VIRGINIA 43 



genious mechanism for splitting broad iron bars at a 

 stroke into many narrower bars, which is a much slower 

 process by the customary method under the hammer. 

 It was a regret to me to be informed of this remarkable 

 iron-works, only after it was too late ; for not withstand- 

 ing my continued inquiries, I heard no mention of it in 

 this town. Generally in America it is difficult to get in- 

 formation about anything whatever. The curiosity of 

 the Americans is concerned only with matters of trade 

 and politics ; everything else around them from custom 

 seems to them of no consequence, although they are al- 

 ways jabbering about the distant wonders of other 

 provinces. 



The hills close about Fredericksburg and on the river 

 consisted chiefly of sand-stones of divers colors. Frag- 

 ments of fine granites also appeared, which species of 

 rock indeed makes up the ridge causing the falls of 

 the Rappahannock. These fragments were of quartz, 

 feldspar, and mica sprinkled now and again with shorl. 

 The banks of the stream, between here and the Bay, at 

 many places show whale-bones, shark-teeth, oyster and 

 other muscle-shells. 



Winter-shad is the name they have for a fish which, 

 throughout the winter, appears in this and the other 

 rivers of Virginia, and is taken in great quantities in 

 nets. But it is said to be very different from the shad 

 proper (Chipea Alosa L.) which comes only in the 

 spring. I have not seen the fish. 



Not far from Fredericksburg we had the honor of 

 breakfasting with an American General, whose dress 

 was conspicuously party-colored; a large white hat, a 

 blue coat, a brown waistcoat, and green breeches 

 adorned his short, thick person. From here on, one 



