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24 chapters
MYSTERIES OF WASHINGTON CITY,
MYSTERIES OF WASHINGTON CITY,
DURING SEVERAL MONTHS OF THE SESSION OF THE 28th CONGRESS. By a Citizen of Ohio. Washington, D. C. PRINTED BY G. A. SAGE, E STREET, NEAR NINTH 1844. Entered according to the act of Congress in the office of the clerk of the District Court of the District of Columbia, by Caleb Atwater , in the year 1844....
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DEDICATION.
DEDICATION.
To the Members of the twenty-eighth Congress, Senators, Representatives and their officers, this little volume is respectfully dedicated, as a small token of high regard for them, as officers of the government of the United States, and as men, devoted to the best interests of their country, by their old friend and fellow citizen, THE AUTHOR....
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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
This small volume is the first of a series, which the author proposes to write for the amusement, and he hopes, for the information of his countrymen. This is “Mysteries,” the next will be “Humbugs of Washington city” and the third volume if deemed necessary, to reform the public morals, will be “the crimes of Washington city.” Whoever reads this little work, will find in it no malice, nor even ill will towards individuals, whom the author wishes to reform, not to destroy, by exposing vice and r
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CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER I.
Journey to Washington City.—A day at Wheeling, in Virginia.—Ride to Cumberland over the Allegheny mountain.—Extremely cold weather in a crowded Stage.—Arrival at Cumberland two hours too late to take the Rail-road cars to Baltimore, through the management of stage drivers and tavern keepers, on the route.—Arrival at Washington City on New Year’s day.—Reflections on the change in every thing, in the city, since that day fourteen years.—Interviews with the President, Major William B. Lewis, Govern
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CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER II.
Journey from Washington to Philadelphia.—A day at Philadelphia.—Journey to New York on the rail-road.—Stop on Broadway.—A dinner consisting of ice water and one mouthful of roast beef!—Bill of fare, but no fare.—Thefts and burglary.—Broadstreet Hotel corner of Broad and Pearl streets.—Fare excellent, but no BILL OF FARE on the table at dinner.—Charles A. Clinton and Dr. Hosack.—Mrs. Lentner’s on Amity street, where Colonel Trumbull lived and died.—Albert Gallatin and his lady on Beckman street.—
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CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER III.
Return to Washington.—The different degrees of temperature in the atmosphere at different places seen in the thickness of the ice in the rivers from New York to Washington inclusive.—Long interview with the President. His misfortunes rather than his faults.—His cheerfulness, and his views as to Liberia.—Supernumeraries ought to be set to work and sent off.—Beautiful situation of Washington.—The Congress library, its officers and the agreeable company usually in the library room.—Army of little o
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CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER IV.
Mr. Dana’s speech against the military Academy.—Objections—it is an aristocratic institution.—1st in its selection of candidates—2nd in its monopoly of military commissions.—Its expenses are enormous and wholly disproportioned to any advantages to be derived from it.—Its positive evils, as it operates on the officers and on the private soldiers.—Mr. Dana might have added, that if this republic is in danger from any quarter, its danger lies in this institution. Immediately after the funeral obseq
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Address to Uncle Sam.
Address to Uncle Sam.
“Unfortunate old uncle! you have a great many lazy, idle, worthless pets, whom you do wrong, very wrong, to support in idleness, sloth and dissipation. Are you sure, Sir, that you are acting the part of a prudent, discreet and excellent old gentleman, so long as you indulge such pets in practices so repugnant to your better nature, in your earlier years and better days? I do not expect you to turn them out to grass, as Nebuchadnezzar was turned out in days of yore; but certainly, the prairies of
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Officers of both Houses of Congress.
Officers of both Houses of Congress.
In the Senate, the Honorable Willie P. Mangum presides. John Tyler, the Vice President, on the death of General Harrison became President of the United States. The Senate thereafter elected Samuel Southard, their presiding officer, he dying, they elected Judge Mangum their president. He lives, when at home, in Orange county, North Carolina. From his name, I should suppose that his ancestors were from Wales. However that may be, Judge Mangum’s family is an ancient one in North Carolina, the name
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A Digression.
A Digression.
The influence of the Christian religion, it appears to me, begins to operate beneficially on our legislative assemblies, and it is to be hoped that it will in the end melt down in its crucible our whole people. That religion is the great fountain-head of republics. It teaches us that our Creator is our Father, and that we are all brethren. In some respects, there is a falling off from the practices of our fathers—for instance, family government is not what it once was. In former days we had infa
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Memoir of Mr. Cazenove.
Memoir of Mr. Cazenove.
The cradle of the Cazenove family was Nismes in France, though it is probable, from their name and coat of arms, that they were originally from Italy or Spain, where you find some Casanovas and Casanuovas. Being protestants, they had to fly at the revocation of the edict of Nantes, and took refuge in Geneva, in Switzerland, from whence some of them afterwards branched off to Lausanne, in Switzerland, to Holland, England, France, and lastly to the United States. This last event took place during
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LOCAL INFORMATION. Meeting of Courts.
LOCAL INFORMATION. Meeting of Courts.
Supreme Court of the United States, second Monday in January. Circuit Court of the District of Columbia for Washington county, fourth Monday of March, and fourth Monday of November. Circuit Court of the District of Columbia for Alexandria county, first Monday in May and first Monday in October. Criminal Court of the District of Columbia for Washington county, second Monday of March, first Monday of June, fourth Monday of October, and last Monday of December. Criminal Court of the District of Col
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Banks.
Banks.
Bank of Washington—corner of Louisiana avenue and D street—discount day, Tuesday, Wm. Gunton, President; James Adams, Cashier. Bank of the Metropolis—Pennsylvania avenue, between F and G streets, opposite the Treasury Department—discount day, Friday, John P. Van Ness, President, Richard Smith, Cashier. Patriotic Bank—7th street, between C and D streets—discount day, Thursday, G. C. Grammer, President; Chauncy Bestor, Cashier....
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Insurance Offices.
Insurance Offices.
Firemen’s Insurance Company of Georgetown and Washington—office in the Hall of the Perseverance Fire Company’s building, Centre Market Square. Jas. Adams, President; Alex. McIntyre, Secretary. Franklin Insurance Company—office corner of 7th and D streets, next door to the Patriotic Bank. G. C. Grammer, President; Alex. McIntyre, Secretary. Potomac Fire Insurance Company—office on Bridge street, Georgetown. John Kurtz, President; Henry King, Secretary....
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Churches.
Churches.
Baptist, Rev. O. B. Brown, 10th street, between E and F. Baptist, Rev. Mr. Samson, Aldermen’s room, city hall. Baptist, Rev. Mr. Tindell, corner of 4th street and Virginia avenue. Baptist, Shiloh, Elder Robert C. Leachman, on Virginia avenue, near 4½ street. Catholic, St. Patrick’s, Rev. Mr. Mathews, F street, between 9th and 10th. Catholic, St. Matthews, Rev. J. P. Donelan, corner of H and 15th streets. Catholic, St. Peter’s, Rev. Mr. Van Horseigh, 2d street, between C and D, Capitol Hill. Frie
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Circulating Libraries.
Circulating Libraries.
Washington Library—room on 11th st. between Pennsylvania avenue and D street; open daily from 3 to 5 o’clock, P. M. Jefferson Apprentices’ Library Association—room west wing City hall; open every Wednesday and Saturday evenings, from 6 to 9 P. M....
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Fire Companies.
Fire Companies.
Union—located at the corner of H and 20th streets; W. B. Magruder, President; Charles Calvert, Secretary. Franklin—located on 14th street, near Pennsylvania Avenue; regular night of meeting the first Tuesday in every month. Robert Coltman, President; William Durr, Secretary. Perseverance—located on Pennsylvania avenue, Centre market square; regular night of meeting, the first Thursday in every month. Samuel Bacon, President; Geo. S. Gideon, Secretary. Northern Liberties—located on the corner of
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Armories.
Armories.
Washington Light Infantry—west wing City hall; regular night of meeting, the first Monday in every month. National Blues—east wing City hall; regular night of meeting, the first Monday in every month. Columbian Artillery—west wing City hall; regular night of meeting, the first Tuesday in every month. Union Guards—hall of the Union engine house; regular night of meeting, the first Wednesday in every month....
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Masonic.
Masonic.
Federal Lodge No. 1.—room corner of 12th street and Pennsylvania avenue; regular night of meeting, first Monday in every month. Potomac Lodge, No. 5, Georgetown—room in Bridge street, opposite Union hotel; regular night of meeting, fourth Friday in every month. Lebanon Lodge, No. 7—room corner of 12th street and Pennsylvania avenue; regular night of meeting, first Friday in every month. New Jerusalem Lodge, No. 9—room corner of 4½ street and Pennsylvania avenue; meets on third Tuesday in every m
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I. O. O. F.
I. O. O. F.
Central Lodge, No. 1—room City hall; night of regular meeting, Friday. Washington Lodge, No. 6—room City hall; night of regular meeting, Tuesday. Eastern Lodge, No. 7—at present occupying a room in Masonic hall, navy yard; night of regular meeting, Friday. Potomac Lodge, No. 8—Odd Fellows’ hall, Alexandria; regular night of meeting, Friday. Harmony Lodge, No. 10—room City hall; regular night of meeting, Thursday. Union Lodge No. 11—Odd Fellows hall, navy yard; regular night of meeting, Wednesday
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Sons of Temperance.
Sons of Temperance.
Timothy Division, No. 1—room Buckingham’s hall, on C street, between 10th and 11th; night of meeting, Wednesday. Harmony Division, No. 2—room St. Asaph street, Alexandria; night of regular meeting, Monday. Freemen’s Vigilant—room Carusi’s saloon; regular night of meeting, Friday....
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Beneficial Society.
Beneficial Society.
Island Beneficial Society of the city of Washington—night of regular meeting, the first Thursday in every month. John W. Martin, President; W. T. Doniphan, Sec’y....
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Typographical Society.
Typographical Society.
Columbia Typographical Society—Buckingham’s room, on C street, opposite Carusi’s Saloon. Regular night of meeting, first Saturday in every month; President, Ferdinand Jefferson; Recording Secretary, James Wimer; Corresponding Secretary, James N. Davis. The studio of C. B. King is on 12th street between E and F streets....
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ERRATA.
ERRATA.
On page 73 , for John H. read John S. Meehan . On page 119 for Sellons read Selden’s refectory . On page 124 for a statue of Marshall, read a bust of Mr. Jefferson, resting &c. On page 145 for Zephur, read Zephyr . On page 163 read Strike higher, strike higher, Oh! strike higher! There are a few literal errors which the reader will correct as he reads the work....
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