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Mr. Gerry, is truly magnificent: It consists of solid marble, of the purest white, ornamented with an urn, of the same material, on the top. It is about twelve feet high, and greatly excels, both in symmetry and design. The monument erected to Capt. Gamble, is also very handsome, though made of freestone. Those erected to members of congress are quite low and plain: there are fourteen of these, with the name and age written on them, in large letters, with black ink, or paint, which retains the colour in all its freshness. Besides this, there are several private burying-grounds in the city.

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After walking to and fro amongst the tombs until my curiosity was satisfied, we sat down upon the grass under the shade of those monuments, to enjoy the cooling breeze from the river, and the scenery of the surround. ing country, which is beautiful beyond description. You can Aca up and down the Eastern branch to a vast dis tance. The farms upon the opposite shore, rising in am phitheatres, skirted with wood of the most luxuriant fo liage, render the scene most enchanting. Whilst reposing in this manner, four ladies, gaily attired, enter ed the grave-yard, attended by a very shabby looking beau. They passed near the place where we were sil ting, and seemed to examine us with what I should call an arrogant assurance. In one respect, however, we stood upon equal ground-they indulged their curiosity we did the same. In a short time after they passed by three other ladies entered, unattended: they were clac in sable dresses, and accompanied by several children These last had the appearance of genteel females, wh no doubt had come to breathe a sigh over some departed friend. I could not, however, approve their taste choosing that hour of the day, in their costume. The Fishery.-Great quantities of herring and sha are taken in these waters during the fishing season, which commences in March, and lasts about ten weeks. A many as 160,000 are said to be caught at one haul.-tering When the season commences no time is to be lost, no even Sunday. Although I am not one of those the make no scruple of breaking the Sabbath, yet, Sunday as it was, I was anxious to see a process which I ba

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never witnessed-I mean that of taking fish with a seine -there being no such thing in the western country. It is very natural for one to form an opinion of some sort respecting things they have never seen; but the idea I had formed of the method of fishing with a seine was far from a correct one. In the first place, about fifteen or twenty men, and very often an hundred, repair to the place where the fish are to be taken, with a seine and a skiff. This skiff, however, must be large enough to contain the net and three men-two to row, and one to let out the net. These nets, or seines, are of different sizes, say from two to three hundred fathom in length, and from three to four fathom wide. On one edge are fastened pieces of cork-wood, as large as a man's fist, about two feet asunder; and on the opposite edge are fastened pieces of lead, about the same distance—the lead is intended to keep the lower end of the seine close to the bottom of the river. The width of the scine is adapted to the depth of the river, so that the corks just appear on its surface, otherwise the lead would draw the , enter top of the seine under water, and the fish would escape looking over the top. All this being understood, and the seine were sl and rowers in the boat, they give one end of the seine ould call to a party of men on the shore, who are to hold it fast.— ever, we Those in the boat then row off from the shore, letting curiosity out the seine as they go; they advance in a straight line ssed by towards the opposite shore, until they gain the middle were clad of the river, when they proceed down the stream, until children the net is all out of the boat except just sufficient to ales, who reach the shore from whence they set out, to which they departed immediately proceed. Here an equal number of men. taste in take hold of the net with those at the other end, and both parties commence drawing it towards the shore. As and shad they draw, they advance towards each other, until they on, which finally meet; and now comes the most pleasing part of eks. As the business. It is amusing enough to see what a spate haul.tering the fish make when they find themselves'completee lost, no ly foiled: they raise the water in a perfect shower, and those tha wet every one that stands within their reach. I ought et, Sunday to have mentioned, that when the fish begin to draw near hich I had the shore, one or two men step into the water, on each

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side of the net, and hold it close to the bottom of the the channel, otherwise the fish would escape underneath. All this being accomplished, the fishermen proceed to take out the fish in greater or less numbers, as they are more or less fortunate. These fishermen make a wretched appearance, they certainly do bring up the rear of the human race. They were scarcely covered with clothes, were mostly drunk, and had the looks of the veriest sots upon earth. Some were lying down on the grass, drunk, resembling any thing but human beings.

Eastern Branch.-Whilst detailing subjects connected with the Eastern branch, I shall drop some remarks on this extraordinary river. The Eastern branch, though deep enough at the navy yard for the largest ships of war to ride in, and wide in proportion, yet at Bladensburg, which is only five miles distant, it is nothing more than a common creek! It forks at Bladensburg; one branch is called Paint, which has its source near this place, the other is called West Paint. Formerly, shipping used to ascend the Eastern branch as high as Bla densburg; but now, boats only can ascend with difficulty.

Canals, Fountains and Baths.-Previous to my visit to Washington, I had heard much of the canal and Tyber creek. How was I surprised to find the mighty canal, a little, dirty, dribling pool of fœted water, only a few inches deep; and as for Tyber creek, a man can easily jump across it, when the tide is down. The citizens are now engaged in cutting another canal, upon a much better plan this canal is to bring the waters of the Eastern branch and the Potomac through the city, which will add much to its beauty. Much credit is due the corpo ration, for its attention to public fountains, which abound in every part of the city: you find them at short inter vals, in every street and avenue where houses are built: and the water is exceeded by none in the world. Inde pendent of these, there are a number of springs, of and never failing water. There is but one public bath in the city; the price of bathing once is fifty cents! The Market. Every article of food is much higher in Washington than either in Alexandria or Georgetown. While beef sells from 4 1-2 to 6 cents in the two latter.

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it sells from 8 to 12 in Washington: all descriptions of meat are in the same proportion. Vegetables, however, are low when compared to meats; you cannot buy one pound of veal or lamb for less than ten cents, and that so poor, that it would not be eaten in the western country. Bread-stuffs at this time are low; flour sells from five to six dollars and fifty cents per bbl. ; corn-meal, fifty cents per bush.; bacon, twelve and a half cents per pound; butter, from twenty to twenty-five cents; the butter is very indifferent; eggs are eighteen cents per dozen; wood in winter, is six dollars and fifty cents; in summer, three dollars per cord; coal, thirty cents per though bushel. Fish is abundant, and cheap at all seasons; ships of shad is three dollars per hundred; herrings, one dollar Bladens- per thousand; a milch cow (common,) twelve dollars. ing more Every article is much lower in market during summer than winter, owing to the absence of congress: in generg; one hear this ral, vegetables are very fine.

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Commerce and Manufactures.-At present, commerce is confined to the retail of commodities of daily consumption; coffee sells at twenty five cents, brown sugar from ten to twelve cents. All descriptions of groceries and dry goods are low; good substantial calico can be bought for twenty-five cents. Manufactures are confined to those of glass, tin, and leather, besides the naval articles already mentioned.

Public Libraries.-With the exception of the library which belongs to government, Washington claims but one only; this is called the "Washington Library;" it contains about seven hundred volumes. That which belongs to government, contains two thousand volumes, most of which were purchased from Thomas Jefferson, Esq. It is said to be a choice collection of the best authors. Any citizen or stranger has liberty to go to the library and read as often as they choose, but none except the members of congress, are permitted to take any out. Apprentices' libraries, which yield such a fund of amuse-. ment and instruction in almost every town in the United States, are wholly unknown in Washington.

SocietiesThere are five societies in Washington, viz. the "Columbian Institute," the "Colonization So

ciety," the "Benevolent Society," the "Typographical Society," and a "Medical Society."

Education.-From the limited opportunity afforded me, I am unable to affirm any thing positively, respecting the encouragement given to learning. From all accounts, education is in its infancy. There are no academies, no grammar schools, and but two free schools, for the exclusive benefit of the poor: these are supported by the corporation. A number of other schools are kept by indifferent teachers, where little children are taught to read, write, and "cipher!" I have seen girls of fourteen years, learning to cipher, who did not understand a word of grammar. This gives the best idea of the sort of instruction bestowed on the youth of Washington. The Columbian college, however, in some measure atones for the deficiency in other respects. It is a magnificent edifice, and well endowed.

The proximity of the Georgetown college, and a wellregulated female seminary at the same place, has hitherto superseded the necessity of literary institutions at Federal city. Notwithstanding these anterior advantages, the dissemination of knowledge does not appear to have received that encouragement which we would expect in the first city of the nation.

Literary Men.-It appears that Washington has produced one man of letters: George Watterston, Esq. He proves to be the author of Glencairn. Besides this celebrated novel, he has written several other works; two only of which I have seen, viz: "Letters from Washington," and the "L. Family, or a winter in the Metropolis." He writes with ease, and as one familiar with Belleslettres. The letters are a short analysis of the laws and constitution of the United States; sketches of the heads of department, and some of the most distinguished members of Congress. These letters exhibit many strokes of original beauty, energy of thought, and purity of style; his judgment marked with accu racy, perspicuity, and great deference. The L. Family is a work of his own fancy; it abounds with humour, incident and good sense. It is nothing more than a mirror, held up to reflect the follies of human life. In this

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