VIRGINIA 91 



also a little town by the name of Pokahunta perpetuates 

 the memory of the princess. The coast is nearer here, 

 and one has passed the tobacco-country proper, the 

 plant not thriving on the poorer, sandy soils of the 

 region, but tobacco is brought hither from more dis- 

 tant parts ; on the other hand, the extensive pine- 

 forests supply a different sort of produce, namely, tar, 

 pitch, and turpentine, which with salted hog-meat are 

 the most important articles for export of this place. A 

 barrel of tar, 31^2 gallons, costs at this time 8-9 Virg. 

 shillings; a barrel of turpentine 18 shillings, and a 

 barrel of salted hog-meat, 220 pounds, 50 shillings. 



At Smithfield we passed the evening in the agreeable 

 society of some gentlemen of the neighborhood. The 

 talk most of the time was of the great advantages 

 which the Virginia state has over all other states in all 

 the world, and the nation of Virginia over all other 

 nations. It was insisted that the noble Virginians 

 are the ' most polished nation ' on God's earth, the 

 gentlemen of France perhaps alone excepted. Suffi- 

 cient proof was lacking for there was no one to contra- 

 dict or interrupt the series of conclusions by which the 

 affirmation was as naturally supported as that made by 

 the little Frenchman : that he was the handsomest man 

 under the moon. From the undeniable argument, that 

 in fertility, size, navigable streams &c. Virginia is 

 superior to the other American states, a number of 

 propositions followed to substantiate the claim that 

 in every respect Virginia is in advance of all other 

 states, all other parts of the world. Who in America 

 would dare count himself the equal of the noble Vir- 

 ginian? The poor New Englander who gains his 

 bread in the sweat of his brow? or the Pensylvanian, 



