dded distinction of being
drawn by M. de St. Memin.

A few spoons and ladles survive Mordecai Miller, 1790; John Duffey,
1793; George Duffey (1845-1880); James Ganet (1820-1830); William Cohen,
1833; Benjamin Barton, 1833; R.C. Acton, 1840; William A. Williams
(1787-1846). The last-named craftsmen made the famous silver cup
presented by the "grateful City Council" to the lovely Mrs. Lawrason for
entertaining La Fayette in her home. John Pittman is listed in a deed
in 1801 as a goldsmith and silversmith, while the census for 1790 gives
the names of Thomas Bird, William Galt, John Piper and John Lawrason. In
addition, from other deeds and advertisements, the names of John Short
(1784); James Galt (1801); Josiah Coryton, "late of this town" (1801)
are gleaned as watchmakers and clockmakers.

[Illustration: _Top_: Creamer, sugar and bowl by Charles Burnett.
_Center_: Sauceboat and sugar urn by Charles Burnett, creamer by I.
Adam. Owned by Mrs. John Howard Joynt. _Bottom_: Service by I. Adam.
Owned by the Misses Snowden.]

Slate roofing seems to have made its initial appearance around 1800. In
1805 Joseph Riddle's dwelling house was "covered in copper" and John
Janney's warehouse in slate, and at least one building in "composition."
At this date an insurance plat shows a tinsmith and coppersmith's shop.
The early roofs were covered in wood (_i.e._, wooden shingles).

[Illustration]

DECLINE AND RESURGENCE

With the death of George Washington in 1799, which emphasized the close
of the eighteenth century, the city whose prosperity seemed in some
mystic fashion to have developed and grown with him began a decline.

In 1803 came yellow fever, leaving desolation and mourning in its wake.
An English traveler wrote in 1807:

Alexandria was about eight years ago a very flourishing place, but
the losses sustained from the capture of American vessels by the
French in the West Indies, occasioned many failures. In the year
1803, the yellow fever, which broke out there for the first time,
carried off a number of its inhabitants. These shocks have so deeply
affected the mercantile interest, that the town has but two or three
ships in the trade with Great Britain; and there is little prospect
of its ever attaining to its former prosperity.[53]

Alexandria was further subjected to plagues. Cholera broke out in 1832,
and people dropped dead in the streets while the population shuddered.
Illness, death, an