A. The President and Vice President are chosen by electors who are appointed by the people for that purpose. They continue in office four years, and may be re-elected as often as the people think proper Q. By whom are Senators chosen? A. By the state legislatures: two by each state; with a biennial rotation of one third.. Their term of office is six years. Q. By whom are the House of Representatives chosen ? A. By the people at large; one for every 33 thousand, and to serve two years. Who was the first President of the Unit ed States? A. George Washington: He was twice unanimously elected to that office; and upon his declining a third election, he was succeeded by John Adams, who after serving one term, gave place to Thomas Jefferson; he served two terms, and was succeeded by James Madison, who was elected in 1809. Q. How are the United States bounded? A. The United States and their territories are bounded E. by the Atlantic ocean and NewBrunswick, W. by the western boundary of Louisiana, N. by Lower Canada and the lakes, and S. by the Floridas and the isthmus of Darien. Q. How long and broad are the United States? A. They are 1400 miles long from N. E. to S. W. and (exclusive of Louisiana) from 700 to 1200 broad, containing one million of square miles, and nearly six millions of inhabitants. Q. Is there any establishment of religion in. the United States? A. No A. No; the constitution of our happy coun try secures to every one, the full enjoyment of religious liberty; There is therefore no nation al established religion; but Protestantism prevails in its various branches of Presbyterians, Epis copalians, Methodists, Baptists, Quakers or Friends, &c. Q. What is the military strength of the Unit ed States ? A. The military strength of this country lies in a well disciplined militia, of about 900,000 freemen, with 4 or 5 thousand standing troops employed on our frontiers, and in the different fortresses of the union. Our navy, established only for the protection of our commerce, is yet in its infancy, and consists of only 8 or 10 frigates, with 3 or 4 sloops, and a few gun boats. upon a new construction. Q. What have you to observe respecting the soil and climates of this country ·? A. The climates vary from warm to very cold, and the soil has all the grades from worst to best, and produces, or, by cultivation may be brought to produce, almost every species of grain, fruit, pulse, roots and plants, found in the different parts of the world. Q. What are the principal mountains? A. The principal mountains in the United States are the White Mountains in New-Hampshire, and the Alleganies, which last, include a great number of ridges under various names. They extend from Hudson's river, in the state of New-York, in a South western direction, upwards of 900 miles in various breadths from 60 to 150 miles. Q. Describe Describe the face of the country in the United States. A. Between these mountains and the ocean, the face of the country is generally level, espeeially to the southward; but west of the Alleganies, it is finely diversified, well watered and fertile. The eastern or New-England states are Jelevated, rocky, and uneven. On and within the Northern boundary of the United States is a chain of fresh water lakes, the largest perhaps in the world. Lake Erie is 300 miles long, and 40 broad; Ontario and Michigan, each, in circumference, 600 miles; Huron, 1000 miles, and Superior, 1500. Between Lake Erie and Ontario are the great Falls of Niagara. The river is here 742 yards wide, and falls 137, or, as some say, 150 feet perpendicularly over a rock; affording a scene at once the most awful, romantic and interesting that can be imagined. The noise of this astonishing cataract is heard to the distance of 20, 30, or even 40 miles; and a constant mist arises from it, in which, when the sun shines, may be seen all the colors of the rainbow. In the winter it falls and congeals on the neighboring trees, and exhibits the most beautiful and chryftaline appearances. There is, on the Mississippi, a most pleasing cataract, called St. Anthony's Falls, where the whole river, 250 yards wide, descends perpendicularly more than 39 fect. Another remarkable cascade, by the name of Falling Spring, is seen on a branch of James's river, in Virginia, where the descent is at least 200 feet perpendicular. Q. Have the United States any considerable A. Yes; their merchants, trade extensively with almost every part of the commercial world. Q. What are the principal articles of trade? A. Some of the principal exports, are flour, grain, fish, beef, pork, live stock, tobacco, rice, iron, indigo, lumber, flaxseed, &c. The imports consist chiefly of dry goods, hardwares, tea, coffee, sugars, spirits and wines. Q. What is the chief city? A. Philadelphia, in 39 deg. 57 min. N. Lat. and 75 deg. 9 min. W. Long. from London, is the chief city; but Washington, a flourishing place in the district of Columbia, on the Potomac, is the capital. It lies in 38 deg. 53 min. N. Lat. and is 144 miles S. W. from Philadelphia, and 42 from Baltimore. Q. Of how many states does the union consist? A. Of seventeen, beside extensive territories not yet sufficiently populous to authorize their admission into the union as additional sister states. Their names, with their population, capitals and chief towns, are as follows States. |