the late Mr. Alexander Wilson; and, it seems, with ample encouragement. The subscription price was one hundred and twenty dollars a set. It has however been completed in nine, instead of twelve volumes. Our best printing is little, if at all, inferiour to the best in Europe. For a large proportion of the very expensive books, printed in the United States, we are indebted to the presses of Philadelphia.

A great multitude of machines have been invented in America, both to abridge and perfect human labour, which are honourable to the ingenuity of my countrymen. The most important of these is undoubtedly the cotton gin of Mr. Whitney; next after this may be placed his machinery for the manufacture of muskets, Evans' machinery for manufacturing flour, the machine of Mr. Perkins of Newburyport, which cuts and heads two hundred thousand nails in a day, and other machines of the same ingenious artist, that of Mr. Whittemore for cutting, bending, and setting card-teeth at a single operation, and a stocking-loom (the name of the inventor unknown to me,) which will weave six stockings in a day. To these might be added an almost endless train of others, applied to various purposes of life.

The fabrics of the loom woven here, are chiefly those which are worn by the middle and lower classes of mankind. Beautiful cloths are however made in considerable quantities, and of such a quality, as not to be distinguished from the superfine cloths of Europe. For these, the Merino sheep furnish the material, Happily for us, this useful animal, instead of declining as was expected, has visibly improved in our pastures; having increased both in its size and the quantity of its wool. For the introduction of this invaluable breed, the United States are greatly indebted to the Hon. David Humphries, formerly minister plenipotentiary at the courts of Lisbon and Madrid. They are now, together with the cross-breeds, filling the country.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.

MASSACHUSETTS.

LETTER I.

The State of Massachusetts-Its boundaries, population, and government.

Dear Sir,

I AM now quitting Massachusetts, and will therefore take this opportunity to make some general observations to you concerning this State, the largest in New-England; and, when considered as to the extent of its territory, population, wealth, power, commerce, and advancement in civilization, one of the largest in the American Union.

The topography of this State has been already sufficiently exhibited, except in a small number of particulars, which will hereafter be occasionally mentioned.

Massachusetts Proper is divided into twelve counties. Berkshire begins at the Western boundary: Hampshire* and Worcester extend across the breadth of the State fifty miles, and are entirely inland. Middlesex, which lies immediately East of Worcester, touches the Ocean at its South-Eastern corner. Essex, the North-Eastern County, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Plymouth, are bordered by Massachusetts Bay. Barnstable is washed on one side by this Bay, and on the other by the Ocean. Bristol is bordered on the South by the Ocean. Duke's County is formed by Martha's Vineyard, and the Elizabeth Isles; and the County of Nantucket consists of the island of that name. The three inland Counties contain 177,092 inhabitants. The maritime Counties 294,948. The inhabitants of the County of Hampshire, amounting to 76,275, live all within less than twenty-five miles of Connecticut river, which passes through the middle of the County

Since divided into three Counties.

from North to South, and furnishes a conveyance for their produce to the Ocean. Those of the County of Berkshire, upon its Western limit, are at about the same distance from the Hudson. A considerable number of the inhabitants of Worcester County are not more remote from the harbour of Providence.

manner.

The face of the country is divided by nature in the following The Taghkannuc range; the valley of the Hooestennuc; the Green Mountain range; the valley of the Connecticut; the Lyme range; a tract formed of hills and vallies, reaching from their Eastern base to the Ocean; and a tract of sandy ground, spreading from Bridgewater to the Ocean, both Eastward and Southward, chiefly formed into extensive plains, but rising in several places into hills, some of them of considerable height, particularly in the County of Barnstable.

Massachusetts is subdivided into 290 townships; of which

Berkshire contains 32 townships, and 35,907 inhabitants. Hampshire 64 townships, and 76,275 inhabitants. Worcester 51 townships, and 64,910 inhabitants. Middlesex 44 townships, and 52, 789 inhabitants. Essex 23 townships, and 71,888 inhabitants. Suffolk 2 townships, and 34,381 inhabitants. Norfolk 22 town ́ships, and 31,245 inhabitants. Plymouth 18 townships, and 35, 169 inhabitants. Bristol 16 townships, and 37,168 inhabitants. Barnstable 14 townships, and 22,211 inhabitants. Duke's 3 townships, and 3,290 inhabitants. Nantucket 1 township, and 6,807 inhabitants.-Total 290 townships, and 472,040* inhabitants.

There are no peculiarities in the character of these inhabitants, which are not marked with sufficient minuteness in the course of these letters. Those of Berkshire, Hampshire, and Worcester, so much resemble their neighbours bordering upon them in Connecticut, that a traveller is conscious of no sensible change, when he passes within these limits from one State into the other. The only general characteristical difference, which I have observed, is, that the people of Massachusetts are somewhat more ardent, impassioned and sudden, in both their feelings and actions, than those of Connecticut.

By the Census of 1820 Massachusetts contained 523,287 inhabitants.-Pub.

The produce of Massachusetts is exactly the same with that of Connecticut. The tender fruits are, however, somewhat less prosperous, and are cultivated with more difficulty.

The government of Massachusetts is formed into three independent branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislature consists of a Senate containing forty members, and a House of Representatives. The Senate are chosen on the first Monday in April annually. The electors are the male inhabitants twenty-one years of age or upwards, having a freehold estate within the Commonwealth, of the annual income of ten dollars, or any estate worth two hundred. The select-men preside in the freemens' meeting.

The Governor and five of the Council examine the returns of votes, taken from the town-clerks' offices, and made to the secretary's office, seventeen days before the last Wednesday in May; and fourteen days before the said Wednesday the Governour shall issue his summons, to such persons as shall appear to have been chosen by a majority of the voters in each senatorial district, to attend on that day, and take their seats accordingly.

The Senate is the final judge of the elections returns, and qualifications of its own members.

If the whole number of Senators shall not appear to have been duly elected, then such as are chosen shall take the names of such persons in the vacant district as shall appear to have the highest number of votes, amounting to twice the number of Senators wanting; and, with the House of Representatives, shall, by a joint ballot, fill up the vacancies; and so, in cases of vacancy by death, removal, or otherwise. No person can be a Senator, who does not possess a freehold in his own right of $1,000, or a personal estate of $2,000, or both, to the amount of the same sum; and who has not been an inhabitant of the Commonwealth five years immediately preceding his election; and is not, at the time, an inhabitant of the district for which he is elected.

Sixteen members make a quorum.

The Senate is a court to hear and determine impeachments, made by the House of Representatives against any officer or offi

cers of the Commonwealth. Their judgment extends no farther than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold or enjoy any place of honour, trust, or profit, under the Commonwealth.

Every corporate town containing one hundred and fifty rateable polls may elect one Representative, and one more for every additional two hundred and twenty-five rateable polls.

Every Representative is chosen by written votes; must have been an inhabitant of the town in which he is elected, one year at least immediately preceding his election; and must have possessed in his own right a freehold worth $334, within said town, or other rateable estate of the value of $667.

When these qualifications cease, his right to represent the town

ceases.

Representatives are to be chosen annually in the month of May, at least ten days before the last Wednesday.

The House of Representatives is the Grand Inquest of the Commonwealth.

Money-bills are originated in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose amendments.

Sixty members make a quorum.

The House of Representatives is the judge of the election and qualifications for its members.

No Senator or Representative can be arrested, or held to bail, on mesne process while going to, returning from, or attending, the General Court.

The Governour is chosen annually, must have been an inhabitant of the Commonwealth for seven years immediately preceding his election, and must at the same time be seized in his own right of a freehold in the Commonwealth worth $3,334.

The Governour is empowered to call together the Councillours of the Commonwealth for the time being; and, with a quorum of said Councillours amounting to at least five, may from time to time hold a council for ordering and directing the affairs of the Commonwealth, agreeably to the Constitution and the laws of the land. The Governour, during the session of the General Court, is empowered to adjourn or prorogue the same to any time which the two houses shall desire; and to dissolve the same on