18Q 
DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAP?"'?, 
—— 108 — 
View in Washington. 
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 
1. The District of Columbia is a territory under the imme- 
Jiate government of Congress, It comprises Washington 
County, and contains the cities of Washington and George- 
iOwn. 
2, Previous fo the year 1846, it included Washington County on the 
Maryland, and Alexandria County, on the Virginia side of Potomac 
river, The country forming these counties, was ceded to the United 
States by the States of Virginia and Maryland, in 1790; but in 1846, 
Alexandria County and City were retroceded to Virginia by Congress, 
3, The District of Columbia, callcd also the Federal District, was a 
‘ract of country 10 miles square, and contained 100 square miles, It 
now measures 10 miles in extent from north-west to south-east, and 
;rom 9 to 5 miles in a direction at right-angles with the former, and 
sontains 64 square miles. 
4. The City of Washington, the Capital of the United States, was 
inid out in 1791, under the superintendence of tho distinguished man 
whose name it bears; and in the year 1800, the seat of‘ government 
was changed from Philadelphia to this place, It is 110 miles from the 
mouth of the Potomac, and 200 from the sea, 
District of Columbie. P.—, "it is the District? What does it 
comprise ? cont:'n” |; 7h1" . once inchde? By what States 
and when was it ceded? What was done in 1846? 3, State its former 
dimensions, Its present, 4, What is the City of Washington? When