a city of North America, and now the metropolis of the United States. It is situated 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 those two states to the United States of America, and by them established to be the seat of government after the year 1800. 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... Washington, 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 First 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, presenting 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.

Washington, George, the celebrated commander of the American army, and the first president of the United States, after their separation from the mother-country, was born in the year 1732, in the parish of Washington in Virginia. He was descended from an ancient family in Cheshire, of which a branch was established in Virginia about the middle of the 17th century. Little is known concerning his education, or the early years of his life. Before he was 20 years of age, he was appointed a major in the colonial militia, and had then an opportunity of displaying those military and political talents which have since rendered his name so famous throughout the world. In the disputes which arose between the French and English officers, about settling the limits of Canada and Louisiana, Major Washington was employed by the governor of Virginia as a negociator, and he succeeded in preventing a threatened invasion of the English frontiers by the French and their Indian allies; but, in the following year, when hostilities seemed inevitable, he was appointed lieutenant-colonel, and soon after to the command of a regiment raised by the colony for its own defence. In 1755, Colonel Washington served as a volunteer in the unfortunate expedition of General Braddock, and in that expedition, which was attended with great difficulty, he exhibited so much calmness and intrepidity, that the utmost confidence was reposed in his talents, and perfect obedience paid to his commands by the whole army. After having been employed in a different and more successful expedition to the river Ohio, the state of his health required him, about the year 1758, to resign his military situation; and in the fifteen following years, during which period he married Mrs Custis, a Virginian lady, of amiable character and respectable connections, it would appear that he resided chiefly at his beautiful seat of Mount Vernon, and was occupied in the cultivation of his estate.

When the disaffection of the Americans to the British government had become pretty general, and had at last spread to the colony of Virginia, Colonel Washington was appointed a delegate from that state to the congress which met at Philadelphia on the 26th October 1774, and soon after he was appointed to the command of the American army, which had assembled in the provinces of New England. The conduct of Washington during the whole of the war, as well as during the period that he presided in the government of the United States, has been fully detailed in another part of this work, that it would be unnecessary repetition, even to give a general outline of it in this place. See AMERICA.

Washington resigned the presidency in 1796, after having published a farewell address to his countrymen. This address was remarkably distinguished for the simplicity and ingenuousness, moderation and sobriety, the good sense, prudence and honesty, as well as sincere affection for his country and for mankind, which the author of it had always exhibited; it seemed to be a perfect picture of his whole life. From the time of his resignation till the month of July 1798, he lived in retirement at his seat of Mount Vernon. At this period, when the unprincipled actors in the French revolution were carrying on their wicked machinations in every part of the world to which their influence extended, the United States resolved to arm by land and sea in their own defense. General Washington was called from his retirement, and the command of the army was bestowed upon him. This he accepted, because he considered, as he himself expressed it, "every thing we hold dear and sacred was seriously threatened, although he had flattered himself that he had quitted for ever the boundless field of public action, incessant trouble, and high responsibility, in which he had long acted so conspicuous a part." In this situation he continued during the remaining short period of his life. On Thursday the 12th of December 1799, he was seized with an inflammation in the throat, and was carried off Saturday the 14th of the same month, in the 68th year of his age. In his dying moments he displayed the same calmness, simplicity, and regularity, which had uniformly marked his conduct through life. He saw the approaches of death without fear; and he met them without parade. Even the perfectly well ordered state of the minutest particulars of his private business bear the stamp of that constant authority of prudence and practical reason over his actions which was always the most prominent feature of his character.

Washington is the name of many counties, towns, and villages in the American states; a circumstance which affords a striking proof in what degree of esteem and veneration the name from which they are derived was held by the inhabitants of the new world.