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Destruction of Public Property.-The public buildings destroyed by the incursion of the British, were the Capitol, President's house, the two buildings containing the public offices, and the fort at Greenleaf's Point; they also burnt Mr. Sewell's house on the Capitol Hill; a hotel belonging to Mr. Carrol, on do.; General Washington's house, on do. ; and Mr. Frost's, do. Several houses were plundered by the soldiers and negroes, amongst which were, Mr. A. M'Cormick's, Mr. D. Rapine's, Mr. W. Elliot's, and the types and presses of Messrs. Gales and Seaton, were chiefly destroyed by order of the commanders. The workshops in the Navy-yard, with a sloop-of-war, and public stores, fort Washington, and both bridges were partly destroyed by the American, and partly by the British troops. The British retreated silently to their ships on the evening of the 26th of August, leaving the chief part of their wounded behind.

The following lines were found written with charcoal, on the four-mile-stone leading to Bladensburgh; and near the place where Commodore Barney made so brave a resistance to the enemy.

The hands point in the direction where the men fought or fled.

Here fought Commodore Barney,
So nobly and so gallantly;
Against Britain's sons and slavery,
For a fighting man was he.

There did General Winder flee,
His infantry and cavalry;
Disgracing the cause of liberty,
For a writing man was he!

LAWS.

The following is a brief Abstract of the General Laws of the Corporation, alphabetically arranged.

A Board of Appeal is nominated by the Mayor, and by and with the consent of the Board of Aldermen, appointed annually on the first Monday in October, to consist of three freeholders, who shall meet in the City Hall on the second Monday in October annually, and there remain from day to day, not exceeding five days, and to receive a compensation of two dollars per day each. This Board has power to hear and decide on all appeals from the assessment of the assessors appointed annually, and of the assessors who are appointed every five years, to abate, increase, and alter or amend, any assessment previously made, so as to equalize the valuation of all assessable property within the city, and place it on a footing with other property of equal value. Of the meeting of this board, public notice is required to be given in the newspapers of the city. No assessor can be appointed a member of the Board of Appeal.

General Assessment of Property.-Three assessors are appointed by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen every five years, on the second Monday in May, to make a general assessment of all property by law taxable in the city, and to be governed by what they believe the property is worth in cash at the time of the valuation :-are not to tax any new buildings until the first of January next, after they are finished or occupied.

The assessors are required to take an oath for the impartial discharge of their duty:—may require from the owner a written list of property, and the owner subject to the penalty of ten dollars for refusing are allowed a compensation of two dollars per day, and are required to make return of their assessment to the register on or before the last Monday in September.

Annual Assessment of Property.-The Mayor and Board of Aldermen appoint annually, excepting at the periods when the quinquennial appointment happens, three freeholders, whose duty it is to assess and value all real and personal property in the city, not before assessed and valued, to regulate any former assessment where property has since deteriorated or enhanced in value:-receive a compensation of forty dollars each :-are subject to a penalty of ten dollars each for every neglect of duty:—and to make the return of their assessment on the first Monday in October. It is made the duty of the commissioners, each in their respective wards, to attend the assessors in the discharge of their duty.

Auctions.-Every person selling by auction must take out a license; for which he must pay one hundred dollars; and give security in five thousand dollars for the faithful performance of his duties. Twenty-five dollars fine for every lot sold, is laid on those who refuse or neglect to take out a license. In ten days after the sale of any property by auction, an account must be rendered, deducting the following commission :- -for every personal property of every description, five per cent.,

excepting for dry goods in the original package, and in that case, two and a half per cent. Wet goods, groceries, and horses, two and a half per cent. Household goods and furniture, five per cent. On vacant lots and vessels, two per cent. on the first two hundred dollars; one per cent. on the next thirteen hundred dollars; and if the amount exceed fifteen hundred dollars, then one per cent. on the excess. If the articles offered for sale will not bring the price limited, then the auctioneer may charge one-fourth of his commission. If the auctioneer demand and receive more than is allowed by law, he is finable four times the amount of his just commission. No auctioneer can purchase in goods to sell again; under the penalty of a hundred dollars. No auctioneer can sell to less amount of dry goods than three dollars-of wet goods, five dollars-or less than five gallons of spirits, under a penalty of five dollars for each offence. License, seventy dollars for each person who sells, if more than one.

The corporation is entitled to receive the following rates and duties on the amounts of all sales at auction, within its limits: upon all real estate, slaves, vessels, public securities, banks, and other incorporated stocks, one-fourth of one per cent. upon watches, jewelry, cutlery, perfumery, and stationery, five per cent.; and upon all other goods, articles, or things whatever, whether raw or manufactured, one per cent.

Bread. The wheaten bread is to be made of inspected flour; and the size of the loaf is fixed according to the price of the flour, at the following

rates: when the flour is from four dollars to four dollars and fifty cents per barrel, the single loaf must weigh twenty-seven ounces; when at five dollars, twenty-four ounces; at six dollars, twentytwo ounces; at seven dollars, twenty ounces; at eight dollars, eighteen ounces; at nine dollars, sixteen ounces; and at ten dollars, fifteen ounces; and so in proportion as the value of flour increases, the size of the loaf diminishes.

Bricks and Brick-kilns.-All the brick-kilns must be licensed by the Mayor, under a penalty of ten dollars for every week the owner continues to use it without a license.

All bricks brought into the city, for sale within the city, must be made in moulds of the following dimensions: place bricks in moulds nine and a quarter inches long in the clear; four and fiveeighths inches broad, and two and a half inches deep; stock bricks in moulds, nine and a quarter inches long; four and five-eighths broad; and two and five-eighths inches deep; the moulds to be stamped by the sealer of weights and measures, under a penalty of twenty dollars for each offence.

Billiard Tables.-Each table must pay a license of one hundred dollars, renewable on the first Monday in November, annually. Penalty for setting up or using them without a license, ten dollars per day.

Bulls.-Six bulls are purchased for the use of the city, and are under the charge of the commissioners.

Carts, Wagons, and Drays must be licensed. Wagons must pay five dollars and fifty cents, and

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