territories, equally populous, the increasing numbers of the people are enabled to supply their wants by improving their lands, and modes of cultivation ;— by the erection of manufactures, and the fostering of new incitements to industry: every foot of land in the space thus occupied, increases in its products, and consequently in its value, proportionably with the increase of population. But it is quite different in the states which are the best peopled among us. The increase of numbers, when it arrives at a certain point, is always followed by emigration, rather than by any exertions to support the increase by those improvements I stated; and of course, while there still remain fertile and pleasant territories in the undefinable limits of the west to be settled, it will generally happen, that the growth of the elder states will be retarded, while that of the new is accelerated by emigrations. In Connecticut, and probably in nearly all the New-England states, I believe there has been little growth in numbers, since the western states became objects of attention, and offered safety, as well as competence. If the land, either in town. or country, has risen in its nominal price, it has but little, if any, increased in value. The difference is owing, I imagine, almost entirely to speculation, and to the depreciation of money,-the consequence of enormous emissions of paper in all parts of the United States.

By-and-by, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio, will be old states, increasing indeed in population, but by no means in comparison with their former ratio.

They, in time, will become the parents of new states, far in the wilderness, and the current of emigration will continue to flow, till it reaches the shores of another Atlantic in the west. Old DANIEL BOON is still the file-leader. He was the first settler of Kentucky, which soon grew too populous for him; and by regular emigrations he has reached the Missouri, which he is now following up to the Rocky Mountains. If he lives, he will, I have little doubt, get to the mouth of Columbia river, and there, perhaps, sit down, like another Alexander of Macedon, and weep, because there are no more worlds tosettle.

This is a true travelling letter. I began at Richmond, and ended at the mouth of the Columbia river; a tolerable journey enough. In my next I will try to set you down somewhere nearer home, if possible; perhaps on the top of the Blue Ridge, if I can get thus far. Good by.

LETTER VIII.

DEAR FRANK,

MAYBE you have seen the contest of two rival ladies, of pretty nearly equal family, fortune, and pretensions, for the supreme dominion over a little country town-how they dressed, and fidgeted, what low courtesies, and sly, civil, disagreeable inquiries they made when they met, and how they always endeavoured to outstay each other at a tea-party, to have the last word, which, like the last blow, is decisive of victory. It is thus with our cities, little and great. New-York and Philadelphia, being incontestably at the head of the ton, are for ever disputing the palm of fashion, science, literature, fine arts, "and all that sort of thing." One is better builtthe other has the finest port; one has the most commerce-the other the most manufactures; one has its steeples-the other its shot-towers; one has its Hudson and East rivers-the other its Delaware and Schuylkill. When the Philadelphian is hard pushed, he boasts of his squares and his wide streets, his beef and his butter; and when the New-Yorker is in the greatest extremity, he opens his battery upon his antagonist, and demolishes him in a twinkling. Boston values itself on its town-meetings and athenæum. Baltimore on its taste in music: and Charleston is

proud of its races. Thus all have some straw to tickle themselves with, and the natives of each are astonished, when they meet, that any body should question their superiority.

Richmond and Norfolk are the belles of "Ould Virginia ;" one being the beauty of the region of river alluvion, the other of the region of sea sand. This, of course, is a sufficient reason for a most vehement rivalship. Though at the distance of nearly two hundred miles, they seem to consider the prosperity of one as interfering with that of the other, and consequently look with a jealous eye on every internal improvement in roads or canals, that is exclusively advantageous to either. They remind us of the good dame Ashfield, in Speed the Plough, whose great rival in the village was one Mrs. Grundy. Nothing happened to the former, that she did not exclaim, "I wonder what Mrs. Grundy will say to this?" until, at last, honest Farmer Ashfield gets out of patience, and exclaims, "Dom Mrs. Grundy, you're always dinging, dinging her in my ears."

This rivalship is not peculiar to your consequential cities, having a town-house, a corporation, constables, catchpoles, and such like dignitaries, but pervades all neighbouring little towns throughout the world. Indeed, the less they are, the more inveterate seems their jealousy. The smallest trifle sets them pulling caps, and nothing can produce the least unanimity, except the bone of contention being given to one in particular, when all the rest unite against the fortunate Mrs. Grundy, and pull her reputation to pieces. VOL. I-G 2

In addition to this, every great town has a number of little ones attached to its interests, and taking its part, like some small German prince in the quarrels of Europe. They put one in mind of a battle between two city mastiffs of distinction, when, you know, every little bobtail crop-eared cur sallies forth to take sides, growling, showing his teeth, cocking his stump-tail bolt upright, and lifting his leg at every post in the neighbourhood with great intrepidity. This diminutive jealousy of our neighbours, I believe, is not peculiar to any nation or age; it subsists everywhere, and at all times, but still it is not the less ridiculous for all that.

James river, on which Richmond lies, is navigable for ships to within a few miles of the city, where it is obstructed by a bar, beyond which only smaller vessels can pass. This is the reason why the people of Norfolk call the place "Shallow Richmond," as King Richard distinguishes his rival competitor. It is in contemplation to remove this bar, under the belief that it was originally caused by a deposition of logs. If so, the project is feasible enough; but if it arises from any peculiarity in the natural current of the river, there will certainly be a bar at all times somewhere near this spot. From the junction of the Appomattox with James river up to Richmond, the latter stream pursues a course singularly winding, so that in one place you sail nearly in a circle for some miles. This is called the Dutchman's gap, a name which they explain by a story, which is peculiarly remarkable, as being the only instance, either in