Mount Vernon, the celebrated seat of General Washington, is in this state, on the Potomac, 9 miles below Alexandria.

Liberal provision is made in Virginia for the advancement of learning, by a fund of 1,100,000 dollars. The Virginia University is richly endowed, and handsomely located at Charlotteville, and is a recent but promising institution. At Williamsburg, is the seat of William and Mary college. In Prince Edward county, is Hampden Sidney college, very respectable and flourishir.g, near which is a Theological seminary. In Lexington county, is Washington college; and there are many academies and schools in different parts of the state.

The settlement of Virginia was commenced by people from England, in 1607 at Jamestown, (now in ruins) on James river, 40 miles from its mouth.

QUESTIONS.

What are the boundaries of Virginia? Its extent? Population? General description? By what river is Virginia divided from Maryland? By what river from Ohio ? What 3 rivers in this state empty into Chesapeake bay? What are the course and termination of the Shenandoah and Monongohela? What river besides the Chowan rises in Virginia, and runs into North Carolina? Where does the great Kenhawa empty? By what mountains is Virginia traversed? What is the most eastern ridge called? Ans. The Blue Ridge. Into what 3 sections is Virginia na turally divided? How many counties does it contain? What in general, is said of the surface, climate and soil? What description is given of E. Virginia? Of the Middle section ? Of W. Virginia? What gremarkable curiosity deserves to be mentioned? Ans. The Natural Bridge over Cedar Creek, a branch of the James river, 12 miles south of Lexington. The bridge is naturally formed by a huge rock, 60 feet wide, covered with earth and trees, and lying across the top of a deep chasm, at the bottom of which flows the creek, 250 feet below. A view of this bridge from the margin of the stream, is represented as indescribably beautiful and sublime. What are the chief agricultural and mineral productions in Virginia? What is said of the number of slaves? Of the manufactures and commerce? Of Richmond, the capital? Of Norfolk? Of Petersburg? Of Wheeling, on the Ohio? What other respectable towns are mentioned, and where situated? Where is Yorktown, and for what famous? Mount Vernon, and for what celebrated? Of what 4 venerable men has Virginia been the birth place? What provision is here made to promote learning? What University and colleges are mentioned, and where situated? What of the academies and schools? When, where, and by whom was Virginia begun to be settled?

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Extent, 10 m. sq., or 100 sq. ms.-Pop. 40,000.-400 per sq. m. The District of Columbia lies on both sides the Potomac, 120 miles from its mouth. It was ceded to the U. States, by Maryland and Virginia, in 1790, but the first session of Congress here, was in 1800. The district is under the immediate control of the General Government. It is divided into 2 counties, and the inhabitants chiefly reside in the 3 cities, Washington, Alexandria, and Georgetown. The surface generally is uneven, and the soil sandy, and not very productive.

Washington, the seat of the General Government, is handsomely situated on a peninsula, between the Potomac and the E. branch, about 300 miles from the ocean. Its plan is regular and extensive, and is calculated for a magnificent city. The principal streets extend due N. and S., and are crossed by others at right angles. The capitol, where Congress every winter holds its session, is located on an eminence, commanding a delightful view of the city and the surrounding country. About a mile and a half west of the capitol, stands the President's house, with 4 elegant brick buildings, occupied by the Secretaries or Heads of Departments. The capitol and the President's house are constructed of grey free-stone painted white, and make a handsome and magnificent appearance. The population is about 19,000, and are chiefly collected in 3 distinct settlements, a mile or more distant from each other.

Georgetown is further up the river, north-west from the metropolis. It has a delightful situation, and contains many fine brick buildings, with an interesting prospect of the city of Washington. Pop. 8,500.

Alexandria is a pleasant town, built on a regular plan, the streets crossing at right angles, reatly paved, and kept clean. It is a little below Washington, on the south bank of the Potomac, and is a place of trade and commerce. Pop. 8,400.

There is a Catholic college at Georgetown; and at Washington is Columbia college, handsomely situated about a mile north from the President's house.

The Chesapeake and Ohio canal extends from the Potomac above Georgetown to Pittsburg, 341 miles.

QUESTIONS.

What is the situation of the District of Columbia? Its extent and population? To what 2 states did it formerly belong? When was it ceded to the U. States? When did Congress first sit there? How many counties and cities belong to it? What is said of the surface of the soil? Of the situation of Washington? Its plan? Its streets? What of the Capitol? Of the President's house? Of the population? Where is Georgetown, and how described? Alexandria? What college at Georgetown? What one at Washington? What canal starts near this city?

NORTH CAROLINA.

Extent, 50,000 sq. miles.-Pop. 739,000-15 per square mile. Slaves 246,000.

This state is divided into 63 counties. It exhibits a great diversity of surface, soil, and climate. The eastern portion, for 60 or 70 miles from the Atlantic, is an extended, sandy, barren plain.

covered with pine forests, with here and there strips of fertile land on the borders of the streams, where the climate is unhealthy. Farther west, on the declivity of the Alleghany, the country is hilly, healthy, and fruitful, and is the most populous part of the state. The western parts are mountainous, and thinly inhabited, with very few slaves.

The pine barrens produce large quantities of pine timber, turpentine and tar. Cotton and tobacco grow in the low country, near the rivers, and various kinds of grain, as in N. England, are produced in the hill country. Iron ore is abundant on the mountains.

N. Carolina is rich in gold. It embraces the most productive section of the gold region of the U. States, which is found to extend from Virginia, along east of the Blue ridge, through North and South Carolina, to Georgia and Alabama. In some instances the gold is found in pure particles, among the sand, as in the counties of Burke and Rutherford. In other parts it is found in mines, or in the form of ore, as in the counties of Mecklenburg, Rowan, Davidson, and Cabarras. A great multitude of labourers, chiefly foreigners, are here employed in the mining business. During the year 1831, gold to the amount of 294,000 dolars was received from N. Carolina, at the mint of the U. States.

Manufactures and commerce do not extensively flourish in this state. The coast is flat and sandy. The mouths of the rivers are obstructed; and there is a want of good harbours.

Wilmington, 30 miles from the mouth of Cape Fear river, has the best harbour in the state, and carries on considerable trade in flour. Pop. 3,000.

Raleigh, the capital, is on the Neuse, and is a handsome town. The state house is an elegant brick building, in which is exhibited a noble statue of Washington, erected at the expense of the

state.

Newbern, on the same river, toward the mouth, is the largest town, and has considerable commerce. Pop. 3,800.

Fayetteville, on the Cape Fear, is favourably situated for trade. In 1831, it was almost destroyed by a fire which consumed 600 houses; but by the enterprise of its inhabitants, aided by the generous sympathy of their fellow citizens, the town is fast rising from its ashes. Washington and Edenton are commercial

places.

Charlotte is a very flourishing village, in the neighbourhood of some of the most valuable mines.

Chapel Hill, north-west of Raleigh, is the seat of the N. Carolina Institute, a recent, but promising University. At Salem is a very flourishing female academy, under the care of the Moravi

ans. This place is also noted as being in the vicinity of Mount Ararat, or Pilot mountain, which is in the form of a pyramid, nearly a mile in height, and crowned at the top with a huge rock rising like a steeple 300 feet.

The Dismal Swamp canal, 22 miles long, crosses the boundary line between Virginia and North Carolina, and connects the waters of Albermarle sound with Chesapeake bay.

The state of education in North Carolina is generally low. The Baptists have 272 churches. Presbyterians and Methodists are also numerous.

QUESTIONS

How is North Carolina bounded? What number of sq. miles? Counties? In2 habitants? Slaves? What sounds, capes, and inlets on the coast? What rivers ? Mountains? Where is Dismal swamp, 30 miles long, and what canal runs through it? How is the east portion of North Carolina described? What kind of country is it farther west? How are the most western parts? What are the products of the pine barrens? What, of low lands on the river? What, of the hill country? What is said of the gold of North Carolina? In what different forms is the gold found? By whom are the mines chiefly worked? What other states are included in the gold region? What is said of the manufactures and commerce? Is there a want of good harbours? Where is Wilmington? Raleigh the capital, and how described? Which is the largest town, and how situated? Where is Fayetteville, and what is said of it? Where are Washington and Edenton? Charlotte? Chapel Hill, and of what is it the seat? What academy is at Salem? Where is Pilot mountains, and how described? What is the general state of education? What prevailing christian denominations?

SOUTH CAROLINA.

Extent, 30,000 sq. m.-Pop. 581,500-20 per square mile.Slaves 315,000.

South Carolina is about two thirds as large as North Carolina, and resembles it in surface and soil. It is divided into 3 distinct sections, viz: the sandy plains and sand hills on the east, the rich uplands in the interior, and the mountainous region beyond, on the west.

Among the hills and mountains, the climate is salubrious, the population more scattered, the number of slaves less, the plantations smaller, and the mode of cultivating them, in some measure, resembling the customs of the northern states. The low country is the more populous, though the land, except near the rivers, is sterile, and the climate unhealthy, especially to strangers.

Cotton is the principal crop, and the chief source of wealth to the state. Rice is confined to the sea shore, or the low, marshy grounds. Sugar cane, oranges, &c., are found in the southern parts. The exports from this state are of great amount and value, but are generally conveyed in vessels belonging to other

states.

South Carolina is politically divided into 29 districts. The seat of government is Columbia, on the Congaree, near the centre of the state, and is a handsome and flourishing town. Pop. 3,400.

Charleston is the commercial capital of this, and of all the southérn Atlantic states. It is conveniently situated for commerce, on a peninsula between Ashley and Cooper rivers. The harbor is spacious and commodious, and the city regularly laid out, and handsomely built. It contains many elegant seats of the rich and opulent, and its citizens are characterized by hospitality, gayety, and politeness. Pop. 30,000. Beaufort, on an island, has an excellent harbor. Georgetown and Camden are respectable places. There is a college at Charleston, and also one at Columbia, which is peculiarly well endowed and flourishing. Common schools are encouraged by a state fund.

Large sums have been expended for internal improvements. A canal 22 miles long, connects the Santee with Cooper river and Charleston harbor. A rail road is in progress 135 miles in length, between Charleston and Hamburg, on the Savannah river, near Augusta. Another is in contemplation between Charleston a d Columbia.

South Carolina became a separate province from North Carolina, in 1729.

QUESTIONS.

What are the boundaries, extent, and population of South Carolina. How divided naturally? How are the climate, country, and people described on the hills and mountains? What is said of the low country? What of the principal crops in this state? What of the exports? How many districts in South Carolina? What, and where, is the seat of government, and how described? Where is Charleston the chief city? What of the harbor-the city-the houses-and citizens?