fitted for a hedge. Of the former there are ten species in the American territory.

ALEXANDRIA.

The town of Alexandria, formerly named Belhaven, is pleasantly situated on the Virginia or west side of the river Potomac, at the distance of six miles in a southern direction from Washington city. The streets, like those of Philadelphia, run in straight lines, and intersect each other at right angles. The houses are of a neat construction. Those erected at the expense of the public, are an episcopal church, an academy, court-house, bank, and jail. Alexandria has carried on a considerable commerce with New Orleans, and also with the East and West Indies, and some European ports. The warehouses and wharfs are very commodious. Vessels of

five hundred tons lie in the basons. Some have sailed from this port with twelve hundred hogsheads of tobacco on board.

The tonnage of Alexandria, in 1811, was eleven hundred and fifty-nine, of which its

merchants are the sole proprietors. It has lately increased to about two thousand tons. The goods, wares, and merchandize, of the growth and produce of the United States, during three months, ending the 30th June, 1811, amounted to 833,720 dollars. Of flour there were 72,671 barrels; of corn, 83,752 barrels. The other articles were bread, rice, beans, oats, rye, meal, etc. In this same space of time, 35,610 pounds of flour, with a considerable quantity of corn, rye, and wheat, were exported to different ports of the United States, beyond the capes of Virginia. The whole quantity of flour exported, at the then average price of nine dollars and fifty cents per barrel, amounts to more than a million of dollars. During the three first months of the year 1811, the exports of Alexandria to foreign countries, consisting of goods, wares, and merchandizes, were estimated at 507,988 dollars, of which there were of flour 47,687 barrels, valued at nine dollars per barrel. The other articles were fish, staves, shingles, beef, pork, hams, lard, corn, rye, oats, beans, potatoes, bread, rice, tobacco, maize, candles, soap, gin, rum, etc.

It is said, that the bread formerly shipped

at this port for the use of the English fleet on the West India station, amounted to a hundred thousand dollars per annum.

The principal merchants of this place have failed in consequence of losses abroad, or unfortunate speculations. Those who carry on business at present employ their capitalsina more cautious manner.

Manufactures are yet in their infancy. Two manufactures of cut nails have been lately established, and several of woollen and other cloths. House rent is cheap, for, except along the basons, it is not more than six per cent, and in some places not half that sum. A house occupied by Bland Lee, Esq. consisting of three stories, is rented at two hundred and fifty dollars; and the fee-simple of house and lot was offered for six thousand dollars. The house itself cost eight thousand.

Two newspapers are published in the town: the "Alexandria Gazette," a federal paper, which appears daily, at six dollars per annum; and the "Alexandria Herald," which commenced in June, 1811, and is issued twice a week at four dollars per annum.

There are already five churches-Protestant, Presbyterian, Catholic, Methodist, and Baptist.

In the academy there are forty scholars, thirty-five of whom learn Latin and classical literature, and twenty-one, reading, writing, and arithmetic. There are nine or ten physicians, but there is no medical society. Any person may exercise this profession. In the town the usual fee is a dollar per visit; and five dollars, to and within the distance of ten miles.

The obstetric art is in the hands of old women, who are supposed to possess it as a gift of nature. Dr. Dangerfield informs us, that surgical cases are rare. A few years ago, Alexandria was visited by the yellow fever, which swept off two hundred individuals. Great precautions are taken to prevent a return of this destructive scourge.

Baths have been lately established, the price of which is half a dollar.

The population of Alexandria has increased at the expense of the surrounding country. Many foreigners have been also attracted thither, on account of the generous sentiments of the natives, who, convinced

that the worth of man depends upon his conduct and talents, feel no prejudice on account of foreign birth. In this respect they fulfil one of the most sacred duties of the American citizen, strictly enjoined by the constitution and laws, which declare, that it is not the fault of the offspring that the parent was born in another soil.

The inhabitants are truly hospitable. The usual visit of friendship is in the evening, when tea, and cakes, and fruit, are offered to the guests without ostentation. The women, industrious by habit, prefer the joys of private life and objects of utility, to parade and luxurious repasts.

The elevated situation of Alexandria, the stiff clayey soil on which it stands, and the facility with which it may be approached by ships of the line, had attracted the attention of General Gage, the commander in chief of the British forces, who, in 1776, proposed to surprise this town by placing a garrison at Pittsburg, marching a force across the Alleghany Mountains, establishing a post at Fort Cumberland, descending the Potomac, and attacking Alexandria on one side, while the fleet of the Earl of Dunmore was to assail