ley, the draw-bridge, for the passage of vessels, is raised by the force of one individual.

The tolls are high, a four-horse carriage, 1 dollar; a two-horse carriage, 1 dollar; a four-horse waggon, 62 cents; a two-horse waggon, 37; a gig, 36; a horse, 18; a man, 61. The toll of 1810 amounted to 9000 dollars. The interest of the stock has risen to eight per cent. After the lapse of sixty years, the corporation will be dissolved, and the bridge become the property of the United States.

It was an unfortunate circumstance, that, in planning this city, some provision was not made for preserving the fine trees which covered the soil, in those situations where they would have been useful or ornamental. The whole of the natural wood has been cut down, and its place is very poorly supplied by some few Lombardy poplars, which afford neither shade nor shelter. This is an error which nothing but time can repair.

The patent office is under the direction of Dr Thornton, a native of the West Indies, now a citizen of the United States, who has a salary of 2000 dollars per annum. To obtain a patent for an art or machine, the inventor, if a citizen of the United States, declares upon oath, before a justice of the county where he resides, that he believes himself to be the true inventor; and he gives a description of this art or machine, and the use to which it is applied, accompanied, if necessary, with a drawing, in a letter addressed to the Secretary of State of the United States; and this description is inserted in the patent, for which the sum of thirty dollars is paid to the treasury department.

If the applicant is not a citizen of the United States, he must declare, on oath, that he has resided therein more than two years. The copy-right of books, prints, maps, &c. is secured by depositing a copy thereof in the clerk's office of the district court, where the author or proprietor resides. This is recorded and published in one or more newspapers, during four weeks, commencing within two months of the date of the record. The right is thus secured, for the space of fourteen years, to the citizens or residents of the United States; and by a renewal of those formalities, it is extended to their executors, administrators, and assigns, for another term of fourteen years. patents issued from the 1st of August 1790, to the 1st of January 1805, were 598; and the amount received at the treasury department for patents, from 1801 to 1809 inclusive, was upwards of 27,000 dollars.

The

Banks, &c.-Exclusive of the bank of the United States, there are seven banks in the district of Columbia, the state of whose affairs is exhibited in the an, nexed table.

A STATEMENT

The Marine Insurance Company of Alexandria was incorporated in 1798, with the power of having a capital of 12,500 shares, at twenty dollars a share, or 250,000 dollars. Seven thousand four hundred and thirty-four shares were subscribed, and the instalments called for amounted to thirteen dollars a share, making the capital 96,642 dollars, which, during nineteen years, was found adequate to the business of the company. In February 1814, the secretary stated, " owing to war, there was not a cent at risk, and that the entire capital was vested in the stock of the Alexandria and Potomac banks."

that,

Education.-By an act of the city council, in December 1804, the public schools of the city are placed under the direction of a board of thirteen trustees, seven of whom are elected annually by the joint ballot of the council, and six by individuals, who contribute to the support of the schools. The net proceeds of taxes on slaves and dogs, of licences for carriages, and hacks for ordinaries and taverns, for selling wines and spirits, for billiard tables, for hawkers and pedlars, for theatrical and other public amusements, are employed for the education of the poor of the city.

There are two academies in the city, under the direction of the corporation, which were established by the voluntary contributions of the inhabitants, and are supported by the corporation. In these two seminaries there are generally from 120 to 150 scholars, including those who pay for their tuition. The houses are large and commodious, and were intended to be the germ of a national university, in conformity to the

plan described in the last will of General Washington. There are, besides, twelve or more schools in different parts of the city, where the terms of tuition are under five dollars per quarter.

The Catholic College of Georgetown, which was erected, and is supported, by subscription, commenced in the year 1790, under the direction of the incorporated Catholic clergy of the state of Maryland. It is a fine brick building, consisting of three stories, in length 153 feet, and 33 in breadth, and is fitted for the reception of 200 students. The terms of tuition are as follows: Students above twelve years of age pay 250 dollars; and under that age, 200; those who at tend the classes of philosophy pay 250, owing to extraordinary expences, and some particular indulgencies. The payments are made half-yearly in advance. To be admitted as a pensioner, the student must be a Roman Catholic. If a Protestant, he boards in a house convenient to the college, where he enjoys equal advantages with the Catholics, except as to admission to the instruction and exercises of the Roman religion. The students are instructed in the English, French, Latin, and Greek languages; in geography, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and the different branches of classical education. Public examinations are holden four times a year.

A free school has been lately established by subscription, to be conducted according to the plan of Mr Lancaster, who has engaged to send two masters from England for its superintendence and direction. This seminary was incorporated in 1812, by act of congress, under the title of the "Trustees of the Georgetown

VOL. III.