WASHINGTON, a city of North America, and now the metropolis of the United States. It is seated at the junction of the rivers Potomac and the Eastern Branch, extending about four miles up each, including a tract of territory scarcely to be exceeded, in point of convenience, salubrity, and beauty, by any in the world. This territory, which is called Columbia, lies partly in Virginia, and partly in Maryland, and was ceded by those two states to the Republic; it was placed under the immediate government of Congress, and established as the seat of government in the year 1800. It is divided into squares or grand divisions, by streets running due north and south, and east and west, which form the ground-work of the plan. However, from the Capitol, the president's house, and some of the important areas in the city, run diagonal streets, from one material object to another, which not only produce a variety of charming prospects, but remove the insipid sameness which renders some other great cities unpleasing. The great leading streets are all 160 feet wide, including a pavement of 10 feet, and a gravel walk of 30 feet planted with trees on each side, which will leave 80 feet of paved street for carriages. The rest of the streets are in general
general 110 feet wide, with a few only 90 feet, except North, South, and East Capitol Streets, which are 160 feet. The diagonal streets are named after the respective states composing the Union, while those running north and south are, from the Capitol eastward, named East First Street, East Second Street, &c. The squares or divisions of the city amount to 1150. The rectangular squares generally contain from three to six acres, and are divided into lots of from 40 to 80 feet in front, and their depth from about 110 to 300 feet, according to the size of the square. All the houses must be of brick or stone. The Capitol (or house for the legislative bodies) is situated upon the most beautiful eminence in the city, about a mile from the Eastern Branch, and not much more from the Potomac, commanding a full view of every part of the city, as well as a considerable extent of the country around. It is not yet finished (1818), but is allowed to be a magnificent structure. Its front extends 650 feet in length, with a colonnade of 260 feet. The height of the dome is 150 feet. The president's house stands upon a rising ground, not far from the banks of the Potomac, possessing also a delightful prospect. By the Potomac, vessels of considerable burden come out to Washington; and, by means of short canals at the falls, this river with its branches is open for some hundred miles above the town to boat navigation. Washington, however, has not advanced so rapidly as was expected. In 1818, according to Mr Fearon, it contained only about 9000 inhabitants, or 15,000, including Georgetown. The lines which have received the name of streets, are in general only marked by a slight trace, or by rows of poplars; and altogether it presents the appearance of straggling houses irregularly scattered over an open field.
In 1814 Washington was taken by a British force of 6500 men, who abandoned the town the following day, after having set fire to the capitol, president's house, navy-yard, and wooden-bridge over the river. The loss sustained by the Americans in the buccaneering expedition was estimated at 1,031,000 dollars.