Virginia

One of the thirteen original United States of America, and is bounded on the north by Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia, east by Maryland and the Atlantic Ocean, south by North Carolina and Tenne ee, and west by Kentucky and West Virginia. The shores of Virginia were first explored by Sebastian Cabot, 1498, and again under the auspices of Sir Walter Raleigh in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, in whose honor it was named; was first settled by an English colony, on the James River, May 13, 1607, which consisted mostly of gentlemen of fortune, and persons of no occupation. The friendly Indians sold them land and provisions; but the diseases of a damp climate swept off half the settlers the first autumn. The energy of Capt. John Smith saved the colony from destruction; and in 1609 it was reinforced by 500 persons, who were reduced by sickne and starvation to 60. They had embarked to abandon the settlement, when Lord Delaware came with emigrants and supplies. In 1622 the colony was reduced by wars and ma acres from 4000 to 2500; but in 1624 it became a crown colony, and increased, so that in 1649 there were 15,000 English and 300 negroes in it. In 1754, the colonial militia took part in the French war; and Maj. George Washington took part in Gen. Braddock’s campaign. In 1769, Thomas Jefferson, a member of the House of Burge es, a erted for the colony the right of self-taxation, denying the right of Parliament to tax the colonies. In 1773, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and Richard Henry Lee were appointed a committee to confer with the other colonies, and urged upon their delegates the Declaration of Independence. Virginia, the earliest settled, largest, and most populous of the thirteen original States, called the Old Dominion, was the first to propose the confederacy and the Constitution. On April 17, 1861, this State pa ed the ordinance of sece ion. The Confederate government was invited to Richmond, which became the centre of military operations. Virginia was occupied by the Federal troops during the whole of the civil war, and a great many hotly-contested battles were fought on her soil. The State was restored to the Union, January 26, 1870.