The principal rivers within the state are Lamoile, Onion, Otter Creek, Misisque, Deerfield, White, Black, and Pasumsic. Fort Dummer, in the south-east part of Vermont, was built in History. 1724; and Bennington, the oldest town in the state, was chartered in The territory of Vermont was originally claimed both by New Hampshire and New York; and its political condition was, for a considerable time, unsetted; but the people preferring to have a separate government, formed a constitution in 1777, under which a government was organized in March, 1788; and in 1791, Vermont was admitted into the union. The first constitution of this state was formed in 1777; the one now in operation was adopted on the 4th of July, 1793. Outlines of the consti tution. The legislative power is vested in a single body, a house of representatives, elected annually, on the first Tuesday in September, every town in the state being entitled to send one representative. The representatives meet (at Montpelier) annually on the second Thursday of the October succeeding their election, and are styled The General Assembly of the State of Vermont. The executive power is vested in a governor, lieutenant-governor, and a council of 12 persons, who are all chosen annually by the freemen on the first Tuesday in September, and their term of office commences on the second Thursday in October. They are empowered to commission all officers; to sit as judges to consider and determine on impeachments; to prepare and lay before the general assembly such business as shall appear to them necessary; and have power to revise and propose amendments to the laws passed by the house of representatives. The constitution grants the right of suffrage to every man of the full age of 21 years, who has resided in the state for the space of one whole year, next before the election of representatives, and is of quiet and peaceable behavior. The judiciary power is vested in a supreme court consisting of three judges; and of a county court of three judges for each county. The judges of the supreme, county, and probate courts, sheriffs, and justices of the peace, are Elected annually by the general assembly. A council of censors, consisting of 13 persons, are chosen every seven years first elected in 1799) on the last Wednesday in March, and meet on the first Wednesday in June. Their duty is to inquire whether the constitution has een preserved inviolate; whether the legislative and executive branches of government have performed their duty as guardians of the people; whether the public taxes have been justly laid and collected; in what manner the public noneys have been disposed of; and whether the laws have been faithfully xecuted. There are in this state 10 banks, viz. Bank of Burlington, of Windsor, of Brattleborough, of Rutland, of Montpelier, of St. Albans, of Caledonia, of Ver ennes, of Orange county, of Bennington. The Burlington Bank is selected for the public deposites, by the secretary the Treasury. Education. There are two colleges in Vermont, at Burlington and Middlebury; edical schools at Burlington and Castleton; and about 20 incororated academies in the state, where young men may be fitted for college. Common schools are supported throughout the state. The money raised y the general law for the support of schools, at 3 per cent. on the grand list, he valuation for taxes,) would be about $51,119 42; and about as much ore is supposed to be raised by school district taxes. The state has a litery fund, derived principally from a tax of 6 per cent. on the annual profits the banks; the amount on loan in September, 1829, was $23,763 32. The Congregationalists have 13 associations, 203 churches, 110 Religious deastors, 35 unsettled ministers, 10 licentiates, and 17,236 commu- nominations, cants; the Baptists, 105 churches, 56 pastors, 8 licentiates, and 1831. 8,478 communicants; the Methodists, 44 ministers and 8,577 communicant the Episcopalians, 15 ministers; the Unitarians, 3 societies and 1 ministe and there are some Free-will Baptists, Christians, and Universalists. The number of periodical papers in 1830 was 13. Vermont sends 5 representatives to congress. The governor's salary is $78 PRACTICAL QUESTIONS ON VERMONT. 1. How is Vermont bounded? 2. Between what degrees of latitude and longitude does it lie? 3. What is its length, breadth, square miles, and population in 1830 Po lation to a square mile? 4. How many counties does it contain? 5. What is said of the soil? 6. What are the principal productions? 7. What the principal exports?-Rivers? 8. What was the amount of exports in 1829? 9. By what states was Vermont originally claimed? 10. In what is the legislative power vested? 11. How many representatives is each town in the state allowed to send 12. In whom is the executive power vested? 13. To whom does the constitution grant the right of suffrage? 14. What is said of the council of censors and their duty? 15. How many banks are there in the state? 16. At which town is the branch of the United States Bank? 17. How many colleges, and where located? 18. What is said in regard to the support of common schools? 19. How many representatives does Vermont send to congress? 20. What is the governor's salary? MASSACHUSETTS is bounded N. by Vermont and New Hampshire; E. by Atlantic; S. by Rhode Island and Connecticut; and W. by New-York. It between 41° 23′ and 43° 52′ N. lat. and between 3° 33′ and 7° 10' E. lo tude from Washington. It contains 7,250 square miles, or 4,644,000 a The principal islands are Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. The most noted capes are Cape Ann, Cape Cod, and Cape Malabar. The most consid erable bays are Massachusetts, Cape Cod, Barnstable, Plymouth, and Buzzard': bays. There are no large lakes, but there are numerous ponds. The range of the Green Mountains passes from north to south, through the western part of this state. The principal chain takes the name of Hoosa mountain. The highest summits are Saddle and Takonnack mountains. The other most noted mountains in the state, are Wachuset, in Princeton, Moun Tom and Mount Holyoke, near Northampton, and Mount Toby, in Sunderland The general aspect of the country is interesting, affording many highly varie and extensive prospects. The face of the country is greatly diversified. The south-eastern part i mostly level. There are also level districts of small extent in the vicinity of the Merrimack in the north-east. Salt marshes are numerous in the maritim parts, though not very extensive. Most of that part bordering on the sea-coast and extending into the interior as far as the county of Worcester, may b regarded as the level division, exhibiting no very considerable elevations. Th five western counties of Worcester, Hampshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Berk shire, present the greatest irregularity of surface, and constitute the highland of the state. These counties, however, abound in vast tracts of elevated land diversified with gentle swells, in large districts of pine-plains, in valleys o various extent, as well as in wide intervals, particularly on Connecticut river. The soil is exceedingly various, comprising every description from the mos fertile to the most unproductive. In the south-eastern part it is mostly ligh and sandy, interspersed, however, with numerous fertile tracts. In the middl and northern parts, toward the sea-coast, it is of a much better quality, thoug not generally distinguished for its natural fertility; but by excellent cultivation a great portion of it is rendered highly productive. The middle and wester parts have generally a strong rich soil, excellent for grazing, and suited to mo: of the purposes of agriculture. The state is almost universally well watered The streams of every description are remarkably clear and beautiful. Th farms generally consist of from 100 to 300 acres, and are, for the most par well cultivated. In no part of the United States have there been greater a vances made in agricultural improvements than in Massachusetts. The countr is intersected in every direction by roads, which are kept in a good state c repair. The principal productions are, Indian corn, rye, wheat, oats, barley, pea beans, buck-wheat, potatoes, hops, flax, and hemp. Beef, pork, butter, an cheese are abundant in most parts of the state, and of excellent quality. Th county of Berkshire, in particular, is distinguished for its extensive dairie: The state abounds with orchards, and great quantities of cider are annuall made, which is the common beverage of the inhabitants. The principal cult vated fruits are apples, peaches, pears, quinces, plums, cherries, and currant Gardening is an object of attention throughout the state, and all the hortula vegetables suited to the climate, together with a variety of domestic fruits, ar in this way, extensively cultivated. Massachusetts is the most commercial state in the Union, except New Yor The greatest part of the fisheries in the United States belong to this state. T principal articles of export are fish, beef, lumber, pork, ardent spirits, flax-see whale oil, spermaceti, and various manufactures. The total amount in 182 was 8,255,000 dollars. This state holds the second rank in point of manufactures. The most co siderable are those of cotton cloths, boots and shoes, ardent spirits, leathe cordage, wrought and cast iron, nails, woollens, ships, straw bonnets, hat cabinet work, paper, oil, and muskets. There is an extensive national esta lishment for the manufacture of arms at Springfield. In 1831 there were this state 250 cotton mills, with a capital of $12,891,000, making annually 79,231,000 yards of cloth. The principal mines are those of iron, which are found in various parts, and there are numerous establishments for manufacturing iron. The counties of Plymouth and Bristol afford great quantities of this minéral, and there are several rich iron mines in the county of Berkshire. A lead mine is found at South Hadley, and at some other places. Ochres and other fossil productions have been found in various places. Quarries of good marble are found in Lanesborough, Stockbridge, Pittsfield, Sheffield, and several other places in Berkshire county. There are quarries of slate at Lancaster, Harvard, and Bernardston, and of soap-stone at Middlefield. Limestone is found in great abundance in the county of Berkshire, and free-stone in all parts of the state. Great quantities of beautiful stone for building are obtained from Chelmsford and Tyngsborough. The climate of Massachusetts is subject to the extremes of heat and cold. The air, however, is generally dry, serene, and healthy. The thermometer in summer is frequently observed to exceed 77° for forty or fifty days together; and sometimes rises to 100°. There are in this state 66 banks; total amount of capital paid in, $20,420,000. Of these, 19 are in Boston, including 2 deposite banks, 6 at Salem, 2 at New Bedford, 2 at Newburyport, 2 at Worcester, and the rest are scattered through the state with but one in a town. Education The principal literary institutions are Harvard University in Cambridge, connected with which there are medical, theological, and law schools; Williams College at Williamstown; Amherst College at Amherst; Massachusetts Medical College in Boston connected with Harvard University;" Berkshire Medical Institution connected with Williams College; the Theological Seminaries at Andover and Newton; Round Hill School at Northampton, Berkshire Gymnasium at Pittsfield, and Mount Pleasant Classical Institution at Amherst. There are also 56 incorporated academies, of which Philips Academy at Andover, the oldest and best endowed, was incorporated in 1780, and has educated 2,025 scholars. Common schools are well supported throughout the state. The laws require that every town or district, containing 50 families, shall be provided with a school or schools equivalent in time to six months for one school in a year; containing 100 families, 12 months; 150 families, 18 months; and the several towns in the state are authorized and directed to raise such sums of money as are necessary for the support of the schools, and to assess and collect the money in the same manner as other town taxes. Each town is also required to choose annually a school committee of 3, 5, or 7 persons, to take the general charge and superintendence of the public schools. The number of periodical presses in Massachusetts in 1830 was estimated at 40. The Congregationalists have 491 churches, and 423 ordained min- Religious de isters, 118 of whom are Unitarians; the Baptists, 129 churches, 110 nominaLinisters, and 12,580 communicants; the Methodists, 71 preachers tions, 1831. and 8,200 members; the Universalists, 46 societies; the Episcopalians, 31 Banisters; the New Jerusalem Church, 8 societies; the Presbyterians, 9 ministers; the Roman Catholics, 4 churches; and the Shakers, 4 societies. The territory of Massachusetts comprised, for many years after its 5-st settlement, two separate colonies, styled the Plymouth Colony and the Colony of Massachusetts Bay. History. The first English settlement that was made in New England, was formed by 101 persons who fled from religious persecution in England, landed at Ply. outh on the 22d of December, 1620, and laid the foundation of Plymouth Colony. H |