fand, and the whites had multiplied to two hundred and forty-two thousand.

479. Soil and Productions. The plains of Maryland are fandy,but the land in the northern parts of the state is mostly a red clay or loam. The land produces all kinds of roots, plants and grain; but the ftaple productions are wheat and tobacco.

480. Commerce. The trade of Maryland confifts in the export of great quantities of wheat, flour, tobacco, maiz, pork, pig iron, lumber, and many commodities of lefs value. Large quantities of flour from the interior of Pennsylvania are carried to Baltimore and shipped for foreign markets. In 1800, the value of the exports exceed

ed twelve millions of dollars.

481. Chief Towns. Baltimore is now the third town in population and trade in the United States. It lies on a fmall arm of the river Petapfco, called bason, fifteen miles from the Chefopeak, about one hundred and fixty miles from the capes, and fixty from the head of Elk river. The town lies in two divifions. Weft Baltimore has but four feet of water, when the tide is out-but at Fell's point, or East Baltimore, a mile below, is water for fhips of burthen, and one of the best harbors in the United States.

482. Progrefs of Baltimore. Before the revolution, Baltimore was an inconfiderable village; but its favorable fituation for business and its fafety from an enemy, were perceived during the war and it grew with great rapidity. Immediately after the war the streets were paved, a large market was built and the town affumed the appearance of a rich commercial city. The fame circumftances have continued to operate in its favor. In 1785, it contained nineteen hundred and fifty houses. In 1790, it contained thirteen thousand five hundred inhabitants-in 1800, twenty fix thoufand and five hundred. There are in Baltimore four banks, befides a branch of the bank of the United States, and five infurance companies.

483. Annapolis. Annapolis is fituated on a fmall river, called the Severn, near its junction with the Chefopeak. It is on elevated ground, and commands a beautiful profpect of the bay. It contains two or three hundred houfes, which are fome of the largest and best built in the United States, the town being the feat of goverment and the refidence of many wealthy families. The ftate house which is large and elegant, ftands on high ground, and from that the streets diverge like rays of light in different directions. In this town is a bank.

484. Wabington. Washington in the district of Colum-, bia, is the feat of the national government. It is fituated on Patomac, and a river called the Eastern Branch, at the point of junction about four miles from Georgetown, and five from Alexandria, in Virginia, in thirty-eight degrees, and fifty-three minutes of north-latitude. The principal streets are called avenues, and are named after the several states. They crofs each other in various angles, and are from one hundred and fixty to one hundrect and thirty feet wide. The other streets are from ninety to one hundred and ten feet wide. A branch of the United States bank is established in this city.

485. Buildings. The capitol, or houfe for the legiflature, is placed on an eminence with a commanding profpect. One mile from that, is the Prefident's house, on another eminence, and in full view. They are built of a beautiful white stone, from an island in the Patomac, forty miles below the city a stone, which, when first taken from the quarry, is foft and eafily wrought, but foon hardens in

the air.

486. Diftria of Columbia. The diftrict of Columbia was laid out, in pursuance of an act of Congrefs of July 16, 1790, and of an additional act of March 3, 1791. It is ten miles fquare, the center of which is near the center of Washington, and it extends fo as to include Georgetown in Maryland, and Alexandria, on the Virginia fide of the Patomac. It is fubject to the fole and immediate jurifdiction of Congrefs.

487. Literary Inflitutions. The principal inftitutions for the education of youth, are, Washington academy, in Somerfet county, inftituted in 1779, Washington college at Chefter, founded in 1782, St. John's college at Annapo lis, founded in 1784, a college Georgetown, inftituted by the catholics, Cokesbury cellege in Harford county, inftituted by the methodists in 1785, and St. Mary's colege in Baltimore. There are private schools in many places; and many young men are sent for their education, either to Europe, or one of the colleges in the northern Aates.

488. Religious Denominations, Maryland was originally fettled by catholics from Ireland, and these are a numerous denomination. But there are alfo epifcopalians, prefbyt erians, methodists, quakers and other lefs confiderable denominations. All religious perfuafions are indulged, without diftinction; the rights of all are refpected; and no religious teft is required on admiffion to office, except a declaration in the belief of the chriftian religion. But no gift, fale or devife of real or perfonal estate to a minifter of the gospel, as fuch, is valid, without the confent of the legiflature.

489. Government. By the conftitution of Maryland, dated Auguft 14, 1776, the legislature confifts of two branches; a fenate and houfe of delegates, which are filed "the General Affembly." The annual feffion is on the first Monday in November at Annapolis.

490. Houfe of Delegates. The delegates are chofen by the freenien of the counties. They must be of age, refidents in the county one year preceding the electior, and poffeffed of real or perfonal estate to the value of thirteen hundred and thirty three dollars and a thirdFour are elected for each county. An elector must be c age; must refide in the county where he offers to vote, and poffefs fifty acres of land in that county, or poffefs property in the ftate to the value of eighty dollars, and have refided in the county a year. The votes are given by the voice.

491: Senate. The fenate consists of fifteen members, nine from the western and fix from the eastern shore, who must be twenty-five years of age, of three years refidence in the state, and poffefs real and perfonal property to the value of two thousand fix hundred and fixty-fix dollars and two thirds. They hold their seats for five years.

492. Choice of Senators. The electors in the ftate chuse, on the first day of September, two perfons in each county to be electors of the fenate. These electors meet at Annapolis on the third Monday of the fame month, and elect by ballot fifteen perfons for fenators.

493. Executive. The governor of Maryland is chofen by the General affembly on the fecond Monday of November. The two houses vote separately and by ballot, in cafe of an equal vote between two men, the election is determined by lot. The governor may be continued in office for three years; after which he cannot be elected for the four fucceeding years. He has a council of five

to affift him in his duties.

4.94. Judiciary. The fupreme court of law, is called. the "general court." The judges of this court, the chancellor, and all judges and juftices, the attorney gereral, officers of the militia, and most other officers are appointed by the governor and council. The judges hold their office during good behavior..

495. Powers of the Executive. The governor is commander in chief of the militia, and with confent of the council, he may embody them. He may grant reprieves. and pardons, and during the recefs of the affembly, may lay an embargo. He may alfo compel fhips to ride quarantine, on ftrong grounds of fufpicion that they are infected with a peftilential difeafe.

496. Sheriffs. The fheriffs are elected by ballot in the feveral counties, commiffioned by the governor, and hold their office for three years. After that term they cannot be elected to the fame office, until the expiration of fouryears. The fheriff must be of legal age and have prop..

erty in the county, to the value of twenty-fix hundred and fixty-fix dollars, and two thirds.

VIRGINIA.

497. Situation. Virginia extends from thirty-fix degrees and a half to forty and a half, of north latitude, and from feventy-five degrees, fifty-four minutes to eighty three degrees eight minutes of weft longitude.

498. Bounds. The Atlantic is the eastern boundary, of Virginia; North-Carolina and Teneffee are its limits. on the fouth; on the west, it is bounded by the great Sandy river, and a fouth line from that river to NorthCarolina, which feparates it from Kentucky; and on the north-weft and north, by the Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the Potoniac.

499. Extent. The utmost extent of Virginia is three hundred and fifty miles, by two hundred and twentyfive, but the average length and bredth are not more than three hundred and thirty miles by one hundred and fev-. enty. Thefe dimenfions give fifty-fix thousand and one hundred fquare miles, and thirty five millions, nine hundred and four thoufand acres. The actual number of acres is probably greater, on account of the mountains in the western part of the state; and perhaps a million of acres may be covered with water.

1.500. Mountains. Vaft ridges of mountains extend from north-eaft to fouth-weft, through the interior of Virginia. The first great range, on the eaft, is the Blue ridge, then the north mountain, Jackson's mountain, and some smaller elevations; then the highest and principal range, called the Allegany. On the weft is the Laurel mountain, and finally the Cumberland, which bounds the ftate.

501. Bays and Rivers. The great Chefopeak enters the land within Virginia, between the capes called, Cape Charles and Cape Henry. Into this bay are discharged fome of the largest rivers in the United States, viz. the Potomac, the Rappahannoc, York, and Powhattan rivers. Thefe rivers proceed from the mountains, and running a