nd more than fifty miles of rugged country
yet intervened between them and Fort Du Quesne. A council of war
declared it unadvisable to proceed further in that campaign. Just at
this conjuncture, three prisoners were brought in, and they gave such a
report of the feeble state of the garrison at the fort, that it was
determined to push forward at once. Washington, with his provincials,
opened the way. The French, reduced to five hundred men, and deserted by
the Indians, set fire to the fort, and retired down the Ohio. Forbes
took possession of the post on the next day, (November 25th, 1758.) The
works were repaired, and the fort was now named Fort Pitt. An important
city, called after the same illustrious statesman, has been reared near
the spot. General Forbes, whose health had been declining during the
campaign, died shortly afterwards at Philadelphia. He was a native of
Scotland, and was educated as a physician; was an estimable and brave
man, and of fine military talents.

Burnaby, who visited Virginia about this time, in describing
Williamsburg, mentions the governor's palace as the only tolerably good
public building. The streets being unpaved are dusty, the soil being
sandy. The miniature capital had the rare advantage of being free from
mosquitoes; and it was, all things considered, a pleasant place of
residence. During the session of the assembly and of the general court,
it was crowded with the gentry of the country. On these occasions there
were balls, and other amusements; but as soon as the public business was
dispatched the visitors returned to their homes, and Williamsburg
appeared to be deserted. Lightning-rods were now generally used in
Virginia, and proved efficacious. At Spotswood's iron mines, on the
banks of the Rappahannock, there were smelted, annually, upwards of six
hundred tons of metal. Coal mines had been opened with good success on
the James River near the falls. Not a tenth of the land in Virginia was
cultivated; yet, besides tobacco, she produced considerable quantities
of fruit, cattle, and grain. The bacon was held to be superior in flavor
to any in the world; but the mutton and beef inferior to that of Great
Britain. The horses were fleet and beautiful; and the breed was improved
by frequent importations from England. Delicious fruits abounded, and
in the early spring the eye of the traveller was charmed with the
appearance of the orchards in full blossom. There were fifty-two
counties an