Notes on the State of Virginia (1802)/Query 01
QUERY I.
AN exact deſcription of the limits and boundaries
of the ſtate of Virginia?
Virginia is bounded on the eaſt by the Atlantic; on the north by a line of latitude, croſſing the eaſtern ſhore through Watkins's point, being about 37° 57, north latitude; from thence by a ſtraight line to Cinquac, near the mouth of Patowmac; thence by the Patowmac, which is common to Virginia and Maryland, to the firſt fountain of its northern branch; thence by a meridian line, paſſing through that fountain till it interſects a line running eaſt and weſt, in latitude 39°.43′.42.4″. which divides Maryland from Pennſylvania, and which was marked by Meſſrs. Maſon and Dixon; thence by that line, and a continuation of it weſtwardly to the completion of five degrees of longitude from the eaſtern boundary of Pennſylvania, in the ſame latitude, and thence by a meridian line to the Ohio: on the Weſt by the Ohio and Miſſiſippi, to latitude 36°.30′ north: and on the South by the line of latitude laſt mentioned. By admeaſurements through nearly the whole of this laſt line, and ſupplying the unmeaſured parts from good data, the Atlantic and Miſſiſippi are found in this latitude to be 758 miles diſtant, equal to 30° 38′, of longitude, reckoning 55 miles and 3144 feet to the degree. This being our comprehenſion of longitude, that of our latitude, taken between this and Maſon and Dixon's line, is 3°. 13′. 42. 4″. equal to 223.3 miles, ſuppoſing a degree of a great circle to be 69 m. 864 f. as computed by Caſſini. Theſe boundaries include an area ſomewhat triangular, of 121,525 ſquare miles, whereof 79,650 lie weſtward of the Alleghaney mountains, and 57,034 weſtward of the meridian of the mouth of the Great Kanhaway. This ſtate is therefore one third larger than the iſlands of Great-Britain and Ireland, which are reckoned at 88,357 ſquare miles.
Theſe limits reſult from, 1. The ancient charters from the crown of England. 2. The grant of Maryland to the lord Baltimore, and the ſubſequent determinations of the Britiſh court as to the extent of that grant. 3. The grant of Pennſylvania to William Penn, and a compact between the general aſſemblies of the commonwealths of Virginia and Pennſylvania as to the extent of that grant. 4. The grant of Carolina, and actual location of its northern boundary, by conſent of both parties. 5. The treaty of Paris of 1763. 6. The confirmation of the charters of the neighboring ſtates by the convention of Virginia at the time of conſtituting their commonwealth. 7. The ceſſion made by Virginia to Congreſs of all the lands to which they had title on the north ſide of the Ohio.