world, and Maine engaged largely in commerce, and neglected her land for this superior source of wealth; but when the embargo, non-inter course, and war crippled her commerce, her agricultural resources were developed.

Maine has a sea-coast of over two hundred miles, indented by nume rous bays, and protected by numerous islands, and has more good har bours than any other state in the Union. Ships are extensively built, no only for their own use, but for a foreign market. The fisheries employ many of the inhabitants, and are not only a source of wealth, but are a nursery of seamen. Maine in point of shipping is the fourth state in the Union.

The government consists of a governor, senate, and house of representatives. The governor is elected by the people, and holds his office for one year; a council of seven persons to advise the governor is elected annually, by the joint ballot of the legislature. The senate consists of thirty-one members, elected by the people; the house of representatives consists of one hundred and fifty-one members, elected annually by the people. The right of suffrage is possessed by every male citizen of the United States of twenty-one years of age and upwards, excepting paupers, persons under guardianship, and Indians not taxed, who have resided in the state for three months next preceding an election. The elec tion must be by written ballot. The judiciary is vested in a supreme Judicial court, and such other courts as the legislature shall from time to time establish. The judges are appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, and hold their offices during good behaviour, or until they are seventy years of age. In a similar manner are appointed the attorney general, the sheriffs, coroners, registers of probate, and notaries public.

VERMONT.

THE first settlement of this state was at Fort Dummer, in the south east part of the state, by emigrants from Massachusetts. New-Hampshire claimed the territory from 1741 to 1764, and granted many townships in it to proprietors, which were thence called the "New-Hampshire grants," and comprise now many of the best towns in the state. NewYork also claimed the territory, and obtained a grant of it from the British parliament in 1764. These conflicting claims exceedingly harassed the inhabitants. At the commencement of the revolutionary war, Congress dared not admit Vermont to the Union, though the state proclaimed itself independent, for fear of offending New Hampshire and New-York, especially the latter. Vermont had a difficult part to act, and it conducted itself with great wisdom and patriotism. The British hoped to be able to detach it from the American confederacy; and its leaders, without committing themselves, flattered these hopes, and saved its exposed frontier from attacks, while no portion of the Union showed a more devoted patriotism, or contributed more, according to its means, to the common cause. The "Green Mountain boys" were characterized by daring bravery in the revolutionary struggle. In 1790 New-York was induced, by the payment of $30,000, to withdraw her claims to the territory; and in 1791 Vermont was admitted to the Union, whose independence she had extensively contributed to acquire.

The surface of Vermont is hilly or mountainous. A few townships along the margin of lake Champlain may be regarded as level, extending from five to ten miles from it; but otherwise the surface is generally un even, consisting of hills and valleys, alluvial flats, gentle acclivities, ele

vated plains, and lofty mountains. The range of the Green mountains, so named by the French from the evergreens which cover them, and which have given name to the state, extend quite through it from north to south. From the line of Massachusetts to the southern part of Washington county, it constitutes a lofty and unbroken range, keeping nearly a middle course between Connecticut river on the east and lake Champlain on the west, and dividing the waters which fall into each. Though the passage across the mountains in this part is arduous, yet by the construction of good roads, and a judicious location of them, it is much less so than formerly. In the southern part of Washington county the Green mountains are separated into two ranges. The highest of these ranges passes west of the middle of the state to the Canada line. The highest peaks lie in this range, which are Camel's Hump, generally called Camel's Rump, 4188 feet high, and the Chin, in Mansfield mountain, 4279 feet high; and it is remarkable that the whole is cloven down to its base, admitting a passage for Winooski or Onion river through it, the mountain approaching oftentimes so near the river as scarcely to admit a road along its banks, and affording much sublime and romantic scenery.

The first constitution of this state was formed in 1777. The present constitution was formed July 4th, 1793, and has since been amended. The governor is elected annually by the people. He must be a citizen of the United States, and have resided in the state for four years next preceding his election. The lieutenant-governor is elected in the same manner, and must have the same qualifications; and in case of the absence of the governor, or his inability to serve, succeeds to the office. As lieutenant-governor, he is president of the senate. The supreme executive council consists of the governor, lieutenant-governor, and twelve persons chosen by the people. The senate consists of thirty members, each county choosing at least one. Some are entitled to more, according to their population. The house of representatives consists of two hundred and thirty-one members, elected annually by the people. Every representative must be a citizen of the United States, must have resided in the state for two years, the latter of which must be in the town for which he is elected. The supreme court consists of five judges, elected annually by the legislature. The supreme court sits once a year, and the county courts twice, in each county. There is a court of chancery which holds a session in each county, each judge of the supreme court being chancellor of a circuit. The secretary of state is elected annually by the joint vote of both houses of the legislature, and the treasurer is chosen by the people. The right of suffrage is enjoyed by every person who is full twenty-one years of age, a citizen of the United States, of quiet and peaceable behaviour, and who has resided in the state for one year next preceding an election. A council of censors is appointed once in seven years, whose duty it is to inquire whether the constitution has been preserved inviolate, and whether the legislature and executive branches have performed their duty as guardians of the commonwealth; whether the taxes have been justly laid and collected, and the public moneys have been properly disposed of, and the laws have been duly executed.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

I'His territory, ten miles square, is situated on both sides of the Potomac river, about two hundred miles from the ocean, lying between the states of Maryland and Virginia, and ceded by them in 1790, to the United States, for the purpose of becoming the seat of the federal government It is under the immediate jurisdiction of Congress, and contains the cities of Washington, Alexandria. and Georgetown. The population in 1840

was 43,712; of whom 30,657 were whites, 4,694 slaves, and 8,361 free coloured persons.

The site was selected by Washington, in accordance with a clause in the Constitution, which gives Congress the power to exercise exclusive legislation in a'l cases over such District, not exceeding ten miles square, as may, by the cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of government of the United States. The location was happily chosen. It is central to the Atlantic states and easily accessible to the Western states. It contains one hundred square miles. The surface is gently undulating, with some low marshes, but many comman ding eminences, furnishing extensive and fine views. The soil is naturally sterile, but the climate is healthy and the air salubrious. Agricul ture is not a primary object of attention; nor is it pursued with the same success that it would be, if its soil were better adapted to the purpose.

The commerce of the District is considerable; but having the large city of Baltimore in its immediate vicinity, with superior advantages, it can never become very commanding. By the fine river, the Potomac, it has a ready access to the ocean. This river is navigable for vessels of the largest class to Alexandria, six miles below Washington, where it is a mile wide, and from thirty to fifty feet deep; and vessels of a large class come up to the United States' navy-yard at the junction of the east branch with the Potomac at Washington. A branch of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal terminates at Georgetown, and is extended seven and a half miles to Georgetown. By this means a large amount of flour and other produce comes down from the interior, which enters mostly at Alexandria, and some of it at Georgetown. The business at Washington relates chiefly to the accommodation of the national legislature, with its various departments, foreign ambassadors, and the numerous persons which are necessarily drawn around it.

There are two colleges in the District. Georgetown college, a Roman Catholic institution, was founded in 1799. The Columbian college, under the direction of the Baptists, was founded in 1821. Congress meets annually at Washington, on the first Monday of December, unless otherwise provided for by law. The president of the United States, and the other chief officers of the government, reside at Washington; and the Supreme Court of the United States sits here annually, on the second Monday ir January.

KENTUCKY.

THIS state once belonged to Virginia. It was first explored in 1769–70, by Daniel Boone, an enterprising hunter; and the first permanent settlement was made, in 1774, at Harrodsburg. Until Wayne's treaty in 1795, it was continually exposed to incursions from the Indians. The first newspaper was issued at Lexington, August 28th, 1787. Kentucky was separated from Virginia in 1786, after which it had a territorial government until 1792, when it became a state and was admitted into the Union. Cumberland Mountains run on the south-east border of the state, and send off spurs which extend into its eastern part, rendering it mountainous. The Cumberland range divides this state from Virginia. A tract along the Ohio river, from five to twenty miles wide, is broken and hilly extending through the whole length of the state. But the hills are gently rounded, and are fertile to their tops, with narrow valleys between them of great fertility. Along the margin of the Ohio with an average width of one mile, are bottom lands subject to periodical inundations. Between the hilly tract on Ohio river, the mountainous country in the eastern

counties, and Green river, is a tract one hundred miles long, and fifty miles wide, beautifully undulating, with a black and fertile soil, which has been denominated the garden of Kentucky. The forest growth of this region is black walnut, cherry, honey locust, buckeye, papaw, sugar maple, elm, ash, hawthorn, coffee-tree, yellow poplar, with an abundance of grape vines of a large size. The country in the south-west part of the state, between Green and Cumberland rivers, has been improperly denominated barrens, as the soil is far from being poor. It is thinly wooded with short oak timber, and is covered, in summer, with a high grass. The whole state, below the mountains, rests on an immense bed of limestone, generally about eight feet below the surface, in which are frequent apertures, in which the waters of the rivers sink into the earth, causing the large rivers to be greatly diminished in the summer season, and some of the smaller ones entirely to disappear. In no part of the country do the rivers suffer so great a diminution in the dry season, as in Kentucky. The rivers have generally worn deep channels in the calcareous rocks over which they flow. Stupendous precipices are formed on Kentucky river, where the banks in many places are three hundred feet high, of solid limestone, with a steep and elevated ascent above them. In the south-west part of the state, between Green and Cumberland rivers, are several wonderful caves. The Mammoth cave, in Edmondson county, one hundred and thirty miles from Lexington on the road to Nashville, is one of the most remarkable caves in the world. It has been explored to a great distance, and is, with good reason, supposed to extend for eight or ten miles. The earth at the bottom is strongly impregnated with nitre, which has been, to a considerable extent, manufactured from it.

The climate of this state is generally salubrious. The winters are mild, being only of two or three months' continuance, but the atmosphere is moist. The spring and autumn are delightful. The extremes of heat and cold through the year are less than in some other parts of the country. The first constitution was formed in 1790, and in 1799 the present constitution was formed. A governor is elected for four years by the people, and is ineligible for the next seven years. A lieutenant governor is chosen at the same time, who is president of the senate, and who, in case of the death or absence of the governor, discharges the duties of his office. The senators are elected for four years, one quarter of them being chosen annually. Their number cannot be over thirty-eight, the present number, nor less than twenty-four. The representatives are elected annually, and apportioned every four years among the different counties, according to the number of electors. The present number, one hundred, is the highest which the constitution allows, and there can never be less than fifty-eight. The general assembly meets annually at Frankfort, on the first Monday of November. Every free white male citizen, who is twentyone years of age, and who has resided two years in the state or county in which he offers his vote, is entitled to the right of suffrage. Votes are given openly, or viva voce, and not by ballot. The judges of the different courts hold their offices during good behaviour.

TENNESSEE.

THIS state was originally included in the charter of North-Carolina, given by Charles II., in 1664. In 1757 Fort London was built, and garri. soned; and the Indians, to induce artisans to settle among them, made donations of land. Fort London was established on the north side of Little Tennessee river, about one mile above the mouth of Tellico, in the centre of the Cherokee country. A war with that Indian nation hav

ing occurred, the garrison was besieged, and compelled to surrender tor the want of provisions. By the terms of the capitulation they were to retire beyond the Blue Ridge; but after proceeding about twenty miles, the Indians fell upon and massacred the whole number, amounting to between two and three hundred, excepting nine persons. This happened in the year 1700. In 1761 Colonel Grant marched against the Indians and subdued them, and compelled them to sue for peace. The only settlements which had been made in the vicinity of Fort London were broken up by the war but tranquillity having been restored, fifteen or twenty persons formed themselves into a company and came to a place now called Carter's valley, in East Tennessee. In 1768 an exploring party came into the country from Virginia. The first permanent settlements were made in 1768 and 1769, by settlers chiefly from North-Carolina and Virginia. The settlements continued to increase until 1774 and 1775, when an extensive purchase of land was made from the Indians by Henderson and company, but not without warm opposition from the chief, who declaimed against the encroachments of the whites, without effect. In 1776 war with the Indians occurred, but after some fighting an arrangement was made by the states of North-Carolina and Virginia, by which the boundaries of the territory, now the state of Tennessee, were definitely settled. In 1779 Captain James Robertson and others from East Tennessee crossed Cumberland Mountain, and explored the country in the neighbourhood of Nashville, and planted corn that season on the ground where Nashville now stands. They all returned for their families exceptting three, who remained to keep the buffaloes, which abounded in this region, out of the corn. In May, 1790, congress passed a law for the government of the country southwest of the Ohio, and William Blount was, by President Washington, appointed the first governor of the territory, who in October, 1790, established his residence in East Tennessee. On the 19th of October the governor authorized an election of a colonial legislature by the people. The assembly met at Knoxville on the fourth Monday of February, 1794, and was regularly organized. In 1795, the territory was found to contain 77,262 inhabitants, which entitling them to become a state, a constitution was formed in February, 1796, and on the 6th of June, 1796, they were admitted to the Union. This constitution was revised and amended, and ratified by the people, in March, 1835.

On the eastern boundary is a chain of mountains denominated in its different parts, Unko, Iron, Smoky and Bald mountains which constitute a continuous range. None of the mountains of Tennessee are over two thousand feet high, and they are generally wooded to their tops, though in some instances too rough for cultivation. Iron ore is found in nearly every county in Eastern and Middle Tennessee, and in many places it is wrought, furnishing iron equal in quality to any in the country. On the borders of Georgia and North-Carolina some gold has been found, and a beautiful variegated marble near Nashville.

The climate is mild and generally healthy. The winter in Tennessee resembles the spring in New-England. Snow seldom falls to a greater depth than ten inches, or lies longer than ten days. Cumberland river has been frozen over but three or four times since the first settlement of the country. On some low grounds in the western parts of the state, the inhabitants are subject to bilious fevers, and fever and ague in the autumn. The governor is elected by the people biennially, and is not eligible more than six years in any term of eight years. He must have attained the age of thirty years, must be a citizen of the United States, and a citizen of the state for seven years next preceding his election. The senate consists of twenty-five members, elected by the people once in two years. Every senator must have attained the age of thirty years, must be a citi zen of the United States, must have been an inhabitant of the state for