intended it until December, 1817, when upon his resigning his charge, the further proceedings were entrusted to C. Bulfinch, who proceeded to execute the designs already adopted for the Representatives' Hall and Senate Chamber, and to lay the foundations of the centre, comprising the Rotundo, Library, &c. These have been completed, with the accompanying terraces, gate-ways, lodges, &c., in the course of ten years. Since that time the wings and centre have been completed, and the Capitol of the United States forms one of the finest and most magnificent buildings in the world. The building now exhibits an harmonious whole, imposing for its mass and commanding situation, and well adapted for the important uses for which it is intended. It may be described as follows :— The Capitol of the United States is situated on an area enclosed by an iron railing, and including thirty acres the building stands on the western portion of this plat, and commands, by the sudden declivity of the ground, a beautiful and extensive view of the city, of the surrounding heights of Georgetown, &c., and of the windings of the Potomac as far as Alexandria.

The exterior exhibits a rusticated basement, of the height of the first story; the two other stories are comprised in a Corinthian elevation of pilasters and columns-the columns thirty feet in height, form a noble advancing portico, on the east, one hundred and sixty feet in extent-the centre of which is crowned with a pediment of eighty feet span: a receding loggia of one hundred feet extent, distinguishes the centre of the west front.

10.५

The building is surrounded by a balustrade of stone and covered with a lofty dome in the centre, and a flat dome on each wing.

Dimensions of the Capitol of the United States, and its Grounds.

The ground within the iron railing, 30 acres. Length of Foot Walk, outside of railing of a mile and 185 feet. The building is as follows:

Representatives' Room, greatest length,

Centre Building commenced in 1818, and

Covering 1 acre, and 1820 feet.

Height to top of Centre dome,

Representatives' Room, greatest height,
Senate Chamber, greatest length,
Senate Chamber, greatest height,
Great Central Rotundo, 96 ft in diameter,
The North Wing was commenced in 1793,
and finished in 1800, cost,

South Wing commenced in 1803, and
finished 1808, cost,

finished in 1827 and cost,

70 feet.

145 do.

95 do.

60 do.

74 do.

42 do.

96 feet high.

$480,262 57*

308,808 41

957,647 35

The Representatives' Room is in the second story of the south wing-is semicircular, in the form of the ancient Grecian theatre-the chord of the long. est dimension is ninety-six feet-the height, to the highest point of the domical ceiling is sixty feet. This room is surrounded by twenty-four columns

of veriegated native marble, or breccia, from the banks of the Potomac, with capitals of white Italian marble, carved after a specimen of the Corinthian order, still remaining among the ruins of Athens; which stand on a base of freestone, and support a magnificent dome painted in a very rich and splendid style, to represent that of the Pantheon of Rome, and executed by an interesting young Italian artist, named Bonani, who died here a few years ago. In the centre of this dome is erected, to admit the light from above, a handsome cupola, from which is suspended a massy bronze gilt chandelier, of immense weight, which reaches within ten feet of the floor of the chamber. The Speaker's chair is elevated and canopied, and on a level with the loggia or promenade for the members, consisting of columns and pilasters of marble and stone. Above this, and under a sweeping arch near the dome, is placed the model of a colossal figure of Liberty, by Causici, (in plaster,) on the entablature beneath is sculptured an American eagle, (in stone) just ready to fly; copied from nature. by an Italian sculptor of high reputation, who has left but this single specimen of his talents in this country.

The artist, Segnior Valaperti, was but a short time in America, the most of which he spent in Washington. He was retiring in his habits, and of a melancholy temperament, associating with few persons, and with those but seldom. Soon after the completion of this chef d'œuvre he disappeared, in a mysterious manner, and has never been heard of since. About a month after his dis