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By obfervation and experiment, the principal impregnation of the water is found to be a foffile acid, which is predominant in the tafte. It is alfo ftrongly impregnated with a faline fubftance, which is very difcernible in the taste of the water, and in the taste and smell of the petrified matter about it. From the corrofive and diffolving nature of the acid, the water acquires a chalybeate property, and receives into its compofition a portion of calcareous earth, which, when feparated, resembles an impure magnefia. As the different fprings have no effential variance in the nature of their waters, but the proportions of the chalybeate impregnation, it is rendered probable that they are derived from one common fource, but flow in feparate channels, where they have connection with metallic bodies, in greater or lefs proportions.

The prodigious quantity of air contained in this water, makes another diftinguishing property of it. This air, ftriving for enlargement, produces the fermentation and violent action of the water before described. After the water has stood a small time in an open veffel (no tight one will contain it) the air efcapes, becomes vapid, and lofes all that life and pungency which diftinguish it when firft taken from the pool. The particles of diffolved earth are depofited as the water flows off, which, with the combination of the falts and fixt air, concrete and form the rocks about the fprings.

The effects it produces upon the human body are various; the natural operation of it, when taken, is cathartick, in fome inftances an emetic. As it is drank, it produces an agreeable fenfation in paffing over the organs of tafte, but as foon as it is fwallowed, there fucceeds an unpleasant tafte, and the eructations which take place afterwards, caufe a pungency very fimilar to that produced by a draught of cider or beer, in a ftate of fermentation.

The following curious experiments made on these waters, were extracted from Dr. Mitchell's Journal.

A young turkey held a few inches above the water in the crater of the lower fpring, was thrown into convulfions in less than half a minute, and gafping fhewed figns of approaching death; but on removal from that place, and expofure to the frefh air, revived, and became lively. On immerfion again for a minute in the gas, the bird was taken out languid and motionlefs.

A small dog put into the fame cavity, and made to breathe the contained air, was, in lefs than one minute, thrown into convulfive motions—made to pant for breath, and laftly, to lofe entirely the power to cry or move; when taken out, he was too weak to ftand, but foon, in the common air, acquired ftrength enough to rife and ftagger away.

A trout recently caught, and brifkly fwimming in a pail of brook water, was carefully put into a veffel juft filled from the fpring; the fifh was inftantly agitated with violent convulfions, gradually loft the capacity to move and poise itself, grew ftupid and infenfible, and in a few minutes was dead.

A candle repeatedly lighted and let down near the furface of the water, was fuddenly extinguished, and not a veftige of light or fire remained on

the wick.

Thefe

Thefe experiments nearly correfpond with thofe ufually made in Italy, at the famous GROTTO DEL CANI, for the entertainment of travellers; as mentioned by Keysler, Addison, and others.

A bottle filled with the water and fhaken, emits fuddenly a large quantity of aërial matter, that either forces out the cork, or makes a way befide or through it, or burfts the vessel.

A quantity of wheaten flour, moistened with this water, and kneaded into dough, when made into cakes, and put into a baking-pan, rofe, during the application of heat, into light and fpongy bread, without the aid of yeaft or leaven.

From which it appears, that the air extricated from the water is precifely fimilar to that produced by ordinary fermentation.

Some lime-water, made of abalactiles brought from the fubterranean cave at Rhinebec, became immediately turbid on mixture with the fpring water, but when the water had been lately drawn, the precipitate was quickly re-diffolved.

Some of the rock furrounding the fpring, on being put into the fire, calcined to quick lime, and flacked very well.

When the aerial matter has evaporated, the water lofes its transparency and lets fall a calcareous fediment.

Whence it is true, that the gas is aërial acid, that the rock is lime-ftone, and that by means of the former, the water becomes capable of diffolving and conveying the latter.'

Minerals and foils.] This ftate embofoms vast quantities of iron ore. Naturalifts have obferved that ore in fwamps and pondy ground, vegetates and increases. There is a filver mine at Phillipfburg, which produces virgin filver. Spar, zink or fpelter, a femi-metal, magnez, ufed in glazings, peritus, of a golden hue, various kinds of copper ore, and lead and coal mines are found in this ftate. Alfo petrified wood, plaiter of Paris, ifing-glafs in fheets, talks and chryftals of various kinds and colours, afbeftos, and feveral other foffils. A small black ftone has alfo been found, which vitrifies with a fmall heat, and makes excellent glass.

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Literary and Humane Societies.] There are very few focieties for improvement in knowledge or humanity in this ftate; and thefe few are in the city of New York. The first is The fociety for promoting useful knowledge.' This fociety is upon an establishment fimilar to other philofophical focieties in Europe and America, but is not incorporated. The members meet once a month. Secondly, The fociety for the manumiffion of flaves, and protecting fuch of them as have been or may be liberated. This fociety meets once a quarter. Both thefe focieties confift of gentlemen of the firft character in the city, and of fome in other parts of the ftate. Befides thefe, there is the Philological fociety," inftituted in 1788. This growing fociety has for its principal object the improvement of the English language.

Literature, Colleges, Academies, &c.] Until the year 1754, there was no college in the province of New York. The ftate of literature, at that time, I shall give in the words of their historian, Our schools are in

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the loweft order; the inftructors want inftruction, and through a long and fhameful neglect of all the arts and fciences, our common fpeech is extremely corrupt, and the evidences of a bad tafte, both as to thought and language, are vifible in all our proceedings, public and private.' This was undoubtedly a juft representation at the time when it was writ ten; and although much attention has fince been paid to education in some populous towns, the observations are now but too juftly applicable to the country at large. There are many flourishing academies and grammar fchools, lately established in the ftate; but many parts of the country are either unfurnished with schools, or the schools which they have are kept by low ignorant men, and are worse than none; for children had better remain in ignorance than be ill taught. But a great proportion of the United States are in the fame fituation in regard to schools.

King's-College, in the city of New York, was principally founded by the voluntary contributions of the inhabitants of the province, affifted by the general affembly, and the corporation of Trinity church, in the year 1754, a royal charter being then obtained, incorporating a number of gentlemen therein mentioned, by the name of " The governors of the college of the province of New York, in the city of New York, in America;" and granting to them and their fucceffors for ever, amongst various other rites and privileges, the power of conferring all fuch degrees, as are ufually conferred by either of the English universities.

By the charter it was provided that the prefident fhall always be a mem ber of the church of England, and that a form of prayer collected from the liturgy of that church, with a particular prayer for the college, fhall be daily ufed, morning and evening, in the college chapel; at the fame time, no teft of their religious perfuafion was required from any of the fellows, profeffors or tutors; and the advantages of education were equally extended to ftudents of all denominations.

The building (which is only one third of the intended structure) confifts of an elegant ftone edifice, three complete ftories high, with four ftair cafes, twelve apartments in each, a chapel, hall, library, museum, anatomical theatre, and a fchool for experimental philofophy."

All ftudents, but thofe in medicine, before the revolution, were obliged to lodge and diet in the college, unless they were particularly exempted by the governors or prefident; and for the fecurity of their morals, &c. the edifice was furrounded by an high fence, which alfo enclofes a large court and garden; and a porter ufed conftantly to attend at the front gate, which was locked at ten o'clock each evening in fummer, and at nine in winter; after which hours, the names of all that came in were delivered weekly to the prefident.

The college is fituated on a dry gravelly foil, about 150 yards from the bank of Hudfon's river, which it overlooks; commanding a moft extenfive and beautiful profpect.

Since the revolution the literature of the ftate has engaged the attention of the legiflature. In one of their late feffions an act paffed conftituting twenty-one gentlemen (of whom the governor and lieutenant governor, for the time being, are members ex officiis) a body corporate aud politic, by the name and itile of The regents of the university of the state of New York.' They are entrusted with the care of literature in general

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in the ftate, and have power to grant charters of incorporation for erecting colleges and academies throughout the state-are to vifit these inftitutions as often as they fhall think proper, and report their state to the legiflature once a year. All degrees above that of master of arts are to be conferred by the regents.

King's college, which we have already defcribed, is now called COLUMBIA COLLEGE. This college, by an act of the legislature passed in the fpring of 1787, was put under the care of twenty-four gentlemen, who are a body corporate, by the name and ftyle of The truftees of Columbia college, in the city of New-York.' This body poffeffes all the powers vefted in the governors of King's college, before the revolution, or in the regents of the univerfity, fince the revolution, fo far as their power refpected this inftitution, except the conferring of the higher degrees. No regent can be a truftee of any particular college or academy in the state.

The college edifice has received no additions fince the peace. The funds produce, annually, about 1000. The library and museum were deftroyed during the war. The philofophical apparatus cost about 300 guineas, Until the revolution the college did not flourish. The plan upon which it was originally founded, was contracted, and its fituation unfavourable, The former objection is removed, but the latter must remain. It has between thirty and forty ftudents, in four claffes. The number for feveral years has been increafing. The officers of inftruction and immediate government are, a prefident, profeffor of languages, profeffor of mathematics, profeffor of logic and rhetoric, profefior of natural philofophy, profeffor of geography, and a profeffor of moral philofophy. There are many other profeffors belonging to the university, but their profefforfhips are mere honorary.

There are feveral academies in the state. One is at Flatbush, in King's county, on Long-Ifland, four miles from Brooklyn-ferry. It is fituated in a pleafant, healthy village. The building is large, handfome, and convenient, and is called Erafmus Hall. The academy is flourishing under the care of a principal and other fubordinate inftructors. The truftces of this inftitution have been incorporated by the regents of the úniversity.

There is a very flourishing academy at Eaft Hampton, on the east end of Long-Ifland; to which also the regents have given a charter of incorporation by the name of CLINTON ACADEMY.

There are other academies, or more properly grammar schools, in different parts of the ftate. There are feveral in the city of New-York, furnished with able inftructors; one at Kingston, in Ulfter county; one at Goshen, in the county of Orange; two at Albany; one at Skenectady; one at Lanfingburgh, and another at Weft Chefter. None of thefe have yet applied for charters. Befides thefe, in many parts of the state there are fchools erected, which are maintained by the voluntary contributions of the parents. A fpirit for literary improvement, is evidently diffufing its influence throughout the state.

Religion.] The conftitution of this ftate provides for the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profeffion and worship, without difcrimination or preference, within the ftate, for all mankind. Provided that the

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liberty of confcience hereby granted, fhall not be fo conftrued as to ex cufe acts of licentioufnefs, or juftify practices inconfiftent with the peace and fafety of the ftate.'

The various religious denominations in this ftate, with the number of their refpective congregations, are as follows:

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The prefbyterian churches are governed by congregational, prefbyterial, and fynodical affemblies. Thefe affemblies poflefs no civil jurifdiction. Their power is wholly moral or fpiritual, and that only minifterial and declarative. They poffefs the right of requiring obedience to the laws of Chrift, and of excluding the difobedient from the privileges of the church; and the powers requifite for obtaining evidence and inflicting cenfure; but the higheft punishment, to which their authority extends, is to exclude the contumacious and impenitent from the congregation of believers.

The church fion, which is the congregational affembly, confifts of the minifter or minifters and elders of a particular congregation. This body is invested with the fpiritual government of the congregation.

A prefbytery confifts of all the minifters, and one ruling elder from each congregation, within a certain district. Three minifters and three elders, conftitutionally convened, are competent to do bufinefs. This body have cognizance of all things that regard the welfare of the particular churches within their bounds, which are not cognizable by the feffion. Alfo, they have a power of receiving and iffuing appeals from the feffions -of examining and licenfing candidates for the miniftry-of ordaining, fettling, removing, or judging minifters--of refolving queftions of doctrine or difcipline, and whatever elfe pertains to the fpiritual concerns of

the churches under their care.

A Synod is a convention of feveral prefbyteries. The fynod have power to admit and judge of appeals, regularly brought up from the prefbyteries-to give their judgment on all references made to them, of an ecclefiaftical kind-to correct and regulate the proceedings of prefbyteries,

&c.

The highest judicatory of the prefbyterian church is ftiled The general council of the prefbyterian church in the United States of America. This grand council is to confift of an equal delegation of bishops and elders from each prefbytery within their jurifdiction, by the title of commiffioners to the general council. Fourteen commiffioners make a quorum. The council conftitute the bond of union, peace, correfpondence, and mutual confidence among all their churches; and have power to receive and iffue all appeals and references which may regularly be brought before them from the inferior judicatories-to regulate and correct the proceedings of

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