Fifty years after the burning of the city the famous Stuart picture of Washington, referred to in Mrs. Madison’s letter, was retouched and hung in the East Room, and still constitutes one of the few ornaments of the Executive Mansion.
III
THE CAPITOL BUILDING
The corner-stone of the old Capitol, which constitutes the central portion of the new edifice, was laid the 18th of September, 1793, by General Washington, in the presence of a great concourse of people and with imposing ceremonies.
The corner-stones of the wings were laid by President Fillmore, July 4, 1851. Webster delivered the oration of the occasion.
The old building is of yellow sandstone, kept painted white to beautify and preserve it; the wings are of white marble. On its central portico all our Presidents, from Andrew Jackson to President McKinley, have taken the oath of office. President Roosevelt took the oath of office at Buffalo. This building, which fronts the east, was set in accordance with the astronomical observations of Andrew Ellicott, an engineer from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who succeeded Major L’Enfant as general surveyor and engineer in the new city.
Ellicott is described as bearing a marked resemblance to Benjamin Franklin, except that he was more of a Quaker in appearance, wearing a long, fine gray broadcloth coat and a Quaker hat. He awaits the resurrection in an unmarked grave at Ellicott City, Maryland.
Photo by Clinedinst
THE CAPITOL
The original building was constructed from plans submitted by Stephen Hallet, the work undergoing some modifications from the plans of Dr. William Thornton.