river side the bounded tree of Captain Robert Troop, and running north by the river for breadth, the length of two hundred perches to a bounded oak, standing at the mouth of a bay or inlett called TIBER, bounding on the north by the said let and line drawn east for the length of three hundred and twenty perches to a bounded oak standing in the woods on the east with a line drawn south from the end of the former line untill you meet with the exterior bounded tree of Robert Troop called Scotland yard on the south with the said land, on the west with the said river, containing and now laid out for four hundred acres more or less."

"June 5th, 1663.-Layd out for Captain Robert Troop of this Province a parcel of land in Charles County called Scotland yard lying on the east side of the Anacostia river, beginning at a bounded hickory standing by the water side and running north by the river for breadth the length of two hundred and fifty perches to a bounded oak, bounding on the north with a line drawn east into the woods for the length of three hundred and twenty perches to a bounded oak on the east with a line drawn south from the end of the former line until you intersect a parallel line drawn from the first bounded hickory on the south with the said parellel on the west with the said river containing and now laid out for five hundred acres more or less."

By another instrument of writing, dated 5th of July, 1681, a patent was granted to one William Langworth for a tract of land lying in

Charles County, containing six hundred acres, which had been taken up by his father, and which is thus described:

"The Widows Mite lyeing on the east side of the Anacostin river on the north side of a branch or inlett in the said river called Tyber. Beginning at a bounded cedar standing upon a point and running east north east for breadth up the said inlett to a bounded oak, the bound tree of Richard Pinner, for the length of one hundred ninety two perches, bounding in the east with a line drawn north from the said oake for the length of five hundred perches to a bounded oake on the north with a line drawn west from the end of the former line, the length of one hundred ninety two perches to a bounded oake that intersects a paralell line drawn south to the first bounded cedar on the west with the said paralell on the south with the said inlett containing and now laid out for six hundred acres more or less according to the certificat of survey thereof taken and returned into the land office at the citty of St. Maries, bearing date the tenth day of October one thousand six hundred sixty seven, and there remaining upon record togeather with all rights profits benefits and privileges thereunto belonging (Royale mines excepted).”

This would appear to have been the farm afterwards owned by David Burns, one of the original proprietors of the lands now occupied by the city. At that time this portion of Maryland was in Charles County; its capital the

THE CITY OF WASHINGTON.

THE site of this city was originally selected by General Washington, (from whom it derives its name,) as at that time the most central position in the United States, and the best suited for the Metropolis of the nation. None can possibly unite such picturesque beauty, or even surpass it in the salubrity of its climate. It is situated on the left bank of the Potomac and the right bank of the Anacostia. It lies in latitude 38° 52' north; comprises a territory of four miles square; is watered on the west by the Potomac, formerly called by the Indians Cohonguroton, or River of Swans, which has its source in the Alleghany mountains, and, after meandering a distance of nearly four hundred miles, empties into the Chesapeake bay; and on the south and east by the Anacostia or Eastern Branch river. These two fine rivers add to its natural beauty, and will afford great facilities to its commerce. This city is encompassed by a fine range of hills, forming a natural amphitheatre, and covered in part with trees and underwood, and presenting to the eve verdant and cultivated slopes.

tensive and varied prospect of the District and surrounding country, and of the meanderings of the Potomac as far as the eye can reach. The ground on which it is laid out was originally in Maryland, and ceded by that State to the United States on the 23d December, 1788. The original proprietors, Daniel Carroll, Notley Young, David Burns, and Samuel Davidson, surrendered their lands to be laid out as a city, and gave one-half of them to the Government of the United States, for the purpose of raising funds for the erection of the necessary public buildings. Three Commissioners. were appointed in January, 1791, who proceeded to survey and plant the corner stone at Jones's Point, on the 15th of April, of that year; after which they staked out and laid off the plan of the city. The act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Federal Government passed on the 16th July, 1790, and the act to amend the same on the 3d of March, 1791. Deeds of trust were executed by the original proprietors to Thomas Beal of George, and John M. Gantt, by which they conveyed all their lands within the proposed limits for a Federal city, to be laid out into such streets, squares, parcels, and lots as the President of the United States should approve; and the trustees were directed to convey to the Commissioners and their successors in office, for the United States forever, all the said streets, and such of the said squares, parcels, and lots as the President should deem proper for the use of the United States. For so much of the land, as might be appropriated for the use of the United States, they were to pay at the rate of twenty-five pounds (sixty-six and two