forty-eight miles wide, and incloses Fox, Haut, Long, and Deer islands, besides a number of small isles and rocks. On a fine peninsula in this bay the British built a fort, and made a settlement, which is now the shire town of the county of Hancock, and is a very commodious place for the lumber trade. Broad-bay is situated about twelve miles westwardly, and lies on the line of Lincoln and Hancock counties; being bounded by Pleasant-point on the east, and Pemaquid-point on the west, the latter of which projects considerably into the sea. Casco-bay lies between Cape Elizabeth and Cape Small-point, and averages twenty-five miles in width by fourteen in length; it forms the entrance into Sagadahok river, and has sufficient depth of water for vessels of any burden. This is a very handsome bay, and contains not less than 300 small islands, some of which are inhabited, and nearly all more or less cultivated; the land on these islands, and on the opposite coast, being the best for agriculture of any near the sea-shore of this country. Wells-bay, in York county, lies between Capes Porpoise and Neddick, which are twenty-one miles apart. Besides the bays here described, there are Saco, Machias, and Passmaquoddy, the latter of which separates the British province of New Brunswick from the United States. The lakes, or rather ponds, are, Sabago pond, twenty miles north-west of Falmouth, Massachusetts; Cobbesconte ponds, in Kennebeck county; Mousom ponds, in York county, and a few others.

It

The whole interior of the country is watered by many large and small rivers, the principal of which are Penobscot, which empties into the bay of that name, and is navigable to the falls, about forty miles from the sea. rises from some ponds in the centre of the country, and in its course encloses above sixty islands, making in the whole about 12,000 acres of land. Kennebeck is a fine river, and has two sources, one from lake Megantic, in the highlands, which divides Canada from the United States, the other from Moosehead lake, in Lincoln county, Maine. In its course it receives Sandy river from the west, and Sebastacook and several others from the east, and passes to the sea by cape Small-point. It is navigable for vessels of 150 tons forty miles from its mouth. Androscoggin river is properly the main western brauch of the Kennebeck, and rises in lake Umbagog, New Hampshire; from thence its course is southerly till it approaches near to the White mountains, from which it receives Moose and Peabody rivers. It then turns to the east and south-east

through Maine, and passing within two miles of the seacoast, wheels to the north, and running over Pejepshaeg falls into Merry-meeting bay, forms a junction with the Kennebeck twenty miles from the sea, and 146 from its source. From this bay to the sea, the confiuent stream was formerly called Sagadahok. Saco river rises in the White mountains, and running through New Hampshire into Maine, then makes a great bend to the north-east, east, and south-west, nearly surrounding the pleasant township of Fryburgh, in York county; its course thence to the sea is about fifty miles north-east. Great and Little Ossapee rivers fall into it from the west, making a great addition to the original stream, on the branches of which, as well as upon the main river, are a great many mills and other valuable works. The Saco is navigable up to the falls, six miles from the sea. Besides these are a number of smaller rivers, among which are, Stevens's, Presumscut, and Royal rivers, all running into Casco-bay. Kennebunk and Mousum rivers extend some distance into the country, and fall into Wells-bay. York river runs up seven or eight miles, and has a tolerable harbour for vessels under 200 tons. Sheepscut is navigable thirty miles, and falls into the ocean at the same mouth with Kennebeck; on this river is an excellent port called Wiscasset, and at the head of navigation is Newcastle. Pemaquid and Damariscotta are small rivers; the former has a beautiful harbour, but is not navigable above its mouth.

Climate, face of country, soil and produce.-The winters are long and severe, with clear settled weather, which generally continues from the middle of December till the latter end of March; during which time the ponds and fresh water rivers are passable on the ice. There is scarcely any spring season; the summer is short, and extremely warm; but autumn is in general pure, healthy, and pleasant. The elevation of the lands, the purity of the air, the limpid streams, which abundantly water this district, and the regularity of the weather, all unite to render this one of the healthiest countries in the world: many of the inhabitants attain the age of ninety years.

The district of Maine, though an elevated tract of country, cannot be called mountainous; there being no eminence deserving the name of mountain, except Agamenticus, eight miles from York harbour, which is a noted land-mark for seamen, and a good directory for

the entry of Piscataqua harbour. The land on the seacoast, particularly about Casco-bay, is level and sandy, and the soil thin and poor; but there are many tracts of good land in the interior which produce grain and fruits, and the country is remarkably well suited for grazing. Throughout this district there is a greater proportion of dead swamps, than in any other part of the eastern states. The tract lying between Passmaquoddy and Penobscot rivers is white pine land, of a strong moist soil, with some mixture of oaks, white ash, birch, and other trees; and the interior parts are interspersed with beech ridges. The whole of Maine may naturally be considered in three divisions, containing nearly 12,500,000 acres of arable and pasture land. The first, comprehending the tract lying east of Penobscot river, of about 4,500,000 acres; the second, and best tract, of about 4,000,000 acres, lying between Penobscot and Kennebeck rivers; the third, which was first settled and is the most populous at present, west of Kennebeck river, comprising also about 4,000,000

acres.

The soil of this country, in general, where it is properly fitted to receive the seed, appears to be friendly to the growth of Indian corn, rye, barley, oats, peas, hemp, and flax, as well as to the production of almost all kinds of culinary roots and plants, provided the seed be procured from a more northern climate; wheat is also grown, but not in large quantities. Hops grow spontaneously; but it is not yet certain whether fruit trees will prosper in the northern and eastern portions of the district: in the counties of Cumberland and York, apples, pears, plums, peaches, and cherries are plentiful, and much cider and perry is made in the southern and western parts. The inhabitants raise excellent potatoes in profusion, which are often used as a substitute for bread. The lands, for the most part, are easily cleared, having very little underwood. The natural productions consist of white pine and spruce trees in large quantities, suitable for masts, boards, and shingles. Maple, beech, white and grey oak, and yellow birch, are the growth of this country; the birch. is a large tree, used for cabinet work, and takes a polish little inferior to mahogany. The clay lands produce fir, but the timber of this tree is of little use, not even for fuel; it however yields a balsam that is highly esteemed. Iron, copperas, sulphur, and ochres have been found in several parts of this district, and iron works have been long established.

Civil divisions, towns, population, religion, and character. The district of Maine is divided into eight counties, and 288 townships, containing 228,705 inhabitants; being about seven individuals to each square mile. In the following table will be found the names of the counties, with their chief towns and population :

Counties. Townships. Population. Chief Towns & Population. Cumberland......24.........42,831......... Portland, 7,169

Hancock ......

76..... .30,031.. ..Castine, 1,036

Kennebeck .33. .......32,564........Augusta, 1,805 Lincoln............36.. ....42,992........ Wiscasset, 2,083

Washington

.37.........17,630.....

.Paris, 1,320

..37........12,910.........Norridgwock, 880

.24.... .... 7,870.... .Machias, 1,570

Oxford.......

- Somerset.

York ...

.21.

.........

.41,877......... York, 3,046

228,705

Portland, the shire town of Cumberland county, is the capital of the district of Maine; it is situated on a promontory in Casco-bay, 580 miles from Washington, and 115 from Boston, and was formerly a part of Falmouth, from which it was separated in 1786. It has an excellent, safe, and capacious harbour, and the inhabitants carry on a considerable foreign trade, build ships, and are largely concerned in the fishery. It is one of the most thriving commercial towns in the commonwealth of Massachusetts; and although three-fourths of it was laid in ashes by the British fleet in 1775, it has since been rebuilt, and is now a place of wealth and importance. Among its public buildings are three churches, two for congre gationalits, and one for episeopalians, and a handsome court-house.

York, the chief town of York county, stands upon a river of the same name, and is situated 535 miles from Washington, and seventy-five from Boston. The river is navigable for vessels of 250 tons; but little shipping business is done at present, except that a small fishery is supported. A great variety of fish frequent the rivers and shores near this place, and on a summer evening one may stand upon the rocks of the shore, and catch them in the sea with an angling rod and a yard or two of line. About a mile from the mouth of York river, a wooden bridge has been erected, 272 feet long, exclusive of the

• Since the above division was made, Penobscot county, taken chiefly from the county of Hancock, has been added to the number: Bangor is at present the seat of justice.

wharfs at each end, and twenty-five feet wide: the model of Charles river bridge, at Boston, was taken from this.

Augusta, the chief town of Kennebeck county, has a congregational meeting-house, court-house, and jail, and is pleasantly situated on each side the river Kennebeck, at the head of navigation; a noble bridge connects the two parts of the town.

Wiscasset, formerly Pownalborough, the principal town of Lincoln county, is a port of entry on the west side of Sheepscut river, and is distant from Boston 160 miles. It contains one congregational church and only about 160 houses; but has a greater navigation, in proportion to its size and number of inhabitants, than any port belonging to Massachusetts. A gazette is published here, and the county courts are held in the town: a bank was. established in 1802.

Machias, the seat of justice in Washington county, is a port of entry, situated on a bay of its own name, twenty miles south-west of Passmaquoddy, the most easterly town of the United States, and is distant 812 miles from Washington, and 350 from Boston. It is a thriving place, and carries on a considerable trade to the West Indies and to Boston, in fish, lumber, &c.; a regular post between this town and Halifax, in Nova Scotia, has been established. The town is divided into four districts for the support of schools, and into two for the convenience of public worship. In 1792, Washington academy was established here, and is. supported by a township of land, granted by the legislature for that purpose.

Bangor, the chief town of the new county of Penobscot, is situated on the western side of Penobscot river, thirtyseven miles from its mouth, and is distant from Portland 118 miles, and from Boston 240. This town contains a number of handsome houses, with about 900 inhabitants, and promises to be a place of consequence; it stands at the head of navigation, and vessels of 200 tons burden may come up to it with safety.

Castine, Norridgwock, Paris, Belfast, Berwick, Biddeford, Scarborough, Wells, and Brunswick, are all considerable and thriving towns. The latter contains a college, which is in a flourishing state, under a president and a professor of languages. In support of this seminary, the legislature has given six townships, and the Hon. J. Bowdoin lands and money to the amount of 10,000 dollars: it is called after him Bowdoin College. Brunswick is distant. from Washington 608, and from Boston 146 miles.

The religion of the people in the district of Maine iş