CLASS VII....LESSON VIII.

OF THE TERRITORIES OR DISTRICTS OF THE
UNITED STATES.

ATTACHED to the state of Massachusetts and united with its government, is the district of Maine, which forms the northern extremity of the United States. It is bounded on the south by the Atlantic, west by New Hampshire, east by Nova Scotia, the line of separation formed by the river St. Croix, and a line drawn due north from its source to the high lands, which separate us on the north from Lower Canada.... Maine has six counties; Washington, Hancock, Lincoln, Kennebec, Cumberland, and York.... The chief town, Portland. Its extent and population may be seen in the general statistical table of the United States, at the end of the geographical article.

2. The territory of Columbia, a district of 10 miles square, taken from the states of Virginia and Maryland on both sides of the Potomac river, with the consent of those states, and formed into a separate government, of which congress has the exclusive jurisdiction; and it is the seat of the government of the confederation.

The city of Washington is the capital, founded about the year 1790. In 1804, the population of the district on both sides of the river, was about thirty thousand; comprehending Washington city, Georgetown, and the city of Alexandria, five miles distant from Washington.

3. The Mississippi territory is bounded by Georgia and South Carolina on the east, Florida on the south, the district of Orleans or

Lower Louisiana, by the Mississippi on the west, and Tennessee on the north.

4. The Indiana comprehends all the country west and south of the states of Ohio and Kentucky to the banks of the Mississippi, and the peninsula of land formed by the lakes Michigan and Ontario. It contains territory adequate to the formation of five or six additional states, and is growing in population. Various tribes of Indians still occupy great portions of Indiana. is under a governor with definite powers.

It

2. What of the present state of Louisiana? A. It belongs to the United States, having been ceded by special treaty concluded at Paris, in April 1803, in full sovereignty. It is, by a law of congress, divided into two districts; the Lower, or that next the sea, is called the district of Orleans, of which the city of New Orleans is the capital, as well as of all Louisiana. This province, by alaw of the 11th congress, is to become a state immediately, and a convention for the purpose met in September 1811, at New Orleans. The other province is called Upper Louis siana, and is under a governor....The capital of Upper Louisiana is New Madrid.

2. What is the extent of Louisiana ?

A. Its boundaries are not precisely determine ed; but it is known to be at least as large as the whole territory of the United States.

2. In what parts are the boundaries undetermined?

A. On the west or New Mexico side; the presumed extent on the bay of Mexico, from the mouth of the Mississippi, is about 300 miles, some say more; on the other hand it is understood that the cession was made so as to

make the boundary on the side of the Floridas, at the Perdido river, beyond the bay of Mobille. On the northern frontier, there is also an uncertainty; as our line by the treaty of Paris in 1783, is limited to the 49th degree of north latitude, or a line drawn from the Lake of the Woods, intersecting that latitude of the Mississippi.... and some think the Louisiana extends by the sources of the Collerado river, which falls into the gulf of California, along the South Sea, near the straits of Don Juan de Fuca.

2. Has Louisiana many rivers ?

A. Yes....the Mississippi and Missouri are only inferior to the two great rivers of South America in magnitude; but there are hundreds of rivers that fall into them.

What may have been the population of Louisiana, when it came into the possession of the United States?

A. The white inhabitants were about 50,000; the blacks about 39,000, independent of the native Indians.

2. Should not Florida be considered as a territory of the United States?

A. Undoubtedly it must; but the manner of its organization is not definitely fixed; no more can be said than that it is at present subject to the same government as the territory of Orleans, and that in 1812 it will probably be annexed to Orleans state.

AN EPITOME

OF THE

ARTS AND SCIENCES.

CLASS VIII....LESSON I.

2. What are the British dominions in North America?

A. They are Hudson's Bay, Labradore, Upper and Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Cape Breton, Newfoundland, and the Bermuda or Summer Islands.

2. Are these countries settled by civilized people?

A. Not all of them....the countries which surround Hudson's Bay, parts of which are called Labradore, or the country of the Esquimaux, new North and South Wales, are bounded on the north by unknown lands and seas about the north pole, by Canada on the south, the Atlantic on the east. Hudson's Bay extends from 52 north, beyond the arctic circle, and a company of English merchants have the exclusive trade. in furs: they lay claim to all the country north of the United States, and in the same latitude to the Pacific ocean. There is every reason to believe that Greenland, heretofore considered as part of Europe, is actually a continuation of our continent.

Lower Canada is about 1200 miles long, by 330 broad; and extends on both sides of the St. Lawrence river, from the boundary on the

north bank of the St. Francis river, to the ocean the United States form the south boundary, and New Brunswick the south east.

Upper Canada has no definite bounds but that of the United States line, on the south; and the British set up a claim to all the continent north and west by the latitude of 60 north.

Quebec is the capital of all Canada, and is about 320 miles from the Atlantic; Montreal stands on an island 170 miles further up the river St. Lawrence, one of the largest rivers in North America. Newark is the principal town of Upper Canada; Queenstown is on the Niagara river, in which the celebrated falls of Niagara are.

The lakes and rivers of Canada are large and

numerous.

Nova Scotia, in 1784, was divided into four separate governments: 1, New Brunswick, N. W. 2, Nova Scotia, S. E. 3, St. John's N. 4, Cape Breton N. F. It is separated from the United States by the boundary line, fixed at the peace of 1763. It abounds with capes, bays, and rivers, and is a fine country for fisheries; but the climate is very cold.

Cape Breton and St. John's with Anti Costi, and some others, lie in the gulph of St. Law

rence.

Newfoundland, about 368 miles long, and 240 broad, lies in latitude 46 to 52, separated from Labradore by the straits of Bellisle, and from Canada and Nova Scotia, by the straits of St. Lawrence. It is celebrated for its fisheries; which employ annually, from 350 to 400 English vessels, 3000 sail of small craft. Chief places are Placentia, Bonavista, and St. John's.

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