The Senate Chamber is a semi-circle of seven ty-four feet in length, and forty-two feet in height. A light and beautiful gallery projects from the upper part of the semi-circle, and is supported by iron columns and caps, bronzed. The walls are covered with lilac coloured drapery, between pilas ters of marble. Columns of breccia, or Potomac marble, support the eastern gallery, and the whole is surmounted by a double dome or ceiling, richly ornamented with stucco work; above the eastern gallery, and immediately in front of the president's chair, is placed a portrait of General Washington, . five feet by four. It. was painted by Rembrandt Peal( of Philadelphia; and is said to be the best likeness of that distinguished individual ever executed.
The south wing contains the Hall of the House of of Representatives: ninety-five feet in length and sixty in height; it is a semi-circle, occupying the whole area of the wing from the second story up wards;—twenty-six massive columns and pilasters of breccia or Potomac marble, standing on a base of free stone, support a magnificent dome, painted in a very rich and splendid style, to represent that of the Pantheon of Rome, and executed by a young Italian artist, named Bonani, who died in Wash ington a few years ago. In the centre of this dome, to admit light from above, is erected a handsome cupola; from this is suspended a massy bronze gilt chandelier, of immense weight, which reaches within a few feet of the floor of the chamber. The speaker's chair is elevated and canopied, and on a level with the logea orpromenade for the members, formed of columns and pilasters of marble and stone. Above this and under a sweeping arch near the dome, is placed a colossal figure of liberty; on the entablature beneath is sculptured an Ame rican eagle with expanded wings, and in front of the chair, and immediately over the entrance, stands a beautiful statue, in representing His tory recording the events of the nation. She is placed on a winged car, which is in the act of rolling over the globe, on which is figured in basso relievo the signs of the zodiac; the wheel of the car forms the lace of the clock and is finely designed and beautifully executed. The whole was the work of Signor Franzoni, another meritorious Italian artist, who also died in Washington. Be tween the columns is suspended fringed drapery of crimson morine, festooned near the gallery, to enable the auditors to see as well as hear. A magnificent portrait of Lafayette, at full length, painted by a French artist, and a most admirable likeness of that patriot, decorates a pannel on one side of the logea, and Mr Vanderlin has been em ployed by Congress to paint a portrait of Wash ington to occupy the corresponding pannel on the opposite side. Between the columns are placed
sofas for the accommodation of those who are pri vileged to enter the hall; and within the bar, in a semi-circle fronting the speaker's chair, are seated the members of the house, each of whom is furnish ed with a mahogany desk. These are the principal rooms of the Capitol, with the exception of that occupied by the supreme court, which is immedi ately under the senate chamber, and nearly of the same form and dimensions.
Near the western entrance, and a few steps from the terrace, is a monument, which formerly stood in the navy yard in this city, originally erected by some of the officers of the navy, as a token of respect to the. memory of those gallant youths, Wadsworth, Israel, Ecc. who voluntarily yielded themselves a sacrifice rather than become the slaves of barbarians. This beautiful little monument was executed in Italy. It is a small Doric pillar with emblematical em bellishments, and crowned with an eagle in the act of flying. The column rests on a base sculptured in basso-relievo, representing Tripoli, its fortresses, the Mediterranean, and the American fleet in the fore-ground. The sub-base is of American marble, and at each angle stands an appropriate marble figure spiritedly executed. One of these represents
The Pennsylvania avenue, planted with Lombardy poplars, leads from the capitol to the President's house, another elegant edifice, built of freestone, ac cording to the Ionic proportions. It is two stories high, with a lofty basement, and is 180 feet long by 85 wide. The entrance from the north is through a lofty portico, which is projected, so as to leave room for carriages to pass between the platform and the outer columns; the house stands on an ele vation in the centre of a large reservation of ground; the view to the south is extremely beautiful and pic turesque. According to the original design the main front of the building was to the south, which com mands a very extensive and beautiful view of the Potomac; but the Pennsylvania avenue, passing on the northern side of the mansion, having become the main thoroughfare of the city, the portico above mentioned has been erected on the northern front, which is thus converted into the principal entrance.