de th de th fla ba he ma I w lar: at a it, fou pat whi at o laug F fine beau The those who do not work. Married ladies look pale, and have for the most part a bloated appearance, for want, I suspect, of proper exercise. Viewing Alexandria in a relative view, it does not seem to progress much in wealth, and so far from improving, it is losing ground. It used to reckon twelve thousand inhabitants, whereas, it now contains only eight thousand and eight, with the exception, however, of two thousand houses in Fairfax county, which, though without the limits of the district, is a continuation of Alexandria. Alexandria has not recovered the loss she sustained by the late war, and from every thing I have seen respecting this town, it has seen its most prosperous days. It is a matter of some surprise, that with the same advantages, as to situation for trade, it should be so far behind Baltimore, which is only two years older. In some respects it has the advantage of Baltimore, having power to furnish all the western part of Virginia, and east Tennessee, who freight their groceries in Philadelphia vessels to Alexandria, which is some distance, and waggon them from thence. Why the people of Alexandria have not seized this advantage, has been owing, perhaps, to want of capital or system. One great cause, I am told, is want of union amongst themselves. Alexandria exports little elsc than flour, though heretofore, it is said, that twelve thousand weight of tobacco was shipped in one year from that port. Besides ware-houses, it has commodious wharfs for the lading and unlading of vessels. These are built in the river on piles, differing in width, length, and heighth, to suit vessels of all sizes. They extend in a right angle, from the shore to a vast distance in the ri ver, which comprises their length, and sufficiently asunder to admit vessels between them. They are per fectly level on the top, being filled up with gravel and earth, of such heighth as to be even with the decks of the vessels, which draw up close to them, side by side, and roll out the cargo, and the same, when going to lade. The first ship I ever saw was in Alexandria, and though a very small merchant ship, it had enough of curiosity in it, to engage my admiration. The greatest disappointment to me, was the heighth of the deck from the decks it at whic dista vibra that ecsta tion, the s loves tible long I felt consi Ale to the ved n street Sing c, and want, ia in a uch in round. ereas, ith the Fairfax istrict, not red from is seen n e sur ion for is onadvan west freight andria, hence. his ad ital or i union e elsc @ thour from odious These length, tend in the rihtly a -e per el and ecks of y side, o lade. though riosity disapom the water, and the quantity of rope. I had expected these From the Alexandria side of the Potomac, you have a 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 "Since this was written, I have seen war ships at Boston with five deeks.. b V d ta W 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 ap. pearance; most of the houses are covered with slate and tile. The banks are very handsome buildings; but the greatest piece of architecture is the market house. 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 pie to a vast distance. The mechanism of the clock is con. tained within the body of the cupola and strikes so loud as to be heard over the town.* Alexandria is an iùcorporated 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 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 of 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 * These are common in the Atlantic states, being in almost every church. ex bu on dit is an thi fift mu fro ma All the wit per fine sma eno cen trou I wo laug trea Up am sir. Π N rec rows ese brick Some ap. ith slate uildings; market arises a d with a esent six f the day k is con ́s so loud is an inayor and tion; no repose of preceded tremend he watch hour till found in ccount o nd put in aken be y are not ork-house almost every 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 winter, they have the rock, winter shad, mackerel, and perch, shad and herring. The winter shad is very fine indeed. They are like our perch, but infinitely smaller. These fish are sold very low; a large string, enough for a dozen persons, may be purchased for a few 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! 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. |