into the salts, where it is rarely frozen. They get into good condition soon after their arrival in autumn, and remain fat until toward spring, when, a few weeks before their departure (about the first of March), they gradually become thinner in flesh; and in the latter part of their sojourn here, are found so poor and light, that, when shot, the gunner gets nothing fit for use but the feathers. Whether this circumstance be owing to their having exhausted the means of subsistence at their feeding-places, or that they are taught by Him who rules the universe, in small as well as great things, thus by abstaining, to prepare themselves for the long aerial voyages which they are about to undertake, we pretend not to determine with certainty; there is nothing more wonderful in this than in the fact, which is notorious, that they, by exercise, regularly and assiduously fit themselves for this continuous effort, to bear themselves through the air to the distance of perhaps a thousand miles or leagues. Large flocks are seen every day rising from the river, and taking a high position, flying out of sight, and apparently moving in a circuit to a considerable distance, again returning to or near the same place, during the last two or three weeks of their stay. "The wild goose is yet more wary and vigilant to keep out of harm's way than the swan. He too is sharp-sighted, but depends much on his sense of smell for protection: this is so well known to the huntsman, that he never attempts, however he may be concealed from this bird, to approach it from the direction of the wind; since he would assuredly be scented before he could get within gun-shot, and left to lament his error, by the sudden flight of the whole flock. These geese, toward spring, often alight on the land, and feed on the herbage in fields; and sometimes in such numbers as to do great injury to the wheat-fields on the borders of the river." GEOLOGICAL FACTS.-Some twenty or thirty feet below the level of the plain around Richmond, occurs one of the most remarkable deposites in this or any country. The place in which it has been found most fully developed, is where the small brook at the east end and on the north side of Clay street empties into Shockoe creek. On the bank of that brook will be seen a stratum from ten to fifteen feet thick, which most persons would call white clay; but Professor W. B. Rogers (the state geologist) of the university, has ascertained that it is made up almost entirely of animalcula or infusoria-that is, microscopic animals. These skeletons, consisting of silex, are incredibly small, so that each cubic inch of this infusorial earth contains many thousand millions of them. How inconceivably numerous, therefore, must they be, to form a deposite at least ten feet thick, and extending many miles over the adjoining country! It has excited great interest among the learned naturalists of Europe as well as of our own country, and henceforth none of them will visit Richmond without at The swan is 'tolled' by a dog that is taught to play about within easy call of his master, at the edge of the water; the hunter contrives to place himself behind a log, or some other cover well concealed, before he begins his operations, taking care to observe that the direction of the wind is not unfavorable to him, and that the flock he means to toll is near enough to distinguish such objects on the shore, and under no alarm at the time. By what motive these fowls are influenced, we have not heard satis-once searching for this deposite. Profactorily explained; but certain it is, they are very commonly brought in from some hundreds of yards' distance, in this way, to within point-blank shot. It is said, and perhaps truly, in the case of the dog, that they fancy themselves in pursuit of some animal, as the fag or mink, by which their young are annoyed at their breeding-places. fessor Ehrenberg, of Prussia, the most eminent of living microscopists, has examined specimens from this place, and discovered in them at least one hundred and thirty species of these minutest of animals. To discover them in this almost impalpable dust, requires a powerful microscope; and doubtless, therefore, many who look at specimens with the naked eye, will be The substance may be distinguished from clay by being much lighter when dry. It is not, indeed, much heavier than magnesia, when pure. In other parts of the world it is sometimes used for polishing-powder. From a slight trial, it is believed that the Richmond deposite would answer the same purpose. Beneath the infusorial deposite is a greenish or bluish clay, containing numerous seashells, or rather casts and moulds of them, with sharks' teeth, &c.; but these, although of deep interest to geologists, will not excite much attention from others. It can hardly be doubted, that when this region was covered by the ocean, the waters swarmed with microscopic animalculæ, whose skeletons, as the animals died, dropped to the bottom, and in the course of ages accumulated prodigiously. But when we recollect how astonishingly fast they multiply, we need not suppose many centuries necessary to produce even this extraordinary thick ness. SCENERY AND CLIMATE.-So beautiful is that portion of the state which is encircled by the lofty summits of the Allegany, that scarcely can its inhabitants be charged with blinding prejudice in believing and styling it the "garden of the state," or even the Eden of the world." The climate presents a pleasant medium between the extremes of heat and cold, occasioning particular prevalence to neither the fevers incident to the one, nor the pulmonary complaints belonging to the other. The mountains-still the haunt of game, and oftentimes re-echoing the sound of the hunter's gun, the baying of his hounds, or perchance the mirthful laugh of young equestrians, who seek amusement on their sides and summits, by the exhilarating exercise to which they invitegive healthful relief from the ennui of southern life; and at the same time, crowned with foliage, or capped with fire, reflecting and dispersing the rays of the rising or setting sun, they impart variety to the scenery, and render it grand beyond the power of description. Reposing in their midst, are those medicinal waters, which give health to the pilgrim and pleasure to its devotee from the most distant borders of our land. The soil, in parts at least, of high fertility, adds beauty to the landscape, by the luxuriant covering which it spreads over the face of nature. In the months of spring, the eye is everywhere met by wide fields of clover, colored by its blossoms, and loading the air with fragrance. Later in the year, scattered here and there, are seen plantations of tobacco, fields of corn of gigantic growth, and of hempthe dark, rich foliage of the latter rising far above the barriers that would hem it in. Nor does the hoar frost of winter entirely despoil the landscape of its loveliness. Even then, lay revelling in the warm sunlight of each genial day, fields of grain, that, anticipating the early spring, have already put on their dress of green, in which to wait its coming. But let us turn from this to another portion of Virginia—a portion far less favored in respect to soil and climate, still viewed, perhaps, with scarcely less partial satisfaction by those who have had long familiarity with its droughts and heats-have inhaled from infancy its pestilential breath, and with every autumn, greeting as old acquaintances, have lustily and, forsooth, involuntarily shaken hands with its chills and fevers. Scarcely does the traveller leave, with the setting sun, the blue lofty summits of the Allegany, as he is informed by the increasing uniformity of scenery, multitudinous marshes, forests of evergreen, and wide-spread plains of sand, that he is in verity entering upon the pine barrens of the South Atlantic coast. On every side he observes tracts of land lying waste, half overgrown with briers and thistles, or low underwood, which, he is told, is left to regain its strength, by the rest of several seasons, or perhaps has been "turned out"-that is, given over to a second growth of forest. Much of the wooded land around him, densely covered with full-grown pines, he will find to be of this last description. Meager herds of cattle wander through the tall coarse grass, or feed on the refuse of cornfields. Tracts of corn and cotton are, at least to the planter's eye, relieving features of the landscape. But aside from the peculiarities of natural scenery, there are others which can not fail to fix the eye of the stranger, in traversing this portion of Virginia. He will observe the singular appearance given to country houses, by the common custom of placing the chimneys exterior to the main building. He will also notice a scarcity of barns; and if, perchance, on the borders of some pleasant grove, or in the outskirts of a forest, he spies a rude shelter which he would mistake for a barn, he is at once informed that he sees before him a country church, where a periodical discourse calls together a multitude of wealthy planters from ten, fifteen, or even twenty miles around. But though in this warm climate, cattle require no lodging-places, still a destitution of out-houses will in no wise be observed to be a characteristic of a southern residence. Conspicuous enough will be seen a meat-house, and from this, as a centre, radiate many humble dwellings, constituting almost a village of themselves. Fine flourishing orchards, filling up the rear-ground of the picture, will for the most part be looked for in vain. Even figs, peaches, apricots, and grapes-which, in this favoring temperature, might be expected to multiply in profusion-are generally far from abundant. To the prevalence of fevers we have already alluded. Regular as the pestiferous dews and decay of foliage in August and September, so regular are their ravages on human prey. Friend then anxiously watches the countenance of friend, in dread expectancy of tracing there the saffron mark of the king of terrors. Still, long familiarity with disease, and practical skill acquired for its control, have, to a considerable degree, given to the inhabitants a sort of recklessness and seeming insensibility to the extent to which it prevails; and question one of them if his locality be healthful, and you will probably be assured that, though pestilence strolls through sur rounding districts, his own is the favorite abode of Esculapius. And you will not discover that it is otherwise, till, as the sickly season approaches, you see on every hand increasing symptoms of disease; one after another, in alarmingly rapid succession, sinking beneath its influence; and it sometimes happens, that in a neighborhood thus afflicted, there are scarcely a sufficient number of well persons to take care of the sick. Turning northward from Virginianot in spring, but in the last months of summer-a pleasing change of scenery is soon apparent to the observer. The fields contract in their dimensions, yet present to the eye a greater variety, and everywhere assume a more fresh and healthful aspect. The tall brown_grass gives place to verdant meadows. Herbage becomes of a deeper green, and dense fields of corn and broomcorn wave gently to the breeze. Fruit-yards and orchards multiply in all directions, encircling every little country cottage, and weighed down with their luxuriant burdens, imparting to the landscape an air of peace and plenty. Towns and vil lages are of greater frequency. And in short, as you approach the great northern metropolis of trade, the whole appearance of things is changed; you are greeted in a different dialect; different habits and manners attract attention; and a certain something in the general air of all around, tells you that the hot haste of steam has in two short days conveyed you to another soil, beneath another sky, and among another people. Still you are yet, as it were, only in the great congress-place of states. Here citizens from both sides of Dixon's line meet, some on business, others in friendship. Peculiarities of diverse sections of our Union conflict with and modify each other; and altogether there is presented a sort of amalgamated medium or medley mass, retaining indeed much that is sectional, but intermingled with almost every variety of habits, appearance, and customs. HISTORY.-Some writers are of the opinion that Sebastian Cabot discovered the coast of Virginia, in his voyage of 1498; but circumstances delayed the settlement, and even all particular ac-authority were sealed, and not to be quaintance, with this part of the country opened until after the landing. until a much later period. In consequence of Martin Frobisher having taken back to England from Hudson river, as was pretended, a small piece of gold, the merchants of London, incited by the hope of enriching themselves as the Spaniards had done in South America, engaged in voyages of discovery with great zeal in 1578. But this spirit was short-lived, their enterprises being altogether unfortunate. The expedition of Sir Humphrey Gilbert in 1578, and that in 1583, had no better success, one of the vessels, with the leader of the expedition, being lost on the way home. The next year, however, his stepbrother, Sir Walter Raleigh, had better success, in a voyage he made to America, under one of the very liberal royal patents so easily obtained at that period. On the 13th of July the vessels entered Ocracoke inlet (now in North Carolina); and a landing was made at Wocoken island, where an amicable intercourse was opened with the natives. A colony was formed under Governor Lane; but as no gold was found, and prospects became discouraging, it was soon abandoned, but not until the important discovery had been made of Chesapeake bay. Passing by one or two other unsuccessful attempts of the same kind, we come to the year 1606, when Jamestown was occupied by the celebrated Captain John Smith. The capes of the Chesapeake then received the names which they still bear, after the two sons of King James— Charles and Henry. The first landing was effected on Cape Henry, and there the instructions were read, which appointed a council for the government of the country, among which was Smith. Such, however, was the opposition made to him, that he was excluded by a vote, and Wingfield was elected president. The colonists soon re-embarked, sailed into the bay, and entered a fine river, which they named James, in honor of the king, though the natives called it Powhatan. Proceeding up the stream about fifty miles, they chose a spot for a town, The president, through some foolish jealousy of his people, refused permission to erect a fort or to allow military exercises, but sent Smith and a few other men to make discoveries; while, by the exertions of Kendall, a half-moon was constructed of the boughs of trees, as a feeble breastwork. JAMESTOWN, seven miles from Williamsburg, is now a deserted spot, containing only a few remains of its ancient importance. It is truly an interesting place, as the first ground occupied by a permanent colony within the boundaries of the country, and the scene of the principal events, before mentioned, connected with the early settlement. James city was one of the eight origi Under the command of Captain New-nal shires into which Virginia was diport, on the 19th of December, three vided in 1634, and is twenty-three miles | small vessels sailed for Virginia with long by about eight miles wide, being one hundred and five colonists. The bounded on the north and south by York ⠀ aggregate numbers of tons of all these and James rivers. The population at vessels was one hundred and sixty; and the last census was 1,325 whites, 1,947 they were detained on the English coast slaves, 507 free colored persons—in all, six weeks by the weather. 3,779. Taking the usual course of a southern passage at that day, they steered first for the Canary islands, and then stopped at the West Indies; and the consequence was, that the expedition did not arrive at the Delaware until April 26th of the following year. Dissensions had arisen during the voyage, which could not be pacified before making the land, because the instructions delivered them by royal Jamestown is the spot which was occupied by Captain John Smith and his companions, and is a point of land belonging to the tract that extends into James river. The current is gradually wearing away the land. The only remains are the stone tower of an old, ruinous church, of unknown date, and the churchyard. The Westover manuscript says a church was erected here |