soil must of course be similar, and the natural produc tions not remarkably different.

The ground, in most of the counties on the eastern shore, is covered, in many places, with stagnant water, except where it is intersected by numerous creeks. Here also are large tracts of marsh, which, during the day, load the atmosphere with vapour, that falls in dew, in the close of the summer and fall seasons, which are sickly.

Wheat and tobacco are the most important productions of the state. Cotton, hemp, and flax are also raised, but not in large quantities. Apples and peaches are among the cultivated fruits; from both of these brandy is distilled. Among the trees of the forest are several kinds of oak and black walnut. The woods abound with nuts of various sorts, on which vast numbers of swine are fatted.

Mines and Manufactures. Mines of iron ore, of a superior quality, abound in many parts of the state. Two strata, or beds of coal, have lately been opened, within a mile of the city of Baltimore.

Rye whiskey is manufactured in great quantities in this state. From some single distilleries, 12,000 gallons are produced in a year. In Frederick county are 80 gristmills employed in grinding wheat. There are also glass works, iron works, furnaces, distilleries, and paper mills.

Commerce. The trade of Maryland is principally carried on from Baltimore, with the other states, with the West Indies, and with some parts of Europe. To these places, they formerly sent annually about 30,000 hogsheads of tobacco, besides large quantities of wheat, flour, pig-iron, lumber, and corn; beans, pork, and flax-seed, in smaller quantities.

They receive in return clothing for themselves and negroes, and other dry goods, wines, spirits, sugar and other West-India commodities. The balance is generally in their favor.

Education and Literature. There are five colleges in Maryland. Washington college, at Chestertown, and St. John's college, at Annapolis, together constitute the University of Maryland. The Methodists have a college at Harford. The Roman Catholics have a college at Georgetown, for the promotion of general literature. There is a French college at Baltimore, with about sev enty students. There are some other literary institutions

of less note. Every neighborhood has its school, where children are taught reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Cities and Towns. ANNAPOLIS city is the capital of Maryland, and the wealthiest place of its size in all America. It is at the mouth of the Severn river, 30 miles south of Baltimore. It is a city of little note in the com mercial world. The houses, 350 in number, are indicative of great wealth. The number of inhabitants does not exceed 2000.

BALTIMORE has had the most rapid growth of any town on the continent, and is the third in size, and the fourth in trade, in the United States. It lies on the north side of Patapsco river. The situation of the town is low, and was formerly unhealthy, but the increase of houses, and the paving and other improvements of the streets, have rendered it tolerably healthy. The number of inhabitants in the town and precincts, according to the census of 1800, was 26,214; in 1810 they amounted to 46,485. It contains nine churches, a theatre, and a number of other public buildings. The tonnage of this city in 1810 was 102,439.

FREDERICKTOWN is a fine flourishing inland town, and contained, in 1797, 2600 inhabitants. MAGARSTOWN is situated in the beautiful and well cultivated valley of Conegocheague, and carries on a considerable trade with the western country. ELKTON is near the head of Chesapeak bay, on a small river which bears the name of the town. It enjoys great advantages from the carrying trade between Baltimore and Philadelphia.

COLUMBIA TERRITORY.

THIS territory is ten miles square, and embraces the city of Washington, Georgetown and Alexandria. It was ceded to the United States by Maryland and Vir ginia, for the purpose of establishing in it the seat of the general government. It embraces a section of Potomac river, extending from the southern part of Alexandria, to a point about five miles above Georgetown, and includes a part of one of the Potomac canals. This section of the river, from the Maryland side, receives the Eastern Branch, which bounds the city of Washington on the southeast, Tiber, Reedy, and Rock Creeks; and from the Virginia side, Four Mile Run. Eastern Branch

forms a safe and commodious harbor, being sufficiently deep for the largest ships for about four miles above its mouth, while the channel lies close along the bank, adjoining the city. The Potomac is navigable only for small craft, for a considerable distance from its banks, next the city.

WASHINGTON city appears to contain some important improvements upon that of the best planned cities in the world; combining, in a remarkable degree, convenience, regularity, elegance of prospect, and a free circulation of air. The positions of the different public edifices, and of the several squares and areas of different shapes, as they are laid down, were first determined on the most advantageous ground, commanding the most extensive prospects, and, from their situation, susceptible of such improvements as either use or ornament may require. The capitol is situated on a most beautiful eminence, commanding a complete view of every part of the city. The President's house stands on a rising ground, possessing a delightful water prospect, together with a commanding view of the capitol, and the most material parts of the city. The grand avenues, and such streets as lead immediately to public places, are from 130 to 160 feet wide; the other streets are from 90 to 110 feet wide. * In 1803, this city contained 4353 inhabitants, of whom 940 were people of color. In 1810, thember of inhabitants had increased to 8620. Here are four houses for public worship, one for Presbyterians, one for Roman Catholics, one for Baptists, and one for Episcopalians. In the city are three market houses. At the navy yard, are severa large brick buildings, for the reception of naval stores. Barracks are erected for the marines. Greenleaf's Point is a powder magazine and a guard house. Two bridges are built over Rock Creek, which divides the city from Georgetown. The public offices occupy two buildings, each about 450 feet from the President's house.

At

GEORGETOWN stands on the bank of the Potomac, 160 miles from its entrance into the Chesapeak, and four from Washington city.. It contains about 250 houses and 4948 inhabitants.

ALEXANDRIA stands on the south bank of the Potomac, and contained in 1800, about 500 houses, and 5000 inhabitants; in 1810, 7227.

185

VIRGINIA.

Situation and Extent. THIS is the largest of the United States, extending 446 miles in length, by a breadth of 224 miles, and containing an area of 70,000 square miles. It lies between 36° and 41° north latitude, and between the meridian of Philadelphia, and 8° west longitude.

Boundaries. Bounded north by Maryland, part of Pennsylvania, and Ohio; west by Kentucky; south by NorthCarolina east by the Atlantic ocean.

The following are the divisions, and number of inhab itants in each according to the census of 1810.

Norfolk county

13,679

6,316

Russel

There were in Virginia, in 1800, 534,396 free inhabitants, and 345,796 slaves. Increase in 10 years, 94,430.

Face of the Country. The whole country below the head of the tide waters, about 100 miles from the sea, is level, and, from various appearances, seems to have been once washed by the sca. It is intersected, in all directions, by salt creeks and rivers, the heads of which form swamps and marshes, often covered with water. The mountainous regions commence about fifteen miles . from the sea; and the mountains are disposed in ridges, one behind another, running nearly parelle with the sea

coast.

Rivers and Canals. The Potomac rises in the Allegany mountains, and has two principal branches, called the North and South rivers, both of which are navigable many miles above their junction. About 80 miles further down, the Potomac is joined by the Shenandoah, after which it runs a southeast and south course to its estuary in Chesapeak bay. The distance from the capes of Virginia to the termination of the tide waters in this river, is nearly 300 miles. It is navigable for ships of the greatest burden nearly that distance. It is 7 miles wide at its mouth.

The Shenandoah rises in Augusta county, and, after a northeast course of 200 miles, joins the Potomac just before the passage of the latter through the Blue Ridge. It is navigable 100 miles.