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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.

Page 137 of 329
Table of Contents

D d QUERY XII.

On Rappahannocky Urbanna, Port-royal, Fredericklburgh, Falmouth.

On Patowmac and its waters, Dumfries, Colchefter, Alexandria, Winchefter, Staun- ton.

On Ohioy Louifville.

There are other places at which, like feme of the foregoing, the lazvs have faid there fhall be towns; but Nature has faid there fliall not, and they remain unworthy of enumeration. Norfolk will probably be the emporium for all the trade of the Che- fapeak bay and its waters; and a canal of 8 or lo miles will bring to it all that of Albemarle found and its waters. Second- ary to this place, are the towns at the head of the tide waters, to wit, Peterf- burgh on Appomattox. Richmond on James river. Newcaftle on York river.

Alexandria on Patowmac, and Baltimore on Patapfco. From thefe the diftribution will be to fubordinate fituations in the country. Accidental circum fiances how-^ ever may controul the indications of na- ture, and in no inftances do they do it more frequently than in the rife and fall of towns.

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