on one, or both sides, is often of the best kind. On the banks of the Connecticut are many thousands of acres, level and smooth, with not a stone to be seen in them, and yielding the richest crops of grain and hay. Barren tracts of any considerable extent are unknown, and except the wild and unexplored region at the N., the state is very generally susceptible of cultivation. 10. GEOLOGY. The high ridge of mountains which separates the branches of the Connecticut and Merrimack is composed of the older primitive rocks; granite predominates at the more northern and elevated part of the ridge, while mica slate appears more abundantly at the southern portions, where it constitutes the Great Monadnock and some other lofty eminences. Mica slate predominates in this chain, but granite appears in various places, it has a coarse, porphyritic structure; the imbedded grains of felspar are large, but very seldom in twin crystals. Porphyritic granite occurs also in boulders and in rolled masses E. of this ridge. A beautiful fine grained granite is found in many places, as at Concord, Boscawen and Hopkinton, and affords admirable building stone. E. of this great ridge, mica slate, gneiss and greenstone occur. In passing from Concord easterly to Portsmouth, the following succession of rocks may be observed; granite, 4 miles from Concord; gneiss, 11 miles; mica slate, 14 miles; granite, 15 miles; then gneiss, and lastly greenstone: the direction of the strata is nearly N. E. and S. W.

There is a remarkable alluvion formation through which the Merrimack passes, and which embraces all the sandy plains which are covered with pine and black timber in the neighborhood of the river. This formation extends through Chelmsford to Cambridge and Boston, on one hand, and on the other, it follows the course of the river quite to the ocean, embracing large tracts of land on either side. Rocks in some places break through this alluvial deposite, but they form no very high hills.

11. MINERALS, QUARRIES, &c. Steatite, or Soapstone is found at Francestown and Orford, where it is quarried and wrought. Primitive limestone occurs at Orford, Hanover, Lisbon and Meredith, where there are also quarries. Pyritous copper is found at Franconia, and cannot be distinguished from the celebrated ore wrought at Anglesey. Galena is found at Orford and Lebanon, and iron at Franconia. Plumbago, or black lead has been recently discovered in many places, in most abundance at Bristol; it is said to be equal to the celebrated Borrodale ore. The other minerals which this state produces in greater or less abundance, are beryls, garnets, jasper, manganese, asbestos and amethyst. There is an iron mine at Lisbon, the richest in the U. S. The quantity of ore is inexhaustible, and it yields above 60 per cent of metal. The ore is taken from a mountain in the É. part of Lisbon, and carried 3 miles to the furnace in Franconia, where about 12 or 15 tons of iron are made in a week.

this state.

This state

12. NATURAL PRODUCTIONS. The native forest trees of N. Hampshire are lofty and luxuriant, and yield vast quantities of timber. was originally an entire forest; the mountainous regions being covered with a thick growth of oak, maple, beech, walnut, hemlock, fir, white pine, &c; the plains and valleys with the elm, cherry, ash, poplar, hornbeam, birch, sumach, locust, and many others. Many varieties of pine are natives of The white pine, one of the noblest trees in the world, grows here in great perfection; it sometimes attains to the height of two hundred feet, yet its stem is perfectly straight, and often exceeds 6 feet in diameter. In 1736, a white pine was cut from the border of the Merrimack, the trunk of which was straight and sound, and 7 feet 8 inches in diameter. The pitch pine and hemlock also grow very high here; the fir and other species grow to a more moderate height. Of the oak, elm, birch, maple, &c. there are several varie

The Rock Maple is the sugar maple of this region, and grows very high, yielding sap which makes the finest sugar. The red and white maple also yield sugar, but in less quantities. Of wild plants and roots valuable for culinary and medicinal purposes, N. Hampshire has a great variety; the ginseng, so much esteemed by the Chinese, is found here in abundance and of good quality. Here are produced also the buck-bean, the cornus sericea, or large flowering dogwood, lobelia, henbane, cicuta, &c.

13. FACE OF THE COUNTRY. With the exception of a small tract, 20 or 30 miles in width along the coast, which is level or nearly so, this state presents a surface broken up into every diversity of hill, valley and mountain. The hills increase in height as they recede from the sea, till they swell into the lofty grandeur of the White Mountains. N. Hampshire is the most mountainous state in the Union, and from the great beauty of its lake, mountain and river scenery, has been denominated the Switzerland of America.

14. NATURAL CURIOSITIES. Bellows Falls form a remarkable cataract or rather violent rapid in the Connecticut, at the village of Bellows Falls, five miles from the town of Walpole. The breadth of the river above the fall, is from 16 to 22 rods; a large rock divides the stream into two channels, each about 90 feet wide on the top of the shelving bank. When the water is low, the E. channel appears crossed by a bar of solid rock, and the whole stream falls into the W. channel, where it is contracted into the breadth of 16 feet, and flows with astonishing swiftness. There are several pitches, one above another in the length of half a mile, the largest of which is that where the rock divides the stream; the descent in this whole course is 42 feet. Notwithstanding the velocity of the current, the salmon used to pass up this fall, and were taken many miles above. The Indians were accustomed to spear large numbers of them in their descent. There is a bridge across the falls, and a canal half a mile long with 9 locks, around them on the W. side.

Amoskeag Falls in the Merrimack, consist of three successive pitches, falling nearly 50 feet. The neighborhood of these falls was formerly much frequented by the Indians, and many skirmishes took place between them and the early settlers of Vermont and N. Hampshire. During their wars, the savages concealed their provisions in the caves among the rocks of the island in the upper part of the fall. There are falls also at Barrington, and extensive caverns in Chester. At Franconia is a singular eminence called the Profile Mountain, being a rugged peak 1000 feet in height, rising at an angle of about 80°, presenting a bold and majestic front of solid rock; a side view of this exhibits a profile of the human face, every feature of which is conspic

uous,

POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY.

1. DIVISIONS. N. Hampshire is divided into 8 counties ;-Rockingham, Strafford, Hillsborough, Cheshire, Sullivan, Merrimack, Grafton and Coos; the first mentioned lying at the S. extremity of the state and comprising all the seacoast, and the last being at the N. limit. The number of towns is 220. The population of the state is 269,533.

CANALS. Twenty canal companies have been incorporated in this state since 1776. Some of these, however, never went into operation. The canals on the Connecticut, around the Falls which obstruct the navigation of that river, are 2. One at Waterqueechy opposite Plainfield, and one at White River in Lebanon; the expense of these was about 30,000 dollars. There are locks and canals on the Merrimack in this state, in 4 places; These are Union Canal, Amoskeag Falls, Hookset Falls, and Bow Canal, which were executed at an expense of 138,000 dollars.

3. ROADS AND BRIDGES. There have been incorporated 53 Turnpike companies in N. Hampshire, which have completed roads to the extent of about 500 miles. The bridges are about 25, without reckoning small ones. These are all of wood.

4. Towns. The largest town is Portsmouth; it lies at the mouth of the Piscataqua upon a peninsula, and is the only seaport in the state. It has one of the best harbors in the world, completely landlocked, never frozen, and accessible to the largest ships. It is defended by 4 forts and batteries, and contains a number of islands, on one of which is a United States Navy Yard. Portsmouth has a pleasant and healthy situation; it contains some elegant buildns, and the town is generally well built. It has 7 churches, a court house, al, a branch of the U. S. bank, 6 other banks, 2 markets, several printng offices, 2 insurance offices, an academy, an atheneum, an alms house, 250 stores, 2 large ropewalks, and 3 distilleries. This town has a considerable commerce, and in 1827, the inhabitants owned 26,164 tons of shipping. Portsmouth is connected with Kittery, in Maine, by two bridges, one 450 feet in length, and the other 1750; they are built upon 90 framed sections of piers. The town has suffered severely by fires, the most recent and destructive of which took place in Dec. 1813, and consumed 397 buildings. Population, 8,055.

Concord, on the Merrimack, is the seat of government, and lies principally on the W. bank of the river, in one street, nearly two miles in length. It contains a state house and state prison, both of stone, a court house, several churches, banks, and printing offices, and 200 houses. On the E. of the river is a considerable village, and another is forming in the W. part of the town. The state house is a neat edifice 126 feet in length and 49 in width; it has two stories above the basement, and is surmounted by a cupola. Three weekly newspapers are published here, and much of the trade of the upper country centres in this place. There are two bridges across the Merrimack in the town. Population 3,727.

The state prison at this place is a granite building 70 feet long and 36 wide, and is enclosed by a wall 14 feet high, surmounted by 10 additional feet of pickets. The convicts are employed in stone cutting, coopering, iron work, shoemaking, weaving and tailoring. The greatest number ever confined here was 74; at present there are 56.

Dover, 10 miles N. W. from Portsmouth, on the Cocheco, 4 miles above its junction with the Piscataqua, is the oldest town in N. Hampshire, and contains a court house, jail, bank, printing office and academy, and above 100 dwelling houses. The river here has many falls, the largest of which is 40 feet. Pop. 5,449. At this place there are extensive iron and cotton manufactories. Exeter, 14 miles from Portsmouth at the head of tide water, on a stream running into the Piscataqua, is a considerable town. It has a court house, academy, and several manufactories of woolen, cotton, paper, oil, &c. Pop. 2,759. Amherst, on Souhegan river, a branch of the Merrimack, is a pleasant village, having a mineral spring. Pop. 1657. Hanover and Haver

hill are also considerable towns.

5. AgriculturE. N. Hampshire is chiefly an agricultural state. Maize, wheat, rye, oats, barley, flax, grass, &c. are the common products of the earth, and pork, beef, mutton, poultry, butter and cheese are exported. Agricultural societies are numerous, and great exertions are made to improve the state of tillage. Plaster of Paris from New Brunswick has been used for some years as a manure. On the interval lands which border the rivers, wheat often yields 20 or 30 bushels to the acre, though generally from 15 to 20 is considered a good crop; maize will average 30 or 40 bushels, and potatoes 200 or 300. Of fruits, there are a variety. No country produces more abundant crops

of

apples; and cider, by proper management, may be made of the best quality : peaches do not flourish here; but plums, pears, cherries, &c. grow in abundance. Meetings for cattle shows are annually held, where the distribution of prizes has a considerable effect in exciting competition among the farmers. A board of agriculture was incorporated in 1820; they met annually at Concord.

6. COMMERCE. The exports from the N. part of the state, go necessarily to the markets in Maine, and a great portion of those from the middle and southern parts are carried to Newburyport, Boston and Hartford. The commerce of N. H. therefore, strictly speaking, is confined to the single port of Portsmouth. The domestic produce exported in 1828, amounted to 115,947 dollars; the imports for the same time, were 299,849 dollars; the tonnage of vessels registered, enrolled and licensed in 1827, was 26,164. The staple commodities are lumber, provisions, horses, neat cattle, pot and pearl ashes, flax seed, &c.

7. MANUFACTURES. The manufacturing company established at Somersworth, have a capital of one million of dollars. They have 3 cotton mills, and 2 mills for broadcloth and carpets. The cotton mills have 2000 spindles, and turn out 80,000 yards of cloth weekly. Of woollen cloth 2000 yards per week are made, and of carpeting 1300 yards, equal perhaps to the best Kidderminster. These manufactures consume yearly 400,000 pounds of wool, 500,000 pounds of cotton, 18,000 pounds of indigo, 700,000 teazles, 300 tons of coal, and 1300 cords of wood, and employ 1000 persons, whose wages amount to 16,000 dollars per month. At Dover, are several large cotton manufactories one of which contains 2,500 spindles, and 86 looms, which produce 10,000 yards weekly.

8. FISHERIES. Sixty or Seventy vessels, from 20 to 75 tons each. besides smaller craft, are employed during the fishing season, from the first of March to the latter part of November, in the bank and mackerel fisheries. These vessels take from 38,000 to 45,000 quintals of cod and pollock, and 6,000 barrels of mackerel yearly.

9. EDUCATION. Dartmouth College, in the town of Hanover, was established among a score of log huts in 1770, and has now grown into a very respectable institution. It received its name from the Earl of Dartmouth, one of its early benefactors. The buildings are 2 handsome edifices, containing rooms for students, a laboratory, 2 lecture rooms, a chapel and a dining hall: the libraries contain above 14,000 volumes. The officers are a President, 8

professors and 2 tutors; the number of students, 153, besides 65 medical students. There are 3 vacations, in December, May and August, amounting to 15 weeks. Commencement is in August.

Phillips Academy, at Exeter, is one of the oldest and best endowed academies in the country. It was founded by the Hon. John Phillips in 1781; its officers are a Principal, 2 professors of mathematics and natural philosophy, and an assistant. It has a library and philosophical apparatus. The building is elegant and commodious: number of students, 80. There are also many other incorporated academies, and common schools are supported by law; the number of school districts is 1698; school houses 1560: the number of scholars in the common schools is estimated at 5,000.

10. RELIGION. Perfect toleration is allowed, and no person without his consent can be called upon for the support of any religious society. The Calvinistic congregationalists have 125 ministers and 179 societies. The Unitarians, 11 ministers and 14 societies. The Presbyterians, 8 ministers and 10 societies. The Episcopalians, 8 ministers. The Calvinistic Baptists 70 ministers, and 75 societies. The Freewill Baptists, 51 ministers and 74 societies. The sect denominated Christ-ians, 17 ministers and 20 societies. The Methodists, 71 ministers. The Quakers, 15 societies. The Universalists, 20. The Shakers 2, and the Sandemanians 1. These last are the followers of Robert Sandeman, who came to this country in 1764. The Calvinistic Baptists above mentioned, compose 6 associations.

11. INHABITANTS. The origin, habits and character of the people are similar to those of the inhabitants of New England generally, of which we shall hereafter give a sketch. The S. part of the state is the most thickly settled.

12. ANTIQUITIES. In Sanborntown on Lake Winnipiseogee, at the head of Little Bay, are the remains of an ancient Indian fortification: it formerly consisted of 6 walls; one extending along the river and across a point of land into the bay, and the others at right angles, connected by a circular wall in the rear. Traces of these walls are yet to be seen, though most of the stones and other materials of which they were composed, have been removed to a dam in the river. Within the fort have been found numbers of Indian relics, and others also on an island in the bay. When the first settlers of these parts arrived, the walls were breast high, and large oaks were growing within their enclosure. Near the W. shore of Ossipee lake, is a circular mound 45 or 50 feet in diameter, from which have been taken skeletons, tomahawks, &c.

13. GOVERNMENT. The constitution of N. Hampshire was established in 1792. The legislature consists of a Senate and House of Representatives. The senators are chosen in districts, and the representatives in towns. The legislature meets annually in June. The governor and executive council are chosen annually by the people. The judiciary system is the same as in Maine and Massachusetts. The annual revenue of the state from taxes and the product of funded stock is about 50,000 dollars, and the state tax in 1828, was 29,997 dollars. The representatives to Congress are 6. All residents who pay taxes are voters.

14. HISTORY. N. Hampshire was discovered by Captain Smith in 1614. The original patent was granted to John Mason and Ferdinando Gorges, in 1622; in this patent, the country was named Laconia. The first settlements were made at Dover and Portsmouth, in 1623. In 1641, all the settlements by a voluntary act submitted to Massachusetts, and were comprehended in the county of Norfolk, which extended from the Merrimack to the Piscataqua. In 1679, a new government was established, and N. Hampshire was made a royal province by commission from Charles II. The first General Assembly met at Portsmouth in March, in 1680. The union with Massachusetts was renewed