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ble place of residence, and has greatly increased in population and wealth. The inhabitants by last census amount to 12,067, of whom 1305 are engaged in manufactures, and 539 in commerce.

WILLIAMSBURG CITY is situated between York and James Rivers, 60 Miles east from Richmond, and was formerly the metropolis of the state. It is regularly laid out, and contains a number of good buildings. The population in 1820 was 1402. William and Mary College, formerly an eminent seat of learning, is situated at this place.

Norfolk Borough is situated on the east side of Elizabeth River, which is here about four hundred yards broad, and forms a fine harbour. Norfolk, from its situation, has the largest share of foreign commerce of any town in the state, but there is little manufacturing, and foreign commerce being now very limited, Norfolk has not of late increased. In 1810 the population was 9183; in 1820, 8478.

Petersburg is situated on the Appomatox River, below the falls, and has a very lively trade, having considerable shipping, and the commerce of an extensive back country. Population, by last census, 6690.

Fredericksburg is situated on the south side of Rappahannock River, about 100 miles from its outlet, and is a place of considerable trade. It contains about five hundred houses; the inhabitants are not given separately in the census.

Yorktown, celebrated as the place where Cornwallis surrendered to General Washington, is situated on the south side of York River.

Wheeling is situated on the Ohio, where the national road crosses. It contains about 250 houses, and is on the

increase, and likely to become a place of considerable importance.

Winchester, in the great limestone valley, is the capital of Frederick county, and contains nearly 3000 inhabit

ants.

There are no other towns of material importance in Virginia. It has been remarked, and probably correctly, that from the circumstance of the state being so completely intersected with navigable rivers, there is a market near every man's door, and the people have no great inducement to form large cities; but there are a great number of small towns, principally on the navigable waters, a few of which we shall barely name, regretting, as we have frequently done in the course of this work, that we cannot give the number of houses nor inhabitants from the

census.

On the Potomac and its waters.-Dumfries, Colchester, Leesburg, Martinsburg, Winchester, and Staunton.

On York River and its waters.-York, Newcastle, and Hanover.

On James River and its waters.-Portsmouth, Hampton, Suffolk, Smithfield, Williamsburg, Manchester, Charlotteville, Milton, Menticello, Lynchburg, Lexington, and Fincastle.

On the Ohio and its waters.-Wellsburg, (late Charleston,) Wheeling, Belleville, Point Pleasant, Charleston, Greenville, Abingdon, Jeffersonville, Franklin, and Jonesville.

Roads, Canals, and Public Improvements.-A board of public works has been established, which has considerable funds at its disposal, but as yet no material improvement has been made in roads. The great post road through the state has not yet been turnpiked, but turnpike roads have been made from Manchester to the coal mines, distant 12

miles; from Richmond to another coal mine, and from Alexandria, north-west, to Middleburg. Considerable improvements have been made upon the Potomac, Shenandoah, and James Rivers, and efforts are now making to connect the Jackson, a branch of James River, with the great Kenhaway, and by means of that river with the Ohio at Point Pleasant; a canal of 40 miles connects the city of Richmond with the coal mines of Chesterfield, Goochland, and Powhatan, and extends to the mountains. Great improvements will speedily be made under the auspices of this board. Provision has been made for constructing a map of the state from actual survey, a sure precursor of internal improvements, and without which, in truth, no state can be materially improved;-a correct map being essentially necessary to laying out intelligent and beneficial plans.

Government and Laws.-The present constitution was formed on the 5th of July, 1776; and by it the powers of government are declared to be legislative, executive,and judiciary. The legislature consists of a senate and house of delegates. The senate consists of 24 members, who are chosen for four years, by districts, and one-fourth vacate their seats each year. A senator must be 25 years of age, and a resident and freeholder within the district for which he is chosen. The representatives are chosen annually, two from each county, and from several cities and boroughs, one each. They must also be freeholders and residents of the county for which they are chosen. The executive branch is vested in a governor and council.The governor is chosen annually by a joint ballot of both houses, and can hold the office only three years in seven. The council consists of eight members, chosen by a joint ballot of both houses, and two members are removed and two new members are elected every 3 years. The judiciary

power is vested in a general court, a court of chancery, a court of admiralty, and county courts. The judges are appointed by the legislature, and hold their offices during good behaviour. The legislature also appoints the attorney-general, treasurer, and register of the land-office. The governor and council appoint the secretary of state, justices of the peace, clerks of courts, and sheriffs and coroners; the two last being nominated by the respective courts. The electors in this state must possess an estate of one hundred acres of uninhabited land, or 25 acres with a house and lot on it, or a house and lot in some town.

Education and Manners.-There are several universities and other schools for the higher branches of education, which have always been well attended to in Virginia, but common schools have been very much neglected. A spirit of improvement is now extending itself over the state, and the money received from the United States during the war, amounting to more than one million one hundred thousand dollars, has been appropriated as a literary fund, and out of the income arising from it, an annual appropriation has been made by the legislature for the support of primary schools. The Virginians are generally frank and generous, and, judging from the sway they have had in the national affairs, they have, when well educated, great powers of mind. From the attention lately paid to education, there is no doubt but society will continue to improve in this state.

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Boundaries.-North, Virginia; east, the Atlantic Ocean,

south, South Carolina; west, Tennessee.

Face of the Country.--The eastern part of the state is

low and sandy, with many swamps.

From Raleigh to Morgantown the country is variegated and agreeably uneven. The western part is mountainous.

Mountains.-The principal chain runs betweeen North Carolina and Virginia, and appears, in fact, to be a continuation of one of the ridges which skirt the great limestone valley. Here it has different names in different places. In the northern part it is called the Stone Mountain, and successively the Yellow Mountain, Iron Mountain, Bald Mountain, Smoky Mountain, and White Mountain. To the eastward of this ridge, from 15 to 20 miles, is the Blue Ridge, which divides the eastern and western waters; and there are considerable spurs running between the great ridges, and to the eastward of the Blue Ridge.

Rivers.-Chowan River, in the N. E. part of the state is a continuation of Nottoway River, in Virginia. From the state line it flows in a south-east direction, spreading out into a bay, and falls into Albemarle Sound, below Edenton.

Roanoke River passes from the state of Virginia into this state, above Warrenton. Thence it runs a pretty crooked course, but nearly S. E. about eighty miles, and falls into Albemarle Sound, by several channels, near the outlet of Chowan River. It is navigable nearly 30 miles, for vessels of considerable size, and for boats to the falls,

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