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to twenty dollars. A seamstress, four and a half dollars per month. A coachman, nine or ten dollars. A shoemaker, who makes a pair of shoes daily, gains a dollar and a half, for the leather costs but one dollar, and the shoes sell at two and a half.

Many planters near Washington, and particularly those who own and cultivate the lands called the Potomac Bottoms, situated near the river, about two miles from the city, have become rich by the culture of tobacco, of which some planters have been known to raise upwards of a hundred hogsheads annually. Since the promulgation of the Imperial decree, which almost wholly excludes the introduction of American tobacco into the French dominions, wheat has become the staple production. Certain tracts of these lands have, within the last few years, been sold at from forty to eighty dollars per acre.

Two of the luxuries of life, pine-apples and ice, are found at Washington at a cheap rate. The former, imported from the WestIndies, are sold at twenty-five cents each. The latter article is purchased, throughout the summer, at half a dollar per bushel,

THE TAXES.

In 1807, a yearly tax of one dollar was laid on all species of dogs, and they must have a collar, with the words "City of Washington" engraved thereon. A reward is given for killing and burying any dog within the city, which has not a collar of this description.

In August, 1809, an additional annual tax of nine dollars was laid on all dogs of the female kind. In 1810, a tax of one half of one per cent, or fifty cents on the value of every hundred dollars, was laid on real or personal property. On male slaves, between fifteen and forty-five years of age, belonging to residents in the city of Washington, a yearly tax of a dollar and fifty cents was levied, and one dollar only on all female slaves, between fifteen and forty years. The taxes on private carriages are as follows:

OF THE NEGROES, OR BLACKS.

Most of the domestic and field labour, at Washington, is performed by black slaves, on the subject of which, the same opinion prevails there as in the West Indies, that without them it would be impossible to cultivate the soil. It is difficult to procure white servants whose wages are high. Another inconvenience is, that from interest, caprice, or the love of change, they seldom remain long with the same master. They are unwilling to associate with the blacks, and seeing their former companions on the road to independence, their constant effort is to free themselves from the shackles of servitude. The daily expense of a black slave has been estimated as follows:

His price is about five hundred dollars, which, at six per cent. the lawful interest, is

For risk or accidents

For a peck of Indian meal per week, or

thirteen bushels per year, at 50 cents.

Two pounds of salt meat per week

30 dollars

30

6 50 c.

7 50 c.

To which must be added, for fowls, vege

tables, milk, etc. per annum

4 dollars.

5

For clothing

15

In all 98 dollars.

According to this calculation, the daily expense is nearly twenty-seven cents..

A white labourer usually earns threequarters of a dollar, or 75 cents per day; but as he is more industrious, he performs more work. The masters or proprietors of stout black labourers hire them at the rate of sixty dollars a year. Their food and clothing are estimated at thirty-five dollars.

Some of the old laws of Maryland, concerning slaves, are curious.

In 1715, it was enacted, that ministers of religion could not marry slaves. If a white man married a negro, or mulatto slave, he was obliged to pay a penalty of five hundred pounds of tobacco. A free white woman, who suffered herself to be impregnated by a negro or other slave, or free negro, became a servant during seven years. If a servant, she was obliged to finish her servitude with damage, and again to become a servant for seven years. If the begetter was a free negro,

he also became a slave for seven years. A white man, for similar causes, was subjected to the same penalties. In 1717, it was enacted, that "slaves could not be admitted as evidence in any case wherein any Christian white person was concerned." Most of the slaves of Washington are well clad and nourished. They are usually very civil. In some of the taverns, they sleep on the floor of the dining-room, which the master, for obvious reasons, ought to forbid. Slaves are generally very fond of spirituous liquors, which tavern-keepers are forbid to sell after nine o'clock on Sunday evening, the close of their few hours of recreation and amusement. The penalty for the first infraction is twenty dollars, the second is punished by a forfeiture of licence.

It has been observed, that African slaves brought to this district have shewn much attachment to their owners. They have other good habits, and some very bad ones. Besides their uncommon desire for spirituous liquors, they are fond of changing their wife and partner; and, as soon as a separation takes place, a new attachment is formed. Celibacy is unknown among them. Masters