NEW HAMPSHIRE

NEW HAMPSHIRE, one of the United States of North America, is bounded on the north by the mountainous ridges which separate Canada from the states of the union, on the east and south-east by Maine and the Atlan-

tic Ocean, on the south by Massachusetts, and on the west by Vermont. It is situated between 42. 41. and 45. 11. of north latitude, and between 70. 40. and 72. 23. of west longitude; extending in length about 168 miles, whilst its average breadth is about fifty miles, and its area is computed at 9491 miles. On the map its shape nearly resembles a wedge inserted between the states of Maine and Vermont, and having Massachusetts for its base. New Hampshire, for its narrow extent, differs more in relative elevation than any other state of the union, and of course the extremes of temperature are in corresponding excess. The line of coast is indented with small inlets of the sea, and skirted by a narrow sandy plain. At no great distance the country swells into a mountainous region, and New Hampshire has justly been called the state of hills, and also the granite state. The highest peaks of the White Mountain range, some of them 7000 feet in height, are more elevated than any others in the United States, with the exception of the Rocky Mountains. Between the Merrimack and the Connecticut are situated many considerable mountains; the names of the principal heights being Monadnock, Sunapee, Kearsarge, Carr's Mountain, and Moosehilllock. As a whole, the physiognomy of New Hampshire is bold and prominent, and, although rugged, often sublime in the highest degree. The mountains of the state are in the centre, with a zone of finely-diversified hill and dale country around, the hills consisting generally of stony and moist land, and affording excellent pasturage. There are no extensive barrens, and most of the land is capable of cultivation. Many of the valleys are beautifully green, sheltered, and fertile. The rivers in particular have rich alluvial bottoms or intervale lands, the soil, although encumbered with stones, having a considerable degree of fertility. The state originally was heavily timbered, and in the interior there are still considerable tracts of forest country. There are extensive plains of warm, light, sandy, and peculiar soil, resembling, when cleared, the poorer lands of the high western prairies, covered in their natural state with white pine, and called pine plains. Mount Washington, one of the White Mountains, often visited by travellers, Mr Hinton thus describes: "After climbing the side of the mountain for some distance, the forest trees begin to diminish in height, till, at the elevation of about four thousand feet, you come to a region of dwarfish evergreens, about the height of a man's head, which put forth numerous branches, and surround the mountain with a formidable hedge, a quarter of a mile in thickness. On emerging from this thicket, you are above all woods, at the foot of what is called the bald part of the mountain, which is very steep, and consists of a huge pile of naked rocks. After attaining the summit, the traveller is recompensed for his toil, if the sky be serene, by a most noble and extensive prospect. On the south-east there is a view of the Atlantic Ocean, the nearest part of which is sixty-five miles distant in a right line; on the south, Winnipiseogee Lake lies full in view; in the south-west is the lofty summit of Moosehilllock; and far away in the horizon is the Grand Monadnock. The barren rocks, which extend a great distance in every direction from the summit, add a melancholy cast to the grandeur of the scene. The notch or gap in the White Mountains is also frequently visited as a curiosity. It is on the west side of the mountains, near the source of Saco River. It is a deep and narrow defile, in one part only twenty-two feet wide. The mountain appears as if cloven quite to its base, perpendicularly on one side, and on the other at an angle of forty-five degrees." The Lake of Winnipiseogee, mentioned above, is the largest sheet of water in New Hampshire, being about twenty-three miles in length. It is sprinkled with numerous islands, and abounds in the finest kinds of fresh-water fish. Umbagog

Lake is situated partly in this state and partly in Maine. Squam, Ossipee, Sunnapee, and Newfound Lakes, are also large collections of water. Five of the largest rivers of New England have their sources in this state, viz. the Connecticut, Merrimack, Androscoggin, Saco, and Piscataqua. There are also a number of inferior streams; and, throughout, New Hampshire is remarkably well watered, the water being generally of the purest quality. In reference to the geological features of the state, it may be mentioned, that the high ridge of mountains which divides the waters of the Connecticut from those of the Merrimack is composed of the older primitive rocks. Granite prevails in the northern and more elevated part, and mica slate in the southern. A beautiful fine-grained granite occurs in many parts of the state, and great quantities of it are transported to Boston as a building stone. To the eastward of the great ridge, mica slate, gneiss, and greenstone, are found. Steatite or greenstone of good quality is found at Orford and Francestown, and primitive limestone abounds in several places. New Hampshire also possesses beds of iron ore of excellent quality, and copper ore has likewise been discovered. Plumbago is found at some places in large quantities, and of excellent quality. These are the principal minerals which this state produces in such quantities as to be much regarded by the inhabitants.

The climate of New Hampshire is subject to the extremes of heat and cold, and to great and sudden changes, yet it is reckoned healthy, the air being generally pure and salubrious. Winter commences in November, and continues till April, the lakes being ordinarily frozen four months in the year, during six weeks of which travelling by means of a species of sledge is quite common, both on the ice and on terra firma. The open fields are commonly cleared of snow by the end of April; but the cold weather, which commences as early as the first of September, continues till May. In all the states in this neighbourhood the autumn is a delightful season. New Hampshire is an agricultural state, and by far the greater number of the inhabitants are engaged in the cultivation of the soil. The articles principally cultivated are, wheat, rye, Irish corn, oats, barley, pulse, and flax. The quantity of live stock is considerable, consisting of horned cattle, sheep, swine, and horses. Apples are abundant, and no good husbandman considers his farm as complete without an orchard; but other kinds of fruit are not so extensively cultivated. The principal articles of export are, lumber, fish, beef, pork, horses, neat cattle, sheep, flax-seed, and pot and

pearl ashes. The manufactures of New Hampshire have of late years greatly increased. In 1831 there were forty cotton mills, which manufactured during that year 29,060,500 yards of cloth, and employed 875 males and 4090 females, besides some children. There are likewise some woollen establishments, ten or twelve paper mills, a number of iron foundries, and works for preparing the ore; and glass is also manufactured. In this and in some other states, large quantities of carpeting, of an inferior quality, are made in families, but these are not noticed in the estimated amount of exports. Mr Pitkins, in his statistics of the United States (1835), observes regarding this manufacture in New Hampshire: "The agent for New Hampshire, in his return to the secretary, says that the amount of carpeting made in the counties of Rockingham, Strafford, Grafton, and Coos, mostly in families, and sold in other states, exceeds, in his opinion, the amount of foreign articles consumed." The value of the imports from December 1832 to December 1833 was 167,754 dollars; and the value of the exports for the same period was, of domestic produce, 145,355 dollars, and of foreign produce, 9903 dollars; total, 155,258 dollars; the tonnage entered being 17,126. From the same source (the American Almanac) we learn, that for the year ending the 30th of September 1835, the value of the imports was 71,514 dollars; that of the exports, of domestic produce, 75,076 dollars, and of foreign produce, 6605 dollars, total, 81,681 dollars; whilst the tonnage which entered was, 6564, and that which departed, 3996 tons. This remarkable falling off in the trade of the state we have no other means of accounting for, than by supposing that the trade in this part of the United States is becoming more and more concentrated at Boston, where goods of all kinds can be more readily disposed of; and this, we have been informed by a native of the country, is the fact. Amongst the towns where the principal manufacturing establishments are situated may be mentioned Exeter, Dover, Peterborough, Franconia, Pembroke, New Ipswich, Keene, and Durham. In 1835, there were in New Hampshire twenty-six banks, having a capital of 2,655,008 dollars, and a circulation of 1,389,970 dollars. The number of post-offices was 289, and the amount of postages for the preceding year was 23,429 dollars. There are several savings' banks and insurance offices in this state. At the commencement of the war in 1775, New Hampshire had only one newspaper; but in 1834 twenty-seven were published, besides a few other periodicals. The following table exhibits a view of the counties and county towns.

Portsmouth, the largest town, and the only seaport in the state, is situated on the south side of Piscataqua River, three miles from its junction with the sea, in latitude 43. 4. north, and longitude 70. 45. west. The harbour is consi-

dered as excellent, having sufficient depth of water for vessels of any size, being easy of access, protected from every wind, and, owing to the rapidity of the tide, never frozen. It is so well fortified by nature, that it can be made secure against any attack, with little trouble or expense. Several forts have been planted upon commanding positions. A lighthouse on Great Island indicates the entrance, and the largest ships can come close up to the wharfs. Portsmouth is well provided with houses of public worship, and contains a custom-house, an insurance office, and several banks. This town enjoys considerable trade; but as a great portion of that from the interior of the state centres at Boston, and a part at Portland, its commerce is not so extensive or flourishing as it would otherwise be, and, as has already been shown, it is on the decline. In Navy Island, on the Piscataqua, opposite to Portsmouth, there is a navy yard of the United States. The island belongs to the general government, and is convenient for building ships of war, being well furnished for this purpose. Portsmouth has suffered much from fires at different periods, the places of the buildings destroyed being supplied by brick edifices. A very handsome bridge across the Piscataqua connects it with the state of Maine. This town was settled in 1623, and incorporated by charter in 1633.

Concord, the capital of New Hampshire, and the seat of government, is situated on both sides of the river Merrimack, in latitude 43. 12. north, and longitude 71. 29. west. The principal portion of the town is exceedingly pleasant, extending along the western bank of the river for nearly two miles. It contains a state-house, a state-prison, a court-house, several places of public worship, and above two hundred dwelling-houses. Two bridges connect the chief village with that on the opposite bank, and much of the trade of the upper country centres here; whilst the importance of the town is increased by the boat navigation which has been opened between this place and Boston by means of the Merrimack River and Middlesex Canal. The town of Concord issues three or four gazettes, and is altogether a place of large and growing business. Exeter is a handsome village, fifteen miles south-west of Portsmouth; it is situated at the head of tide-water on the Exeter River, and small vessels ascend to it. This village contains a number of public buildings, with three or four churches, and is the seat of very considerable manufactures. Philips' Exeter Academy, in this place, is one of the most ancient, opulent, and useful institutions in the United States, having many of the advantages and endowments of a college. Dover is a large manufacturing village, situated on the western bank of the Piscataqua, twelve miles north-west of Portsmouth, and through it flows the Cochecho. This river has several falls, the largest of which, being upwards of forty feet perpendicular, is at the centre of the town, and affords water-power equal to any in New England. Large iron and cotton manufactories have been erected upon these falls, and upon others a few miles higher up the river. Dover contains a number of good public buildings, has a considerable share of shipping, and is one of the most flourishing towns in the state. The greatest part of the timber exported from New Hampshire is brought to this place. Keene is a pleasant town, in the south-west part of the state, on the Ashuelot. The principal towns on the Connecticut River are Walpole, thirteen miles north-west of Keene; Charlestown, twelve miles north of Walpole; Hanover, the seat of Dartmouth College; Haverhill, twenty-seven miles north of Hanover; and Bath, adjoining Haverhill, at the head of the boat navigation. There are, besides, numerous thriving and beautiful villages. The common schools are well supported, and flourishing academies are established in many of the towns. Dartmouth College, at Hanover, was founded in 1770, and ranks as the third literary institution in New England. In 1836 there were connect-

ed with it ten instructors, 1858 alumni, 512 ministers, and 186 students, with 6000 volumes in the college libraries, and 8500 volumes in the students' libraries. The funds of this institution are considerable, the annual income being above 4000 dollars. It has likewise a medical school of deserved reputation at Hanover, where there are three professors and about eighty students. Philips' Exeter Academy, at Exeter, is an old and flourishing institution. It has funds amounting to about 80,000 dollars, a library of 700 volumes, and a handsome philosophical apparatus. Its officers are, a principal, a professor of mathematics and natural philosophy, and an assistant. The funds are appropriated in part to the support of theological students. There are a great number of less extensively-endowed academies, and the primary and other schools established throughout the state are upon the general footing of the New England system. The state has a literary fund amounting to 64,000 dollars, formed by a tax of one half per cent. upon the capital of banks. The proceeds of this fund, and also an annual income of 9000 dollars derived from a tax upon banks, are appropriated for the support of schools; and for maintaining common schools, 90,000 dollars are annually raised by a separate tax. There are in New Hampshire 159 churches for Congregationalists, and eleven associations; the Baptists have ninety churches and six associations; the Free-will Baptists have a hundred congregations; the Methodists, seventy-five ministers; the Presbyterians, ten congregations; the Christians, twenty-three congregations; the Unitarians, seventeen congregations; the Friends, fifteen societies; the Episcopalians, nine congregations; the Roman Catholics, two congregations; and the Shakers, two societies. The clergy of New Hampshire are supported by salaries, which are raised by subscription, or by voluntary taxation on property, or by contribution. The average salary of the Congregational ministers is about 400 dollars, that of the Episcopalian 600 dollars, that of the Unitarian 500 dollars, that of the Baptist 300 dollars, but those of other persuasions have still less. The inhabitants are a strong, healthy, industrious, and well-informed people; frugal, religious, and jealous of their rights. The salubrity of the climate is proved by the fact, that many instances of considerable longevity occur in the state.

As in the other states of the Union, internal improvements have within the last ten years made considerable advances in New Hampshire. Several canals have been constructed around falls in the Merrimack, viz. Bow Canal, three miles below Concord, with four locks, and passing a fall of twenty-five feet; Hooksett Canal, fifty rods long, with three locks, and a lockage of sixteen feet, passing Hooksett Falls; Amosheag Canal, with nine locks, and a lockage of forty-five feet, passing Amosheag Falls, nine miles below Hooksett Falls; Union Canal, immediately below Amosheag, overcomes seven falls in the river, and has seven locks in nine miles. A canal is now in progress around Sewall's Falls, in Concord. The Nashua and Lowell Railroad, extending from Nashua, New Hampshire, to Lowell in Massachusetts, about fifteen miles in length, was incorporated in the year 1836, and is now (1837) in progress. This railroad is expected to be continued from Nashua to Concord. The Concord Railroad Corporation has been organized.

The early history of New Hampshire will be found in the article NEW ENGLAND. In the year 1741 a final separation took place between it and Massachusetts. A constitution was established in 1784; but in 1792 this constitution was altered and amended by a convention of delegates held at Concord, and it is that now in force. The legislative power is vested in a senate and house of representatives, which together are styled The General Court of New Hampshire. Every town or incorporated township having one hundred and fifty rateable polls may send one representa-

tive, and for every three hundred additional polls it is entitled to an additional representative. The senate consists of twelve members, who are chosen by the people in districts. The executive power is vested in a governor, and a council which consists of five members. The governor, council, senators, and representatives, are all elected annually by the people, their term of service commencing on the first Wednesday in June, upon which day the general court meets yearly at Concord. The right of suffrage is granted to every male inhabitant of twenty-one years of age, excepting paupers, and persons excused from paying taxes at their own request. The judiciary power is vested in a superior court and a court of common pleas. The judges are appointed by the governor and council, and hold their offices during good behaviour, but not beyond the age of seventy years. (R. R. R.)