good a price in Liverpool as any short staple cotton. The culture of indigo is now abandoned. Palma Christi is cultivated for the oil which it affords; and Benné, (Sesomen Orientale,) from the seed of which a fine oil, equal to that imported from Italy, is extracted, in the proportion of three gallons to a bushel.

Of esculent plants there are, in the eastern parts, the sweet potatoe, red and white; the common, or Irish potatoe, which is in general use; melons, turnips, pumpkins, parsnips, carrots, artichokes, asparagus, cucumbers, lettuces, onions, the Brassica sempervivens, a species of cabbage introduced by Mr. Jefferson, from seed sent him by Professor Thouin of the Paris Garden of " Plants; in the western parts, the horse bean and English pea. The fruit trees are, apple, pear, cherry, quince, nectarine, apricot, almond, plum, pomegranate, figs, peaches. The last thrive in the woods; in the mountains the raspberry and strawberry; the mulberry thrives on the eastern side, the vine everywhere. The grasses are, the white and red clover, which grow luxuriantly; the former natural to the country; hay and oats are given for fodder, but not many years ago leaves of Indian corn were chiefly used for this purpose.

The climate is very favorable to all agricultural pursuits: for, during the whole winter, it is calculated that farmers can plough four days in seven. Of late, however, from a change in the climate, vegetation is sometimes injured by the sudden fluctuations of heat and cold. From the year 1741 to 1769, a period of twenty-eight years, the fruit in the neighbourhood of Monticello was never seen to suffer by the frost. In 1816 the crops of tobacco, wheat, and fruit, were much injured by repeated frosts; the average morning cold of May, from the 1st to the 17th, being 53°, or 10 below the usual temperature; and once the thermometer fell as low as 43°.

Manufactures.-Societies have been established in different places, for the encouragement of manufactures of wool, flax, and hemp, which are making rapid progress.

Commerce. The chief exports are tobacco, wheat, Indian corn, lumber, tar, pitch, turpentine, beef, pork, &c. From the southern parts are sent to Europe tobacco, wheat, flour, Indian corn, cotton, peas, white oak, staves, tar, pitch, turpentine, pork, bacon, ginseng, rattle and black snake root, indigo, oak bark, 25.-VOL. II.

M

charcoal, lamp-black, peltries, deer, bear, racoon, musk-rat, wild-cat, or panther, wolf and squirrel skins. From the northern parts, hemp, saltpetre, gunpowder, lead, coals, cypress and pine shingles to the north of Europe and West India islands. To the latter butter has been sent; peach brandy to the north of Europe. In 1803 the exports amounted to 5,606,620 dollars, and consisted chiefly of domestic produce, besides a considerable quantity sent to the neighbouring states. In 1810 the tonnage was upwards of 90,000 tons. A considerable trade is carried on between Richmond and New York. Tobacco and flour are exchanged for dry goods and groceries. Before the revolutionary war, the yearly exports were estimated at 2,883,333 dollars. The principal commodity was tobacco, of which 100,000 hogsheads, of about 1000 pounds each, were exported annually, including from ten to fifteen thousand hogsheads, the produce of North Carolina. The export of wheat was not less than 500,000 bushels. The following articles are liable to inspection by public agents, before they can be exported: tobacco, flour, beef, pork, tar, pitch and turpentine.

Banks. Prior to the year 1804 there was no bank in Virginía, except a branch of that of the United States established at Norfolk. The Bank of Virginia was established in October 1804, with a capital of a million and a half of dollars, one fifth of which was owned by the state. The charter, granted for fifteen years, was extended, in 1814, to fourteen years from that date, and an addition made to the capital of a million of dollars. Branches are established at Lynchburgh and Winchester. The Farmers' Bank of Virginia was chartered in 1813, with a capital of a million of dollars, of which the state owns about a fifth. Its branches are at Richmond, Petersburg, Fredericksburg, Lynchburgh, and Winchester. These banks are in high credit, and yield dividends of 9 per cent. A bonus is given to the state for the privilege of the charter.

Public Buildings.-Those worthy of notice are the capitol at Richmond, the palace, and the college and hospital for lunatics at Williamsburgh; but they afford no great proof of architectural taste. Mr. Jefferson observes, that the "genius of that art seems to have shed its maledictions over this land." The legislature in 1815, voted 56,000 or 60,000 dol

lárs for public buildings, and a sum for erecting a monument to the memory of Washington.

The private houses are generally built of wood, of scantling and boards, lathed and plastered within, and painted on the outside; the roof covered with shingles, and chimneys of brick. Those of the poorer class are log-huts; the interstices of the wood being filled up with mud, they are warm and comfortable. The houses of the wealthy planters are of stone and brick.

Situation and Boundaries.

OHIO.

This state is situated between 38° 30′ and 42° north latitude, and 3° 32′ and 7° 43′ west longitude. It is bounded on the south by the Ohio river, north by Lake Erie, and the Michigan territory, east by Pennsylvania, and west by Indiana. Its extreme length from north to south is 228 miles, and its breadth about 200.

Area, according to Mr. Drake, about 40,000 square miles, or 25,000,000 acres.

Aspect of the Country and Nature of the Soil.-The most elevated part of this state is a chain of hills extending along the 41st degree of latitude, from which the waters flow in opposite directions, northwards to Lake Erie, and southwards to the river Ohio. The ridges from which the waters flow in different directions, run generally parallel to the Alleghany mountains. The hills in some places cross the streams, and in others take the same direction. The south-eastern parts are hilly; but all the rest of the country, except near the Ohio, and some of its larger streams, is generally level or gently undulating. Towards the south there are woodless plains of considerable extent, covered with fine herbage. In some places the waters, not finding a channel, have formed ponds and marshes; but upon the whole, this state has perhaps more land in proportion to its extent, capable of cultivation, than any of the others. The elevated grounds have a surface of easy ascent, and susceptible of tillage to the very summit. It is remarked, that the northern side of the hills have the richer soil, which is supposed to be owing to the constant

deposition of leaves carried there by the southerly winds. The hills in the southern parts of the state consist of a weak yellow clay, with a thin covering of a vegetable mould. They are better adapted for grass than tillage; but in some places where clay is over limestone, the soil is very fertile. The river bottoms, which are remarkably rich, consist of a cool sand, sufficiently, but not too dry, easy of tillage, and, as far as is yet experienced, inexhaustibly fertile. This bottom land, of which there are extensive tracts, is agreeably varied in surface, rising into hills occasionally, and never flat. The eastern portion of the state between the Muskingum river and the Pennsylvania line, to the distance of fifty miles north, is uneven, rising into high hills, between which are deep vallies, but the whole surface is rich and capable of cultivation. From the Muskingum river to the great Miami on the west, the country is broken, but the hills gradually diminish in elevation; and some approach the river Ohio, while others sink at the distance of two or three miles. In the north-western, and northern parts the surface is more level, the soil moister, but crossed by tracts of dry meadow and forests, with a sandy or gravelly soil. In the north-west corner the soil is rich, but moist and unhealthy to the distance of eight or ten miles from the outlet of the rivers; but, above this, the country is very healthy. Between Huron river and the Miami of the lakes there are extensive forests and prairies intersected with tracts of wood land.

Streams which run into Lake Erie, watering the Northern Portion of the State. The largest and most westerly is the Miami of the Lake, which rises in the state of Indiana, where its two branches, known by the name of St. Mary's and Little St. Joseph's, run in opposite directions to their junction; and from this point their united waters take a north-eastern course to Lake Erie. Its southern branch, called the Laglaise river, is a considerable stream, which takes its rise ten or twelve miles north-east of the source of the St. Mary's. It is proposed to run a canal between the sources of the Loramie, St. Mary's, and the Laglaise, and the branches of the Ohio. The Miami river is 105 miles in length, and is boatable from its outlet to near its sources in all seasons. The St. Joseph is navigable. about fifty miles. The St. Mary's, in wet seasons, 150 miles

from its confluence to old Fort St. Mary's. At the distance of twenty miles east of the junction of the Miami is Toussaint river, which may be considered as an arm of the lake, from which its source is but ten or twelve miles distant. It has an

outlet of 100 yards; but the channel is full of wild rice, pond lilies, and other aquatic plants. Portage or Carrying river rises from two sources, in a marshy surface, called the Black Swamp. It is navigable from near its source to its outlet, from which, to the distance of six or seven miles, it is 140 yards wide. The Sandusky river is a considerable stream, which takes a northeasterly course, and falls into the bay of the same name, two miles east of the mouth of Carrying river in a direct line, but forty-seven by the coast of the peninsula, formed by Portage river, Sandusky bay, and Lake Erie. A few miles east of this river, two streams fall into the bay, called Pipe and Cold creeks, which traverse a fine country, and afford several eligible situations for mills. Huron river, which falls into the lake eleven miles east of Sandusky bay, is fifty yards wide at its mouth, from which it is navigable eighteen miles. It has several branches, which water a fertile country. The Vermillion river is nearly of the same dimensions, and falls in ten miles farther east; and at the distance of twelve miles eastward is the outlet of Black river, resembling the former. Rock river, which rises near a branch of the Muskingum, is longer than either, and more rapid; it discharges its waters at the distance of eighteen miles from the former. It is navigable to the distance of twenty-five miles from its outlet, but the current of its waters is impeded by sand bars, and sometimes by the north-west winds of the lake, which raise its waters above its banks, and render its borders unhealthy. The next is the Cayahoga, which takes its rise near the parallel of 41° 35', and running in a south-westerly course to the latitude of 41° 8', then takes a north-westerly direction to Lake Erie, which it joins in 41° 31', according to the excellent map of Hough and Bourne. This river could easily be rendered navigable to the distance of fifty miles from its mouth, and within seven or eight of the Tuscarawa. For this purpose a lottery was authorized by the legislature of the state, but failed; the new settlers at Cleaveland, near its mouth, being discouraged by the want of a harbour, and the bilious fever which prevailed in