surface of this valley is sometimes broken by sharp and solitary mountains, detached from the general chain, the sides of which, nearly bare, or but thinly covered with blasted pines, form disagreeable objects in the landscape. The bed of the valley is fertile, producing good crops of Indian corn, wheat, rye, oats, buckwheat, hemp, flax, &c. The fourth and last division extends from the Alleghany mountains to the Ohio river, a country wild and broken, in some places fertile, but generally barren

Climate and Productions.] The spring is short and inconstant in Virginia; the summer long, but not oppressive more than two months. In the low country, the months of August, September and October are unhealthy. Autumn, in the mountains, is the finest season of the year. In the middle parts of the state constant fires are required during five months; none at all for five others, and irregularly during the remaining two. The country often suffers from drought in summer and autumn.-The staple products of Virginia are wheat, Indian corn and tobacco. Tobacco is raised in much less quantities than formerly, while the cultivation of wheat has greatly increased.

Minerals and Mineral Springs.] Coal of a good quality is found within 20 miles of Richmond on James river. In the valley between the Blue ridge and the Alleghany range there are many inexhaustible mines of iron ore, of a fine quality. In the country west of the Alleghany mountains there are mines of lead, iron, coal and salt. Gypsum of a very good quality and in great abun dance has also been found in Washington county. There are many mineral springs in Virginia. The hot and warm springs of Bath county, the sweet springs of Monroe, the sulphur springs of Greenbrier and of Montgomery, and the baths of Berkley county are much frequented. Indeed there is scarcely a county beyond the Blue ridge, which does not contain waters strongly impreg nated with some mineral, besides lime which is common to them all.

Chief Towns.] Richmond, the metropolis of Virginia, is in Henrico county, on the north side of James river, immediately below the falls, and directly opposite Manchester, with which it is connected by two bridges. The situation is healthy, as well as highly picturesque and beautiful. A part of the city is built on the margin of the river; the rest upon Shockoe hill, which overlooks the lower part of the city, and commands an extensive and delightful prospect of the river and adjacent country.

Richmond is finely situated for a commercial and manufacturing town, being at the head of sloop navigation, on the falls of the river, and having an extensive back country, abounding with tobacco, wheat and coal. The canal around the Great falls commences about 7 miles above the city, and the whole descent to the basin on Shockoe hill is 43 feet. The basin is within the city, covering a space of several acres, and around it are coal yards, Jumber houses and landing places for the produce brought down the river. The descent from the basin to tide water is about 80 feet, and is effected by 13 lecks. The quantity of tobacco,

wheat, flour and coal brought down the river is immense the value of the produce exported from Richmond and Manchester being estimated at $8,000,000 annually. On the canal are numerous mill seats and manufacturing establishments.

Among the public buildings are the state house or capitol, the state prison, the Virginia armory and 8 houses of public worship, 2 for Episcopalians, 2 for Methodists, and 1 each for Presbyterians, Baptists, Friends and Jews. The growth of Richmond has been remarkably rapid. In 1783 the population was less than 2,000 in 1800, 5,739; in 1810, 9,735, and in 1820, 12,067.

Norfolk is situated near the S. E. corner of the state, in a low and marshy situation, on the east side of Elizabeth river, just below the confluence of its two branches, and 8 miles above its entrance into Hampton roads. The harbor is safe and commodious, deep enough for the largest vessels, and sufficiently spacious to contain 300 ships. It is defended by several forts; oneof which is on Craney island, 5 miles below the town. Norfolk has more foreign commerce than any other place in Virginia, and in 1815 it was the seventh town in the U. States in amount of shipping, the number of tons being 31,628. A canal proceeds from the south branch of Elizabeth river, 9 miles above Norfolk, through Dismal swamp, to Albemarle sound; by means of which the produce of a large section of North Carolina is brought to the Norfolk market. Population, in 1820, 3.478.

Petersburg is situated on the S. E. bank of Appomattox river, just below the falls, 12 miles from its mouth, at the head of sloop navigation, 25 miles S. of Richmond. It carries on a large commerce in tobacco and flour, and is the emporium of trade for a considerable district in North Carolina, as well as for the southern part of Virginia. The falls of the river at this place. afford fine situations for mills. Population, in 1820. 6.690.

Fredericksburg, one of the most flourishing towns in the state, is regularly laid out on the S. W. bank of Rappahannock river, 110 miles from its month. It is advantageously situated for trade, near the head of navigation on the Rappahannock, and in the midst of a fertile and well cultivated country. Vessels of 130 tons ascend as far as this place, and large quantities of corn, flour, tobacco and other produce are brought from the surrounding country for exportation. The annual value of the exports has been estimated at $4,000,000. The town has rapidly increased within a few years. Population, between 3 and 4,000.

Lynchburg is on the south bank of James river, 20 miles below the falls, at which the river breaks through the Blue ridge. The commerce of the town extends to the western counties of Virginia, and the adjoining parts of Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Carolina. The productions of this fertile and very extensive back country are brought to Lynchburg, and carried down the river in batteaux to Richmond. The principal articles are tobacco, wheat, flour, hemp and provisions. The town has grownvery rapidly. In 1793 it contained only 5 houses; in 1818, the population was estimated at more than 5,000.

Yorktown, on the S. side of York river, 11 miles from its mouth, at the point where the river is suddenly contracted to the width of a mile, bas the best harbor in Virginia. This town will be ever famous in the American aunals as the place where Lord Cornwallis and his army were captured, on the 19th of October, 1781. The city of Williamsburg, the seat of William and Mary college, and formerly the capital of the state, is situated 12 miles W. of Yorktown, and contained in 1820, 1,402 inhabitants. Gosport, on Elizabeth river, a mile and an half south of Norfolk, contains one of the United States' navy yards. Jamestown, on an island in James river, 32 miles from its mouth, was formerly a place of importance, but is now in ruins. Staunton, the capital of Augusta county, is nearly in the centre of the state, 120 miles N. W. of Richmond. Mount Vernon, the celebrated seat of General Washington, is pleasantly situated on the Potomac, 9 miles below Alexandria. Monticello, the seat of the Hon. Thomas Jefferson, is in Albemarle county, about 80 miles N. W. of Richmond. Harper's Ferry is on the Potomac, at the mouth of the Shenandoah. There is here an extensive establishment belonging to the United States for the manufacture of arms. The number of men employed is about 260, and the annual expense has been on an average $100,000.

Education.] A Literary fund has recently been created by the legislature, consisting of monies received from the United States for military services during the late war. It amounted in December 1818, to $1,114,159, to which is to be added a balance still due from the United States. The interest of this sum, with the addition of the revenue arising from fines, forfeitures and escheats, which has also been appropriated to this object, will in the opinion of the Directors, yield an annual income little short of $90,000. Of this sum, $15,000 annually have been appropriated by the legislature to the support of primary schools, and $15,000 to a university. The university is located at Charlottesville in Albemarle county. The plan contemplates 10 professorships; and the buildings, consisting of 10 pavillions for the professors, 5 hotels for dieting the students, and a sixth for the use of the proctor, with 104 dormitories, sufficient for lodging 208 students, are already finished in an elegant style of architecture. The sums expended upon the buildings have consumed all the income of the University for seven years in advance.

The college of William and Mary was founded at Williamsburg, in 1691, in the time of king William and queen Mary, who liberally endowed it. It flourished for many years after its establishment, but since the revolutionary war has greatly declined, and at one time was threatened with total extinction, but exertions have been recently made to revive it. The library contains between 3 and 4,000 volumes, and the philosophical apparatus is valuable. There are nomiually 6 professorships, but only 3 or 4 are occupied Washington college, in Lexington, the capital of Rockbridge county, 30 miles S. W. of Staunton, on a northern branch of

James river, is named after General Washington, who endowed it with 100 shares in the James river canal. It has a philosophical apparatus, a library of about 2,000 volumes, a president, 2 professors, and about 50 students. The canal shares have in some years produced an income of more than $3,000. Hampden Sidney college, in Prince Edward county, had in 1821, a president, 2 tutors, and 101 students, of whom 15 were in the grammar school attached to the college.

Population.] The population, in 1790, was 747,610; in 1800, 886,149; in 1810, 974,622, and in 1820, 1,065,366, of whom 425,153 were slaves, and 34,600 free blacks. About three fourths of the population live east of the Blue ridge; and in this part of the state the slaves are very numerous, constituting in many counties the majority of the population; but in the counties west of the Blue ridge there are seven whites where there is one slave.

Character. In respect to character, the Blue ridge divides the Virginians into two classes. Those east of the ridge are chiefly of English descent; those west of the ridge are descendants of the Scotch-Irish, that is, of emigrants from the north of Ireland. The former were originally Episcopalians, the latter Presbyterians. The people west of the mountains live chiefly by their own labor, and their general character is that of industry, frugality, temperance, shrewdness in their bargains, and perseverance in their undertakings. Their brethren in the eastern parts are supported by the labor of slaves. They are warmhearted, hospitable, generous and fond of good cheer; inactive, except when stimulated by some strong passion; prompt to resolve, yet unsteady in the pursuit of their purposes. Wealth is very unequally distributed among them, yet the poor are less abject, and the rich less domineering and haughty, than perhaps in any country in the world where the difference of condition is so great.

Religion.] In 1817 the Baptists had 314 congregations in the state; the Presbyterians, 41 ordained ministers; and the Episcopalians, 34 ministers. There were besides many Methodists and Friends, and some Lutherans and Roman Catholics.

Government.] The legislative power is vested in a senate and house of representatives. The senate consists of 24 members, who are chosen for four years; one fourth being chosen yearly. The representatives are chosen annually, two from each county, and one from several cities and boroughs. The executive power is vested in a governor, who is chosen annually by joint ballot of both houses, and a council, consisting of 8 members. The governor can hold his office but 3 years in 7.

Revenue.] The ordinary revenue of Virginia amounts to about $600,000, and is raised principally by a tax on land and slaves. The state has large funds appropriated to various public objects. Besides the literary fund, there is a fund for internal improvement, under the direction of a Board of Public Works,

which amounted in Nov. 1:318, to $1,537,561, and which has already promoted the construction of various canals. The Board have recently reported in favor of the practicability of a canal to connect James river with the Ohio.

Commerce and Manufactures] The principal exports are wheat and tobacco. The value of the exports to foreign coun-tries in 1820 was $4,557,957, of which all except $8,829 was domestic produce. The value of the manufactures in 1810 was estimated at $15,263,473. The amount of shipping, in 1816, was 70,361 tons.

Natural Curiosities.] The Natural bridge over Cedar creek, in Rockbridge county, 12 miles S. W. of Lexington, is the most magnificent monument of the power of nature in Virginia. The river at this place runs through a gap or chasm, 90 feet wide at the top, and 250 feet deep; while the sides are almost perpendicular. The bridge is formed by a huge rock, from 40 to 60 feet thick, and in one place 60 feet bread, thrown complete. ly across this chasm at the top. The vast dimensions of the bridge; its lofty, sublime, and even awful air, cannot be adequately recalled even by those who have seen it: only while we gaze upon its height and proportions can we feel the full effect of its beauty and grandeur. The passage of the Potomac through the, Blue ridge at Harper's ferry, forms a scene truly grand and magnificent.-The falling spring in Bath county is a beautiful cascade, streaming from a perpendicular precipice, 200 feet high. The volume of water, however, is too inconsiderable to produce a sublime effect.--There are many caverns in the calcareous parts of Virginia, but they are not thought worthy of a particular account.

NORTH CAROLINA.

Situation and Extent.] North Carolina is bounded N. by Vir-ginia; E. by the Atlantic; S. by South Carolina; and W. by Tennessee. It extends from 33° 50′ to 36° 30′ N. lat. and from 75° 45′ to 84° W. lon. The area is estimated at 48,000 square miles.

Divisions] The state is divided into 62 counties.