180 



VERMONT. 



having been much reduced of late, and the manufacture of iron increased, an inferior sort is now 

 mixed with the Peru iron, by which its quahty has much deteriorated. It is still, however, of 

 high excellence. 



A quarry of fine marble exkts in Middlebury. It rests upon a bed of argillite, and rises in 

 many places above the surface of the ground. The marble is of various colors, and has been 

 wrought ever since 1806. It is now in the possession of an incorporated company, and the 

 machinery for sawing it is driven by water. At Swanton, on Lake Champlain, in the north, is 

 an inexhaustible quarry, which covers an area of more than 300 acres. The marble is of a 

 beautiful black, and sometimes of a bright blue-clouded color ; 100 saws are occupied at the 

 mills in this town, in working it into various forms. On a small island in Lake Meniphremagog, 

 is a quarry oi novaculite, known by the name oi J\Iagog oil-stone ; it is several hundred feet in 

 length, and interspersed with quartz. A manufactory of this stone has been established in the 

 town of Burke. The oil-stones when manufactured, sell for 50 cts. per pound. Quarries of 

 slate are wrought near Brattleboro'. 



11. Face of the Country. Our descriptions have already shown, that the surface of the State 

 is highly diversified. From the mountainous ridge which occupies the centre of the State, the 

 land slopes, toward the Connecticut and Lake Champlain. Adjoining the rivers are exten- 

 sive plains, but the elevated country forms the greater proportion of the surface. In tlie north- 

 ern parts, the population is thin, and the country still unsubdued by the plough. Innumerable 

 stumps, the remains of the pristine forests, deform the fields. Pines and other trees, girdled, 

 dry, and blasted by summer's heat and winter's cold, scorched and blackened by fire, or piled 

 in confusion on fields cleared half by the axe and half by burning, — these, with the rude log 

 huts of the inhabitants indicate a country imperfectly subdued by man. But if we confine our- 

 selves to merely physical observations, and consider the natural formation of hill, mountain, val- 

 ley, lake, and stream, we shall find this State to be among the most picturesque portions of 

 North America. 



POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



1. Divisions. 

 follows : 



Vermont is divided into 14 counties, which, with their chief towns, are as 



County Toicits. 



Middlebury. 

 ^ Bennington. 

 ( Manchester. 



Danville. 



Burlington. 



Guildhall. 



St. Albans. 



North Hero. 



Counties. 



Lamoile, 



Orange, 



Orleans, 



Rutland, 



Washington, 



Windham, 



Windsor, 



County Towns. 



Hydepark. 



Chelsea. 



Irasburg. 



Rutland. 



Montpelier. 



Newfane. 



Woodstock. 



Counties. 



Addison, 



Bennington, 



Caledonia, 

 Chittenden, 

 Essex, 

 Franklin, 

 Grand Isle, 



2. Toicns. Montpelier, the capital, is situated on Onion River, within 10 miles of the 

 centre of the State ; it is a flourishing village, and contains the State-house, a court-house, jail, 

 academy, several manufactories, and printing offices, and 4 weekly newspapers ; it is in a low situ- 

 ation, surrounded by hills ; a great many of the roads of the State meet at this point. The new 

 State-house, or capitol, is a handsome structure of granite, with a front of 150 feet, in the cen- 

 tre of which is a neat Doric portico, surmounted by a dome ; height to top of dome, 100 feet. 

 Population, 2,000. 



Windsor, on the Connecticut, 60 miles southeast of Montpelier, is a handsome town, and 

 has considerable business. It contains a court-house, a State prison, bank, several handsome 

 churches, and printing offices issuing weekly newspapers. Mount Ascutney, a lofty, isolated 

 peak, is partly in this town, and partly in Weathersfield. A magnificent prospect is afforded 

 from its summit. Population, 3,500. 



Burlington, on Lake Champlain, is a flourishing and commercial tow^n. It contains a court- 

 house, jail, a college, an academy, several churches, and printing offices issuing weekly news- 

 papers. Within the township is another village, at the falls of Onion River, containing several 

 manufactories. Burlington has more commerce than any other town in Vermont, and is a port 

 of entry for foreign shipping. A great deal of the trade of Lake Champlain centres at this 

 place. Here are two bridges over the Onion River. This is the largest town on the lake. 



