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# From Washington.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE WHEELING INTELLIGENCER.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 1852.
The Late Bank Suspensions---Bank of the Union---
Maryland Small Note Law---Exchange Bank of
Selden, Withers & Co---The New Patent Office--
The National Institute---Wheeling Glass Ware--
The Jackson Monument---Corwin, and the Gar-
diner Claim, &c.
The "Bank of the Union" of this city, an indi-
vidual concern, the sole proprietor of which was
Mr. Robert Gallaher, formerly an editor at Winches-
ter, and now recently at Richmond, Va., some few
days since suspended payment, with the consoling
promise to the holders of the notes thereof, that ev-
ery effort in his power would be made to redeem
them at some future time. What the liabilities
and assets of the Bank are, we have not as yet been
able to learn, but suppose the assignees (Messrs
Selton & Chilton) will make an examination of the
affairs at an early date, and report progress. The
amount of issue is, I am informed, very large for the
short time it has been in operation, a considerable
amount of which is in circulation in your State.
The going into effect or the law passed at the last
session of the Maryland Legislature, prohibiting the
circulation of notes of less denomination than $5,
other than those of their own Banks, no doubt
hastened the failure of the Bank; the amount in
circulation in and around Baltimore being very
large, having been sent on for redemption. The
District and surrounding country, is flooded with
the issue of similar concerns, many of them having
no place of redemption in this city, and the resi-
dence of those issuing them, unknown here.
From all that we can learn, there is among the ma-
ny private institutions of the kind, located and
purporting to be so here, but one to which any sta-
bility is attached, and that is the "Exchange Bank"
of Selden, Withers & Co., and we have rumors of
their being sometimes hard run. We make this
statement for the benefit of your business men, as
some of this money is in circulation at many places
in the West.
The work upon the West wing of the Patent
office has been resumed, and will be rapidly push-
ed forward to completion. The centre of this im-
mense building will still be occupied by the Patent
Office. This office, and the National Institute at-
tached to it, is generally the first place to which a
visit is paid by strangers visiting the city. Among
the many specimens of manufactured articles de-
posited in this Institute, none attracts more atten-
tion, than the beautiful glass vase manufactured
and presented by your fellow townsmen, the Mes-
sers. Sweneys.
The work upon the foundation of the "Jackson
Monument has at last been commenced, and we
shall have a great time no doubt, on the coming
8th of January, at which time the stature of the
old Hero mounted upon his war charger now being
executed in bronze in this city, will be placed there-
on. It occupies a central position in Lafayette
Square, fronting the President's house. The square
having been, during the past Summer, laid out in
walks and otherwise improved, is now one of the
most beautiful public squares in the city, and we
are somewhat celebrated in that way, for I do not
think there is anything of the kind in the country
to compare to our public grounds at the Capitol
and President's house, and which are now being
made still more so by the improvements now going
on. The work of filling up the large vacant lot south
of the Presidents house is being carried on with
great energy by the contractor. This is designed to
be laid out as a public Park.
The Committee appointed by the House at the
last session of Congress to make an investigation
as to Hon. Thomas Corwin's connection with the
great talked of Gardiner claim have, as you have
doubtless learned ere this, brought their labors to a
close, and exonerate Mr. Corwin from the charge
of his having an interest or being in any way con-
nected with the claim, since his appointment as
Secretary of the Treasury, it having been shown
that he had disposed of his interest to a gentleman
in New York, prior to his acceptance of the above
appointment. It is said (with how much truth 1
know not) that Mr. C. will refund to the Treasury
the amount received by him for his interest, should
the claim upon an invastigation, other than a po-
litical one, prove to be a fraudulent one.
Com. Morgan is soon to take charge of our Navy
Yard, vice Com. Ballard. Speculation in Real
Estate in this city has apparently become a per-
fect mania, the result of which cannot be but pre-
judicial to the interests of the city in the end. Pro-
perty in the suburbs of the city which a few years
since could have been bought at ¼ cent per foot
is now selling from 10 to 14 cents
METROPOLIS
Baltimore.
