miles in length,

three feet water.

twenty feet in width, and draws The whole descent is forty feet,

and the canal saves a land-carriage of six miles. The five lower locks are each twenty feet in breadth, and seventy-five in length, except the upper one, which is a hundred and fifty feet long. The Essex Canal runs along the Patucket falls of the Merrimack, of which the descent is thirty-four feet. The canal with three locks is four miles in length, and is sufficiently deep for boats drawing three feet and a half water.

Several other canals, along different parts of the Merrimack, have been projected. The stock of the two companies concerned in these canals is divided into 1008 shares, one half of which belongs to Hollanders. 200,000 dollars were expended in 1812.

On the Middlesex canal there is a steam-boat for the conveyance of passengers, which moves at the rate of between seven and eight miles an hour.

Public Carriages.-The mail stage-coach, common to all the states, is a light carriage, drawn by two or four horses, and fitted for the accommodation of nine passengers, whose trunks or luggage are placed behind, by means of a leathern strap, or fixed under the seats. The driver is not separated from the passengers, to which no objection is made, as he is often the son of a farmer, proprietor of the stage. In summer this carriage is agreeable, but

in winter uncomfortable; as there is no other protection against the weather than a curtain of leather, often fastened in a negligent manner to the posts which support the roof. But some of the stages in this state are nearly as good as those in England.

Light-houses.-The light-house on Baker's island is to be rebuilt. Four thousand dollars were voted for this purpose, by the act of Congress of the 27th of April 1810, which also granted three hundred and forty-one dollars for placing buoys and beacons at or near the entrance of the harbour of Beverly; and for repairing piers in the harbour of Newbury Port, a sum not exceeding seven hundred dollars.

Nantucket Island light-house was erected by the state in 1784. The keeper has a salary from the United States of 266 dollars a-year. Gayhead light-house, on Martha's Vineyard, the keeper of which has a salary of 300 dollars a-year. Boston light-house, the keeper of which has a salary of 333 dollars. Thutcher's Island lighthouse is a mile east of the south-east point of Cape Ann. The keeper's salary is 350 dollars a-year. Baker's Island light-house, off Salem harbour, erected in 1797, with two lights forty feet from each other; the southern ninety-five feet from the water, the northern seventy-eight feet. The keeper's salary is 256 dollars. Plum Island light

house, on the northern extremity. Keeper's salary 266 dollars. Cape Cod light-house. Keeper's salary 225 dollars. Cape Page light-house. Keeper's salary the same. Portland light-house, erected at the entrance of the harbour, in 1790, a stone edifice, seventy-two feet high, exclusive of the lantern. Keeper's salary 300 dollars. Plymouth light-house. Keeper's salary 150 dollars. Sequin light-house. Wighman Point light-house. White Head light-house. Franklin Isand lighthouse. The keeper's salary of each of these is 200 dollars.

Wood Island light-house. Keeper's salary 225 dols. Passamaquody light-house,

Chatham light-house,

Boon Island light-house,
Scituate light-house,

330

250

400

260*

Inventions.-Massachusetts has the honour of many useful inventions and improvements in the mechanical and manufacturing arts. Among the most important is the machine for cutting nails, invented by Mr Perkins of Newbury Port, by means of which 200,000 may be cut in a day. They are preferred to those of English manufacture, and are sold 20 per cent. cheaper. †

*See Register of the United States for 1816.
+ Morse-art. Massachusetts.

Mr Dow of Boston has invented a machine for the manufacture of screws, which, by means of a

crank, produces a perfect screw at one operation.

Books relating to the History and Productions of
Massachusetts.

1. Douglas's Summary. Article Massachusetts.

2. The History of the British Dominions in North Ameri. ca, in 4to, contains a very particular Account of Mas

sachusetts Bay, from the 75th to the 222d page of the first volume. 1773.

3. Morse's Geography. Article Massachusetts.

4. Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts.

5. Minot's History of the Insurrection in Massachusetts. 6. Bigelow's (Dr J.) Florula Bostoniensis, or Collection of the Plants of Boston and its environs. Boston, 1814, Vol. I. in 8vo, pp. 268.

7. Folger's and Macy's Account of Nantucket, referred to by Dr. Morse.

8. Brown, (Samuel) Treatise on the Nature, Origin, and Progress of the Yellow Fever, &c. but more particularly as it has prevailed at Boston, 8vo, pp. 112. 1800.

9. Bartlett, (Josiah) Dissertation on the Progress of Medical Science in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Boston, 1810. 8vo, pp. 48.

Which forms a Part of the State of Massachusetts.

Situation and Extent.--This district, situated between the forty-third and forty-seventh degree of north latitude, is bounded on the north by Lower Canada, the highlands forming the line of separa

So called by way of compliment to the Queen of Charles I. who had a private estate of the same name in France, her native country.