are nearly useless; but in the interior there are a considerable number of fertile tracts; though the greater part of the land is inferior until you pass the first ridge of mountains, when there is a fruitful valley of twelve or fourteen miles broad. From thence the soil approaches nearly to the mountainous district of Pennsylvania. The good land in this state is of such a nature and quality as to produce from fourteen to eighteen bushels of wheat, or about thirty bushels of Indian corn an acre. The average crops throughout the state may be twelve bushels of wheat and twenty of corn. Wheat and tobacco are the staple commodities of Maryland; but in the interior country, on the uplands, considerable quantities of hemp and flax are raised. Tobacco is generally cultivated by negroes, in sets or companies, in the following mauner: the seed is sown in beds of fine mould, and transplanted the beginning of May. The plants are set at the distance of three or four feet from each other, and are hilled and kept continually free from weeds. When as many leaves have shot out as the soil will nourish to advantage, the top of the plant is broken off, which prevents it from growing higher. It is carefully kept clear of worms, and the suckers, which put out between the leaves, are taken off at proper times, till the plant arrives at perfection, which is in August. When the leaves turn of a brownish colour, and begin to be spotted, the plant is cut down and hung up to dry, after having sweated in heaps one night. When it can be handled without crumbling, which is always in moist weather, the leaves are stripped from the stalk, tied in bundles, and packed for exportation in hogsheads containing eight or 900lb. No suckers nor ground leaves are allowed to be merchantable. An industrious person may manage 6,000 plants of tobacco (which yield 1,000lb.) and four acres of Indian corn. The farms and plantations consist, in general, of from 100 to 1,000 acres. In the upper parts of the state, towards the mountains, the land is divided into small portions; grain is principally cultivated, and there are few slaves. In the lower parts, the plantations are extensive; large quantities of tobacco are raised, and the labour is performed almost entirely by negroes. The persons residing upon these large plantations have their stewards and overseers, and give themselves but little trouble about the management of their lands. The clothing for the slaves, and most of the implements of husbandry, are. inanufactured on each estate; and the quarters of the negroes are situated in the neighbourhood of the principal dwelling-house, which gives the residence of every planter the appearance of a little village. The houses are for the most part built of wood, and painted with Spanish brown; and in front there is generally a long porch painted white. Log-houses are very common in many parts of this state; and as they are cheaper than any others, in a country abounding with wood, and generally the first that are erected on a new settlement in America, a description of them in this place may not be uninteresting. The sides consist of trees just squared, and placed horizontally one upon the other; the ends of the logs of one side resting alternately on the ends of those of the adjoining sides, in notches; the spaces between the logs are fitted with clay, and the roof is covered with boards or with shingles, which are small pieces of wood in the shape of slates or tiles, and which are commonly used for that purpose. These habitations are not very sightly; but when well built they are warm and comfortable, and last for a long time. Besides the articles of produce already mentioned, cotton is raised in some places; but it is of rather an inferior quality. The gardens produce excellent roots and vegetables, and the fruit of the orchards is equal to any in the other states; apples, pears, peaches, plums, and cherries are plenty and cheap: from the apples and peaches much brandy is manufactured. The natural productions of the forests are oak, walnut, hickory, ash, chesnut, sassafras, magnolia, and several kinds of pine. The woods abound with nuts of various kinds, which are collectively called mast; on this mast vast numbers of swine are fed, which run wild among the trees. These swine, when fatted, are caught, killed, barrelled, and exported in great quantities. The chief mineral productions are iron and copper. No works of any consequence have as yet been established for the manufacture of the latter; but there are many extensive iron works. Coal has also been discovered; but not in sufficient quantity to make it an object of importance. Civil divisions, towns, population, religion, and character. Maryland is divided into nineteen counties, but not subdivided into townships or hundreds, as the states' already described. Ten of these counties are on the western, and nine on the eastern shores of Chesapeak bay. The number of inhabitants, by the last general census, amounted to 380,546, including 111,502 slaves, being about thirty-five to the square mile; but when the proportion of water is deducted, there will be above fortythree inhabitants to each square mile: a denser population than any state in the Union, excepting Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.-By the state census of 1817, the population was returned at 502,710; being an increase of 122,164 in seven years. Counties.' Population. Chief Towns and Population. Ditto City...........35,583 .29,255 Baltimore, 46,555 Precincts of do.....10,972) Charles.. ........ .20,245......... .Port Tobacco Dorchester. .18,108......... ..Cambridge Frederick...........34,437. ....Fredericktown, 4,500 Harford ... .21,258.. .Harford Kent............ ...11,450............................Chester Annapolis (city) is the seat of government, and is situated at the mouth of the Severn river, about two miles from its entrance into Chesapeak bay; thirty miles south of Baltimore, forty north-east of the city of Washington, and 132 south-west of Philadelphia. It is a place of little note in the commercial world; but being in a pleasant situation, and commanding a beautiful prospect of the Chesapeak and the shore on the other side of the bay, it is the residence of a great many people in genteel circumstances. The houses are about 300 in number, built of brick, and for the most part large and elegant, denoting great wealth. The state-house is one of the most superb structures in the United States; the other public buildings are, a college, one episcopal and one methodist church, |