seven parallel barrels, fastened together with iron hoops, in the manner of Roman fasces, six forming the circle, with one in the centre. Each barrel is about four feet and a half long, and a quarter of an inch thick; and the whole engine turns on a pivot, much resembling that which is ordinarily used for a swivel, and is directed by means of a crooked iron handle. The lock that fires it, is placed about eighteen inches from the muzzle. The chief secret is in the loading, which is diffi cult, and takes a long time. They are, therefore, sent ready loaded to the vessels and forts, where they are wanted, and after being once fired are sent home again. Their calibre is nearly the same as that of a musket, and they discharge altogether 350 balls, that is, seven at a time for fifty successive discharges, at half a second interval. These most formidable weapons appeared to be of a rough and cheap construction. A fort or vessel provided with a great number might keep up such a murderous fire, that advancing or boarding in the face of it would be almost impossible.

The Navy-yard is on what is called the eastern branch of the Potowmac. At a little distance off, on the main branch, is a straight wooden bridge, nine furlongs in length, which presents a curious appearance.

The President's house, a noble mansion, or rather palace, built on an eminence fronting the Potowmac, was not quite finished when I was at

Washington, but already formed a majestic object. The former mansion, with every thing it contained, was burnt by the British.

Shortly after my arrival at Washington, as I was one day coming with a friend from visiting the public offices, he pointed out to me a well dressed gentleman, walking by himself. That," said he, "is the President of the United States." When this great personage met us, my friend introduced me to him. I took off my hat as a mark of respect; upon which the President did the same, and shook me by the hand, saying he was glad to see me. I went soon afterwards to pay my respects to him at his house, in company with the same friend. We were shown into a handsome room, where the President had been writing. When he came in, he shook us by the hand, requested us to sit down, and conversed upon a variety of topics. I may here observe, that whenever, in America, you are introduced to any one, the custom is to shake hands. I like this custom, as it is much more friendly, and puts you more at your ease, than the cold formal bow, with which, in England, and indeed in most of Europe, you are greeted at the performance of this ceremony. I was very much pleased with the unaffected urbanity and politeness of the President, so entirely different from what I should have met with on being introduced to a person of anything like the same importance in Europe. When going to

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pay my respects to a Duke of Tuscany, or even to a petty German prince, whose whole territory was not larger than a county in one of the United States, I have had to dress in a court uniform, and to pass by a whole file of soldiers, and then by half a dozen pages, officers, and chamberlains, with gold keys at their pockets, &c. But the President of the United States received me in my ordinary morning dress; and, though he is Commander-inchief of the army and navy, has no need of sentinels at his door, being sufficiently protected by the love of his fellow citizens.

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I can safely say, that the manly simplicity of the President impressed me with much more respect, than the absurd mummery of European potentates. Yet surely if pride can be tolerated in any man, it must be in him, who (like President Monroe) has been placed at the head of the government of his native country, by the unanimous suffrage of eight millions of his fellow citizens. How much more has he to be proud of, than the petty distinction of birth or fortune! and what an immeasurable distance between him and a German Princeling! Yet, to judge by their manners and bearing, you would fancy the Prince was the greatest man on earth, and the President merely a private individual; whereas the one is a most unimportant personage, except in his own opinion, and the other is really a great man.

A short time before my arrival at Washington,

there occurred a fine example of Republican simplicity. Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, happened to meet together at the opening of a college at Charlottesville in Virginia. I suppose this is the only instance on record, of three men, two of whom had been, and one of whom actually was, at the head of the government of the self-same country, meeting by chance, and, in the most unceremonious and friendly way, passing the evening together. There were four Presidents alive when I was in the United States, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe.

The environs of Washington abound in picturesque scenery. From the hills, on the Virginia bank of the river, and also from those beyond the eastern branch, the city appears scattered over the plain below, and elevates itself here and there in some grand structure, such as the Capitol, the President's house, or the City Hall; while below rolls the mighty Potowmac, diversified with the numerous boats and vessels that are constantly moving over its surface.

Seven miles off, at the little town of Alexandria, there is another very fine view of the city. By the bye I may mention, that at this place my attention was much attracted by the singular construction of the ferry-boat. As considerable commerce is carried on here, it was important to be able to cross over with the greatest celerity from the Maryland to the Virginian shore. A steam-boat was

found to be too expensive; but, incited by the hopes of gain, an ingenious mechanic has invented what he calls a team-boat, and which (when I was there) plied from side to side every quarter of an hour. This boat is worked by four horses, two on each side, with their heads in contrary directions. Each horse is fastened to an iron bar, that goes across the shed under which two of them stand. Their feet rest upon a large horizontal wheel, the centre of which coincides with that of the boat, whose two sides are tangents to it. It is rather lower than the deck; and as the whole of the middle of the upper part of the boat is thus unoccupied, waggons and carts can be driven in and out without any difficulty. When the boat is to be put in motion, the horses are whipped, and by striving to go on, turn round the wheel which is beneath their feet, and which again turns two large exte rior wheels armed with paddles, as in a steam-boat. To conclude my description, there is also a sim ple contrivance for shifting the machinery, bly which the wheels are made to move either way, so that the boat can proceed with either end foremost. It crosses easily in twelve minutes; and, as there is no tax upon horses, the invention has united cheapness with expedition.

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