plot now covers about three and a half square miles, being seven and a half miles long; but only a small portion of this is thickly covered with buildings. A spot near the centre of the business part of the city is occupied by the basin of the canal.

The State Penitentiary, in the western suburbs, is in the form of a hollow square, three hundred feet by one hundred and ten, with several acres of ground attached.

The Armory contains a considerable supply of arms, and is three hundred and eighty feet by three hundred and twenty.

The important figure which the capitol makes in the preceding general view of Richmond, gives a just idea of its importance, as a principal feature in the aspect of the city from many different Manufactures are carried on to a con- points of view. Crowning the summit siderable extent, by water-power ob- of the principal eminence, and rising tained at the falls. Within two or three far above the crowded city, it forms an years, cot on mills have been erected and appropriate and elegant trait to a scene are in profitable employment. Rich- otherwise possessing many beauties. moud has many facilities for this species The Statue of Washington.-This inof industry, which must ultimately be-teresting piece of sculpture, the work come advantageous to the whole neigh- of a distinguished French artist of the borhood. The total amount of capital last century, stands in the area of the invested in manufactures in Richmond is about two millions of dollars. Richmond is a great commercial dépôt, having an extensive back country abounding in tobacco, wheat, hemp, and coal, which is reached by the James river canal and branches. The flouring mills of Richmond have a world-wide celebrity.

The Capitol. This fine and chaste edifice occupies a lofty and commanding position on the summit of Shockoe hill, in the midst of the spacious public square before described. The front is ornamented with an Ionic portico, with lofty columns; and the effect of the building, from its elegant front, is very fine, when seen from the neighboring points of view. The building contains the halls of the senate and house of delegates, with numerous rooms for officers, committees, &c.; and here assemble the legislators of this great and influential state, to deliberate on the interests of its various sections.

From different parts of the capitol, as well as from the neighboring grounds, are presented many fine views over the surrounding country, and the city and river below; and the scene is the most imposing one of the kind to be found

capitol. It was made by Houdon, in Paris, a few years after the Revolution, at the order of the Virginia assembly, and under the direction of Jefferson. Washington is represented in the military costume of the country at the time, covered with a cloak, while one hand holds a cane, and the other the fasces; and on the pedestal is the following inscription, written by Mr. Madison:

"George Washington. The General Assembly statue to be erected, as a monument of affection and of the Commonwealth of Virginia have caused this gratitude. to George Washington, who, uniting to the endowments of the hero the virtues of the patriot, and exerting both in establishing the liberties of his country, has rendered his name dear to his fellowcitizens, and given the world an immortal example sand seven hundred and eighty-eight, in the year of of true glory. Done in the year of Christ one thouthe Commonwealth the twelfth.”

The Bust of La Fayette.-This handsome specimen of sculpture is appropriately placed near the statue of Wash ington.

The Monumental Church.-This edifice was erected in commemoration of the calamitous destruction, in 1811, of a theatre which stood on the same spot. About six hundred persons were assembled in the theatre on the fatal evening, when, at the conclusion of the play, the scenery accidentally caught fire, and a

Colonel Woodford, on his march to Norfolk, found the enemy in a stockade fort at the Great bridge-the only way by which he could proceed; and, having thrown up a breastwork, was soon attacked, but repulsed the British with great loss to them, and drove them to their vessels. Lord Dunsmore cannonaded Norfolk on the night of January 1st, 1776, and having destroyed parts of it, Lieutenant-Colonel Howe was ordered by the committee of safety to burn the remainder. That city had contained six thousand inhabitants.

Ludwell Lee, Paul Carrington, Dudley with Lord Dunsmore, in the ships-ofDigges, Jas. Mercer, Carter Braxton, war. The plot, however, was discovWm. Cabell, and Jno. Tabb. Prepara-ered and defeated after a time; for Otions were made for raising troops, and Connelly, Cameron, and Dr. Jno. Smith, the county committees were requested were arrested near Hagerstown (Maryto provide colors bearing the motto: land), on suspicion, and were found in "Virginia for Constitutional Liberty." possession of papers and money, which But the governor proceeded to several fully proved their guilt. acts of hostility. He landed a party at Norfolk, under cover of the men-of-war, and carried off the press and types of a patriotic newspaper; and soon after he marched to Kempsville to destroy a collection of firearms, and made prisoner the commander of the minute-men, Captain Matthews. Hampton was also attacked by British vessels under Captain Squires; but they were driven off without loss on the part of the patriots. A number of armed men now arrived at Williamsburg from the upper country; and Lord Dunsmore, having heard that the second Virginia regiment and the Culpepper battalion had been ordered to Norfolk, sent the Kingfisher and three large tenders up James river to Burwell's ferry, to prevent their crossing. A large boat was twice beaten off by the Virginia riflemen, as was also another boat, which afterward attempted to land at Jamestown. In the same month a colonel of Princess Ann militia was made prisoner by Lord Dunsmore, with some of his men, on their march. On the 7th of November he proclaimed martial law, and, with a considerable force at his command, raised his standard in Norfolk and Princess Ann.

Having ordered the militia captains to raise troops in opposition to the colonial army, he proposed to destroy the colonial stores of provisions at Suffolk; but two hundred and fifteen light troops were sent for their defence by Colonel Woodford. He then undertook to incite the western Indians to war in cooperation with him, and matured a plan with a Pennsylvanian, named O'Connelly, who was made a lieutenant-colonel by General Gage at Boston. A regiment of volunteers was to be raised at Fort Pitt, who, accompanied by several companies of royal Irish, were to march across Virginia to Alexandria, and take possession of the town, in co-operation

Nine regiments, in all, were now raised, of which six were placed on the continental establishment, of the first of which Patrick Henry was appointed colonel. He, however, soon resigned his commission, and was chosen a member of the new convention at Hanover, who appointed delegates to congress, instructing them "to propose to that respectable body to declare the United Colonies free and independent states, absolved from all allegiance to, or dependence on, the crown or parliament." A constitution was adopted on the 25th of June, and was the first formed without admitting any prospect of reconciliation with the mother-country. Patrick Henry was chosen governor; and from that time through the war, Virginia continued to sustain the cause of independence, harmoniously and efficiently cooperating with her sister-colonies, until the independence of the country was settled by the great and final victory on her own soil, at Yorktown.

The first constitution of the state was adopted on the 5th of July, 1776, and revised in 1830. The right of suffrage is restricted to heads of families paying taxes or owners of certain amounts and kinds of property. There are one hundred and thirty-four delegates in the house, chosen annually, and thirty-two