favourite amusements; but though they are so fond of horses, they do not ride well.

Tobacco is one of the staple commodities raised in this part of the country. As soon as all danger of frost is part, the cultivator chooses a small spot of ground, upon which prodigious piles of wood are burnt, in order to destroy the weeds and in. sects. The warm ashes are then dug in with the earth, and the seed sown. Bushes are next strewed over the ground, to preserve the young plant from the attacks of birds and flies; but it often happens that a large black fly, of the beetle kind, devours the shoots as soon as they appear, when they are obliged to be picked off by hand. When the plants are of a proper size, they are transplanted into the fields, and set out on hillocks at a small distance from each other. In this stage the roots are frequently devoured by worms, and flies deposit their eggs between the leaves and the stem; and were it not for the continual care of the slaves, who are employed in clearing them of their enemies, most of the plants would be destroyed. When they have attained perfection, they are cut down, and pegs are driven into the stems, by which they are hung up to dry, in large houses built for that

purpose.

When properly cured, the leaves are tied up in bundles, packed in hogsheads, and sent to the next shipping town for exportation. Where the roads are good and dry, it is usual to drive two large

pins of wood into the ends of the hogshead, which serve for axles; to these they fasten a pair of shafts, forming the hogshead into a kind of carriage, drawn by one or two horses.

By the process I have described, you may see that a great number of hands must be employed, and much labour performed, before a poor Englishman can enjoy a pipe of tobacco. Thus are we indebted to each other for the smallest gratifications; nor can the richest or most powerful individual boast that he is independent of his fellow creatures for our Heavenly Father has bound us all in one chain of mutual fellowship and good offices.

The culture of tobacco has of late gradually yielded to that of wheat. The rank of the cultivator is, in some degree, regulated by the produce he raises. Those who grow tobacco and Indian corn are called planters; and those whose crops are small grain, farmers. We have visited the chief towns in this province: none of them are very large. Richmond, the capital, is situated on the northern side of James River, immediately below the Falls. The lower town extends along the bank of the river; but the houses of those not engaged in trade form the upper town, and stand upon a hill, which commands a prospect of the river and its islands, with the extensive valley through which it flows, and the numerous falls that break its stream. On the opposite side of the

river the country rises into a gentle eminence; and the little, but well-built town of Manchester, environed by cultivated fields, which are ornamented by countless numbers of trees, and dotted with scattered houses, embellishes the sweet, variegated, romantic perspective. The Capitol, or State-house, is a vast pile of red brick: even the pillars and or naments are of that material. It is esteemed one of the grandest edifices in America; but it is more to be admired for its magnitude than its elegance. In the centre is a circular vestibule, lighted by a dome, and embellished by a statue of General Washington, and a bust of La Fayette.

From the southern shore the river is crossed by a curious bridge, built upon fifteen large flat-bottomed boats, secured by strong chains and anchors: a simple contrivance, that can be easily replaced if carried away by the shoals of ice in the winter, which frequently come down with such force as would overthrow almost any stone bridge they could erect. Richmond contains about five thou sand inhabitants, more than one third of whom are slaves.

The falls in the river extend six miles above the city, and from the rocks that obstruct the passage, as well as the descent, navigation would be impracticable, but for a canal which opens an uninterrupted communication to the Blue Mountains, and in some seasons, beasts, with light burthens, can proceed still further.

Before the revolution, Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia; the removal of the legislative body to Richmond has reduced this town to a deserted, forlorn condition.

The Capitol, which is falling to ruins, and the College of William and Mary, are relics of its former consequence. Law, medicine, natural and moral philosophy, mathematics, and modern languages, are taught to the students, who are not numerous. But little trade is carried on at this place; and the society is thought very genteel. I paid a visit, myself, to the hospital for lunatics, but cannot praise it for good management.

York is a small town, not very flattering to the feelings of an Englishman; as it was here that Lord Cornwallis surrended his army to the united forces of the Americans, and their allies the French.

A flat, uninteresting country, lies between these towns and Hampton, a small place situated at the mouth of James River; across which we were ferried to Norfolk, the only sea-port of consequence in Virginia. Having no rival, its trade to Europe, the northern states, and the West Indies, is flourishing. The exports chiefly consist of tobacco, flour, and various kinds of lumber. The town is an irregular, dirty, ill-built group of wooden houses chiefly, surrounded by unwholesome swamps, from which arises an intolerable stench, that causes grievous maladies to the inhabitants.

The

The yellow fever frequently carries off great aumbers; and I believe they increase the evil, by the immoderate use of wine and strong liquors by way of prevention.

The day after our arrival being Sunday, we went to church, and were hurt at observing that the negroes are not suffered to mingle with the whites, but are confined to a particular place; as if the universal Father of all distributed his blessings in proportion to the complexion of his creatures, when we are expressly told, that "every man shall be rewarded according to his works." I have since heard that this custom prevails throughout Georgia, Carolina, and Virginia. From the ruinous state of the churches in general in this part of Virginia, and the negligence of the duties of the sabbath, I am led to suspect that religion has not its due influence on the people. Many of the churches stand in the midst of solitary woods, and it does not appear that any persons are appointed to attend to them. Grave-yards are often private property, and very profitable to their owners, in Norfolk. In diffe rent parts of the country I have observed, near large plantations, burying-grounds for the family, walled in; an accommodation, when church-yards are scattered at a great distance from each other.

The tobacco of Virginia is in high repute, which, in some degree, may be attributed to the houses of inspection that are established in every district where it is cultivated. The inspectors examine

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