Religion. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship is secured by the constitution, which declares, "that we are required by the benevolent principles of rational liberty, not only to expel civil tyranny, but also to guard against civil oppression and intolerance, wherewith the bigotry and ambition of weak and wicked priests and princes have scourged mankind. No minister of the gospel, or priest of any denomination, can ever hold any civil or military office or place within the state." It was enacted by the legislature in 1804, that all religious denominations may regulate their temporal concerns by a corporate body of trustees, to consist of from three to nine members; and that a congregation may hold estates, of which the annual revenue does not exceed 3000 dollars. The different denominations are-English Presbyterians, Dutch Reformed, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Quakers, Methodists, Baptists, German Lutherans, Moravians, Roman Catholics, Shakers, Jews, Universal Friends, Anabaptists, and Scotch Cameronians. The Presbyterians are the most numerous. The next are the Episcopalians, who, in 1811, had 42 churches and 47 clergymen, and probably have now twice the number. According to the report of the general convention of the Baptists, held in Philadelphia in May 1817, the number of their churches was then 321; that of members, 23,558; and there was no return from five churches, In 1814, the legislature of the state granted the sum of 4000 dollars to the Asbury African church, in the city of New York, for the payment of a debt and the establishment of a school. The whole number of ministers is about 500, which, according to the calculation of Mr. Beecher, ought to be doubled for a population of 1,000,000. They are supported by the voluntary contributions of the people, raised by subscription, or by a tax on the pews; except the Dutch and Episcopalian churches, which have property in different places to a considerable amount. Slaves. The legislature, by an act passed the 31st day of March 1817, have declared the final and total abolition of slavery from the 4th day of July 1827, on which day, every negro, mulatto, or mustee, born before the 4th of July 1799, is to be free; and those born after that date-if males, are also to become free at the age of twenty-eight years-if females, at twenty-five years. Education.-Schools, Colleges.-Since the establishment of incorporated academies, the sons of farmers, merchants, and professional men, receive a regular classical education in those seminaries, where the course of studies is similar to that of Europe. Before the revolution, a great number of the inhabitants could neither read nor write, and there are still some of this description, though an increasing desire of being able to read the Scriptures, the laws, newspapers, and political pamphlets, and of becoming a magistrate, or justice of the peace, has nearly overcome this ignorance, so common in European countries. The state fund for the support of schools amounted, in 1811, to 483,326 dollars, affording an annual revenue of 36,427 dollars. In the year 1815, the number of common and primary schools in the state was 2621; the number of scholars, 140,106; the expence of instruction, 55,720 dollars. The city and county of New York, not comprehended in the act for school districts, and the city of Albany, are not included in this return, which, besides, was considered as far short of the real number of children, supposed to amount, at least, to 200,000 in 5000 districts, in which common schools are established. In April 1811, the superintendent of the common shools reported to the legislature, that there was at this period within the state, exclusive of the city and county of New York, at least 5000 common schools, which have been formed and kept up under the act for their establishment, and that the number of children annually taught in them exceeds 200,000; that the sum distributed the preceding year from the common school fund was about 65,000 dollars. These funds are placed at the disposal of the legislature, and the colleges and academies are under the direction of a board of agents,-a corporate body appointed by the government, of which the governor and lieutenant-governor are members ex officio. The officers of this body are a chancellor and vice-chancellor, a treasurer and secretary, who meet annually in the chamber of the assembly, after the meeting of the legislature. They are empowered to incorporate colleges and academies; to confer degrees of a higher order than those of master of arts, or doctor of medicine; and to distribute the funds, as they may judge proper, among the different seminaries. It is their duty to visit the schools and academies once a-year, and to make a report thereon to the legislature. For these reasons, no regent or inspector of colleges can be president or trustee of any college or academy. The number of printing establishments in the state now exceeds 100; and there are about seventy newspapers, of which six in the city of New York appear daily. Agriculture. This science has made rapid progress within these few years, particularly in the county of Dutchess, where it is encouraged by those of the greatest wealth and influence in the state. The introduction of gypsum as a manure has considerably increased the value of land, except near the sea-shore, where, owing to some cause not yet well explained, it has no influence on vegetation. The cereal plants cultivated in the state are maize, winter wheat, rye, black wheat, winter barley, summer barley, oats. The two first are most cultivated. Wheat is generally sown in autumn, and the richest lands are reserved for this crop. Maize thrives well in a loose, loamy, or sandy soil. Barley is sown in the southern parts; but the grain is inferior in quality to that of Europe. Buck-wheat yields large products. The roots and esculent plants are potatoes, peas, beans, pumkins, melons. The filamentous plants are flax and hemp: the last is found to succeed in rich moist vallies called bottom grounds, some of which have yielded 600 pounds per acre. The fruit-bearing trees generally cultivated are the apple, peach, pear, cherry, and plum trees. The Spitzenberg apple, and that known by the name of Newton pippin, are of a superior quality. The peach in the southern parts is produced in such great abundance, that in 'some places it serves as nourishment for swine; and it is now found to thrive on the borders of Lake Erie. The vine is successfully cultivated in some of the gardens of farmers. Immense quantities of water-melons are raised throughout the state. The grasses, which grow luxuriantly, and afford excellent food for cattle, are the lucerne, white and red clover, blue grass, tall meadow oats, and Timothy grass. The leaves of maize, and the straw of oats, peas, and barley, are used as winter fodder. The course of husbandry is as follows: spring wheat, oats, barley, peas, rye, and flax, are sown from the middle of April to the 1st of May and during the two first weeks of this month the Indian corn is planted, and then potatoes. Wheat, oats, and barley are cat in August, after which the winter wheat is sown. Buck-wheat, which is sown in the beginning of July, is cut in the middle of October, and the Indian corn about the same time. Price of Implements of Agriculture.-Oxen per yoke, 70 dollars; a cow, 15; an ox cart, 30; necessary farming utensils, 15; a good log-house, divided into two apartments, made by hired men, 100; a small log-house, twenty feet square, 50; a small grist mill and saw mill may be built for 1000; gypsum near the Capuga Lake, from three to four dollars per ton. Price of Labor.-Labor per day, 1 dollar; masons and carpenters, 1 dollar, 50 cents; mechanics with food, 1 dollar; smiths' work per pound, 25 cents. Price of Lands.-The land of the Genessee country, in the year 1794, was sold at 25 cents per acre, and in the year 1800, at 10 dollars. In the month of October 1815, 64,000 acres. were sold at New York, of which the highest price was 35, and the lowest 2 dollars. Lands of the tract called the Holland Purchase, extending from the Pennsylvania line to the banks of the Genessee and to Lake Ontario, sell at 3 dollars 50 cents. Of the money 5 per cent is paid in cash, and the remainder in six yearly instalments, payable from the third to the eighth year, with interest for the last six years, and the interest due from the date of the sale, if the purchaser neglects to make certain improvements the first year. 20 per cent is allowed for cash. In Ontario county improved farms bring 40 dollars per acre; uncleared land, 5; partly cleared, 15; land in the vicinity of villages, 10. The Pulteney estate, near Geneva, sells at 3 dollars, with credit from four to seven years, and interest from the date of the sale. Lands near Utica sell at from 40 to 100 dollars; improved lands in the neighbourhood of Manlius Square, from 10 to 30; lots in Utica village, from 50 to 60 feet in front, and from 100 to 130 in depth, sell from 200 to 1000 dollars; out-lots of 12 acres for 5000. At Sacket village, lots of half an acre bring from 250 to 1200; lots in the village of Canandaigua, twentytwo rods in front and sixty-five deep, having out-lots of thirty acres, sell from 500 to 1000; the out-lots from 80 to 100. On the river St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario, two townships, one of 50,000, the other of 70,000 acres, are advertised for sale, by Mr. Le Ray de Chaumont, on the following terms: seven years credit for the principal, the interest paid annually; allowance of 3 per cent. per annum on all payments made before they become due; wheat and potash received in lieu of cash. Value of lands and houses, as established by the assessors of the direct tax: Agriculture and Manufactures.-This state, blessed with a fertile soil, and particularly favored by its water communication, has made uncommon progress in agriculture, manufactures, and The inhabitants of different districts have vied with each other in opening roads and canals, constructing bridges, erecting corn and saw-milis, and water-machinery of every kind. commerce. Product of Animal Substances.-Leather tan-works 867, value 1,299,542 dollars; hats, from 124 manufactories, 249,035 dollars. Commerce. Before the revolution, the commerce of this state was already very flourishing. All the productions of New England were successfully cultivated; and the quality of different kinds of grain was found to be superior. The Indian tribes furnished peltry of various kinds. In the space of twelve months, commencing the 25th of March 1835, 211 sea vessels entered, and 222 cleared from the ports of New York. The chief commerce was with the Antilles, with England and Ireland. The imports from Great Britain amounted to 150,000 pounds sterling, in merchandise of different kinds. The only currency was paper-money, which amounted to 70,000 pounds. The exchange on London, in 1639, was between 70 and 75 per cent. The port of New York, on account of its central situation, the facility of inland trade, and short and easy access to the ocean, is become the great emporium of the American commerce, and pays nearly a fourth of the whole revenue, arising from duties on the importation of goods. The average annual amount, including duties on tonnage, exceeds 4,000,000 of dollars. The exports of this state, when a province of England, taken on an average of three years, after the peace of 1763, amounted to |