The facts already mentioned, it is believed, prove this point beyond all reasonable debate. Instead, therefore, of placing tender plants, or fruit trees, in a Southern exposure, or in any situation sheltered from the North-West winds, they ought to be laid open to its influence as much as possible. Orchards of all kinds, particularly, ought to be planted on North-Western, or where they cannot be obtained, on Western, or Northern declivities; so that, as much as possible, every tree may have the benefit of this exposure. On a plain the trees in the middle of an orchard will be effectually sheltered by those on the border; and will therefore always be in danger. I am, Sir, yours, &c.

STATE OF NEW-YORK,

CONTINUED.

LETTER I.

State of New-York-Its extent and population-Account of what has been done for the support of Learning and Religion-The different sects into which it is divided.

THE State of New-York contains about forty-five thousand square miles; about five thousand less than England. Almost all of it is capable of cultivation. Probably the part, which will be ultimately left in a forested state, will be less than enough to supply the demands of the inhabitants for timber and fuel. As the soil is rich, the climate favourable, and the inhabitants sufficiently intelligent and industrious to avail themselves of their advantages; the State is capable of sustaining a population as great in proportion, as that of England; or from seven to nine millions of inhabitants. If any thing should prevent this accumulation of people, it will probably be the want of fuel.

No country can be more advantageously situated for commerce. No commercial city can boast of a more advantageous position than that of New-York. The Hudson, in proportion to its size, is inferiour to no river in the world, in commercial faculties. The great lakes on the East, North, and West, yield a navigation, no where equalled by waters of the same kind. Even the Susquehannah, obstructed as it now is, will one day furnish, with its branches, an extensive communication with the Atlantic. When the artificial aids to navigation are provided, which may be rationally expected from the future wealth, and enterprise, of the inhabitants, they will be able to transport the products of their labour, in vessels of different sorts, almost from their own doors.

Of this commerce the mineral, vegetable, and animal, productions of the country will furnish ample materials.

Of the manufactures of this State I have already taken sufficient notice.

From the character of the inhabitants, the nature of the soil, and climate; the proximity to navigable waters, always stimulating industry; and the abundance of gypsum, found in many parts of the country; the agriculture of this State will in all probability advance at least equally with that of any other in the Union. From these considerations it is evident, that the necessaries and conveniences of life will be found here in a degree, not inferiour to that, in which they are obtained in any other country.

The militia of this State are like those already described; inferiour in their discipline to those of Connecticut, and still more to those of Massachusetts; and, as a body, somewhat less hardy and energetic than those of Vermont, New-Hampshire, and Maine. Substantially they are the same men; and are regulated in much the same manner. Their number is not far from 120,000.

The rapidity, with which the population of New-York has increased, is without a parallel. In the year 1790 they amounted to 340,120; in 1800 to 484,620; and in 1810 to 959,220.*

A great part of the population, thus rapidly accumulated, has been derived from New-England. From three-fifths to two-thirds of the inhabitants have originated from that country. The proportion is continually increasing. New-York is, therefore, to be ultimately regarded as a Colony from New-England. It is not to be expected however, that this stream of colonization will continue to flow hither with the same rapidity for any number of years to come. The lands in this State have in many parts already risen to such a price, as must discourage new settlers; such, I mean, as usually venture first into the wilderness; and the region North of the Ohio presents a vast tract, equally fertile, and in a climate still milder, to invite immigration. Accordingly the current of population from the New-England States, during the year 1815, has principally flowed into its borders. Still, the number

* By the census of 1820 the population of this State was 1,379,989.-Pub.

of inhabitants in New-York will increase for a long time to come, from immigration, as well as from the natural multiplication of its inhabitants. It is to be observed, that great numbers are continually crowding into this State for commercial, as well as for agricultural, purposes.

Antecedently to the Revolution, little was done by the inhabitants of the province of New-York for the encouragement of literature. The original Dutch colonists came to this country with designs, and dispositions, exclusively commercial. They were under the control of the Dutch West-India Company; consisting of a body of merchants, whose measures were entirely governed by considerations of pecuniary profit and loss. As the charter of this company was limited to a short number of years; the present profit and loss were alone regarded. In such a situation it was not to be expected, that any attention should be paid to learning; although the literature of the Dutch nation had at this very period risen to high distinction. The colonists themselves were mere adventurers, who had crossed the ocean in pursuit of gain; and were in a great measure discouraged from forming any permanent plans of improvement by a consciousness of their exposure to the hostilities of the English; hostilities, against which they were unable to make any effectual defence. They were, also, always threatened, and often harassed, by the Indians.

But notwithstanding these discouragements, the Legislature of the Colony passed a law in 1683* for the purpose of supplying the inhabitants with ministers. In this law it was provided, that in the City, and County of New-York, in Richmond and King's Counties, and in two precincts of the County of Westchester respectively, a protestant minister, qualified to officiate, and to have the care of souls, should be called, inducted, and established. It was also provided in the same act, that the freeholders of these places should every year be summoned to choose ten vestrymen, and two church-wardens; who, together with the Justices of each City, County, and Precinct, should be authorized to assess a tax for the maintenance of the ministry, and of the poor, in their respective districts.

See Bradford's Collection, folio 19.

This seems to have been the only law, relative to any subject, literary or ecclesiastical, passed by the Legislature to this period. Lord Cornbury, then Governour of the province, at the opening of the session of the Legislature, in 1702, recommended in his speech the establishment of schools. But the bigotry of this nobleman was so apparent in all his measures, and was so intermingled with most of them, that the Legislature, as well as the inhabitants, became too jealous of his designs to second them, even when they were not in themselves liable to objections. Those, who had framed the act mentioned above, insisted, that it was intended to embrace Protestant Ministers of every denomination. His Lordship, on the contrary, claimed, that neither minister could preach, nor schoolmaster instruct, without a licence from himself; a favour, which, it was well known, would never be granted to any but Episcopalians. His Lordship, and a majority of the Council, belonged to this class of christians. A great majority of the Representatives, and of the inhabitants throughout the province, were either Dutch or English Presbyterians. Between parties, formed of these materials, at that time in a state of absolute discordance, harmony could scarcely be expected; especially in such measures, as respected these objects.

The jealousies, excited by the violent administration of this purblind bigot, continued for a long period. In 1752, and 1753, some attempts were made to create a fund for the establishment of a Seminary of learning. Immediately it was suspected, and reported, that the Seminary was intended to promote the interests of Episcopacy. Such was the consequent alarm and agitation, as to occasion a Resolve* of the House of Representatives in 1753, "that a report, that the deficiency of the fund, destined to support a College, was intended to be supplied by tax, was groundless, false, and malicious."

"On the 1st of November, 1754,† the Trustees, appointed for managing the fund, reported to the Assembly a statement of their trust-fund; and that an offer had been made by the Rector and inhabitants of the city of New-York in communion with the

* Journals Vol. 2, Fol. 350.

+ Journals Vol. 2, Fol. 396.