Chief Towns.] WASHINGTON CITY, the metropolis of the United States, is pleasantly situated on the N E. bank of the river Potomac, at the point of land formed by the junction of the Eastern branch, 300 miles from the mouth of the river, and 3 below the head of the tide. It is separated from Georgetown on the N.W. by Rock creek, and Tyber creek passes through the middle of the city. Washington is regularly laid out in streets running due north and south, intersected by others at right angles. Besides these streets, which are from 80 to 110 feet wide, there are avenues from 130 to 160 feet broad, which diverge from centres in various parts of the city, crossing the other streets transversely. At the points from which the avenues diverge are spacious squares. The ground embraced in the plan of the city is very extensive, but only a small portion of it is yet occupied with buildings.

The principal public buildings and establishments are, 1. The Capitol, which is finely situated on an eminence, commanding a view of every part of the city, and a considerable portion of the adjacent country. According to the original plan, it is to be composed of a central edifice and two wings. The two wings were in a state of considerable forwardness in 1814, when the British army under General Ross gained possession of the city and destroyed them, together with the President's house and other public structures and an extensive library which had been purchased for the use of Congress. The wings of the capitol are now rebuilt, and the central building has been commenced. The wings are each 100 feet square, and the whole building, when completed, will be a magnificent edifice, presenting a front of 362 feet. 2. The President's house, situated about a mile and a half west of the capitol, on the avenue leading to Georgetown. It is 170 feet by 85, and two stories high. 3. Four spacious brick buildings erected in the vicinity of the President's house, for the accommodation of the heads of the great departments of government. 4. An extensive navy yard, situated on the Eastern Branch, which forms a safe and commodious harbor. 5. A fort, which, from the extreme southern point of the land on which the city stands, commands the channel of the Potomac, and 6. The general post-office, a brick edifice, about a mile W. N. W. of the capitol. The style of the architecture of the capitol is Corinthian, and that of the President's house, Ionic; and both buildings are constructed of free stone. The capitol square is inclosed by a strong and handsome iron railing; and being planted with trees, and otherwise

ornamented, will afford a delightful walk for the inhabitants and. visitors of the city. The amount expended by the United States on the public buildings previously to their destruction by the British in August 1814, was $1,214,291, and there have been appropriated towards rebuilding the same, $1,207,788.

Besides the buildings and establishments above enumerated, Washington contains a city hall, a theatre, a college, 4 banks, several manufacturing establishments, and 12 houses for public worship, 3 for Presbyterians, 2 for Episcopalians, 2 for Baptists, 2 for Methodists, 2 for Catholics and 1 for Friends. There is a bridge about one mile long over the Potomac, three over the Eastern branch, and 2 over Rock creek. The population of Washington in 1800 was 3,210; in 1810, 8,208; and in 1820, 13,247, of whom 3.741 were blacks.

Alexandria is pleasantly situated on the west bank of the Potomac, 7 miles south of Washington. It has a commodious harbor, sufficiently deep for the largest ships, and is a place of extensive trade, especially in the article of flour. Population, in 1820, 8,218.

Georgetown is pleasantly situated on the east side of the Potomac, at the junction of Rock creek, which separates it from Washington city, 3 miles west of the Capitol. It contains a college and five houses of public worship, 2 for Episcopalians, 2 for Methodists, and one for Presbyterians. Population, in 1820, 7,360.

Education.] The Columbian college went into operation at the commencement of the year 1822. It has a president, 4 professors and 2 tutors. A large brick building has been erected for the accommodation of students, on the high ground north of the city of Washington, in a remarkably healthy situation, 8 miles from the capitol. A Baptist Theological seminary is to be connected with the institution.

The Roman Catholics have a college in Georgetown, established in 1799. It has 2 spacious brick edifices, finely situated, with a library of 7,000 volumes, and about 150 students. In 1815 it was raised by Congress to the rank of an university, and author. ized to confer degrees.

VIRGINIA.

Situation and Extent.] Virginia is bounded N. by Pennsyl vania; N. E. by Maryland; E. by the Atlantic; S. by North Carolina and Tennessee; and W. by Kentucky and Ohio, from the last of which it is separated by the river Ohio. It extends from 36° 30′ to 40° 43′ N. lat. and from 75° 25' to 83° 40′ W. lon. The area is estimated at 64,000 square miles.

Divisions.] Virginia is divided into 102 counties.

Mountains.] The Alleghany mountains pass through the western part of the state from S. W. to N. E. dividing the waters which flow east into Chesapeake bay from those which flow west into the Ohio. The Blue ridge is east of the Alleghany range, and runs parallel with it, dividing the state into two parts nearly equal Near the southern line of the state it bends westward, and unites with the Alleghany range. Its loftiest summits are the peaks of Otter, in Bedford county, the highest of which is 3,103 feet above the level of the sea, and is considered the most elevated point of land in Virginia. East of the Blue ridge, and parallel with it, at the distance of about 30 miles, is the South mountain. Between the Alleghany ridge and the Ohio there are also several ranges, irregular in their course, and less accurately known. The longest and most connected of these is the Laurel ridge. All these ranges continue their course in a northeasterly direction into Pennsylvania and Maryland. The Cumberland mountains form part of the boundary between Virginia and Kentucky.

Rivers. The Ohio forms the boundary between Virginia and the state of Ohio. Its principal tributaries from this state are, 1. The Big Sandy, which forms part of the boundary between Virginia and Kentucky. 2. The Great Kenhawa, which rises in the western part of North Carolina, in the Alleghany mountains; and running north and northwest, joins the Ohio at Point Pleasant. About 100 miles from its mouth are the Great Falls, where the river descends perpendicularly 50 feet. The principal branch of the Kenhawa is Greenbrier river, which joins it 40 or 50 miles above the falls 3. The Little Kenhawa, which joins the Ohio a little below Marietta, in the state of Ohio.

The Potomac rises in the Alleghany mountains, and during its whole course is the boundary between Virginia and Maryland. It falls into Chesapeake bay between Point Lookout and Smith's point by a mouth 7 miles wide, after a course of more than 500 miles. It is navigable for ships of the greatest burden, 300 miles, to the city of Washington, 3 miles below the head of the tide. Above that city there are numerous falls and rapids, which obstruct the navigation, the river descending more than 1000 feet in a distance of 200 miles. Canals have been dug around many of these falls, so that boats can now ascend above the mouth of the Shenandoah, 80 miles from the city of Washington. The Shenandooh is the principal tributary of the Potomac. It rises in Augusta county, near the centre of the state, and running in a N. E. direction, through a fertile country along the foot of the western declivity of the Blue ridge, joins the Potomac, after a course of about 200 miles, at Harper's ferry. Immediately after the junction of the Shenandoah, the Potomac bursts through the Blue ridge, presenting a scene which has been celebrated for its grandeur and magnificence.

The Rappahannock rises in the Blue ridge, and running in a S. E. direction abou. 130 miles, enters Chesapeake bay 30 miles below the mouth of the Potomac. It is navigable for vessels draw

ing 10 feet of water to Fredericksburgh, 110 miles from its mouth. York river is formed hy the union of the Mattapony and Pamunky, and runs in a S. E. direction to Chesapeake bay, which it enters about 30 miles below the mouth of the Rappahannock It is navigable for the largest ships for more than 30 miles. James river rises in the Alleghany mountains, and after breaking through the Blue ridge, runs in a direction S. of E. and falls into the southern part of Chesapeake bay, after a course of more than 500 miles. It is navigable for sloops to Richmond, 150 miles from its mouth. At this city the navigation was formerly interrupted by the great falls, which in 7 miles descend 43 feet; but a canal around them is now completed, and the river bas been rendered navigable 230 miles further for boats drawing 12 inches water. The principal tributary of James river is the Appomattox, which rises in Campbell county, and after an easterly course of 120 miles, joins it at City point. At Petersburgh, 12 miles from its mouth, there are falls; but a canal has been dug around them, which has opened the navigation for 80 miles above that city. Elizabeth river is formed by the union of two branches at Norfolk, near the S. E. corner of the state, and falls into Hampton road, 8 miles below. At flood tide it has 18 feet water to Norfolk.

Face of the Country and Soil.] Virginia may be divided into four zones, essentially differing from each other in soil and aspect of the country. The first extending from the sea-coast to the termination of tide water at Fredericksburgh, Richmond, &c. is low and fat, sometimes fenny, sometimes sandy, and on the margins of the rivers composed of a rich loam, covered with a luxuriant and even rank vegetation. This zone has been formed by a comparatively recent alluvion; marine shells and bones are every where found near the surface of the earth. The second division extends from the head of tide water to the Blue ridge. The surface near tide water is level; higher up the rivers it becomes swelling; and near the mountains often abrupt and broken. The soil is divided into sections, of very unequal quality, parallel to each other, and extending across the state. The parallel of

Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, &c. is a thin, sandy, and except on the rivers, an unproductive soil. That of Goochland, Cumberland, Prince Edward, Halifax, &c. is generally fertile. Flavanna, Buckingham, Campbell, and Pittsylvania, again, are poor; and Culpeper, Orange, Albemarle, Bedford, &c. have a rich, though frequently a stony and broken soil, on a substratum of tenacious. red colored clay. The scenery of the upper part of this section is highly picturesque and romantic. The third region is the valley between the Blue ridge and Alleghany mountains; a valley, which extends with little interruption, from the Potomac, across the state, to North Carolina and Tennessee; parrower, but of greater length than either of the preceding zones. The soil is a mould, formed on a bed of limestone, which often appears above the surface, in veins parallel to the mountains, and making every possible angle with the horizon, The