northwardly to the St. John's, but the greater part southwardly to the Atlantic. Maine abounds in lakes, and it is estimated that nearly one-tenth of the surface of the state is covered with water.

Soil, etc.-The soil is generally best adapted for grazing. Near the sea coast the lands are sandy and generally unsuited to agriculture. The fertile portions lie along the valley of the St. John's, and between the Penobscot and Kennebec Rivers. The climate is subject to great extremes of heat and cold; the winters are long and severe, the lakes being covered with ice from December to April.

Among the most important productions are grain, potatoes, wool, butter, cheese, bees'-wax and honey. The great staple product is lumber. The chief minerals are iron, limestone, granite and slate.

Inhabitants, etc.-The inhabitants are mainly of British descent. A few of the aboriginals still inhabit some of the islands in the Penobscot. The first permanent settlement was made at Bristol (a place not far from the mouth of the Kennebec), in 1625. The chief industrial pursuits are agriculture, lumbering, the coasting trade and the fisheries. From its abundance of suitable timber, Maine has become the greatest ship-building state in the Union.

Manufactures and Exports.-Maine is not so extensively engaged in manufactures as some others of the New England States. The fisheries are extensive. Fish, lumber, butter, cheese, lime, &c., form the

leading articles of export. Cargóes of ice are frequently exported to the West Indies and to the Southern States.

Cities.-AUGUSTA, the capital, is situated principally on the right bank of the Kennebec, which is here crossed by a bridge. On the opposite side of the river are the United States Arsenal and the Insane Hospital. Steamboats ply regularly between Augusta and the principal ports of New England.

EASTPORT is pleasantly situated on the south-east part of Moose Island, which is connected by a bridge with the main land. This place is well situated for trade with the British Provinces. It is an important lumber depôt, and is extensively engaged in the fisheries and in the coast trade.

BELFAST, a seaport town, is largely engaged in ship-building, foreign commerce, the fisheries, and in the coast trade.

BATH, situated on the right bank of Kennebec River, ranks the seventh in the United States in the importance of its shipping.

PORTLAND, a celebrated seaport of Maine, is situated on an elevated peninsula at the west extremity of Casco Bay. This city is largely engaged in commerce, chiefly with Europe and the West Indies, and in the coasting trade. In population, wealth, and commerce, it ranks first in the state. BANGOR, on the right bank of the Penobscot, is said to be the greatest lumber depôt in the world.

LESSON XXVI.

MAP STUDIES.-MASSACHUSETTS.

State the situation of the following Cities and Towns, viz. :— North Adams, Greenfield, Northfield, Fitchburg, Lowell, Andover, Lawrence, Haverhill, Newburyport, Gloucester, Salem, Marblehead, Lynn, Woburn, Concord, Cambridge, Charlestown, BOSTON, Roxbury, Dedham, Dorchester, N. Weymouth, Hingham, Abington, Plymouth, Sandwich, Barnstaple, Chatham, Provincetown, New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Bridgewater, Milford, Blackstone, Milbury, Chicopee, Springfield, Southampton, Westfield, Sheffield, Great Barrington, Stockbridge, Lee, Pittsfield, Northampton, Amherst, South Hadley, Ware, Leominster, and Worcester.

MASSACHUSETTS.

Ares in sq. miles, 7,800. Population, 995,000. Inhabitants to a sq. mile, 187. Counties, 14 Geographical Position, etc.-This state extends from New York on the west, to the Atlantic on the east, and from Vermont and New

Hampshire on the north, to Rhode Island and Connecticut on the south. The length of the state is about 150 miles and its average breadth 50.

Surface, etc.-The surface is generally hilly and in some parts rugged. The north-eastern, eastern, and middle portions are hilly and broken; the south-eastern, level and sandy; and the western, mountainous.

The Green Mountain Range enters Massachusetts from Vermont, and forms two ridges which run parallel to each other southwardly into Connecticut. The state abounds in picturesque scenery. The view of the Connecticut River and Valley, from Mount Holyoke, is really beautiful.

Soil, etc. The soil, though not generally favorable to agriculture, yet by the skill and industry of the inhabitants, has been forced to yield a rich return to the husbandman. The most fertile portions are

in the centre of the state and along the valleys of the Connecticut and Housatonic. The climate is severe in winter; and in the spring, easterly, chilling winds prevail. The summers are exceedingly pleasant.

Grain is produced, but not in sufficient quantities for home consumption. The most important products are Indian corn, oats, potatoes, butter and cheese. Massachusetts is not considered rich in minerals. Sienite and granite, however, abound in the eastern and middle parts, and marble and limestone in the western.

Natural Curiosities.-Among these may be mentioned the Natural Bridge on Hudson's Brook, in the township of Adams, in the northwest part of the state, the Ice Hole in Stockbridge, a narrow, deep, romantic ravine, where the ice remains the year round, and a large rock (weighing some 40 tons), in the village of New Marlborough in the south-west part of the state. This rock is so nicely balanced that a finger can move it.

Inhabitants, etc.-This state was first settled by a company of English Puritans, whom religious persecution had driven to Holland. They subsequently emigrated to America, and established their first settlement at Plymouth, December 20th, 1620. The revolutionary contest commenced in this state. The leading objects of pursuit are commerce, manufactures and the fisheries. In commerce this state ranks second only to New York among the states of the Union.

Manufactures and Exports.-In manufactures Massachusetts exceeds any of the other states in the Union. Among these may be mentioned, cotton and woolen goods, leather, boots and shoes, woodenware, tinware, paper, carpeting, &c. These form the leading exports. Granite, marble, ice, whale oil and fish are also exported in consider, able quantities.

Cities.-BOSTON is the largest seaport in the New England States, and the second commercial city in the Union. It is situated at the head of Massachusetts Bay near the confluence of Charles and Mystic Rivers. The City consists of three parts, Boston proper, East Boston, and South Boston. Boston proper is situated on a peninsula which is connected by an isthmus ("Neck" it is called), with the mainland of Roxbury on the south.

Boston is the great literary as well as commercial metropolis of New England. Among the public buildings, the State House, from its position, is the most conspicuous. It stands on the summit of Beacon Hill, in front of a beautiful park of about 50 acres, called the com

mon.

Faneuil Hall, an ancient brick edifice in Dock Square, is styled the "Cradle of Liberty," from the fact that patriotic meetings were held there during the Revolution.

The streets of the city are generally irregular and narrow. Washington and Tremont streets are the fashionable promenades. The wharves and warehouses of Boston are on a scale of magnitude surpassed by no other city of equal population.

A

SPRINGFIELD, on the left bank of the Connecticut, is one of the handsomest and most flourishing inland towns of the state. United States Arsenal is established here.

LOWELL, from the amount and variety of its manufactures, has been styled "the Manchester of America." It is situated on the right bank of the Merrimac. Cambridge and Charlestown are connected with Boston by bridges.

LAWRENCE, about 12 miles from Lowell, is largely engaged in manufactures. Salem has a good harbor and ranks high among the cities of New England in commercial importance.