New-YORK, one of the United States of America, is bounded towards the south-east by the Atlantic ocean; east by Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont; north by the 45th degree of latitude, which divides it from Canada; northwardly by the river Iroquois or St. Lawrence, and the lakes Ontario and Erie; southwardly and south by Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The whole state contains about 44,000 square miles, equal to 28,160,000 acres.
The settlements already made in this state are chiefly upon two narrow oblongs, extending from the city of New York east and north. The one east is Long Island, which is 140 miles long, and narrow, and surrounded by the sea. The one extending north is about 40 miles in breadth, and bisected by Hudson's river. And such is the intersection of the whole state by the branches of the Hudson, the Delaware, the Susquehannah, and other large rivers, that there are few places throughout its whole extent which are more than 15 or 20 miles from some navigable stream. There are few fish in the rivers, but in the brooks are plenty of trout; and in the lakes yellow perch, sun-fish, salmon-trout, cat-fish, and a variety of others.
The State, to speak generally, abounds with lakes, some of salt and others of fresh water. It is intersected by ridges of mountains running in a north-east and south-west direction. Beyond the Allegany mountains, however, the country is a dead level, of a fine rich soil, covered, in its natural state, with maple, beech, birch, cherry, black-walnut, locust, hickory, and some mulberry trees. On the banks of lake Erie are a few chestnut and oak ridges. Hemlock swamps are interspersed thinly through the country. All the creeks that empty into lake Erie have falls, which afford many excellent mill seats. East of the Allegany mountains, the country is broken into hills with rich intervening valleys. The hills are clothed thick with timber, and when cleared afford fine pasture; the valleys, when cultivated, produce wheat, hemp, flax, peas, grass, oats, Indian corn. Of the commodities produced from culture, wheat is the staple; of which immense quantities are raised and exported. Indian corn and peas are likewise raised for exportation; and rye, oats, barley, &c. for home consumption. In some parts of the State excellent dairies are kept, which furnish for the market butter and cheese.
The situation of New-York, with respect to foreign markets, has decidedly the preference to any other of the United States. It has at all seasons of the year a short and easy access to the ocean. Its exports to the West Indies are, biscuit, peas, Indian corn apples, onions, boards, slaves, horses, sheep, butter, cheese, pick-
led oysters, beef, and pork. But wheat is the staple commodity of the State, of which no less than 677,700 bushels were exported in the year 1775, besides 2355 tons of bread and 2828 tons of flour. Inspectors of flour are appointed to prevent imposition, and to see that none is exported but that which is deemed by them merchantable. Besides the above-mentioned articles, are exported flax-seed, cotton, wool, faraparilla, coffee, indigo, rice, pig-iron, bar-iron, pot-ash, pearl-ash, furs, deer-skins, logwood, fustick, mahogany, bees wax, oil, Madeira wine, rum, tar, pitch, turpentine, whale-fins, fish, sugars, molasses, salt, tobacco, lard, &c. but most of these articles are imported for re-exportation. In the year 1774, there were employed, in the trade of this State, 1075 vessels, whose tonnage amounted to 40,812.
Since the revolution, the literature of the State has engaged the attention of the legislature. In one of their earliest sessions an act passed, constituting 21 gentlemen (of whom the governor and lieutenant-governor for the time being are members ex officio) a body corporate and politic, by the name and style of "The regents of the university of the State of New-York." They are entrusted with the care of literature in general in the State, and have power to grant charters of incorporation for erecting colleges and academies throughout the state—are to visit these institutions as often as they shall think proper, and report their state to the legislature once a year. All degrees above that of master of arts are to be conferred by the regents. A universal toleration is granted in religion.
The supreme legislative powers of the State are vested in two branches, a senate and assembly. The members of the senate are elected by the freeholders of the State, who possess freehold estates to the value of 100l. clear of debts. For the purpose of electing senators, the State is divided into four great districts, each of which chooses a certain number.
The assembly of the State is composed of representatives from the several counties, chosen annually in May. Every male inhabitant of full age, who has resided in the state six months preceding the day of election, and possessing a freehold to the value of 20l. in the county where he is to give his vote; or has rented a tenement therein of the yearly value of forty shillings, and has been rated and actually paid taxes—is entitled to vote for representatives in assembly. The number of representatives is limited to 300.
The supreme executive power of the state is vested in a governor chosen once in three years by the freemen of the state. The lieutenant-governor is, by his office, president of the senate; and, upon an equal division of voices, has a casting vote; but has no voice on other occasions. The governor has not a seat in the legislature; but as a member of the council of revision and council of appointment, he has a vast influence in the state. The council of revision is composed of the chancellor, the judges of the supreme court, or any of them, and the governor. In the year 1790 the number of inhabitants in this state was 340,120, of whom 21,324 were negroes; but in 1795 the whole population of the state amounted to 530,177, making an increase of 190,057 in five years.