POPULATION AND COMMERCE.] The inhabitants of Virginia amounted, according to the census of 1790, to 747,610, of which 292,627 were negroes. The trade of Virginia consists principally in tobacco, and dif'ferent kinds of grain. In 1790, about 40,000 hogsheads oftobacco were exported; but its culture has since declined, and that of wheat taken place. The greatest quantity of tobacco ever produced in this country was 70,000 hogsheads in the year 1758. The exports from this state, in the year 1792, amounted to 3,549,499 dollars, and in 1796 to 5,268,615 dollars. RELIGION AND COLLEGES.] The present denominations of Christians in Virginia are, Presbyterians, who are most numerous; Espiscopalians, Baptists, and Methodists. The first settlers were Episcopalians. There is a college at Williamsburgh, founded by King William, and called William and Mary college. That monarch gave two thousand pounds towards building it, and twenty thousand acres of land, with power to purchase and hold lands to the value of two thousand pounds a year, and a duty of a penny per pound on all tobacco exported to the other plantations. There is a president, six professors, and other of ficers, who are always appointed by the governors, or visitors. The academy in Prince Edward county has been erected into a college by the name of Hampden Sidney college. There are besides a number of academies in different parts of Virginia: one at Alexandria, one at Norfolk, one at Hanover, and others in other places. CHIEF TOWNS.] Virginia is not divided into townships, nor are there any large towns, owing probably to the intersection of the country by navigable rivers, which bring the trade to the doors of the inhabitants, and prevent the necessity of their going in quest of it to a distance. The principal towns are, Richmond the capital, Williamsburgh, and Norfolk. Richmond contains between 400 and 500 houses, and about 4000 inhabitants. Here is a large state-house, or capitol, lately erected on a hill, which commands an extensive prospect of the lower part of the town, the river, and the adjacent country. Williamsburgh was the seat of government till the year 1780. It contains about 100 houses, and about 1400 inhabitants. It is regularly laid out in parallel streets, with a pleasant square in the centre, of about ten acres, through which runs the principal street, about a mile in length, and more than 200 feet wide. Norfolk is the most considerable commercial town in Virginia. The harbour is safe and commodious, and large enough to contain 300 ships. In 1790 the number of inhabitants in Norfolk was 2959, including 1294 slaves. HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT.] This is the first country which the English planted in America. We derived our right, not only to this, but to all our other settlements, as has been already observed, from the discovery of Sebastian Cabot, who, in 1497, first made the northern continent of America, in the service of Henry VII. of England. No attempts, however, were made to settle it till the reign of Queen Elizabeth. It was then that Sir Walter Raleigh applied to court, and got together a company, which was composed of several persons of distinction, and several eminent merchants, who agreed to open a trade and settle a colony in that part of the world, which, in honour of queen Elizabeth he called Virginia. Towards the close of the sixteenth century, several attempts were made for settling this colony, before any proved successful. The three first companies who sailed to Virginia perished through hunger and diseases, or were cut off by the Indians. The fourth was reduced almost to the same situation; and being ! living in such an uncultivated country, inhabited by such hostile and warlike savages. But, in the mouth of Chesapeak Bay, they were met by lord Delaware, with a squadron loaded with provisions, and with every thing necessary for their relief and defence. At his persuasion they returned: by his advice, prudence, and winning behaviour, the internal government of the colony was settled within itself, and put o a respectable footing with regard to its enemies. This nobleman, who had accepted the government of the unpromising province of Virginia from the noblest motives, was compelled by the decayed state of a's health, to return to England. He left behind him, however, his son, as deputy; with sir Thomas Gates, sir George Sommers, the honourable George Piercy, and Mr. Newport, for his council. By them, Janes Town, the first town built by the English in the New World, was erect ed. The colony continued to flourish, and the true sources of its wealth began to be discovered and improved. The first sailers, like those of Maryland, were generally persons of consideration and distinc tion. It remained a steady ally to the royal party during the troubles of Great Britain. Many of the cavaliers, in danger at home, took re fuge here; and, under the government of sir William Berkeley, bed out for the crown, until the parliament, rather by stratagem than force, reduced them. After the restoration there is nothing very interesting in the history of this province. Soon after this time, a young genties an named Bacon, a lawyer, availing himself of some discontents in the colony on account of restraints in trade, became very popular, and threw every thing into confusion. His death, however, restored peace and unanimity. The government of this province was not at first adapted to the prin ciples of the English constitution, and to the enjoyment of that liberty to which a subject of Great Britain thinks himself entitled in every part of the globe. It was subject to a governor and council appointed by the king of Great Britain. As the inhabitants increased, the inconve niency of this form became more grievous; and a new branch was added to the constitution, by which the people, who had formerly no consider ation, were allowed to elect their representatives from each county into which this country is divided, with privileges resembling those of the representatives of the commons of England. Thus two houses, the upper and lower houses of assembly, were formed. The upper house, which was before called the council, remained on its former footing; its members were appointed, during pleasure by the crown; they were styled Honourable, and answered in some measure to the house of peers in the British constitution. The lower house was the guardian of the people's liberties. And thus, with a governor representing the king, an upper and lower house of assembly, this government bore a striking re semblance to our own. When any bill had passed the two houses, it came before the governor, who gave his assent or negative as he thought proper. It now acquired the force of a law, until it was transmitted to England, and his majesty's pleasure known on that subject. The upper house of assembly, acted not only as a part of the legislature, but also a privy council to the governor, without whose concurrence he could do nothing of moment: it sometimes acted as a court of chancery. The present government of this province, as settled, in convention at Williamsburgh, July 5th, 1776, is, that the legislative, executive, delegates be chosen annually by the freeholders, two for each county, and judiciary departments be separate and distinct; that the house of and for the district of West Augusta, and one representative for the city of Williamsburgh and town of Norfolk. The senate to consist of twenty four members, also chosen by the freeholders of the state, divided into twenty districts, The executive is a governor and privy council, of eight members, chosen annually by the joint ballot of the general assembly of the state, who also choose the delegates to congress, the judges, and other law officers, president, treasurer, secretary, &c. justices, sheriff's, and coroners, commissioned by the governor and council. Length 2501 } between Breadth 200 Degrees. Sq. Miles. {81 and 89 West longitude.} 50,000. 36 and 39 North BOUNDARIES.] BOUNDED on the North West by the river Ohio; West, by Cumberland river; South, by North Carolina; East, by Sandy river, and a line drawn due south from its source, till it meets the northern boundary of North Carolina. Kentucky was originally divided into two counties, Lincoln and Jefferson. It has since been subdivided into the following fourteen: RIVERS, SOIL, PRODUCE.] The Ohio bounds Kentucky in its whole length. This state is watered by many rivers, and the greatest part of the soil is amazingly fertile, and is more temperate and healthy than any part in America. Here are buffaloes, bears, deer, elks, and many other animals common to the United States, and others entirely unknown to them. The rivers abound in the finest fish; salmon, roach, perch, eel, and all kinds of hook-fish. The paroquet is common here; as is the ivory-bill woodcock, of a whitish colour, with a white plume; the bill is pure ivory. Here is an owl like ours, but different in vociferation. It makes a surprising noise, like a man in distress. The natural curiosities of this country are astonishing and innumerable. Caves are found amazingly large, in some of which you may travel several miles under a fine lime-stone rock, supported by curious arches and pillars. In most of them run streams of water. Near Lexington are to be seen pands of bitumen near Green River, which discharge themselves into a common reservoir, and when used in lamps, answer all the purposes of the finest oil*. There are many alum banks, and different places abounding with copper, which, when refined, is equal to any in the world. At a salt spring near the Ohio river very large bones have been found, far surpassing the size of any species of animals now in America: the head appears to have been considerably above three feet long. Dr. Hunter said it could not be the elephant, and that, from the form of the teeth, it must have been carnivorous, and belonging to a race of animals now extinct. Specimens have been sent to France and England. What animal this is, and by what means its remains are found in these regions, (where none such now exist) are very difficult questions, and variously resolved. The variety of conjectures only serves to show the futility of all. The Mississippi and Ohio are the keys to the northern parts of the western continent. The usual route to Kentucky is from Philadelphia, or Baltimore, by the way of Pittsburgh. The distance from the mouth of the Ohio to New Orleans, which does not exceed 460 miles in a straight line is 856 by water. The mouth empties itself by several channels into the Gulf of Mexico. POPULATION.] An idea may be formed of the astonishing emigrations to this country, from the following account taken by the adjutant of the troops stationed at Fort Harmar, at the mouth of Muskingum. From the 10th of October 1786, to the 12th of May 1787, 177 boats, containing 2659 souls, 1353 horses, 766 cattle, 112 waggons, and two phaetons, besides a very considerable number that passed in the night unobserved. The population of this state in 1790 was 73,677. It is asserted that upwards of 20,000 persons emigrated hither in the year 1787. These people, collected from different states, of different manners, customs, religions, and political sentiments, have not been long enough together to form a uniform national character. Among the settlers there are many gentlemen of abilities, and many genteel families from several of the states; and they are in general more regular than people who settle new countries. CHIEF TOWNS.] Kentucky as yet contains no very large towns; the principal are, Lexington, Louisville, and Washington. Lexington con tains about 250 houses, and about 2000 inhabitants. RELIGION.] The Baptists are the most numerous religious sect in Kentucky. There are several large congregations of Presbyterians, and some few of other denominations. HISTORY AND CONSTITUTION.] The history of this State is the same with that of Virginia, of which it made a part till the year 1792, when it was erected into an independent State. By the constitution of this State, formed and adopted in 1792, the legislative power is vested in a general assembly, consisting of a senate and house of representatives; the Supreme executive in a governor; the judiciary in the supreme court of appeals, and such inferior courts as the legislature may establish. The representatives are chosen annually by the people; the senators and governor are chosen for four years, by electors appointed for that pur pose; the judges are appointed during good behaviour, by the gover nor, with the advice of the senate. The number of representatives cannot exceed one hundred, nor be less than forty: and the senate, at first consisting of eleven, is to increase with the house of representatives, in the ratio of one to four. *Morse's American Geography, p. 407. |