among the colonists The majority of the people of Virginia were ft* a long time opposed to slavery; and laws were passed to prevent it. But the selfish policy of the kings and proprietors in England encouraged the introduction of slaves, and the evil could not be resisted by the colonists.

The slate has a great variety of surface and of soil. From the sea coast to the termination of tide water, which includes a tract from 110 to 120 miles in width, the country is low and flat, in some places marshy; the soil is sandy, covered with pitch pine, light, and of but little fertility, except on the margins of the rivers, where it is often productive. This is denominated the low country, and is unhealthy from August to October. Between the head of tide water and the Blue ridge, the country gradually rises and becomes uneven, and near the mountains often abrupt and broken, though the soil is fertile.

The mineral wealth of Virginia is very great. Gold, copper, lead, iron, coal, salt, limestone, and marble are found; and it has a number of very celebrated mineral springs, particularly those impregnated with sulphur. Mining has recently received much attention; in 1840, 2000 persons were engaged in it. The belt of the country in which gold is found is in Spottsylvania county and the adjacent country, and extending in a S. W. direction, it passes into North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. But the iron and coal are much more valuable. The coal fields are very extensive, both anthracite and bituminous, and large quantities have been exported, particularly from the neighborhood of Rich mond. Salt springs are found, and large quantities of salt are exported from the banks of the Great Kanawha.

The first constitution of Virginia was formed in 1776. This was amended by a convention assembled for that purpose, in 1830. The governor is elected for three years by the joint vote of the two houses of assembly, but is ineligible for the next succeeding three years. He must be at least 30 years of age, must be a native born citizen of the United States, and have resided in the state for five years next preceding his election. The council of state consists of three members, elected for three years, one of the number retiring annually. They are the advisers of the governor. The senior councillor is lieutenant-governor, and acts Hs governor in case of the death, resignation, absence, or inability of the governor. The senate consists of 32 members, elected by the people for four years, one fourth of the number retiring annually. A member must be at least 30 years of age, and have a residence and a freehold in the district for which he is elected. The house of delegates consists of 134 members, elected annually by the people. A member must be at least S5 years of age, and have a residence and a freehold in the district for which he is elected. No person holding a lucrative office, no ministers of the gospel, or priests of any denomination, can be elected a member of the assembly. The judges of the supreme court of appeals, aw1 the superio courts, are elected by the joint vote of both houses of assembly, and hold their offices during good behaviour. The attorney-general is appointed in the same manner, and holds his office during the pleasure of the general assembly. Every white male citizen of the state, of 21 years of age or upwards, who owns an interest in a freehold estate of the value of $25, or who is a house-keeper or head of a family, and has paid taxes, excepting paupers, non-commissioned officers, soldiers, seamen or marines in the service of the United States, and persons convicted of infamous crimes, is entitled to the right of suffrage. The general assembly meets annually at Richmond on the first Monday of December. At all elections, Totes are given openly, or viva voce, »nJ not bv ballot, as in most of the othst

states.

NEW-YORK.

Probably the first European who landed on the soil of New-York, was John de Verrazano, a Florentine, in the service of Francis I. of France. About the middle of March, 1524, he arrived on the American coast, near Wilmington, N. C., from which point he proceeded as far south as Georgia. He then turned and coasted north, until he came to about the latitude of 41* north, where he entered a harbour, which, from his description, is believed to be that of New-York. Verrazano stayed in the harbour about fifteen days; traded freely with tho natives, and left on the 5th of May, coasting as far as Labrador, whence he sailed for France. In a letter to the king he gave an account of his voyage, giving the name of NewFrance to the country he visited; but as his voyage neither produced nor promised any addition to the revenues of France, his discoveries were not pursued. In a subsequent expedition this voyager was lost, having been destroyed, it is supposed, by savages.

In 1609, Henry Hudson, an Englishman, in the service of the Dutch East India Company, discovered the Hudson river, and ascended it about 160 miles. In consequence of this discovery, the Dutch laid claim to a large extent of territory on both sides of this river, and called it NewNetherlands. In 1613, several Dutch merchants erected a fort where Albany now stands, which they named Fort Orange. The next year they built several trading houses on the island of Manhattan, now called NewYork, to which they gave the name of Nieu-Amsterdam. The English claimed the whole continent by virtue of Cabot's discoveries, and regarded the Dutch as intruders; and in the same year, Captain Argall, from Virginia, with a fleet of three ships, visited these settlements on the Hudson, demanded a surrender of the fort, and claimed the territory, as properly constituting a part of Virginia. Their number being small, they sub nitted without resistance. But the next year a new governor arrived from Holland, and the Dutch renounced the authority of the English, and ■etained possession until 1664. They erected a fort on the Delaware, and tnd one also at the mouth of the Connecticut, and laid claim to all the territory between these rivers. In 1655, Peter Stuyvesant, the Dutch fovernor, with a fleet of seven ships attacked and subdued the Swedes, who had settled on the west side of the Delaware river; but the Dutch loon had to encounter again their old enemies, the English. In 1664, Charles II. granted to his brother, the Duke of York and Albany, all New England, and the territory then in the possession of the Dutch. A squadron, therefore, soon appeared in New-York harbour, under the com mand of Colonel Nichols. The English immediately demanded a surrender of the town, and promised to secure to the inhabitants the rights ol life and property. Governor Stuyvesant determined to resist; but at length the inhabitants constrained him to submit. The English took pos session, and in honor of the duke, called the town New-York. Soon after, Fort Orange was taken, and named Albany. Nichols now assumed the government of the country, and under his liberal administration, New fork, in 1665, was made a city, and is now the grand metropolis of the /estern world.

In 1673, shortly after war was declared between England and Holland, a Dutch fleet arrived at Staten Island, and by the treachery of the commander of the fort, was permitted to enter the harbour of New-York without resistance. The Dutch immediately took possession of the city; but soon the news of peace arrived, and the country was again restored to the English. Sir Edmund Andross was appointed governor of the province, but his administration was distinguished for nothing but a course of tyranny. The people of the colony became discontented under the arbttrary regulations imposed upon them; and in 1682, they were firs.

permitted to take part in the government. An assembly, consisting of a council or ten, appointed by the duke, and eighteen representatives, chosen by the people, were allowed to make the laws of the colony. In 1690, during the war between England and France, the French of Canada conspired with certain tribes of Indians for the destruction of the English settlements. On the 8th of February, a party attacked and destroyed the town of Schenectady. Every house was surrounded, and a horrid yell broke the stillness of the night; the inhabitants sprang from their beds, found their dwellings in flames, and their doors guarded by the savage foe. Some escaped; but naked and exposed to a storm, many of them perished before they could reach Albany, their nearest place of refuge. In this cruel assault, sixty were killed, twenty-seven made prisoners, ami twenty-five lost their hands and feet by the cold. These and other sav. age cruellies, led the English colonists to combine their forces against Canada. Sir William Phipps, with a large fleet, sailed up the St. Law. rence; and an army proceeded from New-York by land, as far as Lake Champlain; but owing to some mismanagement, this expedition failed of success.

In 1691, King William appointed Colonel Henry Sloughter governor if New-York. At this time the colony needed a magistrate of talents ani energy. Sloughter had neither; he was weak and vicious. Ex-^overnor Leisler disputed his authority; but after several vain attempts to maintain his own power, he, with Malborne, were taken and condemned fit high treason. Sloughter at first refused to execute the sentence of the court; but at a feast, in a tit of intoxication, he was induced to sign the death warrant, and they were executed. Their estates were afterwaris restored to their families, and their bodies were taken up by their par y and buried with great pomp, in the old Dutch church, in the city of NewYork. Sloughter died in 1G91; and he was succeeded the next yearly Colonel Fletcher. Fletcher desired to promote among the Dutch inhabitants the use of the English language, and the interests of the English church; and these objects he recommended to the attention of the asse nbly. After much difficulty, a bill was passed encouraging education in the colony, and providing for the support of ministers of the gospel, who were to be chosen by the people.

In 1698, the Earl of Bellamont was made governor of the colony, at which time the American seas were infested with pirates. The earl prorosed to send out a naval force against them; but the assembly rejected ihe proposal. He then fitted out a private vessel, under the command of Captain Kidd, who afterwards became a pirate himself. Bellamont was succeeded, in 1702, by Lord Cornbury, son of the celebrated earl of Clar iidon. In his private character, Cornbury was vicious and contemptible; as a magistrate, he was tyrannical and prodigal of the people's monsy. He was removed from office, and soon after. seized by his creditors and thrown into prison.

In 1710, the queen appointed General Hunter governor of the colony. During his administration, another attempt was made for the subjugation of Canada. An army of 4,000 men left Albany and marched against Montreal. A large fleet proceeded up the St. Lawrence, but meeting with a violent storm, many of the ships were dashed upon the rocks, and the remainder returned to England. When this was made known to the ai mv the troops were disheartened, and the enterprise was abandoned.

la 1719, Hunter left the colony in a state of perfect harmony, and returned to Europe, when his office was conferred upon William Burnet, son uf the celebrated Bishop Burnet. At this time the French were erecting forts along the lakes and rivers, from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Their policy in this, was to cut off the fur trade of the English, and secure it all to themselves. Burnet endeavored to defeat their object, by build

ing a fort at Oswego. He watched all the movements of the Indians and sought to prevent their union with the French. After Burnet, the government of the colony devolved successively upon Colonel Montgomery, Rip Van Dam, and William Crosby. The latter arrived at NewYork in 1732. During his administration a prosecution was commenced, through his influence, against the editor of a newspaper, for publishing an offensive article. After a noble defence by Andrew Hamilton, the editor was acquitted, and Hamilton was greatly applauded by the citizens, who desired the entire liberty of the press.

After the death of Crosby, in 1736, George Clark was appointed lieutenant-governor. Fot many years a severe contest had existed between the governor and the house of representatives. The governor wished to have the control of the public money, and make such appropriations as he saw fit. On the other hand, the house contended that no money should be expended for any object which they did not approve. During Clark's administration the contest was maintained on both sides with a great deal of spirit, but the representatives prevailed. At this time there were many negroes in the city of New-York; fires occurred frequently, and suspicion was excited against them. Some of them were detected jn setting fire to buildings, and it was then reported that they had formed a plot to burn the city, and intended to appoint a governor of their own. The people were terrified; about thirty negroes were seized and put to death, and two white men were tried and executed. When the alarm was over the people began to reflect upon the character of the witnesses and their testimony; none of them were respectable, and the evidence of a plot had all vanished; terror and prejudice had led the magistrates to a course of manifest cruelly and injustice.

In 1743. George Clinton, a man of eminent talents, was appointed governor. He soon secured the love and confidence of the people, and united their energies against the French and Indians. The frequent depredations of the enemy upon the English settlements led to the project of another expedition against Canada; but before their plan was carried into operation peace was restored. In 1753 Gov. Clinton resigned his office, and was succeeded by Sir Danvers Osborne. This gentleman, five days after his arrival, committed suicide, through grief for the loss of his wife. James Delancey, who had been lieutenant-governor under Clinton, then assumed the chief authority. In 1755 Sir Charles Hardy arrived in New-York with commission of governor; but being a naval officer unacquainted with civil affairs, he put himself altogether into the hands of Mr. Delancey. The governors next succeeding were Cadwallader Colden, General Monckton, Sir Henry Moore, and William Tryon, the last-named closing the list of royal governors.

The climate of New-York is various. In the south part the winters are mild but changeable; in the north-east part they are severe but more uniform; in the level country west of the mountains the climate is more mild than in the same latitude in the east part. The principal river in the state is the Hudson, three hundred and twenty-four miles long, which enters New-York bay, and is navigable for sloops one hundred and fiftyone miles, to Troy. Lakes Erre, Champlain, and Ontario lie partly within the state of those which lie wholly within it, are lakes George, Oneida, Skaneateles, Owasco, Cayuga, Seneca, Canandaigua, and Crooked lake, which, with the exception of lake George, discharge their waters into lake Ontario, and Chatauque lake, which empties into the Alleghany river. Two principal chains of high lands, rising to mountains, cross the eastern part of the state. One of these comes from New-Jersey and crosses the Hudson at West Point, where on each side ol the river the mountains, in places coming to the water's edge, and rising to the height of from one thousand to one thousand seven hundred feet, consti

ute some of the grandest and most interesting scenery in the coantrj, known as the "Highlands." These mountains are from fifteen to twenty miles wide, and after crossing the Hudson river proceed northerly form the Taghkannic mountains, divide the waters which fall into the Hudson from those flowing into the Housatonic river, and thence into Long Island Sound. Another range comes from the north-west part of New-Jersey, and constitutes the Shawagunk mountains. A third range comes from Pennsylvania, and proceeding north through Sullivan, Ulster, and Greene counties, constitute the Catskill mountains. The Adirondack mountains in the north-east part, and south-west of lake Champlain, are the loftiest mountains in the state, Mount Marcy, the highest peak, beinf 6460 feet high, and little inferior to the White mountains in New-Hamp

shire.

This state boasts the noblest cataract on the earth—that of Niagara. It is computed that 100,000,000 tons of water are discharged over the precipice every hour. The height of the fall near the American shore is 163 feet; near Goat Island,, on the Canada shore, 154 feet; the distance around the Horse-shoe fall is 144 rods. The river at the falls is nearly a mile wide, but directly below is compressed to less than a fourth that distance; and while it makes a constant descent, with amazing velocity, the banks rise gradually for six miles. Some suppose the falls to have receded from the escarpment of Queenston to their present site; but Dr. Lyell, the geologist, conjectures the time necessary for such recession, to be 35,000 years.

New-York has several important literary institutions. Columbia college, formerly King's college, was founded in New-York city in 1754, and is under the direction, though not exclusively, of the Episcopalians; Union college at Schenectady was founded in 1795; Hamilton college in Clinton was founded in 1813; Geneva college, conducted by the Episcopalians, was founded in Geneva in 1893; the University of the city of New-York was founded in 1831; the Hamilton literary and theological seminary was founded by the Baptists in 1819; the Theological Institute of the Episcopal church was founded in 1819, in the city of NewYork; the seminary connected with the University, was founded in 1826; the seminary at Auburn was founded by the Presbyterians in 1821; the Hartwick seminary was founded, in Otsego county, by the Lutherans, is 1816; the seminary of the Associate Reformed Church, at Newburgh, in 1836; the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the city of New-York, in 1807; the Albany Medical College, in 1839.

The governor is elected biennially by the people. He must be thirty years of age, be a native-born citizen of the United States, and haTe resided five years in the state. The lieutenant is elected in like manner, and must possess similar qualifications. He is president of the senate; and in case of the impeachment, removal, death, or absence of the governor, discharges the duties of the office. The senate consists of thirty-two members, who are chosen for five years, one fourth of whom are elected every year. The assembly consists of one hundred and twenty-eight members, elected annually by the people. The govcreor nominates all judicial officers, except justices of the peace, and has the power of appointment, with the consent of the senate. The judges bold their offices during good behaviour, or until they are sixty years of age. Every male white citizen of full twenty-one years of age, who has resided for one year in the state, and for six months preceding the election, in the county where he offers his vote, enjoys the right of suffrage. Persons of colour are allowed to vote who have resided five years in the state, who possess a freehold of #250, and have held it for ot* .ear previous to the election, and pay a tax on it.