VIRGINIA. 



443 



Between James 

 river and Norths 

 Carolina. 



Situation. Counties. 



"Prince George 

 Surry 

 Sussex 

 ' Southampton 

 lsie of Wight 

 Nansemond 

 Norfolk 

 Princess Ann 

 Henrico 

 Hanover 

 New Kent 

 Between James,' Charles City 

 and York rivers. | James City 

 York 

 I Warwick 

 [.Elizabeth City 



Situation, 'Counties. 



^Caroline 

 I King William 

 Between York J King and Queen 

 and Rappahan-<J Essex 

 noc rivers. j Middlesex 



Gloucester 

 _Matthews 

 Prince William 

 Si afford 

 King George 

 Richmond 

 Westmoreland 

 Northumberland 

 Lancaster 

 Fairfax 

 \ccomac 

 Northampton. 



Between 

 pahannoc 



Rap 



and< 



Potomac rivers. 



Eastern shore. 



Capes, bays, and rivers ...In sailing to Virginia or Maryland, 

 you pass a strait between two points of land, calied the Capes of 

 Virginia, which opens a passage into the bay of Chesapeak, one of 

 the largest and safest in the whole world ; for it enters the country 

 near 300 miles from the south to the north, is about eighteen miles 

 broad for a considerable way, and seven where it is the narrowest, 

 the waters in most places being nine fathoms deep. This bay, 

 through its whole extent, receives a vast number of navigable rivers 

 from the sides of both Maryland and Virginia. From the latter, be- 

 sides others of less note, it receives James River, York River, the 

 Rappahannoc, and the Potomac: these are not only navigable for 

 large ships into the heart of the country, but have so many creeks, 

 and receive such a number of smaller navigable rivers, that Virginia 

 is, without all manner of doubt, the country in the world of all others 

 of the most convenient navigation. It has been observed, and the 

 observation is not much exaggerated, that every planter has a river 

 at his door. 



Metals and minerals. ..Virginia abounds more with minerals 

 and fossils than any state in the Union. Iron, lead, copper, black- 

 lead, coal, marble, lime stone, are found in this country ; a single 

 lump of gold ore has likewise been found near the falls of Rappahan- 

 noc river, which yielded 17 dwt. of gold of extraordinary ductility; 

 but no other indications of gold have been observed. Crystals are 

 common : some amethysts, and one emerald, have been discovered. 

 Face of the country ...The whole face of this country is so ex- 

 tremely low towards the sea, that you are very near the shore before 

 you can discover land from the mast Head. The lofty trees, which 

 cover the soil, gradually rise as it were from the ocean, and afford an 

 enchanting prospect. You travel 100 miles into the country without 

 meeting with a hill, which is nothing uncommon on this extensive 

 coast oi North" America. The western parts, on the contrary, are 

 intersected by several ridges of mountains; and the vallies between 

 are very rich, being watered by numerous streams. 



Climate... In summer the heats her? are excessive, though not 

 without refreshing breezes from the sea. The weather is changea- 

 ble, and the change is sudden and violent. The winter frosts come 



