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STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Situation, Boundaries, and Extent.

MASSACHUSETTS Proper, (which, with the district of Maine, constitutes one of the United States of America,) is situated between 41° 13′ and 42° 52′ N. lat. and 3° 20' and 6° 55′ E. long. It is bounded on the north by New Hampshire and Vermont; on the south by Connecticut, Rhode Island, and the Atlantic ocean; on the east by the Atlantic ocean and Massachusetts-bay; and west by the state of New York. From east to west it is 140 miles in length, and from north to south seventy miles in breadth. Its square contents is 8,500 miles, being 5,440,000 acres.

Rivers, sea-coast, capes, and islands.-Connecticut river, which has been noticed in the description of New Hampshire, passes through the interior of this state, and at Hadley, eighty-seven miles west of Boston, is obstructed by falls, around which canals and locks have been completed. This beautiful river, which rises in the high lands that separates Vermont and New Hampshire from Lower Canada, runs through a thickly settled country, having upon its banks a great number of the most flourishing and pleasant towns in the United States. The rivers or streams which fall into the Connecticut are numerous; such of them as are worthy of notice will be found under their respective names. The Merrimack river, before mentioned, has its course through the north-eastern part of this state, and is navigable for vessels of burden about twenty miles from its mouth at Newbury-port. Charles river rises from a pond near Hopkinton, in this state, and passing through Holliston and Bellingham, the former twenty-eight, the latter thirty miles from Boston, divides Medway from Medfield, Wrentham, and Franklin, all in Norfolk county, thence flows on to Dedham, where, by a curious bend it

forms a peninsula of 900 acres of land. From Dedham it runs northerly through Newton, passing over romantic falls, and taking its course by Watertown and Cambridge, empties into Boston harbour between Charlestown and Boston. Taunton river is formed by several streams which rise in Plymouth county, and after running a south-west course of about fifty miles, falls into Narraganset-bay, at Tiverton, opposite the north end of Rhode Island. It is navigable for small vessels to the town of Taunton, thirtysix miles from Boston: Concord river is formed of three branches, one rising from a pond in Middlesex county, the other two from the mountains near Marlborough; it takes its course through Bedford and Bellerica, both in Middlesex, and discharges itself into Merrimack river, at Tewksbury, twenty-four miles north of Boston. Medford and Mystic rivers run from north to south into Boston harbour; the latter is navigable three miles to the town of Medford Ipswich river rises from several springs in Middlesex county, and passing through Reading, Middleton, and Topsfield, enters the ocean at Ipswich, thirty miles north-east of Boston. Westfield river rises in Berkshire county, and runs a south-east course through Middlefield and Westfield to West Springfield, where it falls into the Connecticut by a mouth about thirty yards wide. Deerfield river takes its rise in Bennington county, Vermont, and after receiving a number of streams, runs southwardly through Wilmington, Charlemont, and between Shelburn and Conway, passing through a large tract of the finest meadow in the world. Among these meadows it receives Green river, which is about twenty yards wide; hence they flow together in a broad smooth stream, and enter Connecticut river between the towns of Greenfield and Deerfield, by a mouth eighty yards broad. Neponset river rises from ponds in Norfolk county, and after uniting with other streams, forms a constant supply of water for the numerous mills situated on the river below, until it meets the tide at Milton, seven miles south of Boston, from whence it is navigable for vessels of 150 tons to Boston-bay.

The only capes of note on the coast of this state are Cape Ann on the north side of Massachusetts-bay, and Cape Cod on the south. The latter, so called from the amazing quantity of cod-fish which are found on its coast, extends far into the sea, and is remarkable for being the first land which was made by the first settlers of Plymouth on the American coast, in the year 1620. This cape forms Barnstable county, between seventy and eighty miles in

length, though the average breadth is not above six miles; the whole county is almost an island. The principal bays on the coast of Massachusetts are Boston, Ipswich, Ply mouth, Barnstable, and Buzzard's bays.

There are several islands dependent on this state, the principal of which are Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Chabaquaddick. Nantucket lies south of Cape Cod, and is fifteen miles in length and eleven in breadth, with a population of nearly 7,000. The inhabitants are a robust and enterprising race, chiefly seamen and mechanics; and those employed in the whale fishery are said to be superior to all others; the island being sandy and barren, is calculated only for such people as are willing to depend almost entirely on the ocean for subsistence. The people are mostly of the society of Friends, and are warmly attached to their island; few wishing to remove to a more desirable situation. This island forms a county of itself, by the same name, and is represented in the state legislature. Martha's Vineyard, Chabaquaddick, and five other small islands adjoining, were discovered in 1602, by Bartholomew Gosnold; to the latter group he gave the name of Elizabeth isles, in honour of queen Elizabeth. The whole now form Duke's county, which is twenty miles in length and four in breadth, and contains 3,290 inhabitants. Edgarton is the chief town, between which and Falmouth on the main land a good ferry is established, the distance being nine miles. The county is full of people, who like their neighbours in Nantucket, subsist principally by fishing; they also send representatives to the general assembly of the state. The other islands of consideration lie in Massachusetts-bay, which is agreeably diversified by about forty of various sizes; several of which are within the jurisdiction of the town of Boston, and taxed along with it.

Mountains, minerals, and curiosities.-The western part of this state swells out into mountains, some of which are of very considerable height. Wachuset mountain, in Worcester county, is at its top 2,989 feet above the level of the sea, and may be seen in a clear day at the distance of seventy miles. That range of hills which is terminated in New Hampshire by a very high peak called Monadnock, runs through Massachusetts, where it takes the name of Chicabee mountain. Another ridge rises near Hopkinton,

in Middlesex county, and passing north by Watertown and Concord, crosses Merrimack river, and in New Hampshire swells into several high summits, of which the White mountains are the principal.

Several kinds of minerals have been discovered in this state, particularly iron ore, which is found in vast quantities in various places, but more especially at Plymouth, fortytwo miles distant from Boston. Copper ore has been dug at Leverett, in the county of Hampshire, and at Attleborough, in Bristol county; and mines of black lead are worked at Brimfield, in Hampshire, and the neighbouring places. Alum slate, or stone, has been found in some parts; also ruddle, or red earth, which serves to mark sheep, &c. and is used as a ground colour for priming, instead of Spanish brown. There are marble quarries at Byfield, in the county of Essex, and other places in the state; and that wonderful production the asbestos, or incombustible cotton, has likewise been discovered. There are mineral springs in Essex and Norfolk counties, and at Cambridge; but none of them are much frequented by valetudinarians.

In Adams township, Berkshire, is a great natural curiosity. A pretty mill stream, called Hudson's-brook, which rises in Vermont, and falls into Hoosuck river, has, for about eighty yards, formed a channel sixty feet deep, through a quarry of white marble. Over this channel some of the rocks remain, forming a natural bridge, from the top of which to the water is sixty-two feet; its length is about fourteen, and its breadth ten feet. Partly under this bridge, and about ten feet below it, is another, which is wider, but not so long; for at the east end they form one body of rock, about twelve feet thick, and under this the water flows. It is evident, from the appearance of the rocks, that the water has formerly flowed forty feet at least above its present bed. A little above the bridge is a cave, which has a convenient entrance at the north, and a passage out at the east; from the west side of this cave a chasm extends into the hill, but it soon becomes too narrow to pass.

Aspect of the country, climate, soil, and produce.— Massachusetts, like the other New England states, is high and hilly, and the face of the country strikingly diversified. The coast on the east side is indented with bays and inlets, and studded with numerous islands, which afford ample harbours for shipping, and support a hardy race of sailors

and fishermen. Towards the middle of the state the surface is agreeably uneven, and the whole is well watered with many rivers and springs; many of the former are of the utmost importance to the inhabitants, by the ready and easy carriage they afford for their different articles of produce.

The climate of Massachusetts is salubrious and healthy; though the winters are often long and severe, commencing in November, and ending in March or April; but of late years, since the country has become more cultivated, a considerable improvement in the seasons has taken place; winter beginning later, and spring earlier than formerly. Towards the west, the winters are colder than on the coast; but the weather is more steady, and the whole conducive to health: throughout the state, the spring season is short, the summer and autumn delightful.

The soil of this state is extremely various, and may be found from the very worst to the very best. Near the seacoast it is sandy and barren; but in the interior it improves, and in the western parts, where the country is hilly, it is best adapted for grazing. Wheat crops in general are not abundant; but it produces vast quantities of Indian corn, rye, barley, and oats. The average produce of the good lands, well cultivated, may be taken at forty bushels of Indian corn on an acre, thirty of barley, twenty of wheat, thirty of rye, 100 of potatoes. Vegetables and fruit come to great perfection, and are of much value to the inhabitants. Apples, pears, peaches, plums, and cherries grow in profusion; but it has been observed that the effects of the east wind extend farther inland than formerly, and injure the tender fruits, particularly the peach, and even the more hardy apple. Flax and hemp are cultivated, and hops grow luxuriantly. The counties of Barnstable, Duke's, Nantucket, Bristol, and Plymouth, are, in point of soil, the poorest parts of the state, being generally sandy and light, interspersed, however, with many tracts of excellent land. The northern, middle and western districts are certainly much superior; having, generally speaking, a strong good soil, very similar to that of New Hampshire and Vermont on one side, and to the soil of Rhode Island and Connecticut on the other. The staple commodities of this state are provisions, timber, ashes, flax-seed, iron, spirits, &c.

Civil divisions, towns, population, religion, character, &c.-Massachusetts is divided into fourteen counties, and

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