WASHINGTON, a city in the district of Columbia,and the capital of the United States, is situated on the left bank of the Potomac, and on the right bank of the Anacostia, or Eastern Branch. The capitol, which occupies the central site of the city, is in 38° 53' 20' N. lat., 77° 0' 15' W. long. The population of the city in 1840 was 23,364, and 40,001 in 1850. By an act of Congress, passed in 1790, it was decreed that the seat of government should be established at some place on the Potomac, and the district around Georgetown was ceded to the United States by Virginia and Maryland for this purpose. The city was founded by laying the corner-stone of the capitol, Sept. 13, 1793. The name of Washington was ultimately bestowed upon the federal city,' and the seat of government was transferred to it from Philadelphia in 1800. The president and other chief executive officers of the federal government have since resided at Washington : Congress meets there every year on the first Monday of December, and the Supreme Court of the United States holds its annual sittings, beginning on the second Monday of January.
Washington is separated from Georgetown [Cotustme, or] by Rock Creek, over which there are several bridges, and from Alex andria [Vtaoteral by the Potomac, over which is a bridge upwards of a mile in length. There are also several bridges over the Anacostia. Frigates asceud the Anacostia above the navy-yard. Vessels drawing 14 feet water can ascend to Potomac Bridge, whence to the month of the Tiber, a small stream which flows through the middle of the city, there are 9 feet of water at ordinary high tides. A spacious canal unites the Anacostia with the Potomac. Washington is situated near the bead of the tide-water navigation, and is connected with the interior by the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, as well as by excellent coach-roads and railways. The city is well supplied with water, and has in front (south) the Potomac, nearly a mile in width, and a range of heights in the rear (north), affording many fine sites for villa residences.
The city was regularly laid out, according to the design of Major L'Enfant. It extends from N.E. to S.W. about 4i miles, and from E. to S. about 2i miles, but only a comparatively small part of the ground embraced within the plan is built upon. The capitol is the central site : 15 avenues from 120 to 100 feet wide, named after so many states of the Union, extend from it towards the states after which they are named. These avenues Intersect diagonally square blocks formed by streets crossing each other at right angles. The
streets north and south of the capitol are designated by the letters of the alphabet, A north, A south, &a : those east and west of it are numbered, 1st street east, lit street west, etc. The streets are from 70 to 100 feet wide. The effect of the at present very partial filling up of the magnificent plan of the city is generally felt to be cheerless and unimpressive : but every year is doing something towards remov ing the unfinished and somewhat desolate aspect of this city of magnificent distances,' as it has been not Inaptly designated.
The most striking end important of the publio buildings of Wash ington is the CapitoL It stands within an incloaed area of 30 acres, on a rising ground at the eastern termination of Pennsylvania avenue, which is 4 miles in length, spacious, and planted with trees. The building Is constructed of freestone, and composed of a centre, from which rises a lofty dome to a height of 145 feet, and two wing& The length of the whole is 352 feet, the depth of the wings is 121 feet, but it is to be extended by two new wings, each 233 feet by 140 feet : when these are completed the Capitol will occupy an area of more than four acres. A Corinthian portico extends the length of the centre, which is occupied by the rotunda, 96 feet in diameter and 96 feet in height. The rotunda Is ornamented with rilievas, busts, and statues, and contains seven painting. representing subjects connected with Ame rican history. Adjoining to this, on the west, is the library of Congress, a hall 92 feet in length by 34 feet in width, and 36 feet high, contain ing about 50,000 volumes. The Senate Chamber is in the north wing : it is a semicircle of 75 feet long and 45 feet high. Over the president's chair is a portrait of Washington. The Hall of Representa tives in the south wing, is also a semicircle : it is 96 feet long and 60 feet basis. The dome is supported by twenty-six columns and pilasters of variegated Potomac marble. A colossal statue of Liberty, a statue of History, and portraits of Washington and Lafayette, are the prin. eips1 ornaments of the hall. Immediately below the senate chamber, and nearly of the same form and dimensions, is the hall in which the imaions of the Supreme Court are held. Below the Hall of Representa• tives are committee-rooms and other places of business. Apartments for the vice-president and other state officers are also included in the building. The grounds of the Capitol command some very fine prospects : they are well laid out, are adorned with statues, and afford a favourite promenade.