It was not collected in groups, after the fashion with which we are now familiar, for then there were no cities or towns in Virginia.

The only place which could pretend to either name was Norfolk, the solitary seaport, which, with its six or seven thousand inhabitants, formed the most glaring exception that any rule solicitous of proof could possibly desire.

Williamsburg, the capital, was a straggling village, somewhat overweighted with the public buildings and those of the college.

It would light up into life and vivacity during the season of politics and society, and then relapse again into the country stillness.

Outside of Williamsburg and Norfolk there were various points which passed in the catalogue and on the map for towns, but which in reality were merely the shadows of a name.