with double red lines; and the countries adjacent to, and above it, of which particular mention has been made, with single red lines. The last mentioned map shews the proximity of the Potowmac (which is laid down from actual survey) to the western waters; and it is worthy of observation, that the Shenandoah, in an extent of 150 miles from its confluence, through the richest tract of land in the state of Virginia, may, as it is supposed, be made navigable for less than 20001. The south branch of Potowmac, 100 miles higher up, and for 100 miles of its extent, may be made navigable for a much less sum. And the intermediate waters on the Virginia side in that proportion, according to their magnitude. On the Maryland side (the river Potowmac, to the head of the north branch, being the boundary between the two states,) the Monocacy and Conogecheag, are capable of improvement to a degree which will be convenient and beneficial to the inhabitants of that state, and to parts of Pennsylvania.

"An English farmer must entertain a contemptible opinion of our husbandry, or a horrid idea of our lands, when he shall be informed that not more than eight or ten bushels of wheat is the yield of an acre; but this low produce may be ascribed, and principally too, to a cause which I do not find touched by either of the gentlemen whose letters are sent to you, namely, that the aim of the farmers in this country (if they can be called farmers) is, not to make the most they can from the land, which is, or has been cheap, but the most of the labour, which is dear; the consequence of which has been, much ground has been scratched over, and none cultivated or improved as it ought to have been: whereas a farmer in England, where land is dear and labour cheap, finds it his interest to improve and cultivate highly, that he may reap large crops from a small quantity of ground. That the last is the true, and the first an erroneous policy, I will readily grant; but it requires time to conquer bad habits, and hardly any thing short of necessity is able to accomplish it. That necessity is approaching by pretty rapid strides "

I am, &c.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

As a further testimony of the universal attention of WASHINGTON, to every statistical object, we subjoin the following note, viz.

DEAR SIR,

MAY, 1793.

"As your continuance in the service of the Federal city, as agent and supervisor, at least till we have obtained the necessary loans for the public works, will be a relief to the minds of the commissioners, you will much oblige us by returning again as soon as you have visited your friends. Your venerable father will also much oblige me by an account of the progress of his duck manufactory, since I saw it; and also by his ideas of the best plans and route for an inland navigation (co-extensive with the union) through the eastern states."

To S. BLODGET, JUNIOR.

GEORGE WASHINGTON. .

1

The following table is formed from the answers obtained to the preceding letter of WASHINGTON, and from all the other sources in our power, after much time and pains; during which we found a continual tendency to over-rate the several districts, not but that they are in fact all under-rated in their ability for common crops, except New England, which being more populous, the lands are on an average in better cultivation; yet not equal to Virginia for their natural

soil and climates.

As it would require more room than we can spare in our manuel, we have to reserve our minutiæ for our larger work. But in addition to the preceding we must remark, that with correct management, without slaves, grass is universally profitable to the north of the 36th degree north latitude; though more so to the north of the 38th degree, excepting clover or timothy in fine irrigated meadow. Both blue grass and clover afford a second crop. Hemp has been found profitable in many parts, and would average 700 lbs. to the acre ; hackled flax, 100 lbs. Blue grass and clover often exceed two tons to the acre. Good lands in the middle states, near to good markets, sell at $30 to $ 100 the acre, and as high as $200 to $400, if good,

N

&c. within 2 or 3 miles of a large town. For the average, see the general table and price current.

Vegetables and roots, as well as every kind of pulse, are abundant. We have found tobacco a very uncertain crop, and as it is neither food nor raiment for man or beast, we have not mentioned particulars. Butter is plenty where there are few dogs; but both sheep and cows are scarce, or ordinary, where these destructive animals abound. Pork and beef are plenty every where. Cotton is mentioned in another part of our work. Rice is confined to the southward of Virginia; it gives from 20 to 30 bushels the acre, on wet ground. The advantage we might derive from our fallow grounds by sheep, is much lessened at the southward, by dogs and by negro theft. Horticulture is found to be incredibly productive every where, when fairly tried. As soon as the wood is taken off, white clover in abundance, is natural to our soil; but the benefit is in part lost by the worrying of dogs. Good wheat weighs 62 lbs.; oats, 45 lbs. Our fruits are of every kind known in Enrope, and rendered abundant with very little care nor are we rivalled in fish, either in the abundance, or for the variety of the different kinds, or by quantity or quality; but cod, herring, salmon, and mackarel, are the staple fish for expor

tation.

Of the advancement of our manufactures we do not boast, for they only increase where agriculture has not fair play, or where we have more than the average of our population; or where government imprudently neglect to attend to the circulation of the oil of industry. We have, however, had almost every article of the European manufacture made at home, by artists who occasionally try their hands, even if they have exchanged their old occupation for agriculture..... The exception to our general rules may be seen in the table of exports. It has often been an object of inquiry, what are the profits of our agriculture? We are told that the New England men who go to the westward, purchase a farm or quarter section of the public, and procure enough by the third year, from the farm, to indemnify them for the capital and interest, labour, &c. so as to be able to return the entire purchase money to the original lender, or to pay the cost of the whole, if received on credit. This is often done over and above the increase in the value of the quarter section purchased, which is now esteemed worth four times the cost. Thus from, say $ 1,000 capital, above $ 5,000 is made in three years. It is owing to careless selection and to idleness, that this immense profit is not common to our settlers on the prime public lands; but a spirit for monopoly injures many who go beyond their funds, in hopes by intrigue and petition to gain some advantages of the legislature. Government, by their backsliding in 1802, so far encouraged these attempts, that they have added thereby to their own future trouble. All retrograde movements are always to be avoided, if possible.

Our next subject should be canal navigation, still in its infancy with us, but in which we shall rival the universe in due time.

T

As neither of the above canals are completely finished, we defer inserting particulars for a future edition. It may be filled by the pen.

A

The magnificence of the Roman aqueducts, and the superior excellence and vast extent of their roads, formed by levelling hills and raising vallies, and rendering the surface durable by rounding them to throw off the rain water, is the theme of many writers. Mr. Gibbon tells us, of a length of communication from the two extreme points of the empire, equal to 4,080 Roman miles, with post-offices, &c. for state purposes, for the whole distance. Thus, when all our country may be combined, a good road from Labradore to the Pacific ocean, through Washington, may permit the members of congress at each extremity, to meet each other in 14 days, at the seat of government; now most happily fixed with a view to the final union of all North America. (See a mercators chart of North America.) Some have thought that this seat might have been more toward the interior; but it is easy for any statist, or political economist to perceive, that as we must grow daily in commerce, a tide water seat is essential to the correct information of government in the most important interests of the union; and unless we are willing hereafter to become the dupes of foreign intrigue, absolutely indispensable. As it is one of the best established facts of any in ancient history, that Greece was ruined by not fixing on their heart, and strengthening their head, owing to the most contemptible local prejudices that ever disgraced national legislators; we have less excuse, if we do not learn to love our federal heart, as the Romans did their Rome, and as the French do their Paris; because we know that the ruinous divisions of Greece will await us. Till we are fully sensible of this sacred truth, a truth we can dwell an, because owing to the ruinous forced sale of 1802, by government, we are not so particularly interested, as we were till that time, when public lots were sacrificed at 10 dollars, that would in worse situations have brought 300 dollars, in the poorest village, at the head of navigable tide water, in any town in the United States; though with but half the inhabitants of Washington. What can be the meaning of this? "Is there not something rotten in the state of 'Denmark ?"

Fathers of the American people! be assured of this sacred truth! until you can agree with heart and hand to love THE HEART OF OUR UNION, the people will never respect their HEAD.

Till you teach by your own example every loyal American to boast of our Washington, as the French do of our Paris, the British of our London, and the Chinese of our Pekin, the continuation of the union will be doubtful. This no honest American, on mature reflection, can deny any more than that our separation, the separation of these United States, would give rise to the most sanguinary and horrid warfare that ever deluged and desolated the fair face of this globe. How then have ye shewn such coolness, such apathy for this object! Have ye hoped that among the crowd your individual names would escape the vigilant scrutiny of eagle-eyed posterity? Do ye mean to destroy your journals, or are ye indifferent to posthumous reputation, without a respect for which there can be no firm patriotism? But perhaps all