VIRGINIA 49 



woods, pines appearing only here and there in low and 

 sandy spots. 



Richmond stands on the hilly banks of the James 

 River, over against the falls of this stream which is 

 here perhaps half a mile wide. The houses of this 

 town, a short time since of little consequence, are 

 almost wholly of wood and scattered irregularly on two 

 heights, divided by the Shokoes, a small brook; the 

 number of them is not large * nor are they in them- 

 selves of a handsome appearance. What gives the 

 place fame and regard is the falls of the James River, 

 in addition to its being the seat of the Virginia govern- 

 ment. 



The falls of the river were the first object of my 

 curiosity. The lower terminus of these is next the 

 town ; but their whole breadth or extent is 7 miles up- 

 stream to Westham, a small place, and in this distance 

 the total perpendicular fall of the water is only 71 ft., 

 according to an exact measurement said to have been 

 made. Hence the falls are of themselves inconsider- 

 able, and one looks in vain for high rock-walls over 

 which the water plunges straight down; but a vast 

 number of great and small fragments of rock fill the 

 bed of the river as far as the eye can see, and through 

 these the current, with foaming uproar, makes its way. 

 What with the help of devious banks and the forests on 

 both sides, the impression from a view of the whole is 

 great and pleasing. The noise of the falls, especially 

 at night, is heard not only throughout the town but, 

 before the wind, for several miles around. These falls 



* Recently the number of the houses of Richmond was esti- 

 mated at 280, and that of the inhabitants at about 2000. 



