VERMONT. 391 



to west into Lake Champlain; West, White, Poosoom^uc, Deer- 

 field, and several smaller rivers, which run from west to east, into 

 Connecticut river. Otter Creek rises in Peru, runs west of north 

 90 miles, and alter receiving fifteen smaller streams, falls into Lake 

 Champlain at Ferrisburg. Onion river rises in Cabot, runs south- 

 west 20 miles, then bending its course north of west, 60 miles, falls 

 into Lake Champlain between Burlington and Colchester. It receives 

 14 tributary streams. Its navigation is interrupted by several falls. 

 At one of these in Waterbury its channel becomes very narrow, and 

 passes between two high ledges of rocks. A huge mis-shapen rock 

 has fallen from one of these ledges, and lies in such a manner as to 

 form a natural bridge, under which the whole stream runs ; but it 

 can never be of any use, as neither the shape of the rock, nor the si- 

 tuation of the adjacent banks, will admit of a road either to or across 

 it. The Lamoille issues from a pond in Glover. Its general 

 bearing is south of west. After running 75 miles through a rich, 

 level, and fertile country, having received in its course 14 tributary 

 streams, it falls into Lake Champlain at Colchester. Michiscoui 

 is the Indian name of the most northerly river in Vermont. It rises 

 in Belvidere, runs north-east, crossing into Canada ; then after run- 

 ning west some distance it bends towards the south, re-enters Ver- 

 mont in Richford, and falls into Lake Champlain. 



The rivers on the east side of the Green mountains are not so large 

 as those on the west. West river has its principal source in Peru. 

 It runs south-east 37 miles, and falls into Connecticut river at Brat- 

 tleborough. White river rises in Kingston, runs south-east 50 miles, 

 and falls into the Connecticut at Hartford. Poosoomsuc river is made 

 up of ten lesser streams; it runs south 45 miles, and unites with the 

 Connecticut in Barnet. All these rivers have their sources among 

 the Green mountains, and abound in various kinds of fish. 



Lake Champlain, which was first discovered in 1608, by Samuel 

 Champlain, from whom it takes its name, is the largest collection of 

 waters in this part of the United States. It lies between the states 

 of Vermont and New-York, part of whose boundaries it forms, and 

 extends upwards of 100 miles in length, nearly north and south. It 

 is from one to 18 miles wide, and includes several islands, the princi- 

 pal of which are the north and south Hero, which, with the town of 

 Alburg, constitute Grand Isle county. It is of sufficient depth for the 

 largest vessels. Round the shores it begins early to be frozen, but it 

 is not completely covered with ice till the middle of January, and 

 continues so till the middle of April. Its waters pass through the river 

 Sorelle into the St. Lawrence, between Montreal and Quebec. Lake 

 Memphremagog is about forty miles long, and between two and three 

 wide. It lies chiefly in Lower Canada. The river St. Francis forms 

 a communication between it and the river St. Lawrence. Round the 

 shores of this lake the soil is rich, and the country level and pleasant. 

 This lake receives from Vermont three considerable streams, Clyde, 

 Black, and Barton rivers. 



Soil and agricultural productions. ...The soil of this state, 

 deep and of a dark colour, is rich, moist, warm and loamy; adapted 

 to most of the purposes and productions of agriculture. It is, how- 

 ever, better calculated for grazing than tillage, especially upon the 

 higher lands. On the west side of the Green mountains, and in many 

 places along Connecticut river, the soil produces wheat in abundance, 

 and of an excellent quality; but on the mountainous parts towards 



