418 NEW- YORK. 



long and 3 or 4 broad. Canandaigua lake is 21 mileslong and 3 wide, 

 and empties into Seneca river by Canandaigua river or outlet. Its 

 waters are clear and its scenery beautiful. Black Lake, near the river 

 St. Lawrence, is about 18 miles long and 5 or 6 broad, and contains 

 many islands. The beautiful Skancateles and Owasco lakes, are each 

 about 16 miles long, and from 1 to 5 broad, and each discharges its 

 Waters by large outlets into Seneca river. Both afford plenty of fish. 

 Schroon lake, west of lake George, is 12 or 15 miles long and 2 

 broad. Otsego lake, the head of Susquehannah river, is 9 mileslong 

 and from 1 to 4 broad. Besides these, there is yet a number of lakes, 

 from 3 to 10 miles long, and from 1 to 5 broad, (and some even lar- 

 ger;) many of which have not been particularly explored, or even 

 named. 



Islands. ..Staten Island lies 9 miles to the south-west of the city of 

 New- York, close on the shore of New-Jersey, and is 18 miles long 

 by about 7 broad. It contains about 5,400 inhabitants. It is separated 

 from. New Jersey on the north and west by Newark bay, and from 

 Long Island on the east, by the Narrows. It forms Richmond county. 

 The south part of the island is level, good land ; but much of the 

 other parts are rough and hilly. The seat of justice is Richmond, a 

 small village, but largest on the island. Long Island, which lies off 

 Connecticut and Mew-York, being separated from them by the Sound 

 and the East river, is about 140 miles long, by a medial breadth of* 

 10 miles. It contains three counties, and a number of handsome 

 villages, with about 50,000 inhabitants. Though the soil is generally 

 light and sandy, the island is in a very advanced state of improve- 

 ment. On this island is an extensive plain, called Hampstead, which 

 is 15 miles long and about 7 or 8 broad. It affords a very useful 

 common for horses, sheep and cattle. A ridge of hills, not very high, 

 runs nearly through the whole island lengthwise, nearest to the 

 nonh side. Great quantities of wood are carried from the middle 

 parts ; and the bay and harbours afford oysters, clams, and bass, in 

 the greatest abundance, while on the land there are some excellent 

 hunting grounds. The eastern part of the island is divided into 

 Montauk and Oyster Pond points by a long bay, which, at its head, 

 receives Peconick river. There are 3 or 4 more small rivers or creeks 

 on the island, the chief of which is called Connecticut river. Suffolk 

 is the most eastern of the three counties. To it belongs Fisher's 

 island, 20 miles long and 2 broad, the most easterly part of the state — 

 also Gardner's island, or isle of Wight ; Shelter, Robin's, Plumb, 

 Ram, Gull, and Great and Little Hog-neck islands; and the Fire 

 islands, and some smaller ones in South bay. To Queen's, which 

 is the centre county, belongs Hog island and some others in the 

 sound ; and to King's, which is the western, Barren, Coney, and 

 other small islands in the ocean. The climate is very mild and agree- 

 able, and this island is justly esteemed one of the healthiest spots 

 in the union. It was first settled by the Dutch about the year 1639. 

 Some small islands in the sound belong to the county of West-Ches- 

 ter, on the main land. On this island was fought the first field battle 

 between the American army under general Washington, and the 

 British forces under general Howe. 



York or Manhattan" Island is separated from New-Jersey by Hud- 

 son's river, from the continental part of the state by Haerlem river, 

 and from Long Island by East river. Its south end is washed by 

 York bay, and its northern extremity is connected to the main land by 



