The great fishery on the banks of Newfoundland begins about the 10th of May, and continues till the end of September. The numbers of cod, both on the great bank and the lesser ones, which lie east and south of this island, are inconceivable. Several other species of fish are also caught here in abundance. The fishery is computed to yield about 300,000. a year, from the cod sold in Catholic

countries.

This island, after various disputes with the French, was entirely ceded to the English, in 1713; The French having permission to dry their nets on the southern shores: and, in 1763, they were permitted to fish in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, on the condition that they should not approach within three leagues of any coast belonging to England. By the last treaty, the French are to enjoy the fisheries on the north and west coasts of the island; and the United States are allowed the same privileges in fishing, as before their independence. Great Britian and the U. nited States employ annually not less than 3000 sail of small craft in this fishery.

The other islands of note, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, are ANTICOSTI, near the mouth of St. Lawrence, 126 miles long, and 32 broad, uninhabited; the MAGDALEN ISLES, in 12° 29′ east longitude, and between 47 and 80° north latitude, inhabited by a few fishermen ; and ISLE PERCEE, about 15 miles south of Cape Gaspre. It is a perpendicular rock, and is pierced with two natural arches, through which the sea flows. One of these arches is suf ficiently high to admit a large boat to pass freely through it

THE BERMUDAS, OR SOMMERS
ISLANDS,

BELONG more properly to North-America, than to the West-Indies. They are about equally distant from the West-Indies and Nova-Scotia, and 300 leagues from the coast of Carolina, lying in 23o north latitude, and about 11° of east longitude from Philadelphia. They received their first name from John Bermudas, a Spaniard, their

first discoverer; and are called Sommers Islands, from Sir George Sommers, who was shipwrecked on their rocks, in 1609, on his passage to Virginia. The principal island is 16 miles long, and 1 or 2 broad; rocky and uneven, and the roads almost impassable. The air is wholesome ; a continual spring prevails, and most of the productions. of the West Indies are here cultivated. Fifteen or twenty thousand people are collected on this small spot, two thirds of whom are blacks.

INDEPENDENT AMERICA,

OR THE UNITED STATES.

Boundaries. ALL the territories, now under the Federal Government of the United States, are here included under the general head of INDEPENDENT AMERICA. These territories are bounded on the north by British America ; east by New-Brunswick and the Atlantic ocean; south by Florida and the Gulf of Mexico; west by New-Mexico, and a ridge of mountains, generally denominated the Shining Mountains, which divide the western waters of the Missisippi from those that flow westward into the Pacific

Ocean.

Situation and Extent. This country lies between 28 and 50 degrees north latitude, and between 9 degrees east and 14 degrees west longitude. Its extreme length, from east to west, is upwards of 2000 miles, and its greatest breadth about 1500. It contains about 2,000,000 square miles, and, excepting the Russian empire, is the largest territory on the earth, whose inhabitants live under one general government.

Divisions and Names Independent America consists of seventeen States, and four territorial Governments, exclusive of Louisiana. Each state has a government of its own, independent of every other state; and all are united under one general government, and thus form a grand national republic.

The states and territorial governments may be classed in four grand divisions, called Northern, Middle, Southern,

and Western States. Though these divisions are merely nominal, and may be liable to some objections; yet the convenience of using the appellations northern, middle, southern, and western, in writing and conversation, is considered as a sufficient reason for adopting this classification.

The first division, or Northern States, is the territory, which, in 1641, received the name of New-England, and comprehends

District of Maine, (belonging

to Massachusetts)

New Hampshire,

Vermont,

Massachusetts (Proper)
Rhode-Island,

Connecticut.

The second division, or Middle States, comprehends

New-York,

Ohio,

L

The third division, or Southern States, consists of

New-Jersey,

Pensylvania,

Delaware,

Maryland,

Columbia Territory,*

Virginia,

Kentucky,

North-Carolina,

Tennessee,

South Carolina,
Georgia,

Missisippi Territory.

The fourth or Western division is Louisiana.t

This division of the United States is already divided into the new state of Louisiana, and several territorial gove ernments; is nearly equal in extent to all the rest of the United States; and will, probably, at no very distant pe riod, be divided into several independent states.

Under the present head, we shall confine our remarks to those topics, which are common to all the states and territories, reserving all local objects, such as Bays, Lakes, Rivers, Mountains, &c. to be noticed in their appropriate divisions.

Climate. The climate of the United States is subject to great extremes of heat and cold, and to frequent and sudden changes of the weather, and temperature of the air.

* This territory lies partly in the Middle and partly in the Southern States.

All the States west of the Allegany mountains, may more properly be denominated Western States.

The weather is less variable in the northern than in the southern states; frosts at the north generally come on in October; severe cold commences in December and lasts till March. During this time, the ponds and fresh water rivers are frozen over. The climate west of the Aliegany mountains differs materially from that on the eastern side, in the temperature of the air, and in the quantity of snow and rain which falls every year. The air is seldom so cold or so hot by several degrees, as on the castern side of the mountains, in the same latitudes.

Seasons. Autumn is the finest season of the year, in the United States; the temperature of the air is then most agreeable and the weather is serene and settled. In NewEngland winter lasts near half the year; in the Southern States it is milder, and continues not more than three or four months. In spring the weather is most variable, a warm and pleasant day being often succeeded by another that is cold and stormy.

Face of the Country. The territories of the United States are happily variegated with mountains and plains, hills and valleys. Some parts are rocky, particularly the northern states, and the mountainous tract running southwesterly from Hudson river to Georgia. In the southern states, the country between the Atlantic ocean and the mountains, a tract from 60 to 100 miles broad, is level, and entirely free of stone. Between the mountains and the Missisippi, are vast level meadows, and the borders of that river are either spacious low lands, annually overflowed, or continued forests. The newly acquired tract of Louisiana con. tains some of the most pleasant and fertile spots on the face of the globe.

Botany. The natural history of the United States is in its infancy. The vegetable productions have not yet been well described by any author, in a work professedly for that purpose.

No country affords a greater variety of indigenous plants many of which are distinguished for stately growth and beauty. It is particularly rich in trees and shrubs, many of them differing in genus or species, from those in the old world. In the woods are several new species of oak, walnut, poplar, and maple. The sugar maple abounds in many parts of the United States, valuable on account of its

saccharine juice yielded by tapping, which, by boiling and refining, affords a wholesome and palatable sugar, fit for all domestic uses. In the southern states, the magnolia rises to a magnificence of bulk, which renders it the pride of the forest, while its flowers perfume the air; and the woods afford the richest variety of flowering shrubs and beautiful trees New-England produces spontaneously an almost infinite number of plants and herbs, useful for medicinal purposes. Wild fruits, and nuts of almost eveevery description, enrich the country from Maine to Geor gia.

Agriculture and Cultivated Vegetables. In agriculture, the Americans are well skilled, and are eager to adopt the advantages of English experience. The immortal WASH INGTON was himself an excellent practical farmer; and it is computed that at least three parts in four of the inhabitants of the United States are employed in agriculture. This free and vigorous yeomanry may well be regarded as the chief glory of any state; and commerce will import sufficient opulence to enable them to promote every possible improvement." Agriculture flourishes most in NewEngland, New York, and Pennsylvania; but is making rapid advances in all the other states. Among the numerous products, are wheat, rye, barley, buck-wheat, oats, beans, pease, and maize, or Indian corn, which is a native grain.

**

In the southern states, rice is cultivated, and is found to succeed on the banks of the Ohio. The potatoe is a native and valuable root, which grows in all the states. Hops (another native plant) are also cultivated. Cotton (which has taken place of indigo) and tobacco are important products of the southern states. Orchards are favorite ob jects, and cider is the common drink of New-England. Apples, pears, peaches, plums, &c. are every where abund

ant

The native strawberry is improved by cultivation, and is much superior to the exotic. The native grape is propagated with great ease. Its growth is luxuriant, overspreading the highest trees in the forest. With prop er cultivation, it would afford an ample supply of wines, in the northern as well as southern states.

Besides most of the grapes of Europe, which are here cultivated, there is a great variety of others found grow

PINKERTON.