Burlington College.

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ed, and afterward adopted by all the states of New England; who, with the other parts of the union, have liberally shared the blessings of that event, in the revival of commerce, and public credit, the increase of wealth, the promotion of the liberal arts, and all that exalts or adorns civil society; long may these enterprising states remain solid pillars in the federal edifice; and long maintain the pure morals, the serious religion, and wise institutions of their pious forefathers.

The emigrants to Vermont, carrying a good portion of the virtue and intelligence of their native states into their new settlements, founded institutions of science as soon as they were able to support them. In 1791, the legislature established a college at Burlington, on Lake Champlain, pleasantly situated on the south side of Onion river. Large sums of money were subscribed for erecting buildings, and the establishment of a fund. Ten trustees were appointed, who have since elected a president, under whom a course of col-: legiate studies has been commenced by a number of youth. The state has granted about 33,000 acres of new land for the support of a college. In 1800, another college was incorpotated in Middlebury, which is now flourishing under a president and other officers. The college edifice is the largest building in the state.

In 1795, Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, in Maine, was incorporated. Ten thousand dollars

by the Hon. James Bowdoin, Esq. and six townships by the legislature have been given for the benefit of this institution, beside other smaller donations. It is under the government of two boards, one of thirteen trustees, one of 45 overseers. A building of brick is erected, 50 feet long, 40 wide, 3 stories high. This institution is remote from any other college, and bids fair to be useful under a president and professor of languages.

CHAP. XXVII.

Description of New England, Mountains, Climate, Diseases, Soil, Rivers, Productions, Forests.

NEW ENGLAND is a country which presents to the traveller all the varieties of surface which can be found. There is a plain of great extent in the southeastern part of Massachusetts. Extensive plains are also spread through a considerable part of the counties of York and Cumberland, and along the Merrimack through the interior of New Hampshire. Many others not inconsiderable, exist in other places. Vallies of every size, from the great Connecticut valley to the little bason, constitute of course no inconsiderable part of a country which is so generally undulating, and whose hills are a proverbial description of its sur

face. Connecticut valley extends from Saybrook to the Canada line, and is not far from 300 miles in length. Its breadth varies from half a mile to twenty miles, and is charmingly diversified by the intrusion of numerous spurs from the two great ranges of mountains, which form its eastern and western boundaries.

The mountains in New England are either long ranges or separate eminences. The westernmost range begins in the county of Fairfield, and, passing through the counties of Litchfield and Berkshire, may be said to unite with the Green Mountains at Williamstown, in the north west corner of Massachusetts: being there separated only by the narrow valley of Hoosac river. The highest part of this range is Toghkonnuck mountain in Egremont, the south western corner of the same state. Over this mountain, which is prob. ably elevated more than 3000 feet above the ocean, runs the boundary between Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. This range, hitherto known by no appropriate name, may with propri ety be called Toghkonnuck Range.

The second range is that of the Green Mountains. The eastern front of this range begins at New Haven, in a noble bluff, called West Rock, and extends thence, to the Canada line; sloping, however, with a very gradual declension, in the northern parts of Vermont; and in Canada becoming merely a collection of small hills. Ff

The

two highest summits of this range are the Camel's Rump, (so called from its strong resemblance to the back of that animal) and the mountain of Mansfield, both in Vermont, in the county of Chittenden these are very lofty, several thousand feet above the ocean. The third range begins also at New Haven in another very delightful eminence, called the East Rock; and, passing through the counties of New Haven, Hartford, and Hampshire, extends into Canada, through the whole length of the state of New Hampshire. The Blue Hills, in Southington, Mount Tom, Mount Holyoke, in the vicinity of Northampton and Hadley, and Mount Toby, in Sunderland, are the principal summits of this range south of New Hampshire. This range although less lofty than the highest parts of the two former, is yet more precipitous and romantic than either. It crosses Connecticut river just below Northampton and Hadley, in Massachusetts. No mountains in New England present, from their summits, so delightful views as are furnished by various eminences of this range. This may be advantageously termed The range of Mount Tom, which is the principal eminence.

The south or eastern range is less distinctly marked; it begins at Lyme, in Connecticut, and forms the eastern boundary of the Connecticut valley, until it unites with the last mentioned range

in the county of Hampshire. It has no very remarkable eminences.

Of single mountains, the highest, in Massachusetts, is Saddle Mountain, in the towns of Adams, and Williamstown, so called from its striking resemblance to that piece of furniture. This mountain is computed to be little less than 4000 feet above the surface of the ocean. Its southern point is the highest land in Massachusetts. Watchusett is a lofty hill in Princeton, in the county of Worcester. Aschutney is a noble single hill in Windsor, in the state of Vermont.

Monadnock

is a very lofty conical mountain in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. The White Mountains in New Hampshire are a round clump with numerous summits, of which Mount Washington, is far the highest; being probably between ten and eleven thousand feet above the surface of the ocean; and much the highest land in the United States. Nothing can be more majestic than the appearance of this mountain; it is covered a great part of the year, with snow, and in this state is seen ninety miles at sea, in fair weather, and one hundeed and sixty from its base. The mountains called Moosehillock, or Moosheelock, and Ossipee, are short ranges in New Hampshire, of very considerable height, and very respectable appearance; as are those called Pondicherry, (vulgarly Cherry) a lofty range of the White Mountains, on the northwest; though these last may be consid