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North America
Volume 2
by Anthony Trollope
CONTENTS OF VOL。 II。
CHAPTER I。
Washington
CHAPTER II。
Congress
CHAPTER III。
The Causes of the War
CHAPTER IV。
Washington to St。 Louis
CHAPTER V。
Missouri
CHAPTER VI。
Cairo and Camp Wood
CHAPTER VII。
The Army of the North
CHAPTER VIII。
Back to Boston
CHAPTER IX。
The Constitution of the United States
CHAPTER X。
The Government
CHAPTER XI。
The Law Courts and Lawyers of the United States
CHAPTER XII。
The Financial Position
CHAPTER XIII。
The Post…office
CHAPTER XIV。
American Hotels
CHAPTER XV。
Literature
CHAPTER XVI。
Conclusion
NORTH AMERICA。
CHAPTER 1。 WASHINGTON。
The site of the present City of Washington was chosen with three special views： firstly； that being on the Potomac it might have the full advantage of water…carriage and a sea…port； secondly； that it might be so far removed from the sea…board as to be safe from invasion； and； thirdly； that it might be central alike to all the States。 It was presumed； when Washington was founded； that these three advantages would be secured by the selected position。 As regards the first； the Potomac affords to the city but few of the advantages of a sea…port。 Ships can come up； but not ships of large burden。 The river seems to have dwindled since the site was chosen； and at present it is； I think； evident that Washington can never be great in its shipping。 Statio benefida carinis can never be its motto。 As regards the second point； singularly enough Washington is the only city of the Union that has been in an enemy's possession since the United States became a nation。 In the war of 1812 it fell into our hands； and we burned it。 As regards the third point； Washington； from the lie of the land； can hardly have been said to be centrical at any time。 Owing to the irregularities of the coast it is not easy of access by railways from different sides。 Baltimore would have been far better。 But as far as we can now see； and as well as we can now judge； Washington will soon be on the borders of the nation to which it belongs； instead of at its center。 I fear； therefore； that we must acknowledge that the site chosen for his country's capital by George Washington has not been fortunate。 I have a strong idea； which I expressed before in speaking of the capital of the Canadas； that no man can ordain that on such a spot shall be built a great and thriving city。 No man can so ordain even though he leave behind him； as was the case with Washington； a prestige sufficient to bind his successors to his wishes。 The political leaders of the country have done what they could for Washington。 The pride of the nation has endeavored to sustain the character of its chosen metropolis。 There has been no rival； soliciting favor on the strength of other charms。 The country has all been agreed on the point since the father of the country first commenced the work。 Florence and Rome in Italy have each their pretensions； but in the States no other city has put itself forward for the honor of entertaining Congress。 And yet Washington has been a failure。 It is commerce that makes great cities； and commerce has refused to back the general's choice。 New York and Philadelphia； without any political power； have become great among the cities of the earth。 They are beaten by none except by London and Paris。 But Washington is but a ragged； unfinished collection of unbuilt broad streets； as to the completion of which there can now； I imagine； be but little hope。 Of all places that I know it is the most ungainly and most unsatisfactory： I fear I must also say the most presumptuous in its pretensions。 There is a map of Washington accurately laid down； and taking that map with him in his journeyings； a man may lose himself in the streets； not as one loses one's self in London； between Shoreditch and Russell Square； but as one does so in the deserts of the Holy Land； between Emmaus and Arimathea。 In the first place no one knows where the places are； or is sure of their existence； and then between their presumed localities the country is wild； trackless； unbridged； uninhabited； and desolate。 Massachusetts Avenue runs the whole length of the city； and is inserted on the maps as a full…blown street； about four miles in length。 Go there； and you will find yourself not only out of town； away among the fields； but you will find yourself beyond the fields； in an uncultivated； undrained wilderness。 Tucking your trowsers up to your knees you will wade through the bogs； you will lose yourself among rude hillocks； you will be out of the reach of humanity。 The unfinished dome of the Capitol will loom before you in the distance； and you will think that you approach the ruins of some western Palmyra。 If you are a sportsman； you will desire to shoot snipe within sight of the President's house。 There is much unsettled land within the States of America； but I think none so desolate in its state of nature as three…fourths of the ground on which is supposed to stand the City of Washington。 The City of Washington is something more than four miles long； and is something more than two miles broad。 The land apportioned to it is nearly as compact as may be； and it exceeds in area the size of a parallelogram four miles long by two broad。 These dimensions are adequate for a noble city； for a city to contain a million of inhabitants。 It is impossible to state with accuracy the actual population of Washington； for it fluctuates exceedingly。 The place is very full during Congress； and very empty during the recess。 By which I mean it to be understood that those streets which are blessed with houses are full when Congress meets。 I do not think that Congress makes much difference to Massachusetts Avenue。 I believe that the city never contains as many as eighty thousand； and that its permanent residents are less than sixty thousand。 But； it will be said； was it not well to prepare for a growing city？ Is it not true that London is choked by its own fatness； not having been endowed at its birth or during its growth with proper means for accommodating its own increasing proportions？ Was it not well to lay down fine avenues and broad streets； so that future citizens might find a city well prepared to their hand？ There is no doubt much in such an argument； but its correctness must be tested by its success。 When a man marries it is well that be should make provision for a coming family。 But a Benedict； who early in his career shall have carried his friends with considerable self…applause through half a dozen nurseries； and at the end of twelve years shall still be the father of one rickety baby； will incur a certain amount of ridicule。 It is very well to be prepared for good fortune； but one should limit one's preparation within a reasonable scope。 Two miles by one might； perhaps； have done for the skeleton sketch of a new city。 Less than half that would contain much more than the present population of Washington； and there are； I fear； few towns in the Union so little likely to enjoy any speedy increase。 Three avenues sweep the whole length of Washington： Virginia Avenue； Pennsylvania Avenue； and Massachusetts Avenue。 But Pennsylvania Avenue is the only one known to ordinary men； and the half of that only is so known。 This avenue is the backbone of the city； and those streets which are really inhabited cluster round that half of it which runs westward from the Capitol。 The eastern end； running from the front of the Capitol； is again a desert。 The plan of the city is somewhat complicated。 It may truly be called 〃a mighty maze； but not without a plan。〃 The Capitol was intended to be the center of the city。 It faces eastward； away from the Potomacor rather from the main branch of the Potomac； and also unfortunately from the main body of the town。 It turns its back upon the chief thoroughfare； upon the Treasury buildings； and upon the President's house； and； indeed； upon the whole place。 It was； I suppose； intended that the streets to the eastward should be noble and populous； but hitherto they have come to nothing。 The building； therefore； is wrong side foremost； and all mankind who enter it； Senators； Representatives； and judges included； go in at the back door。 Of course it is generally known that in the Capitol is the chamber of the Senate； that of the House of Representatives； and the Supreme Judicial Court of the Union。 It may be said that there are two centers in Washington； this being one and the President's house the other。 At these centers the main avenues are supposed to cross each other； which avenues are called by the names of the respective States。 At the Capitol； Pennsylvania Avenue； New Jersey Avenue； Delaware Avenue； and Maryland Avenue converge。 They come from one extremity of the city to the square of the Capitol on one side； and run out from the other side of it to the other extremity of the city。 Pennsylvania Avenue； New York Avenue； Vermont Avenue； and Connecticut Avenue do the same at what is generally called President's Square。 In theory； or on paper； this seems to be a clear and intelligible arrangement； but it does not work well。 These center depots are large spaces； and consequently one portion of a street is r