20 miles from the coast the hills subside, and the quality of the soil becomes much inferior to that of the mountain valleys. The tracts on the margins of the great rivers. however, are equal in richness and fertility to any in the New-England States.

It is estimated that about one-tenth of this state is covered with water. The principal rivers are the Penobscot and the Kennebec, both of which are upwards of 250 miles long, but navigable for no great distance from the ocean. Next in size and importance to these is the Androscoggin, which has numerous falls, affording favorable sites for manufacturing purposes. The Saco and Sheepscot are also considerable streams. The largest lake is

the Moosehead, which is 50 miles long, and 10 to 12 broad. The Umbagog is 18 miles long and 10 broad. There are numerous smaller lakes in other portions of the state, and many are surrounded with beautiful and picturesque scenery. The sea-coast, which is 210 miles in extent, has several excellent bays and harbors. Penobscot Bay and Casco are magnificent, and of great dimensions, and may be reckoned as equal to any in the Union. The tides rise to a great height along all the coast.

The climate of this state is one of extremes. The average range of the thermometer during the year is about 125° Fahr., the heat of summer often marking 96° or 98°, while in winter the temperature sinks to 25° and 27° below zero. These are extremes, and are never of long continuance. The season of vegetation commences about the middle of April, and ends with September, when the fall sets in and is succeeded by a long winter.

Maine is divided into thirteen counties, and contained, in 1850, a popu lation of 583,088, or one person to every 36 acres. The inhabitants are chiefly settled near the Atlantic coast, the northern portions of the state being, as yet, a wilderness, and scarcely less so than when first trod by the white man. The population of the counties is exhibited in the following

The number of families in the state, in 1850, was 103,787, and hence there were 5.6 persons to each family; and at the same date there were 95,797 dwelling-houses, which contained, on the average, 6.1 persons each. These proportions are nearly uniform throughout the counties. The mortality in the year 1849-50 amounted to 7,545 deaths, or one death to every 77 persons. In Aroostook the rate of mortality was only one death in each 109 persons, while in Cumberland it was as high as one in every 59 persons, being there at its maximum.

Agriculture and commerce are the prominent branches of industry in this state. About three fourths of the whole population derive their support from the former pursuit. Mining and manufactures are rather incidental than proper occupations. Considerable numbers are engaged in navigation and the fisheries.

Agriculture is here pursued with much care, and the farmers, generally, are thrifty, and in some cases wealthy. Cattle and sheep are now raised in large numbers, and the crops, though not so profuse as in the valley of the Ohio, are very fair and of excellent quality. Sometimes, however, the grain suffers from the shortness of the season, and this is especially the case with Indian corn. The live stock consists of some 65,000 horses and mules, 400,000 neat cattle, 750,000 sheep, and 200,000 swine, with an abundance of poultry. Oats and Indian corn form the largest crops, and next in amount are those of wheat, barley, and rye. The wheat crop is about 400,000 bushels annually. Potatoes are planted widely, but the crop is not so large as formerly, being now only about 8,000,000 against 10,000,000 bushels in 1840. Perhaps 800,000 tons of hay are cured in the season. The products of the forest are large, but the orchard and garden yield comparatively little to the general stock. The number of farms, in 1850, was 46,760.

Mining is chiefly confined to the production of building materials, lime, &c. Mining for metals is scarcely known, and employs but few persons. The whole number of manufacturing establishments, in 1850, was 3,682, besides which a considerable number of small manufactories, not enumerated, existed, and household industry was largely productive of domestic fabrics, &c. Some few cotton mills, several paper mills, numerous tanneries, brick fields, &c., with furnaces, rope-walks, lime-kilns, carriage factories, and mills of various descriptions, give employment to about 20,000 persons. Ship building is also carried on to a great extent, and in this respect Maine is the first state of the Union. The capital invested in manufactures may be estimated at twelve millions of dollars.

The commerce and navigation of Maine is chiefly confined to coasting and fishing, and a trade in lumber, lime, and a few other staple articles. There is little or no intercourse between the ports of this state and the countries of Europe. The value of commerce with foreign states for the year ending 30th June, 1850, amounted to $2,413,323; viz., value of exports, $1,556,912, and of imports, $856,411. The tonnage employed in the foreign trade was as follows:

The total amount of shipping owned within the state was 510,421 tons, and of this 211,087 tons were engaged in coasting. The mercantile steam marine amounted to 5,580 tons. The quantity of shipping employed in the cod fisheries was 37,347 tons, and in the mackerel fisheries 12,249 tons.

During the year ending as above, 326 vessels, of an aggregate burden of 91,212 tons, were built in the state.

Maine has little transit trade, but the commerce between the ports and the interior is considerable. Transit trade, however, will enlarge when the system of railroads, now progressing, is completed. The Cumberland and Oxford Canal is the only work of the kind in the state, and is of purely local advantage. It was completed in 1829, and connects Portland with Sebago Pond, a distance of 20 miles, and by a lock in Songo river the navigation is extended to Brandy and Long Ponds, 31 miles farther. The canal is 34 feet wide at the surface, and 18 feet at the bottom; with 26 wooden locks. Its construction cost about $250,000. The railroads finished, progressing, and proposed, are numerous, and open up a large country. When completed to Montreal and Halifax, as designed, they will be of essential value to the interests of the state. The cost to complete the whole system as now proposed, is estimated at from $12.000,000 to $15,000,000. The lines completed and in progress, to 1850, were, the Portland, Saco, and Portsmouth Railroad, 51 miles long; the Boston and Maine Railroad (3 miles only in this state); the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad, from Portland to Montreal, 150 miles, (about 70 miles in Maine); the Androscoggin and Kennebec Railroad, 55 miles; the Kennebec and Portland Railroad, 68 miles; the York and Cumberland Railroad, from South Berwick to Portland, 52 miles; the Bangor and Oldtown Railroad, 11 miles; the Androscoggin Railroad, from Greene to Farmington, 37 miles; the Buckfield Branch Railroad, 13 miles; the Calais and Baring Railroad, 6 miles; the Machias Port Railroad, 8 miles; the Penobscot and Kennebec, 54 miles, &c. The following are the lines proposed, and which will probably be completed at an early date:-the Belfast and Waterville Railroad, 33 miles; the Kennebec and Franklin Railroad, 37 miles; the Somerset and Kennebec Railroad, 40 miles; the Penobscot, Lincoln, and Kennebec Railroad; the European and North American, from Bangor to Halifax (90 miles in Maine), &c.; and besides these there are some short and local roads, both completed, progressing, and contemplated.

At the commencement of 1850 there were 32 banks in this state, and according to the Bank Commissioner's Report, made in May, 1850, the capital of these amounted to $3,586,100, the circulation to $2,994,905, debts to other banks to $111,727, the deposits to $1,380,137, and profits undivided to $169,390-total liabilities, $8,251,260. The assets consisted of specie $630,296, real estate $102,570, bank notes $254,701, due from banks $813,232, and other assets, including loans and discounts, $6,450,450. The average rate of dividends was about 8 per centum.

Education in this state is respectably provided for. Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, is the oldest literary institution of the state, having been founded as early as 1794, and has been in operation since 1802. Among its alumni are many names that have obtained distinction in every department of life. It has 8 professors, 997 alumni, of which 176 are ministers, and in 1850 it had 104 students. The library contains 25,590 voluines. Waterville College, at Waterville, under the direction of the Baptists. was founded in 1820, and has now 5 professors, 267 alumni, of which 82 are ministers; and in 1850 it had 76 students. Its library numbers 8,100 volumes. The total expenses incurred by students during their studies amounts to about $150 per annum. The Maine Medical School at Brunswick was founded in 1820, and in 1850 counted 596 graduates. It had in that year 5 professors, and 74 students. There are also theological seminaries at Bangor and Redfield. The seminary at Bangor dates from 1816,

and is under the charge of the Congregationalists. In 1850 it had 3 professors and 37 students, and the number to which it had given education amounted to 202. The library has 7,000 volumes. The seminary at Redfield is under Wesleyan authority; it was founded in 1822. Academies and grammar schools are numerous, and common schools are found throughout the state. From the official school report, made up to the 1st April 1850, it appears that the number of persons between the ages of 4 and 21 years in the districts making returns, (about seven eighths of the whole) was 194,095; that the average attendance at the common schools was, in summer, 110.609, and in winter, 102,485. The number of school districts returned was 3,350, of school houses 3,063, and the average length of schools for the year was 19.2 weeks. These schools were taught by 5,989 persons, 2,454 males, and 3,535 females, and the average wages for teachers werefor males $16.66, and for females $5.84, per month. The amount raised by taxes for the support of common schools was $221,923.

There is a hospital for the insane, at Augusta, which is one of the most reputable establishments in the Union, and has accommodations for about 150 patients. During the year 1849-50, 253 patients were under treatment, 66 of which were recovered, and 22 improved; and on the 31st March of the latter year 136 remained in the hospital. The ordinary expense to patients is about $2.50 per week, and for this they have board, &c.

At Thomaston is the State Prison. During the year ending 30th April, 1850, 31 convicts were sent in. Of these 4 were committed for arson, 5 for burglary, 2 for forgery, 49 for larceny, 5 for murder, and 1 for passing spurious coin. These statistics, indicating the moral condition of the people, are very satisfactory, and exhibit a very small ratio of crime in relation to the population. Since the 2nd July, 1824, the date of the foundation of the establishment, 981 convicts had been received, or 27 per annum, on the average.

The Congregationalists, Baptists, and Methodists, are the numerically preponderating religious denominations in this state. The Universalists are also numerous, and of late years the Catholics have greatly increased in numbers. The Protestant Episcopalians, in point of numbers, rank low, as do also the Free-Will Baptists, Friends, and Unitarians.

The Constitution of Maine was adopted by a Convention held at Portland, on the 29th of October, 1819, and went into operation in 1820. The government consists of a governor, senate, and house of representatives. The governor is chosen by the people for one year. Seven councillors are also chosen annually, to assist and advise the governor. The house of representatives cannot have less than 100 nor more than 200 members, and the senate is limited between 20 and 31; both houses are elected annually. The qualifications for the above offices have merely reference to age and nativity. The right of voting is conceded to every male citizen of 21 years of age, who is not a pauper or criminal, and who has resided in the state three months previous to the election. Elections are taken by written ballot.

The judiciary of Maine consists of a Superior Court, three District Courts, and fourteen Courts of Probate, one for each county, except the county of Lincoln, which is divided. Portland, Bath and Bangor, have special municipal courts. All judicial officers are appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the council, and hold office for seven years after their appointment.

The militia of the state amounts to 44,665, of which number 39,256 are infantry, 1,456 cavalry, 2,028 artillery, and 1,925 riflemen. Shakers, Quakers, Judges and Ministers of the Gospel, are exempt from bearing arms,

The finances of the state are in a very flourishing condition. The receipts into the Treasury for the year ending 30th April, 1850,

Amounted to

$525,688

To which may be added balance in Treasury 30th April, 1846.

79,038

$604,726

Expenditures in 1849-50

478,802

.$125,924

Balance 30th April, 1850

The public debt, in 1846, amounted to $1,274,285, and in 1850, to $854,750; $419,535 having been paid in the interval. The annual interest on this sum is about $55,000, The resources of the state are set down at $860,781 11.

etc.

The principal sources of income are direct taxes, which, in 1849–50, amounted to $190,996-sale of public lands, school funds, county taxes, The principal items of expenditure are the redemption and interest of the public debt, salaries, education, charitable institutions, Indian annuities, pensions, and premiums to agricultural societies.

Maine was visited for the purposes of settlement as early as any of the New-England States, but, from various causes, the progress of improvement was much impeded. The French attempted to settle on the Kennebec as early as 1604. In 1697, Sir John Gilbert, under a grant from Queen Elizabeth, brought out a colony, which, however, returned after wintering at the mouth of the same river. They represented the country as a cold, barren, mountainous desert, which discouraged the English from making further efforts for some time. Meanwhile the French established themselves on the St. Croix, and the Dutch had a colony at New-Castle, which was under the jurisdiction of the New Netherlands. After the establishment of the Plymouth Company, more effectual efforts were made by the English to colonize this portion of their dominions; but, although some trading-houses were established near the Penobscot, no permanent settlement was made previous to 1635. In that year the Company granted a charter to Sir Ferdinand Gorges for the country between the Piscataqua and the Kennebec, and in his name the government was administered. In 1652, the province was made a county of Massachusetts, and called Yorkshire; but in 1665 it again fell into the hands of the heirs of Gorges, of whom it was ultimately purchased by Massachusetts, in 1677, for £1,200. At this period it was divided into two parts, of which Gorges' grant was one, and the country lying between the St. Croix and the Kennebec, known by the ancient French name of Acadie, was another. The whole country, however, was granted to Massachusetts in 1691.

From its first settlement to the middle of the 18th century, the inhabit ants suffered severely from the Indians. In 1675 almost the whole settlements were destroyed. From 1692 to 1702, the province presented an uniform scene of rapine and destruction. In 1720, the conflict was renewed, and the settlers suffered grievously until 1726, when a treaty was concluded with the Indians, which was observed for some years. Eventually the savages became reduced in number, and few now remain in the

state.

From the year 1791 until 1820, the history of Maine is merged in that of Massachusetts. We hear little of it in the Revolutionary War, or subsequently. In the last war, however, a portion of the state was obliged to