14 
VOYAGE OP THE POTOMAC. 
[June, 
nally bound together, Congress was dependant upon the several 
sovereignties for "a local habitation," and might have been vir- 
tually dissolved by the mere refusal to permit the occupation of 
public buildings. This inconvenience ~wa.s provided for, probably 
at the suggestion of Washington himself, in the eighth section of 
the first article of the Constitution, which gave express power to 
Congress " to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatso- 
ever, over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as might 
by session of particular states and the acceptance of Congress 
become the seat of the government of the United States." 
In accordance with this provision, the states of Virginia and 
Maryland ceded to the United States their jurisdiction over a 
district of ten miles square, situated on both sides of the Poto- 
mac, nearly two hundred miles from its mouth. This cession 
was formally accepted by the United States government, in an 
act of Congress passed on the 16th of July, 1790 ; and ten years 
afterward, during the presidency of John Adams, the government 
was removed thither, and permanently established in the infant 
city called after the deathless name of its patriotic founder. On 
the 3d of May, 1802, Congress passed an act by which the city 
of Washington became incorporated ; the appointment of mayor 
being vested in the president annually, and the two branches of 
the council elected by the people in a general ticket. By a new 
charter granted by Congress in 1820, the mayor is now elected 
by the people for a term of two years. The city is rapidly 
increasing in wealth and population. 
Our gallant, though as yet untried frigate, moved gracefully arid 
majestically upon the waters of the river whose name she bears ; 
and passing Mount Vernon with flag half-mast in token of respect 
for the sacred relics which were there deposited, she again came 
to anchor without accident at India Head. 
The reader is doubtless aware that the consecrated spot alluded 
to is situated on the Virginia side of the Potomac river, the 
course of which at this place is nearly southwest, though its 
general course is to the southeast. Mount Vernon, therefore, is 
on the western bank of the river, and rises at least two hundred 
feet above its surface. It is about fifteen miles below the city 
of Washington, and eight miles from Alexandria. It was so 
named in honour of Admiral Vernon, in whose celebrated expedition 
