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base of the houses of Washington, is a species of gneiss, composed of feldspath, quartz, and mica, of a leafy texture, owing to the abundance and disposition of the mica. It contains primitive sulphurous iron, and also particles of the same metal, which are attracted by the needle. At Fort Washington there is a ferruginous clay, known by the name of bol, which is employed to dye cloth and thread of reddish color. This substance, when heated, attracts the magnetic needle. The moulds of petrified shells of the genus arca, weighing several pounds have been dug up at this place.

Robinson, in his Catalogue of American Mineralogy, furnishes the following for the District of Columbia :

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Flint, on the shores of the Eastern Branch of the Potomac, near the navy yard, in small nodules. Hornestone, containing organic remains.

Agatized Wood, Woodstone, three miles north from Washington, sometimes invested with minute crystals of quartz, fine specimens, and abundant. Schorl, in Georgetown, in gneiss.

Lignite and Phyritical Fossil Wood, are found abundantly in digging wells.

Iron ore, in the vicinity of the Woodstone locality, in detached masses on the surface. Organic remains in sandstone-abundant.

CITY OF WASHINGTON, ETC.

Though the atmosphere of the District is liable to very sudden changes, in the extremes of heat

and cold, yet from the free circulation of air, and the great abundance of the purest water, this place seems as free from the epidemical diseases, as any in the United States.

Mr. Blodget has, we know not from what authority, estimated the annual deaths in the city of Washington, at one to forty-eight or fifty persons; in New-York, one to forty-four or fifty; in Baltimore, as one to forty-three or forty-nine; at Charleston, one to thirty-five or forty. From whence it would appear that Washington is more healthy than any of those places. In the large cities of Europe, the deaths are estimated at one to twenty-three, and in the smaller towns at one to twenty-eight.

During the autumn, or the fall of the year, bilious fevers prevail in this as in most parts on the Atlantic coast south of New York and Philadelphia. In winter, owing to the sudden changes of the atmosphere, chronic diseases often occur; but these are not confined to this city or its neighborhood..

The soil of the District being generally of a light clay or sand, reflects the rays of the sun with great power, which with the rapid exhalation of the moisture has a very injurious effect.

Intermitting fevers, which are confined to particular spots, seem to originate from the exhalations of the marshes and borders of stagnant waters; though it frequently happens that those who inhabit immediately the borders of those places are exempt from their effects; whilst those who live in the neighboring heights are unhealthy.

The corporation of the city of Washington possess powers to enact laws for the prevention of contagious diseases; and although much has been done for the accomplishment of this object, much yet remains to be done to complete it. Draining the marshes, planting trees, and removing nuisances, ought to be objects of early attention. In the fall and winter of 1814, a very fatal bilious fever prevailed; its effects were, however, chiefly confined to the intemperate and poor. The habitations of the negroes, are, in general, wretched and unhealthy. A very severe intermittent fever also prevailed during the fall of 1821; which arose, no doubt, from the same causes.

Mr. Jefferson has remarked in his "Notes on Virginia," that this climate has undergone a great change in a few years; he says, "that in the year 1780, the Chesapeake bay was solid, from its head to the mouth of the Potomac. At Annapolis, where it is five miles and a quarter over, between the nearest points of land, the ice was from five to seven inches thick quite across, so that loaded wagons went over it." "The extremes of heat and cold, of six degrees below zero, and ninety-eight degrees, are distressing."

During the summer, this place is often visited with terrible thunder gusts; one of the most tremendous occurred on the 25th of August, 1814, (the day the British were in possession of the city.) Nothwithstanding the beneficial effects of lightningconductors as have been clearly proved, yet they are by no means generally used.

By an act of Congress, passed in 1821, the Cor

poration was empowered to sell certain lots belonging to the public, and to apply the proceeds to filling up the canal near Pennsylvania Avenue, and the swamps in its neighborhood, and for opening the canal in a better situation. This work has been completed in a masterly style.

The longitude of the Capitol was determined in 1821, by calculations made by William Lambert, from observations chiefly made by Wm. Elliot, under the authority of Congress, to be seventyseven degrees, one minute, and forty-eight seconds west, from the observatory at Greenwich, Eng., and latitude thirty-eight degrees, fifty-five minutes, and forty-eight seconds north; however these observations ought to be verified by corresponding observations made in Europe. And nothing perhaps would more contribute to accomplish this object than the erection of an observatory at Washington, with suitable instruments; and the publication of an astronomical ephemeris, at the seat of government.

By the act of cession by the state of Maryland, foreigners, not citizens, are permitted to hold lands within the territory ceded by her, which will greatly contribute to its population and improvement of that part of the District. The constitution and laws of the states of Maryland and Virginia, served as models of the liberal principles of citizenship established at the metropolis of the American republic. The act of naturalization of the former is as follows:

"Whereas, the increase of a people is the means to advance the wealth and strength of the state;

and whereas many foreigners, from the lenity of our government, the security afforded by our laws to civil and religious liberty, the mildness of our climate, the fertility of our soil and the advantages of our commerce, may be induced to come and settle in this state, if they were made partakers of the advantages and privileges which the natural-born citizens of the state do enjoy," &c.

In 1797 it was enacted, "That all foreigners who emigrated and settled in Maryland, before the month of July, 1799, and have continued therein, they and their descendants shall be deemed to have been, and to be, citizens of this state, as if they had been natural born subjects." The liberal policy has had the most beneficial effect by introducing amongst us many distinguished foreigners of wealth and talent.

The city of Washington is situated on the Potomac, at the confluence of this river with the Eastern Branch, which formerly bore the name of Anacostia. The design of the city was made by Major L'Enfant, under the direction of General Washington; and the streets were chiefly laid out by Mr. A. Ellicott, and the Messrs. Kings of this city.

From Washington to Philadelphia the dis137 miles.

tance is

To Baltimore,

To Richmond,

To Annapolis,

38

123

40

It is scarcely possible to imagine a city more beautifully and conveniently situated, than that of Washington. The gently undulating surface of

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