October 7, 1763, determining the southern boundary of the province of Quebec; and from the treaty of peace between Britain and the States of America, in 1783.

Beginning at the southwest corner of the town of Pownal, the west line of Vermont runs northerly, along the western boundaries of the townships of Pownal, Bennington, Shaftsbury, Arlington, Sandgate, Rupert, Pawlet, Wells, and Poultney, as the said townships are now held and possessed, to the river commonly called Poultney river; thence down the same, through the middle of the deepest channel thereof, to East Bay; thence through the middle of the deepest channel of East Bay, and the waters thereof, to where the same communicate with Lake Champlain; thence through the middle of the deepest channel of Lake Champlain, to the eastward of the islands called the Four Brothers, and to the westward of the Islands called the Grand Isle, and Long Isle, or the Two Heroes, and to the westward of the Isle la Mott, to the forty fifth degree of north latitude. This line is about one hundred and seventy miles in length; and results from the declaration of the commissioners of Newyork, of October 7, 1790; and the concurring act of the General Assembly of the State of Vermont, passed October 28, 1790.

Computing by the latitudes, the length of the State from the southern to the northern boundary, is one hundred and fifty seven miles and an half. The mean width from east to west is about sixty five miles. This will give 10,237 and an half square miles, or 6,552,000 acres, as

the superficial area contained within the boundaries of Vermont; but a considerable deduction must be made, to exclude the waters, and reduce it to the just quantity of land.

The land included within these limits, is of a very fertile nature, fitted for all the purposes and productions of agriculture. The soil is deep, and of a dark colour; rich, moist, warm, and loamy. It bears corn and other kinds of grain, in large quantities, as soon as it is cleared of the wood, without any ploughing or preparation : And after the first crops, naturally turns to rich pasture or mowing.

The face of the country exhibits very different prospects. Adjoining to our rivers, we have the wide extensive plains, of a fine level country. At a small distance from them, the land rises into a collection and chain of high mountains, intersected with deep and long vallies. Descending from the mountains, the streams and rivers appear in every part of the country, and afford a plentiful supply of water.

CHAPTER II.

MOUNTAINS.---Their Direction, Altitude, Tops, Caverns, the Origin of Springs and Rivers.

IN the formation of our mountains, nature has constructed her works on a large scale; and presents to our view objects, whose magnitude and situation, naturally engage our attention. Through the whole tract of country which lies between the west side of Connecticut river, and the east side of Hudson's river, and Lake Champlain, there is one continued range of mountains. These mountains begin in the Province of Canada: From thence, they extend through the States of Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, and terminate within a few miles of the sea coast. Their general direction is from N. N. E. to S. S. W. and their extent is through a tract of country, not less than four hundred miles in length. They are one continued range or collection of mountains, appearing as if they were piled one upon another. They are generally from ten to fifteen miles in width, are much intersected with vallies, abound with springs, and streams of water, and are every where covered with woods. Their appearance, is among the most grand and majestic phenomena, which nature exhibits. From the perpetual verdure which they exhibit, they are called the Green Mountains; and with great propriety their name has been assigned to the State.

The altitude of mountains, has been one of the curious inquiries, which the philosophers of this century have been solicitous to determine. The most common method of measuring their heights, has been by the Barometer. I do not know that in many cases, a better method could have been applied. The theory however of this, is not attended with certainty, or precision: And in its application, it has generally given very different altitudes, to the same mountain. Geometrical mensurations admit of greater certainty and simplicity, where they can be applied: But the difficulty and expence of making such mensurations, have prevented any great progress from being made, in this part of the natural history of the earth. In North America, the height of most of our mountains, remains yet to be determined. In December, 1792, I attempted to ascertain the altitude of Kellington Peak, one of the highest of the green mountains, by a geometrical process; and had the happiness to succeed in the mensuration. The measures stood thus, Height of Kellington Peak above the Feet. plain at the State House in Rutland, by geometrical mensuration, Height of the State House above the waters of Lake Champlain, deduced from the mensuration of the falls of Otter Creek, and a computation of other descents, Descent of the water from that part of Lake Champlain where the current begins, to St. John's, a distance of fifty miles, estimated at 12 inches to a mile,

2813

371

50

Falls between St. John's and Chamble, estimated,

40

180

Descent of the water from the bason of Chamble to Quebec, a distance of one hundred and eighty miles, estimated at twelve inches to a mile, Admitting the waters of the river St. Lawrence at Quebec, to be of the same level as the sea, the altitude of Kellington Peak, by these measures and computations, is 3454 feet above the level of the ocean. The altitude at which a perpetual congelation takes place in this latitude (43 degrees 30 minutes) is about 8066 feet above the level of the sea. This is proba bly four fifths of a mile higher than the tops of our highest mountains.* But although they.

Mount Blanc in Savoy, is the highest mountain in Europe, and probably the highest in the other hemisphere. In 1787 its altitude was found by M. de Saussure to be 15,673 English feet above the level of the sea. In the southern parts of America, M. Bouguer found the highest part of the Cordilleras, to be 20,590 feet in height; this is the highest of any upon the globe. In Virginia, according to Mr. Jefferson, the mountains of the Blue ridge, and of these the Peaks of Otter, are thought to be of the greatest height, measured from their base. "From data," saith he, "which may found a tolerable conjecture, we suppose the highest peak to be about 4000 feet perpendicular." (Notes on Virginia, Phila. Edit. p. 18.) The white mountains in the northeasterly part of Newhampshire, are generally esteemed to be the highest lands in Newengland. Their altitude has not been determined by geometrical mensuration, but there is one circumstance attending their phenomena, which may serve to denote their altitude, with much probability. From the observations which have been made of their tops, it appears that the altitude of the highest of the white mountains, is below the point of perpetual congelation. On June 19, 1774, on the south side, in one of the gullies, the snow was five feet deep. On September 1, 1783, the tops of the mountain was covered with ice and snow, newly formed. In 1784, snow was seen on the south side of the largest mountain, until July 12th. In 1790, the snow lay until the month of August. In general, the mountain begins to be covered with snow as early as September; but it goes off again, and seldom becomes fixed until the end of October, or the begin ning of November: But from that time, it remains until July. (Belknap's Hist. Newhampshire, 3. 46, 47.) From these observations it is apparent, that the white mountains rise nearly to the line of perpetual congelation in that latitude, but do not fully come up to it. These mountains are in the latitude of 44 degrees 15 minutes north. The line of perpetual congelation in that latitude, as deduced from the observations which have been