WAsHINero1E. Dec. IS.
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 this atastrophe.-NmiOnal EmeEigencer. WAsHNGroN, Dec. IS. The Washington City Post Office, the GeI neral Post Office, and the Patent Office, have this day been burnt to the ground. The fire has cOnsummated its work thoroughly, leav- ing as a memento of it's visit little more than the outer bIackened walls, from which the murky columns of fire are even now ascend ing.

 At half past three o'clock this morning, we were awakened by an indifferent sort of a. larm, that the post office was on fire. One bell gave out few sleepy strokes, and three or four voices cried out fire. But there was no indication of flight in the sky, and Ibegan to regard .he matter as joke, but determin- ed to ascertain whether it really was so. approached the office, but saw neither fire, nor the bustle attending upon it, and should even then have tumbled into bed again, un- der the belief that the alarm was false, but for gentleman running hastily past, who assu- red me it was true.

 The building containing the three offices above referred to, and called in general terms 'sthe Post Office," is situated on E. street be- tween 7th and Sth, with it's front facing to the southward, and running due east and west. I walked nearly the whole length of the buil- ding, and finally discovered a thick volume of smoke issuing out of the city post office, through the third basement window, at the easterly corner. There were some twenty or thirty persons only present, who looked composedly on but there was not spark of fire. As the morning advanced the people began to gather, but there was for a long time, neither engine nor water, nor any one who seemed disposed to make an effort to ar- rest the progress of the flames. The smoke issued thicker and faster and an effort was made to have the door at which the city let ters are delivered, and which is immediately above the window before mentioned, opened. with view to save the letters, but it was un- successful. The few clerks who were in at tendance in the building appeared either to be paralized, or to refuse to throw open the doors, lest the extent of the danger might sub- sequently appear not to justify the measure. At this time, being about three quarters of am hour subsequent to my reaching the spot, and scarcely move having been made to save either the building, the books, or the fnrni- ture, the flames broke furiously out. One engine arrived, and made a feeble attempt to play 1; but there was no sympathy in the crowd, the mass of whom stood looking or with feeling apparently akin to gratifica- tion. The work of preservation at length commenced in the General Post Office. Mr. Rives, of the Globe, was seen carrying out

 

 example was measurably followed by others Whilst this was going on, the smoke was seen to issue from the upper story of the General Post Office, situate near the WEST end of the building. The flames soon followed they were spreading with fearful rapidity to every part of the edifce-whole cataracts of fire fell into tho lower stories, carrying timbers and rafters with them and it became obvi- Ous to all that total destruction must follow. s<,l. attendance, ceased their intellectual efforts, and began to play on the adjacent buildings.

 Whilst these events were passing, the wind was breezing gently from the westward of north thus blowing the hot embers and frag- ments over against the opposite house of w. w. Seaton, Esq. and threatening it's destruc- ton. The heat became so intense, that you could not bear the palm of the hand on the glass windows; the zinc composing the pipes down the wall began to melt, and it was no longer possible for the firemen to stand in the area between the two buildings. The friends of MT. Seaton clustered around him, and the house was soon stripped of all it's movables. It's destruction seemed inevitable, and at the very moment when even the hope of it's pre- servatiOn seemed to have been abandoned, the wind chopped suddenly round to the south west, and the house was saved. When you speak hereafter of the malevolencc of tho wind, remember that it has ONCE at least done a generous act; for, had it not been for this capricious change. whole blocks, from thence to Pennsylvania Avenue, must have been laid prostrate.

 The fire communicated to two or three small buildings in this new direction of tho wind but it was subdued, and, at daylight left the Post Office building burning heap of ruins.

 The clerks did not leave the department till half past two, A. M. There is one fact for your deliberation-the smoke must have been insinuating itself for a long time previ- ous to that hour. e1e" f-''. @'i 'F,'

 H is understood that much has been saved in the General Post Office department. but nothing in the Patent Office, and nothing in the City Post Office.-N. Y. Courier.

 GOSSIP FROM WASHINGTON. @i ii

 That MT. Blair, the editor of the Globe. and his family, arc now inmates of the Presidents House.

 That the President sees no one but Mr. Blair, Mir. Kendall, and MT. Woodbury..

 That the copies of the Presidents Message, ordered by Congress, are kept back in most extraordinary manner; that speculation is hinted at in connexion therewith-and that a public investigation of the matter may be de- manded.

 That Mir. Rives has intimated his unwil~ lingness to accept seat in the next Cabinet, if MT. Kendall is member off

 That Mir. Forsyth and MT. Kendall are nos good friends, the former having turned up his nose at Mr. Kendall.

 That the original draft of the Presidents | lar c.. %1A6a pF0olAAnf.