RICHMOND. 
These kind of horses are called “ natural 
pacers/' and it is a matter of the utmost diffi¬ 
cult} 7 to make them move in any other man¬ 
ner ; but it is not one horse in live hundred 
that would pace without being taught. Ip. 
the wrack, the horse gallops with his fore 
feet, and trots with those behind. This is a 
gait equally devoid of grace with the other, 
and equally contrary to nature ; it is very fa¬ 
tiguing also to the horse: but the Virginian 
finds it more conducive to his ease than a fair 
gallop, and this circumstance banishes every 
other consideration. 
The people in this part of the country, bor-? 
dering upon James River, are extremely fond 
of an entertainment which they call a bar- 
bacue. It consists in a. large party meeting to¬ 
gether, either under some trees, or in a house, 
to partake of sturgeon or pig roasted in the, 
open air, on a sort of hurdle, over a slow fire ; 
this, however, is an entertainment chiefly 
confined to the lower ranks, and like most 
others of the same nature, it generally ends 
in intoxication. 
Richmond, the capital of Virginia, is situat¬ 
ed immediately below the Fails of James River, 
on the north side. The river opposite to the 
town is about four hundred yards wide, and is 
crossed by,means of two bridges, which are se¬ 
parated by an island that lies nearly in the raid** 
