it is likely soon to realize the brilliant picture drawn by Mr. Morse, and other speculative writers. The latest accounts depict the American capital in very different colours. A traveller who visited that city so late as in 1806, represents it as little better than an assemblage of unfinished streets and houses falling into ruins. He says, that even the great avenue extending from the capitol to the president's house, is yet a mere wilderness; that neither park, nor mall, nor theatre, nor college, was then to be seen, and that strangers, after viewing the public buildings, the houses of the officers of government, &c. would be apt to inquire for the city even when they are in its centre. According to this writer, the circumjacent country is yet in a state of nature, being mostly covered with woods and swamps. The new city of Washington has greatly excited curiosity as well as speculation; and Mr. Janson says, that he found it to be the first object of inquiry when he arrived in London. At the time when it was planned, vast expectations were founded on this scene of contemplated wealth and magnificence. Land-jobbers made large purchases; and the sum of 500l. was asked in London for about the sixth part of a lot, the whole of which had originally been purchased for 201. These speculators thought of nothing but running up new buildings; but they soon found their lots a dead burden on their hands, and their untenanted houses going to ruin.f Many English artists at the same time enchanted with the description given by interested writers, and stimulated by the hopes of rapidly acquiring a fortune, left their employments, which procured them a competence at home, and crossed the Atlantic, in order to exert their abilities in finishing this newly projected metropolis, which was expected at some future period to equal ancient Rome in magnificence. It is needless to add, that these, as well as the purchasers of lots, soon experienced the frustration of their hopes. In fine, this new

Description of the city of Washington. Janson's Travels in America, ch. 15.

† Janson's Trav. ch. 15. p. 207. This writer says, that a great number of houses which had been begun on an elegant plan, were in that state, p. 203.

Janson, ubi supra.

capital of America exhibits a miserable spectacle of disap pointed speculation. Mr. Janson is of opihion that the vici nity of Alexandria and Baltimore will prevent Washington from ever becoming a great emporium of commerce; and it is certain that the population of the provinces must be greatly increased before the metropolis can in that respect vie with the great European capitals; nor can it, unless the government should give to builders and settlers some extraordinary encouragements, be "expected to grow up with a rapidity unparalleled in the annals of cities." The growth of Washington will perhaps scarcely equal in rapidity that of Constantinople in the fourth, or that of Petersburg in the eighteenth century. A Roman and a Russian sovereign, having myriads of obedient subjects under their absolute command, could work miracles.f

Philadelphia.]-Philadelphia must be considered as next to Washington. Being supposed to contain 50,000 inhabitants, it must, in regard to population, be esteemed the principal city in the United States.*g It is situated in a plain on the isthmus between the Schuylkill and the Delaware, at the distance of about five miles in a direct line above their confluence. Its form is that of a parallelogram of near three miles in length, and scarcely one mile in breadth, stretching along the western bank of the Delaware. The city is elegantly planned, most of the streets crossing one another at

f [The truth probably lies between these two opposite accounts of the capital of the United States. If its growth has not equalled the too sanguine expectations of its founders; neither is its situation so deplorable, as is represented by this foreign traveller. The local situation, advantages, and plan of the city, accord, for ought that appears, with the account quoted from the American Geography. If the expectations of speculators and visionaries have not been realized, such disappointments are not uncommon. The future prosperous or unprosperous state of this capital must depend on events, which human wisdom and power can neither foresee nor control. The number of inhabitants in this city in 1810, was 8,620. AM. ED.]

Janson says, that the present population is computed at 80,000 : but he thinks this too high an estimate, p. 179.

[Philadelphia contained in 1810, 92,247 inhabitants. In population it is exceeded by New York, to the number of 4,125, AM. ED.]

right angles. Of these, nine run east and west, and twentythree north and south. That called broad-street is 113 feet wide; High-street is 100 feet; Mulberry street 60, and all the others 50 feet broad. In the middle they are paved with pebbles, and on the sides with brick, for the conveniency of foot passengers. But besides these, which belong to the original plan, there are a number of other streets, lanes, and alleys, laid out by the owners of the different lots or squares, formed by the principal intersections. Here are a great number of public buildings, humane institutions, and seminaries of learning, particularly the Pennsylvanian university, the college of Philadelphia, and other excellent establishments for the advancement of every kind of knowledge, with a public library accessible every day in the week except Sunday. The places of worship for the different religious denominations are numerous of these the Quakers have five, the Presbyterians and Seceders six, the Catholics four, and the Episcopalians three. The German Lutherans have two, the Swedish Lutherans one, the Calvinists one; the Moravians, the Baptists, the Universal Baptists, the Methodists, one cach, besides a synagogue for the Jews. In magnitude, beauty, and opulence, Philadelphia is, incontrovertibly, the principal city of the United States: in regard to the industry, abilities, and enterprising spirit of its inhabitants, it is inferior to no city whatever of equal population; and its government and police are not surpassed in any part of the world.*

Philadelphia is situated in 39° 56′ north latitude, and 75° 8' west longitude from Greenwich, at the distance of about sixty miles from the Atlantic, in a direct line, and about 120 by the course of the Delaware, which is here about a mile in breadth. The city was planned by the celebrated William Penn, first proprietary of the province, and founded in the year 1683. It was settled by a colony from New England,h and received so rapid an increase by the constant and regular influx of foreigners, that in less than a century the city and suburbs contained

⚫ For the rapid increase of Philadelphia, see Janson's Trav. in Amer. p. 178.

h [The colony of Friends or Quakers, which settled Philadelphia, came from Old England, AM. Em]

about 40,000 inhabitants. Splendid equipages are now seen in the streets; and the theatre begins to be frequented. This large and opulent city, of which the commerce extends to all parts of the globe, suffered extremely by the yellow fever which broke out in July 1793, and did not cease till about the end of November.

New York.]-New York, the capital of the state of that name, is, in respect of population, next to Philadelphia; and in commerce, is esteemed the chief city of all North America. It is situated on a promontory at the mouth of Hudson's river, and its harbour admits ships of the largest burden. This city is about four miles in circuit; and in 1790 contained 33,131 inhabitants. New York is esteemed the gayest city of the Anglo-American empire. In the richness and splendor of dress, the ladies are not equalled (c) in any other city of the United States. In public institutions for the promotion of education, arts, sciences, &c. this opulent and flourishing city appears to be deficient, exhibiting in this respect a striking contrast to Philadelphia.

Boston.-Boston, the capital of New England, is situated on a large bay, and has an excellent harbour, sufficiently capacious for the reception of 500 vessels, with a narrow entrance commanded by a castle. About the middle of the last century this city was esteemed the chief of British America, though now considerably inferior to Philadelphia and New York. From Christmas 1747, to Christmas 1748, no fewer than 500 yessels cleared out of this port for foreign trade; and the entrances inward amounted to 430, besides coasting and fishing vessels, supposed to equal the others in number. But since that time the trade of Boston has greatly declined: at present, however, it is not inconsiderable. This city is irregularly built, lying in a circular form around the harbour; but it makes a fine appearance when approached from the sea. It covers an area of about 1000 acres, and is supposed to contain

i [New York is the most populous city in the United States. It contained, in 1810, 96,372 inabitants. Aм. ED.]

(c) [“ Equalled”—Surpassed would be more correct.]

• Morse's Amer. Geog. p. 380, 381, 382, &c.

† Burke's Europ. Settlements, vol. 2. p. 172.

20,000 inhabitants. The environs of the town are picturesque: the harbour is beautifully diversified with forty small islands, fertile in herbage and grain. Beacon-hill, on which a handsome monument commemorative of some of the most important events of the war, is erected, overlooks the town from the west, and commands a finely variegated prospect. The inhabitants of Boston, as well as of New England in general, were formerly remarked for their fanaticism and intolerant spirit. But the same liberal principles now prevail there as in the other states of the union; every denomination has its places of worship, which, in 1794, amounted to seventeen in number; and Boston now begins to be ranked among the most sociable of the American cities.

Charleston.]-Charleston, the capital of South Carolina, and the only considerable place in that state, is situated in 32° 45′ north latitude,† on a tongue of land formed by the conflu ence of Ashley and Cooper rivers, both of which are large and navigable, and by their junction just below the town, form a spacious and convenient harbour. Charleston is only six or seven miles distant from the sea; and although the land on which the town stands be flat and low, and the water brackish and unwholesome, the refreshing sea breezes, and the agita

Morse's Amer. Geog. p. 331. This calculation, however, must be considered as under-rating the present population.

[This account of Boston is imperfect and incorrect. Its trade has always been considerable, and for fifteen years preceding the embargo, very prosperous.-The monument on Beacon-hill, and the beautiful hill itself, have lately been levelled, the latter not yet completely, but it is expected will be, in a short time. See Am. Geog. ed. 1812.

The "fanatical and intolerant spirit" here alluded to, was by no means appropriate to Boston; it was the spirit of the times, and common to Old and New England, as well as to the other colonies. Boston has long ranked among the most hospitable, social and pleasant towns in the United States. AM. ED.]

[Charleston, though the largest, is not the only considerable place, in the state. Georgetown, Beaufort and Columbia, are towns of sufficient importance to have been noticed. AM. ED.]

† Nearly in the parallel of Ispahan in Persia, about one degree to the north of Jerusalem, and one degree and a half to the north of Alexandria.