From the opposite extreme flow the higher sources of Tennessee, whilst from the central part issue the fountains of Great Sandy, Great Kenhawa, Little Kenhawa and numerous creeks, all finding a common recipient in the Ohio.

From this rapid outline of the Ohio section of Virginia, it must be obvious, that the climate of the whole must vary materially from that of similar latitudes on the Atlantic coast; and again, from difference of relative level the climate on the high Appalachian valleys must be very different from that on the greatly lower and locally deep ravine of Ohio river.

The difference of temperature alluded to is so evidently great, that the writer of this article has seen repeatedly, early vegetation far advanced at Wheeling, when little or no appearance of spring met the eye along the dividing ridge of the waters. All Virginia westward from Blue Ridge, comprising an area of 41,409 square miles, is the region of Virginia represented in the census tables by Nos. 4, 5 and 6. By reference to these tabular views it will be seen that the aggregate population, 1830, was 378,425, or a small fraction above 9 to the square mile. Of the preceding were whites, 318,645, or about 7 to the square mile, whilst the coloured class, free and slaves, amounted to only 32,280, or about 8 per cent of the whole.

From the preceding elements we find the density of population in Virginia inverse to distance from the Atlantic, but we find also, that as the aggregate population becomes more scattered, that the relalive number of whites increase, until on the large western section they amount to 92 per cent of the whole.

Political Geography, History, &c.-The first char ter of Virginia was granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1583, and made out in favour of Sir Humphry Gilbert. This first English adventurer to form a colony in America, perished at sea in the attempt; but in the ensuing year, Sir Walter Raleigh, a maternal brother of Sir Humphry, obtained a renewal of the original patent. By both instruments the general name of Virginia was imposed on the Atlantic coast of North America. The term so very extensive as to embrace the whole extent from Florida indefinitely to the north, was gradually restricted to its existing limits.

Sir Walter Raleigh's patent was dated May 25th, 1584, and under it a colony was planted on Roanoke, which ultimately failed. In August 1587, the governor sailed to England in search of supplies, and the few persons left behind were never again heard of; they were, it is most probable, massacred by the savages. The patent was itself subsequently vacated by the attainder of Raleigh.

The war with Spain and the attempted invasion of England in 1588, and the declining age of Eliza beth, prevented such then merely speculative attempts during the residue of her reign, but early in that of James I., Mr. Hackluyt revived the intention of settlement on the North American coast, and himself and others obtained by petition, a patent VOL XVIII.-PART I.

dated April 10th, 1606, for that part of the coast extending from N. Lat. 34° to 45°. This great zone of 14 degrees of latitude, was granted to two companies under the relative names of North Virginia and South Virginia. South Virginia was given to the London Company, and North Virginia to the Plymouth Company.

The London Company effected a settlement April 1607, at Jamestown on Powhatan, or as since called James River, and thus commenced not only Virginia but the United States. So vague, however, and injudicious were the views of the London Company, that after four years of wretchedness and discord, the settlers broke up their establishment in 1610, and had actually embarked for Europe, but were restored to their abandoned houses by the timely arrival of Lord de la War.

In 1612 the second Charter was granted, and in 1619 the first legislature of Virginia was convened; and in 1620 Africans were brought into the colony by a Dutch ship and sold as slaves.

A state of natural distrust between the English colonists and the native Indians, was coeval with the settlement of Virginia, which, in 1622, eventuated in a massacre of the former by the latter, in which 347 persons perished. To the absurd and arbitrary government of the London Company was thus added Indian warfare. The vexatious measures of the Company were arrested in 1624 by interference of the crown. The colony was made royal and ruled by commission. The royal governors were little if any more wise or steady in their administration, than had been the agents of the London Company. To these petty tyrants there was one exception in Sir William Berkeley. This nobleman ruled with wisdom and moderation, and in 1729, restored the legislature of the colony by calling an assembly of the burgesses.

As an English colony, Virginia was royal in its features, and imparted congenial feelings to the inhabitants. In the long revolutionary struggle in England from 1642 to 1660, the Virginians sided with the royal party. Compelled by force to submit to parliamentary authority, they seized the first favourable moment to act upon their real sentiments, and Charles II. was acknowledged in Virginia before he was in England. The restoration of a pageant was alike a failure in both countries; but weak and defenceless the colony of Virginia suffered most, and the monopolising spirit of the mother country was felt in its effects upwards of a century,-to the revolution in 1775.

The Church of England was established by law in 1662, which, with exactions in trade, large grants of land to royal favourites, and the caprice of royal governors, excited and fostered a resistance which prepared the public mind to meet the catastrophe which produced the independence of the United States.

As early as 1732, the future hero of the United States was born in Virginia, and had become mature in years when his services were demanded to give the kings and people of the earth the most salutary lesson they have either ever received. In the colo2 P*2

nial war, commenced in 1775, George Washington, and the Virginians generally were truly distinguished, and in consummating the revolution the part acted by that state was glorious in the true intent of the term.

Since the revolution, no great event particular to Virginia occurred until October 1829, when a convention met to revise the constitution.

The first constitution of Virginia was adopted the 5th July 1776, but the then existing settlements were in great part east of the Alleghany chain, and were even thin on the Great Valley contiguous to and west from Blue Ridge. As the population gradually extended to the Ohio, the provisions of the first constitution were regarded by the western settlers as partial and oppressive. After many abortive attempts, a convention met, and on the 14th of January 1830, reported the existing constitution, which was ratified by the people and is now in operation.

That most important of all rights, the right of suffrage is secured by very complex provisions. The right of voting is extended to every white male citizen of the commonwealth and resident therein, who has attained the age of 21 years and upwards, and who would have been entitled to vote under the former constitution; or if owner of a freehold of 25 dollars value; or if the holder of a joint interest in a freehold to the amount of 25 dollars; or who has a life estate in, or title in reversion to land of 50 dollars value, and had been in full possession of such an estate or reversionary title, six months before the election at which he offers to vote; or who shail own and be in the actual occupation of a leasehold estate, have put such title on record, two months before he shall offer to vote; original term at least five years, and rent value 200 dollars; or who has been a housekeeper and head of a family twelve months before offering to vote; and shall have paid a state tax within the preceding year.

The legislative power is vested in a Senate and House of Delegates, who together bear the style of "General Assembly of Virginia." The House of Delegates consists of 134 members, chosen annually and apportioned as follows. Thirty-six from tidewater district; 42 from that above tide-water and below Blue Ridge; 25 from the third or mountain district, and 31 from that of Ohio or the western district. Senate 32 members, 19 from the eastern and 13 from the western side of the Blue Ridge: the senators elected for four years, and one-fourth going out of office annually.

The apportionment of the relative numbers of the members of both houses to take place in 1841, and decennially afterwards, but the ultimate numbers of the senators limited to 36, and of the delegates to

150.

Executive power is vested in a governor, elected for four years by a joint vote of both houses of the legislature, and ineligible for the next three years after the expiration of his term of service. The

second branch of the executive department consists of a council of state, elected by joint ballot of the two houses, and consisting of three members; term three years, and one member vacating his seat annually. The senior councillor is lieutenant gov

ernor.

The judiciary is composed of a supreme court of appeals and superior and inferior courts. Judges of the court of appeals and superior courts elected by the legislature in joint ballot. Term of office during good behaviour, or until removed by a concurrent vote of both houses of the legislature, two-thirds of the members present voting for his removal.

For staple productions and Internal Improvements, see article United States.

In making up this article we did not deem it within the scope of our duty to make any remarks on the respective colours or castes of its population, but as the legislature has itself acted upon the question of removal and abolition as regards its slaves and free people of colour, we place on record the following Preamble and Resolution, reported by a committee, and adopted by the house of delegates in January 1832, by a vote of 64 to 59.

Preamble. "Profoundly sensible of the great evils arising from the condition of the coloured population of this commonwealth; induced by humanity as well as policy, to an immediate effort for the removal in the first place, as well of those who are now free as of such as may hereafter become free; believing that this effort, while it is in just actordance with the sentiments of the community on the subject, will absorb all our present means; and that a further action for the removal of the slaves should await a more definite development of public opinion,

"Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, that it is inexpedient for the present, to make any legislative enactments for the abolition of slavery."

On the 28th of the same month, Mr. Broadnax from the Select Committee on Slaves and Free Negroes, reported a bill for the removal of free negroes, or such as may become free, and are willing to go to some place beyond the limits of the United States; this bill excludes coercion, except as to free negroes who remain in the state contrary to the law of 1806. The bill as amended, and finally passed by the House of Delegates, by a vote of 79 to 41, appropriates 35,000 dollars for 1832, and 90,000 for 1833, for the purposes above-mentioned -the place of removal left to the discretion of a central board, to consist of the Governor, Treasurer and Auditor ex officio, who have power to appoint agencies at Norfolk, Petersburg, and other places.

This bill, after passing the House of Delegates by so respectable a majority, has been indefinitely postponed in Senate, by a vote of 18 to 14; and thus the whole subject rests for the present.

nial war, commenced in 1775, George Washington, and the Virginians generally were truly distinguished, and in consummating the revolution the part acted by that state was glorious in the true intent of the term.

Since the revolution, no great event particular to Virginia occurred until October 1829, when a convention met to revise the constitution.

The first constitution of Virginia was adopted the 5th July 1776, but the then existing settlements were in great part east of the Alleghany chain, and were even thin on the Great Valley contiguous to and west from Blue Ridge. As the population gradually extended to the Ohio, the provisions of the first constitution were regarded by the western settlers as partial and oppressive. After many abortive attempts, a convention met, and on the 14th of January 1830, reported the existing constitution, which was ratified by the people and is now in operation.

That most important of all rights, the right of suffrage is secured by very complex provisions. The right of voting is extended to every white male citizen of the commonwealth and resident therein, who has attained the age of 21 years and upwards, and who would have been entitled to vote under the former constitution; or if owner of a freehold of 25 dollars value; or if the holder of a joint interest in a freehold to the amount of 25 dollars; or who has a life estate in, or title in reversion to land of 50 dollars value, and had been in full possession of such an estate or reversionary title, six months before the election at which he offers to vote; or who shail own and be in the actual occupation of a leasehold estate, have put such title on record, two months before he shall offer to vote; original term at least five years, and rent value 200 dollars; or who has been a housekeeper and head of a family twelve months before offering to vote; and shall have paid a state tax within the preceding year.

The legislative power is vested in a Senate and House of Delegates, who together bear the style of "General Assembly of Virginia." The House of Delegates consists of 134 members, chosen annually and apportioned as follows. Thirty-six from tidewater district; 42 from that above tide-water and below Blue Ridge; 25 from the third or mountain district, and 31 from that of Ohio or the western district. Senate 32 members, 19 from the eastern and 13 from the western side of the Blue Ridge: the senators elected for four years, and one-fourth going out of office annually.

The apportionment of the relative numbers of the members of both houses to take place in 1841, and decennially afterwards, but the ultimate numbers of the senators limited to 36, and of the delegates to

150.

Executive power is vested in a governor, elected for four years by a joint vote of both houses of the legislature, and ineligible for the next three years after the expiration of his term of service. The

second branch of the executive department consists of a council of state, elected by joint ballot of the two houses, and consisting of three members; term three years, and one member vacating his seat annually. The senior councillor is lieutenant gov

ernor.

The judiciary is composed of a supreme court of appeals and superior and inferior courts. Judges of the court of appeals and superior courts elected. by the legislature in. joint ballot. Term of office during good behaviour, or until removed by a concurrent vote of both houses of the legislature, two-thirds of the members present voting for his removal.

For staple productions and Internal Improvements, see article United States.

In making up this article we did not deem it within the scope of our duty to make any remarks on the respective colours or castes of its population, but as the legislature has itself acted upon the question of removal and abolition as regards its slaves and free people of colour, we place on record the following Preamble and Resolution, reported by a committee, and adopted by the house of delegates in January 1832, by a vote of 64 to 59..

Preamble. "Profoundly sensible of the great evils arising from the condition of the coloured population of this commonwealth; induced by humanity as well as policy, to an immediate effort for the removal in the first place, as well of those who are now free as of such as may hereafter become free; believing that this effort, while it is in just accordance with the sentiments of the community on the subject, will absorb all our present means; and that a further action for the removal of the slaves should await a more definite development of public opinion,

"Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, that it is inexpedient for the present, to make any legislative enactments for the abolition of slavery."

On the 28th of the same month, Mr. Broadnax from the Select Committee on Slaves and Free Negroes, reported a bill for the removal of free negroes, or such as may become free, and are willing to go to some place beyond the limits of the United States; this bill excludes coercion, except as to free negroes who remain in the state contrary to the law of 1806. The bill as amended, and finally passed by the House of Delegates, by a vote of 79 to 41, appropriates 35,000 dollars for 1832, and 90,000 for 1833, for the purposes above-mentioned -the place of removal left to the discretion of a central board, to consist of the Governor, Treasurer and Auditor ex officio, who have power to appoint agencies at Norfolk, Petersburg, and other places.

This bill, after passing the House of Delegates by so respectable a majority, has been indefinitely. postponed in Senate, by a vote of 18 to 14; and thus the whole subject rests for the present.

VISION. See OPTICS, Vol. XIV. p. 749. UIST. Under the name Uist, may be comprehended a large portion of that range of the Hebrides going under the appellation of the Long Island. It may be divided into North Uist, Benbecula, and South Uist, which, with their smaller islands, are all politically attached to Inverness-shire. North Uist is a parish by itself. It is bounded on the N. N. E. by a sound of a mile broad, dividing it from the island of Berneray; on the E.S. E. by a channel denominated the Little Minch, dividing it from the Isle of Sky; on the S. S. W. by a strand overflowed by the sea at high water, which divides it from Benbecula; and on the W.N.W. by the Western ocean. It is about twenty miles in length from north to south, and from twelve to eighteen miles in breadth. Almost the only cultivated parts of the island are those on the west and north coasts, which are low and level for nearly a mile and a half inland. In favourable seasons, these parts yield luxuriant crops of bear. The soil nearest the sea is sandy, and between that and the moor is a thin black ground, covering either a hard gravel or solid rock, interspersed in some places with flats and meadows. In winter the grass entirely disappears, so that cattle are then fed, partly on straw, and partly on sea-weed. The rest of the country consists of a barren, soft, deep, moory soil, and hills of no great height covered with heath. The fresh water lakes are extremely numerous; many of them are large, and contain rocks and islands. So numerous are the shoals on the western coast, that it is inaccessible even to small boats, excepting in very fine weather. The east coast is bold and rocky, and much indented by inlets of the sea, many of them forming safe and commodious natural harbours. That farthest to the north is called Cheese Bay; it is of easy access from the S.E., and vessels may ride safely in it at all seasons of the year. Loch Maddie is a well known harbour, much frequented by ships trading to the Baltic. It extends five or six miles into the country, and is subdivided by the great number of islands it contains, into several smaller havens. Lochevort lies a few miles farther south, and is of the same extent, but, from its vicinity to Loch Maddie, it is less frequented. More to the south still are the harbours of Rueheva and Kellin. A league to the northward of North Uist, lies Berneray, a fertile island of a mile and a half long. Within it lies Orinsay, an island only at high water; it is half a mile long, of a sandy soil, but fertile in good seasons. Three miles westward lies Vallay, likewise insulated at high water only, and, when the tide is out, separated from the shore by a sand two miles broad. It is a mile and a half long, not half a mile broad, and of a sandy soil, fertile in corn and grass in a good season, but very unproductive in bad years. Two leagues to the Two leagues to the northward of North Uist lies Heisker, about two miles long, but very narrow. It is valuable for its kelp shores alone; yielding very little grass, and but a small quantity of corn. Kirkbost and Ileray stretch pretty closely along the west coast of North Uist, being separated from it, and from one another, by a sand overflowed at high water. The former is VOL. XVIII. PART I.

a mile long, very narrow, and of such a sandy nature, that it is literally in danger of being blown away by the wind. The latter is three miles long, and half a mile broad, and of a soil partly sandy, and partly black, and yielding tolerable crops of barley and pasture. Grimsay, also an island at high water, lies between North Uist and Benbecula; it is two miles long, and covered with heath, but is very valuable for its kelp shores.

Benbecula, lying to the south, is isolated from North Uist, only by a shallow sound, fordable at low water; it is divided from South Uist by a strait seven miles broad. This island is ten miles in circumference; its western coast is low, but its castern side is hilly.

The island of South Uist is about twenty-seven miles in length from north to south, and from seven to nine broad. The channel called the Little Minch, on the cast, separates it from Arissag and Ardnamurchan on the main land; and it is divided from Barra, lying to the south and west, by a sound eight or nine miles broad. The soil on the western coast is light, sandy, and almost rendered useless by the constant storms from the west; for although there are fine fields of natural grass here in summer, many of these spots are covered in winter by drifted sand, so that not a trace of verdure is to be seen for many months. Farther inland, there is one continued assemblage of swamps and lakes: still more to the eastward there are high mountains, covered with heath, but with verdure enough intermixed to pasture cattle, horses, sheep, and goats, during the summer and autumnal months. The natural harbours are on the east coast, and are called Loch Skiport, Loch Enort, and Loch Boisdale: they are well adapted for fishing stations. South Uist and Benbecula form one parish.

Kelp is the most important produce of Uist, the manufacture of which was totally unknown until the year 1735, when it was imperfectly introduced by one Rory M'Donald, who had been invited from Ireland to make experiments. Of this valuable commodity, more than 1200 tons were made per annum in North Uist alone. All the inhabitants, with the exception of the principal taxman, and a few tradesmen, were employed in the preparation of it from the 10th of June to the 10th of August. In South Uist not less, on an average, than 1100 tons were manufactured every year. Cattle constitute the next valuable production of Uist, of which about 750 head are annually exported. The total number of horses is probably about 2400, which is very large, considering the low state of agriculture; but they are of very diminutive size, and a great proportion of them are employed in the transportation of sea-weed for the manufacture of kelp; indeed, a good many horses are imported from Sky and Lewis. There are about 12,000 sheep in Uist, of a very small breed, covered with very fine wool, of which about 15 fleeces go to a stone. Goats are not numerous.

There has been no improvement upon agricultural implements for near a century. The plough in general use is little known beyond the Long Island. It is drawn by four small horses, has one handle, 2 Q