stupendous monuments of her power, the principles of which she has endowed us with faculties to comprehend. This country, in consequence of its high antiquity, the immensity of its mountains, and the impossibility of its being affected by the violation and ravages of man, presents a field extremely favourable for the investigations of philosophy and the discoveries of truth. Here, free from any artificial garment, Nature is exhibited in her primitive state. The first productions of the earth were probably the winter mosses; they are here in such variety of form, that they hardly yield to herbs in number; and though extremely minute, yet of so admirable a structure that nothing can excel them in beauty or variety. These mosses are dried up in summer; but in winter revive, and serve for the food of deer and other animals. The widely disseminated herbs, flowers, and fruits, also decorate the earth in the most charming manner. Trees grow here toan excessive magnitude; and by weaving their branches together, defend the ground from excessive heat and cold, and afford shelter to animals against the injuries of the weather. The hills, vales, and caverns, also supply numerous subjects for contemplation. There may be seen the laborious and unremitted industry of the fossil kingdom; the manner in which water deposits clay; how it is crystalized into sand near the shore; how it wears down shells and other substances into chalk, dead plants into vegetable mould, and metals into ochre; from all which matter, according to certain laws of nature, stones are formed. Thus from sand originates whetstone ;. from mould, slate; from chalk, flint; from shells and earth, marble; and from clay, talc. In the cavities of these are formed concrete pellucid crystals; which, consisting of various sides opposed to each other, compose a number of regular figures, and emit brilliant and prismatic colours. Here also may be, in formation, ponderous and shining metals; iron in abundance; some lead; silver; and even the ductile gold, which eludes the violence of fire, and can be extended in length and breadth to a most astonishing degree. It is said that the magnet too has been found here; the magnet, respecting which no mortal has hitherto been able to learn the secret law of its mutual attraction with iron, or of its constant inclination to the poles. None of these metals, however, except iron, are found in such quantity, or are so common, as to be worth the labour of search; but mineral coal abounds so generally, that an opinion prevails that the whole tract between the Laurel mountain, Mississippi, and Ohio, would yield it in the greatest plenty. The mountain immediately opposite to this town is principally composed of coal, from the base to the summit. It is worked with little comparative trouble, about half way up; and rolled down to boats which lie below for its reception. It is of a very superior quality, and costs the citizens about two pence halfpenny a bushel. As I do not conceive it interesting to you to receive a complete catalogue of trees, plants, fruit, &c. I shall only sketch out those which principally attract notice, as being, 1. Medicinal; 2. Esculent; 3. Ornamental ; 4. Useful; adding (from Mr. Jefferson's list) the Linnean to the popular name. I confine myself to native plants. Wild Crab Apple. Common Hickory. Faccan, or Illenois Nut. White Walnut. Chinquapin. Scarlet Strawberries. Black Raspberries. Lycaperdon Tuber. Hebanthus Tuberosus. Convolvulas Batatas. Passiflora Incarrata. Panicum, many species. Zizania Aqutica. Lupinus Perennis. Humulus Lupulus. Prunus Virginiana. Prunus Sylvestris fructu majori. Prunus Sylvestris fructu minori, Juglans Alba, fructu mi nóre rancedo. C. Hemlock Spruce Fir. Juniper, Cypress. White Cedar, Red Cedar. Black Oak. White Oak. Red Oak, Willow Oak. Chesnut Oak. Black Jack Oak. Ground Oak. Black Birch. White Birch. Beach. Ash, several species. Elm. Willow, several species. Lenum Virgineanum. Pinus Strobus. Pinus Virginica. Pinus Foliis Singularibus C Pinus Canadensis. Thuya Occidentalis. Quercus Nigrą. Quercus Phellos. Betula Nigra. Betula Alba. There are numerous plants, flowers, &c. which I have omitted: you will find a scientific account of them in the |