a city of North America, now building for the metropolis of the United States. It is seated at the junction of the rivers Potomac and the Eastern Branch, extending about four miles up each, including a tract of territory scarcely to be exceeded, in point of convenience, salubrity, and beauty, by any in the world. This territory, which is called Columbia, lies partly in the state of Virginia, and partly in that of Maryland, and was ceded by these two states to the United States of America, and by them established to be the seat of government after the year 1790. It is divided into squares or grand divisions, by streets running due north, and south, and east, and west, which form the ground-work of the plan. However, from the Capitol, the president's house, and some of the important areas in the city, run diagonal streets, from one material object to another, which not only produce a variety of charming prospects, but remove the insipid sameness which renders some other great cities unpleasing. The great leading streets are all 160 feet wide, including a pavement of 10 feet, and a gravel walk of 30 feet planted with trees on each side, which will leave 80 feet of paved street for carriages. The rest of the streets are in general 110 feet wide, with a few only 90 feet, except North, South, and East Capitol Streets, which are 160 feet. The diagonal streets are named after the respective states composing the Union, while those running north and south are, from the Capitol eastward, named East First Street, East Second Street, &c. and those west of it are in the same manner called West Fifth Street, West Second Street, &c. Those running east and west are from the Capitol northward named North A Street, North B Street, &c. and those south of it are called South A Street, South B Street, &c. The squares or divisions of the city amount to 1150. The rectangular squares generally contain from three to six acres, and are divided into lots of from 40 to 80 feet in front, and their depth from about 110 to 300 feet, according to the size of the square. The irregular divisions produced by the diagonal streets are some of them small, but generally in valuable situations. Their acute points are all to be cut off at 40 feet, so that no house in the city will have an acute corner. All the houses must be of brick or stone. The area for the Capitol (or house for the legislative bodies) is situated upon the most beautiful eminence in the city, about a mile from the Eastern Branch, and not much more from the Potomac, commanding a full view of every part of the city, as well as a considerable extent of the country around. The president's house will stand upon a rising ground, not far from the banks of the Potomac, possessing a delightful water prospect, with a commanding view of the Capitol, and some other material parts of the city.

The city being situated upon the great post road, exactly equidistant from the northern and southern extremities of the Union, and nearly so from the Atlantic Ocean to the river Ohio, upon the best navigation, and in the midst of the richest commercial territory in America, commanding the most extensive internal resources, is by far the most eligible situation for the residence of congress; and it is now pressing forward, by the public-spirited enterprise, not only of the people of the United States, but also of foreigners.