The New York Herald

INTELLIGENCE FROM THE MAILS.

Washington, May 24, 1848.

Appearance of the Capitol—By Sunlight.

The city looks completely deserted. I sauntered, yesterday morning, to the capitol, through the sweltering heat, and picking my way through the multitude of chairs and benches airing in the rotunda, visited both legislative chambers. I found them filled with clouds of dust, and completely gutted of their appurtenances. A few solitary members flitted about like ghosts in the vast solitude. The atmosphere of the Senate chamber smelt consumedly of soft soap and sand. Of the former article, a great heap lay where Mr. Cass's desk had been—still unexpended. Near by, a party of men were laboring to remove from the floor an incrustation of tobacco juice. On inquiry, I found that it was the spot occupied by Mr. Turner. Up in the galleries were upholsterers, with paper caps, and sable dusters busily at work. In the Vice President's chair, playing the part of President of the Senate, was a quizzical looking apprentice boy, of an oldish look, wearing a paper cap—very like a fool's cap. With this appendage Mr. Dallas dispenses, probably deeming it unnecessary. Standing in Mr. Preston's place, was a shrewish looking old woman, who, with arms a-kimbo, occupied herself with scolding the others. Her connection with the Senate, she said, commenced more than thirty years ago, and in that time she had introduced a great many improvements in scrubbing and dusting. The old lady seemed desirous of exacting a most deferential obedience to her wishes; but she had evidently no control over her fellow-laborers, who went on laughing and jesting with each other, and doing their work after their own fashion, regardless of the remonstrances which she continued from time to time to shriek forth.

Stepping up to a respectable-looking negro, who was engaged in cleaning around Mr. Hale's desk, I asked him did he not feel grateful for the efforts of the New Hampshire Senator in behalf of the colored race? He replied he did not feel any particular animosity to Mr. Hale, but it would be better for his race if all such men were born without tongues. The miseries they inflict on the colored race by their agitation, he said, were incalculable. For his part, he had never seen any good come of it; but, on the contrary, the greatest mischief. I was here attracted to another part of the chamber by seeing a crowd round one of the workmen, who held a paper in his hand, which, as I afterwards discovered, he had found under the desk of a Western Senator, lately raised to an important post in the body. It purported to be a copy of a circular addressed, as appeared by a memorandum, to three several persons in the State which he represents. It treated of politics generally, and appended were three several forms of postscript—one for each copy of the circular.—In one of these, the writer declared his preference for Mr. Polk—in another for Mr. Cass—and in the third for Mr. Houston. On each of his correspondents he enjoins profound secrecy as to his views, until such time as he himself should authorize their publication. Of course, if either of the candidates named be the nominee, the senator can appeal to a letter written to a friend in his own State long before the meeting of the convention, declaring that candidate to be his first choice. The other two could, in such a case, be easily suppressed.

Passing out into the rotunda, I found a man in the act of repairing a desk, seemingly in a very bad condition. I found, on inquiry, that it was Mr. Allen's, and that it had succumbed under the repeated blows which that gentleman had thought it necessary to inflict upon it during the delivery of his last speech. The article was sadly battered. I endeavored to count the indentations. The largest, I presumed was made while he rounded his last period on the liberty of the press. The man informed me that Mr. Allen gave him more work than any ten senators, and that he has a standing order to repair to the capitol whenever the Ohio senator has the floor.

I could work well to-day, if the Senate were in session, as the weather is very favorable.

SOL.