tants, being descended from the French, are of the Romish religion, and have a bishop of that persuasion appointed by his Britannic Majesty.o

The principal towns are Quebec, on the river St. Lawrence; and Montreal, on an island in the same river.!

In this country are the immense lakes before mentioned; the largest of which, called Lake Superior, is of prodigious extent; being 5GO leagues in circuit, and containing several large islands. 1

These lakes communicate with each other, and are navigable to any vessels, except near that stupendous cataract called the Falls of Niagara. The stream here is near a mile wide, where a rock crosses it in the form of a half-moon. The perpendicular height is one hundred and forty-six feet, and the noise is often heard at the distance of fifteen miles.

In Canada the winters are extremely severe, and the summers very hot, yet pleasant. It abounds in various sorts of animals, birds and fish. The chief exports are peltry, ginseng, snake-root, and wheat.

NOVA SCOTIA, lies on the east of Canada, between the river St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean; and is about 350 miles long, and 250 broad.

The chief towns are, Halifax, and Annapolis.

Here, as well as in Canada, are very large forests; the timber is extremely proper for shipbuilding; and produces pitch and tan, which are the principal articles of commerce..

SECTION

SECTION XCIV.

OF SPANISII AMERICA.

LD MEXICO, or NEW SPAIN, is a large and rich country, the most southern part of North America, and almost surrounded by seas, except on the North, where it is bounded by New Mexico.

It is about 2,000 miles long, and 800 miles at the broadest part; but towards the Isthmus of Darien it is extremely narrow.

The chief towns are, Mexico, the capital, situated about the middle of the country;

Vera Crux, on the gulf of Mexico;

Acapulco, on the Pacific Ocean, from whence sail every year two rich galleons, called Spanish Register ships, to the East Indies.

One of these ships was taken by the English admiral, Lord Anson, in 1744, having a rich cargo in specie, and other valuable effects on board, estimated at one million and six hundred thousand pounds sterling.

Mexico, lying for the most part within the torrid zone, is excessively hot. It is rather more abundant in fruits than in grain.

The principal commodities here are, gold and silver in abundance, cochineal, and cocoa; from which nut, chocolate is made.

The present inhabitants may be divided into Whites, Indians, and Negroes. The Whites are

either born in Spain, or they are Creoles; that is, natives of Spanish America, descended from the Spaniards. The Indians, notwithstanding the devastations of the first invaders, remain in great numbers. The Negroes have been already mentioned.

The civil government is administered by tribunals, called Audiences; in which courts the viceroy of the king of Spain presides. The inhabitants and government are nearly the same in all the Spanish dominions.

The conquest of Mexico, by Fernando Cortez, has been already related.

NEW MEXICO lies to the north of Old Mexico; its chief city is Santa Fé. This is a country of immense extent, and but very little known to us.

CALIFORNIA is a peninsula contiguous to New Mexico, on the western coast; of which we know but little. It was discovered by Cortez; after which our famous navigator, Sir Francis Drake, took possession of it, in 1578; and his right, was confirmed by the chief of the country. This title, however, Great Britain has not hitherto attempted to vindicate, though California is admirably situated for trade, and on its coast has a pearl-fishery of great value.

FLORIDA extends from the east side of the Missisippi to the frontiers of Georgia, including all the islands within six leagues of the coast; and is about 500 miles long, and 400 miles broad. It is divided into east and west.

The chief town of East Florida is St. Augustine,

on

on the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of West Florida is Pensacola, on the gulf of Mexico.

This country is very fruitful, though not yet brought to the highest state of cultivation.

It was first discovered by John Cabot, towards the year 1500; and ceded to the Spaniards by the. British, in 1783.

LOUISIANA is a country of prodigious extent, separated from the United States by the river Missisippi; extending southward as far as the Gulf of Mexico, and unlimited towards the north.

The capital is New Orleans, on the river Missisippi.

The timber of this country is remarkably fine; and the quantities of oak, ash, mulberry, walnut, cherry, cypress, and cedar, arc astonishing.The soil is particularly adapted for hemp, flax, tobacco, and indigo.

This country was first settled by Lewis XIV. and called, from his name, Louisiana. It was ceded to the Spaniards at the peace of 1763; but has lately been restored By the Spaniards to the French; and sold by Buonaparte to the United States. body desi cogs

SECTION

SECTION XCVI.

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THESE States are bounded, on the s

North, by Nova Scotia, and Canada 90215
South, by Florida;

East, by the Atlantic Ocean;

West, by the river Missisippi.

They extend, from north to south, about 1,000 miles; and are situated between 31° and 47° North latitude.

Four of the provinces, in the North-east division, were formerly distinguished by the appellation of NEW ENGLAND, Tiz.:

Hertford.dr be

Boston is the metropolis of New England. It is large, handsome, and well-built, and contains nearly twenty thousand inhabitants.

The principal commodities of this, country consist in all sorts of materials for ship-building, ́ New England was colonized in the year 1621, by the Puritans; and is still mostly inhabited by Independents and Presbyterians.

NEW YORK borders upon New England, and is divided into ten counties.

The