matics at the military academy of West Point. Two sets of instruments have been executed in London, under his direction, for this purpose, by Mr Troughton, which cost nearly L.3000 sterling.

The introduction of the decimal system into the money of the United States has been found to be of great advantage, by facilitating and simplifying pecuniary transactions. Previous to the adoption of this system, each state had a particular currency, and to reduce these into each other was a complicated and troublesome process, and especially difficult to foreigners. It is also proposed to establish an uniform standard of weights and measures.

The application of the thermometer to the purposes of navigation has been encouraged by the government of the United States, and promises to become extremely useful on the American coast, by the indications it affords. The water out of soundings is found to be several degrees warmer than in soundings, and the temperature of the Gulf stream is still greater by 7 or 8°. Hence it is known when a vessel is in this current, and when she approaches the coast.

Vaccination, a discovery of so much value to mankind, and doubly valuable in the United States, where the means of subsistence always exceeds the population, has been encouraged by a special act of congress, which authorizes the president to appoint an agent to preserve the genuine vaccine matter, and to furnish it when applied for, through the medium of the postoffice, free of postage.

Among the public measures creditable to the humanity of the government, may be mentioned the means employed for the civilization of the Indian tribes. Sums have been set apart for this purpose, from time to time. Before the late war the Creeks, Kaskaskias, and Choctaws, had made considerable progress in the arts of spinning, weaving, and agriculture. In 1813. the sum of 65,000 dollars was appropriated, for the purchase of domestic animals, implements of husbandry, and manufactured articles for the use of the Indians. Different treaties have been entered into and ratified with them, for purchasing their lands on equitable terms. These transactions are made solely by the government, and great care is taken to protect them from the encroachments of individuals. Indians of the western part of the state of New York have taken up the occupation of farming. In 1811 the Onondago tribe cultivated 100 acres of wheat; and it is said, that this tribe have abandoned the use of spirituous liquors, by a general resolution among themselves. The Seneca tribe held stock in the former bank of the United States. The late president, Mr Madison, has observed," that husbandry and house. hold manufactures have advanced more rapidly among the southern than the northern tribes; and that one of the great divisions of the Cherokee nation thought of soliciting the citizenship of the United States."

The

Inventions and discoveries have been promoted by means of the patent office, which secures to persons who apply for it the exclusive right to the fruits of their ingenuity. This office is attached to the depart

ment of state. Models and drawings of the machines, for which the right is obtained, are deposited with the director; with a description of the invention, the name and residence of the patentee, and date of the patent. The price of a patent is thirty dollars.

In 1809 an improvement was made in the manner of conducting business in the house of representatives, which may perhaps be considered as a useful step in the progress of legislation. Eight standing committees are appointed, at the commencement of each session: A committee, 1. Of elections. 2. Of claims. 3. Of commerce and Manufactures. 4. For the public lands. 5. For the district of Columbia. 6. Of revisals and for unfinished business. 7. Of accounts. The first six consist of seven members each; the two last of three each. There is, besides, a committee for post-offices and post-roads, consisting of one member from each state. An excellent manual of parliamentary practice for the use of the senate of the United States was published by Mr Jefferson.

America was the first nation, except Denmark, which prohibited, by rigorous laws, the importation of negro slaves; and measures are adopted for the gradual abolition of slavery. In 1807, congress passed an act to prohibit the importation of slaves within the jurisdiction of the United States, after the commencement of the year 1808. *

*Vessels fitted out for the slave trade are subject to seizure and forfeiture to the United States; and the naval force may be employed for that purpose. Every person engaged in such expedi

The United States claim, by right of discovery, an Island in the Pacific Ocean, situated between the 9th degree and 10th degree of south latitude, and

tion is liable to a penalty of 20,000 dollars, Every citizen of, or resident within the United States, who imports slaves, from Africa or any other country, for the purpose of sale, service, or labour, or who aids or abets therein, is subject to a fine of 5000 dollars; and the slaves thus imported are to remain subject to the regulations of the states. Every person convicted of bringing slaves into the United States is liable to imprisonment for not more than ten, nor less than five years, and to be fined in a sum not exceeding 10,000 nor less than 1000 dollars. Those who buy slaves from the neighbouring territorries forfeit 800 dollars. The captain of a slave vessel may be fined in a sum not exceeding 10,000 dollars, and be imprisoned not less than two years nor more than four. This act prevents the transportation of slaves in vessels under forty tons burthen; and larger vessels sailing coastwise must have the names of slaves for sale inserted in their papers; and they cannot be landed without delivering a manifest to the officer of customs. Before the American revolution, different writers, chiefly Quakers, had pleaded the cause of the Africans; and after the declaration of independeuce, societies were formed in the different states, under the name of "Friends of the Blacks," who annually sent deputies to a central convention, which assembled at Philadelphia in the month of January, for the purpose of investigating the condition of slaves. This convention published the process verbal of its sittings, and correspondence against slavery and the slave trade; the one addressed to congress, the other to their fellow-citizens. These combined and uninterrupted efforts were strengthened by the writings of the Friends of the Blacks in England, and by the example of Denmark, the first government which paid a just tribute to humanity by the abolition of the trade. Philanthropic societies are still occupied with the condition of the African race, and have established schools for their religious and social instruction, which operate in favour of their civilization and freedom.

140° west from Greenwich, to which they have given the name of Madison. Captain Porter of the American frigate, Essex, touched there with some of his English prizes, in November 1813; constructed a fort of sixteen guns, and, with the consent of the natives, took possession of the Island in name of the United States.

In mechanics the Americans have been particularly inventive. The number of patents issued at the patent office, from the 1st of January 1812 to the 1st January 1813, amounted to 235. The machinery of flour-mills has several ingenious contrivances not known in Europe. The machines for making cotton-cards, and for the manufacture of nails, are no less useful to the country than creditable to the inventors. Two Americans are candidates for the prize of a million of francs, offered by the French government for the best machine for spinning flax. The saving of manual labour by one of the American machines is said to be four-fifths, but the conditions of the prize require ninetenths. The ginning machine for separating cotton from the seed has been of incalculable value in reducing the cost of cotton by a vast saving of manual labour. The method employed of lighting the interior of American merchant vessels, and vessels of war, by means of cylinders of glass placed in the deck, is found to be very useful at sea. A new apparatus for the distillation of salt water on board of vessels at sea, invented by Major Lamb of New York, has been found so superior to the contrivances formerly in use, that it has been adopted by the English navy board for the pub