moderate Calvinism, that is, congregationalists and baptists; although episcopacy was established by their first charter: they are candid, tolerant, and catholic towards those of other persuasions. In their general character there is no difference from that of their neighbours in the adjoining states; unless they be still more robust and hardy. Placed in the same circumstances, they are like them, a brave, enterprising, industrious, and hospitable people; and, in general, benevolent and humane. The males are early taught the use of the firelock; and from the frequent practice of fowling, become excellent marksmen. A great majority of the inhabitants living in a state of comfortable independence, the traveller is sure to find a home in every dwelling; for their kindness to strangers is proverbial. And as their manners are plain, simple, and unpolished, casual visitors are received and entertained among them with much artless sincerity, and in the true spirit of hospitality.

Trade and manufactures.-The principal exports of this country are various kinds of lumber, such as pine boards, ship timber, and every species of split lumber made from pine and oak, dried fish, and a few other articles; these are exported from the different ports, in immense quantities. From the first settlement of Maine, about the year 1625, until 1774, the inhabitants followed the lumber trade, which afforded an immediate profit; but by this means they neglected agriculture, and were under the necessity of importing large quantities of Indian corn and other grain, without which it was then supposed the inabitants could not have subsisted. But the revolutionary war, by rendering these resources uncertain, taught the people their true interest, to wit, the cultivation of their lands, which, at a little distance from the sea, are well adapted for raising grain, enough of which is now produced for home consumption. Their wool and flax are very good, and almost every family makes linen and woollen cloth, and farming utensils of all kinds for their own use. The butter made in this district is preferred to that made in any of the New England states, owing to the goodness of the grass, which is here very sweet and juicy.

Constitution. At the time of the United States becoming independent, this district was in some measure incorporated with Massachusetts, by virtue of a charter from

king William and queen Mary, dated in 1692. It has as yet continued in the same connection, and therefore its constitution is the same with that state; but the separation of Maine from Massachusetts, and its erection into an independent government, have been subjects often publicly discussed by the inhabitants in town meetings, by appointment of the legislature. In February, 1816, in consequence of numerous memorials from individuals and townships in the district of Maine, the legislature of Massachusetts directed that the citizens of Maine should assemble in town and district meetings, on the 20th of May, 1816, and give their opinions, by written yeas and nays, on this question, "Shall the legislature be, requested to give its consent to the separation of the district of Maine from Massachusetts proper, and to the erection of said district into a separate state?"

Meetings were accordingly held, and the votes were, for separation, 10,584; against it, 6,491: total, 17,075. At the same time, the number of legal voters in the district was 37,938. In consequence of this vote, the legislature, by an act of June 20, of the same year, gave its consent to a separation, on certain conditions; one of which was, that of the votes to be again given as before on the ques-. tion of separation, on the 1st Monday of September, "a majority of five to four at least," should be in favour of separation. The same act provided for the choice, on the same day of September, of delegates to a convention to be held on the last Monday of said month, who were directed to sort and count the votes; and if the requisite majority should be found, were empowered to form a state constitution.

The convention assembled accordingly; and found the whole number of the votes, excepting some which were irregularly returned, was 22,316; of which 11,969 were for separation, and 10,347 against it. Finding this result, the convention addressed a memorial to the legislature, praying its consent to a separation; and then adjourned to the 17th of December.

This memorial, with numerous remonstrances, was presented to the legislature at its November session, and committed to a committee, whose report concluded with the following resolutions: "That the contingency upon which the consent of Massachusetts was to be given, for the separation of the district of Maine, has not happened: and that the powers of the convention to take any measures tending to that event have ceased. And that it is not expedient for the present general court to adopt any

further measures in regard to the separation of the distriet of Maine."

In consequence of the above decision, this important section of the Union still remains annexed to Massachusetts; the people of which are by no meaus friendly to a separation, as they possess between eight and nine millions of acres in the district, which brings annually into their treasury about £270,000 currency; but from the great extent of Maine, its increasing population, (which, before the last census, had doubled in sixteen years,) and general improvement, there is no doubt of its shortly becoming an independent state, with a separate government.

History. In the year 1607, an endeavour was made to settle a colony in this country, under captain Popham; but the measure having failed, no further attempts were made until between the years 1620 and 1630. Six years after this, courts were held at Saco and other places, of which some records are extant; from these it appears, that the courts acted both in a legislative and a judicial capacity. They proceeded in a summary method, attending more to substance than form, making the laws of England their general rule.

In 1635, sir Ferdinando Gorges obtained a grant from. the council of Plymouth, of the tract of country between the rivers Piscataqua and Sagadahok, which is the mouth of Kennebeck; and up Kennebeck, so far as to form a square of 120 miles: it is supposed that sir Ferdinando first instituted government in this province. Four years afterwards, he obtained from the crown a charter of the soil and jurisdiction, containing as ample. powers, perhaps, as the king of England ever granted to any subject. In the same year, he appointed a governor and council, and they administered justice to the settlers until about the year 1647, when, hearing of the death of Gorges, they supposed their authority at an end, and the people on the spot unanimously combined, and agreed to be under civil government, and to select their officers annually. Government was administered in this form until 1652, when the inhabitants submitted to the authority of Massachusetts; the people of which, by a new construction of their charter, granted to Rosswell and others, in 1628, claimed the soil and jurisdiction of the province of Maine, as far as the middle of Casco-bay. Maine then first took the name of Yorkshire, county courts were held in the same manner as in Massachusetts, and the towns had liberty to send their deputies to the general court at Boston.

In 1664, Charles II. granted to his brother, the duke of York, all that part of New England which lies between St. Croix and Pemaquid rivers, on the sea-coast, and up Pemaquid river, and from the head thereof to Kennebeck river, and thence the shortest course to the St. Lawrence; this was called the duke of York's property, and annexed to the government of New York. The duke, on the death of his brother, became James II. and upon James's abdication, these lands reverted to the crown. Upon the restoration of Charles II., the heirs of sir Ferdinando Gorges complained to the British government of the Massachusetts usurpation; and in 1665 the king's commissioners, who visited New England, came to the province of Maine, and appointed magistrates and other officers, independent of Massachusetts. The magistrates, thus appointed, administered government until about the year 1668, when the Massachusetts general court sent down commissioners, and opposed the authority of the king's officers. At this time public affairs were in great confusion, some declaring for the heirs of Gorges and the king's magistrates, and others for Massachusetts; the latter, however, prevailed, and courts of pleas and criminal matters were held as in other parts of Massachusetts.

About the year 1674, the heirs of Gorges complained again to the king and council of the usurpation of Massachusetts, and the rulers of that province were called upon to answer for their conduct. The result was, they ceased for a time to exercise their jurisdiction, and Gorges, grandson of Ferdinando, sent over instructions. But in 1677, the people of Massachusetts, by their agent, John Usher, Esq. purchased the right and interest of the patent for £1,200 sterling. They now supposed that they had both the jurisdiction and the soil, and therefore governed according to the charter of Maine until 1684, when the Massachusetts charter was vacated. In 1691, by charter from William and Mary, the province of Maine, and the large territory eastward, bordering on Nova Scotia, was incorporated with Massachusetts.

This country, from its first settlement, has been greatly harassed by the Indians; in the year 1675, all the settlements were in a manner broken up and destroyed. From about 1692 till 1702, was one continued scene of killing, burning, and destroying; and the inhabitants suffered much for several years preceding and following the year 1724. Even so late as 1748, persons were killed and captivated by the Indians in many of the towns next the sea. Since this period, the inhabitants have lived unmolested,

and all danger of Indian warfare is for ever at an end. Few parts of the Union are in a more rapid state of improvement than the district of Maine; public roads have been opened throughout the country, agriculture is well attended to, and cattle are raised in great numbers. The population has increased so rapidly within the last thirty years, and such is the growing importance of the people, that their political separation from Massachusetts is an event that may be daily expected.

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

Situation, Boundaries, and Extent.

RHODE ISLAND, the smallest of the United States, is situated between 41° 22′ and 42° N. lat. and 5° and 5° 50′ E. long. It is bounded on the north and east by Massachusetts; south, by the Atlantic ocean; and west, by Connecticut; these limits comprehend what is called Rhode Island and Providence plantations, which together constitute the state of Rhode Island. Its greatest length from north to south is forty-eight, and its greatest breadth from east to west forty-two miles; forming an area of 1,500 square miles, or 960,000 acres.

Bays, harbours, islands, and rivers.-Narraganset-bay runs up from south to north between the main laud on the east and west, and encompasses many beautiful and fertile islands; the principal of which are Rhode Island, Canonicut, Prudence, Patience, Hope, Dyer's, and Hog islands. The chief harbours of this state are Newport, Wickford, Warren, Bristol, and Greenwich, besides Providence and Patuxet, the latter is near the mouth of Patuxet river, which falls into Providence river. This fine bay, which affords a great variety of fish, with abundance of oysters and lobsters, is thirty-three miles in length, and, towards Newport, about twelve in breadth; its banks are covered with handsome settlements, and there are a number of pretty little towns, the view of which from the water has a most pleasing effect. Rhode Island is thirteen miles long and four miles wide, and is divided into three townships, Newport, Portsmouth, and Middleton. Perhaps no island in the world exceeds this in point of soil, climate, and situation; and it is celebrated for its beautiful women.

In