HORSE RACING. 
185 
vigable part of Appamafox River, and is th<* 
only place of consequence south of James 
River, between Norfolk and Richmond. The 
rest of the towns, which are but very smalb 
seem to be fast on the decline, and present a 
miserable and melancholy appearance. The 
houses in Petersburgh amount to about three 
hundred; they are built w ithout any regu¬ 
larity. The people who inhabit them are mostly 
foreigners; ten families are not to be found 
in the town that have been born in it. A very 
flourishing trade is carried on in this place. 
About two thousand four hundred hogsheads 
of tobacco are inspected annually at the 
warehouses; and at the Falls of the Appa- 
matox River, at the upper end of the town, 
are some of the best flour mills in the state. 
Great crowds were assembled at this place, 
as I passed through, attracted to it by the 
horse races, which take place four or five 
times in the year. Horse racing is a favourite 
amusement in Virginia; and it is carried on 
with spirit in different parts of the state. The 
best bred horses which they have are imported 
from England; hut still some of those raised 
at home are very good. They usually run for 
purses made up by subscription. The only 
particular circumstance in their mode of car¬ 
rying on their races in Virginia is that they 
