In Quebec the thermometer sinks to 30° below zero, and rises in summer to 95° above zero. In Baltimore the thermometer rose twice in the course of eight years to 98°, and sank four times below zero.* In an elevated part of the Oregon territory, the thermometer stood at sunrise at 18°, and at noon at 92°; while a difference of 40° Fahrenheit was quite common. In Alabama it amounted in one day to 50°. The quantity of rain in different months and years is very dif ferent. Thus there fell: In Baltimore, in August, 1817, 10 inches. 66 In Europe it rains oftener,† but not so much as in America.‡ Notwithstanding the great difference above noted in the temperature of the atmosphere, the climate (with the exception of some parts along the sea-coast and in the vicinity of swamps) is not prejudicial to the duration of life; or else the injurious effects diminish with the progress of cultivation,§ and through the adoption of judicious precautionary measures. A high degree of longevity is established by the statement,|| that in 1835 there were in the United States: 33,517 persons between 80 and 90 years of age. 4,477 66 between 90 and 100 66 If North America is far behind the southern continent as respects the discovery of the precious metals, it abounds to superfluity in all the indispensable and generally useful treasures of the mineral kingdom. Thus there is found: Platina, none at all. Silver, very little. Gold, in great abundance, especially in Georgia and North and South Carolina,T east of the mountains. Copper, in plenty near Lake Superior, and at different places in the Mississippi valley. * Darby's View of the U. States, p. 389. Buckingham's Slave States, i. 243. † Greenhow's Memoir on the Northwestern Coast, p. 17. Warren's Account of the United States, i. 164. In the northern half of the United States, the days in a year were: Lead, in the neighborhood of the lakes,* in Missouri, Wisconsin, and Arkansas, in prodigious quantities. Iron, to superfluity in New England, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Tennessee. In Missouri there are even whole mountains of almost pure oxide of iron. Salt, in abundance in Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, and other parts; although a considerable quantity is still imported from Portugal, Spain, Sicily, England, and other countries. Coal, in many places in very great quantities, e. g. in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, &c. The beds in Pittsburg alone, the American Birmingham, appear to be inexhaustible. The vegetable kingdom has reigned and still reigns in America under two great aspects, those of forests and prairies. The forests extend from the river St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico, over plains, declivities, and mountains. In Europe one can hardly form an idea of the magnitude and beauty of the American primeval forests and trees; and while in France there are reckoned only 37 kinds of trees that grow to the height of 30 feet, there are in America 130 kinds which exceed this measurement, and which with the variety of their growth and foliage surprise and enchant every beholder. The diversity and beauty of the colors of autumn are especially celebrated. The practice of burning down the trees, which the first settlers found necessary, is constantly diminishing; since the increasing water communications facilitate transhipment, and give the formerly worthless timber a daily increasing value. Although it may be contended that the cultivation and consumption of tobacco is not beneficial to the human race, yet the universal diffusion of the American potato is an undeniable blessing. Without it, many of the countries of Europe would be entirely incapable of supporting their present population, and the poorer classes would often be left a prey to hunger. Those seas of meadow-land, the prairies, which lie southwest of the great lakes and along the banks of the Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, &c., are for the most part entirely destitute of trees, having been so from the beginning, or made so in consequence of natural or violent changes. For while some maintain that many forests, both in ancient and modern times,† have been purposely or accidentally burnt down, others deny the fact, because traces of coal are nowhere to be met with. I regard it as indubitable that the prairies on the Illinois and towards Chicago, have *On the upper Mississippi, too, 35,000,000 pounds of lead were obtained in a sin gle year. † Lewis and Clarke's Travels, p. 3. arisen from the subsidence of the waters, and are the bottoms of ancient lakes; nay, had the waters of the Mississippi, in the summer of 1844, risen but a few feet higher,* they would again have been converted into lakes. Thus Featherstonhaugh (p. 120) designates the prairies in Arkansas as the beds of ancient lakes, and remarks that meadow and forest often seemed there to contend for the mastery. The soil of the prairies is either perfectly level, or else it assumes the form of waves, and presents the appearance of a green sea which has suddenly become fixed. while in motion. But to this color of the grass are soon joined the hues of a variety of brilliant blossoms; red, it is said, predominating in spring, blue in summer, and yellow in autumn. The mpister parts are the resort of innumerable water-fowl, and the rier are traversed by immense herds of buffaloes. Yet even here drinkable water is found not far beneath the surface. It is easier to cultivate these meadow-lands, girt with trees at the edges, than to extirpate the giant sons of the primitive forest; these plains also offer the most favorable opportunity for the construction of roads, canals, and railways. With the exception of many poor or swampy places on the shores of the Atlantic, and the great deserts that lie beyond all the present settlements at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, the entire soil of the American republic admits with care of profitable cultivation, and exhibits for the most part a superior degree of fertility. That the wild beasts are constantly forced further back, while man and the domestic animals take their place, is an incalculable gain; and the diminution of the vegetable kingdom is no loss, as this is rarely carried further than is necessary, while a rich indemnification is presented in the prodigious store of coal and iron. Even in Maine, the state lying furthest to the north, all the necessaries of life can be produced; and from here down to Florida and Louisiana there extends the cultivation of such a variety of articles, that the United States are better capable than any other country upon earth of forming a commercial state exclusive and sufficient for itself. But as they have not wished to put into execution this unphilosophic and unpractical idea, they have naturally already attained the second rank among the commercial nations of the world. *In some of the northwestern regions, as, for instance, in the Traverse des Sioux, the water is still decreasing. CHAPTER II. DISCOVERIES AND FIRST SETTLEMENTS. Travellers and Discoverers--Virginia-Maryland-New England--Carolina-New York-New Jersey — Pennsylvania — Georgia — Delaware - General state of things. - As soon as Columbus had revealed another horizon to the eyes of all Europe by means of his grand discovery, every seafaring nation sought to secure for itself a share in the new countries. The Spaniard Ponce de Leon landed in Florida in 1512;* Soto penetrated to the Mississippi in 1541; and in 1565 the Spaniards founded St. Augustine in Florida, the oldest city in the United States, but at the same time they most barbarously destroyed, out of religious hatred, a settlement of French Huguenots. In the year 1524 Verazzani undertook for France the first voyage to the coasts of the United States; Cartier arrived at the St. Lawrence in 1535; and in 1608, Champlain penetrated to the lake that bears his name. More continuous and indefatigable were the enterprises of the English. John Cabot, a Venetian merchant residing in Bristol, received from King Henry VII., on the 5th of March, 1495, a patent to discover and take possession of countries. On the 24th of June, 1497, he reached the continent (Columbus reached it in 1498, and Amerigo in 1599) in the 56th degree of north latitude, and he followed down the coast to the 38th degree. This discovery was at that time equivalent to taking possession. Cabot's son, Sebastian, went in 1517 in search of a northwest passage, and on this occasion penetrated into Hudson's bay. Drake's voyages and plundering excursions (1577-1580) were of no lasting consequence; and in spite of the boldness and perseverance exhibited by Raleigh (since the year 1584) in his endeavors to establish the colony of Virginia, so called after Queen Elizabeth, it was not till twenty years later (in 1607) that Jamestown, the oldest Anglo-American city, was founded. And even at this time every thing wore an unfavorable aspect. Among those who had ventured over there were more gold-hunters, nobles, and idlers, than husbandmen and mechanics. There was a lack of women, and numerous dissensions gave the Indians opportunities for attacks and for inflicting barbarities. The aim of * The best information on all these matters is to be found in Bancroft's History the greater part was rather to amass sudden wealth, than to settle and labor. It was very correctly remarked by Capt. John Smith, the man to whom Virginia is so highly indebted, that mechanics and husbandmen were needed most of all, and that nothing was to be hoped for or gained in the country but by labor. And such, thank Heaven, is still the case! In the two first patents for a company of adventurers, only their and the king's rights were guaranteed. In 1619, Governor Yeardley boldly convoked a representative assembly; and in the year 1621, the London Company established a constitution similar to that of England; the Governor and members of a Council were appointed by the company; but the legislative power was entrusted to an Assembly, in which sat the councillors above mentioned, and two burgesses chosen to represent each plantation. Orders from London needed ratification by the assembly, and vice versa. The governor was allowed a negative, restraining vote. Judicial proceedings and the trial by jury were the same as in England. In the year 1623 King James broke up the company; yet the rights of Virginia were not hereby diminished. On the contrary, it was distinctly declared that the governor should levy no taxes without the authority of the assembly. The designs of kings James and Charles I. to abolish the company altogether, met with failure; nor did the last-named monarch succeed any better in obtaining for himself a monopoly of the increasing tobacco-trade. When England, in the year 1642, demanded a general monopoly of their trade: the reply of Virginia was, " Freedom of trade is the blood and life of a commonwealth." Nor could the English Navigation Act of a later date be fully enforced. But while such laudable progress was making, the introduction of slaves was unhappily permitted, and afterwards even approved of by Locke. Less objectionable was the introduction of respectable females from Europe, who were disposed of at the rate of from 120 to 150 pounds of tobacco each.* Cromwell treated the colonies with good sense and moderation; but after the restoration of Charles II., ecclesiastical and political usurpations soon showed themselves. The high church was declared to be the religion of the state, a strict conformity in all doctrines was enjoined, force was employed against the Quakers, and a heavy fine prescribed for non-attendance at church. This intentional infringement of the rights of the people led to revolts, and under Governor Berkeley to very severe punishments. This indeed Charles II. afterwards disapproved of in words; but he failed to grant a new patent with more ample public rights. The * Grahame, ii. 72. A pound was worth three shillings. ↑ Fifty pounds of tobacco. |