting cere- 
 monies, in the presence of a large concourse of peoi)le from various 
 States. In the procession that was formed there were one thousand 
 Odd Fellows, and the line was three-fourths of a mile long. The lodges 
 in the procession were as follows: Central Lodge, No. 1; Washing- 
 ton Lodge, No. 6; Eastern Lodge, No. 7; Harmony Lodge, No. 9; 
 Columbia Lodge, No. 10; Union Lodge, No. 11; Friendship Lodge, 
 No. 12; Beacon Lodge, No. 15; Metropolis Lodge, No. 16; Excelsior 
 Lodge, No. 17; and Columbia and Magenenu Encampmeuts, all of 
 Washington; Covenant Lodge, No. 13; Mechanics' Lodge, No. 18, 
 and Mount Pisgah Encampment, all of Georgetown; Potomac Lodge, 
 No. 8; Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 14, and Marley Encampment, all 
 of Alexandria; besides several encampments from Richmond and 
 Baltimore. Among the distinguished Odd Fellows present were 
 Thomas Wildey, founder of the order in the United States, and 
 James L. Kidgely, corresponding secretary of the Grand Lodge of 
 the United States. The procession was under command of Cranston 
 Laurie, grand master, assisted by his aids, William .\L Kandolph and 
 John Watci's. An address was delivered fi-oni a temjiorary rostrum, 
 and an ode to Odd Fellowship) was sung by the Harmoneons, who 
 volunteered their services. Rev. Dr. Muller read a portion of Scrip- 
 
SOCIETIES. 709 
 
 ture; Rev. S. K. Cox offered prayer. An introductory address was 
 delivered by Walter Lenox, vice grand, and an eloquent and powerful 
 oration was delivered by William F. Giles, of Baltimore. The exercises 
 closed in the evening with a levee in their new, spacious, and elegant 
 saloon. 
 
 Of lodges of Odd Fellows, in addition to those mentioned above 
 as taking part in the dedication of the new hall, there are now the 
 following: Oriental, No. 19; Federal City, No. 20, and Golden Rule, 
 No. 21. 
 
 There are the following lodges of the Degree of Rebekah : Naomi, 
 No. 1; Ruth, No. 2, and Martha Washington, No. 3. 
 
 There are the following encampments: Columbian, No. 1; Mag- 
 enenu. No. 4; Mount Nebo, No. 6; and Fred D. Stuart, No. 7. 
 
 There is also the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Relief Asso- 
 ciation, and the Odd Fellows Veteran Association. 
 
 The Grand United Order of Odd Fellows opened a new lodge 
 room at the corner of Eleventh Street and Pennsylvania Avenue 
 September 1, 1870. This room was occupied jointly by the following 
 lodges: Union Friendship, No. 891, with 90 members; Eastern Star, 
 No. 1,028, with 120 members; John F. Cook, No. 1,195, with 70 
 members; Mount Olive, No. 1,333, with 60 members; J. F. N. Wilkin- 
 son, No. 1,343, with 62 members; Bloom of Youth, No. 1,368, with 
 68 members; Rising Sun, No. 1,365, with 60 members; Star of the 
 West, No. 1,369, with 90 members; Peter Ogden, No. 1,874, with 75 
 members; James McCrumill, No. 1,437, with 58 members. These were 
 all the lodges there were then in Washington, but there were three 
 iu Georgetown which had a place of meeting in that city. This order 
 is similar in its objects, organization, etc., to the Independent Order 
 of Odd Fellows, but its name is different, and it also differs in this, 
 that it receives its charters from the parent body in England. 
 
 Of this order of Odd Fellows there are the District Grand Lodge, 
 No. 20, which meets annually on the second Monday in September; 
 the Washington Patriarchie, No. 18, which meets on the second 
 Monday in each month; Georgetown Patriarchie, No. 42, which 
 meets ou the fourth Wednesday in each month; Past Grand Masters' 
 Council, No. 4, and Past Grand Masters' Council, No. 44. There 
 are also twenty-four lodges of this order iu Washington and George- 
 town, and two associations. Relief Association and Hall Association. 
 
 Of the Knights of Pythias there are the Grand Lodge and fifteen 
 subordinate lodges; the supreme section and four other sections of 
 enilowment rank; six divisions of uniform rank. 
 
710 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 (Jf the Kniglits of the Golden Eagle there are the Grand Castle 
 antl six subordinate castles. 
 
 Of the Knights of Honor there are the Grand Lodge and five 
 subordinate lodges, and Columbia Lodge, No. 509. 
 
 Of the National Union there are the Cabinet and twenty-one 
 councils. 
 
 Of the order of Chosen Friends there are six councils. 
 
 Of the Order of United American Mechanics there are the Amer- 
 ican Guard Council, No. 1, and Liberty Council, No. 2. 
 
 The Order of United American Mechanics, Junior, has nine 
 councils. 
 
 The Royal Arcanum has four councils, and Iron Hall Branch, 
 No. 340. 
 
 The Sons of Jonadab have ten councils. 
 
 The Royal Templars of Temperance have Capitol Council, No. 
 1. The Sons of Temperance have Friendship Division, No. 14. The 
 Independent Order of Good Templars has the Grand Lodge, which 
 meets annually in the fourth week in November, and fifteen subordi- 
 nate lodges. 
 
 The American Legion of Honor has the Grand Council, which 
 meets on the third Thursday in February, and it also has nine subor- 
 dinate councils. 
 
 The Ancient Order of Druids has the Washington Grove, No. 1, 
 which meets on tlie first and third Sundays of each month. 
 
 The Independent Order of Rechabites has twenty-six tents. 
 
 The Improved Order of Red Men has the Great Council, which 
 meets on the second Monday of January, April, July, and October, 
 and six tribes. 
 
 The Independent Order of Sons of Benjamin has two lodges, Col- 
 umbia Lodge, No. 101, and District Lodge, No. 124. 
 
 The Washington Library Company was formed in March, ISll, 
 and a constitution was adopted the same month, each share being 
 fixed at $12. At an election held April 1, 1811, directors were chosen 
 as follows: Buckner Thruston, Samuel H. Smith, James Laurie, 
 William James, John Hewitt, Abraham Bradle}-, Jr., and Joseph 
 Stretch. On April 5, 1813, the following were chosen directors: James 
 Laurie, Thomas II. Gillis, Jonathan S. Findlay, George Way, William 
 I'arker, and Joseph Stretch. James Laurie was elected president, 
 William I'arker treasurer, and John C. Steiner librarian. 
 
 April 3, 1816, Josiah Meigs was elected president; William 
 i'arker, treasurer, and John Scssford, librarian. Josiah Meigs was 
 
SOCIETIES. 711 
 
 elected president aiimially for sevei'cal years. Under a joint resolu- 
 tion of Congress passed March 3, 1823, the company Ijccanie entitled 
 to any surplus copies of books in the Dej)urtmGnt of State and a 
 copy of the laws of the United States, the journals of Congress, 
 documents, and state reports previously published, and state papers 
 which might be published after that date. At that time the collec- 
 tion of books in tlie Congressional Library was the private library 
 of members of Congress and of a few privileged individuals, the 
 citizens of Washington and citizens in general deriving no benefit 
 from it, as they do at the present time. This fact made it necessary 
 to do what could be done then to provide library facilities for the 
 people. But it was seen that in order to make this library of 
 the use to the public that such an institution ought to be, it was 
 necessary that it should be better sustained than it had been so far. 
 The company had a lot and a building on Eleventh Street, south of 
 Pennsylvania Avenue, opposite Carusi's saloon, and the rooms were 
 open from 2:00 p. M. to sunset. By 1857 the number of volumes in the 
 library reached six thousand, and the institution was patronized by 
 the best men in Washington. Soon after this time it was suftered 
 to become of little use to the public, but in February, 1858, the 
 rooms were enlarged and the building put in complete repair. The 
 library was increased antl the number of shareholders was also 
 increased and the rooms were kept open afternoon and evening. A 
 meeting was held February 11, 1858, to determine what the future 
 of the library should be, at which it was resolved to appoint a com- 
 mittee to place the claims of the library before the public. This 
 committee consisted of twenty of the leading citizens of Washington. 
 Soon afterward it was made jiublic that the liljrury had recently 
 received several valuable donations, among them the magniticent 
 library of the then late Dr. James Laurie, consisting of more than 
 one thousand volumes, the donor being Dr. J. C. ILill. Other dona- 
 tions had been made by Mrs. Dr. Thornton, Charles B. King, and J. 
 F. Haliday. The committee of twenty citizens, on the 27tli of Feb- 
 ruary, published an address to the citizens of Washington, earnestly 
 commending the library to them and hoping tliey would enable the 
 managers to make it a " People's Library and Reading-room." This 
 company continued in existence for several years after this period, 
 and then turned its library over to the high school of Washington 
 and disbanded. 
 
 On July 21, 1828, a meeting was held at the City Hall for the 
 purpose of organizing a society for the promotion of temperance. The 
 
712 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 president of the iiiceting was IIou. Williiun Crtuich, iiud the lueeting 
 was opened witli prsi^'er by the liev. J. L. Skinner. A eonstitution pre- 
 viously drafted was presented, and unanimously adopted. This society 
 was named the Washington City Temperance Society, and when organ- 
 ized, the president was Hon. William Cranch; vice-president. Rev. 
 Dr. Robert B. Semple; treasurer, James L. Edwards; secretary, John 
 Coyle, Jr., and directors. Revs. John Davis, Reuben Post, Obadiah 
 B. Brown, Andrew Coyle, and James H. Handy. 
 
 The first temperance society organized in the United States 
 was in 1808, at a small town in New York State, with forty-seven 
 members. Tlie second was in Massachusetts in 1813, called the Mas- 
 sachusetts Society for the Su})pression of Intemperance. Next came 
 the American Temperance Society, of Boston, iu 182G, under the 
 direction of which State, county, and . town associations rapidly 
 formed, and in 1831 there were in existence nineteen States and three 
 thousand local societies, with a membership of three hundred thou- 
 sand. It is believed that the first temperance address in Washington 
 was by Rev. Justin Edwards. 
 
 On December 31, 1831, tbere was held a large temperance meeting 
 in the House of Re])resentatives, presided over by the Hon. Lewis 
 Cass, and addressed by Hon. Daniel Webster, Hon. Felix Grundy, 
 Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen, and others. The first Congressional 
 Temperance Society was organized in 1833, with Hon. Lewis Cass as 
 president. This society was revived in 1837, in 1842, in 1844, and 
 in 1866. 
 
 The Washington Temperance Society was organized by six men 
 who were accustomed to meet nightly for the purpose of drinking, 
 while sitting in a tavern in Baltimore. They then signed the pledge of 
 total abstinence. Three days after, William Mitchell and his five asso- 
 ciates formed the Washington Temjierance Society, which in 1841 had 
 a membership of over one hundred thousand. This movement proved, 
 however, to be but a great spasm of virtue, and soon passed away, 
 but it led to the organization of the Sons of Temperance, the first 
 meeting of which was hold in New York September 29, 1842. The 
 first division of this order in the District of Columbia was formed 
 in 1844, and by 1858 every division of this jurisdiction had surren- 
 dered their charters. On October 22, 1855, Good Samaritan Division, 
 No. 1, was instituted, and in July, 1862, Federal City, No. 2, was 
 formed. Equal Division, No. 3, was formed January 1, 1863; Armory 
 Square, No. 4, soon afterward, and then Cohnnbia, No. 5. Botli 
 of these last two wore formed ol' soldiers in the hospitals. Within 
 
SOCIETIES. 71.3 
 
 two years from the organization of Armory Square Division, No. 
 4, a brancli of the order was i'ornieil and in successful ojjeration in 
 every hospital in the city but one, and from April, 186.3, to April, 
 1865, more than seven thousand soldiers took up the cause of the 
 Sons of Temperance in the District of Columbia. From January, 
 186.3, to October 1, 1867, thirty-nine divisions were instituted in the 
 District, and at the end of this time there were nineteen of them 
 in successful operation, with four thousand live hundred members. 
 
 The first annual meeting of the Congressional Temperance Society 
 was held Sunday evening, January 26, 1868, in the Ilouse of Repre- 
 sentatives, Senator Wilson presiding. Hon. William Plants, of Ohio, 
 Horace Greeley, Hon. Samuel F. Carey and Hon. Thomas H. Ford, 
 both of Ohio, and General Hurlbut, of Illinois, made speeches in 
 favor of temperance. Mr. Greeley's speech was very radical. This 
 society is still in existence. 
 
 The Washington Bible Society was organized in 1836. Its fifteenth 
 anniversary was celebrated in the F Street Presbyterian Church, May 
 26, 1851. M. St. Clarke was the president. A resolution was adopted 
 in favor of supplying the parlors of hotels each with a copy of the 
 Bible, and recommending that the board of managers supply a copy 
 to such hotels as had proprietors willing it should be done. A resolu- 
 tion was then adopted, on motion of Kev. Dr. Junkin, that, recognizing 
 the Bible as the book of religion, the book of liberty, the infallible 
 exponent of human duty and of human rights, the society regarded 
 the free and universal circulation of the Sacred Volume as a most 
 importaut means of maintaining and propagating among men the true 
 religion and the principles and institutions of regulated liberty, etc. 
 
 The eighteenth anniversary of this society was celebrated May 
 29, 1851, John P. Ingle, president, in the chair. During the year 
 then closing, the receipts of the society from the sale of Bibles and 
 Testaments amounted to ^1,426.13. Since the last previous report 
 the entire number of volumes in the depository had been 3,992 — 
 1,512 Bibles and 2,480 Testaments. The total issue from the deposi- 
 tory during the same period had been 1,196 Bibles and 1,801 Testa- 
 ments. Tlie agent of the society had visited during the year 8,459 
 families and places of business, finding 862 of them without either 
 a Bible or Testament, and supplying by sale or by gift 647, while 
 215 of them refused to receive a copy of either. John P. lugle was 
 again elected president, together with six vice-presidents, and Mitchell 
 H. Miller was elected secretary, Michael Nourse treasurer, and there 
 were elected twelve directors. 
 
714 HISTORY OF W.ISIIINGTON. 
 
 Without iittenipting to trace the history of this society minutely, 
 sullice it to say that at present it meets at No. 1409 New York 
 Avenue Nortlnvest. The managers are the pastors of the several 
 cliurches of the city, ex officio; life directors, and ministers of the 
 Gospel who are life members. Kev. A. W. Pitzer is president at the 
 present time, and William Ballantyne treasurer and depositary. 
 
 The Young Men's Christian Association was organized June 9, 
 18o2, at a meeting held in Masonic Hall. At the beginning, this 
 association addressed itself to the work of perfecting theories of uni- 
 versal application, and in order to carry out its work it excluded 
 sectarianism and denominational theology. Two well-lighted and pleas- 
 ant rooms were rented on Seventh Street, near the post office, where 
 the stranger was always welcome, and where a large number of papers 
 and periodicals were always to be found. During the first six months 
 of its existence, a library of several hundred volumes was collected — 
 all donations, and nearly all from persons in New York, Philadelphia, 
 and Washington. At the end of the tirst year, there were 350 volumes 
 in the library; at the end of the second year, 1,040, 900 of which had 
 been donated and 140 purchased. William J. Rhees was the first 
 recording secretary. 
 
 The association is located at 1409 and 1411 New York Avenue, 
 and its rooms are open daily from 9:00 a. m. to 10:00 p. i\. The 
 president is William B. Gurley; treasurer, J. C. Pratt; recording sec- 
 retary, J. II. Lichliter; general secretary, James E. Pngh. 
 
 The Women's Christian Association meets at 1719 Thirteenth 
 Street Northwest. The president of this association is Mrs. Justice 
 llarlan; vice-presidents, Mrs. Chief Justice Fuller, Mrs. S. C. Pom- 
 eroy, Mrs. John liodgers, Mrs. William Stickuey, Mrs. J. G. Ames, 
 Mrs. D. W. Mahon, and Mrs. G. O. Little; secretary, Mrs. Thomas 
 Wilson; treasurer, Mrs. D. A. Freeman, and register, Mrs. C. B. 
 Jewel). 
 
 Tiie patriotic orders of the District of Columbia ai'c the following: 
 
 The Associated Veterans of 1846 and the various organizations com- 
 ing under the general head of the Grand Army of the Republic. All 
 of these organizations belong to the Department of the Potomac, hav- 
 ing its headtpuirters at No. 1412 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest. Tiie 
 several Grand Army posts are as follows: 
 
 John A. Rawlins Post, No. 1; Kit Carson, No. 2; Lincoln Post, 
 No. 3; 0. P. Morton Post, No. 4; George G. Meade, No. 5; John 
 F. Reynolds, No. ti; James A. Garfield, No. 7; Burnsidc Post, No. 8; 
 Charles Sumner i'ost. No. 9; Farragut I'ost, No. lU; Charles P. Stone 
 
SOC/ET/ES. 715 
 
 Post, No. 11; U. S. Grant Post, No. 12; Jolm A. Logan Post, No. 13; 
 Phil. A. Slieridan Post, No. 14; George 11. Thomas Post, No. 15; W. 
 T. Sherman Post, No. 16. The Union Veterans' Union has tliree 
 commands — Hancock Command, No. 1; Jolm A. Logan Command, 
 No. 2; and Phil. A. Sheridan Command, No. 3. 
 
 ]3esides tlicse, tliero arc tlio District Connnandery of the Military 
 Order of tl:o Loyal Legion, the National Association Veterans of 
 the Mexican War, the Society of Loyal Volunteers, the National 
 American Woman Suffrage Association, the District Woman Sntfrage 
 Association, the National Society of the Daughters of the American 
 Revolution, and St. George's Society — a benevolent society founded 
 in 1870, for the relief of English-born people in distress. 
 
 There are si.\ scientific societies in Washington, having an aggre- 
 gate membership of about one thousand, two hundretl and fifty. 
 These societies are as follows: 
 
 The Anthropological Societ}', organizeil February 17, 1870, to 
 encourage tlie study of the natural history of man, especially on the 
 American Continent. 
 
 The Biological Society, organized December 3, 1880, to encourage 
 the study of biological science. 
 
 The Chemical Society, organized Januarj' 31, 1884, for the study 
 of chemical science, pure and applied. 
 
 The Entomological Society, organized February 29, 1884, for the 
 study of entomological science in all its bearings. 
 
 The National Geograpliic Society, organized Januarj- 27, 1888, for 
 the study and distribution of geographic Icnowledge. 
 
 The Philosophical Society, organized October 13, 1871, for the 
 purpose of the free exchange of views on scientific subjects and 
 the promotion of scientific inquiry among its members. This is one 
 of the most important societies in Wasliington. It lias [)ublislied 
 eleven volumes of bulletins. The annual' dues are |5. It has a 
 mathematical section, organized March 29, 1883. 
 
 A Joint Commission of the above societies was formed February 
 25, 1888, consisting of three delegates from each of the component 
 societies, its functions being advisory, except that it may execute 
 instructions on general subjects and in special cases from two or 
 more of the societies. 
 
 The Blavatsky Branch of the Theosophical Society meets at No. 
 1006 F Street, Reavel Savage being the president, and J. Guilford 
 White secretary. 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 THE BENCH AND BAR. 
 
 The Peculiar Character of the District of CoUimbia — Laws of the States of Virginia 
 and Marylauil Continued in Force Tlierein — Rights Preserved — Appeals to the 
 Supreme Court — The Circuit Court — The Orphan's Court — Police Court — District 
 Marshal — The Jurisdiction of the Courts — Kendall versus the United States — 
 Chief Justices of the Circuit Court — Thomas Johnson — William Kilty — William 
 Cranch — George W. Hopkins — James Dunlop — Associate Justices — James Mar- 
 shall—Nicholas Fitzhugh — Allen R. Duckett — Buckner Thruston — James S. Mor- 
 sell — William M. Merrick — The Supreme Court of the District of Columbia — 
 David K. Cartter — Edward F. Bingham — Abraham B. Olin — George P. Fisher 
 
 — Andrew Wylie — D. C. Humphries — Arthur McArthur — A. B. Hagner — Walter 
 S. Cox — Charles P. James — Martin V. Montgomery — Andrew C. Bradley — The 
 Criminal Court — Thomas Hartley Crawford — The Police Court — Celebrated Cases 
 in the Courts of the District of Columbia — The Lawrence Case — The White Case 
 
 — The Gardiner Case — The Herbert Case — The Sickles Case — The Assassination 
 of President Lincoln — Hallett Kilbourn — The Guiteau Case — The Star Route Cases 
 
 — Members of the Early Bar — Francis S. Key — William L. Brent — Philip R. Fen- 
 dall — Richard S. Coxe — Joseph H. Bradley — James M. Carlisle — Henry May 
 
 — The Present Bar. 
 
 NOTHING perliaps more signiticantl}' exhibits tlic abnorniiil cliarae- 
 ter of tlie Territory of Colitmbia, as it was called by those who 
 estal)iished it, tlian its peculiar judicial organization. From tlic ver^- 
 nature of the case, this Territory formed a community separate and 
 distinct from every other portion of tiie Union. Tl^e constitutional 
 provision that gave to Congress exclusive legislative authority in its 
 affairs separated it from the States and gave it a distinct character. 
 It was not a part of any State organization, and its government was 
 committed to the care of the national legislature and not to that of 
 the people who inhabited it. The ver}- fact that a whole community 
 was, by operation of law, taken from under the control of the govern- 
 ment of the State to which it Ijelonged and placed under an exclusive 
 legislation in which it could have no part, was calculated to give to 
 this Territory a character peculiarly its own. In nothing was this so 
 remarkable as in the organization and history oi' (he judicial system 
 which was to regulate the most intinuite relations of its citizens. In 
 the \evy first act of Congress, passed Jul}' 16, 1790, establishing the 
 
THE BENCH AND P.AR. 717 
 
 temporary and permanent seat of the Government of tlie United 
 States, provision was made by which the operation of tiic laws of 
 the State from which the District was selected for the purpose 
 mentioned in the act should continue in force until the time fixed 
 for tlie removal of tlje Government to the territory so selected, and 
 until the Congress of the United States should make further provisiou 
 for its government. Congress in this wa}' took care to provide against 
 a sudden change in the law governing the territory selected, until the 
 time should arrive when it could itself provide by positive and 
 distinct legislation for the local necessities of tlie community. This 
 state of things continued until 1801. Congress then passed an act 
 entitled "An Act Concerning the District of Columbia," b}- which 
 the laws of the States of Maryland and Virginia, out of whicli States 
 the Territory hail been carved, were continued in force as the l>ody of 
 law by which the people of tliat Territory were to be governed. The 
 District itself was divided into two counties, one of which, embracing 
 that portion lying east of the Potomac River, was, together with the 
 islands of that river, to be called and known as the County of 
 Washington; the other part, embracing that part lying west of the 
 Potomac River, was to be called the County of Alexandria. As by 
 the subsequent retrocession of this last mentioned portion of the 
 District of Columbia to Virginia, Alexandria County was incorporated 
 into and became again a part of that State, it is not deemed necessary, 
 in this history, to say anything more in reference to the laws and 
 courts peculiar to it, and their jurisdiction therein, except that by 
 this act it was made a part of the judicial S3'stem of the District. 
 
 Under the act from which we have quoted, a court was established 
 in the District of Columbia which was called the Circuit Court of 
 the District of Columbia, the judges of which were vested with 
 all the powers conferred upon the judges of the Circuit Courts 
 of the United States. This Circuit Court was to consist of one chief 
 justice and two associate justices, who were to hold their offices 
 during good behavior, and to be qualified b}- taking the oath provided 
 bj' law to be taken by the justices of the Circuit Courts of the United 
 States, and who were also to have power to appoint a clerk and such 
 other officers as were necessary to the establishment of a complete 
 judicial s^'stem. 
 
 The same act made provision for the terms of the court in the 
 two counties of which the District was composed, and conferred uiion 
 it a wide jurisdiction over all crimes and offenses and all cases in 
 law and equity. It is not necessary here to go into any more detail 
 
718 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 witli respect to tlie powers of this court or into its peculiar organi- 
 zation. 
 
 At the outset, for the purpose of preserving tlie rights and rela- 
 tions existing between the citizens of the territory so selected for 
 the seat of tiie Government, Congress enacted that in all cases where 
 judgments or decrees had been obtained or should be obtained there- 
 after, in suits depending at the time of cession in any of the courts 
 of Virginia or Maryland, whore the defendant had property within 
 the Territory of Columbia, the plaintiff might have execution for the 
 purpose of enforcing his rights in those courts in such cases. It will 
 thus be seen that wbile Congress was establishing a new system of 
 judiciary for the Territory of Columbia, it took care to provide for 
 all rights existing in tbe States by which the Territory had been 
 ceded to the Government of the United States, before that cession 
 took place. Under this condition of things the courts of the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia were established, and entered ui)on their duties 
 as the judicial government of the Territory- of Columbia. By the 
 laws enacted to carry into effect this new judicial system. Congress 
 gave to the citizens of this peculiar Territory the right of ai)peal 
 to the Supreme Court of the United States. At first this right of 
 apiical was given in all cases where the amount involved exceeded 
 $100. Afterward, this amount was increased to |1,000, but when it 
 was so increased the right of appeal was preserved to litigants in all 
 cases where the amount exceeded $100 and was less than $1,000, in 
 which it could be shown to a judge of the Supreme Court that the 
 questions involved were of so serious a nature as to authorize the 
 interposition of that court. Under this system, the appeal to the 
 Supreme Court being direct, and not as in the States, in which courts 
 of appeal exist, a great many cases which under ordinary circum- 
 stances would not have been carried to the Supreme Court at all were 
 brought before it for consideration. This condition of things operated 
 to bring a great many cases that had been decided by the courts of 
 the District of Columbia to the Supreme Court for the final adjudi- 
 cation. In the course of time it was found essential to enlarge the sum 
 necessary to authorize an appeal to the Supreme Court of the United 
 States, until now no appeal can be had to this court, except in certain 
 cases mentioned in the statute, unless the sum involved exceed $5,000. 
 Besides the Circuit Court, of which we have been speaking, pro- 
 vision was made for the appointment, in each of the counties of 
 Washington and Alexandria, nl' a judge to be called the Judge of the 
 Orphan's Court, and <>f a Kcgislc-r of Wills, who were authorized to 
 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 719 
 
 perform all tlie duties incunil)eiit upon officers of like character in 
 tlie States from which tliis Territory liad been taken. Tliis separate 
 Probate Court continued to exist until the change was made in the 
 organization of tlie courts to which reference will be hereafter made, 
 when the duties of the Probate Court wei'c imjioscd upon one of the 
 Judges of the courts of tlie District of Columbia. The office of Register 
 of Wills was not ciianged, and continues until the present time. It 
 may be well to mention in this connecti(Ui, that long subsequently to 
 the time of which we are now s[ieaking, Congress created another 
 court in the District of Columbia, called the Police Court; but it is 
 not deemed necessary to sa}- anytliing further of these minor courts. 
 In what is to be said hereafter, attention will be confined to those 
 courts which compose the judicial system of the District of Columbia. 
 We liave said enough to show that, in 1801, when the territory set 
 apart under the act of Congress had lieen selected, and the seat of 
 government had been firmly established in that territory or tlistrict, 
 Congress took immediate means to provide for it a permanent judicial 
 system. It established a Circuit Court, organized as already described, 
 wiih ample jurisdiction, and with all the officers required for such a 
 court. Besides the officers already mentioned, provision was made for 
 the appointment of a marshal of tlie District of Columbia, an officer 
 similar to the marshal of the Circuit Courts of the United States. 
 
 It will appear from what has already been said that while Con- 
 gress had taken care to establish within the Territor}' of Columbia 
 the courts designated aliove, and had conferred u[)on those courts 
 ample jurisdiction, and had provided for them the officers necessary 
 for the jiroper conduct of their affiiirs, the law by wiiich those tribu- 
 nals was to be governed was the law as it existed in the States from 
 which that Territory had been carved at the time of the cession. It 
 is somewhat remarkable that through all the years that have since 
 elapsed. Congress has found so little time to attend to the oiganic 
 law of the District of Columbia that it remains to-da}- to a i-emark- 
 able degree as it did in 1700, when the territoiy was ceded by the 
 two States of Marylaiul and Virginia. This condition of things is 
 not due to any want, on the part of the citizens of the District, or 
 of Congress itself, of a desire that proper laws for the government 
 of this Territory should be enacted, but more, perhaps entirely, to the 
 fact that the sjiecial legislature of the District is at the same time 
 the legislature (if the Nation, and that this natiiuial legislature is 
 occupied with matters so important as to render attention to the 
 affairs of the District impracticable. 
 
720 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Congress in 1802, by an act passed April 29 of that year, author- 
 ized the chief judge of tlie Circuit Court of the District of Columbia to 
 hold a District Court of the United States in that District, and gave 
 to that court the same powers and jurisdiction which were by law 
 vested in the District Courts of the United States. This gave to this 
 chief judge, among other things, jurisdiction in admiralty and bank- 
 ruptcy cases. 
 
 Enough has been said alread}- about the history' of these courts. 
 The jurisdiction of the courts in all its details has been established 
 by many decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States, which 
 can scarce!}' be said to form a part of the history' of the city of 
 Washington. It may not be amiss, however, to call attention to one 
 case which went from the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia 
 to the Supreme Court of the United States, a case of great importance 
 and interest to all the citizens of the United States, and of special 
 interest to those of the District of Columbia, because it determined 
 in the most comprehensive and at tlie same time in the most precise 
 manner the jurisdiction of the Circuit (Joint of the District of 
 Columbia. The case referred to was that of Kendall versus the United 
 States ex rel. Stokes, et al., decided in 1838, and reported in the twelfth 
 volume of Peter's Supreme Court Report on page 524. This case 
 came before the Supreme Court of the United States upon appeal 
 from the Circuit Court under these circumstances: Stockton & Stokes, 
 who were contractors for carrying the mails of the United States, 
 applied to the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia for a writ of 
 mandamus commanding the Postmaster-General of the United States, 
 lion. Amos Kendall, to credit them (the said contractoi's) with mone^' 
 which had been found to be due them njion a statement made b}' the 
 othcers of the Treasury Department. The Postmaster-General refused 
 to obey the writ upon the ground that the otlicer of the Treasury' who 
 had stated the account had transceniled his authority in delaring the 
 balance due to the contractors. The questions which arose in the case 
 were, first, whether there was any cause for the writ of mandamus; 
 and second, whether the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia had 
 authority to issue the writ. The Supreme Court said that the act of 
 Congress of February 27, 1801, concerning the District of Columbia, 
 by which the Circuit Court was created and its powers and duties 
 defined, established the fact that in the District of Columbia there is no 
 division between the General and the State Governments. Congress 
 has entire control over the District fur every pui'pose of government, 
 and it is reasonable to suppose that in organizing a judicial system 
 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 721 
 
 ill that District, all powers necessary for the purposes of government 
 were vested in the courts of justice. The Circuit Court is the highest 
 court of original jurisdiction in that community, and if the power to 
 issue a mandamus exists in any coui-t it is vested in this Circuit Court 
 of the District of Columbia. The first section of the act declares that 
 the laws of Maryland as they then existed should continue in that 
 part of the District which was ceded by Maryland, and it is admitted 
 that at tlie date of tliis act the common law of England was in force 
 in Marylaiiil, and continued in force in tliat part ceded to the United 
 States by Maryland, and that it liad been determined that the power 
 to issue a mandamus in a proper case is a brancli of the common law. 
 After arguing the constitutional question at considerable length, the 
 distinguished Justice delivering the opinion of the court said: 
 
 " We are then to construe the third section of the act of Febru- 
 ary 27, 1801, as if the eleventh section of the act of February 13, 
 1801, had been incorporated at full length, and in tliis section it is 
 declared that tlie Circuit Court of the District of Columbia sliall liave 
 cognizance of all cases in law or equity arising under the Constitution 
 and laws of the United States and treaties which shall be made under 
 their authorit}-, whicli are the very words of tlie Constitution, and 
 wliich is, of course, a delegation of the whole judicial power in cases 
 arising under the Constitution and laws, etc., which meets and sup- 
 plies the precise wants of delegation of power which ^^''e^'euted the 
 exercise of jurisdiction in other cases cited, and must, on the principles 
 which governed the decisions of the courts in those cases, be sufficient 
 to vest the power in the Circuit Court of tlie District of Columbia." 
 
 The court affirmed the decision of the court below, which had 
 authorized the issuance of the writ prayed for, thus establishing this 
 broad jurisdiction of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia. 
 
 Having now seen how the courts of the District were established 
 and their jurisdiction defined and determined, we will proceed to the 
 pleasing task of rehearsing the history of the good and great men 
 who presided over those tribunals. We shall find that in this singular 
 coramunity the judiciaiy has ever maintained a high character for the 
 purity and integrity of its members. 
 
 The first chief justice appointed for tlie Circuit Court of the 
 District of Columbia was Thomas Johnson, March 3, 1801. Thomas 
 Johnson was a particular friend of President Washington, was a man 
 of distinguished ability, and had held the position of commissioner to 
 select the territory for the Federal District. He was a delegate to the 
 Continental Congress, was Governor of Maryland, judge of the United 
 
722 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 States District Court for the State of Maryland, and a Justice of the 
 Supreme Court of tlic United States from 1791 to 1793, when he re- 
 signed. He declined the appointment of chief justice of the Circuit 
 Court of the District of Columbia, and tlic position was then bestowed 
 on William Kilty, who was appointed March 23, 1801. 
 
 William Kilty was born in London, England, in 1757, and was 
 educated at the College of St. Omer's, in French Flanders. At the 
 beginning of the Kcvolutionar}- War, he was residing on his father's 
 plantation in Calvert County, Maryland. He joined the American 
 army in 1776, and served as a surgeon until 1783, when he returned 
 to Annapolis and studied law. He took a distinguished position at 
 the bar, and was selected by the legislature of the State to i)rei)arc 
 the work now so well known as "Kilty's Laws of Maryland." The 
 position of chief justice of the Circuit Court of the District of Colum- 
 bia he tilled until Jauuary 20, 1806, when he was appointed chancellor 
 of Maryland, serving in this position until his death, October 10, 1821. 
 While he was chancellor of the State of Maryland, he in-epared, under 
 the orders of the legislature of the State, a repoi-t of the English stat- 
 utes applicable to Maryland. The profound erudition and legal acumen 
 displayed in this work gave it great authority throughout the State, 
 and it became the foundation of the statute law of Maryland. Judge 
 Kilty was a man of singular attractiveness of character and of great 
 culture and erudition. His relations with his brethren of the bench 
 and bar were of the most agreeable description. At his death, the 
 bench and bar of the State of Maryland unitetl in paying ajipropriate 
 tribute to his memory. He is buried in the old cemetery at Anna}iolis, 
 under a monument erected by his son, the late Rear Admiral Kilty, of 
 the United States Navy. 
 
 The next chief justice of this court was William Cranch, who 
 had been appointed an assistant justice in the same court March 3, 
 1801. He received his appointment as chief justice February 4, 1806. 
 He was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, July 17, 1760, graduated 
 from Harvard College in 1787, commenced the study of law, and was 
 admitted to the bar in 1790. After a few years spiMit in practice 
 in Massachusetts, he removed to the District of Columbia in 1794, 
 and here passed the remainder of his life. In 1800 he was appointed 
 one of the commissioners of public buildings, and on February 27, 
 1801, was nominated assistant justice in the Circuit Court for the 
 District of Columbia by T'residcnt Adams. In ISOf), upon the resig- 
 nation of Chief Justice Kilty, he was appointed chief justice by 
 President Jetterson, and he remained in this jiosition until September 
 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 723 
 
 1, 1855, when he died, having been for fifty-five years a judge of the 
 United States Circuit Court and for fifty years chief justice. His 
 biographer says of iiini that in all this period, notwithstanding tlie 
 facility of appeal to the United States Supreme Court, appeal from the 
 Cii'cuit Court being for smaller amounts than from the Circuit and 
 District Courts ii; the States, only two of his own decisions were over- 
 ruled and sent back for amendment by the highest court in the 
 counti-y. During the time when he fille<l the office of assistant justice 
 and chief justice of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia, 
 he also filled tlie oflice of reporter to the Supreme Court of tlie 
 United States. Nine volumes of liis reports were published, and are 
 well known to the lawyers of the United States. In this oflice of 
 reporter he was preceded Ijy Mr. A. J. Dallas, and he was succeeded 
 by Henry Wheaton and Ilichard Peters, all of wliom were distinguished 
 reporters. He also, dui-ing his occupancy of the oflice of assistant 
 judge and chief justice, made accurate reports of the cases decided 
 in the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia from 1801 to 1841, 
 which were published in si.x volumes, and are known as "Cranch's 
 Circuit Court Reports." In conformity with an act of Congress he 
 p)reparcd a code of laws for the District of Columbia, whicli, like 
 many other codes prejiared uiuler the direction of that body, were 
 afterward neglected. 
 
 Judge Cranch was remarkable in every particular in which a judge 
 can be distinguisiied. He was a man of great learning, and was always 
 a careful student of the cases entrusted to his charge. He was, from 
 the very position he occupied, obliged to review the decisions of the 
 executive departments liearing upon questions involving the rights of 
 citizens; and in all the conflicts of the courts he maintained the 
 character of a jmrc and upright judge. lie was eminently a relig- 
 ious man, was a Unitai-ian in faith, and an example of Christian 
 charity in all the circumstances of life. His habits of life were 
 singularly simple, his character childlike and confiding. During his 
 long career he possessed the respect of all who knew his abilities and 
 services, and of all who were acquainted with him as a man. 
 
 The next appointment of chief justice of this Circuit Court was 
 that of George W. Hopkins, October 5, 1855. Mr. Hopkins was a 
 Virginian by birth, had been a Hepresentative in Congress and charg!- 
 d'a_ffaircs of the United States to Portugal, and having declined the 
 office of chief justice to this court, served in the Thirty-fifth Congress. 
 
 James Dunlop was then appointed to this position, and was the 
 last of the chief justices of this court. He was born March 28, 1793. 
 
724 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 His father was a Scotchman by birth, and his mother was a daughter 
 of Robert Peter, one of the original proprietors of the city of Wash- 
 ington. He was educated at a private school in Georgetown and at 
 the College of Xew Jersey, at Princeton, graduating therefrom in 
 1811, delivering the valedictory of his class. Afterward, he entered 
 upon the study of law in the office of Francis Scott Key, and became 
 a partner of that gentleman soon after being admitted to the bar. 
 This jjartnership continued until Mr. Key removed to Baltimore. He 
 was for some time assistant district attorney for the United States for 
 the District of Columbia, and was actively engaged in the prosecution 
 of cases incident to tiiat office. He was the recorder of Georgetown 
 during the construction of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in 18.32-37. 
 In 1838 he was appointed a judge of the newly organized Criminal 
 Court of the District of Columbia, being the first judge appointed to 
 preside in that court. He continued to hold that position until 1845, 
 when, upon the death of Judge Thruston, he was appointed to succeed 
 him as one of the assistant justices of the Circuit Court of the District 
 of Columbia. He held this position until 1857, when he was made 
 chief justice, and continued in that position until the abolition of 
 the court in 1863. Judge Dunlop survived his judgeship several 
 years, dying May 6, 1872, at his farm in Montgomery County, Mary- 
 land. He was a courtly gentleman, dignified and elegant, and ahva^'s 
 maintained the amenities of the bench. During his entire career he 
 was respected by the members of the bar and by the general public. 
 
 Following are sketches of the associate justices of the Circuit 
 Court. 
 
 James Marshall was one of the earliest justices of the Circuit 
 Court of the District of Columbia, having been appointed March 3, 
 1801. Very little is known of this gentleman, except that he held the 
 office but a few years. 
 
 Nicholas Fitzhugh was a native of Virginia, and became a resi- 
 dent of the District of Columbia soon after the removal of the seat 
 of government thereto. He was appointed a justice of the Circuit 
 Court, he also holding the office only for a few years. 
 
 Allen R. Duckett was born in Maryland, and became a resident 
 of the District of Columbia soon after the removal of the seat of gov- 
 ernment. He was appointed a justice of the Circuit Court in lSO(i, and 
 like the two* gentlemen next preceding in this narrative, held the 
 office for a short time only. 
 
 Buckner Thruston was appointed a justice of the Circuit Court 
 of the District of Columbia December 14, 180G. He was a native of 
 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 725 
 
 Virginia, and in earl 3- life migrated to Kentnck}-. Being a man 
 of superior al)ility, lie was apiiointed a Federal judge of the Terri- 
 tory of Orleans in 1805, and in the same year was elected one of the 
 United States Senators from Kentucky for six years. Being selected 
 in 1809 as one of the justices of the Circuit Court of the District of 
 Columbia, he held that ofKce until his death, August 30, 1845, a period 
 of thirty-six years. He was a man of remarkable ability, and during 
 the long years of his occupancy of this position, he was most highly 
 respected, not oidy as a justice, but also as a man of great learning, 
 and remarkable for his strict adherence to what he believed to be 
 right. While he was a man of great eccentricity of character, he 
 never sought to jiander in any way to personal frien<lship, but always 
 pursued the strict path of duty. 
 
 James L. Morsell was born in Calvert County, Maryland, in Janu- 
 ary, 1775. He received a good education, studied law, and came to the 
 bar in Georgetown early in the i)resent centur}'. He served in the 
 War of 1812, and in ISH! was appointed one of the judges of the Cir- 
 cuit* Court of the District of Columbia by President Madison, and 
 continued to hold that ofiice until 1863, when the Circuit Court was 
 by an act of Congress abolished. He died in 1870, having attained the 
 age of ninety-five years. For forty-seven years he held the position 
 of a justice of the Circuit Court, and his term of that office was only- 
 terminated tiiially by the act of Congress that abolished the court. 
 During all that time there was no breath upon his purity, no question 
 about his integrity and honor as a man. lie lived a simple, unosten- 
 tatious life, and was beloved and esteemed by ail who knew him. At 
 one time in his career, desiring to retire, he determined to resign his 
 office, and so signified to the members of the bar; but such was the 
 expression of regret from all who knew him that he changed his 
 determination and continued to hold his position to the last. 
 
 William M. Merrick was appointed one of the justices of the 
 Circuit Court of the District of Columbia December 14, 1855, and 
 served until this court was superseded by the Supreme Court of 
 the District, established b^- an act of Congress in 1863. Mr. Merrick 
 was born in Charles Count}-, Maryland, in 1818, and received his 
 education in that State. He studied law and was admitted to the liar in 
 Baltimore in 1839. He settled in Frederick in 1844, and was deputy 
 attorney-general for Frederick County in 1845. In 1854 he removed to 
 Washington, and was appointed one of the justices of the Circuit Court 
 for the District. After the abolishment of this court and the estab- 
 lishment of the Supreme Court, Judge Merrick retired to Maryland 
 
726 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 and resumed the practice of law. llis biographer states of him tliat 
 from 1866 to 1807 he was senior jirofessor of law in the Columljian 
 University of the District of Columbia. He was a member of the 
 State Constitutional Convention in 1867, was elected to the State leg- 
 islature in 1870, and was elected a member of the Forty-second Con- 
 gress. In 1885 he was appointed by 'President Cleveland an associate 
 justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. Tlirough 
 all his judicial life Judge Merrick was recognized as a learned, care- 
 ful, and most excellent judge, lie was a man of great ability, and a 
 patient, careful student of the cases coining before him. His sole 
 aim in this responsible position was to see that justice was done 
 between man and man. 
 
 The fcrsonnd of the court continued unchanged from the date 
 of the appointment of Judge Merrick until it ceased to exist in the 
 manner hereafter descril^ed. During this period those great events 
 occurred which more than once threatened the very existence of the 
 country and its institutions. It is useless to relate liow in the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia the vicissitudes of the War and the remarkable 
 events that followed in its tracks were more seriously felt than in 
 any other portion the Union. All forms of business felt the baleful 
 effects of the condition of things in the country, and the courts were 
 never more sorely tried in their efforts to preserve order and maintain 
 the suprenuicy of the law. It is not too much to say that the Circuit 
 Court of the District of Columbia was distinguished in those disas- 
 trous times, not only for the good work it did in kceiiing free from 
 all taint the dispensation of justice and the enforcement of law, but 
 in maintaining as it did at all times and under all circumstances the 
 respect of the entire community in which it exercised its power. 
 
 In 1863 Congress determined to make a radical change in the 
 judicial system that for so many years had existed in the District of 
 Colundiia, and to that end a Ijill was reported from the Senate 
 Judiciary Committee, and was with little delay considered in that 
 body. It will be interesting as jiart of the history of the courts of 
 the District to make something moi'o than a mere allusion to the 
 debate upon the bill, and with that view a brief account of that debate 
 is here given. 
 
 The bill by means of which the change in the courts was to be 
 effected was introduced into the Senate in February, 1863, was known 
 as Senate Dill Xo. 350, and was entitled "An Act to Jieorganize the 
 Courts in the District of Columbia, and for Cther I'urposes." The 
 debate upon this bill was exceedingly interesting. The motives of 
 
THE BENCH AND BAR. I'll 
 
 those favoring the measure were called in question, ami the bill was 
 o[iposed on constitutional grounds. 
 
 Mr. Saulsbur}', of Delaware, opposed the bill upon the ground 
 that no petition for the substitution of the new court for the old one 
 had been presented by the people of the District, and because he had 
 been informed that the bill metwith opposition from everj' respectable 
 member of the bar (if the District, lie thought that in the times of 
 change through which the country was then passing, something should 
 be left unchanged, and if anything should be left unchanged, it should 
 be the judiciary system of the country. lie could see nothing to be 
 gained from the change, for the new court was to have the same 
 powers as the old, except that the Orphans' Court was to be abolished. 
 The only object he could see in the attempt to pass the bill was the 
 expulsion of the judges then on the bencli. 
 
 Mr. Ira Ilari-is, of New York, who had charge of the bill, dis- 
 claimed the imputation of being influenced by such motives as had 
 been suggested by Mr. Saulsbury, not only for himself but also for 
 the Judiciar}' Committee. He saiil that the judicial system of the 
 District of Columbia was established in 1801, and ever since that time 
 Congress had been patching it until it had made it exceedingly 
 complicated and incongruous; that whenever the change should be 
 made the incumbents of the judgeships would be displaced, and he 
 thought the time most opportune for making the change, as there 
 was then one vacancy, the Criminal Court being without a judge, 
 and one of the other judges was practically superannuated. Besides, 
 if there was a judge of the Circuit Court worthy of being retained, let 
 him be retained. He also said that so far as his knowledge extended, 
 the bar of the District was in favor of the change, and certainly one 
 of the judges to be legislated out of oftice had, at a public meeting 
 held a year or two before, made a speech advocating the very change 
 then in process of accomplishment. This was all on February 18. On 
 the 20th Mr. Harris had learned that the bar of the District was 
 inclined to acquiesce in the proposed change, provided the Or[ihans' 
 Court was left undisturbed, and therefore made an amendment pro- 
 viding for this object, which, upon being submitted to the Senate, was 
 rejected. 
 
 Mr. Powell, of Kentucky, could see no motive for the proposed 
 change except to get rid of the judges and to substitute partisan 
 judges in their place. He therefore proposed to amend the bill by 
 striking out the fir.st section of the bill, after the enacting clause, and 
 inserting: "That an additional judge be added to the Circuit Court 
 
728 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 of the District of Columbia," wliich lie tlioiiglit would test tiie sin- 
 cerity of those proposing to estal)lish a Supremo Court. 
 
 Mr. Davis, of Kentucky, ventured to assert that if tlie incumbents 
 of the court proposed to be abolislied were Republicans, and a Demo- 
 crat were in the Presidential chair, the majority of the Kepublicaus in 
 the Senate would never pass the bill to remove, by a mode diiierent 
 from impeachment, Init more certain, the incumbents of the offices, 
 and thus open a way fbi' a Democratic President to fill their places. 
 Mr. Davis olyectcd to the removal of these judges on constitutional 
 grounds, and referre<l to Webster, Calhoun, and Clay as supporting 
 the position that where an office is filled by a President by and 
 with the consent of the Senate, the President has no power of re- 
 moval except with the concurrence of the Senate, 
 
 Mr. Sumner quoted Chief Justice Marshall in favor of the position 
 that the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia was a legislative 
 court in contradistinction to a constitutional court, that the jurisdiction 
 with which that court was invested was not a part of that judicial 
 ]i()wer which is defined in the third article of the Constitution, but it was 
 conferred by Congress in the exercise of those general powers which that 
 body possesses over Territorial courts; and that therefore, so far as au- 
 thority was concerned, Congress had authority to abolish the Circuit 
 Court, and to establish the Supreme Court, as it proposed to do. 
 
 Mr. Davis presented a petition against the proposed change, signed 
 by forty-nine of the leading members of the bar of the District of 
 Columbia. 
 
 Mr. Harris maintained the same position as that of Mr. Sumner, that 
 the Congress had ample authority to abolish the Circuit Court; that court 
 was not made immortal, as Mr. Davis, of Kentucky, sought to establish. 
 
 The bill became a law, by the signature of the President, March 
 3, 1863. By force of this act the old Circuit Court was abolished, and 
 its judges ceased to hold the offices occupied by them so long and 
 with so much honor. The present Supreme Court of the District of 
 Columbia was also established by this act, and it is deemed best for 
 the proper understanding of its powers and juristliction to quote here 
 a few of its sections, as follows: 
 
 "There shall be established in the District of Columbia a court to 
 be called the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, which shall 
 have general jurisdiction in law and equity. It shall consist of four 
 justices, one of whom shall be denominated as chief justice. These jus- 
 tices shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and 
 consent of the Senate, and shall liold their offices during good behav- 
 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 729 
 
 ior. Each justice, before entering upon the duties of his office, shall 
 take the oath prescribed to be taken by judges of the courts of the 
 United States. Any three of said justices may hold a general term, 
 and any one of them may hold a special term or circuit court. The 
 court shall have power to appoint a clerk, and shall possess the same 
 powers and exercise the same jurisdiction as are piossessed and exer- 
 cised by the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia. Any one 
 of said justices may hold a District Court of the United States for 
 the District of Columbia in the same manner and with the same 
 powers and jurisdiction possessed and exercised by other District 
 Courts of the United States. Any one of the justices may hold a 
 criminal court for the trial of all criminals and olienses arising within 
 said District, and such .court shall possess the same powers and exer- 
 cise the same jurisdiction now possessed and exercised by the Criminal 
 Court of the District of Columbia." 
 
 Special provisions are made for the regulation of the general and 
 special terms of the court, and for the hearing and trial of causes 
 therein; and an appeal is given from the decision of the special term, 
 where the judgments and orders made at the special terms are to be 
 reviewed and affirmed, revised or modified, as shall be just. The act 
 also confers wyow the court power to make rules regulating the time 
 and manner of taking aitpeals, and authorizes it to establish such 
 other rules as may be deemed necessary for the regulation of the 
 practice in the several courts of the District. The right to have all 
 final judgments, orders, or decrees of the court reexamined and revised 
 or affirmed in the Supreme Court of the United States is reserved, under 
 certain regulations and conditions, in the same manner as is provided 
 concerning the final judgments, etc., of the Circuit Court of the District 
 of Columbia. By subsequent enactments, this organic act is modified 
 and amended, and the jurisdiction of the court is somewhat enlarged; 
 but for the purposes of this work, the synopsis given seems sufficient. 
 
 It will be seen that by this legislation a most radical change was 
 made in the character of the courts, and it will appear presently tliat 
 an equally radical change was made in the persovnel of the court. 
 
 The President did not retain either of the judges of the old 
 Circuit Court, but appointed David K. Cartter, of Ohio, chief justice, 
 and Abraham B. Olin of New York, Andrew Wylie of the District 
 of Columbia, and George P. Fisher of Delaware, associate justices of 
 the new court. 
 
 David K. Cartter was the first chief justice apiiointed under the 
 act of Congress establishing the Supreme Court of the District of 
 
730 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Coliuubia. He was born in Oliio, luul from 1849 to 1853 was a Rep- 
 resentative in Congress IVoni the eigliteentli district (jf tliat State. He 
 was appointed by President Lincoln minister to Bolivia in 1861, and 
 in 1863 was appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court of the 
 District of Columbia. This office he held until his death, in 1887, a 
 period of twenty-four years. 
 
 Chief Justice Cartter was a man of the most reniarkuble intellec- 
 tual capacity. Ilis memory was phenomenal. His aim in the trial of 
 cases that came before him was to accomplish what he called suljstan- 
 tial justice, and he u-ed his wonderful ability always with the view 
 of bringing about a complete settlement of the causes that he tried. 
 Personally, he was a man of singular attractiveness. Ilis wit and 
 his [)eculiar methods in tiie treatment of the causes that came before 
 him will long be remembered by the liench and bar of the District of 
 Columbia, and while it is fairly questionable whether his place in the 
 community was exactly in the judicial line, yet there can be no ques- 
 tion that his abilities were such as to lit him for any place lie might 
 be called to occupy. He was singularly individual in his character, 
 and not at all times ajipareutly amiable, but even when at times he 
 seemed to be rude and unfriendly, he was eminently kind-hearted. 
 
 The successor of Judge Cartter, and the present chief justice 
 of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, is Edward F. 
 Bingham, who was appointed by I'resident Cleveland, April 22, 1887. 
 Judge Bingham was one of the State judges of Ohio, and had been 
 for fourteen years when he was selected from that bench to fill the 
 position he now holds. He has been for so short a time chief justice 
 of this court that little can be said except that he has shown himself 
 to be a strictly correct and upright judge. His decisions are mani- 
 festly fair, and show a great deal of ability and learning, and there 
 is every reason to apprehend that his career on the bench will be 
 honorable to himself as well as eminently useful to his fellow-citizens. 
 
 Abraham B. Olin was born in Shaftesbury, Bennington County, 
 Vermont, in 1812. He graduated from Williams College in 1835, and 
 soon afterward was admitted to the bar and emigrated to the State of 
 New York, spending the rest of his professional life in Troy, in that 
 State. He was for several years recorder of the city of Troy, and was 
 elected to the House of Representatives of the Thirty-tifth, Thirly-sixth, 
 and Thirty-seventh Congresses from the thirteenth district. Upon the 
 organization of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, in 
 1863, he was appointed one of the tirst justices of that court, and as 
 an evidence of his fitness for the position the degree of Doctor of 
 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 731 
 
 Laws was conferred upon him b}- Uitioii College, at Sclieiiectaily, New 
 York. He was a man of great learning and an educated and culti- 
 vated lawyer. Personally, Judge Olin was the kindest and most 
 sympathetic of men. lie was at all times companionable, and won 
 the affection of all who knew him. 
 
 George P. Fisher was born in Milford, Kent County, Delaware, in 
 1817, and graduated at Dickinson College in 1838. In 18-13 and 1844 
 he was elected to the Delaware House of Representatives, and in 1849 
 was the confidential clerk of John M. Clayton, then Secretary of State. 
 From 1857 to 1860 he was attorney-general of Delaware, and lie was 
 elected to the Thirty -seventh Congress from that State. He was 
 appointed, March 1, 1863, one of the associate justices of the Supreme 
 Court of the District of Columbia, which place he resigned to accept 
 that of district attorney for the District of Columbia, from whirli 
 position he was removed in 1875. 
 
 Andrew Wylie, who was also one of the associate justices of the 
 Supreme Court of the District, was born in Washington County, 
 Pennsylvania, February 25, 1814. His father was president succes- 
 sively of Jetfcrson and Washington colleges in that county, and 
 Andrew Wylie attended the latter college until he was fifteen years 
 of age. In 1829 his father nu)ved to Bloomington, Indiana, and 
 became president of the State university there, in which institution 
 his son Andrew continued until 1832. For a year or two after this 
 he lived u[)On his father's farm, and in 1834 entered the Transyl- 
 vania University, at Lexington, Kentucky', graduating therefrom in 
 1836. He entered the law otiice of Walter Forward, wIkj then resided 
 at Pittsburgh, and was afterward Secretary of the Tieasury, i-emaining 
 there a couple of years. About 1840 he \\as admitted to the bar at 
 Pittsburgh, and practiced law until 1845, most of the time being city 
 solicitor. In 1845 he was married to Miss Caroline Bryan, of Alex- 
 andria, Virginia, and in December, 1848, he i-emoved to Washington 
 City, and there began the practice of the law. In January, 186<, 
 Judge Crawford having resigned, he was apjiointed judge of the 
 Criminal Court, but before he could be coutirined the Supreme Court 
 of the District of Colundjia was estaV)lished, and he was appointed 
 by Mr. Lincoln one of the associate justices of that court, which 
 position he field until 1885, when he retired, as he was entitled under 
 the law to do, and he still lives in the city of Washington in great 
 comfort and elegance, highly respected by all who know him. 
 
 David C. Humplireys was born in the State of Tennessee, and 
 received his early education in that State. Upon liis arrival at matur- 
 
732 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 itj, lie pursued tlie study of law at Nashville, in tlie office of his 
 uiieie, lion. T. J. Canipbell, at one time a Representative in Congress 
 from Tennessee, and the clerk of tiie House of Representatives from 
 1847 to 1850. Soon after the completion of his law studies, Mr. Hum- 
 phreys emigrated to tlie State of Alabama, and commenced the practice 
 of law in the town of Elyville, now Birmingham, in that State. He 
 was appointed an associate justice of tlie Supreme Court of the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia May 13, 1870, and held that position until his death, 
 in June, 1879. 
 
 Arthur McArthur was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1815, and is 
 a descendant of noble ancestry-. He came to this country when very 
 young, and was educated at Amherst, Massachusetts, and at the Wes- 
 leyan University, Middletown, Connecticut. He studied law in New 
 York, and was admitted to the bar in 1840. He practiced in New 
 York and in Springiield, Massachusetts, for nine years with marked 
 success. In 1849 lie removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, commencing 
 the practice of the law in that city, and in a short time attained a 
 high position at the bar. He was elected city attorney, and in 1855 
 was elected Lieutenant-Covernor of the State, and by reason of some 
 defect in the title of the Governor, he served as Governor of Wiscon- 
 sin for a short time. While he was Lieutenant-Governor he was elected 
 judge of the second judicial circuit of Wisconsin, iiolding the position 
 six years, and at the end of his term was reelected, thus serving two 
 terms in that office with honor to himself and to the satisfaction of 
 the people. In 1870 he was appointed by President Grant associate 
 justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, which 
 position he tilled for seventeen years, thus rounding out a period 
 of nearly thirty years upon the bench. 
 
 Judge McArthur was recognized as an active, fearless, and con- 
 sistent judge, and in the performance of the duties of liis office was at 
 all times impartial, kind, and considerate. It is owing to his industry 
 that the eases decided in the courts of the District of Columbia are 
 reported in such a way as to be available to the profession. Yov 
 more than thirty yeai's before Judge McArthur undertook to rc[iort 
 the decisions of the courts, no public report had been made of them, 
 whereas now there is only an interval of twenty-two years, from 1841 
 to 1868, for which there are no reports. During his entire career 
 Judge McArthur has shown great interest in the charitable and 
 educational institutions of the community, having been for many 
 years president of the Humane Society, and having written a woik 
 entitled "Education in Relation to Manual Industry." He is also the 
 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 733 
 
 author of the following works: "A Biography of the English Lan- 
 guage from the Earliest Times, with Notices of its Authors, Ancient 
 and Modern"; "An Historical Study of Mary Stuart, Commonly 
 Called Mary, Queen of Scotts, Recounting the Principal Events of 
 Her Life, and Illustrating tlie Lijustiee that lias heen done Her 
 Memory and Character"; "A Series of Twelve Lectures on the Law 
 as Applicable to a Business Education"; and a volume of "Addresses 
 and Papers on Various Subjects." All of these are works of great 
 research, and bear witness to the scholarship and industry of their 
 author. Judge McArthur still lives in the city of Washington, his 
 remarkable vigor and active energy giving promise of many years of 
 usefulness. His family consists of his wife and one son by a former 
 marriage, and lie is spending the evening of liis days in great com- 
 fort, surrounded by a host of friends and in the possession of the 
 esteem of the entire community. 
 
 A. B. Hagnei- was born in the District ot Colmnbia, being a son 
 of Peter Hagner, the tirst Third Auditor of the Treasury, was gradu- 
 ated from Princeton College in 1845, and was admitted to the bar in 
 Maryland and settled at Annapolis. He was, on one occasion, judge 
 advocate-general of a naval court-martial, and was a special judge in 
 Prince George's County, Maryland, in 1864. He was twice a candidate 
 for Congress, but failed to be elected. He was a Presidential elector 
 in 1871, and in 1879 was appointed, and is to-da}', one of the asso- 
 ciate justices of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. 
 
 Walter S. Cox, the son of a lawyer of distinguished ability, was 
 born in Georgetown, and received his education at Georgetown Col- 
 lege, taking a degree at that institution in 1843. He studied law at 
 Harvard College, where he graduated in 1847, and was admitted to 
 the bar of the District of Columbia the same year. He commenced 
 practice in the oiKce of his father, and in 1848, his father having 
 died, he succeeded to the entire practice. He was a very successful 
 practitioner, being always distinguished by his great familiarity with 
 the abstruse doctrines of the law relating to real estate. \\\ 1879 he 
 was appointed one of the associate justices of the Supreme Court of 
 the District of Columbia, which position he still holds. 
 
 Charles P. James was appointed on the District Bench Jul}' 29, 
 1879, and holds a commission as one of the judges of the Supreme 
 Court of tiie District of Colundiia dating from December 10, 1879, 
 the date of the contirmation of his appointment by the United States 
 Senate. Judge James, in addition to his duties upon the bench, was 
 for four years a professor in the law school of Georgetown College, 
 
734 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 |ierfoniiiiig' the duties of tliiit position with entire satisfaction. lie 
 was l)orn in Oliio, gradnated at Harvard University, and c-oninienced 
 the practice of the law in tlie city of Cincinnati. After several years 
 of successful practice at the bar, lie was appointed a judge of tlie 
 Superior Court of Cincinnati and held that office for several years 
 with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the coninuinity. In 
 January, 1864, he came to the city of Washington and entered upon 
 the practice of his profession in the city. lie was successful as a 
 practitioner, was engaged in several cases of importance, and was 
 distinguished for those sterling qualities of patience and unassuming 
 industry that are the best guaranties of professional distinction. When 
 Congress determined to create a commission to make a complete 
 revision of the statute law of the United States, Mr. James was 
 appointed one of the commissioners. With that energy and strict 
 attention to the appointed duty before him which has always distin- 
 guished him, he entered \\\\o\\ the work of the office to which he was 
 assigned, and the result shows how faithful and industrious he was. 
 
 Martin V. Montgomery was Ijorn in Eaton liapids, Michigan, in 
 1840. He was in the Union Army in 1801, serving in the Second 
 Michigan Cavalry. In 1862 he studied law, and in 1863 was elected 
 clerk of his township. In 1806 he commenced the practice of the 
 law, and was elected a rejiresentative in the legislature of his State 
 in 1870. In 1874 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the attorney- 
 generalship of the State, and in 1885 was appointed by President 
 Cleveland Commissioner of Patents at Washington. In 1887 he was 
 appointed one of the associate justices of the Supreme Court of the 
 District of Columbia. He has recently announced to the bar his 
 intention to resign his position on the bencli and return to the prac- 
 tice of his profession. This step is sincerely and universally regretted 
 by the bar and the citizens of the District, notwithstanding that it 
 is considered wise on liis part. Jnilge Montgomery will carry with 
 him wherever lie goes the kindest wishes of all who know him. 
 
 Andrew C. Bradley is a native of the District of Columbia, and 
 belongs to the family of Bradleys which lias been for so many ye-ars 
 prominently identiiied with the history of the District. He is a 
 descendant of Phineas Bradley, who was appointed Assistant Post- 
 master-General in 1818. He was educated at the schools of the Dis- 
 trict, studied law, was admitted to the bar, and for several years was a 
 successful practitioner in its courts. While still a young man he was 
 appointed by President Harrison an associate justice of the Sujireme 
 Court of the District of Cdlnmliia, which jKisition he still retains. 
 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 735 
 
 The Criminal Court of the District of Columbia was established 
 iu 1838, pi-evions to which time criminal jurisdiction had been exercised 
 by the Circuit Court. Thomas F. Mason was the tirst judge of the 
 Criminal Court, holding the position, however, only a short time. 
 James Dunlop was tlie second judge of this court, serving in this 
 capacity from 1839 to 1845. He was succeeded by Thomas Hartley 
 Crawford, who was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, iu 1786, and 
 graduated in 1804, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1807. 
 He served as a Representative in Congress from Pennsylvania from 
 1829 to 1833. In 1836 he was a commissioner to investigate certain 
 alleged frauds in the purchase of lauds from the Creek Indians, and 
 in 1838 was appointed by President V^an Buren Commissioner of 
 Indian Aifairs, and took up his residence iu Washington, holding the 
 office for seven years. In 1845 he was appointed by President Polk 
 judge of the Criminal Court of the District of Columbia, which 
 position he held until his death. He was a man of distinguished 
 ability, and during his occupancy of the position of judge of the 
 Criminal Court of the District tried several of the most important 
 cases that ever came before any criminal court in the United States. 
 He was a patient, careful, consistent judge, and was distinguished for 
 his devotion to the work imposed upon him by the position he held. 
 
 In addition to these two courts already mentioned, there was 
 created by Congress the Police Court for the District of Columbia, 
 consisting of one judge. This court, under the act creating it, was 
 restricted in its jurisdiction, but was clothed with power to hear and 
 determine a large number of cases that otherwise would have had to 
 be tried in the Supreme Court of the District. Within the past few 
 years the business of this court has increased to such an extent that 
 Congress has authorized another judge, so that now there are two 
 judges of this court. One of these judges is Thomas F. Miller, the 
 other being Irving G. Kimball. 
 
 The courts of the District of Columbia have been the arena of 
 so many remarkable trials that any history of these courts will be 
 incomplete without some account of the great causes that have been 
 cousidered and adjudicated before them. It will not be out of place, 
 therefore, to give a brief account of the trials referred to as a part 
 of this history. 
 
 Richard Lawrence made an attack, January 30, 1835, upon the 
 life of Andrew Jackson, President of the United States, snapping two 
 pistols at him, both of which failed to explode. President Jackson was 
 at the time coming out of the rotunda of the Capitol, having attended 
 
736 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 the funeral of Warren R. Davis, a member of Congress. Lawrence 
 was arrested and put upon trial for his crime, the punishment for 
 which could only extend to tine and imjirisonment, if found guilty. 
 An attempt was made before the grand jury to prove his insanity, to 
 which the District attorney objected. The jury therefore asked for the 
 opinion and instructions of the court, Judge Cranch Ijeing then chief 
 justice of tiie Circuit Court. Judge Cranch delivered the opinion of 
 the court on this question, to the effect that every person was pre- 
 sumed in law to be sane until the contrary was proved, and hence it 
 was unnecessary to summon witnesses to prove tlie sanity of the 
 accused. The prisoner should wait for that until he should be put 
 upon his trial. Quoting from Chief Justice McKean, in Schatier's case, 
 he said: "If, then, you undertake to inquire, not only upon what 
 ground the charge is made, but also upon what it is denied, you will 
 in eft'ect usurp the jurisdiction of the petit jury. You will supersede 
 the legal autliority of tlie court in judging of the competency and 
 inadmissibility of witnesses, and having thus undertaken to try the 
 question, that question may be determined upon by a bare majority', or 
 by a much greater number of your body than twelve peers [irescribed 
 by the law of the. land," etc. 
 
 W. L. Brent & Son were the attorneys for the defense. February 
 5, 1835, they made application to the court for the issuance of a writ 
 of habeas corpus upon the ground of the prisoner's insanity, and on 
 the 14th of the month the petition was refused, because the judge 
 was of the opinion that a writ of habeas corpus was not to be 
 granted upon application merel}-; it was not to be awanled withnut 
 some reasonable ground shown by affidavit, and that if a prisoner 
 were a dangerous maniac the onl}' way in which he could insure the 
 safety of the public was to ren)and him to the prison in which he was 
 confined; and were that done, his imprisonment would be interminable; 
 he would liave no day in court, no means to compel a trial, etc. 
 
 The case came on for trial April 11, 1835, before Judge Cranch, 
 of the Circuit Court, the indictment being for an assault upon Andrew 
 Jackson, President of the United States, with intent to kill and murder 
 him. It was shown to the satisfaction of the jury that the defendant 
 was really insane, in that he supposed himself to be the King of 
 England and also of the United States, the United States being in his 
 view an appendage of England, and that Andrew Jackson was in 
 his way in the enjoyment of his right; and that tiie assault upon the 
 President was done under that delusion. The jury, after tive minutes' 
 deliberation, brought in the following verdict: " We tind the prisoner 
 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 737 
 
 not guilt}', he being under tlie influence of insanity at tiie time he 
 coniniitted tlie act." The court remanded the prisoner, being of the 
 opinion from the evidence that it would be extremely dangerous for 
 him to be at large while under such mental illusion. 
 
 Richard H. White was accused of setting lire to the Treasury 
 building March 30, 1833, and was indicted and tried for this crime 
 March 80, 1836. Brent & Brent were his attorneys, the attorney for 
 the prosecution being J. R. Key. White's attorneys moved that the 
 indictment be quashed, on the ground that more than two years had 
 elapsed between tlie burning of the Treasury and the finding of the 
 indictment, and pleaded the act of Congress of April 30, 1790, to 
 the effect that no person should be prosecuted, tried, or punished for 
 any offense not capital, nor for any tine or forfeiture under any penal 
 statute, unless the indictment or information for the same should be 
 found or instituted within two years from the time of the committing 
 of the offense or incurring the tine or forfeiture; ^'■Provided, that 
 nothing in said statute contained should extend to any person fleeing 
 from justice." 
 
 The court refused to quash the indictment, because, until the fact 
 should appear upon the trial, it could not be certain that the person 
 was not one fleeing from justice, and the case came before the court 
 and jury for trial. 
 
 After a pretty full hearing of the case, the jury retired on Saturday, 
 December 24, 183G, and were kept in their room until the 27th, when 
 they were discharged because they could not agree. 
 
 A second trial commenced on January 6, 1837, and the case was 
 given to the jury on the 13th of that month. The verdict this time 
 was that the defendant was guilty of burning the Treasury, but that - 
 he was acquitted on the plea of limitation. This not being a formal 
 verdict, it was agreed that the District attorney and the counsel for 
 the defense should each submit to the jury such form of verdict as 
 they supposed would be conformable to the intention of the jury. 
 This was done, and the jury then returned their verdict in the following 
 form: "We, the jury, are of the opinion that the otiense as charged 
 was committed by the prisoner, and we find him not guilty upon the 
 plea of limitations, more than two years having elapsed froni the com- 
 mitting of the offense to the finding of the indictment." 
 
 J. R. Key, for the United States, then moved for a venire de novo, 
 which, after argument, was awarded by Chief Justice Cranch. 
 
 The cause then came up for trial at the March term, 1837, with 
 the same counsel as before. The jury, on April 29, failed to agree 
 
738 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 and were discharged. At the November term, 1837, the court quashed 
 the iudictmeiit. Mr. Key, for the United States, sent up another 
 indictment to the grand jur}-, the prisoner not being discharged, but 
 being permitted to go at iai'ge on the old recognizance. The case 
 was continued until tlie next term, when it was argued by Key for 
 the United States, and by the Messrs. Brent for the defense, from the 
 8th to the 13th of June, and on the 14th the jury gave the following 
 verdict: "We find for the defendant on the plea of limitations, not 
 guilty," and he was discharged. 
 
 The Gardiner case, as it is called, was in substance as follows: It 
 is well knowii that by the treaty of Gaudalupe Hidalgo a board of 
 commissioners was provided for which had for its duty the adjudica- 
 tion of claims of citizens of the United States against Mexico. Dr. 
 George A. Gardiner brought a claim against the United States on the 
 ground that he had purchased a valuable mine in the State of San 
 Luis Potosi, paying therefor $330,392, which he was working, and 
 making in gross $20,000 per month, his expenses being from $10,000 
 to $12,000 per montli, and that on the 21st of October, 1846, he was 
 ordered out of Mexico b^' the Mexican authorities, and thus the value 
 of his property, which he placed at $500,000, was entirely destroyed. 
 He presented evidence to the board of commissioners in the shape of 
 authenticated documents showing his ownership of the mines, and 
 in November, 1850, presented additional testimony at the request of 
 the board, this additional testimony consisting of a copy of iiis mining 
 title taken from the book of registry of mines in the otKce of the 
 prefect of Rio Verde, sustained by atiidavits. 
 
 It was subsequently discovered that all of his alleged testimony 
 was manufactured, and he was indicted for perjury on July 19, 1851. 
 Dr. Gardiner fled to England, but returned, in accordance with an 
 arrangement that he should be admitted to bail in the sum of $20,000, 
 this money to be a part of that which he had obtained from the 
 Government on his alleged title to money from the Government on his 
 claim. The indictment was in accordance with an act of Congress 
 passed March 1, 1823, section 3 of that act being as follows: 
 
 "That if any person shall swear or atiirm falsely touching the 
 expenditure of public money, or in support of any claim against 
 the United States, he or she shall, upon conviction therefor, suiter as 
 for wilful and corrupt perjury." 
 
 The United States District attorney at that time was I'hilip K. 
 Fendall, and in the prosecution he was assisted by Henry May. The 
 attorneys for the defense were Joseph H. Bradley and J. M. Carlisle. 
 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 739 
 
 The District attorney said that the evidence presented was designed 
 to establish four points: 
 
 1. That Dr. Gardiner had large mines. 
 
 2. That he was personally' present at his alleged mines in Lagu- 
 nillas through the term of his mining operations. 
 
 3. That the alleged mines existed, and were of great value. 
 
 4. That he was the owner of these mines. 
 
 And that if the falsity of any one of these propositions was proven, 
 then the defendant was guilty. The District attorney then went on 
 to prove that every one of the four propositions was false. 
 
 The case or trial commenced on March 11, 1853, and was given 
 to the jurj' May 20, following. The jury came into court on the 28th 
 of the month unable to agree, and were discharged. 
 
 The original award to Dr. Gardiner was $428,000. Gardiner 
 paid his counsel one-fourth of this sum, and sold one-fourth for $22,000. 
 Thus §214,000 of the award remained, together with the $22,000 received 
 for one-fourth, making in all $236,000, as the net amount received by 
 Dr. Gardiner. The Government attached $220,000 or $230,000 of this 
 amount, leaving him only $16,000 or $6,000 as his share, according to 
 which amount the Government attached. 
 
 After the disagreement of the jury, a new trial was ordered and 
 a commission appointed to visit Mexico. Henr}' May was placed at 
 the head of the commission, and nearly a year elapsed before the 
 second trial commenced. During the progress of the second trial, 
 and just before the cross-examination of J. Charles Gardiner, or 
 I. Carlos Gardiner, as he was called, began, Henry May left the court 
 room and soon returned with a tin box, and, opening it, produced a 
 letter from I. Carlos Gardiner to his brother, George A. Gardiner, 
 containing the most conclusive evidence of the fraud. The witness, 
 though admitting that the handwriting looked like his, would not 
 admit that it was his. Mr. May then proceeded to unfold the most 
 extraordinary stor}- of fraud, forger}-, and perjury that was ever heard 
 in any court, astonishing every one who heard it, and at the same 
 time also completely establishing the guilt of the accused. The case 
 being given to the jury, they soon returned with a verdict of "Guilty." 
 Dr. Gardiner thereupon took something out of his vest pocket, put 
 it in his mouth, and asked for a drink of water, and upon reaching 
 the rail, fell in a fit at the entrance. While stoutly denying that he 
 had taken poison, he died in about an hour's time. This act of suicide 
 was in accord with the determination frequently expressed on his part 
 never to suffer any sentence the court might pronounce. 
 
740 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Philemon T. Herbert, Representative in Congress from California, 
 shot and killed Thomas Keating, a waiter in Willard's Hotel, May 
 
 8, 1856. Mr. Herbert was arrested and placed in jail. Philip Barton 
 Key was District attorney at the time, and the counsel for the prisoner 
 were Joseph H. Bradley, Hon. John B. Weller, Hon. Percy Walker, 
 and Hon. Philip Phillips. His counsel immediately procured a writ of 
 habeas corpus, and brought the prisoner before Judge Crawford on Sat- 
 urday', the judge withholding his decision as to the granting of the writ 
 until Monday, when he decided "that a conviction for murder should 
 not take place," and that the prisoner should be admitted to bail in the 
 sum of $10,000 to answer to a charge of manslaughter. July 2, the 
 grand jury made a presentment for murder against the accused, and he 
 was forthwith arrested and placed in jail, the trial being set for July 
 
 9. The trial commeuced on the 10th, with Bradley and Walker, as- 
 sisted by Daniel Ratclifie, for the defense. After a careful trial the 
 jury failed to agree, and a new trial was had, occupying from the 17th 
 to the 25th of that month. In this second trial the prosecution was 
 assisted by William P. Preston, of Baltimore, the counsel for the de- 
 fense being the same as before. The evidence showed that Herbert 
 came into the dining-room of the hotel late, and in a rough manner 
 ordered a servant to get his breakfast, which order was executed only 
 in part; and that he thereupon ordered Keating to assist the other 
 waiter in getting his breakfast, which Keating refused to do, as one 
 waiter was enough. This made Herbert very angry, and he drew his 
 pistol and advanced upon Keating with the apparent intention of 
 shooting him, but withdrew without doing so. Immediately after, a 
 quarrel arose over the matter, and a number of persons made an 
 attack upon Herbert, who then fired, killing Keating. The instruc- 
 tions to the jury were to this eti'ect: That "if the jury believed from 
 the evidence that at the time the pistol was fired Herbert was being 
 pressed by superior numbers, and was in danger of death or of serious 
 bodily harm, from which he could not safely escape, he was justified 
 in taking life." The jury retired at 8:00 p. m., and in an hour 
 returned with a verdict of acquittal. 
 
 February 27, 1859, Philip Barton Key, United States District 
 attorney for the District of Columbia, was shot by the Hon. Daniel 
 E. Sickles, a Representative in Congress from New York City, at the 
 corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Lafayette Square. Sickles charged 
 a criminal intimacy between Key and his wife, Mrs. Sickles, and meet- 
 ing Key at the place indicated, in broad day, and without warning 
 to Key, shot and killed him. Sickles was immediately committed to 
 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 741 
 
 prison to await the action of the grand jury. On the 7th of March the 
 death of Key was announced to the Criminal Court, of wliich Thomas 
 H. Crawford was judge, by Robert Ould, who had been appointed 
 by the President to succeed Key as attorney for the District. On 
 March 24, 1859, the indictment was presented to the court, it being 
 for murder. Tiie attorneys for Mr. Sickles were E. M. Stanton, since 
 Secretary of War, Chilton k Magruder, and Daniel Ratcliife. The 
 trial was set for Monday, April 4, and commenced that day, the 
 prosecution being assisted by J. M. Carlisle. After a trial lasting 
 twent}- days, closing April 26, the jury, after being out one hour and 
 ten minutes, brought in a verdict of "Not guilty." Sickles afterward 
 became distinguished as an officer of the army, and held many places 
 of trust and honor. He still lives, and is highly esteemed by those 
 who know him best. 
 
 Every incident connected with the assassination of President Lin- 
 coln has passed into history, and has become familiar to every American 
 citizen. John H. Surratt was charged with being an accomplice of 
 Bootli, the assassin, and an aider and abetter in his infamous crime. 
 It was known that he had been in the city during all the day of the 
 murder; that the cons[)iracy, of which the crime was the result, was 
 concocted in the house of Mrs. Surratt, his mother; and that he, John 
 H. Surratt, was with Booth up to the very moment before the fatal 
 shot. Again, i^ appeared that immediately after the murder of the 
 President, Surratt had fled the city. He was traced to Canada, and 
 again to Italy, where he was found enlisted among the soldiers of 
 the Pope. Here he was arrested, but escaped to Egypt; was again 
 arrested, finally brought to this country-, and an indictment for mur- 
 der was found against him by the grand jury for the District of 
 Columbia. On the 10th of June, 1867, his trial commenced before 
 the Criminal Court (the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia 
 in special term as a criminal court) of the District of Columbia, with 
 Justice George P. Fisher presiding. The United States was repre- 
 sented by E. C. Cunington, the District attorney, and Nathaniel P. 
 Wilson, his assistant, and associate counsel Messrs. Edwards Pierrepont 
 and A. G. Riddle, and the {)risoner by Joseph 11. Bradley, R. T. Mer- 
 rick, and Joseph H. Bradley, Jr. A jury was finally obtained on the 
 18th of June, 1867, and the trial was proceeded with. A great many 
 witnesses were examined on both sides, and many interesting questions 
 were discussed. On Wednesda}', August 7, 1867, the case was given 
 to the jur}-, and on Saturdaj-, August 10, the jury, being unable to 
 agree upon a verdict, were discharged. 
 
742 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Hallet Kilbourn, a gentleman engaged in business in the city of 
 Washington, was submitted to an experience in the courts so remark- 
 able as to make his case one of the most noted in our judicial 
 histor}-. 
 
 Ill the month of Januar}', 1876, a committee was appointed by 
 the House of Representatives to investigate certain matters growing 
 out of the failure of Jay Cooke & Compaii}', in which it was alleged 
 that Jay Cooke, McCulloch, & Company, of London, were indebted to 
 the country on account of some advances made b}' the Secretary' of 
 tha Navy just prior to their failure. It was alleged by the committee 
 that Kilbourn & Latta, real-estate brokers of Washington, had invested 
 money for Jay Cooke & Company and others in real estate, in Wash- 
 ington, in what was designated as the "real -estate pool," and the 
 committee subpoenaed Mr. Hallet Kilbourn, of that firm, to come 
 before it, and bring with him the books and papers of that firm for 
 the inspection of the committee, and to testify in relation to the same. 
 Mr. Kilbourn appeared before the committee, but declined to testif}' or 
 produce the books and papers of the firm for the committee's inspec- 
 tion, asserting under oath that the business of their firm was in no waj- 
 connected with the Government; that their transactions with Ja^- 
 Cooke & Company had been fully settled, and maintaining that the 
 committee had no right to investigate and publish their private busi- 
 ness affairs to the world. 
 
 The committee thereupon reported Mr. Kilbourn to the House as 
 in contem[>t, and on the 14th of March, 1876, the House ordered the 
 sergeant-at-arms, John G. Thompson, to arrest and bring him before 
 the bar of the House. This order was promptly executed, and in 
 response to the Speaker, asking him if he still declined to comply 
 with the commands of the committee, Mr. Kilbourn answered ailirma- 
 tively, whereupon the House passed a resolution directing the ser- 
 geant-at-arms to confine Mr. Kilbourn in the common jail of the 
 District of Columbia until he should purge himself of contempt by 
 agreeing to conipl}- witli the demands of the investigating committee. 
 
 Mr. Kilbourn remained in jail five weeks, when he was brought 
 before Chief Justice Cartter, of the District Court, on a writ of habeas 
 corpus (the sergeant-at-arms having been directed by the House, after 
 three days' discussion in that body, by a vote of 165 to 76, to obey 
 the writ), and after several days' argument by attorneys for the Gov- 
 ernment and Mr. Kilbourn, he was discharged from custody by the 
 order of the Chief Justice, April 28. 
 
 In August, 1876, Mr. Kilbourn brought suit against Sergeant-at- 
 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 743 
 
 arms Thompson and others for false imprisonment. A majority of 
 the court of the District in March, 1877, decided against Mr. Kil- 
 bourn's right of action, from whicli decision he appealed to the 
 Supreme Court of the United States. 
 
 The Supreme Court, in Januar}-, 1881, by a unanimous opinion, 
 decided that the action of the House of Representatives, in ordering 
 the arrest and imprisonment of Mr. Kilbourn, was without law, and 
 void, and sustained his action against Sergeant-at-arms Thompson, and 
 remanded the case back to the court of the District for trial by jury 
 to assess the amount of damages. 
 
 The tirst jury trial was had in April, 1882, before Judge Mc- 
 Arthur, in which a verdict of $100,000 was rendered, which was set 
 aside by the judge as excessive. 
 
 The second jury trial took place in November, 1883, before Judge 
 Cox, the jury returning a verdict of |60,000 damages, which the judge 
 set aside as excessive. 
 
 The third jury trial was held in March, 1884, before Judge Ilag- 
 ner, the jury rendering a verdict for $37,500 damages, which the judge 
 reduced to $20,000, and this latter sum, with interest, was appropriated 
 by Congress on March 4, 1885. 
 
 The attorneys who at different periods represented the Govern- 
 ment in this long contested case were S. S. Shellabarger, Robert 
 I. Christy, Judge William Merrick, W. H. Trescott, H. W. Garnett, 
 Hon. Frank Hurd, Walter E. Smith, District Attorney Corkhill and 
 Assistant Coyle, District Attorney Worthington, and Shellabarger k 
 Wilson. 
 
 Those appearing for Mr. Kilbourn were Judge Jeremiah S. Black, 
 Matthew H. Carpenter, General N. L. Jeffries, Hon. D. W. Voorhees, 
 Enoch Totten, C. A. Eldridge, and W. D. Davidge. 
 
 On Saturday, July 2, 1881, as President Garfield was passing 
 through the ladies' room of the Baltimore and Potomac Depot, at 
 the corner of B and Sixth streets, in Washington City, Charles J. 
 Guiteau, without provocation of any kind, tired two shots at him from 
 a heavy revolver, the last proving fatal. The President lingered in 
 great suifering, and died September 10, 1881. October 8, the grand 
 jury found a true bill against Guiteau for the murder of James A. 
 Garfield, President of the United States, and on the 11th of the month 
 a copy of the indictment was served upon him. On the 14th of October 
 Guiteau was brought into court and arraigned for the murder of the 
 President, and pleaded not guilty, his defense being threefold: 
 
 1. Insanity, in that it was God's act, and not his; the divine 
 
744 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 pressure on liim to remove the President being so great that it 
 destroyed liis free agency, and therefore he was not legally respons- 
 ible for his act. 
 
 2. The President died from ma1[)ractice. If he had been well 
 treated, he would have recovered. 
 
 3. The President died in New Jersey, beyond the jurisdiction of 
 the court. Tiie mal[iractice and the President's death in New Jersey 
 were special providences, and he was Ijound to avail liimself of them 
 in justice to the Lord and himself 
 
 The trial eomnienoed November 14, 1881, the District attorne}, 
 Hon. George B. Corkhill, Judge Porter of New York, and Mr. Walter 
 D. Davidge of Washington representing the Government in the pros- 
 ecution; Mr. Leigh Robinson,' of Washington, assigned by the court, 
 and George Scoville and Charles Keed, of Chicago, being the counsel 
 for the defense; Judge Walter S. Co.x, of Washington, upon the 
 bench. The defense of the prisoner was that he was insane, he 
 contending that if he had shot the President on his own personal 
 account, no punishment could be too severe, or could come too quickly; 
 but that he was acting as the agent of the Deity, which put an 
 entirely different construction upon the matter, and that he wished to 
 put to the court, to the jury, and to the opposing counsel this condi- 
 tion of things. That was the idea he wanted them to entertain, and 
 not to settle down on the cold-blooded idea that it was murder, because 
 he never had the first conception of murder in the matter. He had 
 killed the President because he had proved a traitor to the men that 
 had made him President, etc. 
 
 After a long trial, the incidents of which are most remarkable and 
 well known, on January 20, 1882, Mr. Scoville having finished his 
 speech, which had consumed five days, the case went to the jury, who 
 in a short time returned with a verdict of "Guilty, as charged in the 
 indictment." A new trial was refused, and the prisoner was sentenced 
 to be hanged June 30, 1882. 
 
 The Star Route cases, as they are called, were in many respects 
 more worthy of notice than any that have ever taken place in the 
 courts of our country. There was, in fact, but one case, except that 
 there were a number of defendants, the charges against whom were 
 several and distinct in their character, involving the consideration of 
 different facts and requiring different verdicts, but they all proceeded 
 at one time and were submitted to and decided by one jury. 
 
 ' Mr. Robinson, finding it impossible to attenfi to the case, withdrew almost at the 
 outset of the trial. 
 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 745 
 
 George Bliss, Esq., in his opening address to the jury, speaking of 
 the importance of the case, uses tiie following language: 
 
 "In the view of the Government, by the fraudulent action of the 
 defendants, more than ?600,000 have been fraudulently taken from 
 the treasury of the United States without any adequate return being 
 made for it, and without any necessity for its being so taken on public 
 grounds. It [the case] is important, too, from the former position 
 of the parties involved. One of tlie parties was formerly Second 
 Assistant Postmaster-General of the United States, and as such, was 
 by virtue of his office charged with the reputation, and the manage- 
 ment, and the control of the entire mail service of the United States 
 so far as it relates to the transportation of the mails, and having 
 under his care practically the disbursement of, I think, about -$16,- 
 000,000 a year. Another of the defendants was an Ex-United States 
 Senator from the State of Arkansas." 
 
 Mr. Bliss, speaking further, and by way of explaining the term 
 "star route," says: 
 
 "Section 3949 of the Revised Statutes provides that 'all contracts 
 for carrying the mail shall be in the name of the United States,' and 
 shall be awarded to the lowest bidder tendering sufficient guaranty for 
 faithful performances, without other reference to the mode of trans- 
 portation than may be necessary to provide for the due celerity, cer- 
 tainty, and security thereof. 
 
 "And here let me say, gentlemen, you hear a great deal of star 
 route prosecution and of star routes. It is in this section, which 
 is a reenactnient of an act passed in 1845, that that phraseology has 
 its origin. The phrase as used was 'celerity, certainty, and security.' 
 This statute made a change from a practice which prevailed before, 
 authorizing regard to be had to the conveyances in which the mails 
 were to be transported, etc., and it declared that the only element 
 was celerity, certainty, and security, and on the post-office records, 
 when they came to designate the routes under the statute, they put 
 three stars against them instead of writing out the orders, as repre- 
 senting the words 'celerity, certainty, and security.' That is the origin 
 of the phrase 'star routes,' as I understand it." 
 
 In these cases the defendants were John W. Dorsey, Joliii R. 
 Miner, John M. Peck, Stephen W. Dorsey, Harvey M. Vaile, Mont- 
 fort C. Reredell, Thomas J. Bradley, and William H. Turner. The 
 first jiroceeding in the case was by information which was quashed 
 by the court. Indictments were then found against the several de- 
 fendants for conspiracy to defraud the Government in certain mail 
 
746 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 contracts. Tlie United States was represented by George B. Cork- 
 hill, United States attorney for the District of Columbia, wlio liad 
 associated with him George Bliss, of Xew York, E. T. Merrick, and 
 W. W. Ker. The defense had for their counsel Messrs. Shellabarger 
 & Wilson, Jeff Chandler, Enoch Totten, A. B. Williams, Robert 
 G. IngersoU, Judge Carpenter, C. C. Cole, Mr. Wiltshire, John 
 McSweeney, L. G. Hine, S. S. Henkle, and Walter D. Davidge. The 
 iirst trial commenced June 1, 1882, Mr. Justice Wylie presiding, and 
 terminated September 11, 1882. Tlie jury by their verdict found 
 M. C. Reredell and John R. Miner guilty, John M. Peck and Wil- 
 liam H. Turner not guilty, and as to J. W. and S. W. Dorsey, Harvey 
 M. Vaile, and Thomas H. Brady they could not agree. The case was 
 tried again by the same justice, commencing December 7, 1882, the 
 same counsel appearing, with one or two exceptions, and a verdict 
 was rendered June 14, 1883, by which all the defendants were acquitted. 
 
 It will appear from a glance at the history of the courts of the 
 District of Columbia that, while those courts have been, during the 
 whole period of that history, presided over by judges eminent for their 
 ability, fidelity, and learning, the lawyers who have practiced therein, 
 and have formed the bar of those courts, have been equally distin- 
 guished for that talent and industry at all times so essential as an aid 
 to the courts. The bar of the District of Columbia (and in this con- 
 nection reference is made to the local bar, and not to that large number 
 of eminent lawyers who come to the courts of the District in special 
 cases) has always been distinguished for the high character and great 
 learning of the men who com-jiosed it. It will not be amiss to mention 
 a few of the men who, in past times, have admittedly held the highest 
 places at the District bar, and who have illustrated the character here- 
 tofore claimed for that bar. In making this mention, which necessarily 
 must be confined to a comparative few, no discrimination against any 
 whose names are omitted is intended, and there can be no room for 
 the feeling that anyone has been forgotten. The necessity of the case 
 and the need of brevity in the mention made of men who, if prop- 
 ,erly treated, were worthy each of a full biography luust be carefully 
 considered and acknowledged. 
 
 Preeminent among the members ot the early bar, and unoqualcd 
 throughout its whole history, was Walter Jones. While he was in 
 fact a member of the local bar of the District, he ranked among the 
 greatest lawyers in the whole country and was the peer of any who 
 adorned the day in which he lived, among them Binney, Sargeant, 
 Pinckney, Wirt, Taney, Webster, and Reverdy Johnson. E.xcept that 
 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 747 
 
 he was born in Virginia and secured his education in that State, com- 
 menced the practice of law in Alexandria, and from there came to 
 the cit}' of Washington, the writer knows very little concerning the 
 early life of the great lawyer. He was an omnivorous reader, and 
 had the faculty of so assimilating what he read that his acquirements 
 were always at his command and ever ready for use. In every branch 
 of the pi-ofessioH he was most accomplished. So remarkable was his 
 knowledge of the rules of common law pleading that the papers 
 prepared by him in some of the cases in which he was engaged as 
 counsel are bodily copied into reports as examples of excellence. \]\\- 
 equaled in the close reasoning which distinguished liis argument at 
 the bar, he was at the same time so jjowerful in his use of facts as to 
 be a most formidable adversary before a jury, and in his examination 
 of witnesses his knowledge of men was manifested in a manner most 
 wonderful. Somehow he managed to throw an interest about the 
 case which lie tried most peculiar in its kind and not always observ- 
 able. Perhaps his most distinguishing characteristic was his power of 
 statement. It could be said of him, as it has been said of other great 
 lawyers, that his statement of a case was worth the argument of 
 twenty other men. Every lawyer knows how to appreciate and value 
 the possessor of this power to state a case so clearly. 
 
 The oidy public ofiice he is known to have held was that of general 
 ill the militia of the District of Columbia, and he was always addressed 
 as General Jones. Like many other men of his character, he lacked 
 the faculty of taking care of the money that he made by his profes- 
 sional labors, and though his fees must have been at times quite large, 
 he lived and died comparatively poor. Such a man could not fail to 
 be eccentric, and this, combined with his constant occupation in the 
 great cases in which he was engaged, made him somewhat of a recluse 
 and kept him away from familiar intercourse with his fellow-men. He 
 was so warmly admired and esteemed, however, that his memory is 
 cherished by all who knew him with a feeling akin to affection. 
 
 Francis S. Key, whose fame would seem to rest most upon his 
 authorship of the famous patriotic song so dear to every American 
 heart, was nevertheless a very distinguished lawyer, and for many 
 years held the ver^- highest positions at the bar of the District of 
 Columbia. He was a man of great brilliancy of intellect, and was a 
 ready and powerful debater. For many years he was the attorne}' 
 for the United States for the District of Columbia, and as such was 
 engaged in several cases of the greatest importance. President Jack- 
 son manifested for him at all times the sincerest respect and esteem, and 
 
748 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 gave tVeel}' to liini of liis coiitideiice and friendship. After living for 
 many years in the District, he removed to Baltimore, bnt wliiie he 
 became a leading mendjer of the Maryland bar, he gained his earliest 
 laurels at the bar of the District of Columbia, where he was long and 
 well remembered. 
 
 William L. Brenr was born in Maryland, from which State he 
 emigrated to Louisiana, and from there was sent to the Congress of 
 the United States, serving in the House of Representatives from 1823 
 to 1829. At the end of his service in Congress he settled in tlie city 
 of Wasliington, and commenced the practice of the law. The records 
 of the the courts and the reports of the cases tried before them show 
 that his piractice was extensive and important. At one time his name 
 appeared in almost every case of importance, and it is concluded that 
 he bore himself so as to merit the favor shown him. 
 
 It is impossible in the brief space allotted in tins woik to do justice 
 to the abilities, character, and acquirements of such a man as Philip 
 Richard Fendall. He was born in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1794, after 
 the cession of the part of the State in which that city was situated 
 to the General Government for the purposes of the Capital Cit}', and 
 so he can be well considered a native of the District of Columbia. In 
 1815 he graduated at Princeton, in New Jerse3-, and in 1820 was 
 admitted to the bar of Alexandria, and a few years later came to 
 the city of Washington to live. Mr. Feudal!, from the beginning of 
 his career, was distinguished for that intellectual excellence which 
 comes from faithful mental training and ciiltni'e. No man was more 
 exact in his knowledge, more careful and reliable in his statement about 
 every subject to which he addressed himself. He first attracted atten- 
 tion by his writings on literary and political topics, and several of his 
 essays were recognized as deserving of great distinction for the beauty 
 of the style in which they were clothed and the depth of thought 
 and power of reason which they displayed. 
 
 But though Ml-. Fendall, through his long life, always manifested 
 a love for the charms of literary culture, he was seriously ilcvoted to 
 the sterner duties of his profession with his whole niintl and soul. 
 Professional distinction came more slowly, but it came all the more 
 truly. He was a painstaking, most cai'efnl, laborious, and industrious 
 lawyer, and it was not long before those who knew how to value 
 such qualities sought his counsel and professional assistance. We do 
 not mean to dwell upon the professional career of Mr. Fendall. The 
 best evidence of his success as a lawyer is to l)e fouml in the fact 
 that he filled the ofiice of United States attornev for the District ot 
 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 749 
 
 Columbia from 1841 to 1845, and again from 1849 to 1853, and tiiat 
 during tlie period in wliich he held that office he prosecuted success- 
 fully some of the most important cases that ever came before the 
 courts of the United States. It was somewhat remarkable that in all 
 and through all the active scenes of his professional career Mr. Fendall 
 should have preserved his scholarly character as completely as he did. 
 In all of his arguments to the court, in all of his speeches to the 
 jury, this [leculiar characteristic was ever a striking feature, and he 
 was at all times remarkable not only for the beauty and completeness 
 of the style of his eftbrts, but for the charm of his manner as an 
 orator. After a most honorable career, he died in 1868. The city 
 manifested its grief for his loss in a pronounced demonstration, and 
 the courts and the bar paid his memory the fullest honors. He was 
 preeminentlj' devoted to his family, some of whom survive to-day, and 
 it is manifest that his talents, his excellencies, and liis virtues have 
 been inherited b}' those who are now treading in his footsteps. 
 
 Richard S. Coxe, who came to the city of Washington from the 
 State of New Jersey, brought with him from that State a reputation 
 for considerable eminence alread}' acquired. He had rej)orted some 
 of the decisions of the courts of that State, and had compiled and 
 published a general digest, which was recognized as authority of the 
 very highest character. Nothing more was wanted than tliese achieve- 
 ments to show that he was thoroughly equipped for the work of an 
 active pi-actitioner of the profession of his clioice. But his studies 
 were not contined to tiie law; he had devoted himself so assiduously 
 to the study of the literature of our language that he had become the 
 author of a work called "A Dictionary of the English Language, b}' 
 an American Gentleman,'" which at the time of its publication, and 
 long afterward, was esteemed authority of the very highest character. 
 Those who remember him, and who associated with him in his best 
 days, cannot fail to recall his wonderful familiarit}' with the writings 
 of the best of our English classics. But these were merely accomplish- 
 ments; the reputation of Mr. Coxe was based upon more substantial 
 acquirements. No one excelled him in his excellence as a lawyer in 
 any way, and the best proof of this is to be found in the fact that it 
 was said of him, at one time, that he was employed in more cases upon 
 the docket of the Supreme Court of the United States than any other 
 lawyer in the United States. It was in such a forum as the Supreme 
 Court that his talents were best exliibited and appreciated. The very 
 facilit}- which his early training had given him in the use of the 
 Englisli language, served him a great purpose in the court, and his 
 
750 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 arguments gained new strength from the fact that they were always 
 clotlied in such pure and beautiful Englisli. Througli a long life 
 Mr. Coxe was always distinguished as a lawyer, and died in Wash- 
 ington greatly esteemed and respected. 
 
 For nearly fifty years Joseph H. Bradley was engaged in the active 
 practice of law in the courts of the District of Columbia, and was 
 most of that time admittedly one of the leading mendjers of the liar. 
 It would have been ditBcult at any time during his attention to active 
 practice to have found anywhere in the country a better trial lawyer 
 than Mr. Bradley. What distinguished Mr. Bradley in his practice 
 was his entire devotion to the interest of the client whose cause he 
 undertook. Everything else was foigotten by him for the time being, 
 and ever}' energy, talent, and capacity he possessed were devoted to 
 the matter in hand. He workeil and toiled early and late for his 
 client; he left nothing undone that could be done in his cause; no 
 expedient was left untried. Inileed, so earnest was he always that, if 
 need be, he was ready to make his client's case Ids own personal 
 quarrel, and it took very little to nud^e him tight for him, if need be. 
 
 Fortunately, he was a man of wonderful physical capacity, else 
 the constant strain upon him of an immense practice, so full of toil 
 and care as he made it, would have insured an earl}' death. It was 
 very fortunate, too, that Mr. Bradley was blessed with a fund of good 
 spirits, a buoyant disposition, and a self-reliance that always stood him 
 in good stead through the changes of a life full of activity and never- 
 ending variety. He never held a public ottice, but was more than 
 once urged by the members of the bar and his fellow-citizens for a 
 position upon the bench, and at one time he probably would have 
 accepted it, but he was not selected by the power having the appoint- 
 ment, and he died as he had lived, in private station. During his 
 whole life he was an idol of the public, and his death was most seri- 
 ously mourned. 
 
 James Mandeville Carlisle was the contem|iorary of Mr. Jjradley, 
 and the two not only stood for nuiny years side by side in their 
 position at the bar, but foi' many years their names appeared upon 
 one side or the other of every case of importance that came before 
 the courts of the District. Born in Alexandria while it was a part 
 of the District of Columbia, he came tn the city of Wasldngton when 
 a mere boy and really had no other home. Mr. Carlisle may be 
 said to have been a self-made man, aiul all that he was autl all that 
 he became were the results of his own application and determination. 
 He made himself an excellent classical scholar, and was always noted 
 
/^^^T^S^. 
 
THE BEXCH AND BAR. 751 
 
 for his familiarity witli tlie Latiu authors, he acquired tlie French 
 and Spanish languages so that he not only spoke them with ease, 
 but what is very rare, wrote them with great facility and correctness. 
 His education as a lawyer was acquired in the offices of William 
 Wirt and Richard S. Coxe, and he came to the bar at a very early 
 age. It is rare to find so many of the good qualities of a lawyer 
 combined as presented themselves in Mr. Carlisle's character. Every- 
 thing he touched he adorned. Bright, witty, magnetic, he won the 
 hearts of all with whom he came in contact. Before the court, dealing 
 with nice questions and construing the authorities that sustained and 
 strengthened his arguments, and before the jury, demonstrating the 
 strength of the facts that he arraj^ed before them, he was alike excel- 
 lent. For many years his practice was almost confined to the Supreme 
 Court, and it is not saying too much to say that no lawyer ever 
 more completely won and held the esteem, confidence, and respect 
 of that great court than did Mr. Cai'lisle. Through nearly the whole 
 of his professional career he was the retained counsel of several of 
 the embassies to this country from foreigji courts, and was thoroughly 
 competent for the service required of him in that department of his 
 practice. As a man he had those manners and qualities that always 
 win friendship and admiration. To young men he was particularly 
 gracious and kind, and many a tyro has gained courage and conso- 
 lation by a kind word from him at a moment when it seemed as if 
 he must resign all expectation of professional success. Of course 
 such a man must be popular, and he was, until the latest hour of his 
 life, beloved by his fellow-citizens of all classes.' 
 
 ' Mr. Carlisle was particularly clever in clothing in prose or ver.se some witty 
 thought that occurred to him in the course of an argument or trial at the bar, and 
 not unfrequently he created great amusement by giving to what was else very grave 
 and uninteresting an amusing aspect. As an example of this happy talent, the following 
 may be given by waj' of illustration. One day, in the Supreme Com-t of the United 
 States, a case involving in some way the Cliquot champagne was under argument. A 
 Mr. Eaton being of counsel, and it is presumed rather uninteresting in his presentation 
 of his case, Mr. Carlisle wrote upon a slip of paper the following amusing epigram : 
 
 " The widow Cliquot, oh ho ! oh ho ! 
 The widow Cliquot, oh ! ho ! 
 We're all of us thinkin' 
 Right good is your drinkin,' 
 But really your Eatin' so ! so ! so ! so ! 
 But really your Eatin' so ! so ! " 
 
 The slip of paper upon which this was written was afterwards found among some 
 papers sent to the clerk of the court by Chief Justice Taney, who had e\'idently taken 
 it home with him to enjoy it at his leisure. 
 
752 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Henry May, son of Dr. Frederick May, was born in Wasliington, 
 and received a classical education. He studied law in the office of 
 General Walter Jones, was admitted to the bar, and attained a high 
 rank in the profession. Among the important cases in which he 
 appeared was the trial of George Gardiner for forging a Mexican 
 mine claim. In this case he was employed for the Government by 
 Daniel Webster, then Secretary of State. He removed to Baltimore 
 in 1850, was elected to Congress as a Democrat in 1854, and was 
 reelected in 1860. Although he was a Union man, he advocated com- 
 promise measures on the prospect of civil war, and in 1861, with the 
 sanction of President Lincoln, left his seat in Congress and visited 
 Richmond, to confer with the Confederate authorities on peace measures. 
 During his absence an effort was made to expel him from the House 
 on the charge of disloyalty, and on his return he was for several 
 weeks imprisoned in Fort Lafayette. He was subsequently released 
 on parole, and completed his term in the House of Representatives. 
 He died September 25, 1866, in the city of Baltimore, which he had 
 adopted as his home, leaving, many friends in the city of Wa.shington 
 who remember his many excellent qualities as a man and his l)rilliancy 
 as a lawyer and advocate. 
 
 What has been said of tlie members of the bar of the District of 
 Columbia in the foregoing pages has been said only of men of the 
 past. It must not be suppo.sed, however, from this that the worth and 
 excellence of the bar of the District are things of the jiast. Un the 
 conti'ary, it ma^' be safely said that the bar of to-day loses nothing 
 by comparison with its former history. The men of to-day have no 
 occasion to hang their heads; thej' are worthy successors of those who 
 have preceded them. 
 
 The location of the Supreme Court of the United States at the 
 Capital of the Nation, naturally brings tiie members of the District 
 bar into close relations with that Court, and from time to time many 
 of them appear befoi'e that august ti'ibunal. It is generally conceded 
 that the District lawyers lose nothing by comparison with their 
 brethren from the various State bars. This was most notably true of 
 the lawyers of the past, and is none the less true of the men of to- 
 day. All tliis is emphasized by the fact that there exists between 
 tlu' justices of this great court and the members of the local bench 
 and liar tlic kindest and most intimate iViemlly relations. Iiidt'cd, 
 so great is the extent of this kindly feeling that the justices of the 
 Supreme Court do not hesitate to unite witli the members of the Dis- 
 trict liench and bar in their social gatherings, and to take a promi- 
 nent part therein. 
 
^^ ^ 7:^ ^5:^5^:::^ 
 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 753 
 
 It can not be considered out of place, and it will not be deemed 
 in any waj' amiss, to mention some of those who represent by their 
 frequent appearance before the Supreme Court, the character and 
 \Yorth of the local bar. Some of these men have gained national repu- 
 tations; all of them will be recognized as lawyers whose names deserve 
 a prominent place in any history of the bench and bar of the District 
 of Columbia: Walter D. Davidge, Samuel Shellabarger, Jeremiah M. 
 Wilson, Enoch Totten, Albert G. Riddle, William B. Webb,' J. Hubley 
 Ashton, Nathaniel Wilson, William F. Mattingly,^ Augustus S. Worth- 
 ington, Martin F. Morris, John Selden, Leigh Robinson, Saul S. Henkle, 
 R. Ross Perry, Reginald Feudal 1, Calderon Carlisle, Henry Wise Garnett, 
 Henry E. Davis, Charles C. Cole, George F. Appleby, Joseph J. Darling- 
 ton, and Linden Kent. To this list many more might be added whose 
 names would do honor to the bar of which they are members, but those 
 who have been mentioned are believed to be largely representative 
 men, and as such their names are made part of this history. 
 
 > A\'illiain B. Webb was born in the city of Washington September 17, 1825; received 
 his early education at the private schools of Washington and at a boarding-school near 
 Baltimore; in 1S40 he entered the freshman class at Columbia College, now Columbian 
 University, at Washington, and graduated in 1844, taking the degree of Bachelor of Arts 
 from that institution, which afterward bestowed upon him the degree of Master of Arts. 
 He studied law and was admitted to the bar of the District of Columbia in 1847, and 
 commenced the practice of his chosen profession in his native city. On the breaking out 
 of the War in 1861, he was elected captain of a company of volunteere, and offered the 
 services of himself and his company to the Government, but there being no organization 
 of troops at the time to which his company could be assigned, his offer was not accepted. 
 In the fall of 1861, upon the formation of the metropolitan police for the District of 
 Columbia, he was elected by the board of police superintendent of the force, which office 
 he accepted. After successfully organizing the force, he resigned his position in 1863, and 
 resumed the practice of his profession, which he quietly pursued until 188.5, when he was 
 appointed by President Cleveland the Republican Commissioner of the District of Colum- 
 bia under the law creating a permanent government for tlie District. He was, at the ex- 
 piration of his term of service, reappointed by the President, but the Senate failing to act 
 upon his nomination, he again, in 1889, returned to the practice of his profession. 
 
 ' William F. Mattingly, one of the prominent lawyers of the city of Washington, 
 was born in Washington May 30, 1837. His education we s received in the private schools 
 of the city, and at Columljia College, from which institution he graduated in 1857. He 
 has occupied numerous positions of trust in his native city, having been one of the 
 trustees of Columbian University since 1872; and since 1888 he has been lecturer in the 
 law school of the same University, on practical commercial law. He studied law in the 
 office of William J. Stone, Jr., on leaving college, and was admitted to the bar of the 
 old Circuit Court in October, 1860, since which time he has been constantly and success- 
 fully engaged in the practice of law in Washington. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 CLAIMS. 
 
 The Prosecution of Claims against the Government — Claims Growing Out of the Wars 
 of the Country — The Board of Commissioners on iMexican War Claims — Nature 
 of These Claims Requires Lawyers of the highest Standing and Ability — The Court 
 of Claims — Amounts Paid Out in Pensions — Importance of the Profession — 
 George E. Lemon's Building — Names of Some of the Attorneys Engaged in the 
 Prosecution of Claims. 
 
 THE busine.ss of the prosecution of claims against the United States 
 for amounts due because of services, civil, military, or naval, for 
 balances unsettled on contracts, and for property impressed and used 
 for the Government during the wars that have occurred, has become 
 one of the professions of the country. As such cases must be prose- 
 cuted at the Capital, before the departments and the courts and 
 commissions established for their adjudication, and as many of them 
 must be argued before the Supreme Court of the United States, this 
 profession is not only one of the largest in the city of Washington, 
 but its members have a standing second only, if not in every way 
 equal, to that of the regular profession of the law. There are many 
 members of this profession who are exclusively devoted to its demands, 
 while others are connected also with the regular practice of tlie law 
 in the courts of general jurisdiction. Some of these are men wlio 
 have occupied the highest positions in the services of the country as 
 officers of the military, naval, judicial, and executive departments, as 
 bureau officers, or as members of either branch of Congress. 
 
 From the very beginning of the history of the country these 
 claims have existed, arising in greater numbers after the prosecution 
 of the wars in which the Government has from time to time been 
 engaged. The War of the Revolution gave rise to a very large 
 amount of these claims, many of which required for their proper 
 pro-secution the aid of men competent to construe the acts of Congress 
 under which the claims arose, and to understand and present tlie 
 principles governing contracts in all their various forms. Prominent 
 among the claims were those for half pay granted by Congre.ss to 
 the men who had fought in the Revolutionary armies, and the various 
 methods of commutation of that half pay. It is not worth wliile to 
 
CLAIMS. 755 
 
 dwell upon this matter, as it is a part of the history of the country 
 with which every well-read American citizen is familiar. 
 
 Following the course of the history of the country, we lind that 
 from time to time every class of claims that has arisen has been 
 prosecuted by men specially fitted for such duty. The French spolia- 
 tion claims, as they are familiarly known, wliich from the beginning 
 of the present century have been presented to the Government, have 
 recently been presented (to the Government) in such form as to gain 
 a settlement, the act providing for such payment being approved 
 March 3, 1891. During all these years of struggle to secure justice at 
 the hands of the Government in the matter of these claims, they 
 have had in their prosecution men of the highest character and 
 ability. Besides these there were the Florida claims, the claims 
 arising out of the various Indian wars, and the occupation of the 
 Indian Territory, the settlement of the public lands, of the Virginia 
 military bounty lands, and the claims arising out of them, involving 
 large interests in what was known as the Northwest Territory, now 
 occupied by great and flourishing States,— all of these may be men- 
 tioned in connection with this business of the profession of the 
 prosecution of claims against the Government. After the conclusion 
 of the Mexican War a commission was created before which claims 
 for the adjudication of large sums were presented. And again after 
 the conclusion of the War of the Rebellion the Government consti- 
 tuted a commission, called the Southern Claims Commission, which 
 held its sessions in every respect as if it were a court, and heard 
 arguments of counsel and adjudged the cases that came before it in 
 the most careful and judicial manner conceivable. In this connection 
 reference may be made to the Alabama Claims Commission, before 
 which came a multitude of claims arising out of depredations upon 
 the commerce of the United States during the War of the Rebel- 
 lion. This commission was composed of lawyers of the highest 
 standing, one or more of them having been judges in the States from 
 which they were appointed. It was assisted in its investigations by 
 a lawyer of the very highest standing, who had been a Senator of 
 the United States and at one time Postmaster-General. Before this 
 conmiission came many of the most distinguished lawyers of the 
 country, and the cases in court were heard upon records and briefs as 
 carefully drawn as those of the highest court in the land. 
 
 In recognition of the importance of the proper prosecution of 
 claims against the Government, Congress, in August, 1856, established 
 the Court of Claims, a court as well known throughout the country 
 
756 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 as the Supreme Court itself. This triiiuiial is presided over by judges ot 
 the very highest ability, and so dignified and important is the position 
 of judge upon this bencli that it is sought after by the best lawyers 
 in the land. Before it appear at each term of its sessions lawyers of 
 the highest position from every part of the country, and especially 
 from the District of Columbia, to argue cases embracing within their 
 scope and requiring for their settlement a construction of the most 
 abstruse principles of law, and requiring at the hands of the lawyers 
 managing them the most careful study and investigation. Cases from 
 this court go to the Supreme Court of the United States upon appeal, 
 and their argument in that court is attended with as much necessity 
 for ability as the argument of any cases that come before it. The 
 Government is represented before this Court of Claims by the Solic- 
 itor-General and by one of the assistant attorney-generals. The great 
 advantage of this court is, that by its organization the Government is 
 protected against a multitude ot cases or claims that would otherwise 
 be presented, having no real foundation either in law or in equity. 
 Persons coming before tliis court are obliged to support their claims 
 by the strictest proof, and with witnesses and depositions, all of which 
 are submitted to the closest scrutiny. Therefore, educated and experi- 
 enced lawyers, within a comparatively recent period, have become a 
 greater necessity than in earlier times. 
 
 Within the last few years. Congress has made the most ample 
 provision for the reward of those men who imperiled life and limb 
 in the defense of their country during the War of the Rebellion, 
 having created pensions to so great an extent that the amount 
 appropriated each year for their payment amounts to many millions of 
 dollars. In these acts, too, for the better protection of those to whom 
 these pensions are donated. Congress has thought best to limit the 
 compensation to be paid to agents for the prosecution of such claims. 
 This of itself is the highest recognition of the necessity and value of 
 the services of these practitioners. The extent to which the prosecu- 
 tion of these claims has grown in the past few years is a matter of 
 sufficient interest to enlist the attention of every citizen, and it must 
 be in every way best for the Government and the claimant tliat this 
 multitude of claims should be presented in such a way as to efl'ectuate 
 their proper and speed}- determination. That this is accomplished best 
 by a class of men who have given their attention to the law under 
 which these claims arise, and who, from their experience and educa- 
 tion, have the facilities for preparing the papers necessary in present- 
 ing the claims in the proper form, no one can reasonably doubt. 
 
CLAIMS. 757 
 
 Everything seems to indicate tluit this profession will increase in 
 importance as time progresses. There can never come a period in the 
 history of our country when claims against the Government will cease. 
 The very fact that Congress is, year after year, making larger and 
 larger ap[iropriations of public moneys for the purpose of satisfying 
 these demaiiils of the citizens of tlie country, serves to render the 
 existence of the profession of which we are treating a necessity-. 
 
 The largest private claim agency in Washington is doubtless that 
 of George E. Lemon, whose magniticent building, at 1729 New York 
 Avenue, has the appearance of a Government department building. 
 
 It has been stated above that the lawyers engaged in the practice 
 before the Court of Claims and before the departments are, many of 
 them, exceptionally able men. The following list, though selected in 
 a semi-random manner, is, notwithstanding, believed to contain the 
 names of a considerable proportion of the ablest lawyers who have 
 been, and are now, engaged in this practice: 
 
 Charles Alert, Robert J. Atkinson, Clittbrd Arrick, Lewis Abra- 
 ham, Oliver D. Barrett, John S. Blair, William Birney, A. C. Bradley, 
 A. T. Britton, George S. Boutwell, Richard S. Coxe, James M. Carlisle, 
 Samuel Chilton, John A. J. Creswell, N. P. Chipman, Joseph Casey, 
 James Coleman, C. C. Cule, Jetf Chandler, Charles Alphonse de 
 Chambrun, VV. D. Davidge, T. J. Durant, J. W. Douglass, W. W. 
 Dudley, Thomas Ewing, Jr., George Earle, W. E. Earle, C. J. Ellis, 
 P. R. Fendall, F. J. D. Fuller, John E. Fay, R. H. Gillett, John B. 
 Goode, L. G. Hine, George E. Lemon, C. P. Lincoln, James E. Pad- 
 gett, J. Randolph Tucker, Theodore W. Tallmadge,' Eppa Ilunton, 
 Frank A. Carpenter, Arthur S. Denver, S. J. Fague & Son, Allen C. 
 Clark, Harvey Spaulding k Sons, and James Tanner. 
 
 ' There is a tradition that the name of Tallmadge originated in Wales in the 
 following manner: Persons of a tall stature living on the border of a marsh were called 
 talk-imicJie tmuche in the Welsh language meaning marsh ). In the piogresss of the 
 language, muche changed to madge ; hence the name Talhmidye. 
 
 Britton's Journal of Spiritual Science, Liltralure, ami Art published in January, 1873, 
 an article noticing the death of Nathaniel Potter Tallmadge, of Columbia County, New 
 York, containing the following from the history of the Tallmadge family in England: 
 
 "All the Tallmadges in the United States are descendants from one of two 
 brothers, Thomas and William, who emigrated from England in 1631, on a vessel 
 named The Plo'w. William died without issue. Thomas, with his two sons, in 1639, 
 located in Southampton. Long Island. These two sons were named Thomas and 
 Robert. Some of the later generations have moved to the Western States. Nathaniel 
 P. Tallmadge, who served two terms as a Senator from New York, became distinguished 
 when Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and other great men were likewise in the Senate 
 of the United States. Major Tallmadge has a conspicuous place in the history of the 
 
758 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 Revolutionary War, from having charge of Major Amlre after his arrest. General James 
 Tallniadge has a prominent plare in the history of New York City. The famous Brook- 
 lyn divine, T. De Witt Talmage is a descendant from Thomas, aforesaid, who dropped 
 one of the /'s and the d from the family name, which spelling has been adopted by all 
 his descendants. Robert's descendants have retained the original spelling of the name." 
 
 It will be clear, therefore, from the spelling of the family name, that Theodore 
 W. Tallmadge is a descendant of Robert Tallmadge. He was born in Maysville, Ken- 
 tucky, January 25, 1827, and received a liberal education through the generous heart 
 of his father, Darius Tallmadge, who, from his own experience, realized the necessity 
 of the education of the young. He at first attended Howe's Academy, at Lancaster, 
 Ohio, and for two years, 1841 and 1842, he attended the college of Augusta, Kentucky. 
 He passed his freshman year, 1843, in the Ohio University, at Athens, and the remaining 
 three years of his college life were spent at Princeton College, graduating therefrom iu 
 1846. He studied law at Columbus, Ohio, in the office of Henry Stanbery, and was 
 admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Ohio and the Circuit Court uf the United 
 States in 1848. In 1849 he commenced the practice of law with Hon. John T. Brasee, 
 and iu January, 1852, he opened a private banking house in Lancaster, Ohio, pui-suing 
 the banking business for several years, during which time he was president of the 
 Wabash Bank, at Wabash, Indiana, which had a note circulation of $200,000, and he 
 was also a director in the Hocking \'alley Bank, at Lancaster. 
 
 He became engage<l iu the real estate business at Columbus, Ohio, to which jilace 
 he moved in April, 1859. 
 
 On April 18, 18(51, when the Governor of Ohio, William Dennison, called for vol- 
 unteers under the proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Tallmadge was 
 placed as quartermaster on the statl' of Heniy Wilson, major-general of the Ohio militia, 
 and at once commenced active duty in receiving and placing into quarters the troops 
 arriving at the general rendezvous, Columbus, Ohio, designated by the Governor. The 
 following May, when the militia of the State was reorganized under act of the leg- 
 islature, Mr. Tallmadge was commissioned for five years assistant quartermaster and 
 commissary of subsistence by the Governor of Ohio, with the rank of captain in the 
 Ohio volunteer militia, being first sent to the camp of the Seventeenth Regiment Ohio 
 Volunteer Infantry at Lancaster. When that regiment was ordered into active service. 
 Captain Tallmadge was placed iu charge of a steamboat with supplies and arms sent by 
 the Governor of Ohio for the use of the Ohio troops under General McClellan, who was 
 preparing to make an advance into West Virginia. Arriving at Parkersburg, and deliv- 
 ering said supplies to General W. S. Rosecrans, then in command of thirteen regiments 
 of three months' volunteers. Captain Tallmadge was detailed to serve on the stall' of 
 that general as quartermaster, marching with the brigade via Clarksburg, until the 
 battle at Rich Mountain, July 11, ISiil, the first battle of the War. He continued on 
 active duty as assistant quartermaster and commissary for one year, having been or- 
 dered t(j various points where Ohio troops were in rendezvous and in service needing 
 arms and supplies. He accompanied the hospital boats sent by the Governor of Ohio 
 with physicians and nurses for taking care of the wounded at the battle of Shiloh, 
 arriving two days after the battle, and was placed in charge of the detail which con- 
 veyed the wounded to the boats. In July, 18G3, Governor Tod ordered the State militia 
 to Camp Chase, four miles from the Capitol, and Capttiin Tallmadge was placed on duty 
 as the quartermaster. This call was occasioned by the raid then being made through 
 Indiana and Ohio by the Confederate General ^lurgan. 
 
 In March, 1802, !Mr. Tallmadge established the business of prosecuting soldiers' 
 claims at Columbus, Ohio, which proved so successful as to render necessary several 
 
^^^^ ^-^- 
 
 (£^, ^ (^^^^^.t^^^^^<-^^<^^^^ 
 
CLAIMS. 759 
 
 branch offices and the employment of a large force of clerks. Having advertised exten- 
 sively, and being found adapted to the business as well as successful in the prosecuting 
 of cases, he became, at the close of the War, the most prominent claim agent in the 
 State of Ohio. In October, 1878, he moved his main office to Washington, District of 
 Columbia, still retaining one in Columbus, Ohio, and in other i)laces throughout the 
 United States. 
 
 He is a member of the Federal Bar Association of Washington, District of Colum- 
 bia, practicing in the Court of Claims and all the Government departments. He is a 
 member of Burnside Post No. 8 of the Department of the Potomac of the Grand Army 
 of the Republic, having been elected for three terms as chaplain, and has served as aid- 
 de-camp on the staff of Colonel Charles P. Lincoln, department commander, also in that 
 capacity on the staff of Comman<ier-in-chief William Warner and Wheelock G. Veazey. 
 During most of his life be has been a member of the Methodist Epi-scopal Church, serving 
 for ten years as trustee of the Wesley Chapel, iu Columbus, Ohio, and in the past 
 nine years leader of the strangers' class meeting in the Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, Washington City. 
 
 In October, 1849, he married Ellen E., daughter of Hon. ,Iohn T. Brasee, iu Lan- 
 caster, Ohio, who died in Columbus, Ohio, February 2, 18fi.'). By that marriage he had 
 six children: Mary, born August 29, 18.50; died February II, 18.51, at Lancaster, Ohio. 
 Sarah, born January f), 18.52; married to Harry A. Stephens, residing in Clevelanii, 
 Ohio. Frank, born January 9, 18.54; resides at Columbus, Ohio. .Tames, born June 
 6, 18.57; died August 14, 1858. Darius, born May 9, 18,59. Theodore, born November 
 18, 1862. 
 
 Theodore W. Talhnadge was married June 27, 1807, to Harriet Washington, daugh- 
 ter of Major Andrew Parks, of Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virgiuia. By this 
 second marriage Mr. Talhnadge has two children — Flora, born October 1, 1808; and 
 Andrew, born January 16, 1870. 
 
NDEX. 
 
 Abolition of slavery, 283. 
 
 Academies, 469, 51:). 
 
 Acquia Creek, 36. 
 
 Adams, Henry, 526. 
 
 Adams, President John, speech of, 8.5. 
 
 letter to Congress, 678. 
 Adams, President John Quincy, at (lie open- 
 ing ceremonies of Chesapeake and Ohio 
 Canal, 297. 
 
 advocates an observatory, 637, 638. 
 Addison, Rev. Walter D., o42. 
 Advantages, Natural, of Washington, 17. 
 Agreement between the property owners 
 
 and the Government. 95, 96. 
 Agriculture, Department of, 675. 
 Aldermen, Board of, established, 141. 
 Alexandria, 91. 
 
 proposes retrocession, 144. 
 American Anthropologist, 464. 
 "American Congress," 64, 65. 
 American forces defending Washington, 
 
 strength of, 220. 
 American Organ, The, 456. 
 American I'niversity, 511. 
 "Americanism," 154. 
 Anacostia, or Eastern Branch, 33. 
 Anderson, Alexander I)., .527. 
 Anthropological Society, 715. 
 Aqueduct, Washington, 165. 
 Architects, 527. 
 
 of the Capitol, .527,661. 
 Arlington Cemetery, 700. 
 Armistead, Dr. Peter, 611. 
 Art Gallery, Corcoran, 529. 
 Assassination, of President Lincoln, 279. 
 
 of President Garfield, 743. 
 "Assize of bread," 139. 
 Associated Press, 468. 
 
 Astronomical observatory, suggested, 21, 23, 
 637. 
 
 efforts to secure, 637. 
 
 constructed, 641. 
 
 Attack on Republican headquarters, 241. 
 Attorneys, prominent, 746, 757. 
 Avenues and streets, improvement (.>f, 190. 
 length of, 201. 
 
 Bacon, Nathaniel, 62. 
 
 Baird, Professor Spencer F., 521, 635, 636. 
 
 Bakeiy, armj', 259. 
 
 Balch, Rev. Stephen B., .560. 
 
 Balloon, value of, in war demonstrated, 257. 
 
 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, history of, 318. 
 
 completion of, 329. 
 Baltimore and Potomac Railroad, 331. 
 Bancroft, George, 522. 
 
 Historj' referred to, 3, 34. 
 Bank of the United States, 353, 361. 
 
 branch in Wa,shington, 353, 363. 
 Banking, History of, 351. 
 Banks, established, 351. 
 
 e.Ktension of charters, 378, 380. 
 
 national, 389. 
 
 private, 404. 
 Bannecker, Benjamin, 121. 
 Bapti.st churches, 575. 
 
 First Church, 575. 
 
 Second Church, 577. 
 
 E Street Church, 578. 
 
 Fifth Church, 578. 
 
 Calvary Church, 578. 
 
 Gay Street Church, 579. 
 
 other Bai)tist churches, 579. 
 Bar, history of the, 716. 
 Barney, Commodore, 213, 214, 225. 
 Barron, Commodore, tried by court-martial, 
 
 204. 
 Battle of Bladensburg, 218. 
 Battle of Bull Run, first, 258. 
 
 second, 263. 
 Battle of Gettysburg, 268. 
 Battle of Monocacy, 273. 
 Battle of Monterey, 234. 
 Battle of New Orleans, 229. 
 
762 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Battle of South Mountain, 265. 
 
 Battle of St. Leonard's, 213. 
 
 Beall, Thomas, 99. 
 
 Bebb, Ex-Governor, of Ohio, speech of, 2(J7. 
 
 Bell, Alexander Graham, 522. 
 
 Bench and Bar, 716. 
 
 Berret, Mayor James G., 154. 
 
 arrest of, 155. 
 Bible Society, 713. 
 Billings, Dr. John Shaw, 522. 
 Bingham, Chief Justice Edward F., 730. 
 Biological Society, 715. 
 Bladensbnrj;, battle of, 218. 
 discussion of battle, 222. 
 Blake, Dr. .lames H., 140, 142. 
 Board of Aldermen, 141. 
 Board of Common Council, 141. 
 Board of Education, 493. 
 Board of Health, 158, 592. 
 Board of Public Works, 157, 158, 197. 
 Board of Trade, 417, 418. 
 
 of (ieorgetown, 417. 
 Bookstores, 406, 411. 
 Botanic Club, 50. 
 Botanical Society, 50. 
 Botany of the District, 50. 
 Boundary line of the District, 127. 
 Bowditch, Dr., mentioned, 24. 
 Boyd, Washington, 135. 
 Boynton, (ieneral H. V., 522. 
 Boyuton, Rev. Charles B., 571. 
 Bozman, Mr., quoted, 58. 
 Bradley, Joseph H., 750. 
 Bradley, Justice Andrew C, 734. 
 Bread, regulations for making, 409. 
 Breckenridge, Rev. John, 561. 
 Breckinridge, Hon. John C, 240. 
 Brent, Robert, lirst Mayor of Washington, 
 
 133, 135. 
 Brent, William L., 748. 
 Bricks, size of, regulated, 135, 138. 
 Bridges, 333. 
 
 British, aggression of, 202. 
 forces on the Potomac, 215. 
 strength of, 221. 
 capture Washington, 220. 
 conduct of, in Washington, 226. 
 Britton, Alexander T., 401. 
 Buchanan, President James, protest of, 169. 
 Building statistics, 186, 193. 
 Buildings, Government, 658. 
 
 early plans for erection of, 115. 
 Bullinch, Charles, 117, 528. 
 Bull Run, lirst battle of, 258. 
 second battle of, 263. 
 
 Burch, Rev. Thomas, 552. 
 
 Burnett, Mis. Frances Hodgson, 523. 
 
 Burning of the Capitol and other buildings 
 by the British, 220. 
 
 Burns, David, 105, 110. 
 
 Burns, Marcia, 109. 
 
 Busey, Dr. Samuel C, 525. 
 
 Business colleges, 515. 
 
 Butler, General B. F., arrives in Washing- 
 ton, 254. 
 
 Calhoux, John C, prediction of, as to seces- 
 sion, 239. 
 
 on the National Bank, 363. 
 Calls for troops, 247, 269, 270. 
 Canals, 287. 
 
 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, 289. 
 
 .\lexandria Canal, 303. 
 
 Washington Canal, 317. 
 Capital, location of, 17. 
 
 importance of, 64. 
 
 selection of site for, 87. 
 
 plan of, 101, 180. 
 Cajiitol, the, 658. 
 
 plans advertised for, 115, 658. 
 
 plans submitted for, 659. 
 
 corner stone laid, 660. 
 
 architects of, 661. 
 
 burning of, 220, 662. 
 
 reconstruction of, 663. 
 
 extension of, 664. 
 
 cost of, f^^'^^. 
 
 Carli.sle, James M.. 750. 
 
 Carroll, Daniel, of Duddington, 88, 93, 108. 
 
 difficulty with, 132. 
 Carroll Manor, 109. 
 Carrollsburgh, 95, 109. 
 Cartter, Chief Justice David K., 268, 729. 
 (/atholic churches, fee " Roman Catholic 
 
 churches." 
 Catholic TTniversity of America, 511. 
 Cemeteries, (i96. 
 Census, 1804, 137. 
 
 1807, 140. 
 
 1810, 141. 
 
 1850-1890, 194. 
 Census of trades, 1803, 408. 
 Center stone of the District, 28. 
 Cession of territory, by Maryland, 77, 122. 
 
 by Virginia, 77, 123. 
 
 ratified by Maryland, 97. 
 Chauniug, Rev. William Henry, 586. 
 Charitable institutions, 618. 
 Charter of the city first granted, 133. 
 
 amended, 141. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 763 
 
 new, 1820, U2, 188. 
 first officers under new, 14?>. 
 Chase, Hon. Salmon P., 2(l(i. 
 Chemical Society, 715. 
 Chesapmke, capture of tlie, 20:i, 204. 
 Chesapeake anil Ohio Canal, history of, 2S8. 
 commencement of work upon, 297. 
 stock of the cities of tlie District in, 290. 20.5. 
 finances of, 307. 
 cost of, to 1844, ol4. 
 Chimney sweeping, 130. 
 Chipman, Hon. Norton P., I.i7. 
 Cholera epidemic of 1832, .193. 
 Christian churches, .187. 
 
 Vermont Avenue Church, •'587. 
 Garfield Memorial Church, .587. 
 Church History, -"vU. 
 Church of the Holy City, 588. 
 Churches used as hospitals, 207. 
 Circuit Court, 717. 
 City Council established, 103. 
 City Hall, 191, 070. 
 Claims, against the Government, 754. 
 
 (^ourt of, 755. 
 Clark, William E., 397. 
 Clark, Edward, 528. 
 Clarke, Daniel B., 391. 
 Clemmer, Mrs. Mary, 521. 
 Climate of Washington, 29. 
 Cluss, Adolph, .528. 
 Coal, price of, 411. 
 Colleges and universities, .501. 
 Columbia Institution for the Deaf and 
 
 Dumb, 513. 
 Columbian College, 505. 
 Columbian Exposition, inception of, and 
 effort to secure it for Washington, 420. 
 Columbian University, 507. 
 Commerce, extent of, 411. 
 Commercial company. A, 408. 
 Commissioners, appointed to select the Dis- 
 trict, 87. 
 close of their administration, 103. 
 Commissioners under acts of Congress of 
 
 1874 and 1878, 159. 
 Confiscation of rebel property, 271. 
 
 decision in regard to, 270. 
 Congregational churches, 571. 
 First Church, 571. 
 People's Church, .575. 
 Tabernacle Church, 575. 
 Lincoln Memorial, 575. 
 other Congregational churches, 575. 
 Congress, in Philadelphia, threatened by a 
 mob, 66. 
 
 considers propositions for location of Cap- 
 ital, 69, 73. 
 
 convenes in Washington, 103. 
 
 assumes jurisdiction over the District, 103. 
 
 takes no interest in the District, 195. 
 
 declares war, 207. 
 
 publication of proceedings of, 442. 
 Congressional Cemetery, 696. 
 Congressional Library, 645. 
 
 destroyed, 646. 
 
 reconstructed, 6-16. 
 
 new building for, 676. 
 Congrt ssional Record, 465. 
 Conogocheague Creek, 34. 
 Constitutional Convention, 74. 
 Constitutional provision concerning the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia, 74. 
 Contract between (iovernment and land 
 
 owners, 95. 
 Conway, Rev. M. D., .586. 
 Cook, Professor G. T., 496. 
 Cooke, Governor Henry D., 157. 
 Corcoran Gallery of Art, 529. 
 Corcoran, W. W., 185, 388, 529. 
 Corner stone of Capitol laid, 660. 
 Corner stone of the District laid, 129. 
 Council, City, established, 103. 
 
 first election of, 134. 
 Court of Claims, 755. 
 Courts of the District, 717. 
 
 reorganization of, 726. 
 Cox, Justice Walter S., 733. 
 Coxe, Richard S., 749. 
 Cranch, Chief Justice William, 722. 
 Crawford, Thomas, 692. 
 Criminal cases, celebrated, 735. 
 Criminal Court, 735. 
 Currency, the, 365, 367, 368, 383, 384. 
 Curtis, Mr., (|Uoted, 85. 
 
 Davidson, James Wood, .527. 
 
 Dawes, Anna Laurens, 525. 
 
 Debt of the District, 194. 
 
 Debts, State, assumption of, discussed, 124. 
 
 Declaration of Independence, 65. 
 
 Defense of the city against the British. 211. 
 
 Defenses of the city in the War of the Re- 
 bellion, 256. 
 
 Delaware River, selection of site upon, 72, 
 115. 
 
 Delegate to Congress, 158. 
 
 Delegates, House of, 157. 
 
 Department buildings, 671. 
 
 Dewey, Rev. Orville, 585. 
 
 Dexter, Samuel, 113. 
 
764 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Difficulties in founding the city, 105, 106, 107. 
 District of Columbia, history of its origin, (i4, 
 87. 
 
 act creating, 83. 
 
 boundaries of, 88, lOo. 
 
 peculiar character of, 716. 
 Dome of Capitol, 66.5. 
 Douglas, Stephen A., nomination for the 
 
 Presidency, 240. 
 Dow, Lorenzo, 703. 
 Draft, of July, 1864, 269, 274. 
 
 of October, 1864, 270, 276. 
 Drainage and sewerage, 108. 
 Drake, Charles D., 525. 
 Dunlop, Chief Justice James, 723. 
 Duval, Gabriel, 114. 
 
 Early acts of Council, 135, 136, 138, 139. 
 
 Early business firms, 406. 
 
 Early, General, raid of, into Maryland, 273. 
 
 Early physicians, 589. 
 
 Eastern Branch, 33. 
 
 Education, National Bureau of, 516. 
 
 Educational History, 469. 
 
 Electric LightingCompany, United States,4.34. 
 
 Elevation of the city, 199. 
 
 Ellicott, Andrew, 22, 28, 90, 121. 
 report to the commissioners, 103. 
 
 Elliot, William, 22. 
 
 Ellsworth, Colonel, 255. 
 
 Emancipation Proclamation, 266. 
 
 Embargo acts, 205, 206. 
 
 Emery, Hon. Matthew G., 157, 394. 
 
 Engraving and Printing, Bureau of, 676. 
 
 Entomological Society, 715. 
 
 Envelopes, manufacture of, 429. 
 
 Episcopal churches, »ee " Protestant Episco- 
 pal churches." 
 
 Erening Star, 458. 
 
 Expenditures of the Government for the 
 District, 189. 
 
 Exploration of the Potomac, by Captain John 
 Smith, 5f). 
 by Washington, 286. 
 
 Fair, A, in Washington, 409. 
 Falls of the Potomac, 33. 
 Federal city, 6(i. 
 
 two towns proposed, 71. 
 Federal Hipiil,lie„„, 451. 
 Fendall, Philip K., 74s. 
 Field, Stephen J., 525. 
 Finances, of the Nation, confusion of, 3liO. 
 
 of the bunks of the District, .369, 376, 3S3, 
 405. 
 
 Fiukle, Rev. Samuel D., 580, 582. 
 
 Fire company organized, 137. 
 
 Fire department, 174. 
 
 Fire wards and companies established, 138, 
 
 174. 
 Fisher, Justice George P., 731. 
 Fisheries of the Potomac, 35. 
 
 artificial propagation, 37, 38, 39. 
 Flora of the District, 50. 
 Foote, Admiral, 268. 
 Force, Mr., quoted, 71. 
 Forsyth, John. 622, 623. 
 Forts and batteries defending the city. 2.56. 
 Foxall, Rev. Henry, .551. 
 Franklin, Benjamin, and slavery, 238. 
 Freedman's Savings and Trust Company, 
 
 386. 
 Freedmen, first vote of, 155. 
 Freemasonry, 702. 
 French, Rev. John W., 544. 
 
 (tai.es, Joseph, Jr., 443. 
 
 Gantt, John M., 98, 99. 
 
 Garfield, President, assassination of, 743. 
 
 Gas Light Company, of Washington, 430. 
 
 Gatch, Rev. Philip, 54s. 
 
 Gazette, The Washiugton, 440. 
 
 Geographic Society, 715. 
 
 Geology of the District, 40. 
 
 economic geology, 44. 
 (ieorgetown aqueduct, 167. 
 Georgetown College, 501. 
 (ieorgetown, resolutions of citizens of, 147. 
 
 address to the country, 148. 
 
 incorporated, 500. 
 
 schools of, 500. 
 Georgia, Army of, reviewed, 282, 283. 
 Gerry, Elbridge, 81. 
 Gettysburg, battle of, 268. 
 (iilliss. Lieutenant, 641. 
 (rlen Echo Chautauqua, 515. 
 Glenwood Cemetery, 699. 
 Globe, 447. 
 
 publisher of Congressional debates, 448. 
 Glover, Charles C, 389. 
 Gonzaga College, 512. 
 
 Government buildings and public monu- 
 ments, 658. 
 (Tovernment of the District, form of, since 
 
 1878, 1.59. 
 Government offices removed to Washington, 
 
 85. 
 firant. General U. S., at Vicksburg, 268. 
 
 before Petersburg, 273. 
 (ireat Falls, 33. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 765 
 
 Greeley, A. W., 525. 
 
 Greenleaf s Point, 33. 
 
 Greenough's statue of Washington, (i90. 
 
 Growth anrl improvement of the city, 180. 
 
 Gunboats- on the Potomac, 263. 
 
 Hacks, fares of, 1)5. 
 
 HadtieH, George, 116, 527. 
 
 Hagner, Dr. Daniel R., 607. 
 
 Hagner, Justice A. B., 733. 
 
 Hagner, Peter, 113. 
 
 Hall, Dr. James C, 601. 
 
 Hallett, Stephen L., 115, 116, 527. 
 
 Hamburgh, 95. 
 
 Hamlin, Rev. Tenuis S., 570. 
 
 Harper's Ferry, 32. 
 
 Harris, William T., 524. 
 
 Harrison and Tyler demonstration, 152. 
 
 Harrison, President William H., 380. 
 
 Harrison, Richard, 113. 
 
 Hay, John, 525. 
 
 Hazen, General W. B., 283. 
 
 Healthfulness of the city, 31, 591. 
 
 Hebrew churches, 588. 
 
 Henry, Professor Joseph, 520, 635, 636. 
 
 Herty, Thomas, 135. 
 
 Hobhn, James, 116, 528. 
 
 Home Magazine , 462. 
 
 Hospitals, 655. 
 
 Hospitals during the Rebellion, 265. 
 
 Houses, sir " Buildings." 
 
 Howard, General O. O., 283, 573. 
 
 Howard University, 508. 
 
 Humphreys, Justice David C, 731. 
 
 Hurst, Bishop John F., 512. 
 
 Improvement of the city, 180. 
 stimulated by the War, 195. 
 Incorporation of the city, 133. 
 Indian History, 56. 
 Inhabitants, early, 181. 
 Insane, National Asylum for, 653. 
 Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 239. 
 Interior Department, so " Patent Otfice." 
 Invasion of Marjdand, 265. 
 Invasion of Pennsylvania by General Lee, 
 268. 
 
 J.tcKsox, General, at New Orleans, 229. 
 Jackson, President, his animosity to the 
 National Bank, 366. 
 assault upon, 735. 
 Jackson, Richard P., 527. 
 James, Justice Charles P., 733. 
 
 James's Creek, 92. 
 Jefferson Stone, 28. 
 
 Jefferson, Thomas, description of the Poto- 
 mac by, 32. 
 
 letter to the commissioners from, 102. 
 
 quoted, 125. 
 Johnson, Justice Thomas, 721. 
 Johnson, Thomas, Commissioner, 88. 
 Johnson, William Cost, quoted, 145. 
 Johnston, Dr. William P., 603. 
 Judges of the courts, 720. 
 Jurisdiction of courts, 720. 
 Justices of the District courts, 721. 
 
 Kendall, Auios, 513. 
 Key, Francis S., 747. 
 Kilbourn, Hallett, 422. 
 Kilty, Chief Justice William, 722. 
 Knights of Honor, 710. 
 Knights of Pythias, 709. 
 Knights of the Golden Eagle, 710. 
 Know-nothing Party, 152. 
 
 Ladies' Relief Association, 271. 
 
 Lambert, William, 19. 
 
 Lancaster, Joseph, 473, 488. 
 
 Laucasterian School, 473. 
 
 Land of the District, how disposed of, 99, 192. 
 
 Langley, Professor Samuel P., 525, 635, 636. 
 
 Latitude and longitude of Capitol, 18. 
 
 of Observatory, 642. 
 Latrobe, Benjamin H., 116, 528, 661. 
 Laurie, Rev. James. 5(i3. 
 Lee, General Robert K., invasion of Penn- 
 sylvania by, 268. 
 surrender of, 278. 
 Legislation, unfavorable, attempted, 149. 
 Legislative Assembly, 157. 
 L'Enfant, Major Pierre Charles, 90, 117. 
 dismissed, 102. 
 act for relief of, 102. 
 character of, 102. 
 Lewis, John, grandnephew of General Wash- 
 ington, killed by the British, 226. 
 Libraries in Washington, 517. 
 Library of Congress, 645. 
 
 new buiMing, 676. 
 Library of Washington, 710. 
 Lighting of the city, 429. 
 Lincoln, Dr. Nathan S., 608. 
 Lincoln National Monument Association, 692. 
 Lincoln, President, election of, 241. 
 arrival of, in Washington, 245. 
 speech of, in 1862, 262. 
 assassination of, 279. 
 
766 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Lindenau, Baron, 24. 
 Literature and Art, 519. 
 
 early authors, 519. 
 
 priiniinent authors, 520. 
 Little Falls, 33. 
 Location of Washington, 17. 
 Log cabin raised, 152. 
 Logan, tieneral John A., 283, 694. 
 Longitude determined by telegrapli, 4(i". 
 Lotteries, 191. 
 Lutheran churches, 580. 
 
 Concordia Church, 580. 
 
 St. Paul's Church, 580. 
 
 Trinity Church, 581. 
 
 St. .John's Church, 581. 
 
 Zion's Church, 581. 
 
 Memorial Church, .581. 
 
 other Lutheran churches, .582. 
 
 Madison, James, quoted, 124, 125. 
 
 proclamation of, after invasion of the city, 
 227. 
 Mansard roof, first in the United States, 117. 
 Manufacturing, 422. 
 
 early estabHshments, 422. 
 
 census of, 437. 
 Marines, used to protect an election, 153. 
 Markets, 138, 419. 
 Marshall, John, 113, 694. 
 Maryland, offers site for Capital, 66, 67. 
 
 cedes territory, 122. 
 
 ratifies cession, 97. 
 Mattingly, William F., 753. 
 May, Henry, 752. 
 Mayors of Washington, 133 fT. 
 McArthur, Justice Arthur, 7.32. 
 McClellan, General, placed in command at 
 
 Washington, 264. 
 McCormick. Rev. A. T., 541. 
 McGee, Professor AV. J., 526. 
 
 geological classification, 40. 
 
 economic geology of the District, 40. 
 McUhenny, George A., 433. 
 • McLeod, ,fohn, 471. 
 Meade, (ieneral (ieorge G., 268, 282. 
 Medical History, 589. 
 Medical societies, 616. 
 Meigs, Captain M. C, 165. 
 Mendenhall, Professor T. C, 27, .524. 
 Mercantile History, 40(i. 
 Mercer, Hon. Charles F., 290. 
 Merchants' F.xchange, 413, 41h. 
 Meredith, Samuel, 113. 
 Meridian Hill, 2s. 
 Meridian of Washington, 18. 
 
 Merrick, Justice William M., 725. 
 Methodist Episcopal churches, 538. 
 
 Dunbarton Avenue Church, .548. 
 
 Fourth Street Church, .550. 
 
 Foundry Church, 551. 
 
 Wesley Chapel, 552. 
 
 Ryland Chapel, .553. 
 
 Union Chapel, 553. 
 
 Metropolitan Church, 553. 
 
 other ^lethodist churches, 555. 
 Methodist Episcopal churches, South, .556. 
 
 Mount A'ernon Place Church, 556. 
 
 Grace Church, .557. 
 
 Mount Olivet Church, .557. 
 Methodist Protestant churches, 557. 
 
 Congress Street Church, 557. 
 
 Central Church, .557. 
 
 First Church, 558. 
 
 other churches, 558. 
 Metropolitan police force, 161. 
 Metropolitan Railroad, 329. 
 Mexican War, 229. 
 Military History, 202. 
 Military organizations, 207. 
 Militia of the District, 207, 208. 
 
 in the War of the Rebellion, 247. 
 
 since the War, 284. 
 :Mills, Clarke, 5.33, 667, 691. 
 Mills, Robert, 164, 528. 
 
 Mini.sters of the Gospel, see " Church His- 
 tory" chapter. 
 Monocacy, 34. 
 
 battle of, 273. 
 ^Monterey, battle of, 234. 
 Montgomery, Justice Martin V., 734. 
 Monuments, Public, 677. 
 Mooney, James, quoted, 62. 
 Morgan, Dr. James E., 605. 
 Morse, Professor S. F. B., invention of the 
 
 telegraph, 465. 
 Morsell, Justice James L., 725. 
 .Mount Vernon, 91. 
 Muir, Rev. James, address, 129. 
 Muller, Rev. Albert A., 580. 
 Mullett, A. B., 529. 
 Municipal, 122. 
 Munroe, Thomas, 114. 
 
 N.VTioNAi. Asylum for the Insane, 6.53. 
 National bank. A, 353, 361. 
 National banks, 389. 
 National Bureau of Education, 516. 
 Natioiinl Km, 452. 
 
 attack upon, 453. 
 yalional InUiligencer, 441. 
 
767 
 
 National Military Home, fi49. 
 
 governors of, (i52. 
 XationnI Tribune, 463. 
 National University, o09. 
 Natural advantages, 17. 
 Naval Observatory, 637. 
 Navigation of the Potomac, 2Sfi. 
 Navy Department, 67ti. 
 Navy Yard, 647. 
 
 fle.stroyed by the British, 227. 
 Neale, Rev. Francis, 534. 
 New Orleans, victory of, 229. 
 Newcomb, Professor Simon, .524. 
 Newman, Bishop J. P., 522, obo. 
 Newspaper comments on the location of the 
 
 District, 67, 68, 71. 
 Nicolay, John George, 525. 
 NordhofF, Charles, 525. 
 Norment, Samuel, 397. 
 Nourse, Joseph, 113. 
 Noyes, Crosby S., 459. 
 
 Oak Hill Cemetery, 698. 
 
 Observatory, Naval, 637. 
 
 Odd Fellows, 707. 
 
 Officers of militia, 2.52, 260. 
 
 Officers of the Government at time of re- 
 moval, 113. 
 
 Offices of the Government removed to Wash- 
 ington, So. 
 
 Old Capitol Building, 6I>3. 
 
 Olin, Justice Abraham B., 730. 
 
 Orphan asylums, 655, 656. 
 
 Orphans' Court, 718. 
 
 Owings, Rev. Richard, 548. 
 
 Paine, R. T., 2.5. 
 Painters, 533. 
 Parker, Myron M., 705. 
 Parking Commission, 199. 
 Parkinson, Rev. William, 575. 
 Patent laws, 673. 
 Patent Office, 673. 
 Patriotic onlers, 714. 
 Pavements, street, 201. 
 Payne, Jolin Howard, tomb of, 699. 
 Peace, between United States and Great 
 Britain, 229. 
 between United States and ^lexico, 235. 
 Peace Convention, 244. 
 Pennsylvania Avenue, improvement of, 18S. 
 Pension Office, 676. 
 People's Church, 587. 
 Periodicals published in Washington, 440. 
 Permanent Capital site selected, 87. 
 
 Peter, Robert, 112. 
 Philosophic Society, 715. 
 Physicians, 589. 
 early, 589. 
 prominent, 597. 
 Homeopathic, 614. 
 Piatt, Don, 520. 
 Pierce, President Franklin, lireaks ground 
 
 for an aqueduct, 166. 
 Pinckney, Mr., 74. 
 Pioneer life, 108. 
 Plan of the city, 101, 180. 
 
 of the Capitol, 115, 6.58, 6.59. 
 Police Court, 735. 
 Police department, 160, 161. 
 Polk, President, 231. 
 
 proclaims peace, 236. 
 Poore, Ben : Perley, 520. 
 Porter, Admiral, 693. 
 Post office, city, 177. 
 
 free mail delivery, 179. 
 Post Office, General, burned, 17S. 
 Post, The Washington, 460. 
 Postmaster.", 177, 178, 179. 
 Potomac, Army of, reviewed, 282. 
 Potomac Company, 286. 
 Potomac River, 32. 
 
 its navigability, 34. 
 
 breadth and deiith of, 34. 
 
 fisheries, 35. 
 
 chemical analysis of water of, 173. 
 
 dredging of, 415. 
 Powell, :SIajor J. W., 526. 
 Powell, Professor W. B., 496. 
 Powers, Hiram, 666. 
 Prentiss, Dr. Daniel W., 612. 
 Presbyterian churches, 559. 
 
 West Street Church, (ieorgetown, 560. 
 
 First Church, 561. 
 
 F Street Church, .563. 
 
 Second Church, 563. 
 
 New York Avenue Church, 563. 
 
 Fourtli Church, 564. 
 
 Fifteenth Street Church, 565. 
 
 Assembly's Church, .565. 
 
 Church of the Covenant, 569. 
 
 other Presbyterian churches, -565. 
 Presbytery, of the District of Columbia, 5.59. 
 
 of the Potomac, 559. 
 
 of Washington City, 560. 
 President's House, 669. 
 
 location of, 23, 181. 
 President's pew, 543, 554. 
 Press associations, 468. 
 Press, History of the, 440. 
 
768 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Prices of commoditiep, 18(w, 415. 
 Private banks, 404. 
 Private schools, 469. 
 Proclamation, of the King, 65. 
 
 of President Washington, 88. 
 
 of President Madison, 227. 
 
 of Emancipation, 266. 
 Proprietors of the land, early, 108. 
 Protestant Episcopal churches, 540. 
 
 St. Paul's Church, 540. 
 
 Christ Cliurch, 540. 
 
 St. John's Church, Georgetown, 541. 
 
 St. John's Church, Washington, 543. 
 
 Trinity Church, 543. 
 
 Church of the Epiphany, 544. 
 
 Church of the Ascension, 545. 
 
 Grace Church, 546. 
 
 other Epi.scopal churches, 546. 
 Public and Charitable Institutions, 618. 
 Pjihlic Opinion, 465. 
 Public schools, 483. 
 
 grading of, 495. 
 
 statistics of, 496, 500. 
 
 superintendents of, 496. 
 
 buildings, 497. 
 
 Railroad conimunication opened to Balti- 
 more, 327. 
 Railroads, steam, history of, 318. 
 
 street, 340. 
 Rapine, Daniel, 140, 141. 
 Ratification of Presidential nominations, 240. 
 Rebellion, the causes of the, 236. 
 
 Washington and the District in, 236. 
 
 rejoicing at close of, 276. 
 Reformed churches, 583. 
 
 First Church, 583. 
 
 Grace Church, 583. 
 Remonstrance against legislation of Con- 
 gress, 146. 
 Representatives, hall of, 662, 663, 664, 667. 
 Republic, The, 462. 
 
 Republican headquarters attacked, 241. 
 Reservations, public, 201. 
 Residences, noted, 183. 
 Retrocession of District territory, 144. 
 Review of the victorions Union armies, 
 
 282. 
 Richards, Professor Zalmon, 496. 
 Riley, Charles V., 524. 
 Riley, Dr. Joshua, 600. 
 Riot of 1857, election, 152. 
 Rivers, Indian names for, 59. 
 Rock Creek, 92. 
 Rock Creek Cemetery, 699. 
 
 Roman Catholic churches, 534. 
 
 Trinity Church, 534. 
 
 St. Patrick's Church, 535. 
 
 St. Peter's Church, 536. 
 
 St. Matthew's Church, 536. 
 
 St. Mary's Church, 536. 
 
 St. Dominic's Church, 537. 
 
 St. Aloysius' Church, 537. 
 
 other Catholic churches, 538. 
 Ross, John W., 159. 
 Rotunda, the, 668. 
 
 Samson, Rev. G. W., 578. 
 Sanitary Commission, 265. 
 Schoolcraft, quoted, 59. 
 Schools, 469. 
 
 private, 469. 
 
 for colored people, 478. 
 
 public, 483. 
 Scott, General Winfield, arrives in Wash- 
 ington, 229. 
 Scientific societies, 715. 
 Seat of government, necessity of perma- 
 nent, 64. 
 
 discussion of its location, 67. 
 
 act establishing the temporary and perma- 
 nent, S3. 
 
 amendment of act, 127. 
 Seaton, W. W., 145, 311. 
 Secession, preparations for, 242. 
 Secretaries underTerritorial Government, 158. 
 Senate chamber, 662, 663, 667. 
 Seiiliiiel, The Washington, 463. 
 Seward, Hon. William H., attack upon, 185. 
 Sewerage and drainage, 198. 
 Shepherd, Alexander R., 199. 
 Sheridan, General P. H., 651. 
 Sherman, General W. T., 282, 651. 
 Shipbuilding, 427, 428. 
 Shot factory, 207. 
 Simmons, William, 114. 
 Site of the city, description of, 91.. 
 Slavery, 150. 
 
 the cause of the War, 236. 
 
 abolished in the District, 2S3. 
 Slocum, General H. W., 283. 
 Smith, Captain John, exploration of the 
 
 Potou)ac by, 34. 
 Smith, John Cotton, quoted, 93. 
 Smith, Samuel Harrison, 119, 441. 
 Smithson, James, will of, 619. 
 Smithsonian Institution, 618. 
 Societies, 702. 
 Soldiers' Home, 649. 
 
 governors of, 652. 
 
769 
 
 South ^lountain, battle of, 26.1. 
 South worth, Mrs. E. D. E. N., .521. 
 Specie payments, suspension of, 367, .370, 
 375, 381. 
 
 resumption of, 375. 
 Spofforrl, Ainsworth R., .V20, 52.i, H47. 
 SpofToril, Harriet Prescott, .i2(1. 
 Springs, ancient, 163. 
 St. Leonard's, battle of, 213. 
 Stamp Act, 64. 
 Stanton, Edwin M., Secretary of War, 269. 
 
 defense of, by President Lincoln, 262. 
 Star Route cases, 744. 
 State Department, 676. 
 State, War, and Navy building, 676. 
 Statuary Hall, 669. 
 Statue of Liberty, 666. 
 Statues, public, 690. 
 Steamboat companies, 340. 
 Steamship lines, early, 414, 41."S. 
 Steele, .John, 114. 
 Stoddard, Benjamin, 113. 
 Stowe, Mrs. Harriet Beecher, publishes 
 "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in National Era, 
 453. 
 Strawbridge, Rev. Robert, 548. 
 Street railways, history of, 340. 
 Streets and avenues, improvement of, 100. 
 
 length of, 201. 
 Stuart, David, SN. 
 Sumter, Fort, captured, 247. 
 Sunderland, Rev. Byron, .562. 
 Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, 
 
 728. 
 Sujireme Court of the United States, 720. 
 Surratt, .Tohn H., trial of, 741. 
 Survey of the District, 88, 103. 
 
 T.M.i.MAiMiE, Theodore W., 7.57. 
 Tayloe, Benjamin O., (luoted, 183. 
 Taylor, General Zachary, 2.32. 
 Telegraph, history of the first, 465. 
 Temperance Society, 711. 
 Temporary form of government, 150. 
 Tennessee, Army of, 282, 283, 604. 
 Territorial form of government established, 
 157. 
 abolished, 1.50. 
 Texas, annexation of, 230. 
 Theosophical Society, 715. 
 Thomas, Ammi A., 436. 
 Thomas, General George C, 268. 
 Thomp.son, John W., .3.56. 
 Thornton, Dr. William, 116, 674. 
 Thruston, .Justice Buckner, 724. 
 
 Tiber Creek, 34, 92. 
 Toner, Dr. .Toseph M., 522, 609. 
 Totten, General Joseph G., 165. 
 Townsend, George Alfred, 520. 
 
 quoted, 102. 
 Trades and industries, number of, 4.38. 
 
 number employed, 430. 
 
 value of products, 439. 
 Transportation, History of, 285. 
 Treasury Department, 671. 
 Treaty, of Ghent, 229. 
 
 with Mexico, 2.35. 
 Troops in and around Washington in 1862. 
 
 260. 
 Trustees of the poor, 138. 
 Tucker, Thomas Tudor, 113. 
 Turner, Abraham, Jr., 114. 
 Tyler, President John, 157, 230, .380, 382. 
 Tyng, Rev. Stephen S., .542. 
 
 Unitari.\n church — All Souls' Church, 584. 
 United Brethren in Christ, Church of the, 
 
 583. 
 United Presbyterian Church, 5(i9. 
 United Press, 468. 
 United States Bank, 353. 
 LInited States Naval Observatory, 637. 
 Universalist cliurch — Church of our Father, 
 584. 
 
 VAriiN.^Tiox introduceil, 589. 
 Vail, Aaron, 620, 621. 
 Van Buren, President Martin, 145, 381. 
 Van Ness, General John P., 111. 
 Virginia, ofTers one mile square for Capital, 
 75. 
 ceseion of territory to the Government, 1 23. 
 Volunteers, see "Military" chapter. 
 
 Wai.tkr, Thomas U., .528. 
 Walters, Rev. William, 548. 
 War claims, 7.54. 
 War Department, 676. 
 War of 1812-15, 202. 
 
 its causes, 202. 
 
 war declared, 207. 
 
 enlistment of troops, 207. 
 War of the Rebellion, Washington in the, 
 236. 
 
 enlistment of troops, 248. 
 War with Mexico, 229. 
 Ward, Professor Lester F., 50, 524. 
 
 quote<l, 511. 
 Warden, D. B., 24, 31, 519. 
 
770 
 
 Washington and Alexandria Railroad, '.V.\2. 
 Washington and Chesapeake Reach Railway, 
 
 333. 
 Washington and Georgetown Railioad, :532. 
 Wasliington and Potomac Railway, 333. 
 Washington lieconies the Capital, (U. 
 Washington Hihle Si>cicty, 713. 
 Washington Botanical Society, "id. 
 Washington City and Point Lookout Rail- 
 road, 333. 
 Washington City, name given, 11)1. 
 
 incorjiorated, 103. 
 Wnsjiiihjlov. Kate Field's, 4(J4. 
 Washington Library, 710. 
 Washington Monument, history of, fi77. 
 Washington Monument Society, (iSl. 
 Washington, Mrs. Martha, letter to Presi- 
 dent Adams, 07"J. 
 Washington, President, his conneclicm with 
 location of Cajiital, 87. 
 proclamation concerning boundary of the 
 
 District, 87. 
 letter to Daniel Carroll, 'M. 
 his counsel with the property holders, li.t. 
 tour of the Southern States referred to, Oil. 
 letter to the commissioners, 104, 128, 129. 
 lays the corner stone of the Capitol, 661, 
 703. 
 Water of Potomac, chendcal analysis of the, 
 173. 
 
 Water supply, 163. 
 
 average daily quantity of water consumed, 
 170, 172. 
 Water works, cost of, 1 7 L 1 72. 
 
 rents, 171. 
 Webb, William B., .)24, 7.")2. 
 Webster, Daniel, 664, 6ti.i. 
 Weeks, Mrs. Helen C, o20. 
 Weight-man, Roger C, 114, 144. 
 White House, 669. 
 
 erected, 669. 
 
 burned, 220, 670. 
 
 rebuilt, 670. 
 Wiget, Rev. Mr., 539. 
 Williams, Rev. Robert, ."i4S. 
 WiKson, Jesse B., 402. 
 Wilson, Professor J. Ormond, 496. 
 Wilson, Vice-President Henry, (i.i2. 
 Winder, General, 212, 214, 21li. 
 
 testimony of, as to battle of Bladensburg, 
 222. 
 Woman's Christian Association, 714. 
 AVoodbury, Levi, 372. 
 Wylie, Justice Andrew, 731. 
 
 Young, Dr. Noble, 600. 
 
 Young Men's Christian A.ssociation, 714. 
 
 Young, Notley, 111. 
 
 Yulee, Hon. D. L., letter of, 243. 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 On page 73, first line of second paragraph, "1785" should be 1784. 
 
 On page 92, "St. James's Creek" should be James's Creek. 
 
 On page 10:5. tenth hne should have inserted, " to the north corner." 
 
 On page 122, in chapter heading, "Berrett" should be Berret, and elsewhere in 
 the tjook. 
 
 On page 147, "Benjamin O. Taylor" .should be Benjamin O. Tayloe. 
 
 Ou page 201, in the last line of paragraph, ":!2" should lie 38. 
 
 On page 27"), in third column, ".5(i2" sliould be ■")G3. 
 
 On page 29."), the blank after the words "First Ward" should be tilled by the 
 name C. W. Goldsborough. 
 
 On page 405, in the last paragraph, "March 1, 1891," should be March 1, 1892. 
 
 On page 465, last line, " Professor 8. F. Morse " should be Professor S. F. B. Morse. 
 
 On page 533, second line, blank should be filled with the name C. M. Matthews. 
 
 On page .543, last word in tirst paragraph, "Regerter" should be Regester. 
 
 On page 611, fifth line, 1858 should be 1868. 
 
 On page 739, fom-th line from the bottom, rail should be jail. 
 
 On page 770, sixth line, second column, 752 shoulii be 753. 
 
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