234 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



line ; but a similar allowance for the magnetic change having been adopted, gave it an 

 inclination injurious to N. H. Yet how far the erroneous mode, then in practice, of 

 running parallels by perpendiculars counteracted the mistake in the allowance for 

 variation, remains to be determined by proper observations, yet to be made at the 

 extremities of this line. 



But under present circumstances the calculations of Mr. Wright, made in 1773, have 

 been deemed from necessity the safest basis for this projection. 



With regard to the face of the country, its features are striking and picturesque. 

 The natural scenery of mountains of greater elevation than any others in the UNITED 

 STATES ; of lakes, of cataracts, of vallies, furnishes a profusion of the sublime and 

 beautiful. It may be called the Switzerland of AMERICA. The extreme coldness of 

 the winter is alleviated by the convivial hospitality of that season ; and [is] more than 

 compensated by the salubrity of the air and other delights of the summer. Industry 

 morality and piety characterize the public manners, and this state richly participates in 

 those advancements in science and that high grade of refinement, so general in NEW 

 ENGLAND. Although the soil, for the most part, is better adapted to pasturage, 

 than agriculture ; yet a great portion of it is fertile, and produces maize and other 

 grains abundantly. Elections are annual ; the Townships are distinct corporations, 

 and slavery is unknown. N. H. was discovered in 1614, and its settlement commenced 

 in 1623. Its population had advanced in 1770 to 63,761, in 1780 to 102,131, in 1798 

 to 142,018, in 1800 to 183,663, and in 1810 to 214,460. The State is restricted 

 to one harbor, which is at PORTSMOUTH, and is second to none in AMERICA. 

 CONCORD is the present seat of Government. 



The variation of the magnetic needle is given thus : Latitude 45, 1807, 

 7 33'. Dartmouth college, 1808, 7 21'. Concord, 18 10, 7 17'. 



The scale is stated to be three miles to the inch, or rather that seems 

 to have been the intention. Careful measurements upon our copy indi- 

 cate it to be 3.4 miles to the inch. The variation is undoubtedly due to 

 the contraction of the paper by drying after the impression had been 

 printed upon it. Every map thus prepared is liable to modification for 

 the same reason, and measurements should always be made from the 

 scale engraved on the face of the map, rather than from a foot-rule. 



The general appearance of the map is a great improvement over Hol- 

 land's, having been engraved upon copper. The mountains, rivers, and 

 various boundary lines are given with much greater precision. The 

 northern boundary is given very nearly as it was finally settled by the 

 commissioners. The wedge of Percy and Kilkenny, between the east 

 and west townships in Coos county, has been reduced to respectable 

 limits. Most of the grants and gores have been merged into townships ; 



