an institution for the education of the blind at St. Louis, and a lunatic asylum at Fulton.

RELIGION.

The Methodists are the most numerous of the various religious denominations within the state. Next in numbers are the Baptists; then the Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, and Episcopalians. There are, besides, several congregations of "Cumberland" and "Associate Reform" Presbyterians, and a few Unitarian societies.

POPULATION.

In 1810, the population was less than 20,000. During the following ten years, it had increased to upwards of 66,000. In 1830, it numbered 140,000; and in 1840, 383,000, including 58,000 slaves. Population in 1850, 684,132; in 1857, over 800,000.

THE MINES OF MISSOURI.

The lead mines have been wrought since the first settlement of the country. The ore is in the form of sulphuret and carbonate, and in the upper mines at Potosi it is found mixed with calamine and blende. The lead region extends over the counties of Madison, François, St. Louis, Washington, &c. Formerly the carbonate was considered as worthless, but it is now reduced in blast furnaces, and yields 72 per cent. The

sulphuret yields from 66 to 80 per cent., and contains about 6 per cent. of silver. Iron in the form of hematite, and the ochrey, the micaceous, and red oxides are found in the greatest abundance. The ores exist throughout the mineral region, and extend even into the coal formation, which occupies so large a surface. Abundant, easily manufactured, and the transportation easy, this is essentially the staple of Missouri. Her celebrated mountains of micaceous oxides the Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob are almost inexhaustible. They form the eastern extreme of the Ozarks, and are situated in François county, a few miles east of Potosi, and only 40 miles from St. Genevieve, on the Mississippi. The two peaks are about 6 miles apart; the more northerly of the elevations, the Iron Mountain, is 11 miles long and 444 feet high. Its whole top is a solid mass of iron, and one sees nothing but iron lumps as far as the eye can reach. The ore yields 60 per cent. of pig, and is deemed a most superior metal. Pilot Knob is 1500 feet high. Dr. Feuchtwanger estimates the quantity of pig iron imbedded in these mountains alone at 600,000,000 of tons-enough to supply the world for more than a century. The mines of Elba, of Sweden, or of Norway, together, do not contain an amount equal to this. The mines of copper are chiefly found in the south and west portions of the mineral region, but exist in other parts. The ore is of every variety, and usually very rich. It is found in combination with lead and iron, frequently with manganese, cobalt, and nickel, and occasionally with silver.

It is generally pyritous, but oxides and carbonates are frequently found. The ores appear as a cement, uniting angular fragments of lime rock forming a breccia, and much of it is easily removed by a pickaxe alone. As a general thing the yield is about 34 per cent. of metal. Hitherto mining for copper has been little attended to; but it is now probable that operations will be commenced on a large scale, and as the indications of extensive lodes have been traced for miles, this product is destined to be one of the most valuable of the state; indeed, the copper mines of Missouri are said to be more valuable than even those of Lake Superior. The several metals found in combination with the above, namely, silver, zinc, manganese, cobalt, nickel, &c., give an additional value to the mines; and as tin has been found near Caledonia, it may be said of Missouri, that no other state or country is richer ir metallic wealth, or has better prospects of future prosperity. The substantial wealth of England and Belgium is drawn from their mines; but neither of these countries can compare in any one respect with this state.

ST. LOUIS.

City, and seat of justice of St. Louis county. On the west bank of the Mississippi River, 18 miles below the mouth of the Missouri. 130 miles east from Jefferson City, the capital of the state, and 1101 miles, by the course of the river, north from New Orleans. Population in 1810, 1600; in 1820, 4598; in 1830, 6694;

in 1840, 16,469; in 1850, 82,774. St. Louis is the commercial metropolis of Missouri, and was formerly the seat of government. It was first settled in 1764, but during its subjection to the French and Spanish colonial governments, remained a mere village. The site is a most eligible one, being elevated many feet above the floods in the Mississippi, and favorable in that, as well as in other respects, to. the salubrity of the place. It rises from the river by two bottoms, or plains; the first, which is alluvial, being 20 feet above the highest water, and the second, which is a limestone bank, ascending 40 feet higher than the first, to the level of the adjacent country, sweeping away towards the western horizon as far as the eye can reach. The ascent from the river to the first of these terraces is somewhat abrupt; but the second acclivity is more gradual, carrying the observer into the finest part of the city, from which is enjoyed a beautiful prospect of the river, the lower sections of the city itself, and the wide surrounding country.

The situation of St. Louis, in respect to its advantages for becoming a great commercial place, is unsurpassed, perhaps, by that of any other inland city in the whole world. Being located not far from the geographical centre of the Mississippi Valley, and almost at the very focus towards which its great navigable rivers, the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Illinois, converge their courses, it is not to be doubted that, as the resources of this immense region are more and more largely developed, this must become a mart of wealth and com

merce scarcely inferior to any in the United States. Its trade already exceeds that of any other place on the Mississippi, except New Orleans. The steamboats, which ply from this place in every direction, seem almost numberless. A great number of these and of all descriptions of river craft, bound to every point on the navigable waters of the Mississippi Valley, are seen at all times in its harbor. This is also a great depot and point of departure for the American fur trade, and for the rich lead mines of the Upper Mississippi; and here hunters, trappers, miners, adventurers, and emigrants, of all characters and languages, meet in the prosecution of their various objects, and hence scatter towards the most distant parts of the great west.

The city was originally laid out on the first bank, consisting of three narrow streets parallel with the course of the river; but after its more rapid growth commenced, under the auspices of an American population, it soon extended itself to the upper plain by the grading of several streets back of the original plot. These are wide and airy, and are crossed at right angles by about 20 other streets ascending directly from the river. North and south of the more compact portion of the city, which is built up now about 2 miles on the river, extensive suburbs have been laid out on the same general plan. Front Street, on the river bank, is built up on the side opposite the landing, with a range of stone warehouses, four stories high, which make an imposing appearance, and are the seat of a heavy business. The first street back of this is the