Virginia 



amusements; but as soon as the business is finished, 

 they return to their plantations; and the town is in a 

 manner deserted.* 



The situation of Virginia (according to Evans's 

 map) is between the 36th and 40th degree of north 

 lat. and about 76 degrees west long, from London. f 

 It is bounded on the north by the river Potomac, 

 on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, by Carolina on 

 the south, and, to include only what is inhabited, 

 by the great Alleghany on the west. J 



The climate is extremely fine, though subject to 

 violent heats in the summer: Fahrenheit's thermome- 

 ter being generally for three months from 85 to 95 

 degrees high. The other seasons, however, make 

 ample amends for this inconvenience: for the 

 autumns and springs are delightful; and the winters 

 are so mild and serene (though there are now and 

 then excessively cold days) as scarcely to require a 

 fire. The only complaint that a person can reason- 

 ably make, is, of the very sudden changes to which 

 the weather is liable; for this being entirely regulated 



* Since the revolution, the seat of government has been removed 

 to Richmond, a town situated just below the falls of James river. 



f Mr. Ebeling, of Hamburg, in a note to the German transla- 

 tion of this work, says, "Virginia is situated between 37 and 40 

 "degrees of north latitude, and extends from 77 to 81 degrees west 

 "longitude from London;" but I believe he is mistaken, for the 

 latest and best maps generally agree with Mr. Evans in regard 

 to the situation he has given to this country; at least, they approxi- 

 mate nearer to the account here given than to that of Mr. Ebeling. 



% See Note II. 



[35] 



