UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. . 363 



National Character, Manners and Customs. ...To describe the 

 habits, manners, dress and diversions,ol the people of the United States, 

 would be to retread the ground we have already passed, and again 

 describe almost all the nations of Europe. The Germans, French 

 and Irish preserve the customs of their European ancestors, with 

 many of their national attachments, antipathies and prejudices. The 

 bulk of the inhabitants, however, being of English descent, the 

 country having been so long under the British government, and the 

 civil laws being only an improvement upon those of England ; the 

 grand features in the character of the people of the United States are 

 English also. Theatrical exhibitions, balls, and the other amuse- 

 ments of the cities of Europe, are also common in those of the United 

 States. Horse racing is a common diversion in the middle and south- 

 ern states, though several of the legislatures have recently forbidden 

 it under severe penalties. In the southern and western states, gam- 

 bling of all kinds is practised. Different situations and circumstances 

 have produced different habits and customs in the several sections of 

 the union. These will receive more particular attention in the re- 

 spective states. 



Cities. ...The seat of government and political capital of the United 

 States is Washington in the district of Columbia. This spot was se- 

 lected on account of its central situation, and the city was planned and 

 public buildings erected by order of the government. It stands on 

 the Maryland side of the Potowmac, on a point of land formed by that 

 river, and a stream called the Eastern Branch. Its latitude is 38° 53' 

 north, and its longitude 77° 45' west from London. In point of salu- 

 brity, the situation is unexceptionable ; the soil is dry, and furnished 

 with numerous streams and springs of excellent water. The plan 

 of the city extends about four miles up each of the rivers. It is divi- 

 ded by streets running north and south, and east and west, into 1150 

 squares, containing from three to six acres each. These streets are 

 from 90 to 1 10 feet wide. Besides these there are diagonal avenues, 

 of from 130 to 160 feet in width, connecting the distant and more im- 

 portant parts of the city. The whole number of houses in Washing- 

 ton, does not exceed 10C0. These are situated in five different vil- 

 lages, at a considerable distance apart. The capitol, erected for the 

 accommodation of congress and the public officers, is situated on a 

 pleasant eminence, commanding an extensive prospect. The plan 

 embraces a front of 362 feet. The wings only are completed. The 

 president's palace is a beautiful building of free white stone, two sto- 

 ries high, and 170 feet long by 85 deep. There are several large build- 

 ings at the navy yard, a jail, four places of worship, barracks, mar- 

 ket-houses, 8cc. The number of inhabitants in 1810 was 8,208. Though 

 so recently built, this city has witnessed the ravages of war. It was 

 entered on the 24th of August, 1814, by a British force of 5000 men 

 under the command of general Ross. They set fire to the navy yard, 

 the capitol, president's house, and all the public offices except the 

 post office, which they took for a private building. The walls of the 

 capitol were left standing and congress have ordered the interiour to 

 be repaired. 



Philadelphia is the largest and most populous city of the United 

 States, containing with the county 1 1 1 ,2 10 inhabitants. The trade of 

 New-York is however much more considerable. This latter city con- 

 tains, with the county, 96,373 inhabitants. The other large commer- 

 cial cities of the United States are Boston, Baltimore, Charlestons, 



