the Mangrove, or Mangle, a genus of plants belonging to the dodecandra class; and in the natural method ranking under the 12th order, Holaracea. These plants are natives of the East and West Indies, and often grow 40 or 50 feet high. They grow only in water and on the banks of rivers, where the tide flows up twice a-day. They preserve the verdure of their leaves throughout the year. From the lowest branches issue long roots, which hang down to the water, and penetrate into the earth. In this position they resemble so many arcades, from five to ten feet high, which serve to support the body of the tree, and even to advance it daily into the bed of the water. These arcades are so closely intertwined one with another, that they form a kind of natural and transparent terrace, raised with such solidity over the water, that one might walk upon them, were it not that the branches are too much encumbered with leaves.

The most natural way of propagating these trees, is to suffer the several slender small filaments which issue from the main branches to take root in the earth. The most common method, however, is that of laying the small lower branches in baskets of mould or earth till they have taken root.

The description just given pertains chiefly to a particular species of mangrove, termed by the West Indians black mangroves, on account of the brown dusky colour of the wood. The bark is very brown, smooth, pliant when green, and generally used in the West India islands for tanning of leather. Below this bark lies a cuticle, or skin, which is lighter, thinner, and more tender. The wood is nearly of the same colour with the bark; hard, pliant, and very heavy. It is frequently used for fuel, for which purpose it is said to be remarkably proper; the fires which are made of this wood being both clearer, more ardent and durable than those made of any other materials whatever. The wood is compact; almost incorruptible; never splinters; is easily worked; and were it not for its enormous weight, would be commodiously employed in almost all kinds of work, as it possesses every property of good timber.

To the roots and branches of mangroves that are immersed in the water, oysters frequently attach themselves; so that wherever this curious plant is found growing on the sea-shore, oyster-fishing is very easy; and in such cases these shell-fish may be literally said to grow upon trees.

The red mangrove or mangrove grows on the seashore, and at the mouth of large rivers; but does not advance, like the former, into the water. It generally rises to the height of 20 or 30 feet, with crooked, knotty branches, which proceed from all parts of the trunk. The bark is slender, of a brown colour, and, when young, is smooth, and adheres very closely to the wood; but when old, appears quite cracked, and is easily detached from it. Under this bark is a skin as thick as parchment, red, and adhering closely to the wood, from which it cannot be detached till the tree is felled and dry. The wood is hard, compact, heavy, of a deep red, with a very fine grain. The pith or heart of the wood being cut into small pieces, and boiled in water, imparts a very beautiful red to the liquid, which communicates the same colour to wool and linen. The great weight and hardness of the wood prevent it from being generally used. From the fruit of this tree, which, when ripe, is of a violet colour, and resembles some grapes in taste, is prepared an agreeable liquor, much esteemed by the inhabitants of the Caribbee islands.

White mangrove, so termed from the colour of its wood, grows, like the two former, upon the banks of rivers, but is seldom found near the sea. The bark is gray; the wood, as we have said, white, and when green supple; but dries as soon as cut down, and becomes very light and brittle. This species is generally called rope-mangrove, from the use to which the bark is applied by the inhabitants of the West Indies. This bark, which, on account of the great abundance of sap, is easily detached when green from the wood, is beaten or bruised betwixt two stones, until the hard and woody part is totally separated from that which is soft and tender. This last, which is the true cortical substance, is twisted into ropes of all sizes, which are exceedingly strong, and not apt to rot in the water.

RHODE-ISLAND, one of the smallest of the United States of America, not exceeding 47 miles in length and 37 in breadth, is bounded on the N. and E. by the province of Massachusetts; on the S. by the Atlantic, and on the W. by Connecticut. Its area is 1589 square miles. It is divided into five counties, viz. Newport, Providence, Washington, Bristol, and Kent, which are subdivided into 30 townships, containing 76,931 inhabitants in 1810, of whom 108 were slaves. This state is intersected by rivers in all directions; and the winters in the maritime parts of it are milder than in the interior of the country. The summers are delightful, and the climate is considered to be more salubrious than any other in the United States. The rivers and bays teem with fish of different kinds, and it is generally allowed by travellers, that Newport is the best fish market in the world. This state produces rye, barley, oats, maize, and in some places wheat sufficient for home consumption. Cyder is made here for exportation; and it abounds with grasses, fruits, and culinary roots and plants, all of an excellent quality. The north-western parts are but thinly inhabited, and more rocky and barren than the rest of the state. There are extensive dairies in some parts of it, which produce butter and cheese of the best quality, and in large quantities for exportation. Iron ore is found in great abundance in many parts of the state; and the iron-works on Patuxet river, 12 miles from Providence, are supplied with ore from a bed about four miles and a half distant, where a variety of ores, curious stones, and ochres, are also met with; and there is a copper mine mixed with iron in the township of Cumberland. Here also lime stone abounds, and coal has lately been found.

The chief towns of the state are Providence and Newport; the former contained 10,071, and the latter 7,907 inhabitants in 1810. The slave-trade, which was a source of wealth to many, has been happily abolished. Bristol carries on a considerable trade to Africa, the West Indies, and different parts of the United States; but the inhabitants of the prosperous town of Providence have in their hands the greatest part of the commerce; the tonnage of this place in 1815 was 18,538 tons. The common exports are flax-seed, timber, horses, cattle, beef, pork, fish, poultry, onions, butter, cheese, barley, grain, spirits, cotton and linen goods. The imports consist of West India and European goods, and logwood is brought from the bay of Honduras. At the different ports of this state more than 600 vessels enter and clear out annually. The amount of exports in 1810 was $1,381,576 dollars, and in 1817 it was $950,467 dollars. At Providence there are various cotton manufactories, the produce of which is sent to the southern states; but the manufactures of bar and sheet iron, steel, nail-roads, and nails, implements of husbandry, stoves, pots, &c. are the most extensive. The whole amount of manufactures in 1810 was $3,079,556 dollars. The value of lands and houses in this state in 1799 was $11,066,357 dollars, and in 1814 the value was $21,567,020 dollars. The average value of lands per acre, including buildings, was $9 dollars. The constitution of the state is founded on the charter granted in 1663 by Charles II.; and the revolution made no effectual change on the form of government. The legislature consists of two branches; a senate composed of ten members, besides a governor and deputy-governor, and a house of representatives. The members of the legislature are chosen twice a year, and there are two sessions of this body annually. So little has the civil authority to do with religion here, that no contract between a minister and a society is of any force, for which reason a great number of sects have always been found here; yet it is said that the sabbath, and all religious institutions are more neglected in this, than in any other of the New England states. The Baptists and Congregationalists are the most numerous sects. But there are besides a considerable number of Quakers, Episcopalians, Moravians, and Jews. There were no less than 28 banks in this state in 1818.

RHODE ISLAND, an island of N. America, in a state of the same name, situated between 41° 28' and 41° 42' N. Lat. and between 71° 17' and 71° 27' W. Long. from Greenwich, or about 15 miles long, and its medium breadth about 3 and a half. It is a famous resort for invalids from the southern climates, as it is exceedingly pleasant and healthful, being at one period regarded as the Eden of North America.