serted in their fullest extent, in the constitution of Vermont. In the declaration of rights, there is a clause which seems to be adequate to the subject, and clearly expresses the religious rights of the people. "Nor can any man be justly deprived or abridged of any civil right as a citizen, on account of his religious sentiments, or peculiar mode of religious worship; and no authority can, or ought to be vested in, or assumed by any power whatever, that shall in any case interfere with, or in any manner control the rights of conscience, in the free exercise of religious worship."* In the plan of government formed in 1778, and revised in 1786, a religious test was imposed upon the members of the assembly, inconsistent with the above declaration : In the late revisal of the constitution (1792) this imperfection has been done away; and religious liberty has acquired a complete establishment, by a declaration that "no religious test shall be required of any member of the legislature."†

A greater attention to the liberal arts and sciences, would be of great advantage to the religious and civil interests of the state. The people of Vermont have not the advantages for the education of their youth, or the improvement of knowledge, which the people in the other states have. The disadvantages and dangers, which arise for want of literary institutions, are greater than they were aware of. The religion of ignorance, will either be, infidelity, or superstition; and it often produces an unnatural mixture of both, greatly unfavorable to the moral, and civil interests of men. When folly, in its own vic, is become infallible and sacred, it "Declaration of rights, Article III.

Plan or frame of government, Section V.

opposes with obstinacy, all improvements in society; and requires, with a peculiar insolence the submission of all other men, to its own weakness and bigotry. The only remedy for the difficulties which arise in society, from this cause, is the increase of knowledge and educa tion. And where society is destitute of the means and institutions, which are requisite to promote knowledge, it is without one of its most essential advantages; the means of her own cultivation, and improvement.

THE education of children for the common business of life, is well attended to. But the customary methods of education for the professions of divinity, law, or physic, are extremely deficient and do not promise either eminence, or improvement. The body of the people seem to be more sensible of this defect, than profes. sional men themselves. From the first assumption of the powers of government, the assembly had in contemplation, the establishment of an university in the state; and with this view, reserved one right of land in all the townships which they granted, for the use of such a seminary. In November, 1791, the legislature passed an act establishing the university at Burlington, upon a liberal, catholic, and judi'cious foundation. It has not, as yet, entered upon the business of instruction. If it should be furnished with able and judicious instructors, by extending the benefits of education, and promoting an attention to the arts and sciences, it would greatly assist the intellectual and moral improvement of the people: These improvements, are of essential importance to men in every

stage of society; but most of all necessary, when they are forming a new state.

[1806.] IN the year 1800 a college was also established at Middlebury in this state, an account of which was given in the political proceedings of that year. Both of these colleges have now a president, tutor, and other instructors. They have also laid the foundations of a library and philosophical apparatus. Several young gentlemen have been already educated at these colleges, and the,number of students have been increasing. The same books, course, and method of instruction, have been adopted in these seminaries, as are in use in the other New England colleges.

THERE are also three medical societies, established by law, in the state. The members consist of the most judicious and able practitioners of the profession; the business of their meetings is to improve themselves, their profession, and the methods of medical education,

THE time however is not come, when science is to appear in her highest dignity and glory. She is not yet seen in Vermont, pursuing her inquiries by astronomical and philosophical observations, by physical experiments, chymical processes, botanical collections, or anatomical dissections. Serious attempts are not yet made to introduce the substantial aids and ornaments of an astronomical observatory, a chamber of experimental philosophy, a museum of natural history, a botanic garden, or medical schools for anatomy, surgery, chemistry, or the materia medica. With the increasing wealth, population, and improvement of the

state, we may rationally expect that science will put on a more dignified and lovely aspect.*

It may be of ufe to preferve the geographical obfervations, which have been made in this part of the country. The following are the Latitudes of fuch places, as have been determined by astronomical observations; and they are all which I have been able to collect.

Latitude of the fouth line of Vermont at Hinsdale,

The fouth end of lake George,

m.

56

42-43-59 43-16-12 43-36 43-50-7 44-29-9

44-57-18

44-58-48

Reputed north line of Vermont, at the monument on the west bank of Connecticut river,

Reputed north line of Vermont, at the eaft bank of lake
Memphremagog,

44-53-46

44-47-59

CHAPTER XI.

STATE OF SOCIETY. Nature of the American Government. Constitution of Vermont, Laws, Counties and Courts, Annual Expense of Government, Public Revenue, Militia, Popularity of the Government.

NATURE OF THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. THE object and the principle of government is the same, in every part of the United States of America. The end or the design of it, is the public business; not the power, the emolument or the dignity, of the persons employed, but only that public business which concerns either the whole federal territory, or some particular state. The principle on which all the American governments are founded, is representation. They do not admit of sovereignty, nobility, or any kind of hereditary powers; but only of powers granted by the people, ascertained by written constitutions, and exercised by representation for a given time.

GOVERNMENTS founded on this principle, do not necessarily imply the same form. They do not admit of monarchy, or aristocracy; nor do they admit of what was called democracy by the ancients. In the ancient democracies the public business was transacted in the assemblies of the people: The whole body assembled to judge and decide, upon public affairs. Upon this account, the ancient democracies were found to be unfit, and inadequate to the government of a large nation. In America this difficulty