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The place of surrender was about half a mile from the E. limits of the town, on the s. side of the road to Hampton.

The frontispiece to this volume, representing the Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, is copied from the painting of Col. John Trumbull. It is a faithful copy of the original, and the portraits and minor details are imitated with accuracy. Col. Trumbull, who died in 1843, was the son of Gov. Trumbull of Connecticut, and one of Washington's aid-de-camps in 1775, and in 1776 the deputy adjutant-general of the northern department, under the command of Major-Gen. Gates. He retired from the service in 1777, and afterwards became the great historical painter of the revolution. This was one of his series of pictures in commemoration of the principal events of the revolution, in which series he preserved, as far as possible, faithful portraits of its conspicuous actors, with accurate details of dress, manners, arms, &c., of the times. In the prosecution of his plan he was encouraged by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, whose friendship he enjoyed. The portraits of the French officers he painted in 1787, at the house of Mr. Jefferson, in Paris. In 1791 he visited Yorktown, and made the drawing of the place of surrender.

Explanation of the Engraving.-The scene represents the moment when the principal officers of the British army, conducted by Gen. Lincoln, are passing the two groups of American and French officers, and entering between the two lines of victors. By this means the principal officers of the three nations are brought near together, so as to admit of distinct portraits. In the centre of the view, in the distance, is seen the entrance of the town, with the captured troops marching out, following their officers; and also a distant glimpse of York River, and the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay, as seen from the spot.

The prominent figure on horseback in the centre, is Gen. Lincoln, by whose side stands the British general, O'Hara. Washington, on horseback, is a little in the rear and on the left of Gen. Lincoln. Count Rochambeau, the French general, is on horseback at the end of the line of French officers, and on the right and back of Gen. O'Hara. On the reader's right, the four American officers on foot are, respectively-commencing with the one nearest the margin-Col. Nicholas Fish, New York; Col. Walter Stuart, Phila.; Col. John Laurens, S. Carolina; and Col. Alexander Hamilton, commander of light-infantry. On the reader's right, those on horseback-commencing with the figure nearest the margin-are, respectively, Col. Timothy Pickering, Lieut.-Col. E. Huntington, aid to Lincoln; Maj.-Gen. Knox, commander of artillery; Gen. Peter Muhlenburg, Virginia; Gen. Hand, adjutant-general, Pennsylvania; Gen. Anthony Wayne, Maryland; Gen. Gist, Maryland; Major-Gen. James Clinton, New York; Col. Trumbull, secretary to Washington; Col. Cobb, aid to Washington; Baron Steuben; Lafayette; and Gov. Nelson, of Virginia. In the distance, the small figure on horseback, beyond some of the cannon,

is Col. Ebenezer Stevens, of the American artillery. Those drawn up on the left side of the reader, are the French officers. The three first on foot-commencing with the one nearest the margin— are Count Deuxponts, colonel of French infantry; Duke de Laval Montmorency, colonel of do.; and Count Custine, colonel of do. The first figure on horseback, (who has a plume in his cap,) is the Duke de Lauzun, col. of cavalry; and those next in order, as follows-Gen. Choizy; Viscount Viomenil; Marquis de St. Simon; Count Fersen, aid to Rochambeau; Count Charles Dumas, aid to do.; Marquis Chastellux; Baron Viomenil; Count de Barras, admiral; and Count de Grasse, admiral.

ADDENDA.

Since the first edition of this work was put to press, the following counties have been created:

Appomattox was formed Feb. 8th, 1845, from parts of Prince Edward, Charlotte, and Campbell.

Doddridge was formed Feb. 4th, 1845, from Harrison, Tyler, Ritchie, and Lewis. Gilmer was formed Feb. 3d, 1845, from parts of Lewis and Kanawha.

HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH

OF THE

533

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA* was ceded to the United States in 1790, by the states of Virginia and Maryland, and in 1800 the seat of government was removed here from Philadelphia. Its site was selected by GEORGE WASHINGTON, by authority from Congress, after great research and observation, to become the metropolis of this republic. It forms an exact square of 10 miles on a side, lying upon both banks of the Potomac. The location being determined upon, the first stone to mark its boundary was set in Jones's Point, the uppermost cape of Hunting creek, April 15, 1791, in the presence of a large concourse of spectators.

The District is divided into two counties. Washington county is on the N. side of the Potomac, and includes Washington city and Georgetown. Alexandria county is on the s. side of the Potomac, and has the city of Alexandria. In the former, the laws of Maryland continue in force; in the latter, those of Virginia. District has never been represented in the Congress of the United States. Congress, however, makes what laws it pleases for both, which meets annually on the first Monday of December, unless otherwise provided by law.

The

The surface of the District is gently undulating, furnishing fine sites for cities. The soil is naturally sterile, but it possesses a fine, healthy climate. This District has become the centre of a considerable and active commerce, though it cannot at all compete with Baltimore, in its vicinity. Vessels of the largest class come up to Alexandria, 6 miles below Washington, where the Potomac is a mile wide, and from 30 to 50 feet deep; and vessels of a large size come up to the U. S. Navy Yard, at the junction of the East Branch with the Potomac, at Washington. A very considerable quantity of flour, and other produce, comes down the Potomac, and centres chiefly at Alexandria, and some at Georgetown. The chief business of Washington city has relation to the accommodation of the national legislature, and of the officers of the general government. In 1800, the population was 14,093; in 1810, 24,023; in 1820, 33,039; in 1830, 39,858; in 1840, 43,712, of which 30,657 were whites, 8,361 were free colored persons, and 4,694 were slaves. The valley at the foot of Capitol Hill, washed by the Tiber creek, it is stated on the authority of some of the early settlers, was periodically visited by the Indians, who named it their fishing-ground,

* We are indebted to Sherman and Smith's valuable Gazetteer of the United States for much information respecting the District.

with 3 columns. The outer intercolumniation is for carriages to drive under, to place company under shelter. It stands in the centre of a plat of ground of 20 acres, beautifully laid out and highly

ornamented. It is elevated 44 feet above tide-water, and the southern front presents a grand and beautiful prospect. The apartments within are admirably fitted to their purpose, and splendidly

furnished. On the E. side of the President's house are two large buildings, and on the w. side two large buildings for the departments of State, of the Treasury, of War, and of the Navy. The General Post-Office and the Patent-Office are also extensive build

ings. These, with the new Treasury building, have been recently erected, to supply the place of those which were burned a few years since. The new Treasury building contains 150 rooms, and when completed, will contain 250. It has a splendid colonnade, 457 feet in length. The General Post-Office contains about 80