Constitution

The constitution of this state was framed in 1780, and amended and govern- 1821. The legislative power is vested in a senate and house ment. representatives, which together are styled The General Court of Ma

sachusetts.

The members of the house of representatives are elected annually in May and they must be chosen ten days at least before the last Wednesday of th month. Every corporate town having 150 ratable polls may elect one repr sentative, and another for every additional 225 ratable polls.

The senate consists of 40 members, who are chosen, by districts, annuall on the first Monday in April.

The supreme executive magistrate is styled The Governor of the Commo wealth of Massachusetts, and has the title of "His Excellency." The govern is elected annually by the people on the first Monday of April, and at the san time a lieutenant-governor is chosen, who has the title of "His Honor The governor is assisted in the executive part of government by a council nine members, who are chosen, by the joint ballot of the senators and represer atives, from the senators; and in case the persons elected, or any of the decline the appointment, the deficiency is supplied from among the people large.

The general court meets (at Boston) on the last Wednesday of May, a also in January.

The right of suffrage is granted to every male citizen, 21 years of age a upwards (excepting paupers and persons under guardianship,) who has resid within the commonwealth one year, and within the town or district in whi he may claim a right to vote, six calendar months next preceding any electio and who has paid a state or county tax, assessed upon him within two yea next preceding such election; and also every citizen who may be by la exempted from taxation, and who may be, in all other respects, qualified above mentioned.

The judiciary is vested in a supreme court, a court of common pleas, a such other courts as the legislature may establish. The judges are appoint by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the council, and ho their offices during good behavior.

Massachusetts sends 12 representatives to congress. The governor's sala is $3,666 67.

PRACTICAL QUESTIONS ON MASSACHUSETTS.

1. How many square miles does Massachusetts contain?
2. How many inhabitants does it contain to a square mile?
3. How many counties ?-Population in 1830?

4. Chief towns and rivers?

5. Mention the principal islands and capes.-6. Mountains. 7. Describe the face of the country.

8. What is said in regard to manufactures and commerce?. 9. What are the principal minerals, and where found?

10. What is said of the climate?

11. How many banks are there in Massachusetts?

12. How many of them are in Boston?

13. Mention the principal literary institutions.

14. What is said in regard to common schools?

15. Give an account of the first English settlement in New England. 16. In what is the legislative power vested?

17. When is the annual election for representatives, and when for senator

18. By whom is the governor assisted in the executive part of his office?

19. When and where does the general court meet?

20. To whom is the right of suffrage granted?

21. How many representatives does Massachusetts send to congress? 22. What is the governor's salary?

LENGTH 40 miles. Breadth, 29. Contains 1350 square miles. Bounded N. and E. by Massachusetts; S. by the Atlantic; W. by Connecticut. Between 41° 22′ and 42° 3' N. L. and 5° 7' and 5° 54' E. L. from Washington.

Population to a square mile, 75, being the second state in the Union in point a dense population.

The rivers are Pawtucket, Providence, Pawtuxet, Pawcatuck, and Wood Narraganset bay extends up from S. to N. between the main land on E. and W., and embosoms many pleasant and fertile islands; among

which are Rhode Island, from which the state derives its name, Canonicu Prudence, Patience, Hope, Dyer's, and Hog Islands. Block Island, off th coast in the Atlantic, is the most southerly land belonging to the state.

The most considerable towns are Providence, Newport, Bristol, Warren South Kingston, East Greenwich, Smithfield, and the villages of Pawtucke and Pawtuxet. The harbors are Newport, Providence, Wickford, Pawtuxe Bristol, and Warren.

The face of the country is mostly level, except in the north-west part, whic is hilly and rocky. The soil is generally better adapted to grazing than til age. A large proportion of the western and north-western part of the sta has a thin and lean soil; but the islands and the country bordering on Narr ganset bay, are of great fertility, and are celebrated for their fine cattle, the numerous flocks of sheep, and the abundance and excellence of their butt and cheese. Here are found some of the finest cattle in New England. Cid is made for exportation. Corn, rye, barley, oats, and in some places whe are produced in sufficient quantities for home consumption; and the vario kinds of grasses, fruits, culinary roots and plants, in great abundance and pe fection. The rivers and bays swarm with a variety of excellent fish.

Iron ore is found in large quantities in several parts, and some copper; the is also an abundance of limestone, particularly in the county of Providence. The manufactures of Rhode Island are extensive. They consist chiefly iron, cotton, woollen, paper, and hats.

In 1831 there were in Rhode Island 116 cotton manufactories, with an a gregate capital, including cost of land, water power, buildings and machiner of $6,262,340. These establishments consume annually 10,415,578 poun of cotton, and make 37,121,681 yards of cloth. Persons employed in the 8,500, including women and children: aggregate amount of their wag $1,177,527. There are likewise in this state 5 bleacheries, and two establis ments for printing calicoes connected with the cotton manufactories, with aggregate capital of $532,375, making the grand total of 6,794,715 dolla employed in the manufacture of cotton. The amount of capital employed the manufacture of iron and steel, is $802,666, divided among 10 founder and 30 machine-shops. Cost of establishments for the manufacture of w in this state, including land, water-power, buildings, stock in trade &c., $263,000.

The exports consist chiefly of flaxseed, lumber, horses, cattle, beef, po fish, poultry, onions, butter, cheese, barley, grain, spirits, and cotton and lir goods. They amounted, in 1829, to 390,000 dollars.

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The climate of this state is as healthy as that of any part of America it is more temperate than the climate of any of the other New England stat particularly on the islands, where the breezes from the sea have the effect 1 only to mitigate the heat in summer, but to moderate the cold in winter. Τ summers are delightful, especially on the island of Rhode Island.

In Rhode Island there are 51 banks; 11 of which, including a depos bank, are in Providence; the others are in various parts of the state. Ί amount of capital stock is $6,732,296.

Brown University is situated at Providence; at the same pl: Education. there is a seminary styled the Friends' Boarding School; and th are 8 or 10 academies in the state. Increasing attention has of late been p to education; and the state now pays annually, for the support of free schoo the sum of $10,000, which is divided among the several towns according population.

There are in the state 10 periodical papers.

The following was the number of the various religious denominations in t state, in 1831. The Baptists had 16 churches, 12 ministers, 2600 commu

cants; the Methodists, 10 preachers, and 1,100 members; the Congregationalists, 10 churches, 10 ministers, and 1,000 communicants; the Unitarians, 2 societies, and 2 ministers; the Sabbatarians, about 1,000 communicants, the Six-Principle Baptists, about 8 churches, and about 800 communicants; the Friends are considerably numerous; and there are some Universalists, and 1 Roman Catholic church.

The settlement of this state was commenced at Providence, in 1636, by the celebrated Roger Williams, a minister who was banished from Massachusetts on account of his religious opinions; and in 1638 the settlement of the island of Rhode Island was begun by William Coddington, John Clarke, and others.

In 1643, Mr. Williams went to England, and obtained, in 1764, a charter, by which the settlements of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations were united under one government, and which continued in force till 1663, when a new charter was granted by Charles II., which has ever since formed the basis of the government.

Rhode Island is the only state in the Union which is without a Governwritten constitution.

ment.

The legislative power is vested in a General Assembly, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives.

The house of representatives consists of 72 members, 6 from Newport, 4 from each of the towns of Providence, Portsmouth, and Warwick, and two from each of the other towns in the state; and they are elected semi-annually in April and August.

The senate consists of 10 members, who are elected annually in April.

The executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected annually in April. A lieutenant-governor is also elected, on whom the executive duties devolve in case of the office of governor being vacated.

The general assembly meets four times a year; at Newport on the firs* Wednesday in May, (the commencement of the political year,) and by ad journment, at the same place, in June. It meets on the last Wednesday in October, alternately at Providence and South Kingston; and by adjournment, in January, at East Greenwich, Bristol, or Providence.

The judges are appointed annually by the general assembly.
This state sends two representatives to congress.

The governor's annual salary is 400 dollars.

PRACTICAL QUESTIONS ON RHODE ISLAND.

1. What is the length and breadth of Rhode Island?

2. How many counties does it contain?

3. What was the total population of the state in 1830?

4. What was the increase of the population between 1820 and 1830?

5. Name the principal rivers, bays, and islands.

6. What are the principal towns and harbors?

7. Describe the face of the country.

8. What are some of the principal productions? 9. What are the principal minerals?

10. What is the number of cotton factories?

11. What their aggregate capital?

12. How much cloth do they make annually?

13. How many banks are there in Rhode Island?

14. How many of these are in Providence?

15. What can you say in regard to education?

16. Which is the most numerous denomination of Christians in this state?

17. What is said in regard to the history of the state?

18. What charter now forms the basis of the government?

19. In what is the legislative power vested?

20. Of what does the house of representatives consist?

21. Of what the senate?

22. How often does the general assembly meet?

23. How are the judges appointed?

24. How many representatives does this state send to congress? 25. What is the governor's salary?

CONNECTICUT is bounded N. by Massachusetts; E. by Rhode Island; S. b Long Island Sound, and W. by New York. It lies between 41° and 42° 2' N lat. and between 3° 16' and 5° 11' E. longitude from Washington. It is 9 miles long, 70 broad, and contains 4,764 square miles.