forced open the stone vault, containing the company's books and papers, carried them to Barnhart's, and burned them in the highway.

From this time, till 1838, all intercourse between the Land Company and the settlers ceased. In that year a sale was effected of the property, to Messrs. Duer, Morrison and Seward, (late governor of the state,) and by them an office was opened in Westfield, and the outstanding claims adjusted to the satisfaction of all parties.

VILLAGES. MAYVILLE, the county seat, is a flourishing village, in the town of Chautauque. It was incorporated in 1830. It is beautifully situated, commanding a fine view of the lake. Its public buildings are neat and substantial.

The Mayville academy was incorporated in 1834, and is a well conducted institution. A steamboat plies between this village and Jamestown, daily, during the summer. Population 500.

Jamestown, situated on the outlet of Chautauque lake, in the town of Ellicott, is the largest village in the county. It has a fine hydraulic power, which is extensively used in manufacturing. Lumber, wooden ware, sash, lath, flour, cloth, &c., are manufactured here. The Jamestown academy was incorported in 1836, and is in a prosperous condition. This village was incorporated in 1827. Population 1700.

Fredonia is a beautiful village, in the town of Pomfret, four miles from Lake Erie. It has some trade, but is chiefly remarkable for its inflammable spring, which furnishes a sufficient quantity of gas to light the village brilliantly. It was incorporated in 1829. The academy here, established in 1824, was the first in the county, and sustains a high reputation. Population 1000.

Westfield, in the town of the same name, incorporated in 1833, is situated on Chautauque creek, one and a half miles from Lake Erie. It is a thriving, busy village, and has a fine academy, incorporated in 1837. Population 1000.

Dunkirk, on Lake Erie, in the town of Pomfret, has been designated as the western terminus of the New York and Erie railroad. It is a village of some business. The United States government have expended about $80,000 in the improvement of its harbor, which is now commodious for vessels drawing eight or nine feet water. It is open usually somewhat earlier than that of Buffalo. Population 1000.

Fayette, at the mouth of Silver creek, in the town of Hanover, has a good steamboat landing, and some trade. Pop. 700. Portland has a good harbor. Barcelona has a light house, illuminated with the gas evolved from an inflammable spring near it.

Rivers. Q. Tioughnioga. a. Cold Creek. h. Otselic.
Villages. CORTLAND. Homer.

BOUNDARIES. North by Onondaga county; East by Madison and Chenango; South by Broome and Tioga; and West by Tompkins and Cayuga counties.

THE SURFACE is elevated, and gently sloping to the south,

forming a part of the high central section of the state. Its northern boundary lies on the watershed, or dividing ridge between the waters flowing into Lake Ontario, and the tributaries of the Susquehanna river. The broad valleys of the streams, and the rounded and fertile hills, give the surface an agreeably diversified aspect.

RIVERS. The Tioughnioga, rising near its northern boundary, with its tributaries, waters nearly the whole county. The Otselic, its main branch, drains the southeastern section. Both streams are navigable for small boats, when swollen by the heavy rains of spring and autumn.

CLIMATE. Healthy and equable. From the elevation of its surface, the winters are long and much snow falls.

GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. Slate is the basis rock of the county. On the north this is covered with Onondaga limestone, or the limestone and slate of the Helderberg series. On the south and east the Chemung sandstone and shale are the surface rocks.

The minerals of the county are salt, bog iron ore, and marl. There are also some sulphuretted hydrogen springs.

SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The soil is generally a gravelly loam, intermingled with the disintegrated lime and slate, and is quite fertile, yielding good crops of grass and grain. The timber is chiefly oak, maple, beech, basswood, butternut, elm, and chestnut. Groves of pine and hemlock are found in the southern part of the county.

PURSUITS. Agriculture is the principal pursuit of the inhabitants. Much attention is paid to the rearing of cattle; considerable quantities of grain are also raised. The products of the dairy are large.

Manufactures are increasing in importance in the county. The principal articles are flour, lumber, cotton and woollen goods, leather and potash.

STAPLE PRODUCTIONS. Butter, cheese, wool, oats, corn, and flax. Considerable quantities of wheat, barley, buckwheat, potatoes, and pork are also produced.

SCHOOLS. The whole number of district schools in the county is 180. In 1846, these were taught, on an average, seven months, and 9,273 children received instruction during the year at an expense of $9470. The district school libraries contained 15,197 volumes.

There are in the county twenty-eight private schools, with 443 pupils, and two academies with 233 scholars.

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Episcopalians. There are in the

county forty-five churches, and fifty-four clergymen of all denominations.

HISTORY. Cortland county comprises a portion of the Military Tract, or lands given by the state of New York to her Revolutionary soldiers. It was principally settled by emigrants from the eastern states, who removed here after the Revolution. Homer, the oldest town, was organized in 1794.

The county received its name from General Peter Van Cortlandt, who was a large landholder here. It was taken from Onondaga in 1808.

VILLAGES. CORTLAND, in the town of Cortlandville, is the largest village, and the seat of justice for the county. It is pleasantly situated on the north branch of the Tioughnioga, and has a number of fine public buildings. The Cortland female seminary is a flourishing institution.

The private residences of the citizens are neat, and many of them elegant. Population 1500.

Homer, in the town of the sa ne name, is a beautiful and thriving village on the Tioughnioga. It has an old and flourishing academy of high reputation, with six teachers, and departments for both sexes. In 1846, a large and enthusiastic meeting of its alumni and friends was held, attended with ap propriate exercises.

The village is one of the most beautiful in central New York. It is considerably engaged in manufactures. The churches, four in number, and the academy, occupy a public square six acres in extent. Population 1400.

Truxton and Virgil, in the towns of the same names, are villages of some importance. The former has some manufactures.