MASSACHUSETTS. 405 



capes, Ann, Cod, Malabar, Poge, and Gay Head ; the principal islands, 

 Plumb island, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Elizabeth islands, and 

 numerous small isles in Boston Bay. 



Rivers. ...The country is well watered by a number of small rivers, 

 of which the principal are Mystic and Charles rivers. 



Metals, minerals. ...Iron ore, in immense quantities, is found in 

 various parts of this state ; as likewise copper ore, black lead, pipe- 

 maker's ciay, yellow and red ochre, alum, and slate. Several mineral 

 springs have been found in different parts of the country. 



Climate, soil, and productions... The greater part of this state 

 enjoys a climate auspicious to the health and longevity of the inhabi- 

 tants; as it has been computed that one person in seven lives to the 

 age of 70 years. The winters are long and severe, but the air is 

 generally dry and clear. The heats also are sometimes intense, but 

 not of long continuance, the medial range of the thermometer being 

 about 50°. According to observations made in 1784 and 1788, the 

 fall of water is annually about 35 £ inches. Whatever may be the 

 cause, the soil of Massachusetts has been too sterile to produce wheat 

 for more than a century. This grain was raised in large crops till 

 the year 1664, when it was first blasted. In a few years afterwards 

 the people were discouraged from sowing it ; most of the wheat flour 

 consumed is imported. On the sea coast the land is low, and mostly 

 sandy. About 30 miles from the shore the land improves, and be- 

 tween the hills it is cultivated with success; producing rich mea- 

 dows, valuable crops of flax, rye, Indian corn, and other summer 

 grain. Orchards are also numerous, and yield a great plenty of the 

 choicest fruits. 



Population and militia. ...The number of inhabitants in Massa- 

 chusetts was, in 1790, 378,787. By the census of 1800, they amount- 

 ed to 422,845; and those of the District of Maine to 151,719, toge- 

 ther 574,564. In 1810, the population amounted to 700,745 persons, 

 472,040 of which, belonged to Massachusetts proper. There are no 

 slaves : slavery was abolished by the legislature some years ago. In 

 1751, the population was stated at 164,484; in 1773, at 300,000. Females 

 are to males as 103 to 1C0 thioughout the state, and in Boston as 12 

 to 1 1. The militia of this state is very respectable ; by regular returns 

 made to the government in 1812, they amounted to 70,530 effective 

 men, in which number there is a full proportion of cavalry and artil- 

 lery. They had at the same time, 48,u94 muskets, 1376 rifles, 157 

 pieces of cannon, 2330 pairs of pistols, and 2358 swords. 



Chief towns... .Boston is the capital of this state, the largest town 

 in New-England, and the third in size and rank in the United States. 

 It is built on a peninsula of irregular form, at the bottom of Massa- 

 chusetts Bay, and is joined to the main land by an isthmus at the 

 south end of the town. It is two miles long, but of unequal breadth; 

 the broadest part is upwards of a mile. It contains twenty-four edifices 

 for public worship, of which ten are for congregationalists, three for 

 episcopalians, two for methodists, and four for baptists : the friends, 

 Roman-catholics, Sandemanians, universalians, and African baptists, 

 have one each. There are also seven free-schools, besides a great 

 number of private schools. The harbour is capacious enough for 500 

 vessels to ride at anchor in good depth of water, while the entrance 

 is so narrow as scarcely to admit two ships abreast. The wharfs and 

 quays in Boston are about eighty in number, arid very convenient for 



Vol. II. 3 F 



