Total of W.Dist. 318,505 53,465 6,323 378,293 Total of Virginia 694,445 469,724 47,103 1,211,272 Population at Different Periods. In 1642, 20,000; in 1660, 30,000; in 1763, 60,606; in 1749, 85,000; in 1763,170,000, viz. about 70,000 whites, and 100,000 negroes. Holmes's Annals. Population by census, in 1703, 60,606. The first legislature under the new Constitution of Virginia, met at Richmond on the first Monday in December, 1830, (instead of the 1st Monday in January, 1831, the time stated in the American Almanac for 1831), continued in session till the 19th of April, 135 days, and passed 234 acts. It was enacted by the legislature that the state elections, for the year 1831, should be held in the month of August on the respective court days in the different counties, and for all future years, in the month of April; that the election for members of congress should be held in 1830, in August, and, afterwards, every second year, in April; that the election of electors of president and vice-president of the United States should be held every fourth year on the 1st Monday in November; that the legislature should meet hereafter on the 1st Monday in December; that the term of the office of governor should commence on the 31st of March; that the lieutenant-governor, while acting as governor, should receive the same compensation as the governor; and that the salaries of the officers of the executive department should remain the same as heretofore. GOLD MINES. Since the year 1827, the gold mines of Virginia have attracted considerable attention. The belt of country in which they are found extends through Spotsylvania and some neighboring counties. The gold region abounds in quartz, which contains cubes of sulphuret of iron. These cubes are often partly or totally decomposed; and the cells thus created are sometimes filled with gold. The gold is found on the surface, and in the structure of quartz; but in greatest abundance resting upon slate, and in its fisThe gold is diffused over large surfaces, and has not yet been found sufficiently in mass, except in a few places, to make mining profitable. The method of obtaining the metal is by filtration, or washing the earth, and by an amalgam of quicksilver. The average value of the earth yielding gold is stated at 20 cents a bushel. See a notice of the Gold Mines of North Carolina, page 226; also Mint, page 153. ures. EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT. Salary. John Floyd, Governor'; term of office expires March 31, 1834. $3,333 Peter V. Daniel, Counsellor, Lt. Gov.; term expires March 31, 1832, 1,000 Daniel A. Wilson, Counsellor; term expires March 31, 1833, 1,000 Wyndham Robertson, Counsellor; term expires March 31, 1834, 1000 The Senate is composed of the following 32 members: Messrs. Wm. C. Holt (Speaker), Mason, Dromgoole, Branch, Wyatt, Alexander, Booker, Campbell, Harvie, Jones, Armistead, Bernard, Cocke, Winston, Dade, Wallace, McCarty, Beale, Patterson, Cravens, Pennybacker, Opie, Boyd, McWharter, Morgan, Edgington, and Cabell. The House of Representatives consists of 134 members: Linn Banks, Speaker; George W. Munford, Clerk. The judges are entitled to receive, in addition to their salaries, 25 cents a mile for necessary travel. The Court of Appeals holds two sessions annually; one at Lewisburg, Greenbrier county, for the counties lying west of the Blue Ridge, commencing on the 1st Monday in July, and continuing 90 days, unless the business shall be sooner despatched; the other at Richmond, for the counties lying east of the Blue Ridge, commencing at such times as the court may, from time to time, appoint, and continuing 160 days, unless the business shall be sooner despatched. General Court. The state is divided into 10 districts, and each district into two circuits, and a Circuit Superior Court of law and chancery is held twice every year in each county and corporation; the courts sitting until the business is despatched. There are 20 judges, having each a salary of $1,500, and their names, with the number of their respective circuits, are as follows: 1. Robert B. Taylor 2. John F. May 8. William Daniel 7. Wm. Brockenbrough 14. Daniel Smith 15. Benjamin Estill EDUCATION. The Literary Fund of Virginia amounts to $1,510,689-71. The income during the year 1830 amounted to $71,887-94: the sum of $61,385.89 was expended, and $10,502-05 applied to the capital. According to the return from 101 counties and towns, there were, in 1829, 26,381 poor children, of whom 11,799 were sent to school at an average expense of $3.33 for each child. For some notice of the colleges in the state, see page 164. University of Virginia. The number of students in this university, in 1831, was 130 :-of these 130 students, 52 were studying the ancient languages, 39 the modern languages, 60 mathematics, 47 natural philosophy, 42 chemistry and materia inedica, 32 medicine, 34 anatomy and surgery, 16 moral philosophy, and 23 law. Summary of the Accounts of this Institution. The Baptists in this state have 337 churches, 192 ministers, and 39,440 communicants; the Methodists, 77 preachers and 27,947 members; the Presbyterians, 104 churches, 75 ministers, 15 licentiates, and 7,508 communicants; the Episcopalians, 45 ministers; the Friends are considerably numerous, and there are some Lutherans, Roman Catholics, and Jews. |