DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 491 



History.. ..The first serious attempt at colonization in this part of 

 America, was made in 1699 by M. D'Iberville. The country had been 

 previously penetrated by different parties of Spaniards and French, 

 but no establishments were formed. The first settlement was made 

 on the Isle of Dauphin. In 1717 the position where New Orleans 

 now stands was selected, and nearly all the settlers removed to Beloxi. 

 In 1720 the first houses were built in New Orleans. The colony had 

 to struggle through many difficulties, and was involved in several 

 serious wars with the neighbouring Spanish settlements, and the 

 surrounding tribes of Indians. In 1755 a war commenced between 

 France and England, which was particularly disastrous to the former. 

 Canada was conquered and the French navy destroyed. Peace took 

 place in 1763, and Louisiana was ceded to Spain. It continued in, 

 the peaceable possession of the latter power till the year 1801, at 

 which time it was restored to the French. In 1803 it was purchased 

 by the government of the United States, and in 1812, that part of 

 Louisiana, constituting the territory of Orleans, was admitted into 

 the union as a free and independent state. 



DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



The district of Columbia is situated on both sides of the river 

 Potomac* about 120 miles from its mouth. It was ceded by the 

 slates of Virginia and Maryland to the general government of the 

 United States in 1790; it having been fixed upon as a proper situation 

 lor the erection of the permanent capital of the union. It is ten 

 miles square, and contains 24,023 inhabitants. Besides the city of 

 Washington, which has been already described, it contains the towns 

 of Georgetown and Alexandria. 



The river Potomac passes through this district, and is navigable 

 for large ships above the city. The Eastern branch, as it is called, 

 rises in Maryland, and joins the Potomac at Washington. It is navi- 

 gable four miles for large vessels. The face of the country, soil and 

 productions, resemble thos'j of the neighbouring states. 



Alexandria is a place of considerable trade. Flour is the princi- 

 pal article of export. In 1810 the exports amounted to 1,038,103 

 dollars, of which 984,463 were of domestic, and 53,640 of foreign 

 produce. There are several tanneries, distilleries, breweries, sugar 

 refineries, glass works, &c. in this district. It is divided into two 

 counties by the river Potomac, Washington and Alexandria. The 

 former is governed by the laws of Maryland ; the latter by those of 

 Virginia. The militia amounts to 2,250. Presbyterians and episco- 

 palians are the most numerous religious sects. The methodists, bap- 

 tists, friends, and Roman catholics, have each places of worship. 

 The latter have also a well endowed college at Georgetown. There 

 are academies in Georgetown and Alexandria. The public library 

 was burned with the capitol by the British in 1814. Congress have 

 since purchased the private library of the late president Jefferson, 

 which is said to be very extensive. 



