328 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



tion, and the number of magazines still more in- 

 creased ; more houses were built and house-rents rose 

 uncommonly high, as they are at the present time. The 

 extraordinary price paid for ground in the city is an 

 argument showing how profitable trade has hitherto 

 been and what is expected in the future. In several 

 places next the harbor each square foot of ground 

 yields a guinea a year in rent. I was shown a spot, 

 where a ware-house is just now building, 30 ft. front 

 and 30 foot depth, and the rent paid was 90 guineas a 

 year. There was building in all quarters of the town, 

 and at the same time care is taken for beautifying in 

 the items of pavements and lights. Work and activity 

 were to be seen everywhere. 



The Point (properly Fell's point) is the south-east- 

 ern end of the town ; a narrow tongue of land ex- 

 tending into the Bay ; this part of the town being 

 distinguished by the water and masts surrounding it. 

 Here especially is all the shipping business done. 

 Whenever, according to the first plan, this point is 

 wholly united by buildings with the rest of the city, 

 the length of the city will be nearly two miles ; but at 

 this time a marshy channel still divides the two parts 

 and is neither ornamental nor contributory to good 

 health. In the harbor there were lying at the time 

 some 50 vessels, although many on the approach of 

 autumn had sailed with their cargoes. This is as 

 yet a free harbor ; ships pay only a very trifling duty. 

 By the Chesapeak Bay Baltimore has an easy com- 

 munication with the Eastern-shore (the peninsula 

 lying between the bay and the ocean) ; with the nu- 

 merous rivers and coasts of Virginia; and (by the Elk 

 river) with the Delaware, the distance being only 10 



