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 leas 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 gov ernor, 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 Stales, for the purpose of becoming the seat of the federal government It is under the immediate jurisdiction of Congress, and contains the cittr* of Washington, Alexaudiia. and Georgetown. The population in 1840

was 43,712; of whom 30,657 wore 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 commanding 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 oi 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 arc necessarily drawn around it.

There are two colleges in the District. Georgetown college, a Roman Catholic institution, was founded in 1799. The Columbian college, undei 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 in January.

KENTUCKY.

THIS state once belonged to Virginia. It was first explored in 17C9-70, 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 firsl 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 i' 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 gentiy 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 tr?ct 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 suminer, 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-Caitrjna, 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 Teliico, hi 'he centre of the Cherokee country. A war with that Indian nation hav

ing occurred, the garrison was besieged, and compelled lo surrender lor 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 xhe 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 righting 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 biliouo 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 a?e 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. Kvery senator must have attained the age of thirty years, must be a citi zen of the United Slates, must have been an inhabitant of the slate for

three years, and of the district for which he is elected for one year, immediately preceding his election. The house of representatives consists of seventy-five members, elected at the same time and for the same period as tho senators. Every representative must be a citizer of the United States, of the age of twenty-five years, must have been a citizen of the state for three years, and a resident in the county for which he is elected one year immediately preceding his election. All judges are elected by the joint vote of the general assembly. The judges of the supreme courts are elected for twelve years, and must have attained the age of thirty-rive years. The judges of the inferior courts are elected for eight years, and must have attained the age of thirty years. The state attor neys are elected in the same manner, for the term of six years. The secretary of state is elected by the joint vote of the general assembly for four years; and the state treasurer, in like manner, for two years. Every free white male citizen of the United States, who has been a citizen of the county where he offers his vote for six months next preceding the day of election, enjoys the right of suffrage; and no person is disqualified from voting Ok account of his colour, who is, by the laws of the state, a competent witness in a court of justice against a white man. The legislature meets biennially at Nashville, on the first Monday of October

OHIO.

Ohio Is the most populous, wealthy, and improved state west of the Alleghany Mountains. It contains an area of forty thousand five hundred square miles, and a population of more than one and a half millions of souls. The first white settlement was made in 1789; yet now Ohio is tke third state of the Union in population, and has nearly a thousand miles of canal and railroad. The country is generally level, except in the south-east, where it is broken and hilly; it is forested, except in the centre and north-west, where are extensive prairies. In a state of nature Ohio was, with the exception of some central prairies, covered with a dense forest, to which the fertility of the soil gave a stupendous developement. The most extensive prairies are found on the head waters of the Mnskingum and Sciota; also near the sources of the Miami river. The soil is very fertile, and nine-tenths of the whole is capable of profitable cultivation. Corn, wheat, and pork are the staple productions; iron, coal, and salt abound in the south-east counties. Columbus, the capital, is a flourishing place on the Sciota river and national road, near the centre of the state- Cincinnati, on the Ohio, near the south-west corner of the state, is the largest and wealthiest city in the west, and the greatest pork market in the world.

The first permanent settlement was made at Marietta, in 1788- The next was at Columbia, six miles above Cincinnati, in 1789; and the next settlement was made by the French emigrants at Galiipolis, in 1791. Cleveland was settled by New-England, in 1796, as also was other points upon Lake Erie. The first territorial legislature met at Cincinnati, ta 1799, and organized the government. In 1802. Ohio formed her state constitution, and was admitted a member of the Union.

The legislative authority is vested in a senate and house of representatives, both S( which collectively, are styled the general assembly. The representatives are chosen for one year, and for eligibility must be citizens ci the United States, and twenty-five years of age. having resided in the state one year, and paid taxes. Their number must never exceed seventv-two, nor be less than thirty-six. The senate is composed at members elected for two years, who must not exceed one-half nor fal!