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nydus/Notes on the State of VirginiaPublic

Thomas Jefferson compiles these notes in response to inquiries from a foreign official regarding the geography and state of Virginia. The text provides detailed descriptions of the region's boundaries, dimensions, and physical landscape as understood in the late eighteenth century.

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Monticello being fo much the lightefl, that is to fay, about one-thirty- feventh of its whole weight. It fhould be obferved, however, that the hill of Monticello is of 500 feet perpendicular heighth above the river which wallies its bafe. This pofition being nearly central between our northern and fouthern boun- daries, and between the bay and Allegha- ney, may be confidered as furnifliing the beft average of the temperature of our climate. Williamfburgh is much too near the fouth-eaftern corner to give a fair idea of our general temperature.

But a more remarkable difference is in the winds which prevail in the different parts of the country. The following table exhibits a comparative view of the winds prevailing at WiUiamlburgh, and at Monticello. It is formed by reducing nine months obfervations at Monticello to four principal points, to wit, the north-eaft, fouth-eaft, fouth-weft, and north-weft;

thefe points being perpendicular to, or parallel with our coaft, mountains, and rivers: and by reducing in like manner, an equal number of obfervations, to wit, 421 from the preceding table of winds at WiUiamfburgh, taking them proportion- ably from every point.

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