Alexandria, a city and port, on the Potomac, 7 miles S. by W. from Washington : population 8734. The city stands on high ground, con tains some good buildings, and has a considerable commerce: ships of the largest size ascend to the town.
Charlottereil1e, on a branch of Rivanna River, 81 miles W.N.W. from Richmond : population about 2000. The town contains a court-house, several churches, schools, &c., but the place derives its chief import ance from its connection with tho University of Virginia, which is about a mile and a half distant from the town. The buildings of the University occupy an oblong quadrangle about 500 feet long by 150 feet wide. In the neighbourhood of Charlottesville is Monticello, formerly Jefferson's residence, on the summit of a bill about 500 feet above the Rivanna. It commands a magnificent view of the Blue Ridge and the surrounding country.
Fredericksburg, on the right bank of the Itappahannoc, 110 miles from the mouth, and 66 mike N. from Richmond, population 4001, is a flourishing commercial town in a healthy and pleasant situation. It is neer the head of the navigation of the Rappahannoc, up to which town vessels of 130 tons burden can ascend. There are a court house, a market-house, churches, banks, several factories, &c. It exports annually a large quantity of corn, flour, tobacco, &c.
liarpei's Ferry, at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, where the united stream forces its way through the Blue Ridge, 135 miles N. by W. from Richmond : population 1747. There are here several factories, for which the rivers afford ample water-power ; but the chief establishment is a national armoury on a very large scale for the manufacture of fire-arms, &c. Tho Potomac is navicable up to the village, and a canal and railway pass the town. The river and mountain scenery here is famous for its magnificence, and attracts a great number of tourists.
Of James Town, where the first colony was settled, and the chief seat of the colonial government from 1607 till 1793, though once a large place, not a single house remains.
Lerington is seated ou the right bank of the North River, a tributary of the James River, 156 miles W. by N. from Richmond : population 1743. It is chiefly noteworthy as the seat of Washington College, which was founded and endowed by George Washington. It also
contains a military institute, n court, &c.
Lynchburg, on the right bank of James River, 20 miles below the Great Falls where the river passes through the Blue Ridge, and 120 miles W.S.W. from Richmond : population, S071. Lynchburg is one of the busiest commercial towns in Virginia. It has considerable trade, not only with Western Virginia, but with North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio; and its tradiug facilities will be greatly extended by railways now in course of construction. It contains several costly and substantial public buildings, batiks, several very large tobacco warehouses and factories, cotton-mills, iron-foundries, &c.
Mount Vernon, the mansion of Washington, where he died, and near which he was buried, stands on a bold promontory overhanging the Potomac, which is here a mile and a half wide. The tomb is above ground, and his remains are deposited in a white marble sarcophagus, with a fiat cover, on which is sculptured an eagle iu relief, the American stare and stripes, and the name • Washingten.' A similar sarcophagus near it contains the remains of his wife.
Norfolk, situated on the right bank of Elizabeth River, about 8 miles from Hampton Roads, and 114 miles &E. from Richmond, population 14,326, is the chief commercial port, and the second town m sizo, of Virginia. The harbour is easily accessible, sheltered from all winds, has depth of water for the largest vessels, and good anchor ago for vessels of all sizes. The town is built on a plain, the streets are broad and well-paved, and the houses chiefly of brick. The public buildings are—a court-house, custom-house, market-house, almshouse, theatre, eight churches, schools, an athcomum, an orphan-house, &c. On the opposite bank of Elizabeth River, but distant nearly a mile, is Portsmouth (population, 8122), almost adjoining which is Gosport (population, 504), which may be regarded as parts of Norfolk. At Gosport is the United States navy-yard, the largest and finest in the Union. The dry-dock, constructed of granite, cost about 1,000,000 dollars. Opposite to it is the government naval hospital. Steamers ply regularly between Norfolk and New York, and the town has good railway accommodation.