NEW HAMPSHIRE, one of the states of the North American republic. It is bounded on the north by Lower Canada, on the west by Vermont, on the south by Massachusetts, and on the east by Maine, except at one corner where it is washed by the Atlantic ocean for a space of eighteen miles. Its length from north to south is 168 miles, its greatest breadth 90, and its area is 9491 square miles. Near the sea the country is generally pretty level, but at some distance from the shore it becomes hilly, and afterwards swells into mountains. Mount Washington, one of the White mountains in this state, has an elevation of 7000 feet, and is the highest land in the United States. The winter is long and severe, the thermometer sometimes sinking to 12° or 14° below zero. But the climate is in other respects healthy, and the inhabitants enjoy a vigorous constitution, and afford some remarkable instances of longevity.
The principal rivers are the Connecticut, which bounds the state on the west; the Merrimack, about a hundred miles long; and the Piscataqua, fifty miles long, which forms part of the eastern boundary of the state. The navigation of all these rivers is interrupted by frequent falls.
Bog iron ore, and black lead, are the only metals worked in the state. The former affords iron of an excellent quality. Freestone, soapstone, and mica, are found at particular places. The variety of forest trees in the state is great, and many of them furnish excellent wood. The mast pine rises to the height of 150 or 200 feet, with a trunk remarkably straight.
Of animals, the black bear is the most mischievous. It makes great havoc in the fields of Indian corn. The wolf is still common, and commits ravages among the sheep, though a price is set on his head. The beaver and the wild turkey have become rare.
The population of New Hampshire in 1749 was estimated at 30,000. In 1790 it was found by the census to be 141,885; in 1800, it amounted to 183,858; and in 1810 to 214,460. Even this last number gives only 22 inhabitants to each square mile. The climate, as already observed, is healthy; and the people of this state are generally distinguished by vigour, activity, and perseverance. Marriage is so general, that it is rare to find an unmarried man of thirty years of age. Many women are grandmothers at forty; and it is not uncommon to see the father, son, and grandson, working together in the same field. Dancing is a favourite amusement, and is indulged in on all occasions, which brings numbers together.
The leading occupation in this state is agriculture. The banks of the rivers, and the valleys, produce fine crops of wheat, maize, and rye, with hemp, flax, and culinary plants. Good lands yield from thirty to forty bushels of Indian corn per acre. Every agriculturist has an orchard, which supplies him with fruit in abundance. A great proportion of the land is in pasture, and the produce of the dairy is reckoned excellent. The black cattle are numerous and good, but the breed of horses is not much esteemed. In 1799 the appro-
prated lands in this state were valued at 19,028,108 dollars, and the houses at 4,146,938, making together 23,175,046 dollars. In 1814, their value was found to be 36,957,825, being an increase of more than one half in 15 years. The manufactures and commerce of this state are trifling. Its exports by sea in 1817 amounted to 197,424 dollars. Its only port is Portsmouth, which possessed shipping to the amount of 29,745 tons in 1815.
The legislative power resides in a senate and house of representatives, each of which has a negative on the other. The senators, 13 in number, are elected annually by citizens paying taxes, every person, 21 years of age, not a pauper, having a vote. The representatives are elected in the same manner: their number is variable, as it depends on the number of rateable polls. The governor is chosen annually by the same electors. The judiciary is composed of a superior court, with four judges, who make two circuits annually through the counties; of an inferior court in each county, with the same number of judges, who sit four times a-year; of a court of general sessions; and of a justice of peace court. The judges are appointed by the governor and council, and remain in office to the age of 70, subject to impeachment on the address of the legislature. The salary of the chief justice is 1500 dollars, and that of the associate judges 1200 dollars. As all political institutions are liable to corruption, it is provided, that the constitution of this state shall, every seven years, be submitted to the revision of the whole qualified voters, that it may be purged of any abuses which have crept in, and brought back to its first principles. Complete liberty is established in matters of religion. No separate sect is decorated with the title of a national church, and endowed with privileges which enable it to tyrannize over the others. The prevailing religious denominations are, the Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Baptists, Quakers, Congregationalists, and Universalists. Slavery is not prohibited by any law, but there are almost no slaves in the state.
In the township of Hanover, in the western part of this state, is Dartmouth College, situated on a beautiful plain, about half a mile east of Connecticut river, in latitude 43° 33'. It was named after the right honourable William earl of Dartmouth, who was one of its principal benefactors. It was founded in 1769, for the education and instruction of youth, of the Indian tribes, in reading, writing, and all parts of learning which should appear necessary and expedient for civilizing and christianizing the children of Pagans, as well as in all liberal arts and sciences, and also of English youths and any others. Its situation, in a frontier country, exposed it during the late war to many inconveniences, which prevented its rapid progress. It flourished, however, amidst all its embarrassments, and is now one of the most growing seminaries in the United States. It has about 150 students, under the direction of a president, two professors, and two tutors, and its annual revenue is about 2000 dollars a-year, exclusive of class fees. It has 12 trustees, who are a body corporate, invested with the powers necessary for such a body. The library is elegant, containing a large collection of the most valuable books. Its apparatus consists of a competent number of useful instruments, for
making mathematical and philosophical experiments. There are three buildings for the use of the students. Such is the salubrity of the air, that no instance of mortality has happened among the students since the first establishment of the college.
The first discovery made by the English of any part of New Hampshire was in 1614, by Captain John Smith, who ranged the shore from Penobscot to Cape Cod; and in this route discovered the river Piscataqua. On his return to England, he published a description of the country, with a map of the coast, which he presented to Prince Charles, who gave it the name of New England. The first settlement was made in 1623.
New Hampshire was for many years under the jurisdiction of the governor of Massachusetts, yet they had a separate legislature. They ever bore a proportionable share of the expences and levies in all enterprises, expeditions, and military exertions, whether planned by the colony or the crown. In every stage of the opposition that was made to the encroachments of the British parliament, the people, who ever had a high sense of liberty, cheerfully bore their part.