permitted to take part in the government. An assembly, consisting of a council of ten, appointed by the duke, and eighteen representatives, chosen by the people, were allowed to make the laws of the colony In 1690, during the war between England and France, the French of Canada conspired with certain tribes of Indians for the destruction of the English settlements. On the 8th of February, a party attacked and destroyed the town of Schenectady. Every house was surrounded, and a horrid yell broke the stillness of the night; the inhabitants sprang from their beds, found their dwellings in flames, and their doors guarded by the savage foe. Some escaped; but naked and exposed to a storm, many of them perished before they could reach Albany, their nearest place of refuge In this cruel assault, sixty were killed, twenty-seven made prisoners, and twenty-five lost their hands and feet by the cold. These and other sav. age cruelties, led the English colonists to combine their forces against Canada. Sir William Phipps, with a large fleet, sailed up the St. Law. rence; and an army proceeded from New-York by land, as far as Lake Champlain; but owing to some mismanagement, this expedition faile 1 of success.

In 1691, King William appointed Colonel Henry Sloughter governor of New-York. At this time the colony needed a magistrate of talents and energy. Sloughter had neither; he was weak and vicious. Ex-governor Leisler disputed his authority; but after several vain attempts to mairtain his own power, he, with Malborne, were taken and condemned for high treason. Sloughter at first refused to execute the sentence of the court; but at a feast, in a fit of intoxication, he was induced to sign the death warrant, and they were executed. Their estates were afterwards restored to their families, and their bodies were taken up by their par' y and buried with great pomp, in the old Dutch church, in the city of NewYork. Sloughter died in 1691; and he was succeeded the next yearly Colonel Fletcher. Fletcher desired to promote among the Dutch inhabitants the use of the English language, and the interests of the English church; and these objects he recommended to the attention of the asse;nbly. After much difficulty, a bill was passed encouraging education in the colony, and providing for the support of ministers of the gospel, who were to be chosen by the people.

In 1698, the Earl of Bellamont was made governor of the colony, at which time the American seas were infested with pirates. The earl proj osed to send out a naval force against them; but the assembly rejected the proposal. He then fitted out a private vessel, under the command of Captain Kidd, who afterwards became a pirate himself. Bellamont was succeeded, in 1702, by Lord Cornbury, son of the celebrated earl of Clar endon. In his private character, Cornbury was vicious and contemptible; as a magistrate, he was tyrannical and prodigal of the people's money. He was removed from office, and soon after seized by his creditors and thrown into prison.

In 1710, the queen appointed General Hunter governor of f the colony. During his administration, another attempt was made for the subjugation of Canada. An army of 4,000 men left Albany and marched against Montreal. A large fleet proceeded up the St. Lawrence, but meeting with a violent storm, many of the ships were dashed upon the rocks, and the remainder returned to England. When this was made known to the army the troops were disheartened, and the enterprise was abandoned.

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In 1719, Hunter left the colony in a state of perfect harmony, and returned to Europe, when his office was conferred upon William Burnet, son of the celebrated Bishop Burnet. At this time the French were erecting forts along the lakes and rivers, from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Their policy in this, was to cut off the fur trade of the English, and secure it all to themselves. Burnet endeavored to defeat their object, by build

ing a fort at Oswego. He watched all the movements of the Indians and sought to prevent their union with the French. After Burnet, the government of the colony devolved successively upon Colonel Montgomery, Rip Van Dam, and William Crosby. The latter arrived at NewYork in 1732. During his administration a prosecution was commenced, through his influence, against the editor of a newspaper, for publishing an offensive article. After a noble defence by Andrew Hamilton, the editor was acquitted, and Hamilton was greatly applauded by the citizens, who desired the entire liberty of the press.

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After the death of Crosby, in 1736, George Clark was appointed lieutenant-governor. For many years a severe contest had existed between the governor and the house of representatives. The governor wished to have the control of the public money, and make such appropriations as he saw fit. On the other hand, the house contended that no money should be expended for any object which they did not approve. During Clark's administration the contest was maintained on both sides with a great deal of spirit, but the representatives prevailed. At this time there were many negroes in the city of New-York; fires occurred frequently, and suspicion was excited against them. Some of them were detected in setting fire to buildings, and it was then reported that they had formed a plot to burn the city, and intended to appoint a governor of their own. The people were terrified; about thirty negroes were seized and put to death, and two white men were tried and executed. When the alarm was over the people began to reflect upon the character of the witnesses and their testimony; none of them were respectable, and the evidence of a plot had all vanished; terror and prejudice had led the magistrates to a course of manifest cruelty and injustice.

In 1743, George Clinton, a man of eminent talents, was appointed governor. He soon secured the love and confidence of the people, and united their energies against the French and Indians. The frequent depredations of the enemy upon the English settlements led to the project of another expedition against Canada; but before their plan was carried into operation peace was restored. In 1753 Gov. Clinton resigned his office, and was succeeded by Sir Danvers Osborne. This gentleman, five days after his arrival, committed suicide, through grief for the loss of his wife. James Delancey, who had been lieutenant-governor under Clinton, then assumed the chief authority. In 1755 Sir Charles Hardy arrived in New-York with commission of governor; but being a naval officer unacquainted with civil affairs, he put himself altogether into the hands of Mr. Delancey. The governors next succeeding were Cadwallader Colden, General Monckton, Sir Henry Moore, and William Tryon, the last-named closing the list of royal governors.

The climate of New-York is various. In the south part the winters are mild but changeable; in the north-east part they are severe but more uniform; in the level country west of the mountains the climate is more mild than in the same latitude in the east part. The principal river in the state is the Hudson, three hundred and twenty-four miles long, which enters New-York bay, and is navigable for sloops one hundred and fiftyone miles, to Troy. Lakes Erie, Champlain, and Ontario lie partly within the state: of those which lie wholly within it, are lakes George, Oneida, Skaneateles, Owasco, Cayuga, Seneca, Canandaigua, and Crooked lake, which, with the exception of lake George, discharge their waters into lake Ontario, and Chatauque lake, which empties into the Alleghany river. Two principal chains of high lands, rising to mountains, cross the eastern part of the state. One of these comes from New-Jersey and crosses the Hudson at West Point, where on each side of the river the mountains, in places coming to the water's edge, and rising to the height of from one thousand to one thousand seven hundred feet, consu

ute some of the grandest and most interesting scenery in the country, known as the "Highlands." These mountains are from fifteen to twenty miles wide, and after crossing the Hudson river proceed northerly form the Taghkannic mountains, divide the waters which fall into the Hudson from those flowing into the Housatonic river, and thence into Long Island Sound. Another range comes from the north-west part of New-Jersey, and constitutes the Shawagunk mountains. A third range comes from Pennsylvania, and proceeding north through Sullivan, Ulster, and Greene counties, constitute the Catskill mountains. The Adirondack mountains in the north-east part, and south-west of lake Champlain, are the loftiest mountains in the state, Mount Marcy, the highest peak, being 6460 feet high, and little inferior to the White mountains in New-Hampshire.

This state boasts the noblest cataract on the earth-that of Niagara. It is computed that 100,000,000 tons of water are discharged over the precipice every hour. The height of the fall near the American shore is 163 feet; near Goat Island, on the Canada shore, 154 feet; the distance around the Horse-shoe fall is 144 rods. The river at the falls is nearly a mile wide, but directly below is compressed to less than a fourth that distance; and while it makes a constant descent, with amazing velocity, the banks rise gradually for six miles. Some suppose the falls to have receded from the escarpment of Queenston to their present site; but Dr. Lyell, the geologist, conjectures the time necessary for such recession, to be 35,000 years.

.New-York has several important literary institutions. Columbia college, formerly King's college, was founded in New-York city in 1754, and is under the direction, though not exclusively, of the Episcopalians; Union college at Schenectady was founded in 1795; Hamilton college in Clinton was founded in 1812; Geneva college, conducted by the Episcopalians, was founded in Geneva in 1823; the University of the city of New-York was founded in 1831; the Hamilton literary and theological seminary was founded by the Baptists in 1819; the Theological Institute of the Episcopal church was founded in 1819, in the city of NewYork; the seminary connected with the University, was founded in 1826; the seminary at Auburn was founded by the Presbyterians in 1821; the Hartwick seminary was founded, in Otsego county, by the Lutherans, in 1816; the seminary of the Associate Reformed Church, at Newburgh, in 1836; the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the city of New-York, in 1807; the Albany Medical College, in 1839.

The governor is elected biennially by the people. He must be thirty years of age, be a native-born citizen of the United States, and have resided five years in the state. The lieutenant is elected in like manner, and must possess similar qualifications. He is president of the senate; and in case of the impeachment, removal, death, or absence of the governor, discharges the duties of the office. The senate consists of thirty-two members, who are chosen for five years, one fourth of whom are elected every year. The assembly consists of one hundred and twenty-eight members, elected annually by the people. The governor nominates all judicial officers, except justices of the peace, and has the power of appointment, with the consent of the senate. The judges hold their offices during good behaviour, or until they are sixty years of age. Every male white citizen of full twenty-one years of age, who has resided for one year in the state, and for six months preceding the election, in the county where he offers his vote, enjoys the right of suffrage. Persons of colour are allowed to vote who have resided five years in the state, who possess a freehold of $250, and have held it for one year previous to the election, and pay a tax on it.

PENNSYLVANIA.

PENNSYLVANIA was first settled by the Swedes, in 1638, who purchased from the natives the land upon the western shore of Delaware bay and river, from cape Henlopen to the falls opposite the present city of Trenton. In 1642, the Swedish governor erected a handsome house for himself on an island just below the mouth of the Schuylkill, and caused a church to be built, which was consecrated in 1646. The Dutch government at New-Netherlands conquered the Swedes in 1654. When the English conquered New-Netherlands in 1664, the Dutch possessions on Delaware river fell into their hands, and for several years remained subject to the governors of New-York. In 1681 Pennsylvania was granted by Charles II. to William Penn, a member of the society of Friends, in consideration of the services of his father as a British admiral. Four years from the grant of the charter, the province contained twenty-two settlements, and Philadelphia had two thousand inhabitants. In 1684 Penn returned to England, and appointed five commissioners, with a president, to administer the government during his absence. He returned to the state in 1699, having been confirmed in his proprietary rights. In 1768, Mason and Dixon's line was drawn, to mark the boundary between this state and Maryland. Penn died in 1718, leaving his interest in Pennsylvania as an inheritance to his children, who continued to possess it until the revolutionary war, when their claim was purchased by the commonwealth for £130,000 sterling, or $580,000. In 1784, the last remaining portion of the state, not previously purchased, was bought of the Indians, lying in its north-west part. In 1776 a state constitution was formed, which continued in operation till 1790, when another constitution was adopted, which remained until 1838, when the present constitution was adopted. The United States' constitution was adopted in convention, December 13th, 1787; yeas 46, nays 23; majority 23. Philadelphia remained the seat of the United States' government until 1800, when i was removed to Washington.

The climate of Pennsylvania, though healthy and temperate, is variable and inconstant. The extremes of temperature are from 20° below zero of Fahrenheit to 980 above; but such extremes are of short continuance The mean temperature is from 440 to 520

The surface of Pennsylvania is greatly diversified. There are few large tracts of level land in the state. The south-eastern counties, though they can scarcely be denominated hilly, have an undulating and variable surface. South mountain extends from the Delaware below Easton in a south-west direction through the state, to the borders of Maryland in Adams county. Next to this, Kittatiny, or Blue mountain, extends from the Delaware Water-Gap, and proceeds south-west with a regular elevation of from seven hundred to twelve hundred feet above the level of the streams at its base, and terminates at Parnell's Knob, an elevated and picturesque summit in Franklin county, near the south border of the state. North of the Blue mountain, and between the Lehigh and Susquehanna, is a wild mountainous region, where the anthracite coal is found. This region is interspersed with high and barren ridges in close succession, interlocking with each other, and enclosing long and pointed valleys between them. The Second and Sharp mountains are between Kittatiny and the first coal basin. Next comes Broad mountain, an irregular elevation, with a broad and barren table-land at its top. East of the Susquehanna are several ridges with various names. The valley of Wyoming is enclosed by a chain of lofty mountains, known by many local names. Between Kittatiny, or Blue mountain, and the Alleghany, is what has been called the Appalachian chain, which consists of high

and nearly parallel ridges, sometimes approaching near to each other, and at other times with valleys between them of twenty miles in breadth, frequently divided by smaller ridges. The elevated range, called the great Alleghany, extends nearly across the whole state, presenting on its south-eastern side a steep ascent, but extending north and west with a gentle descent, and consists of an elevated and undulating table-land. Beyond the Alleghany are Laurel hill and Chestnut ridge, which are high ridges running parallel with the Alleghany ridge.

Most of the country west of the Alleghany mountains is a hilly coun try, with many irregular and abrupt elevations, not disposed in chains. The soil of the state is generally good, and much of it is of a superior quality; the richest tract is on the south-east, and on both sides of the Susquehanna river. This part of the state has been long settled, and is under excellent cultivation. In the country west of the Alleghany mountains there is much fertile land. For some distance from the mountain, the country is hilly and rough. The more level tracts, particularly along the streams, are highly fertile. Between the Alleghany river and lake Erie, and the western border of the state, the soil is excellent. By far the most important production of the state is wheat, and next in value to that is Indian corn. Rye, oats, barley, buckwheat, hemp and flax, are also extensively cultivated. Apples, cherries, and peaches are abundant, and much cider is made. Although the state, as a whole, is better adapted to grain than to grazing, yet in many parts there are large dairies; and fine horses and cattle are raised.

The mineral wealth of Pennsylvania is very great, consisting of coal, iron, and salt, which are abundant. The immense coal regions form the most interesting feature of the mineral resources of the state. Bituminous coal of an excellent quality, and inexhaustible in quantity, is almost everywhere found west of the Alleghany mountains, and in the south part of the state, to the east of them. In Pittsburgh and the vicinity, it In this region salt is extensively used for manufacturing purposes. springs occur, which afford a very strong brine. The anthracite coal region, with some few exceptions, is bounded on the north-west by the north branch of Susquehanna river, extending in a north-east direction for over sixty miles, and divided into the southern, middle, and northern coal-fields. These three great deposites of anthracite coal have been calculated to contain 975 square miles, or 624,000 acres, in some places fifty or sixty feet deep; and as each cubic yard in the ground is calculated to yield a ton of coal, it is easy to conceive that the quantity must be immensely great. The bituminous coal region of Pennsylvania has been estimated at 21,000 square miles, or 13,440,000 acres, over which it is scattered.

The Delaware river washes the eastern border of the state, and is navigable for ships of the line to Philadelphia. The Lehigh, after a course of seventy-five miles, enters it at Easton. The Schuylkill is about one hundred and thirty miles long, and unites with the Delaware six miles below Philadelphia. The Susquehanna river rises in the state of NewYork, and flows south through this state, and enters Chesapeake bay in Maryland. It is much obstructed by rapids and falls, but furnishes a descending navigation for boats and rafts, in time of high water. The Juniata rises among the Alleghany mountains, and, after a course of one hundred and eighty miles, enters the Susquehanna eleven miles above Harrisburgh. The Alleghany river, four hundred miles long, from the north-west, and the Monongahela, three hundred miles long, from the south, unite at Pittsburgh to form the Ohio river, which latter flows a short distance in this state. The Youghiogheny is a small river whick enters the Monongahela on the east side.

Philadelphia, between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, and Pitts