from one to the other. This however is chiefly in districts where the population is thin. The camp meetings are numerously attended and impressive.* 20. ANTIQUITIES. There are many remains of remote antiquity, such as might have been raised by a rather numerous but rude people who would

* None but one who has seen, can imagine the interest, excited in a district of country perhaps fifty miles in extent, by the awaited approach of the time for a camp meeting; and none but one who has seen, can imagine how profoundly the preachers have understood what produces effect, and how well they have practised upon it. Suppose the scene to be, where the most extensive excitements and most frequent camp meetings have been, during the two past years, in one of the beautiful and fertile valleys among the mountains of Tennessee. The notice has been circulated two or three months. On the appointed day, coaches, chaises, wagons, carts, people on horseback, and multitudes travelling from a distance on foot, wagons with provisions, mattresses, tents, and arrangements for the stay of a week, are seen hurrying from every point towards the central spot. It is in the midst of a grove of those beautiful and lofty trees, natural to the valleys of Tennessee, in its deepest verdure, and beside a spring branch, for the requisite supply of water.

The ambitious and wealthy are there, because in this region opinion is all-powerful; and they are there, either to extend their influence, or that their absence may not be noted, to diminish it. Aspirants for office are there, to electioneer, and gain popularity. Vast numbers are there from simple curiosity, and merely to enjoy a spectacle. The young and beautiful are there, with mixed motives, which it were best not severely to scrutinize. Children are there, their young eyes glistening with the intense interest of eager curiosity. The middle aged fathers and mothers of families are there, with the sober views of people, whose plans in life are fixed, and waiting calmly to hear. Men and women of hoary hairs are there, with such thoughts, it may be hoped, as their years invite. Such is the congregation, consisting of thousands.

A host of preachers of different denominations are there, some in the earnest vigor and aspiring desires of youth, waiting an opportunity for display; others, who have proclaimed the gospel, as pilgrims of the cross, from the remotest north of our vast country to the shores of the Mexican gulf, and ready to utter the words, the feelings and the experience, which they have treasured up in a travelling ministry of fifty years, and whose accents, trembling with age, still more impressively than their words, announce that they will soon travel, and preach no more on the earth, are there. Such are the preachers.

The line of tents is pitched; and the religious city grows up in a few hours under the trees, beside the stream. Lamps are hung in lines among the branches; and the effect of their glare upon the surrounding forest is as of magic. The scenery of the most brilliant theatre in the world is a painting only for children, compared with it. Meantime the multitudes, with the highest excitement of social feeling added to the general enthusiasm of expectation, pass from tent to tent, and interchange apostolic greetings and embraces, and talk of the coming solemnities. Their coffee and tea are prepared, and their supper is finished. By this time the moon, (for they take thought, to appoint the meeting at the proper time of the moon) begins to show its disk above the dark summits of the mountains; and a few stars are scen glimmering through the intervals of the branches. The whole constitutes a temple worthy of the grandeur of God. An old man, in a dress of the quaintest simplicity, ascends a platform, wipes the dust from his spectacles, and in a voice of suppressed emotion, gives out the hymn, of which the whole assembled multitude can recite the words, and an air, in which every voice can join. We should deem poorly of the heart, that would not thrill, as the song is heard, like the sound of many waters,' echoing among the hills and mountains. Such are the scenes, the associations, and such the influence of external things upon the nature so fearfully and wonderfully constituted, as ours, that little effort is necessary, on such a theme as religion, urged at such a place, under such circumstances to fill the heart and the eyes. The hoary orator talks of God, of eternity, a judgment to come, and all that is impressive beyond. He speaks of his experiences, bie toils and travels, his persecutions and welcomes, and how many he has seen in hope, in peace and triumph, gathered to their fathers; and when he speaks of the short space that remains to him, his only regret is, that he can no more proclaim, in the silence of death, the mercies of his crucified Redeemer.

There is no need of the studied trick of oratory, to produce in such a place the deepest movements of the heart. No wonder, as the Speaker pauses to dash the gathering moisture from his own eye, that his audience are dissolved in tears, or uttering the excla mations of penitence. Nor is it cause for admiration, that many, who poised themselves on an estimation of higher intellect and a nobler insensibility, than the crowd, catch the infec tious feeling, and become women and children in their turn; and though they came to mock, remain to pray.'-Flint's Geography.

carry to the work more labor than art. The chief remains, are mounds or walls of earth.

The largest mound is in Virginia at the mouth of Grave Creek. It is at the base about forty rods in circumference, and seventy feet in height. Smaller mounds of the same description are found in many parts of the country. They are of a character similar to those of Mexico, and various other countries. Some of them seem to have been cemeteries and abound in human bones. At Marietta, is a square mound of earth enclosing about forty acres, with a large raised area or platform within; and the town of Circleville derives its name from its position in a circular mound, or wall.

CHAPTER XXXV. GENERAL VIEW OF THE UNITED
STATES.

1. BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT. The United States are bounded N. by Russian and British America; E. by British America and the Atlantic; S. by the Atlantic and the Gulf and Territory of Mexico, and W. by Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. The whole country extends from 25° to 54° N. lat. and from 66° 49′ to 1250 W. lon. and contains 1,832,315 square miles.

2. MOUNTAINS. The most extensive chain is that of the Rocky Mountains, which also possesses the highest summits in the United States. The Apalachian chain, under which name we may include all those successive ranges which lie along the coast of the Atlantic, from Maine to Alabama, is nearly 2,000 miles in extent. The eastern part of this chain is by far the highest ; thus the most elevated parts of the United States are nearly at the two extremities.

Missouri, which with its outlet, the whole central part of the country. great number of navigable streams, Missouri for length. The Oregon

3. RIVERS. The longest river is the Mississippi and its branches, drains the The Atlantic regions are washed by a but none of them are comparable to the is the chief outlet of the streams west of the Rocky Mountains. 4. BAYS, GULFS, &c. The Gulf of Mexico borders the southern part of the country, and receives the waters of all the central regions. of the Atlantic is indented by numerous deep bays, the chief of which are Chesapeak, Delaware and Massachusetts Bays: all these are navigable.

The coast

5. SHORES AND CAPES. In the north, the Atlantic coast is rocky, high and bold, and broken into numerous headlands. Toward the south the land subsides into an unvarying level flat, which extends to a great distance into the country. The most prominent capes, are Cape Cod in Massachusetts, Cape Hatteras in North Carolina, and Cape Florida, the southern extremity of the United States.

6. CLIMATE. Every diversity of climate is found in this country, from the perpetual summer of Florida and Louisiana, to the dreary winter of the Canadian borders. The general characteristic of the climate is its sudden transition from extreme heat to extreme cold. In a general view, the country may be regarded as comprised within three distinct zones. First, that of the cold climate, containing the New England States, the northern part of New York, Michigan and the Western Territories. 2. The middle climate, comprising the Middle States, with Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. 3. The hot climate, comprising the Southern States and Arkansas, Throughout the country the climate is much colder than on the eastern continent

under the same parallels of latitude The climate, however, has improved since the settlement of the country. More rain falls in the United States in the course of a year than in Europe, yet the proportion of fair weather is greater here and the air is drier; as the rain in America falls in much heavier showers, and the evaporation is more rapid than on the eastern continent. The spring of the United States is remarkably short. The peculia ities of climate in each state and division have been minutely described in the separate chapters.

7. SOIL. Every quality of soil may be found in the United States, from utter barrenness to the highest degree of fertility. The Eastern States are under the best cultivation, yet here the soil is comparatively poor, and better adapted to grazing than tillage. The richest soils are in the southern and western states. Generally the lands bordering on the Atlantic are inferior in fertility to those west of the Apalachian Mountains.

8. MINERALS. Iron is found in almost all the states, gold in the south, and lead in the west. Coal abounds in the central parts of the Apalachian Mountains.

9. FACE OF THE COUNTRY. The general feature of the country is that of an immense plain traversed by two great chains of mountains. The Atlantic coast south of New York, is a flat alluvial territory which increases in width as it extends southerly, and is bounded towards the west by the mountainous regions. The country west of the Mississippi is for the most part a wilderness, inhabited only by Indians.

10. Agriculture. The chief agricultural occupations in the eastern states are grazing and the dairy. The middle states are principally devoted to the cultivation of wheat and maize; the southern to that of tobacco, cotton, sugar and rice, and the western to maize and wheat. Slave labor is chiefly employed in the southern states, and in some of the middle and western. The cotton raised in 1830 amounted to 976,845 bales. The flour and meal inspected at the different ports of the United States, in 1830, amounted to the following: 2,851,876 barrels of wheat flour; 41,351 barrels of rye flour; 18,372 hhds. and 35,070 barrels of corn meal.

11. COMMERCE. The imports into the United States for the year ending September 30th, 1830, amounted to 70,876,920 dollars. The exports of domestic produce for the same time, to 59,462,029 dollars, of foreign produce to 14,387,479 dollars. Total exports 73,849,508 dollars. The registered and licensed shipping amounted on the last day of December, 1828, to 1,741,391 tons. The most important exports are those of cotton, flour, rice, tobacco, beef, pork, lumber, cattle and horses. New Orleans has the greatest export trade, and New York the greatest imports. Most of the shipping is owned in the New England states and New York. More particular details will be found in the tables at the end of the work.

12. MANUFACTURES. The manufactures of each state have been specified in their particular places. In 1810 the annual value of all the manufactures was estimated at 172,762,876 dollars. In addition to the large establishments, it is estimated that two thirds of the clothing worn by the agricultural population are the product of domestic manufactures. The greater portion of American manfactures are designed for internal consumption, yet in 1829 there were exported from the United States, manufactured articles to the value of 6,025,200. The present annual value of manufactures is estimated at 500,000,000 dollars.

13. FISHERIES. Nearly all the fisheries are carried on by the New England states. The whale fishery employs alone 300 ships, averaging 340 tons each, and in 1830 produced 106,800 barrels of spermaceti oil, and an equal quantity of black oil, and 2,500,000 pounds of spermaceti candles. The mackerel

and herring fishery is pursued along the northern coast, and the Cod fishery on that of Labrador and the Newfoundland banks. Fish to the value of a million of dollars are yearly exported.

14. PUBLIC LANDS. The National Domain, or Public Lands, consist of tracts of territory ceded to the general government by the several states; of the lands in the territory of Louisiana, purchased of France; and those in Florida, acquired by treaty from Spain. A vast portion of this land is occupied by the Indians, who are considered as proprietors of the soil till the government extinguish their title by purchase. A General Land Office at Washington directs the sale of these territories. All the lands are surveyed before sale; they are divided into townships of six miles square, which are subdivided into sections of one mile square, containing each 640 acres, and sold in sections, half, quarter, and half-quarter sections. The minimum price is fixed by law at a dollar and a quarter. All sales are made for cash. Salt springs and lead mines are reserved, but may be sold by special orders from the President. One section of 640 acres is reserved in each township as a fund for the perpetual support of schools. Five per cent. on all sales of land are reserved, three-fifths of which are expended by Congress in making roads leading to the states in which the lands are situated, and two fifths are expended by the states for the promotion of learning. Up to the present time about 150,000,000 acres of the public lands have been surveyed, of which 30,000,000 have not been proclaimed for sale; 20,000,000 have been sold, and as much more granted by Congress for education, internal improvement, and other purposes. There remain 110,000,000 acres surveyed and unsold; 80,000,000 of which are in the market. The whole quantity of land owned by the United States amounts to 1,062,463,171 acres. See Appendix.

15. REVENUE, Expenditure anD DEBT. The revenues of the United States are derived from customs, sales of land, the post office, lead mines, and stock of the U. S. Bank. Of these the customs constitute much the largest item. In 1830 the revenue was as follows,-customs 21,922,391 dollars 39 cents; lands 2,329,356 dollars 14 cents; dividends on bank stock, 490,000; other sources, 102,368 dollars 98 cents. Total revenue, 24,844,116 dollars 51 cents. The expenditure for the same year amounted, exclusive of the payment toward the public debt, to 12,729,533 dollars 33 cents. The public debt will probably be paid off in the course of the present year, 1832.

16. ARMY AND NAVY. The army is restricted by law to 6,188 men; and consists of 4 regiments of artillery, and 7 regiments of infantry, under the command of one major general and two brigadier generals. The army expenses of 1830, including fortifications, arsenals, armories, ordnance, internal improvements, &c. amounted to 4,767,128 dollars 88 cents. The navy consists of 7 ships of 74 guns, 7 of 44, 3 of 36, 2 of 23, 13 of 18, and 5 smaller vessels. There are building 5 of 74 guns and 6 frigates. Total 48. The force in commission consists of 5 frigates, 11 sloops of war, and 7 schooners. There are navy yards at Portsmouth N. H., Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Norfolk, Va. and Pensacola. There are dry docks at Boston and Norfolk. The expenses of the naval establishment for 1830, were 3,239,428 dollars 63 cents. There is no rank in the navy above that of a captain.

17. BANKS. The Bank of the United States was chartered in 1816 with a capital of 35,000,000 dollars; of this stock the government own 7,000,000 dollars, or one fifth. The bank is at Philadelphia, with branches in 25 other places. The present charter extends to March 3d, 1836. There were besides in 1831 in the different states, 354 banks with capitals from 2,050,000, downwards, amounting to about 161,154,535 dollars, including the U. S. Bank. The paper currency in 1830 was estimated to amount to 77,000,000 dollars.

18. POST OFFICE. The post roads in the United States amount to 115,176 miles, and the yearly transportation of the mail is equal to 15,468,692 miles, namely 10,728,348 miles in stages and steamboats, and 4,740,340 miles on horseback and in sulkies. The number of post offices on the 1st of July, 1831, was 8,686. The expenses of the post office department for the year ending July 1st 1831, were 1,935,559 dollars; receipts 1,997,811 dollars; profits 62,252 dollars. The revenue derived from the post office is chiefly expended upon the extension and improvement of the mail routes.

19. MINT. The mint of the United States was established at Philadelphia in 1792. The coinage of gold and silver bullion is performed free of expense to the owners. In 1831 the coinage amounted to 3,923,473 dollars 60 cents, of which 714,270 dollars were in gold, 3,175,600 dollars in silver, and 33,603 dollars 60 cents in copper; amounting in all to 11,792, 284 pieces; namely 140,594 half eagles; 4,520 quarter eagles; 5,873,660 half dollars; 393,000 quarter dollars; 771,350 dimes; 1,242,700 half dimes; 3,359,260 cents; 2,200 half cents. The expense of the mint establishment for 1831 was 28,000 dollars. Of the gold coined in this year, 130,000 dollars were received from Mexico, South America and the West Indies, 27,000 dollars from Africa, 518,000 dollars from the United States, and the remainder from unknown sources.

20. TAXATION. Congress possess the power to impose direct taxes, but as this branch of the revenue has been found one of the least productive, and the other sources of supply being abundant, there is no taxation by the general government. Each state levies its own tax for the expenses of its local government; and each city or town provides by taxation for its own municipal concerns.

Both the rate and manner of taxation vary in different states. In some there are taxes on fisheries, mills, carriages, horses, cattle, watches, &c. in others, none of these are taxed. The most common are the capitation and property tax. In Massachusetts every male citizen from 16 to 60 is subject to a poll tax, which is commonly a dollar, or a dollar and a half. The state expenses of Massachusetts amount to less than a dollar to each individual, or the value of one day's labor. The town tax varies in proportion to wealth and numbers in different towns. In remote country towns with no density of population, the tax is about 1 dollar 25 cents to each individual; in Newburyport, a large town, not of the first class, 2 dollars; in Boston 5 dollars. Taxes for the support of religion, are, with trifling exceptions, voluntary.

21. SALARIES, PENSIONS. The highest salary is that of the President who receives 25,000 dollars a year; Ministers Plenipotentiary receive 9,000 dollars annually, and the same sum for an outfit; the Secretaries of State, the Treasury, War and the Navy, and the Post Master General 6,000; the Vice President 5,000. The Chief Justice 5,000; the Associate Justices 4,500; Chargés d'Affaires 4,500; Secretaries of Legation 2,000; Members of Congress 8 dollars a day. The revolutionary soldiers who receive pensions amount to 11,876. The invalid pensioners to 3,868. The revolutionary pensions amount to 1,067,947 dollars; other pensions 295,349 dollars. These items make a part of the army expenses above enumerated.

22. NEWSPAPERS. The first newspaper printed in America, was the Bos ton News Letter; the first number of which was issued April 17th, 1704. In 1775, there were 37 periodicals of all sorts published in different parts of the United States; in 1810, 358; in 1828, 802; at present there are above 1000, of which 50 are daily. The number printed annually cannot be estimated with any degree of accuracy; by some it is calculated at 64,000,000.

23. COLLEGES AND CHURCHES. There are 59 colleges in the United States;