Valuation of the several towns in the counties of Kings,

Queens, and Suffolk, in 1823.

KINGS.

-Brooklyn,

$2389899

Proportion of the valuation of Kings, Queens, and Suffolk, to

NOTE.-By the state census of 1825, the population of the state is 1,616, 458; city of New-York 166,086; Long-Island 58,705, proportion to the state as 1 to 27.

OF THE CLIMATE OF LONG-ISLAND. The influence of the sea which surrounds it, renders it more temperate than places in the same parallel of latitude in the interior. In the summer, it is regularly fanned by a sea breeze,

which generally rises in the afternoon, but sometimes before; and extends more or less across the Island, according to the strength and continuance of the wind. These breezes have become so common in the winter, as to prevent the snow from covering the ground for any considerable length of time.

The west and south-west winds predominate in more than half the months in the year-the thermometer seldom sinks below zero in winter, and seldom rises higher than 90 degrees in summer. The mean temperature is about 51 degrees, which is the temperature of the springs and deep wells, and the weather is clear more than half the year. *

The temperature at Huntington, which lies in lat. about 40d. 52m. midway between the latitude of the east and west ends of the Island, will give pretty nearly the average temperature of the whole Island.

The mean temperature of the several months in the year. From 1st Sept. 1821, to 1st do. 1822. From 1st Sept. 1823, to Ist. do. 1824.

*The temperature of places in the same latitude, is modified by the elevation of the land, the state of cultivation, by their proximity to the sea, or large bodies of water that do not freeze, and by the courses of the predominant winds.

The temperature of the air decreases in the same latitude one degree, for about every 590 feet of the elevation of the place above the level of the sea. The elevation

of Mexico, which is 7217 feet above the level of the sea, in latitude 199, 18, reduces the temperature to that of places in latitude 33, 30, on a level with the sea.

The United States are not as elevated above the level of the sea as Europe, and the difference is in favour of a milder temperature in the United States

The climate of the United States has been estimated to be from 10 to 15 degrees colder, than the corresponding latitudes in Europe From the description of the climate of France and Italy, by the Roman writers a few years before the christian era, the temperature of those countries could not then have been materially different from that of the United States at present. Their rivers were frozen solid, and the earth was covered with snow, more or less of the winter. Experience proves, that rivers do not congeal with any considerable solidity, until the thermometer is as low as 20: and in the United States, in the latitude of Italy, the thermometer at present is seldom beow 20, more than a few days together during the winter. To produce the effects described, must have required quite as severe frost, as now prevails in the same latitude in the United Sttaes, if not more severe; and the same causes that have produced the change in the climate there, will have the same effect here, so far as they are common to both countries.

The clearing and the cultivation of the country, is the most powerful cause that has contributed to this effect, and will have great influence in meliorating the climate of the United States.-The timber which covers an uncultivated country, shields it from the rays of the sun, and deprives the earth of the heat derived from that source. It is

Predominant Winds at Huntington.

From 1st Sept. 1823, to 1st Sept. 1824.

1824, Dec. 18, 11 above zero. Feb. 5, 3

do.

1822

98

1824

94

From 1st Sept. 1821, to 1st Sept. 1822.

October,

south-west

proved by experiment, that the temperature of cleared land is 10 degrees greater than that of land covered with timber.

Evaporation and rain are sources of cold, and are more abundant in a country covered with timber, than in a cleared country-more moisture is supposed to evaporate from the leaves, of a given quantity of green timber, than from the saine extent of water. Great evaporation produces frequent rains, and these again produce evaporation; and the reciprocal operation of these causes contributes to cool the earth, and reduce the temperature of the atmosphere. The influence of these causes is lessened by cultivation; the earth becomes drier and warmer, and the temperature of the air is encreased. The air from the sea also has a powerful effect on the climate---the sea is 3 or 10 degrees warmer in winter, and cooler in summer than the earth; and in proportion as the country is cleared, the air from the sea penetrates further into the country-moderates the heat in summer, and the cold in winter, and operates to render the temperature of the seasons more mild and uniform. The air from the great lakes must have a corresponding effect on the adjoining country-must modify the temperature of the opposite seasons of heat and cold, and meliorate the climate.

The climate is also affected by the course of the winds; formerly on Long-Island, the north-west was the predominant wind in the winter months, and the north-east wind generally prevailed in the spring, and sometimes in the fall; at present the west and south-west winds are the predominant winds, more than half the months in the year. These winds either come from the sea, or blow over a country less cold than that traversed by the north-west and north-east winds, and are more temperate than those winds were. The climate is evidently undergoing a change and becoming more uniform; the winters are not as cold, nor the summers as hot as they formerly were.

State of the weather for 455 days from 1st Sept. 1821.

Temperature of Wells in Huntington, 15th August, 1823,

water from 4 to 6 feet deep.

Temperature at bottom.

Depth.

Surface.

An extract from the power of attorney, granted to James Farret, by William, Earl of Stirling, April 20th, in the 12th year of Charles I.

The power after reciting that the Earl had obtained a patent from the corporation for New-England, by the consent and command of the King, bearing date, April 22d, in the 11th year of his reign, for a certain Island called LongIsland, with the Islands adjacent, and that he was desirous of improving them; states that he had appointed James Farret to be his attorney or agent to take possession of the said Islands, and to plant and improve them, and after some other recitals, proceeds as follows:

"I the said William, Earl of Stirling, do hereby impower and authorize him for me, my heirs, executors and administrators, and for every of us, to let, set, mortgage, sell, or by any other way or means, for a present sum or sums of money, or

*For the meteorological observations of the town of Huntington, I am indebted to the kindness of Christopher Meng, esq. of that town.

for yearly rent, to dispose of the said Islands, or of any part or parts of them, for such time and times, term or terms of years, for life, or lives, or forever in fee, as my said attorney or agent shall judge most probably conducing to my profit and behalf, and to the other ends before specified.

And after one or more plantations, or colonies or people shall be there in any or all of the aforesaid Islands settled, to continue, erect and establish, such honest and wholesome orders and ordinances amongst and for the benefit of the said planters and colonies, as shall be judged, together with and upon the advice of the Right Worshipful John Winthrop, esq. governor of Boston, colony in the said New-England, most tending to the preservation of the public peace, the improvement of trade and commerce, and the due execution of justice, in obedience to the laws of God, and as much as may be agreeable to the laws of England "

The power authorizes the conveyance of the said lands to any person or persons that owed allegiance to the crown of England, and engages to ratify and confirm what his said attorney shall do in conformity with the said power in the premises.

Treaty of Hartford, 1650.

Articles of agreement made and concluded at Hartford, upon Connecticut, September 19, 1650, between delegates of the Commissioners of the United English Colonies, and the delegates of Peter Stuyvesant, governor general of New Netherlands-concerning the bounds and limits between the English United Colonies and the Dutch province of New Netherlands.

We agree and determine as follows:

That upon Long Island, a line run from the westernmost part of Oysterbay, and so in a straight and direct line to the sea, shall be the bounds between the English and Dutch there, the easterly part to belong to the English, and the westermost part to the Dutch.

The bounds upon the main, to begin upon the west side of Greenwich bay, being about four miles from Stamford, and so to run a westerly line 20 miles up into the country, and after, as it shall be agreed by the two governments of the Dutch and New Haven, provided that said line run not within ten miles of Hudson's river, and it is agreed that the Dutch shall not, at any time hereafter, build any house or habitation within six miles of the said line. The inhabitants of Greenwich