NORTH AMERICA, 
ng the longest river in the world. All these rivers are 
navigable throughout the greater part of their course, 
either by steamboats (for the great size and light draught 
of which the Mississippi is famous) or by flat-boats, 
which bring the produce of the Northern and Western 
States down to New Orleans. 
The Bragos, Colorado (in Texas), and Rio Grande del 
Norte, the latter forming the boundary between the 
Jnited States and Mexico, flow into the Gulf of Mexico 
west of the Mississippi; and the Alabama and several 
other rivers reach the Gulf east of it. 
The Penobscot, Connecticut, Hudson, Delaware, Sus- 
zuehanna, Potomac, James, Roanoke, and Savannah, 
together with numerous smaller and less important rivers, 
Aow into the Atlantic. 
The Colorado (another river of the same name) flows 
into the Gulf of California; the Sacramento and Columbia 
Rivers Bow into the Pacific Ocean. 
The Great Lakes of Canada all adjoin the United States, 
Lake Michigan being entirely within the latter territory ; 
besides these are Lakes Champlain and George, many 
smaller lakes in New York, Minnesota, and other States, 
and the Great Salt Lake in Utah. 
The coast-line of the United States is very little bro- 
ken, but along the Atlantic coast are numerous small 
islands and sand-banks—Long Island, Rhode Island, and 
Nantucket being the principal, 
The bays are chiefly the mouths of the rivers. 
The Principal Bays, Straits, etc., are: 
Onthe eastcoast, Penobscot and‘ ches Bay, and Galveston and Mat- 
Yassachusetts Bays, Long Island agorda Baysı 
Jound, Delaware and Chesapeake On the west coast are San Fran- 
Baya, Pimlico and Albemarle “48co and Columbia Bays, Juan de 
Buunde. Strait of Florida. Appala- "uca Stratt, and Admiralty Inlet, 
The Principal Capes are: 
On the west comst are Point 
Conception, Menducino, Blanco, 
and Fialttery. 
On the enst const, Ann, Cod. 
Kontauk Potnt, May, Charles, 
Tenry, Hatteras, Sable. and St. 
RIa8. 
As the territory occupied by the United States extends 
ver 24° of latitude, or a distance of about 1,600 miles 
from north to south, the climate varies very much with 
the locality. It istemperate in the North, and hot in the 
South. Along the south-eastern coast are numerous large 
swamps, and the rivers are sluggish in their course, ren- 
Adering the climate very unhealthy for the white popula- 
4jon. In the interior it is hot, but more healthy. On 
Ihe Pacific coast, owing to their proximity to the sea, the 
mountains intercept the rain-clouds, and the country to 
‘he east of the Coast Range suffers very much from drouth. 
The soil is in general rich and productive, especially 
in the Great Central Plain, or Mississippi Valley. In the 
north-eastern States it is more rocky and barren, but 
averywhere well cultivated. On both sides of the Rocky 
Mountains, but more especially on the high plateau be- 
‚ween that range and California, are arid desert tracts of 
sountry. In the Great Central Plain almost all the coun- 
;ry west of the Ohio River consists of vast prairies, origi- 
nally covered with tall grass, and easily cultivated, but 
zith little timber. In the Northern and Western States, 
zrain is the chief production—principally wheat and 
Indian corn. Cattle are also extensively reared. In the 
Middle States, tobacco and Indian corn are the staples; 
and in the Southern States, cotton, sugar, and rice, 
Gold, silver, iron, copper, lead, quicksilver, and coal 
ıre found in great abundance ; gold, silver, and quick- 
silver chiefly in California and Nevada; iron, coal, and 
setroleum in the western parts of Pennsylvania, in Vir- 
sinia, and also in Ohio ; and copper and lead in Illinois, 
Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin. 
The Western States so called, or those occupying the 
1orthern part of the Great Central Plain, are the chief 
zources of the supplies of the South and East ; the Missis- 
sippi forming the great channel of communication for 
‘he exchange of the grain and cattle of the North for the 
sugar, cotton, and other products of the South; while 
he Great Lakes, the river St. Lawrence, and the Erie 
Yanal form highways to the East. 
The United States have been peopled prinecipally by 
‚ettlers from Great Britain and Ireland, and from Ger- 
nany, although the native-born population, descended 
om the earlier settlers, NOW largely predominates. 
The form of government is a Federal Republic. 
Each State is a separate Republic, and makes its own 
aws; each possesses exclusive control of all local in- 
‚erests, and is governed by & Governor, Senate, and a 
Touse of Representatives, all elected by the people. 
The General Government regulates all affairs relat- 
ng to commerce, the defence and general interests of the 
‚ountry. It consists of a President, Vice-President, and 
» Congress consisting of a Senate of 76 members and a 
Touse of Representatives of 293 members. 
The President and Vice-President are chosen every 
'our years by electors representing the people, each State 
jeing entitled to as many electors as it has Senators and 
Aembers of Congress, 
The Senate is composed of two members from each 
itate, who are chosen bv its Legislature for n term of six 
rears. . 
The representatives of the people are elected every 
wo years, each State being entitled to one member for 
very 168,000 of its inhabitants. 
The Territories of the United States are under the 
Jirect control of the General Government, untilthey have 
ı sufciently large population to entitle them to repre- 
sentation in Congress, They are then formed into States, 
ınd are entitled to the privileges enjoyed by States. 
The United States were formerly British Colonies, and 
in order ta avoid the taxation which Britain wished to