fouth-eaftern course, water immenfe tracts of country, and furnish navigable or boatable water to the very foot of the Allegany. 502. Smaller Rivers. On the fouth, the Nanfemond and Elizabeth rivers, which have their fources in and near the great fwamp, called the Difmal, enter the bay near Norfolk. The Appomattox, a confiderable branch of the James, enters that river from the fouth-west, at Bermuda Hundred. This bears veffels of fifty tuns to Peterburg. On the north, are the Chickahomminy and the Rivanna, two confiderable tributary streams of the Powhattan. The Roanoke has its fources in Virginia. On the west of the mountains are the great Kanhaway, the Monongahela, and the Yohogany, which alfo have their fources in this ftate. 503. Scamps. The most remarkable fwamp in the United States is the Difmal Swamp, or Great Disinal, on the fouthern border of Virginia near the Atlantic. It is one extended Dog of thirty miles by ten, and is the fource of five confiderable rivers. The foil fuftains fons walking on it, but trembles under the feet. It is overgrown with reeds, briars, cypress, white cedar and an almost impenetrable thicket of fhrubbery. In the midst of it is a large pond or lake. per 504. Mount Vernon. On the western bank of the Pa-tomac, nine iniles below Alexandria, is the feat of the late general Washington. The houfe ftands within fifty yards of the brink of a high fteep bank, at a bend in the river, which affords a view of an extenfive and delightful land- kip. The houfe is large but more magnificent than elegant. On the weft is a handfome bowling green, and on each side serpentine walks, bordered with trees; a flower garden on one fide, and on the other a kitchen garden. The position and the improvements all rendered it a charming retreat, and worthy of the illuftrious proprietor. 505. Climate. The eastern and fouthern parts of Virginia have a mild atmosphere, as they are near the At lantic, and approach the latitudes where winter is rarely known in feverity. These parts are moftly level, and the waters are bordered with marshes, that expose the inhabitants to autumnal diseases. The interior and mountainous tracts have a colder atmosphere in winter, but dry and falubrious in fummer. So mild are the winters in the fouthern part of the state, that the fig, the olive and the pomegranate will come to perfection, and from the first fettlement of the country, cattle have fubfifted, in common winters, on the grafs and fhrubs, 506. Soil and Productions. The eastern and fouthern parts of the ftate are moftly fandy-the northern and western parts are clay, loam or gravel, the rivers are bordered with rich mold. The ftaple productions are wheat and tobacco; cotton is alfo raised for domestic use, and maiz forms the principal food of the flaves. Cyder and peach brandy are made in confiderable quantities. 507. Cattle and Horfes. Great numbers of excellent cattle are raised in the western and mountainous parts of Virginia; where they have a wide range ad fubfift fummer and winter in the woods, unless in very, intemperate, winters. Virginia is also remarkable for its breed of ele gant horfes, which is from England, and is cultivated with great care and expenfe. 508. Counties and Towns. Virginia is divided into eighty-two counties, two of, which are on the eastern thore at the extremity of the peninfula. But the towns. are not numerous nor large, the people being generally fettled on plantations. Norfolk a borough on the fouthern shore of the bay, just within the capes, is the chief. commercial port, and contained in the year 1800, three, thousand, five hundred whites, and three thousand blacks. Here is a branch of the bank of the United States. 509. Other Confiderable Towns. Williamsburg, be. tween the York aad Powhattan, formerly the feat of government is a pleasant town and contains a college. Richmond, on the northern bank of the Powhattan, and the prefent feat of government contained in 1800, three thoufand, four hundred and fifty whites, and two thousand three hundred blacks, Petersburg, on the Appomattox, is a place of confiderable trade. Alexandria, on the bank of the Potomac, is a place of active thriving commerce, and here is established a bank. Winchester, on the Opecan creek, one hundred and ten miles north-wefterly, from, Alexandria, is a confiderable town, as is Fredericksburg on the fouth bank of the Rappahannoc, and Staunton, on a branch of the Potomac, one hundred miles foutli wefterly of Winchester. 510. Inhabitants. Virginia was originally fettled almost wholly by English people, who thow their defcent by their character and language. The lands below the mountains are moftly divided into feparate plantations, on which the proprietor refides; and thefe are chiefly cultivated with flaves. The inhabitants in 1790, were, whites, five hundred and fifty-five thousand-flaves, two, hundred and ninety-two thousand. In 1800, the whites were five hundred and forty thousand; flaves, three, hundred and forty-fix thousand. 511. Militia. The military force of this state is com-, pofed of four divifions, nineteen brigades, ninety-one regiments, and fifty fix thousand privates-all infantry. 512. Public Inftitutions. An affociation for insurance. againft loffes by fire is eftablifhed, in this ftate, which is very extenfiye. A ftate bank is established at Richmond, with a capital of a million and a half of dollars, in which the ftate is interested to the amount of one fifth. Branches of this bank are placed in Norfolk, Petersburg, and Fredericksburg. 513. Commerce. Formerly the principal article of export was tobacco, of which from fifty to fixty thou.. fand hogfheads were produced in a year. Within a few years, the planters have raised lefs tobacco, and more wheat. Of both thefe articles, and of flour and maiz, great quantities are exported. Lumber conftitutes another chief article of export. The amount of exports in 1800, was about four millions and a half-in 1796, it rofe, above five millions. 514. Seminaries of Learning. The college in Wik liamsburg, was founded during the reign of William and Mary, and called by their names. It was endowed by them with twenty thousand acres of land, and the proceeds of a duty of one penny on the pound of tobacco exported-with a duty on fkins and furs exported, and liquors imported. It is under the government of twenty vifitors, a prefident and profeffors in the most important branches of fcience. There is also a college in the county of Prince Edward, and academies in the principal towns, as well as numerous fchools in other parts of the itate. 515. Religious Denominations. The religious denomi nations are chiefly prefbyterians, epifcopalians, baptifts and methodists. All men are indulged in their religious opinions and worship, without the interference of law.. From the fcattered mode of fettlement in this ftate, the churches are lefs numerous, than in the more northern ftates. Minifters of the gofpel are incapable of being. elected members of the legislature or privy council.. 516. Government. The legislature of Virginia, by an ordinance of the representatives of the ftate in convention, dated July 5, 1776, confifts of two branches-a houfe of delegates, compofed of two members for a coun-ty-and a fenate compofed of twenty-four members, chofen in diftricts. Thefe houses conftitute the General Af fembly. The fenators hold their places for four years, one fourth being removed annually by rotation. The. delegates are elected annually.. 117. Qualifications. No fpecific value of property is required to qualify a man for fenator or delegate in Virginia; but both must be freeholders and residents in the diftrict or county for which they are elected, and the fenators must be twenty-five years of age. The electors alfo must be freeholders. 518. Mode of enacting Laws. All bills for laws muft originate in the houfe of delegates; but the fenate may propofe amendments, except in money bills. The concur rence of both branches is neceffary to conftitute a law. 519. Executive. A governor is annually chofen by the two houses of affembly, by ballot, each houfe voting separately. He may be continued in office for three years, and is then ineligible for four years in fucceffion. To affift him in the adminiftration, he has a privy council of eight members, chofen by joint ballot of the two houses, from their own number or the people at large.. Two of their number are removed every three years by joint ballot of the two houses, and they remain ineligible for the three following years. A member of the council cannot fit in either house of assembly. 520. Judiciary. The courts are, a fupreme court of appeals, a general court, a court of chancery, and county courts. The judges and juftices of the peace are appointed by joint ballot of both houfes of affembly, and commiffioned by the governor.. The judges hold their offices during good behavior, and have fixed falaries. The fheriffs and coroners are nominated by the county courts, approved by the governor and council, and com-.. miffioned by the governor. Constables are appointed by the justices. NORTH-CAROLINA. 521. Situation. North-Carolina is fituated between: thirty-three degrees fifty. minutes-and thirty-fix degrees. thirty minutes of north latitude; and between seventy-fix degrees and eighty-three degrees eight minutes of weft: longitude. 522. Bounds. This ftate has the Atlantic on the eaft, the state of South-Carolina on the fouth, Teneffee on the well, and Virginia on the north. 523. Extent. The length of North-Carolina, eaft and weft, is three hundred and fifty miles, and its bredth on an average, is about one hundred and fifty. The furface of the ftate therefore contains about fifty-two thoufand |