Former presidents, from Jefferson downward, used to visit the rooms of clerks and inspect the offices very often, but his Excellency John Tyler is not so hard on clerks and heads of bureaus. He never visits them--at least I have not seen him on any such tours of duty. General Jackson has often gone with me to the rooms of secretaries and clerks, to inspect their books and to ascertain how they kept their accounts. Having doubled and trebled the force in the offices, renders such tours of inspection unnecessary, in order to do all the business of the several departments faithfully, correctly and well. Two families hold four clerkships each; so I hear from an authentic source.
Should any citizen of the United States wish to know exactly what is done with every cent of Uncle Sam’s money, let him call on Thomas L. Smith, the register of the treasury, and he can there see it at a glance. Maj. Smith holds the purse strings. If any one wishes to see models of all the light-houses in the world, let him call on Mr. Pleasanton in the state department and there he will find them, and a perfect gentleman to explain every thing that relates to these light-houses. If any one wishes to see all the books, for which American authors claim a copy-right, let him call on the Messrs. Winder and Carroll in the state department, and he will find the books, and the gentlemen in whom Judge Upshur most confided, as his confidential clerks. Mr. Calhoun will extend to them the same confidence as Judge Upshur did. The former is the son of General Winder and the latter is the descendant of Daniel Carrol of Duddington, a signer of the declaration of independence.
To those who visit the city from a distance, local information may be useful, and we give such as we suppose may be of service to them. If the stranger wish to tarry only a few days, having no business but to see the city, perhaps Brown’s or Gadsby’s will best suit him; but if his business be with Congress, capitol hill will best suit him, and he can put up with Mrs. Ballard, Mrs. Owner, Mrs. Hill or some other keeper of a boarding house--Mrs. Whitney for instance. I prefer Mrs. Ballard’s, although the others are all good houses, with good accomodations. If the stranger’s business is with the departments, he can stop at Fuller’s, or Mrs. Galabrun’s on the avenue, or Butler’s on F street, or Mrs. Tilley’s on Tenth, near the avenue. But there are a hundred other boarding houses, as good as need be, such as Mrs. Hamilton’s, Miss Polk’s, Mrs. Arguelles’ and a long list of good houses. Five thousand persons can be well accommodated in Washington city. For the size of it, this has more and better accomodations for travellers, than any other city with which I am personally acquainted. I prefer it to any other east of the Alleghanies, but until the late riots, Philadelphia stood highest with me. It may be owing to my long acquaintance with this to me delightful city, that I prefer it.