avenues,

THE CITY HALL.

This imposing building, situated on Judiciary Square, -which is bounded on the east by Fourth street, on the west by Fifth street, on the north by H street, and on the south by the junction of D street and Louisiana and Indiana —was originally proposed to be erected from the proceeds of a lottery. The cost of its erection has been shared in a near equality between the city and federal government, and as the latter has had an equal use of its accommodations, it is surprising that Congress has exhibited so marked a reluctance to aid in the completion of the building. It will scarcely be credited that the titles to property in the District of Columbia, bills of sale, mortgages, and other records, of vast public and private importance, are daily and nightly exposed to the pilfering, or confided to the honor, of any scoundrel who may choose to enter a public, unguarded passage-way, and decide whether or not to mutilate them. The Commissioner of Public Buildings has repeatedly called the attention of Congress to the necessity, upon the ground of national accommodation, for the extension of the City Hall and national court-rooms; and yet the federal legislature has not seen fit to make the necessary appropriation. In its present contracted space, the City Hall contains the office of the Mayor, the rooms used by the Board of Aldermen and City Council, the various local courts of the District, and the Criminal and Circuit Courts of the United States held in the District. The extension of the building is imperatively demanded by the public exigencies; and, when finished, it will be one of the finest architectural adornments within the city limits.

Immediately north of the City Hall is the Washington Infirmary, in which government patients, to the number of nearly a thousand annually, receive the benefit of the best medical treatment. Besides these, there are other patients from public and private sources. The nursing of the sick is confided to the charitable devotees known as Sisters of Charity, but no sectarian predominance is recognized, either in the requisites for admission, or the spiritual advisement of those who are placed in charge of this most laudable institution.

COUNTY JAIL.

This miserable structure, still northward of the Washington Infirmary, is as deficient in all the interior requisites for enabling its faithful officers to perform their duties with an equal regard to the demands of the law and of humanity, as it is devoid of the exterior embellishments to permit us to describe its architecture. Unquestionably, a better building, in a better situation, must soon replace this paltry structure. In the meanwhile, the security of those whom the law directs to be kept in confinement, depends less upon the building in which they reside, than upon the most remarkable vigilance and fidelity of their jailers.

The handsome edifice dedicated to corporate charity, and the restraint and reformation of petty offenders, occupies an elevated site, east of the Capitol, and is a rare specimen of the right building in the right place. Its architecture is pleasing and durable, without unnecessary

expense; and a visit to it will quicken the heart and gratify the taste.

The hotels of Washington have submitted to a great amount of undeserved abuse from abroad, but they present more features of interest than any similar establishments in the country; for here you meet, not only those who come to buy and sell, and to discuss the rise or fall of stocks, but those whose traffic is with national affairs. The Washington hotels are generally well kept, and if not able to fully accommodate the occasional influx of thousands, it should be remembered that they are built and maintained, not for transient inroads of the masses, but for the accommodation of an average number of guests.

National Hotel.-This is the largest hotel in the city, and one of the largest in the country. It is situated on Pennsylvania avenue, at the corner of Sixth street, and occupies the entire depth of the block. The old National is the stamping-ground of politicians, and the grand centre of political intrigue. Its crowded halls and gay saloons and parlors are proverbial among old frequenters of the seat of government; while its proximity to the Capitol, and excellent management, render it the most favored hotel in Washington.

Willards' Hotel. This fine edifice is situated on the corner of Pennsylvania avenue and Fourteenth street, and extends to F street, occupying about half of the entire block. The architecture of the building is good, especially that of the modern portion.

Brown's Hotel.-This hotel has a fine marble front on

Pennsylvania avenue, and completes our list of the leading hotels. There are many other excellent establishments for the entertainment of visitors, but as we are not preparing a directory, we must leave the subject.

CHURCHES.

There is little to be said of the ecclesiastical architecture of Washington; it is so generally bad that to particularize one or two decent building's would be to cast a heavy odium upon all the others. As there is nothing to be said of the buildings, we shall content ourselves with indicating their locality.

Roman Catholic.-St. Patrick's, F street north, near 10th street west. St. Matthew's, H street north and 15th street west. St. Mary's (German), 5th street west, near H street north. St. Peter's (Capitol Hill), 2d street east. St. Dominick's (Island), F street, near 7th street.

Protestant Episcopal.-St. John's, H street north and 16th street west. Epiphany, G street north, near 13th street west. Ascension, I street north, near 10th street west. Trinity, C street north and 3d street west. Grace (Island), D street, near 9th street. Christ Church (Navy Yard), G street south, near 7th street east.

Methodist Episcopal Churches.-Wesley chapel, F street north and 5th street west. McKendree chapel, Massachusetts avenue, near 10th street west. Foundry chapel, 14th street west, near G street north. Union chapel, 20th street, near Pennsylvania avenue. Fletcher chapel, New York avenue and 4th street west. Ryland chapel (Island), Maryland avenue and 10th street. Gorsuch chapel (Island), 4 street west, near M.

Provi

dence chapel (Capitol Hill), J street east and Delaware avenue. Ebenezer, 4th street east, near G street south.

Methodist Episcopal (South).-The only church of this denomination is in a flourishing condition. At present the church edifice is situated on 8th street west, near H street north, but a very fine building will soon be erected on the corner of E street north and 9th street west, and will record the services of a most devoted layman, to whom it owes its existence.

Methodist Protestant.-Chapel on 9th street west, near E street north. Mission Church (Navy Yard), 5th street east and Virginia avenue.

Presbyterian.-First Presbyterian, 4

street west,

near C street north. Second Presbyterian, I street north and New York avenue. Fourth Presbyterian, 9th street west, near G street north. Sixth Presbyterian (Island), 6th street and Maryland avenue. Seventh Presbyterian (Island), 7th street, near D street. Western Presbyterian, G street north, near 19th street west. Assembly's church, I street north and 5th street west.

Baptist. First church, 10th street west, near F street north. Second church (Maryland), Virginia avenue and 7th street east. Third church, E street north, near 6th street west. Fourth church, 13th street west, near H street north.

west.

Lutheran.-English, H street north and 11th street German Evangelical, G street north and 20th street west. Augsburg Confession (German), 4th street west and E street north.

Friends. I street north, near 20th street west.

Unitarian.-D street north and 6th street west.