30°. 38', of longitude, reckoning 55 miles and 3144 feet to the degree. This being our comprehenfion of longitude, that of our latitude, taken between this and Mafon and Dixon's line, is 3°. 13′. 42. 4′′. equal to 223. 3 miles, supposing a degree of a great circle to be 69 m. 864 f. as computed by Caffini. These boundaries include an area fomewhat triangular, of 121,525 fquare miles, whereof 79,650 lie weftward of the Alleghaney mountains, and 57,034 weftward of the meridian of the mouth of the Great Kanhaway. This ftate is therefore one third larger than the islands of Great-Britain and Ireland, which are reckoned at 88,357 fquare miles.

These limits refult from, 1. The ancient charters from the crown of England. 2. The grant of Maryland to the lord Baltimore, and the fubfequent determinations of the British court as to the extent of that

grant. 3. The grant of Pennfylvania to William Penn, and a compact between the general affemblies of the commonwealths of Virginia and Pennsylvania as to the extent of that grant. 4. The grant of Carolina, and actual location of its northern boundary, by confent of both parties. 5. The treaty of Paris of 1763. 6. The confirmation of the charters of the neighboring ftates by the convention of Virginia at the time of conftituting their commonwealth. 7. The ceffion made by Virginia to Congrefs of all the lands to which they had title on the north fide of the Ohio.

QUERY

QUERY II.

A NOTICE of its rivers, rivulets, and how far

they are navigable?

An inspection of a map of Virginia, will give a better idea of the geography of its rivers, than any defcription in writing. Their navigation may be imperfectly noted.

Roanoke, fo far as it lies within this state, is no where navigable but for canoes, or light batteaux; and even for these, in fuch detached parcels as to have prevented the inhabitants from availing themselves of it at all. James River, and its waters, afford navigation as follows:

The whole of Elizabeth River, the lowest of those which run into James River, is a harbor, and would contain upwards of 300 fhips. The channel is from 150 to 200 fathoms wide, and at common flood tide, affords 18 feet water to Norfolk. The Strafford, a 60 gun fhip, went there, lightening herself to crofs the bar at Sowell's Point. The Fier Rodrigue, pierced for 64 guns, and carrying 50, went there without lightening. Craney island, at the mouth of this river commands its channel tolerably well.

Nanfemond River is navigable to Sleepy Hole,for vesfels of 250 tons; to Suffolk, for thofe of 100 tons; and to Milner's for thofe of 25.

Pagan

Pagan creek affords 8 or 10 feet water to Smith field, which admits veffels of 20 tons.

Chickahominy has at its mouth a bar, on which is only 12 feet water at common flood tide. Veffels paffing that may go 8 miles up the river; thofe of 10 feet draught may go four miles further, and thofe of fix tons burthen, 20 miles further.

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Appamattox may be navigated as far as Broadways, by any veffel which has croffed Harrifon's bar in James River; it keeps 8 or 10 feet water a mile or two higher up to Fisher's bar, and 4 feet on that and upwards to Petersburgh, where all navigation ceafes.

James River itfelf affords harbor for veffels of any fize in Hampton road, but not in fafety through the whole winter; and there is navigable water for them as far as Mulberry ifland. A 40 gun fhip goes to James town, and, lightening herself, may pass to Harrifon's bar, on which there is only 15 feet water. Veffels of 250 tons may go to Warwick; those of 125 go to Rocket's, a mile below Richmond; from thence is about 7 feet water to Richmond; and about the centre of the town, four feet and a half, where the navigation is interrupted by falls, which in a course of six miles, defcend about 80 feet perpendicular: above these it is refumed in canoes, and batteaux, and profecuted fafely and advantageously within 10 miles of the Blue Ridge; and even through the Blue Ridge a ton weight has been brought and the expense would not

be

be great, when compared with its object, to open a tolerable navigation up Jackfon's river and Carpen ter's Creek, to within 25 miles of Howard's Creek of Green Briar, both of which have then water enough to float veffels into the Great Kanhaway. In fome future ftate of population, I think it poffible, that its navigation may also be made to interlock with that of the Patowmac, and through that to communicate by a fhort portage with the Ohio. It is to be noted, that this river is called in the maps James River, only to its confluence with the Rivanna thence to the Blue Ridge it is called the Fluvan na and thence to its fource, Jackson's River. But in common fpeech, it is called James River to its fouree.

The Rivanna, a branch of James River, is navigable for canoes and batteaux to its interfection with the South Weft Mountains, which is about 22 miles ; and may easily be opened to navigation through these mountains to its fork above Charlottesville.

York River, at York town, affords the beft harbor in the state for veffels of the largest fize. The river there narrows to the width of a mile, and is contained within very high banks, clofe under which the veffels may ride. It holds 4 fathom water at high tide for 25 miles above York to the mouth of Poropotank, where the river is a mile and a half wide, and the channel only 75 fathom, and paffing under a high bank. At the confluence of Pamunkey and Mattapony, it is reduced

B

Pa*

duced to 3 fathom depth, which continues up munkey to Cumberland, where the 'width is roa yards, and up Mattapony to within two miles of Frazer's ferry, where it becomes 2 fathom deep, and holds that about five miles. Pamunkey is then capable of navigation for loaded flats to Brockman's bridge, fifty miles ábove Hannover town, and Mattapony to Downer's bridge, 70 miles above its mouth.

Piankatank, the little rivers making out of Mobjack Bay and thofe of the Eastern shore, receive only very small veffels, and these can but enter them.

Rappahannock affords 4 fathom water to Hobb's hole, and 2 fathom from thence to Fredericksburg. »

1

Patowmac is 7 miles wide at the mouth; 4 at Nomony bay; 3 at Aquia; at Halooing point at Alexandria. Its foundings are, 7 fathom at the mouth; 5 at St. George's island 4 at Lower Matchodic; 3 at Swan's point, and thence up to Alexandria; thence 10 feet water to the falls, which are 13 miles above Alexandria. These falls are 15 miles in length, and of very great defcent, and the navigation above them for batteaux and canoes, is fo much interrupted as to be little used. It is, however, ufed in a small degree up the Cohongoronta branch as far as Fort Cumberland, which was at the mouth of Willis's creek; and is capable, at no great expenfe, of being rendered very practicable. The Shenandoah branch interlocks with

James