LONG-ISLAND, an island of North America, belonging to the state of New York, which is separated from the continent by a narrow channel. It extends from the city of New York east 140 miles, terminating with Montauk point; and is not more than ten miles in breadth on a medium. It is divided into three counties, King's, Queen's, and Suffolk. The south side of the island is flat land, of a light, sandy soil, bordered on the sea-coast with large tracts of salt meadow, extending from the west point of the island to Southampton. This soil, however, is well calculated for raising grain, especially Indian corn. The north side of the island is hilly, and of a strong soil, adapted to the culture of grain, hay, and fruit. A ridge of hills extends from Jamaica to South-hold. Large herds of cattle feed upon Hampstead plain and on the salt marshes upon the south side of the island. Hampstead plain in Queen's county is a curiosity. It is 16 miles in length, east and west, and 7 or 8 miles wide. The soil is black and to appearance rich, and yet it was never known to have any natural growth, but a kind of wild grass and a few shrubs. It is frequented by vast numbers of plover. Rye grows tolerably well on some parts of the plain. The most of it lies common for cattle, horses, and sheep. As there is nothing to impede the prospect in the whole length of this plain, it has a curious but tiresome effect upon the eye, not unlike that of the ocean. The island contains 30,863 inhabitants.