sentatives, together styled the assembly. The senators are elected for three years, and one-third vacate their seats annually. Each senator must be a citizen of the United States, and have been a resident in the state for two years next before his election, and be 27 years of age. Members of the house of representatives are chosen annually, and must be citizens of the United States, and have resided two years in the state. The executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected for two years, and is not eligible for more than four years in six. He must be 30 years of age, a native citizen of the United States, and have resided in the state for four years before his election. The judiciary power is vested in a supreme court, in circuit courts for each county, and such inferior courts as the legislature may appoint. The judges are elected by the legislature, and hold their offices during good behaviour. All white males of 21 years and upwards, who are citizens of the United States, and who have resided in the state one year, and in the county, city, or town, in which the election is held, three months next preceding the election, are entitled to vote.

Education and Manners.-Two entire townships of land, containing six miles square each, have been appropriated as a fund for the support of a literary institution, and provision is made by law for a fund of 640 acres in each township, for the support of common schools. With this liberal provision, there can be no doubt but Alabama will have good teachers, and well-informed people. Already there are common schools in every settlement, and there are a number of academies and boarding schools. Society has been too recently formed to assume any fixed character, but the citizens have exhibited proofs of great industry and enterprise, and the constitution which they have recently framed as the basis of the government, is evidence

Boundaries.-On the north, Tennessee; east, Alabama; south, the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana; West, Louisiana and Arkansas Territory.

Face of the Country.--This state is somewhat similar to Alabama, with the difference caused by the great Mississippi on the west side of it. This forms an extensive valley, and the whole of the western part of the state declines toward it. There is a large body of high lands in the northern part of the state, which runs along the head waters of the rivers, exhibiting prominent points in some places, but declining in elevation to the westward, as will be clearly seen by the elevation of the waters. The waters of Tennessee River in the north corner of the state, run nearly 600 miles, before they reach the north-west corner in the Mississippi.

Rivers. The great Mississippi, already described, forms the western boundary of the state; and the principal streams falling into it are the Yazoo and Black Rivers.

Yazoo River rises near the northern boundary of the state, and pursuing a south-west course of nearly 200 miles, it falls into the Mississippi River above Walnut Hills. It is 200 yards wide at its outlet, and is navigable for 150 miles.

Black River rises near the eastern boundary of the state, by a number of branches. The principal branch runs about 60 miles, then turning to the south-west, it runs

120 miles more, and falls into the Mississippi below Palmyra. It is 100 yards wide at its mouth, and is navigable 70 or 80 miles.

Pearl River rises near the head waters of Black River, and runs a south-west course of nearly 60 miles. It then turns about south-south-east, and after running about 170 miles more, it falls into Lake Borgne, near the entrance to Lake Pontchartrain. It is about 200 yards broad, and is navigable 150 miles. Below the 31st parallel of latitude, it forms the boundary between Mississippi and Louisiana.

Pascagoula River rises near the head waters of Pearl River, where it is called Chickasawhay, and runs a general south-east course of more than 120 miles, to near the Alabama boundary. It then turns south and south-west, and after a course of 40 miles, receives Leaf River from the westward; and the river formed by the united streams, holds a course a little east of south, to the Gulf of Mexico, which it reaches thirty miles westward of Mobile Bay. From the junction with Leaf, it is about forty miles long, the last eighteen miles being a fine bay. The river is 200 yards wide above the bay, and is navigable a long way into the interior of the country. The head waters of Tombeckbee River are in the north-east part of this state; and there are a number of lesser streams, some of them navigable, falling into the Mississippi in the south-west; so that it is remarkably well watered.

Geological Formation.-Similar to Alabama, with this difference, that there is less alluvial on the south, as the line bounding it runs in a south-west direction, and crosses the Mississippi River between Fort Adams and Natches. There is a little alluvial on the east side of the Mississippi, as high up as Arkansas River.

Soil. The soil and natural productions are also very

similar to those of Alabama; but in the western part, bordering upon the Mississippi River, the air is more humid and warm, than in the parallel parts of Alabama, and hence there are productions peculiar to that district, chiefly very large timber, canes, and cypresses.

Climate. The climate also is similar to that of Alabama; but on account of the proximity to the waters of the Mississippi, the air is more humid and warmer; particularly in the south-west part of the state. What has been termed the hot climate, extends up the Mississippi nearly to the outlet of Arkansas River; and the remainder of the state is all of the warm, except in the north-east part, which may be ranked in the temperate. In the southern part, bordering upon the Gulf of Mexico, the climate is tempered by the sea breeze, so that the heat is very moderate. In the last six months of 1820, the thermometer ranged between 840 and 38°. The mean heat of August was 80°, and of December 59°.

Historical View.-It was stated in the historical view of Alabama, that the territory composing that state and Mississippi, was formed into a territorial government. In the year 1801, the Choctaw Indians ceded a large body of lands to the United States, and large cessions have since been made, so that nearly one-half of the state is now purchased. In 1817, Congress passed an act authorizing the people in the western part of the territory to form a separate government; in consequence of which they adopted a constitution, and the state was regularly admitted into the union.

Population. In 1800, the population was estimated at 6850; in 1810, it was estimated at 30,312; in 1816, it was 44,208; and in 1820, it was 75,448; situated as in the following

TOPOGRAPHICAL TABLE.

Counties.

Whites. Free blacks. Slaves. All Others. Total.

Agriculture and Produce.-These are very similar to those in Alabama. The staple production is cotton; sugar is cultivated in the southern part of the state, and may be raised as high as Natches. The number of persons employed in agriculture, in 1820, was 22,033.

Manufactures and Commerce.-The principal manufactures are made in families. Even flour is principally brought from Kentucky. The persons termed manufac