and land force, which set fire to the Capitol, President's-house, Public Offices, and NavyYard. The moveable property destroyed at the latter place has been estimated at 417,743 dollars. The loss sustained in buildings and fixtures at 91,425; the expences of rebuilding at 62,370; in all 571,541 dollars. The loss sustained by the partial destruction of the Capitol, President's House, and other public edifices, has been estimated at 460,000 dollars in all 1,031,541 dollars. The superintendant of the public buildings, in his report, dated the 29th of October, 1814, gave the following statement of their cost down to the date of their destruction:

1

North wing of the Capitol, including the foundation walls of both wings, and of the centre or main building, and of alterations and repairs.

South wing of the Capitol.

457,388 dollars.

329,774

OF LOTS, HOUSES, AND TAXES.

The ground of Washington was originally the property of private individuals, who, by an arrangement with the government, ceded one half to the public, in consideration of the enhanced price of the other, by virtue of this cession. Four thousand five hundred lots, each containing 6,265 superficial feet, are the property of the nation, and have been estimated at one million five hundred thousand dollars. Some of these lots have been sold at forty-five cents per foot, though the common price is from eight to fifteen cents, depending on the advantages of situation. Near the centre market, several have been purchased at twenty-five cents. The original price of lots was from two to eight hundred dollars each, which shews that their value has considerably diminished. This has been owing to different causes, and particularly to the project of some eastern members of Congress to transfer the seat of government to

some other place. The value of this property has also suffered by litigation. In 1804, several purchasers refused to pay to the commissioners of the government the sums stipulated in the deed of sale, which were to be discharged, according to agreement, at certain fixed dates. In consequence of this refusal, the commissioners ordered the lots to be sold by auction to the highest bidder, and they were re-purchased by the former proprietors for one-tenth of the original cost; by which circumstance the government experienced a loss of seventy thousand dollars. The Supreme Court, to whom the case was submitted, decided in favour of the proprietors, alledging, that as a remedy had been sought in the sale of the lots, the government could not have recourse to another, and it also became responsible for the expenses of the law suit, amounting to two thousand dollars. The proprietors united in support of their mutual interests, which were defended by all the ablest lawyers, except the attorney-general, who stood alone in behalf of the government.

A house, consisting of three stories, twentysix feet in front, and forty feet deep, com

pletely finished, costs from four to six thousand dollars. A house of two stories, of the same length and breadth, is valued at from three to four thousand dollars.

The price of house-rent is proportioned to the expense of the materials of its construction, and the advantages of its situation. Bricks cost from five and three-fourths to six dollars and a half per thousand. Their dimensions, fixed by an act of the corporation, are as follows:

Length.
Breadth

Thickness.

Thickness of the stock-brick

9 inches.

2

Calcareous stone, of a blueish colour, is brought from the neighbourhood of Georgetown, and purchased at a cheap rate. Unslacked lime costs from two to two dollars and a quarter per barrel. Wood is cheap: pine and oak are brought from the eastern shore of the Chesapeak. A good bricklayer is paid at the rate of three dollars for every thousand bricks. Some of the houses are covered with slate, though generally with boards, called shingles, the use of which

ought to be prohibited, on account of their combustible nature. Wood is chiefly employed for fuel, and oak and hickery are preferred, which are sold at the rate of four dollars per cord, except during an unusually severe winter, when the price has been from six to seven dollars. By an act of the corporation, a cord of wood must be eight feet in length, four in breadth, and "well stowed and packed." A good dray-horse can be purchased at Washington for sixty dollars; a saddle-horse for a hundred and thirty; and a milch-cow for thirty-five dollars.

The poorer class find great difficulty in feeding their cattle in winter, as the provender of a cow, during that season, costs from twelve to sixteen dollars, and consists chiefly of corn-cobs, or that part of the Indian cornstalk from which the grain has been separated. These are sold at four dollars the waggonload. In summer, the white clover 1 of the commons affords a luxurious pasture. A labourer has from half to three-quarters of a dollar per day. Female servants from two to four dollars a month. A cook, from fifteen