was-"What would you think of a son who slapped his father on the face?" With such combustible elements, an explosion was at one time feared, but a lady of Boston acted as mediator between the parties, and, thanks to her persuasive powers, she charmed down the rising storm, and succeeded in keeping the peace.

On our visit to the observatory of Albany last year, we found the astronomer Mr Mitchell on the eve of starting for Washington to join the army. Since that time he has been promoted to the rank of general, and is now one of the popular heroes of the North. Though advanced in years, he has been distinguished for his brilliant and rapid movements. His name is, however, connected with one of the greatest atrocities of the war, viz., the outrage on the boarding-school in Alabama, to which the aristocracy of the South sent their daughters to be educated. Those who know Mr Mitchell best, are persuaded that every means in his power would be used to restrain his soldiers; but in the American army the best officer can exercise only the feeblest discipline. Science will have reason to lament, should his fame be tarnished by so foul a deed.

WILLIAM LEITCH.

“IT.

XVIII.

VISIT TO A SLAVE-MARKET IN

WASHINGTON.

see

T is right down there, sir. You see that long avenue? -that is Maryland Avenue; and you see the white house to the left ?-that's it, sir.

Ask for Mr Williams.

Any one will tell you. I can assure you he is." All this was said to me upon the roof of the Capitol of Washington. The house so pointed out was a slave market. I had read an account of a similar mart alleged to exist at Baltimore, but which, I had been assured by a Yankee, was 66 all a lie-no such thing in Baltimore-had lived all his life there—an invention of anti-slavery humbugs," &c. In vain had I inquired at Baltimore for the said market. My informant Isaid there was none. "Was there one in Washington then?" "No such thing. A slave mart!—must go south for that. None here. What queer idea Britishers have of America! So ignorant-old prejudices-envyjealousy at our free institutions."

He is a very civil gentleman, sir;

I had spent a little time in seeing the sights of Washington-such as the beautiful museum, post-office, the splendid collection of models of American patents, &c. Among other things I had seen the original Declaration of Independence; Washington's sword; and the printingpress at which Franklin had worked as a journeyman printer. An inscription upon the press records that when Franklin was agent in London for Massachusetts, in 1768, he visited the printing-office of Mr Watts, in Wild Street, Lincoln's-Inn Fields; and going up to this press, he said, addressing the printers, "Come, my lads, we will drink together! It is now forty years since I worked like you at this press as a journeyman printer." He then sent for some porter, and drank, “Success to printing!" There are also a series of excellent portraits hung round the large room in the museum, of famous Indian chiefs, who, from time to time, have come to Washington to form treaties on the part of their tribes with the American Government. These represent the last of the genuine red-skin warriors, and differ more from the various oratorical pretenders to the rank of chieftainship in the far west, who occasionally visit this country, and appear in fancy dresses upon platforms, than an old Lord of the Isles differs in his rank and ideas from an Edinburgh Highland porter.

We also visited the President. Having had letters to the Secretary of the Government for the department, I first called upon the secretary, and found him alone, reading in a small room attached to his office, with his legs up upon the table. was my first introduction to

a Republican high official.

It

The ease and "simplicity"

of the attitude struck me. Mr accompanied us to the presidential mansion, or "White House," as it is called, being built, like all the public buildings in Washington, of white marble. A boy opened the door. We followed the secretary up-stairs. "No ceremony here,

gentlemen."

He tapped at the door, and we were invited by a voice within to "Come in." We did so, and found ourselves in the presence of the president, Mr Polk. He was a plain man, of short stature, rather dark complexion, large forehead, and hair erect. A table covered with papers was before him, and an immense spit-box (pardon the mention of it) beside him-an article of furniture one gets very familiar with in the States, seldom having to lament its presence, but sometimes its absence. It was the first of a series, remarkable for their size, which had been ranged at fitting intervals from the entrance-hall to the presence of the first magistrate. exceed the president's kindness.

into conversation regarding .

Nothing could He entered frankly

But we must presume

that, like conversations with royalty, those of the president must not be repeated; especially as I must return to Mr Williams, Maryland Avenue.

But I cannot ascend to the summit of the dome of the Capitol without passing through the building. So let us enter. It is indeed a noble marble building, and worthy of the republic. It cost upwards of half a million sterling. Its length is 350 feet. The entrance-hall is very imposing. It is circular, and reaches 120 feet to the dome above. Its walls are adorned with some very striking frescoes; the subjects being the treaty of Penn with the Indians—the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers

Both are of a

The former is
The only

resignation of Washington-taking of Burgoyne, Cornwallis-and the baptism of Pachahontis. Congress was not sitting at the time. We visited, however, the Representative Hall and Senate Chamber. semicircular shape, and very beautiful. supported by pillars of variegated marble. memorial of the past existence, and sign of the expected revival of Congress, was a board with the standing order of the House painted upon it, "No smoking allowed here." From its position, I thought it possible that it might have special reference to the stove; and anxious to be accurate, I remarked to my conductor that surely such an intimation was unnecessary for members, especially in the House. But he threw out a few hints and facts about "men from Kentucky and the far West," which made me suspect that the stove alone obeyed the order, and that to some of the members it was not always imperative, but merely suggestive.

The view from the summit of the Capitol is interesting. The city, which lay at our feet, had a lonely and deserted look. It contains ten large streets or 66 avenues," five diverging from the Capitol, and five from the president's mansion. These are not yet, however, lined with buildings-great spaces intervening between the clusters of houses. But in the humour in which I then was, neither the city, nor the winding Potomac, nor Virginia beyond it, (the birthplace of tobacco,) so engrossed me as Mr Williams' house in Maryland Avenue. I was afraid to press my civil guide with the subject of slavery, so near the centre of republican freedom. To put questions or offer remarks upon the grand controversy on the very