those who do not work. Married ladies look pale, and a la fin be Th it a whi dist vibr that ecsta tion, the S loves tible 4 long a I felt consic Ale to the ved n street: decks M Sing water, and the quantity of rope. I had expected these decks were at least five times as far from the surface of the water, nor had I an accurate idea of the extent of a deck, it embracing the extreme heighth of the ship, with the exception of the masts. It is nothing more than a flat floor, from one end of the vessel to the other, with a balustrade on the extremity, of from two to three feet in height: the deck is the covering of the ship.* The mast, that is the main-mast, was another matter in which I was extremely out, as to height and thickness, it is as large as a common tree; and as for the rope, I should be at a great loss myself, how to dispose of the one half of it, my knowledge of navigation notwithstanding. found only the mate on board, who, with a great deal of patience, answered the thousand queries I put to him, while the sailors who were hard by on the wharf, testified at once their surprise and ridicule, by a loud peal of laughter. I Laur west E freight feandria, beau hence. The his ad taital or DIC i union C elsc vibr e thouhar from From the Alexandria side of the Potomac, you have a fine view of the Maryland shore, which is elevated and beautifully diversified with farins and elegant buildings. The first sight of my much loved native state, since I left it at three years of age, filled me with sensations, for which language wants expression. Nor have I indeed a distant recollection of my feelings. The first glimpse, vibrated upon every fibre of my heart, and seemed to fill that vestal void, long locked up by Polina's care. The ecstacy resulting from the full fruition of this new affeclength, tion, absorbed every power of my mind; it was amongst love tend in the sweetest moments I ever tasted. Every creature til the riloves the place of its nativity, but those only are susceploatly atible of its highest pleasure, who have, like myself, been I would not exchange the pleasure el and le per- long absent from it. I felt on beholding my ever dear country, for any earthly y side, ecks of consideration. odious 100 the vel and ecks of C 1 e, and want, ria in a uch in ereas, ith the Fairfax Wistrict, not re d from as seen e sur pation for This on advan arg ata at or ngth, ad in ne ri ly a e per n olade.y side, red o lade. though curiosity t disap from the stre Alexandria has a gradual ascent from the river back to the utmost limits; the streets are spacious, and paved with stone, and the side-walks with brick; these streets are kept very clean, not a particle of any sub though disap- "Since this was written, I have seen war ships at Boston with five stance or rubbish whatever, is suffered to lie or be seen in the streets; they are lighted every dark night. A man, or perhaps more, goes round at dusk with a light ladder in their hands, by which they ascend the lamp post, and set fire to the lamps. These lamps are at every corner where the streets cross. The lamp is placed in a large glass lantern, such as taverns use; and this is tenaciously fixed on the top of a high post, out of reach, so that disorderly persons may not have it in their power to extinguish them. The houses in Alexandria are built of brick mostly, three stories high, they are comfortable and convenient, but not very splendid. Instead of wooden cornice, the top of the house walls are ornamented with from one to three rows of pointed brick, (in the form of a wedge ;) these brick project beyond the wall, and gives it a handsome appearance; most of the houses are covered with slate and tile. The banks are very handsome buildings; but the greatest piece of architecture is the markethouse. From the centre of the north end, arises a splendid cupola of a hexigon figure, ornamented with a lofty steeple. The squares of the cupola present six faces of a single clock, which shows the hour of the day to a vast distance. The mechanism of the clock is contained within the body of the cupola and strikes so loud as to be heard over the town.* Alexandria is an incorporated town, under the government of a Mayor and Aldermen; the police is under the best regulation; no disturbance, not the least noise, interrupt the repose of the citizens. Instead of bells, the watch is preceded smal by a number of loud trumpets, which blow a tremend ous peal at the hour of ten at night, when the watch goes out. They go the rounds, crying the hour til day. If any person, either black or white, be found in the streets after ten, who cannot give an account o him or herself, they are taken by the watch, and put in the guard-house till morning, when they are taken be fore the Mayor, and thereupon fined; if they are not able to pay the fine, they are sent to the work-house per tine eno cent *These are common in the Atlantic states, being in almost every church. t is an th fift mu from trou I wo WO laug treat Upo " am sir. pic mah All the win: for a certain time. The market of Alexandria is abundant and cheap, though much inferior to any in any part of the western country, except beef and fish, which are by far superior to that of the western markets. But vegetables, fowls, lamb, and veal, are very indifferent indeed. Nor is their bread equal to ours in whiteness or taste. But their exquisite fish, oysters, crabs, and foreign fruits, upon the whole, bring them upon a value with us. Besides these delicacies, they have several sorts of wild duck, the greatest luxury I found in the market. Vegetables of every description are small ; what they call cabbage, with us would not be gathered except to feed cattle; their potatoes are large enough, but not well tasted. They have no greens in the winter, owing to the excessive cold of the climate. Their fish differ from ours, even the same species. Their cat-fish is the only sort in which we excel; they have none that answers to our blue-cat, either in size or flavor, and nothing like our mud-cat. Their cat-fish is from ten to fifteen inches in length, with a wide mouth, like the mud-cat of the western waters; but their cat differ from both ours in substance and color; they are soft, pied black and white. They are principally used to make soup, which is much esteemed by the inhabitants. All their fish are small compared with ours. Besides the cat-fish, which they take in the latter part of the Tayor and winter, they have the rock, winter shad, mackerel, and perch, shad and herring. The winter shad is very repose o fine indeed. They are like our perch, but infinitely preceded smaller. These fish are sold very low; a large string, tremend enough for a dozen persons, may be purchased for a few he watch cents. No fish, however, that I have tasted, equal our trout. I often went through the market; in doing so, I would address those who had things to sell. It was laughable enough to see with what total disregard I was treated, when they discovered my object was not to buy. Upon my first approach I was met with a smile, and "will you have a piece of nice veal this morning?" "No sir, I am a traveller, I only call from curiosity; I am just looking at the market: your veal is very thin sir, do you not feed them in this country?" Not a word! is an in tion; no be seen ht. A ha light he lamp s are at lamp is rns use; gh post not have ouses in ies high, not very p of the P rec rows ese brick ome ap with slate uildings; market arises a d with a esent six f the day k is con ́s so loud hour til found in ccount of nd put in aken be y are not ork-house almost every Another," will you take a nice stake piece this morn- * Many of those people own slaves, and yet make a merit of enjoin ing the observance of the Sabbath. ti SU Co no sh ΤΗ the Al WI gre an pu |
