tal of the Union, certainly deserves dent's house and the Capitol: the some notice. Later travellers may former, a plain but handsome stone give a more vivid, and perhaps a edifice; the other, a superb building more correct, picture of the federal of the same material, erected on the city" as " it is;" I shall sketch the summit of a hill, rising 78 feet from portrait of it as " it was” at the pe the level of the tide in a neighbourriod of my wanderings. On ap ing creek, which is called Tiber proaching the city, the eye was pre. Creek, from the river Tiber at Rome, sented with little to interest or to as the Capitol was named after the charm. The site was fixed upon as legislative hall of that city. Both being equidistant from what at that these buildings were destroyed by time formed the extreme of the the British in 1814; a well-merited Union to the north and the south; l punishment for the perfidy and bad and it was also very nearly in the conduct of the American governcentre, taking the Ohio for the boun- | ment. dary on the west, and the Atlantic At the time I visited Washington, on the east. A tract of land, about the prevailing aspect of the city was ten miles square, situated upon the a most desolate one. I was informPotowmac, and what is termed the led, that the money for building it eastern branch of that river, was ce. had been originally raised by lottery; ded by the states of Maryland and the houses being the prizes. They Virginia, and called the District of were merely shells when made over Columbia. Washington stands near to the fortunate holders of the tickly at the north-western, as Alexan- ets which came up prizes; and madria does at the southern extremity ny of these persons were unable, of this district; and the spot on from want of pecuniary means, to fiwhich it is built possesses many ad- nish them. Hence whole rows of vantages, being salubrious and plea- | houses were crumbling into ruins, sant, and affording some beautiful | whilst the majority of the streets prospects and picturesque scenery. were unpaved; and, in consequence, The original plan for the city was a ' in wet weather almost impassable to very magnificent one. It was laid pedestrians, Mean wooden houses out in squares, something on the were also interspersed with the fine plan of Philadelphia ; 'the streets stone and brick buildings; and bushrunning due north and south, and es and shrubs were growing in many east and west; with several crossing places, just as they are to be seen in in diagonals, from one principal point some country villages in England. to another, as from the Capitol to A very large building, nearly in the the President's house. The squares, centre of the city, had been destined formed by the intersections of the for an hotel in the original plan: it streets, contain from three to five fell to the lot of two orphan boys, acres each; and the streets are from who could not fit it up, and were 110 to 160 feet in breadth, having gone no one knew whither. Of generally a broad footpath, with course, no person could lay claim to trees planted on each side. The it; and a party of Irishmen who had principal buildings were the Presi- seized it, were living in it at free

quarters, and sometimes were the || low hair" seemed not to have encause of no little terror to the neigh- countered the teeth of a comb for bouring inhabitants. I had heard a some months at least; and his habigood deal of these rude beings, who || liments were in "rags and tatters,” were wild as the untamed savages of and of all the colours of the rainbow. the woods, and was strongly inclined At a little distance from bim was to pay them a visit; rather a dan- || seated, on the floor, a fine specimen gerous experiment I was told, but I of the female visage. This woman's determined to persevere; and not to features were harsh and repulsive; involve any one but myself, if the and her elf-like raven locks, reaching consequences should be as disastrous to her shoulders, unconfined by the as they were represented to me, I black and dirty rag which I suppose resolved to go alone. On one occa- || she denominated a cap, added to the sion, having come over from Alex- disagreeable effect which her dark andria unexpectedly, on a visit to ny and scowling countenance was calcu. friends, the Ripleys, and finding lated to produce. She wore an old them from home, I resolved not to bedgown, which, however, was scarceawait their return at their own house, | ly sufficient for the purposes of debut to take that opportunity of visit-cency; her bosom was exposed, but ing this Irish colony; and bending one glance was I think as much as my way towards the quarter of the the least fastidious wight could poscity where the huge pile which they | sibly endure: the shrivelled skin inhabited rose in solitary magnifi- seemed of the consistence of parchcence, I soon found myself at its ment, and the natural healthy colour portal, which yielded to my touch. l was changed for a ghastly, sickly,

On entering, I was a good deal and disgusting yellow hue, perhaps struck with the appearance which equally the effect of exposure and the wide and spacious apartment disease. Her feet disdained the inpresented. Men, women, and chil-cumbrances of shoes and stockings; dren were intermixed together, with and when I entered, she was in the cats and dogs and pigs; and in one act of cooking a cake of Indian corn corner a cow was tethered, whilst a on an iron skillet: her form, as she jackass brayed in another. A large bent over the curling flames, the fire blazed on the hearth, round smoke, at the moment, being driven which a group of beings were col- | by the concussion of the air in a relected, that would have afforded a volving eddy around her, might well fine subject for the pencil of a Ho- have been taken for one of the Fugarth, or the pen of a Scott. Anel ries. A young girl, too fair and derly man, of the true Milesian breed, too beautiful to belong to such paoccupied the centre, on a three-leg-rents, leaned against the chimneyged stool, the only seat the room af-piece: she had not a superfluity of forded. His countenance was dis- clothing to boast of; but what she tinguished by an arch expression, had was arranged with a care and which it was difficult to define, be attention, which shewed, that her ing of the description that may ei- residence in this den of iniquity had ther appertain to roguery or good- not deprived her of that greatest fehumour. His matted locks of " yel- | minine grace, the grace of modesty, Three urchins were pursuing their | scarcely knew whether to stand bis noisy gambols on the floor; heedless l ground, or make good his retreat of all that passed around, and as while it was yet in his power. Howhappy as if they were clothed in ever, all freedom of choice was soon silks and satins and fine linen, in- | taken away; for Dermot accosted stead of being covered with patch me, and making a congé, “ Sarwork habiliments, the materials of vant, sir,” he said; “it is not often which might have been gathered from that we see the likes of ye, any how; all the corners of the earth. The con- and what would yere bizness plase to trast between their round, chubby, be?”. good - humoured features, and the “Faith, Dermot," I replied, “ I strongly marked countenance of the have very little business indeed; cuwoman, the half-knavish, but still riosity chiefly brought me here." less disagreeable one of the man, and “ And then let curosity be taking the pale cheek of the young and de- ye away, my jewel,” said Norah, licate female, was striking, and could “ before ye get your head broke for not fail to excite attention in those poking it into other people's shielwho love to see nature in its most | ings, and bad luck to ye!" eccentric moods.

"Now be quiet, can't ye, Norah, Several other groups were scat- and let me spake to the jontleman,” tered about, some gaming, others rejoined Dermot, interrupting his singing, others making matches, or less placid helpmate, for such I took arranging ballads in their baskets, her to be; “ I'll warrant ye I'll make emblems of their vocation, which was | himn give a good account of himself. that of haunting the streets and Faith and ye shall see that 'tisn't I highways, to pick up what they could will cross-examine him nately, my from the charitable passenger. Some honey." (Then addressing himself were evidently quarreling, as their || to me.) “ Where d'ye come from, language was harsh, and delivered ye spalpeen?” with the most vehement gestures ; || " If you are civil," I replied, “I but, for several minutes, none took shall have no objection to answer the slightest notice of me, as I stood any of your questions; but I certainjust within the entrance, gazing only shall not if you begin to call names, the disorderly scene.

and " At length the female, of whom I “ Arrah! and here till him now!" have made such honourable mention, shouted Norah at the very top of having finished her cake, turning her voice; “ here's a pretty hubbaround, discovered the intruder, and baboo! He comes into our house exclaimed, “ Arrah! and, Dermot, without asking lave or licence, and now! don't ye see there's a jontle- then stands upon not being called man? and perhaps he be speaking names! But I'll name him, only let me to ye, ye hear.”

come at him, Dermot, will ye now?" Dermot got up from his three- Suiting the action to the word, legged stool, and his movement and she brandished a fire-shovel which the speech of Norah (which I after she held in her hand, and I began wards found was her name) directed to think that my situation might all eyes upon poor Pilgarlick, who prove a very unpleasant one. I therefore hastily exclaimed, “ My || the most scrupulous in their modes good friends, I have no evil inten- of furnishing the supplies; and the tions, I assure you. As I have told manner in which they boasted of you, curiosity was the prevailing mo- | their exploits made me feel rather tive which led me here. I had heard uneasy in my seat, as I began to fear a good deal of your way of life, of that, with such a lawless set, I should your free and easy and unconstrained | find little mercy if I chanced in any mode of conducting yourselves, and way to offend them. Several of the I wished to be an eyewitness of your men soon began to be quite inebrifun and frolic: nothing more, believe ated; and then, like true Irishmen, me.”

they were one moment kissing and “ Och! and is that all ? Faith embracing each other, and the next, then, and ye shall see that we are knocking each other down. The merry boys. Norah, put on the pot, voice of Dermot, who seemed to exjewel; and, d'ye hear, give us some ercise some authority over the horde, of the crature-a drap of the right succeeded in establishing silence for usquebaugh. Now, lads, let's treat a short period; and I took the opthe jontleman with a little life.” portunity of asking him who the

In a minute the whole of the in- young girl was whom I had seen habitants of the room were in mo- standing by the fire when I came in. tion. Some fetched trestles and “ Faith, and is it Miss Lizzy ye'd boards out of an adjoining apart- be asking ater? Why then ye'd betment, and a long table, with forms ter never have been shewing your on each side, was soon placed in the ugly face here, if its any harm to middle of the floor. This was co- her that ye're thinking on." vered with horn cups and two large “ Indeed, you mistake me entiretin cans; one of which contained ly," I replied; “ so far from harmwater, and the other I knew from ing, I wish I could serve her. Her its smell was full of genuine whis- || features and appearance clearly prove, key; a liquor as much in vogue in that she is not of your race; and I America, and as much relished, as it think her situation here does not is in Scotia's glens, or in the land of seem congenial to her feelings. I St. Patrick itself. Dermot seized would fain place her in a better.” me by the arm, and leading me to- “ Divvel doubt ye,” said Dermot; wards the head of the board, where " but ye don't get Lizzy from me; he placed himself, seated me by his becase I promised her father, Dead side, and told me to make myself or alive, says I, Sandy, my man, I'll welcome, and to shew that I was take care on her; and I'm not the good company for jolly Irish lads, lad to run from my word.” who lived free and independent, “ She is the daughter of a.comcaring for nobody, whilst nobody rade of yours then?" I asked. cared for them. Then the whiskey “ Why, yes, he was a bit of a began briskly to circulate; and the comrade to be sure; we fought tolaugh and the joke and the song gether in several campaigns, and one went merrily round. As the liquor day, when a great big black-looking took effect upon my companions, Ispalpeen of a Frenchman had knockfound that some of them were noted me down with his firelock, which

he handled as well as I could a shil- | haps I should not have escaped so lela, bad luck to him! to be sure an easily if a general row among the Sandy did'nt give him such a pretty Hibernians, in which man, woman, proking with his baganet, that he and child joined, had not commencbegan to caper like as Phelim there ed. In the midst of the combatants does when he hears old Father Luke I observed Norah particularly acscrape the strings of his fiddle. So | tive; and I had to creep along close ye see for that, why when Sandy was || to the wall to avoid catching any of dying, I promised to take care of the blows that were plentifully dealt his daughter; and ha’nt she been around. In the confusion it is not wid the childer ever since ? and to be wondered at if I missed the don't my own Norah look up to her ' door, and, instead of finding myself as if she was a queen? To be sure in the street, when I passed what I she does."

considered the entrance, a long and I had very little faith in any atten- narrow passage presented itself. Not tion which Norah might pay the much liking to return to the room I poor girl, who seemed to be thus had left, I resolved to see to what thrown, without any adequate pro- part of the mansion this led, but tector, into a situation as little cal had not advanced far when a sound culated as could possibly be imagin of distress arrested my attention. To ed to improve either the morals or my right I observed a small door, manners of a young female; and I which stood ajar, and thence the was determined to see if something sounds seemed to issue. I pushed could not be done to remove her it open, and there, leaning against from what appeared to me a den of the wall, for the room was entirely vice and of profligacy. My atten empty, with the exception of a buntion was, however, soon drawn off dle of straw in one corner, that evifrom “ Lizzy's" care to the storm dently served for a bed, stood the which was gathering round me, and fair damsel whose story I had parof which the growlings of discon tially heard from Dermot. She was tent, and the loud and dissonant weeping, and I advanced to inquire shouts of various disputants, gave the cause. Her reply was marked ample indications. I thought my si by modesty and good sense. She tuation would soon grow very un observed, that to a stranger she pleasant, and taking some dollars scarcely knew whether she ought to from my pocket, I placed them in || make any communication: “ but," Dermot's hand, as a recompence for she added, “ you seem, sir, to be a my entertainment, telling him I should gentleman; can you then wonder, take my departure. He was just that, in such a situation, and with then too busily engaged in catching such associates, I am miserable and up a stool to ward off a blow aimed unhappy?"_"Why do you not leave at him by a tall Munster peasant for them?" I inquired. — “ Alas!" she some observation derogatory to the said, " what should I do? and where latter which Dermot had made, to should I go to? An orphan, far away do any thing more than hold hard from my native land, without relaby the cash; and I with some diffi- tives, without home, what can I do? culty made my way to the door. Per- where can I go?"-" I think, if you