POPULATION OF NEW YORK AND SEVERAL OF THE STATES AT EACH CENSUS FROM 1790. 1850.... 515,545 583,188 317,964 3,097,394 91,535 1,980,408 At present, New York exceeds fourteen of the States; namely, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and California; and if we refer only to white population, we may add five other States, Maryland, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, and at the present time, no doubt (two years since the census of 1850) North Carolina and Missouri-or 21 out of the 31 States--only ten States exceeding New York city in white population. Of the white population of the smaller of these States, New York is very nearly equal to the following combinations: The increase of population in the different States of the Union, in each decennial period, as compared to that of New York city, and in the whole period from 1790 to 1850, has been as follows: New York city. 1790-1800. 1810. 1820. 1830. 1840. 1850. 1790-1850. 202,797 482,414 STATES EXCEEDING NEW YORK'S INCREASE. 55,179 74,986 69,630 101,120 486,648 41,863 29,801 Maine....... N. Hampshire. Vermont.... Massachusetts. New York.... New Jersey. Pennsylvania. Maryland.... Virginia. N. Carolina... S. Carolina 51,247 87,121 127,291 256,800 615,782 246,636 873,193 413,763 545,796 510,313 668,473 2,757,274 27,810 32,020 167,992 207,726 239,367 278,755 375,800 587,753 1,877,413 131,892 38,998 94,422 90,757 146,026 84,532 77,397 83,329 99,158 673,353 Georgia.... 96,518 64,524 87,626 88,554 175,836 174,569 214,607 823,451 185,095 350,674 356,469 581,564 460,941 1,980,408 122,658 195,653 342,835 302,550 Illinois... 42,929 102,254 318,738 375,287 988,416 851,470 .... From the foregoing table it appears that the numerical increase of thirteen States, from 1790 to 1800, was decidedly larger than that of the city of New York-that of only four States being less. In the next decennial period, 1800-10, the increase of thirteen was larger, and of seven smaller; from 1810 to 1820, the increase of eighteen was larger, and six smaller; in the fourth period, 1820-30, the increase of thirteen States was larger, and thirteen less; fifth period, 1830-1840, there were thirteen States having a larger, and fourteen a smaller increase; and in the sixth period, 1840–50, the increase of but ten States equalled that of New York, and nineteen fell behind. Only four States, (three beside New York,) Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, exhibit in each period from 1790 a larger increase than New York city; and of the States admitted since that period, only Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois have attained as large increments of gain. On the other hand, six States-Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, Florida, Arkansas, and Iowa have in no one period had an increase equal to that of New York. Maryland, Michigan, and Wisconsin have had an equivalent increase in only one instance each, and New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, Alabama, and Louisiana in but two of the six periods. In the general result, if Texas were counted, (of whose population we have no statement back of 1850,) fifteen States have made a larger increase in population since the adoption of the government than the city of New York, and fifteen have fallen behind. Of the "Old Thirteen " nine are in the latter class. RATIO OF GROWTH COMPARED TO STATES AND TO UNITED STATES. The ratio of growth of New York, as compared to that of several of the States, sections, and of the United States, in the decennial periods from 1790, have been as follows: 1790-1800 1800-1810.. 1810-1820.. New York Connect- N. Y. Maine. 59.3 50.7 Ohio. North-west S.-west United 208.1 35.0 408.7 442.0 100.3 36.4 152.0 191.1 76.7 33.3 13.7 61.3 85.4 icut. State. Virginia. 5.4 72.5 17.6 4.3 63.4 10.7 28.4 80.4 5.0 43.1 9.3 1820-1830.... 63.8 33.9 8.1 39.7 1830-1840.... 54.3 26.2 4.1 26.6 1840-1850.... 64.8 16.1 19.6 27.5 1790-1850... 1,456.0 504.0 56.0 810.7 Average.... 58.9 35.7 7.7 45.5 11.4 142.9 155.9 97.0 34.5 It will be noticed herein, that while those States, which commenced with a very high ratio, have, in consequence of the growing magnitude of the base on which that ratio is computed, suffered a great decline in that respect, New York still maintains her ratio. So New York is constantly gaining upon the States, and is growing proportionately larger constantly toward the whole United States. The latter fact is made more evident in the following statement of the per centage of the population of New York at the different periods, and of the United States at corresponding dates: In comparing the city of New York with the States of the Union, it may be remarked that the city is not only equal to several in population and wealth, but is much more powerful, and has, although possessed independently of municipal powers only, much greater elements of nationality than many of them, even among the more populous. She could maintain a far more respectable position as an independent nation than could above three quarters of the States, singly. Some of the most memorable nations of antiquity were only great cities, having no country region, or but an insignificant and unproductive patch of territory. COMPARISON TO FOREIGN CITIES. The only cities of the world which equal or exceed New York in population are those Lere named: In Europe, no other city beyond the four named is much above half as large as New York. Of the cities of Asia, the accounts are, in some cases, rather apocryphal. The Orientals have never been remarkable for their devotion to statistical subjects. They would be more likely to resort to imagination, a faculty which they are reputed to keep as a worker of all service, for what information they might desire on the matter, than to go to the drudgery of taking actual enumerations. Their princes would be satisfied with a general survey of their realms, giving them an approximate idea of the extent of territory and density of population. Had they full statistical information, few of them would have any idea of its use, and therefore could not be expected to seek it. The population of Asiatic cities and countries is undoubtedly overestimated, yet it is certain that Asia has the largest cities in the world. PERIOD OF DUPLICATION. The population of New York has progressively doubled upon itself at about the periods named below: If we take the period from 1790, New York has within that time doubled four times, making the average period fifteen years. From 1800, the period of duplication is once in 161 years. The following is a comparison with the duplicative periods of other cities, States, sections, and of the United States. The statement as to the latter and all places within it, relates to their progress since 1800, excepting Cincinnati, Louisville, and Buffalo: Art. IV. THE BLASTING OF ROCKS UNDER WATER WITHOUT DRILLING. NEW YORK, August 10, 1832. FREEMAN HUNT, Esq., Editor Merchants' Magazine, etc. :— DEAR SIR-We take great and sincere pleasure in sending you the following communication relative to the new method of BLASTING ROCKS UNDER WATER WITHOUT drillING, which was invented by Mr. MAILLEFERT, and for about one year has been most successfully practiced in this country. This communication will, as soon as possible, be followed by another, relative to the BEMOVAL OF BARS IN AND AT THE MOUTH OF RIVERS BY DRAGGING, a method which, in many instances, has been most successfully applied in Europe, and is destined to be extensively used in this country. We feel very much gratified for the room which you were pleased to offer us for these communications in the columns of your highly estimated Magazine, the name of which is the very best introduction to an intelligent class of readers. When Mr. Maillefert first presented his plans for the removal of those dangerous 1 rocks in Hell-Gate, which for centuries past had been a terror to navigators, he had patiently to submit to the doubts and objections raised from all sides, and even to the far more discouraging ridicule, which some persons thought proper to throw over his contemplated operations. A strong conviction and a good deal of energy upheld, however, his courage, and carried him through a severe trial to a complete triumph. A trip to Hell Gate on one of the many beautiful steamers that are daily running through a passage which bore its name but too properly, will now be sufficient to convince even the most skeptical. They will not any more find that terrible whirlpool which made them hold their breath in anxiety and awe, until they got safely out of it-none of those foaming eddies, which it seemed impossible to avoid. However strong may have been their doubts, they will gladly acknowledge that a wonderful change has taken place, that if they had not known Hell-Gate before, they should not be able to comprehend how it could be thus denominated, and that the few and harmless eddies that yet remain seem to be placed there rather to improve the scenery, and perhaps with a view of recalling to the mind of those who are too quick in forgetting what Hell-Gate was a year ago, and what it will never be again. Hell Gate has lost its terrors, and may be made the best and safest entrance to the harbor of New York, if the necessary means be found to continue operations which, from the very outset, have given such beautiful and important results. You will, in the following communication, find a short account of the progress of the operations in Hell-Gate up to the present day; the difference between Mr. Maillefert's method of blasting rocks under water, and those hitherto used; what may be expected from it; its peculiar advantages and applications towards the improvement of our rivers, harbors, and maritime thoroughfares. We feel it our duty, in submitting the following communication to your readers, to apologize for the foreignisms it may contain, and which we trust they will kindly excuse, in consideration of our sincere endeavor to contribute our share to the development of the immense resources of this great and hospitable country. We have the honor to be, dear sir, with high and sincere respect, THE blasting of rocks under water without drilling for which Mr. Maillefert has taken out a patent, dated the 2d of March, 1852, is an invention which is intimately connected with the general desire for improvements in rivers, harbors, and maritime thoroughfares. We do not, however, intend to say, that this invention has been directly called forth by that desire, for such is not the case; but we feel convinced that nothing short of a general and strong feeling in favor of such improvements could have prevailed upon private individuals to furnish the pecuniary assistance which was requisite in order to give a fair trial to an invention, which, at the outset, met with so many doubts and objections, and had to encounter an almost general incredulity. The trial has been most successful throughout, and has been carried out to an extent which at once secures to the invention a prominent place among the operations to be used for the improvement of our maritime highways. Notwithstanding the difficulties and delays always and unavoidably attending experiments, the most remarkable results have been obtained. The first submarine charge was fired by Mr. Maillefert on Pot Rock, in |