1033 



VIRGINIA. 



VIRGINIA. 



1031 



are bean, wolves, deer, the racoon, squirrel, and opossum. The 

 largest of the wild birds is the wild turkey, which is still met with 

 in the western districts and in the Blue Ridge. There are also several 

 kinds of water-fowl, among which are the canvass-back duck of the 

 Potomac, and the sora, or American ortolan. Other remarkable birds 

 are the turkey-buzzard, the mocking-bird, the red-bird, and the 

 humming-bird. Partridge* and quails, as they are called, are common. 

 All the rivers abound in fish in the lower part of their course; in the 

 rivers which fall into the Ohio are several kinds which are not found 

 in Europe, as the black perch, the grennel, the blue cat, the buffalo, 

 and the salmon-pike. There is also the soft-shell turtle, which sur- 

 passes in flavour the fine green-fat turtle. Oysters, lobsters, and 

 other shell-fish are abundant on the coast Bees are reared to a 

 considerable extent 



Manufacture*, Commerce, <{<;. Virginia has considerable manu- 

 factures. In 1850 nearly 30,000 persona were employed in manu- 

 factures, mining, and mechanic aria, without including slaves, who 

 are extensively employed in the tobacco manufactories, Ac. The 

 cotton manufacture employed about 3000 persons ; the iron manu- 

 facture upwards of 3000 ; the woollen nearly 700; the salt 1300 ; and 

 there are very important tobacco manufactories, extensive flour-mills, 

 numerous tanneries, breweries, distilleries, machine shops, manu- 

 factories of hardware and cutlery, carriages, harness, Ac. 



In its foreign commerce Virginia has declined, and now ranks 

 among the lax important commercial states ; a large proportion of 

 its products is now exported through one or other of the northern 

 port*, and foreign merchandise is received by the same channel ; but 

 it carries on a very large coasting trade. In the year ending June 30, 

 1853, the exports amounted to 3,306,791 dollars; the imports to 

 399,004 dollars, of which 255,363 dollars were carried in American 

 vessels. There were in the same year 40 veels built in the state of 

 the aggregate burden of 6599 tons. The total (hipping owned by 

 the state in 1850 was 74,071 tons. 



IHritimu, Tomu, Ac. Virginia is divi led into 137 counties, 69 in 

 Kastern and 68 in Western Virginia. Richmond is the political capital, 

 nnd the largest town in the state. This and some of the other more 

 important towns are noticed below ; the population is that of 1850 : 



Richmond, the capital, is beautifully situated on the ascending slope 

 of the left bank of James River, 130 miles from the entrance of 

 Chnapesk* Bay, and 122 miles S.S.W. from Washington, in 37*32' 

 N. lat, 77* 27' W. long. : population 27,570. The ground on which 

 the city is built is broken into several hills of differ, nt heights. The 

 plan of the city is regular, the principal street* running parallel to the 

 river, which are called A Street, B Street, 4c., and crowed at right 

 angle* by other*, which are called First Street, Second Street, Ac. 

 The chief public bnilding is the State-House, or Capitol, a copy of 

 the Maison Cam'-e of Nlmes, which is finely situated on the brow of 

 a hill which overlooks the city. It contain* a statue of General 

 Washington by Houdon. The city-hall is a handsome edifice ; there 

 are beside* a governor's house, court-house, and other state and civic 

 buil<ling, including a state penitentiary, a poorhouse, and a female 

 orphan asylum. There are 25 churches, some of them costly and 

 handsome structure* ; 3 college* ; numerous schools ; a philosophical 

 institution, Ac. The river flows over a channel of granite, of which 

 material there are inexhaustible quarries in the vicinity of the city. 

 Within few mile* of the city are large beds of coal, and the fall* of 

 the river, which extend from opposite the city for nearly six miles, 

 afford water-power to any extent There are several flour-mills, two 

 of them among the largest in the world, and four cotton-mills ; about 

 40 tobacco factories, employing over 2500 blacks; iron rolling-mills; 

 cannon foundries ; nail-works ; machine shops ; paper-mills, Ac. The 

 commerce consist* chiefly in the exportation of tobacco and flour. 

 Four railways unite here. There are seven daily and several weekly 

 newspapers. 



Alexandria, a city and port, on the Potomac, 7 miles 8. by W. from 

 Washington : population 8734. The city stands on high ground, con- 

 tains some good buildings, and baa a considerable commerce : ships 

 of the largest size ascend to the town. 



CkarlatttitUU, on a branch of Rivanna River, 81 miles W.N.W. from 

 Richmond : population about 2000. The town contains a court-house, 

 everal churches, schools, Ac., but the place derives its chief import- 

 ance from its connection with the University of Virginia, which ii 

 about a mile and a half distant from the town. The buildings of 

 the University occupy an oblong quadrangle about 500 feet long by 

 150 feet wide. In the neighbourhood of C'harlotteaville is Monticello, 

 formerly Jefferson's residence, on the summit of a hill about 500 feet 

 bore the Rivanna. It commands a magnificent view of the Blue 

 Itiilge and the surrounding country. 



''Helabarg, on the right bank of the Kippahannoc, 110 mile* 

 from the mouth, and 66 miles N. from Richmond, population 4061, is 

 a flourishing commercial town in a healthy and pleasant situation. 

 It is near the bead of the navigation of the Rappahaunoc, up to which 

 town vesBel* of 130 tons burden can ascend. There are a court- 

 house, a market-house, churches, bank*, several factories, Ac. It 

 export* annually a large quantity of corn, flour, tobacco, Ac. 



Harper 1 ! Perry, at the confluence of the Shcnandoah and Potomac 

 riverx, whoiv the united stream force* its way through the Blue Ridge, 

 185 mile* If. by W. from Richmond : population 1747. There are 



here several factories, for which the rivers afford ample water-power ; 

 but the chief establishment is a national armoury on a very large scale 

 for the manufacture of Sre-arons, Ac. The Potomac is navigable up 

 to the village, and a canal and railway pass the town. The river and 

 mountain scenery here is famous for its magnificence, and attracts 

 a great number of tourists. 



Of Jamet Town, where the first colony was settled, and the chief seat 

 of the colonial government from 1007 till 1798, though once a large 

 place, not a single house remains. 



Lerington is seated on the right bank of the North River, a tributary 

 of the James River, 156 miles W. by N. from Richmond : population 

 1743. It is chiefly noteworthy as the seat of Washington College, 

 which was founded and endowed by George Washington. It also 

 contains a military institute, a court, Ac. 



Lynchburg, on the right bank of James River, 20 miles below the 

 Great Falls where the river passes through the Blue Ridge, and 120 

 miles W.S.W. from Richmond : population, 8071. Lyuchburg is one 

 of the busiest commercial towns in Virginia. It has considerable trade, 

 not only with Western Virginia, but with North Carolina, Tennessee, 

 Kentucky, and Ohio; and its trading facilities will be greatly 

 extended by railways now in course of construction. It contains 

 several costly and substantial public buildings, bauks, several very 

 large tobacco warehouses and factories, cotton-mills, iron-foundries, 

 flour-mills, Ac. 



Mount Vernon, the mansion of Washington, where he died, and near 

 which he was buried, stands on a bold promontory overhanging the 

 Potomac, which is here a mile and a half wide. The tomb is above 

 ground, and his remains are deposited in a white marble sarcophagus, 

 with a flat cover, on which is sculptured an eagle in relief, the American 

 stars and stripes, and the name ' Washington.' A similar sarcophagus 

 near it contains the remains of his wife. 



Norfolk, situated on the right bank of Elizabeth River, about 

 8 mile* from Hampton Roads, and 114 miles S.E. from Richmond, 

 population 14,326, is the chief commercial port, and the second town 

 in size, of Virginia. Tbe harbour is easily accessible, sheltered from 

 all wind*, has depth of water for the largest vessels, and good anchor- 

 age for vessels of all size*. The town is built on a plain, the streets 

 are broad and well-paved, and the houses chiefly of brick. The public 

 buildings tat a court-house, custom-house, market-house, almshou.se, 

 theatre, eight churches, schools, an athenceutn, an orphan-house, Ac. 

 On the opposite bank of Elizabeth River, but distant nearly a mile, is 

 Portmouth (population, 8122), almost adjoining which is Gutport 

 (population, 504), which may be regarded as parts of Norfolk. At 

 Ooiport U the United States navy-yard, the largest and finest in the 

 Union. The dry-dock, constructed of granite, cost about 1,000,000 

 dollar*. Opposite to it is the government naval hospital. Steamers 

 ply regularly between Norfolk and New York, and the town has good 

 railway accommodation. 



Pctertburg is situated on the right bank of the Appomattox, about 

 12 mile* from it* junction with James River, and 23 miles 8. from 

 Richmond : population, 14,010. The town is regularly laid-out, and 

 the houses are substantial. It contains several public buildings, 

 churches, school*, Ac. The falls above the town, as at Richmond, are 

 used for water-power; a canal continues the navigation round the 

 falls, and four line* of railway meet here. There are several tobacco 

 manufactories, cotton-, flour-, saw-mills, Ac. The exports of tobacco 

 and flour are very large. 



Springi. The medicinal springs of Western Virginia are in great 

 repute, and have become watering-places which are resorted to from 

 all parts of Virginia and adjoining states ; and at most of these springs 

 there are handsome establishment*, hotels, Ac. for visitors. The Red 

 Sulphur Springi, 240 miles W. from Richmond; the Gray Sulphur 

 Springi, about 9 miles E. from the Red Sulphur Springs ; the Salt 

 Sulphur Spring$, IS mile* E. from the Red Sulphur Springs; the 

 White Sulphur Springi, 38 miles N.E. from the lied Sulphur Springs; 

 and the Sweet Springi, 204 mile* W. from Richmond, are the most 

 fashionable resort*, but there are besides the Berkeley, the Fauquier, 

 the Shannondale, and several others which are much frequented. 



Xaunton, on Lewis Creek, 120 miles N.W. by W. from Richmond, 

 population about 2500, is the centre of a fertile district, and contains 

 two court-houses, a market-bouse, churches, the lunatic asylum for 

 Western Virginia, Ac. 



Wheeling, on the Ohio, 357 miles N.W. from Richmond, population 

 11,435. The town is situated on a strip of land so narrow as only to 

 allow of three principal street* between the river, with which they are 

 parallel, and the steep hills at the back of the town. The place has 

 an extensive trade, and there are several large manufactories of cottons 

 and woollens, steam-engines, iron-castings, nail', white- and sheet-lead, 

 glass, paper, silk, extensive flour-mills, Ac. ; and ship-building is 

 carried on to a small extent The city contains the usual county 

 buildings, churches, Ac. A wira suspension-bridge, of 1010 feet 

 between the supporting towers, crosses the Ohio. The groat National 

 Road passes through Wheeling; and the town is becoming an import- 

 ant railway centre. 



Winchester, the capital of Frederick county, nearly in the centre of 

 which it is situated, 130 miles N.N.W. from Richmond, population 

 about 4000, U an old town, but has of late risen considerably in 

 manufacturing and commercial importance, and in population. It 



