Virginia is also one of the original thirteen States, and had an area previous to the division in 1862, of 61,352 square miles, equal to 39,265,280 acres; but after West Virginia was set off as a separate State, there were but 38,352 square miles left of this once great State, equal to 24,545,280 acres.

The population in 1860 amounted to 1,596,318, which entitles the State to eleven Members of Congress. By the division the number of Representatives was cut down to eight; the new State receiving three out of the eleven.

Virginia lies in the fourth judicial circuit, which by the act of 1866 was composed of this State, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. There were two judicial districts in this State, anterior to the division, the Eastern and the Western. There is now but one.

There were also twelve collection districts in this State, and twelve ports of entry, all of which remain the same as they were before West Virginia was cut off, for they were all located on the Atlantic coast, or on the bays and rivers running into the Atlantic Ocean; there are also ten ports of delivery.

Richmond is the capital. The State election is held on the fourth Thursday of May. The Legislature meets biennially on the second Monday of January.

The enacting clause of the laws of Virginia is: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly."

When the United States government was formed, Virginia was the largest, most populous and influential State in the Union. But after 1810 she fell behind New York in population; and in 1860, she had fallen to the fifth position in this respect. The division has reduced her much below that point.

This State is often called "the Old Dominion," because it was first settled by whites after the discovery of America, an English colony being planted here in 1607.

"The Mother of Presidents," is another appellation often given to her, because four of the Presidents were Virginians, viz.: Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe. She was also the birthplace of several others, viz. Jackson, Harrison and Tyler.

"The Old Dominion" is now divided into two States, Virginia and West Virginia. Her political power and influence have dwindled into insignificance.

R. M. T. Hunter,

1847" 1861.

Virginia was one of the seceding States in 1861.

There is a peculiarity in the description of this new State. It formed a part of one of the original thirteen States, but is yet a new State, and was admitted fully in 1863. Although the act of Congress making it a State was passed on the 31st of December, 1862, it was with the proviso that it should not take effect until 60 days after a proclamation issued by the President, giving notice to the world that West Virginia had been admitted as a sovereign State, and that it formed one of the United States of America. This proclamation was not issued until the year 1863, and in sixty days thereafter the law took effect, and West Virginia became a State, on an equal footing with all the other States. We have not the date of the proclamation, and cannot, therefore, name the day when the act went into full operation.

This is the only case in which a State has been divi

ded. The Constitution contains a provision for making such division in case it should be desirable, and upon certain conditions, which were complied with in this case. As stated in another place, this event grew out of the late rebellion. Virginia seceded with others of the slave States; but that part of the State lying west of the Alleghany mountains, consisting of forty-eight counties, refused to go with the eastern part, seceded from it, and set up a separate State government, which was then recognized by Congress, and admitted into the Union. Thus West Virginia became a new State, made out of an old one. When admitted, it made the thirty-fifth State. It has an area of 23,000 square miles, equal to 14,720,000 acres.

The population, in 1860, was 349,628, which gives her three Members of Congress. West Virginia was subsequently put into the fourth judicial circuit, and constitutes one judicial district. Parkersburgh, also,

was made a port of delivery.

Wheeling is the capital. The State election is held on the fourth Thursday in October. The Legislature meets on the third Tuesday in January.