CHAPTER II.

EARLY HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-THE FIRST EXPLORERS AND SETTLERS-ANCIENT TOWNS OF ALEXANDRIA AND GEORGETOWN-THE OLD CHRIST CHURCH-GEORGETOWN COLLEGE-THE BOUNDS OF THE DISTRICT AS PROCLAIMED BY WASHINGTON-L'ENFANT'S DESIGN OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL-THE CAREER OF THE UNFORTUNATE FRENCH ENGINEER.

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HE region now known as the District of Columbia, or the Federal Territory, was partially explored by Captain John Smith in 1608. He was the first white man to sail up the 'Patawomeke," as he calls it in his letters, and he found its waters full of luscious fish and its shores inhabited by savage tribes. Fifteen years later, in search of furs, Henry Fleet, the doughty English trader, followed nearly in the course described by Captain Smith, and made himself, and afterwards the world by means of graphic letters, familiar with what he enthusiastically termed "the most healthful and pleasantest region in all this country." Fleet was a capable writer as well as an enterprising fur-trader and explorer, and he wrote interesting descriptions of the "fair and fertile lands" traversed by him in Maryland and Virginia. He went fearlessly among the ferocious Indians, and once was held a captive by them. Some forty years after he had made the Potomac country well known in England, a party of emigrants, mostly from Scotland and Ireland, settled in that portion of Maryland now included in the District of Columbia. They found a productive soil and genial climate, and their farms were bordered by a river on which snow-white swans gracefully floated. Documents relating to three tracts of land, all lying within the boundary of the city of Washington, have come down to the present time from these early occupants of the district. One, bearing date of June 5, 1663, describes by metes and bounds what is now Capitol Hill. The tract was owned and occupied by Francis Pope, and he called it Room or Rome. The small, sluggish stream flowing at the western base of the hill was named by him the Tiber river. Another of the documents is dated June 5, 1663, and refers to a tract laid out for Captain Robert Troop, and designated as "Scotland Yard." This is believed to

be the land now constituting the southeastern part of Washington. The third document has the date of 1681, and describes a tract possessed by William Lang, and known as the "Widow's Mite," which it is believed was in the western part of the city. Of these settlers scarcely anything is known. For a hundred years they and their descendants lived doubtless in peace and comfort "far from the busy haunts of men," little dreaming that on their fields would eventually stand the fair capital city of the great American republic.

In 1748 the town of Bellhaven was founded on the Virginia side of the Potomac, five miles below what is now the city of Washington. A few years afterwards its name was changed to Alexandria. This ancient town had a promising early career. It rapidly became an important port and developed an extensive foreign trade. It was well known in the great English commercial cities. General Washington, Governor Lee, and other prominent Virginians interested themselves in its development, and at one time it was thought it would become a greater city than Baltimore. Warehouses crowded with tobacco and flour and corn lined its docks, and fleets of merchant vessels filled its harbor. Its claims were strongly advanced as a suitable place for the location of the permanent seat of the national government. On November 21, 1792, the publication was begun of a semi-weekly newspaper named the Columbian Mirror and Alexandria Gazette, and this journal for a number of years was the only one published in this section of the country. It was taken by all the opulent families, and was read regularly by Washington. Recently, in making repairs at the Mount Vernon mansion, a copy of this paper of the year 1799 was discovered in a niche in the roof.

Alexandria is now a city of fifteen thousand people,-a dull, uninter

esting place, all its ancient glory having departed. Like many other promising cities in the early years of the nation, it has simply advanced in population but has retrograded in commercial importance. From 1791 to 1846 it was a part of the District of Columbia, but in the latter year Congress retroceded it, with all the lands of the district on the western bank of the Potomac, to the State of Virginia.

The old Christ Episcopal Church in Alexandria is a special object of interest. It was constructed of English bricks, and dedicated in 1765. Here Washington worshipped for many years, and he was a member of its vestry. A writer says, "The good people and gentry of the vicinage were wont to loiter about the church door each Sunday morning until Washington's equipage appeared. When he and his stately wife descended from their capacious carriage, very like a modern stage-coach, honest, modest farmers stood abashed, with uncovered heads, while the greatest man of any age or country was formally greeted by the nobility' of the district. Washington and his household led the way, and then the throng entered the sanctuary, in which the services of the Church of England were most reverently celebrated."

Washington's family pew in the venerable church is preserved. It has a high back and three seats, two of which face each other, and the third is against the wall. Washington always occupied the wall seat, and it is stated that it was his custom to "sit bolt upright and face the congregation instead of the pastor."

By act of the Maryland legislature, in 1751, the laying out of the town of Georgetown on the Potomac, above the mouth of Rock creek, was authorized, but the town was not incorporated until thirty-eight years later. Many suppose it derives its name from George II., as it came into existence during his reign; but others aver that it was named after George, the son of Ninian Beall, who originally held patents for the land on the "Rock of Dumbarton," upon which a considerable portion of Georgetown is built. It was known as the "town of George" many years before it was incorporated. At present it is called West Washington, as it is a part of the capital city. On its steep heights are numerous fine mansions and various institutions. Formerly great ships from every quarter of the globe sailed into its harbor and its foreign commerce was extensive, but now in place of this are large shipments of coal, grain, and flour to domestic ports. It was in Georgetown that the plans and arrangements for the laying out of the city of Washington were made, and the ancient borough may be called the godmother of the capital.

The Georgetown College is an important institution. Its history goes back to the past century. Founded by Bishop John Carroll in 1789,

made a university in 1815, it has advanced steadily, until at present it is the largest and most prominent Catholic institution of learning in the United States. It is under the control of the Jesuits, and its students are mainly from the Southern States. Besides its collegiate departments it has schools of law and medicine. The college buildings are situated on the brow of a hill overlooking the Potomac, and the grounds cover more than one hundred acres.

On January 24, 1791, six months after Congress had passed the act locating the permanent seat of government, President Washington issued a proclamation defining the territory he had selected. By his request Congress amended the act, March 3, 1791, so as to include a section