RHODEISLAND. 



SITUATION AND EXTENT. 



Mile*. Sq. Miles, 



Length 47? u ^41° 26' and 42° 10' North latitude. ~ 



Breadth 



47 > . t < 41° 26' and 42° 10' North latitude.) t „ nrt 



375 between }71° 17' and 71° 40' West longitude. 5 l ^°° 



Boundaries and divisions. ...Rhode Island and Providence Planta- 

 tions, which together form the smallest of the United States, are 

 bounded on the north and east by Massachusetts ; on the south by 

 the Atlantic Ocean ; on the west by Connecticut. This state is divi- 

 ded into the five following counties : 



Counties. Chief Towns. 



Newport, Newport. 



Providence, Providence. 



Washington, South Kingston. 



Bristol, Bristol. 



Kent, Warwick. 



Islands, harbours. ...Narraganset bay contains several fertile 

 islands, the principal of which are, Rhode Island, Connanicut, Pru- 

 dence, Patience, Hope, Dyer's, and Hog Islands. Block Island is 

 the southernmost land belonging to the state. Rhode Island, from 

 which the state takes its name, is about 15 miles in length, and about 

 three and a half broad, on an average. The harbours are, Newport, 

 Providence, Wickford, Patuxet, Warren, and Bristol. 



Rivers. ...This state is intersected in all directions by rivers, the 

 chief of which are Providence and Taunton rivers, which fall into 

 Narraganset bay. 



Metals, minerals... .Iron ore is found in great plenty in several 

 parts of this state; there is also a copper mine, mixed with iron 

 strongly impregnated with load-stone. Abundance of lime-stone is 

 also found here. 



Climate, soil, and produce. ...Rhode Island is as healthy a coun- 

 try as any in America. The winters, in the maritime parts of the 

 state, are milder than in the inland country, the air being softened by 

 a sea vapour, which also enriches the soil. The summers are de- 

 lightful, especially in Rhode Island, where the extreme heats, which 

 prevail in other parts of America, are allayed by cool and refreshing 

 breezes from the sea. This state produces rye, barley, oats, and, in 

 some parts, wheat sufficient for home consumption; and the various 

 kinds of grasses, fruits, and culinary roots and plants, in great abun- 



