fleet in 1814 by Col. George Armistead and the force under his command. It was on this occasion that the famous song of the "Star-Spangled Banner " was composed by Francis 8. Key, while a prisoner on board one of the British vessels. Fort Carroll, an immense fortification on Seller's Point flats, about 8 m. below the city, after involving the government in a heavy expenditure, has been roofed over and abandoned.—The general appearance of Baltimore is striking and picturesque. It is regularly laid out, its surface is undulating, its streets are of good width, and there is ample sewerage. An aspect of cheerful elegance prevails; the larger mansions are generally in good taste, and not crowded together, and the dwellings of the poor are generally neat and thrifty. There are very few of the large tenement houses common in other cities. The light and cheerful appearance of the city is greatly owing to the quality of the brick used in building. The clay is of fine texture and agreeable color, and when taken from the kilns is neither a very dull nor a glaring red. The Baltimore county marble, a fine, hard, and beautifully white species of limestone, extensively employed in building churches, public buildings, and in some private residences, adds also materially to this effect. The chief points of view are known as Federal hill and Patterson park. The former stands on the south side of the inner basin, crowned by a signal station, and commands an extensive prospect of the shipping, the city to the north and west, and the river and bay. The park, comprising about 56 acres, lies to the east of Fell's Point, and overlooks the principal docks and ship yards, Canton, and the surrounding country.
On the N. side of the city is Druid park, a fine pleasure ground of 600 acres, with an undulating surface, partly in wood and partly in open meadow. It has recently been purchased at a oost of about $800,000, and its architectural decorations are as yet but few. Its chief charm is in its secluded walks, rides, and bridle paths. The annual revenue of the park is derived from a tax of one fifth of the gross receipts of the city passenger railways. Within the borders of Druid park is Druid lake, the last of the chain of costly lakes and reservoirs recently constructed to supply the city with pure water. From main elevations in Druid park, and especially from the head of Druid lake, fine views of the city and river can be obtained. Besides the main streets, three great avenues on the east, north, and west have been surveyed, and are partly graded, paved, and built upon. These are at least 150 feet wide, planted with trees, and form an elevated drive around the city. There are 12 public squares. The largest of the public buildings is the exchange, which contains the custom house, post office, Merchants' bank, exchange, reading rooms, a vast rotunda for public sales, &c. The Athenæum is of the Italian style of architecture; it contains the rooms of the historical society and the mercantile library association, a very flourishing institution, with a large number of members, and 26,000 volumes on its shelves. The Maryland institute "for the promotion of the mechanic arts" is a large structure, 355 ft. long by 60 wide; it is built upon piles, and over the centre or Marsh market. An annual exhibition of the products of American mechanical industry is held in the main hall, which is 260 ft. long. It also contains a library, lecture rooms, school of design, chemical school, &c. The new city hall, now
