of the river; and the best view of the rapids is from Goat island, which is ingeniously connected by a bridge with the eastern shore. The view from the river below is the most entire. Below the falls the river runs between perpendicular banks, 300 feet high, to Queenstown, 7 miles; thence to lake Ontario the country is open.

Soil and Productions.] The eastern half of Long island is sandy and barren; the western part is fertile, and in a high state of cultivation. The country on the Hudson, below the mouth of the Mohawk, has a good soil, particularly the counties of West Chester and Dutchess, which are under very good cultivation. The alluvial flats of Columbia county and some parts of Rensselaer are very extensive and rich. A district west of Albany, comprising several counties, consists of sandy plains interspersed with marshes. The alluvial flats on the Mohawk are extensive and very fertile. The country north of the Mohawk is less accurately known, but many parts of it are fertile, particularly the lands on Black river, which are among the best in the state. The vast elevated plain which covers the western part of the state, and includes the country occupied by the small lakes, has a rich soil, equally well adapted to grain and grass. The alluvial flats are here extensive; those on Genesee river include about 60,000 acres. Wheat is raised in this state in greater abundance than all other grains. Indian corn, rye, oats, flax, and hemp, are also extensively cultivated.

Minerals.] Iron ore is found in many parts of the state of an excellent quality and in inexhaustable quantities. There are indications of the abundant existence of coal in the western parts of the state. Lime, marble, lead, marl, flint, gypsum, slate for building, clays for manufacturing, and ochres of various kinds, have been discovered in great quantities. Salt springs exist in Cayuga, Seneca, Ontario and Genesee counties, but the principal salt works are in Onondaga county, at the village of Salina, situated on the S. E side of Onondaga lake. Every gallon of water here yields from 16 to 27 ounces of salt, being much stronger than any other salt springs in the United States. The quantity of salt manufactured in 1811 in Onondaga county was 453,840 bushels, and it may be increased to any extent.

Mineral springs.] The celebrated mineral springs of Saratoga are spread over a tract of about 12 miles in length in Saratoga county, and are called by a variety of local names. The most noted are those at the villages of Ballston and Saratoga, which are superior to any other in America. The names of the principal springs in Saratoga, are Rock spring, Congress spring and Columbia spring. These springs afford relief in many obstinate diseases, and during the summer months, are the resort of the gay and fashionable, as well as of invalids, from all parts of the United States. Large houses of entertainment, with neat bathing houses, are erected for the convenience of visitors.

Chief Towns.] NEW-YORK, the first commercial city in America, is on Manhattan island, at the confluence of Hudson and East rivers, in lat. 40° 42′ N. 90 miles N. E. of Philadelphia and 210 S.

W. of Boston. The island is 15 miles long, and on an average 11 broad, and is separated from New-Jersey by the Hudson; from the continental part of New-York by Haarlem creek; and from Long island, by East river.

The compact part of the city is at the south end of the island, and extends along the Hudson about 2 miles; and from the Battery, in the S. W. corner, along East river, nearly 4 miles. Its circuit is about 8 miles. The streets of the ancient part, at the south end of the city, are frequently narrow and crooked, but all the northern part has been recently laid out, and with much better taste. The principal street is Broadway, which is 80 feet wide, and extends from the Battery in a N. E. direction, through the centre of the city, for three miles. It is generally well built, and a part of it is splendid. The houses in the city generally, were formerly of wood, but these are fast disappearing, and substantial brick houses, with slated roofs, are rising in their place.

Among the public buildings the most prominent is the City Hall, which is the most beautiful edifice in the United States. It is 216 feet long, 105 broad, and, including the attic story, 56 high. The front and both ends above the basement story, are built of white marble. The expense was $500,000. It is occupied by the city council in their meetings, and by the different courts of law. The New-York Hospital comprises the Hospital for the reception of the sick and disabled, the lunatic asylum, and the lying in hospital. The annual expenditure is about $10,000. During the year 1819, 1,725 patients were admitted, of whom 1,320 were cured. The Alms House is a plain stone structure recently erected on East river, 2 miles from the City Hall. It is 3 stories high 320 feet long and 50 wide. The expense, including the work house, penitentiary, and other buildings connected with it was $418,791. The number of poor in this institution for the the year 1816 was 1,487 and the expense of the establishment $90,886. The State prison is on the Hudson, at Greenwich, about 11⁄2 mile. from the City Hall. It is constructed of free stone. The number of prisoners in 1819 was 604. The original cost of the establishment was $208,846, and large sums have been voted by the legislature to defray the annual expenses. The New-York Institution is near the City Hall, and its apartments are occupied by the literary and philosophical society; the historical society, which has a library of about 5,000 volumes, and a permanent fund of $12,000; the American academy of Fine Arts, which has a valuable collection of paintings and statues; the Lyceum of natural history; and the American museum.

Among the other institutions are a theatre, Vauxhall and other public gardens, an orphan asylum, an asylum for the deaf and dumb, 11 banks, 11 insurance companies, numerous benevolent and charitable institutions, and 57 houses for public worship, viz. 18 for the different classes of Presbyterians, 12 for Episcopalians, 8 for Methodists, 6 for Baptists, 3 for Friends, 2 for Roman Catholics, and one each for German Lutherans, German Calvinists,

Moravians, Universalists, Jews, seamen, Swedenborgians, and Unitarians.

The Battery is a beautiful open space, containing several acres of ground, at the S. W. point of the city. It commands a fine view of the harbor, with its shipping, islands, and fortifications, and is much frequented by the citizens. The Park is a handsome common, in front of the City Hall, containing 4 acres, and is also a place of fashionable resort. The Elgin Botanic garden It is 3 miles from the City Hall, and contains about 20 acres. was founded in 1801 by Dr. David Hosack, and was purchased by the state in 1810, for $74,268, and presented to the Medical college.

New-York harbor is a large bay, 9 miles long and 4 broad, which spreads before the city on the south side, having Long island on the east, and Staten island and New-Jersey on the west. On the north it receives the Hudson; on the N. E. it communicates with Long island sound through East river; on the west with Newark bay, through the Kills; and on the south with the Atlantic ocean through the Narrows. It embosoms several small islands, as Governor's island,Bedlow's island and Ellis's island, near the city of New York, on each of which are fortifications. The harbor is deep enough for the largest vessels, well secured from wind and storms, sufficiently spacious for the most numerous fleet, and the currents are so rapid, that it is seldom obstructed by ice.

New-York is admirably situated for commerce, on an excellent harbor, at the mouth of a noble river, with an extensive, fertile, and populous back country. It imports most of the goods consumed in the state of New-York, the northern half of NewJersey, and the western parts of New-England; and exports the produce of the same section. This city owns more shipping than any other in the Union, and more than half as much as the city of London. The amount of shipping in 1816 was 299,617 tons. The revenue from the customs, collected at this pert, is about one fourth of the whole revenue of the United States: in 1815, it was $14,409,790. The revenue of the city for city purposes, for the year ending May 12, 1817, was $483,011.

Few cities in the world have increased so regularly and rapidly as New-York. In 1697, the population was 4,302; in 1756 13,040; in 1790, 33,131; in 1800, 60,439; in 1810, 96,373; and in 1820, 123,706. The inhabitants are from many different nations. More than one third are of New-England origio. After these, the most numerous are the Dutch and Scotch, and then the English, Irish, and French.

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ALBANY, the seat of government, and the second city in the state in population, wealth and commerce, is situated on the west bank of the Hudson, 160 miles north of New-York. large proportion of the houses are built of brick, with slate or tile roofs, and the style of building has very much improved within a few years. Among the public buildings are a state house, substantialy built of stone, at an expense of $115,000; an ele

gant academy of red free stone; a jail; an almshouse, theatre, arsenal and 11 houses for public worship. The city is supplied "with excellent water from a spring, 3 miles distant, by an aqueduct which conveys it to every house. Albany is finely situated for commerce, at the head of navigation for large sloops on the Hudson; and the canals now in progress will soon connect it with lake Champlain and lake Erie. Several steam boats ply regularly between this city and New-York, and usually perform their passages in about 30 hours. The population of Albany in 1820 was 12,630.

Troy, on the east bank of the Hudson, 6 miles above Albany, is considered the third town in the state in commerce and wealth. The city is regularly laid out on a plain, and makes a beautiful appearance. It contains a courthouse, 2 banks, and 5 houses for public worship. Troy is finely situated for a commercial and manufacturing town, being at the head of sloop navigation on the Hudson, and the creeks which here fall into the river affording numerous excellent situations for mills and manufactories. Population, in 1820, 5,264. Lansingburgh is a flourishing town, 3 miles north of Troy, on the same side of the river. Waterford is on the Hudson, at its confluence with the Mohawk, opposite Lansingburgh, with which it is connected by a bridge, 10 miles above Albany. Sandy Hill is a handsome compact village, on the east bank of the Hudson, 52 miles N. of Albany, immediately above Baker's falls, where the water descends 76 feet within 60 rods. Fort Edward is situated a few miles south of Sandy Hill, on the same side of the Hudson, near the great bend, and at the point where the canal from lake Champlain opens into the river. In the old wars it was an important military station, controlling the communications between the Hudson, lake Champlain and lake George. Whitehall is a thriving village, situated at the southern extremity of lake Champlain, on both sides of Wood creek, at its entrance into the lake. The canal from lake Champlain to the Hudson commences here, and the trade of a considerable extent of country is concentrated in the village.

Hudson is finely situated 30 miles south of Albany, on the east bank of Hudson river, which is navigable to this place for the largest ships. The site of Hudson is a high point which projects into the river, terminating in a bold cliff, on each side of which are bays of considerable extent. The city is regularly laid out, and in 1820 contained 5,310 inhabitants. The creeks on the borders of the town afford fine seats for mills and manufactories, and a few years since, Hudson was regarded as the third town in the state in manufactures and the fourth in commerce. Poughkeepsie stands on the east bank of Hudson river, 85 miles south of Albany and 75 N. of New-York. It is well situated for commerce and manufactures, and in 1820 contained 5,726 inhabitants. Newburgh is on the west bank of the Hudson, 5 miles below Poughkeepsie, and in 1820 contained 5,812 inhabitants.

Schenectady, the seat of Union college, is regularly laid out on a plain on the S. E. side of Mohawk river, 15 miles N. W. of Albany.

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The city contained in 1820, 3,939 inhabitants. Utica is situated on the south bank of the Mohawk, 93 miles W. N. W. of Albany. It is handsomely laid out in streets and squares, and contained in 1820, 2,972 inhabitants. This village is the central point where the principal turnpikes from various parts of the state unite, and is a thoroughfare of the travel between a large section of the western country and the Atlantic ports. The Erie canal also passes through it and will add to its commercial importance. Rome, on the Mohawk, 15 miles N. W. of Utica, is a place of considerable business.

Plattsburgh is on lake Champlain, at the mouth of Saranac river. In the bay before this town the American fleet under Commodore M'Donough captured a British fleet of superior force on the 11th Sept. 1814. Ogdensburg is 116 miles north of Utica, at the confluence of the Oswegatchie with the St. Lawrence. It has a safe and spacious harbor and is well situated for trade.

Sacket's Harbor is on Black river bay, a branch of Hungry bay, at the east end of lake Ontario. The harbor is perhaps the best on the lake. It is well situated both for shelter and defence, and is sufficiently deep for the largest vessels. Here are several ships of war, built during the late war, and among them two ships of the line of the first rate. Buffalo is situated at the mouth of Buffalo creek, which discharges itself into Niagara river, just at the point where it leaves lake Erie. It has considerable trade, being situated on the best channel of intercourse between the Atlantic and the regions of the west. It has suffered hitherto for want of a good harbor, Buffalo creek being obstructed at its mouth by sand and gravel driven in by the wind. Black Rock, on Niagara river, 2 miles below Buffalo, is at present the station for the steam boats and other vessels employed in the navigation of lake Erie.

Auburn, the capital of Cayuga county, is situated at the outlet of Owasco lake, 170 miles west of Albany, on the great western turnpike. It has numerous mills and manufactories, and a state prison large enough to contain 1,000 prisoners. A Presbyterian Theological seminary has been lately established here. Geneva is a beautiful and flourishing town on the west side of Seneca lake near its outlet.

Canals.] For several years past the state has been engaged in the improvement of its inland navigation, on a scale never before witnessed in this country, and with an energy and liberality which excite universal admiration. A grand canal is now in progress, which will open a water communication from Hudson river to lake Erie, and another is already completed, uniting the same river with lake Champlain.

The Erie canal, when completed, will be 350 miles long. The route is as follows: Beginning at Albany, on the Hudson, it passes up the west bank of that river nearly to the mouth of the Mohawk; then along the south bank of the Mohawk, through the counties of Albany, Schenectady, Montgomery, Herkimer and Oneida to Rome. From Rome it proceeds in a S. W. direc