History -Maryland was granted by king Charles I. to Cecilius Calvert, baron of Baltimore, in Ireland, June 20th. 1632. The government of the province was by the charter vested in the proprietor; but it appears that he either never exercised these powers alone, or but for a short time; for we find that in 1637, the freemen rejected a body of laws drawn up in England, and transmitted by his lordship, in order to be passed for the government of the province. In the place of these they proposed fortytwo bills to be enacted into laws, by the consent of the proprietor. These, however, were never enacted, at least they are not on record. The hon. Leonard Calvert, lord Baltimore's brother, was the first governor, or lieutenantgeneral. In 1638, a law was passed, constituting the first regular house of assembly, which was to consist of such representatives, called burgesses, as should be elected pursuant to writs issued by the governor. These burgesses possessed all the powers of the persons electing them; but any other freemen, who did not assent to the election, might take their seats in person. Twelve burgesses or freemen, with the lieut.-general and secretary, constituted the assembly or legislature. This assembly

sat at St. Mary's, one of the southern counties, which was the first settled part of Maryland.

In 1642, it was enacted that ten members of the assembly, of whom the governor and six burgesses were to be seven, should be a house; and if sickness should prevent that number from attending, the members present should make a house. Two years afterwards, one Ingle excited a rebellion, forced the governor to fly to Virginia for aid and protection, and seized the records and great seal; the last of which, with most of the public papers, were lost or destroyed. From this period to the year 1647, when order was restored, the proceedings of the province were involved in obscurity. In 1650, an act was passed divid ing the assembly into two houses. The governor, secretary, and any one or more of the council, formed the upper house; the delegates from the several hundreds, who now represent the freemen, formed the lower house. At this time there were in the province but two counties, St Mary's, and the Isle of Kent; but Ann Arundel was added the same session.

In 1654, during Cromwell's government, an act was passed restraining the exercise of the Roman catholic religion. This must have been procured by the mere terror of Cromwell's power, for the first and principal inhabitants were catholics. Indeed, the power of Cromwell was

not established in Maryland without force and bloodshed; his friends and foes came to an open rupture, an engagement ensued, the governor was taken prisoner, and condemned to be shot. This sentence, however, was not executed; but he was kept a long time in confinement. In March, 1658, Josiah Fendall, esq. was appointed lieut.general of the province, by commission from Oliver Cromwell. He dissolved the upper house, and surrendered the powers of government into the hands of the delegates. Upon the restoration in 1660, the hon. Philip Calvert was appointed governor; the old form of government was revived; Fendall, and one Gerrard, a counsellor, were indicted, found guilty, and condemned to banishment, with the loss of their estates; but upon petition they were pardoned.

In 1689, the government was taken out of the hands of lord Baltimore by the grand convention of England, and in 1692, Lionel Copley, esq. was appointed governor by commission from William and Mary. This year the protestant religion was established by law. In 1699, it was enacted that Annapolis should be the seat of government. In 1716, the government of this province was restored to the proprietor, and continued in his hands till the revolution, when, being an absentee, his property in the lands was confiscated, and the government assumed by the freemen of the province, who formed the constitution now existing.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Situation, Boundaries, and Extent.

THE district of Columbia, in which stands the city of Washington, is situated between 38° 48′ and 38° 59′ N. lat. and 7' E. and 7 W. long. The Capitol is about 77° 0′ 22′′ W. from London. This district is bounded on the northeast, south-east, and partly north-west, by Maryland; and on the south-west and partly north-west, by Virginia. It is exactly ten miles square, being 100 square miles, or 64,000 acres ; it was ceded to the United States by the states of Virginia and Maryland, and in the year 1800 became the seat of general government. Columbia is beautifully situated on both sides the Potomac river, and

abounds with elegant prospects; that part of it which lies west of the Potomac is subject to the laws of Virginia, and east of the river, to those of Maryland; but the whole is under the special direction of the government of the United States, and the internal police of Washington is managed by a corporation, of which the president of the States appoints the mayor: the other members are elected by the people.

Rivers, aspect of the country, &c.-The rivers which water this district are the Potomac, Tiber creek, Reedy creek, Rock creek, and Four-mile-run. The first only, merits a particular description. The Potomac rises from a spring on the north-west side of the Allegany mountains, and after running in a meandring direction for upwards of 400 miles, falls into Chesapeak bay by a mouth seven miles wide. Sixty miles from its source, and 105 above the city of Washington, stands fort Cumberland, here it makes a bend, and by a serpentine course, nearly southeast, runs eighteen miles to where it receives the southwest branch. It then turns north-east, and after a winding course of forty-five miles, in which it receives several tributary streams, reaches Hancock's-town, ninety-nine miles west of Baltimore. From thence it runs in a southeast direction for nine miles, where it is joined by Licking creek, and passes the North mountain into a fine limestone valley, which it waters for about 45 miles. In this valley it receives many small streams, particularly Conecoheague creek, at Williamsport, in the middle of the valley. At the extremity it is increased by the waters of the Shenandoah from Virginia; and, by a singularly grand passage, issues through the Blue mountain. It then passes on about 30 miles, where, by two different falls, in the course of eight or ten miles, it descends above 140 feet to the level of tide-water, which it meets at Georgetown. The river now increases to a mile broad, and, passing Alexandria and Mount Vernon, runs a southerly course to thirty-five miles below Alexandria, where it makes a great bend of fifteen miles to the north-east. Its breadth now gradually increases, and running fifty miles below this bend, flows into Chesapeak bay, as above described.

It is navigable for ships of any burden to Alexandria, a distance of 100 miles, and about 180 from the Capes of Virginia; and from thence for vessels of considerable burden to Georgetown, at the head of tide-water. Round the first falls, there is a lock navigation constructed with

great labour and expense. Considerable improvements have been made further up the river, and it is presumed, that by following up these improvements, the river can be made navigable to Cumberland, the elevation being 700 feet above the level of the sea. From Cumberland to Brownsville, on the Monongahela, a distance of seventytwo miles across the mountains, a road has been made, on which the angle of ascent is no where more than five degrees. From Brownsville there is an easy navigation to Pittsburgh, distance thirty-three miles.

The face of the country on the road from Baltimore to Washington, especially when approaching the latter city, appears somewhat rough and uneven, and the soil not very fertile, but rather poor and sandy. The climate is the same as the middle district of Maryland; and if an opinion may be formed from the countenances of the people, it cannot be healthy. The land is high and dry; but the whole flat country of Virginia and North Carolina lies to the south of it, and when the wind blows from that quarter, it must waft a great deal of marsh effluvia along with it, of which the people in this district will receive a large share.

Civil divisions, population, &c.-Columbia is divided into two counties, one on each side the Potomac, and contained by the last census 24,023 inhabitants, of whom 5,395, were slaves. But by the enumeration of 1817 the population is stated to amount to 37,892, being upwards of 378 to the square mile.

Washington city is situated in the centre of the district, and is bounded on the south-east by the eastern branch of the Potomac river, to the south-west by the western branch, to the north-west by Rock creek, and to the north-east by the open country. The plan of this city appears to contain some important improvements upon that of the best planned cities in the world; combining, in a remarkable degree, convenience, regularity, elegance of prospect, and a free, circulation of air. Its extreme

length from north-west to south-east is little more than four miles and a half, and its medium breadth from northeast to south-west about two miles and a half; being nearly the dimensions of London and Southwark. In the plan of the city which has been published, there are thirty-seven squares, seventeen grand avenues, named after different states, and 103 streets crossing each other at right angles, and running the whole length and breadth of the city. The positions for the different public edifices, and for the several squares and areas of various shapes as they are laid down, were first determined on the most advantageous ground, commanding extensive prospects, and from their situation, susceptible of such improvements as either use or ornament may hereafter require. The capitol is situated on a most beautiful eminence of seventy-eight feet, from which there is a fine view of every part of the city, and of a considerable part of the country around. The president's house, a stately mansion, stands on a rising ground, possessing a delightful water prospect, together with a commanding view of the capitol, and the most material parts of the city. On the one side of the president's house, is the treasury-office, and on the other side a similar building which accommodates the officers of state, and the war and naval departments.

These elegant buildings were burnt in the late war; but the last mentioned offices have been rebuilt, and the capitol and president's house are repairing, and will soon be more splendid than ever. The foundations of two new buildings for public offices were laid in 1818; and the centre building of the capitol is also begun, and great activity used in preparing the marble columus which are to decorate the house of congress. The other public buildings are three places for public worship, viz. one each for Roman catholics, baptists, and episcopalians; a jail, a general post-office, and three market-houses, which are tolerably well supplied; but every article is dear, the prices being one-third higher than at Philadelphia.

The whole country round is handsomely settled, with elegant houses; and the prospect is terminated to the west, south-west, and north-west with high lands. To the south is the river Potomac, with Alexandria, at seven miles distance, pleasantly situated upon its banks. The navy-yard and shipping, and the barracks, are seen to the south-east and eastward; and to the west the president's house, about a mile distant, beyond which stands Georgetown, about three miles from the capitol.

The principal manufactures are those calculated for