The Seat of Government of the United States
And there is a feature, before alluded to, which is calculated to soften the distance in great measure, viz: a complete connection between the gardens of the capitol and those of the President's house, somewhat as in the case of the Chambers of Deputies and the Tuilleries, at Paris. Every one who has gazed upon the landscape to be seen from the Western front of the capitol, must have observed the large tract of waste ground, between Pennsylvania and Maryland Avenues, extending from the front of the capitol to the Potomac, and terminating at a point opposite to the President's house. It is not generally known, even to the members of Congress, that this is the national mall - the very same ground which was to have formed the "grand avenue bordered with gardens, to lead to the monument of Washington, and connect the Congress garden with the President's park," by a suitable ornamental bridge, to be thrown over the Tiber, at its mouth. Until this is improved, the two section of the city, on different sides of the canal, will never look well, for the want of any appropriate connect; and not only this, but the capitol grounds must look half finished. Indeed, it is palpably absurd that, while thousands of dollars have been expended on the comparatively small space within the iron railing of the capitol, all beyond, comprising a fine view of the Potomac, and facilities for forming a serpentine river out of the Tiber, each has been left a mere cow-pasture; when a very small outlay in planting trees, and laying out walks and drives, would make it a second Champs-Elysees. At the President's house, the same kind of half-finished work is to be seen; the grounds, immediately under the windows of the mansions, being tastefully disposed, while the whole view in the distance is marred by the unsightly appearance of the low meadows, which extend to the river.
There is now some prospect that what has been so long delayed by the indifference of Congress, will be, in part, accomplished indirectly, by the liberality of an individual. The proposed Smithsonian Institute is to be placed on the side of the mall, and its agricultural and botanical grounds are to be laid out in front. The erection of this will lead to the improvement of Maryland Avenue, a noble street, equal in size to the Pennsylvania, and connecting one gate of the capitol with the Potomac bridge, as the last-named connects the other gate with the President's house and Georgetown.
We have been thus particular in dwelling upon this part of the plan, and the necessity for improving, because no one can go there without noticing the mall; but comparatively few, even of the members of Congress, are aware that it belongs to the government, or what the design of the architect was; and we consider it important to urge the necessity of at once taking some action with regard to its completion, as the only thing, at present, wanting to give a finish to the capitol grounds, and connect the villages forming the city.