where General Marian distinguished himself, and where the brave Colonel Washington was wounded and taken prisoner.

Lord Cornwallis, finding General Green successful in Carolina, marched to Virginia, collected his forces, and fortified himself in Yorktown. In the mean time, Arnold made an incursion into Connecticut, burnt a part of NewLondon, took Fort Griswold by storm, and put the garrison to the sword. This garrison consisted' chiefly of men suddenly collected from the little town of Groton, which by the savage cruelty of the British officer, who commanded the attack, lost, in one hour, almost all its heads of families. The brave Colonel Ledyard, who commanded the fort, was slain with his own sword, after he had surrendered.

The Marquis de la Fayette, a brave and generous nobleman, whose services demand the gratitude of every American, had been despatched from the main army to watch the motions of Lord Cornwallis in Virginia,

About the last of August, Count de Grasse arrived with a large fleet in the Chesapeak, and blocked up the British troops at Yorktown. Admiral Greaves, with a British fleet appeared off the capes, and an action succeeded, but it was not decisive.

General Washington had, before this time, moved the main body of his army, together with the French troops, to the southward; and as soon as he heard of the arrival of the French fleet in the Chesapeak, he made rapid marches to the head of the Elk, where, embarking, the troops soon arrived at Yorktown.

A close siege immediately commenced, and was carried on with such vigor, by the combined forces of America and France, that Lord Cornwallis was obliged to surrender. This glorious event which happened on the 19th of October, 1781, decided the contest in favor of America, and laid the foundation of a general peace. A few months after the surrender of Cornwallis, the British evacuated all their posts in South Carolina and Georgia, and retired to the main army in New-York.

The next spring, 1782, Sir Guy Carleton arrived in New-York, and took command of the British army in America. Immediately after his arrival, he acquainted

General Washington and Congress, that negociations for a peace had commenced at Paris.

On the 30th of November, 1782, the provisional articles of peace were signed at Paris; by which Great Britain acknowledged the independence and sovereignty of the United States of America.

Thus ended a long and arduous conflict, in which Great Britain expended near an hundred millions of money, with an hundred thousand lives, and won nothing. The United States endured great cruelty and distress from their enemies; lost many lives and much treasure; but finally delivered themselves from a foreign dominion, and gained a rank among the nations of the earth.

From the conclusion of the war to the establishment of the New Constitution of Government, in 1788, the inhabitants of the United States suffered many embarrasments from the extravagant importation of foreign luxuries; from paper money; and particularly from the weakness and other defects of the general government.

In the summer of 1787, delegates from the several states met in convention at Philadelphia, chose General Washington their president, and framed the present constitution of the United States, which was afterwards ratified by the several states.

On the 3d of March, 1789, the new congress assembled at New-York, where a convenient and elegant building had been prepared for their accomodation. On opening and counting the votes for President, it was found that GEORGE WASHINGTON was unanimously elected to that dignified office, and that JOHN ADAMS was chosen Vice-President.

On the 30th of April, 1789, GEORGE WASHINGTON was inaugurated PRESIDENT of the United States of America in the city of New York. The ceremony was perform ed in the open gallery of Federal Hall, in the view of many thousand spectators. The oath was administered by chancellor LIVINGSTON. Several circumstances concurred to render the scene unusually solemn; the presence of the beloved Father and Deliverer of his Country; the impressions of gratitude for his past services; the vast concourse of spectators; the devout fervency with which he repeated the oath, and the reverential manner in which he

bowed to kiss the sacred volume; these circumstances, together with that of his being chosen to the most dignified office in America, and, perhaps, in the world, by the unanimous voice of more than three millions of enlightened freemen, all conspired to place this among the most august and interesting scenes, which have ever been exhibited on this globe.

General Washington continued in this office till the 3d of March, 1797; and was then succeeded by that venerable patriot John Adams, Esq; who on the third of March, 1801, was superceded by Thomas Jefferson, Esq; in March, 1809, he resigned in favor of James Madison, Esq. who now fills this high and responsible office.

In 1808, a general Embargo, for an indefinite period, was imposed by law on the United States, which, at the close of one year after it was laid, was removed. In April, 1812, another Embargo was laid for 90 days, which was the precursor of War with Great Britain, which was accordingly declared by the Government, on the 18th of June of this year.

DISTRICT OF MAINE.

THE District of Maine, though not of itself an independent state, but forming a part of the state of Massachu setts, may, with propriety, occupy the first place in a description of the states.

Extent and Boundaries. Maine extends from 43 to 48 degrees north latitude, and from 4 to 9 degrees east longitude; its extent being about 200 miles each way. It is bounded north by Lower Canada, east by New Brunswick; south by the Atlantic ocean, west by New Hampshire. No part of this district borders on Massachusetts proper.

Divisions and Population. Maine is divided into eight counties, viz. York, Cumberland, Kennebec, Lincoln, Hancock, Washington, Oxford, and Somerset. These are subdivided into upwards of two hundred incorporated townships containing, in 1800, 151,719, and in 1810, 228,705 inhabitants; gain in 10 years 77,705.

Face of the Country. This district has between 200 and 300 miles of sea coast, indented with numerous bays and harbors. Though an elevated country, it cannot be called mountainous. It has a large proportion of dead swamps. The interior parts are principally covered with forests of maple, beech, pine, &c..

Bays. The principal bays are those of Saco, Casco, Frenchman's, Penobscot, Machias, and Passamaquoddy.. Penobscot and Casco are full of islands, some of which are large enough for townships.

Lakes. The most noted lake in Maine is Sebacook, 18 miles northwest of Portland, equal in extent to two townships. There is a collection of lakes in the northerly part of York county, called by the general name of Umbagog.

Rivers. St. Croix river forms part of the eastern boundary between the Uuited States and British America, and falls into Passamaquoddy bay.

The Penobscot is a noble river, rising from two branches in the high lands towards Canada, and falling into Penobscot bay. It is navigable about 30 miles above the head of the bay.

The Kennebec, 20 miles from its mouth, is divided by Swan island, 7 miles long; 24 miles higher is the head of navigable water. Here is a fine bay where vessels anchor. Eighteen miles above this place are Teconic Falls, the greatest cataract in New-England, presenting a wild but delightful prospect. Just below the falls the Sebasticook joins the Kennebec, and swells it one third.

Sheepscot river is navigable 20 or 30 miles, and empties into the sea a little eastward of Kennebec.

Androscoggin river is the main branch of the Kennebec, and joins it at Merry Meeting Bay, 20 miles from the

sea.

Saco river is among the considerable rivers in this district. The principal part of its waters fall from the White Mountains; after a winding course, it falls into the sea, at Pepperellborough. It is navigable for large vessels to Saco falls.

Seil and Productions. The soil, in general, is friendly to the growth of wheat, rye, barley, oats, peas, hemp, flax, and almost all culinary roots and plants. Indian corn also flourishes, if the seed be brought from a more northern climate. Hops are the spontaneous growth of the country. The pastures are good, and afford subsistence to large herds of cattle.

The forests consist of white pine and spruce trees, in large quantities, suitable for masts, boards, and shingles, maple, beech, white and grey oak, birch, and fir. The birch is used for cabinet work, and is little inferior to mahogany. The fir yields a balsam that is highly prized; it is an evergreen, resembling the spruce, but not so large.

Manufactures and Commerce. There are yet but few manufactures in this district, except those of boards and shingles, which are exported in large quantities, and are the principal articles of commerce, which the country affords. Many families manufacture the woollen and linen cloths needed for their own domestic uses.

Minerals. Mountain and bog iron ore have been found, and works erected for their manufacture. Copperas and sulphur are found in the county of York.

Literature, Bowdoin college, in Brunswick, is endowed with ample funds by the legislature and by the benefaction of the Hon. James Bowdoin. It was opened in Sept.