teeth, to the object bitten. But this snake is slow in his movement, and usually gives notice of his presence by a buzzing noise made with the rattles at the end of his tail. He lives among the rocks, and in summer descends into the meadows. It is remarkable that the lands which are covered with beech and maple trees, and contain no rocky precipices, are free from all large venomous serpents.

Of small reptiles and insects. The United States, in eommon with all warm and temperate climates, abound with small animals of the reptile and insect kinds. Few of them however are venomous; the honey bee is very useful, and in the mountains and hilly parts of the country, none of them are vexatious. Near swamps and marshes, the musketoes, and in some places, gnats, are extremely troublesome. In the flat lands in the Carolinas and Georgia, it is necessary for people to defend themselves at night against the musketoes, by surroun ding their beds with gauze curtains or pavilions.

Of the Locust and Grasshopper Locusts appear, in vast numbers, at particular times, and are supposed to be periodical; but in the United States they do little injury. Grasshoppers are seen every summer; but are harmless except in very dry seasons, when they multiply to an astonishing degree, and devour the grass, corn and other useful vegetables.

Of the Canker worm. In the northern and middle states, canker worms appear at certain times, in such numbers as to injure the apple tree. Their appearance seems to be periodical They are most destructive to trees on light, dry land-and seldom invade trees which stand on a stiff clay, or moist land. They are produced from an egg deposited on the trees by a miller, which comes from the earth and ascends the trees in

spring as soon as the frost is dissolved. To prevent

their ascent, it is usual to encircle the trees with tar, and this, if applied to a wisp or band of tow, around the trees, will not injure them. These worms feed till June, stripping the trees of their foliage-then suddenly disappear. They generally appear, for two, three or four years in succession.

Of other noxious insects. Caterpillars, of various species, appear, at times in such numbers as to be very destructive to fruit trees, and some forest trees. The rosebug and the slug also, in particular seasons, de great injury. A white worm, or grub, in some parts of the country devours the roots of the grass, and gives to the rich meadow and pasture the appearance of a barren heath A black worm occasionally invades the grass and corn in May, and June, and in such myriads as to lay waste the fields; and an insect has lately attacked the wheat. But although these and many other insects ravage at times particular places, or particular sorts of vegetation, yet our crops are usually rich and abundant.

SECTION XVIII.

MINES, MINERALS, STONES AND FOSSILS.

Of the Precious Metals.

WITHIN the United States, gold and silver ores have not been discovered in such quantities as to command attention; except recently in Cabarras county in North Carolina. A copper mine on the Pasaic, a few miles north of Newark in New-Jersey, has been wrought to advantage, and an association by the name of the Soho company, has been incorporated for the purpose of prosecuting the business. Great quantities of copper have also been found in the country bordering on Lake Superior.

Of Lead. A valuable lead mine has been wrought near the banks of the Kanhaway, in Virginia. One hundred pounds of ore are said to yield sixty of lead. Still more valuable mines have been discovered on the banks of the Missisippi, extending from the Rock River northward one hundred and fifty miles. In Louisana, near the Missorie, very rich mines of lead are wrought by a citizen of the United States.

Of Iron. Iron is found in many parts of the United States, as in Assowamset poud, in Middleborough, in Massachusetts-at Salisbury and Stafford in Connectieut-at Egg-Harbor and in Morris county, in New-Jer sey-on the Hudson in Columbia county and in other parts too numerous to be particularized. This valuable metal is cast into cannon, hollow ware, or pigs, and wrought into anchors, bars and nail rods. But our own mines and forges do not supply the consumption of the country, and large quantities of Swedish iron and steel in bars are imported from the Baltic

Of valuable Stones. The United States are furnished with inexhaustible quantitities of lime stone. A range of this stone extends from Connecticut, through the western towns of Massachusetts and Vermont, to the Missisko, more than two hundred miles, furnishing an abundance of lime. In some places it furnishes marble both white and clouded, of a good quality for the foundations of buildings, for steps, tomb stones and other uses. On the Schuylkill a few miles from Philadelphia, is found marble of a good quality which supplies the inhabitants with building stones, pieces for chimnies, hearths and tomb stones. Of this is built that large and handsome structure the bank of Pennsylvania. Many other parts of this country abound with marble and limestone. Kentucky is underspread with limestone, and a body of it runs through North Carolina. Of Free Stone and Slate. Free stone suitable for the foundation of buildings abounds in various parts of America, as at Chatham, East-Hartford, Branford and East-Havon in Connecticut, and on the banks of the Passaic in New-Jersey. Slate has been found in various places, and on the east bank of the Hudson, above Fishkill, a quarry of it is wrought with success; great quantities of slate of a good kind and suitable for covering buildings, being sent to market from this quarry,

Of Fossil, Coal and Peat. Coal for fuel is furnished by the United States, in the greatest abundance. A mine on the Powhattan river, in Virginia, is now wrought and coal of the best quality is sent from it to various parts of the United States. On the Susquehanna-on

the Ohio-near Pittsburgh, and in Kentucky, are vast beds of this fuel, destined hereafter to furnish our fires when wood shall fail. Peat is found at Newtown, on Long-Island, at Norwalk, Fairfield, Woodbridge and Hambden in Connecticut; and already begins to be used by the inhabitants, and exported to New-York. It is also found in other parts of the United States.

Of other Fossils and Minerals Isingglass, black lead, allum, ocher, soap-stone, sulphur, marl, chalk. and antimony have been found in the United States. But the natural history of North America, more especially its mineral productions, have yet been little investigated. Doubtless many mineral substances, constituting a vast body of natural riches, remain yet undiscovered in the bosom of mountains; but which, when labor shall be cheaper, the study of mineralogy pursued with more ardor, and the wants of our people more pressing, will be found and converted to useful purposes.

Of Mineral Springs. Numerous mineral springs have already been discovered in the United States. At Stafford in Connecticut is a spring whose waters possess chalybeate properties, and are valued for their effects in scorbutic and rheumatie cases. The warm spring at Lebanon in the State of New-York, is remarkable for the quantity and temperature of the water it discharges-Its temparature is marked by 71° of Farenheit, which renders it a pleasant bath The effects of its waters in curing scorbutic and rheumatic affections, have rendered it a place of resort during the summer months.

Of the Springs at Saratoga and Balltown. The springs at Saratoga and Balltown are numerous, and their waters possess strong mineral properties. Some of them are powerful chalybeates-and others contain solutions of salt, from which is manufactured purgative salt equal to any imported. These springs are places of great resort in summer, and their waters are found very beneficial in bilious complaints, indigestions and visceral obstructions.

Of other Springs. In the town of Phelps, sixteen miles north of the Seneka Lake, is a spring so strongly

impregnated with sulphur, that its waters deposit large quantities of that substance on the earth in their channel. The salt springs near the Onondago lake, are numerous, and contain such a portion of salt in solution that it is easily obtained by evaporation; and sufficient quantities are there made to supply all the interior of the state of New-York-indeed the quantity that may be made is unlimited. In Virginia and Georgia are medicinal springs of high reputation, and in Kentucky, salt springs are found to supply the western states with the necessary article of salt. Similar springs are found in other parts of the western country.

SECTION XIX.

PRSSENT CONDITION OF THE UNITED STATES,

Especially in regard to their Political, Civil, Commercial and Economical state.

Of the Division of the Territory of the United States.

THE territory of the United States is divided, for the purposes of government, into states or commonwealths; and into districts subject to the ordinances of congress. The states are seventeen; fourteen of which lie chiefly on the east and south of the great ridge of mountains which divide the waters of the Atlantic rivers from the tributary streams of the Missisippi, the Iroquois and the Lakes-and three states lie westward of the same ridge. Thirteen of these states were formed during the revolution, from colonies whose bounds had been defined by charters, or settled by agreement or authority, while subject to the British crown. The other four have been formed and received into the union, since the establishment of independence. Of the Names of the States. The Atlantic states are, New-Hampsire, Vermont, Massachusetts, RhodeIsland, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsyl