partments of the State, and a few inns and taverns;
but, as George Town is adjoining to it, they to-
gether make up a population of about 8000 inha-
bitants. The capitol will be a noble building
when finished; and is beautifully situated on a
commanding eminence; whence every part of the
city may be seen; and whence also is a fine pro-
spect of the Navy Yard, and of the Potowmack as
far down as Alexandria; being a distance of 6 or
7 miles. Upon the whole, the situation is one of
the most eligible spots for a city that I have ever
seen; and the plan being deliberately drawn out,
and every thing done with regularity and order, it
bids fair at some future day, to be one of the
most elegant and regularly built cities in the world;
and, what is of more consequence, the situation is
dry and healthy. To a contemplative mind, there
is something very interesting in the consideration
of the representatives of an extensive empire, like
that of the United States, thus jointly fixing
upon the most eligible situation for their chief
city.

After taking tea at George Town

, I crossed the
Potowmack, and went down that evening to
Alexandria, a beautiful little city, situated on that
river, at a spot where it is about one mile over,
and so deep that ships of war ride at anchor
before the town.