is, that they were of Tartar origin, and came across to this continent near Beering's Straits, and going southward, followed the course of the great rivers-finding the soil fruitful on the Ohio and Mississippi, resided there for a while, till at length, following each other, they established themselves in the warm and fertile vales of Mexico. 123. Erie Canal. This grand canal, the longest in the world, (if we except the Imperial Canal of China,) was commenced July 4th, 1817, and completed Oct. 26th, 1825, at the expense of about eight millions of dollars. This canal is the property of the state of New York, and will probably afford a large revenue for public purposes. The Erie Canal, extending from Albany to Buffalo, is 40 feet wide on the surface, 28 on the bottom, 4 feet deep, and 362 miles in length, exclusive of side cuts and navigable feeders. The locks, 83 in number, are 15 feet wide between the gates, and 90 feet in length, and constructed of the most imperishable stone, laid in water cement. The altitude of the water at the termination of the canal at Buffalo, is 565 feet above that of the Hudson at Albany. The total of ascent and depression overcome by means of lockage, throughout the whole extent, is 688 feet. A tow-path is constructed on the bank of the canal, which is elevated from 2 to 4 feet above the surface of the water. The course of the Erie Canal, commencing at the Albany Basin, is along the bank of the Hudson to Watervliet, where it receives a navigable feeder from the Mohawk, constituting the communication with the Northern or Champlain Canal. Thence it proceeds along the bank of the Mohawk, and crosses that river above the Cahoes Falls, by an aqueduct 1188 feet in length, supported by 26 piers. It then continues about 12 miles on the north bank, after which it re-crosses the Mohawk, four miles below Schenectady, by an aqueduct 748 feet length 25 feet above the water of the river, and supported by 16 piers. Thence it winds along the south bank of the river, through Schenectady and Utica, to Rome. At Little Falls, the Erie is connected with the old canal, by a stone aqueduct across the Mohawk, 170 feet in length, and supported by 3 arches. The Utica level, 69 1-2 miles in length, without a single lock, commences at Frankfort, 9 miles east of Utica, and proceeding through that village, Whitestown, Rome, Verona, Sullivan, and Manlius, terminates in the town of Salina, near the village of Syracuse. During this course, it passes the Sauquait, Oriscany, Oneida, Canastota, Chitteningo, and Limestone creeks, by aqueducts of various extent. It then proceeds through the village of Syracuse, and crosses the Skeneateles outlet, by a stone aqueduct, supported by 3 arches; and the Owasco creek, by an aqueduct of 4 arches, to Montezuma; thence through the Cayuga Marshes, the villages of Clyde and Lyons, and passing Mud Creek, by a stone aqueduct, 90 feet in length, continues through Palmyra, Pittsford, and Ro chester, to Lockport. At Pittsford, it crosses the Irondequot creek, on a stupendous embankment, 72 feet in height. At Rochester it crosses the Genesee river, by a stone aqueduct, of superior architecture, 530 feet in length. Between Rochester and Lockport, the canal passes several deep ravines, by aqueducts and enbankments. At Lockport is an ascent of 60 feet, overcome by five double combined locks, to the Mountain Ridge, through which the canal passes, by a deep excavation, to the Tonewande creek. It then enters the creek, and continues along its channel to its mouth, where a dam is erected 4 1-2 feet in height; and proceeds along the shore of the Niagara river and Lake Erie, to its termination at Buffalo. Connected with the canal, a pier of great length has been constructed in the Niagara river, at Black Rock, for the purpose of forming a harbour at that place, and supplying water for the summit level. The water of Lake Erie continues in the canal to Montezuma. Thence there is an ascent to the Jordan summit, from which the canal descends to the level of Syracuse. It then ascends to the Utica summit, from which is a continuous descent to the Hudson. The canal debt, in 1826, amounted to $7,602,000; the receipts of tolls on the canal the same year, to $750,000; and the revenue from salt, and auction duties, belonging to the canal fund, to $420,000. The tolls in 1827, amounted to $859,000. It is estimated, that the reve nues arising from tolls and the canal fund, will, besides paying the interest, extinguish the canal debt in ten years, dating from 1826.* When the canal was completed, October 26, a canal boat from Lake Erie entered the canal, which event was announced by the firing of cannon placed at suitable distances, from Lake Erie to the city of New York, and thence back again to Lake Erie. On the 5th of November, when the canal-boat arrived at the city of New York, the day was celebrated by splendid processions, military parades, &c. &c. In the aquatic procession, which accompanied the ca nal-boat, from New York to Sandy Hook, were 22 steam boats and barges. When they arrived at the Hook, Governor Clinton went through the ceremony of uniting the waters, by pouring that of Lake Erie into the Atlantic. 124. Gen. Lafayette's Visit. Gilbert Mottier Lafayette, the Marquis de Lafayette, America's early and tried friend, was born on the 6th of September, 1757, in the province of Auvergne, now the department of Haute Loire, in France, about 400 miles from Paris. He sprang from the ancient and illustrious family of Mottier, which for several centuries past has added the name of Lafayette. In 1774, at the age of seventeen, ne was married to the Countess Anastasie de Noailles, *Eastman's Hist. of N. Y. aughter of the Duke de Noailles. The fortune of this ady, added to his own, increased his income to about 40,000 dollars annually; an immense revenue at that period. The contest between Great Britain and her North American colonies, was a subject of much interest to the nations of Europe, especially to the French people. The Marquis Lafayette, fired with enthusiastic ardour in the cause of liberty, tore himself from an affectionate family and the honours of the court, and, notwithstanding the prohibition of the French court, embarked for America in January, 1777, and entered the American army as a volunteer, without compensation. The American congress, struck with his magnanimity, gave him the commission of major-general in the army of the United States. His gallant conduct in the battle of Brandywine, (where he was wounded,) and at many other places, till the close of the war, proved him worthy of the confidence placed in him. Lafayette likewise gave large sums for the purpose of clothing and arming the American troops. After the close of the revolutionary war, Lafayette returned to France, where he was appointed commander of the French armies. During the furious and bloody storm of the French revolution, he was obliged to flee, and surrender himself to the Austrians, who imprisoned him in the castle of Olmutz. Having suffered a rigorous imprisonment, for five years, he was, through the influence of Buonaparte, (afterwards emperor of France,) released, on the 25th of August, 1797. After an absence of forty years, General Lafayette, determined once more to visit the country of his adoption. Congress hearing of his determination, offered a public ship for the conveyance of the "NATION'S GUEST;" but he politely declined their offer, and chose a private conveyance. He accordingly, with his son, George Washington Lafayette, embarked at Havre, on board the ship Cadmus, and arrived at New York, August 16, 1825. He was received with eAusiastic demonstrations of joy, by all classes of the American people. From New York he proceeded by land to Boston, passing through New Haven and Providence. From Boston he proceeded to Portsmouth, N. H., from whence he returned to Boston, and New York, passing through Worcester, Hartford, and Middletown. From New York he went the Hudson, visiting Albany and other places on the river. Returning to New York, he proceeded on to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington. Here he was received by the house of representatives and senate of the United States, who voted him two hundred thousand dollars and a township of land for the important services rendered by him during the revolutionary war. up General Lafayette commenced his tour from Washington, through the southern and western states, and returned to Albany by the way of Buffalo and the grand canal. From Albany he proceeded through Springfield to Boston, where he arrived on the 16th of June, and was received by the legislature of Massachusetts, then in session. On the 17th he was present at the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Bunker Hill monument. He then visited the states of New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, and returned to New York to parLicipate in the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of American independence. He took his final leave of New York, July 14th, visited the ex-presidents in Virginia, and soon after embarked for France, on board the frigate Brandywine, followed with the grateful benedictions of the American people. 125. Insurrection and Massacre in Southampton In August, 1831, a body of sixty or seventy slaves in Southampton County, Virginia, rose upon the white inhabitants, and massacred fifty-five men, women, and children. 'The leader of this insurrection and massacre was a |