St. Lawrence River, serves as the common boundary between Vermont and New York, to the South, and Lower Canada to the North. Crossing St. Lawrence, N. lat. 45°, it enters Upper Canada, near its extreme Eastern point; thence over that Province to Lake Huron; thence over that Lake to the northern part of the Peninsula of Michigan, and northern part of Lake Michigan, having a traverse of very nearly 1200 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. Leaving the western shore of Lake Michigan, N. lat. 45°, it passes over Wisconsin to the Mississippi River, near St. Anthony's Falls, and mouth of St. Peter's River, and almost on long. 16, W. of W. C., and about 300 miles westward of Lake Michigan. In another stretch of 300 miles this latitude reaches the Missouri, near mid-distance between the influx of the Chayenne, and Sawarcama rivers. Thence over the southern confluents of the Yellow Stone river, and thence again, over the higher branches of the Missouri, to the gorges of the Chippewyan or Rocky Mountains, in the regions from which flow the extreme sources of the Missouri and some of those of the Oregon or Columbia; in an entire distance of 500 miles from the crossing of the Main Missouri, with the Rocky Mountains, commences the great Western slope of the Continent, down which, N. lat. 45°, ranges about 750 miles to the Pacific Ocean, which it reaches one hundred miles southward of the mouth of Columbia River, and also nearly on long. 48° W., W. C., having a range over the Continent a little more than three thousand miles. The mid-distance on this latitude, from Ocean to Ocean, falls between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.

In two essential respects, N. lat. 50°, demands particular attention, from the statist, geographer, and statesman. In the first place, this curve bounds, to the

northward, with some partial exceptions, that part of North America, which, on the east side of the Rocky Mountains, will ever admit considerable density of population. Secondly, with the exception of isolated, and thinly inhabited spots, it already limits Anglo-Saxon, indeed, civilized population in North America. Limiting our views, however, in the present instance, to its mere geography, we find N. lat. 50°, intersecting North America at Cape St. John of Newfoundland, and thence, passing over the northern part of that island, and northern part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence up that Gulf, between the coast of Labrador, and island of Anticosti, reaches the main continent at the Bay of Seven Islands, or long. 5o, E. W. C., in a distance from the Atlantic Ocean of 450 miles. Thence leaving the Gulf of St. Lawrence, N. lat. 50°, passes to the westward about 300 miles over the northern confluents of the St. Lawrence river; and thence to the Rocky Mountains, through 42° of long., or a fraction above 1850 statute miles, passing in this wide distance over the slope down which flow numerous confluents of Hudson's Bay. Thence crossing the main mountain spine of N. A., and the northern confluents of the Columbia, and other streams still less known, to the Gulf of Georgia, and over that Gulf or Strait, and Quadra or Vancouver's Island to the Pacific Ocean, having a range to the westward of the Rocky Mountains of 650 miles. The entire range of this curve over the continent, extends from long. 20° E., to 50° W. W. C., or through 70 degrees, or in round numbers, 3100 statute miles: the middle point falling about 250 miles northward of the western bay of Lake Superior, and very nearly on long. 15° W., W. C.

Calculated by the Rhombs on the best Maps, the results are:

Amount,
Deduct for water, &c.,

Nett area,

The practical uses to be derived from these geographical data, are, to give distinct ideas of the great extent of surface,

3,291,000 do. do. 100,000 do. do. 3,191,000 do. do.

comparative breadth of the continent at different and distant points and lines, and the great area or theatre on which Anglo

Saxon colonization has been established permanently, and must in all future ages rest. Let it be here distinctly understood, that we include not only the people of the United States, but also those of the British Colonies and Texas.

To render the view comparative, without which, indeed, the conclusions must be incomplete, we bring before us the corresponding zone on the opposite side of the Atlantic Ocean.

N. lat. 30° on the Eastern side of the Atlantic Ocean, advancing from West to East, reaches the coast of Africa in the southern part of Morocco, a little to the southward of Cape de Geer, and after passing the southwestern spurs of the Atlas mountains, skirts the Great Desert, and thence over Lower Egypt, leaving the city of Grand Cairo about 5 miles to the northward; reaches the northern extreme of the Red Sea, at Suez, having a range over Africa of 42 degrees of longitude, or 2500 statute miles. Eastward of the Red Sea again, North lat. 30, in some degree skirts the Desert of Arabia over 15 deg. of longitude, or 900 statute miles to the influx of the Euphrates into the Persian Gulf, having had an entire range of 3400 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the mouth of the Euphrates, near Bassora. As already observed, North latitude 30° through the space designated, with very limited exceptions, skirted the northern side of the Great Deserts; and we may more particularly notice that consequent ly, this curve serves as a general limit, both in Africa and Asia, between the productive tracts to the North, and the sandy regions to the South.

North lat. 40°, it may be here repeated, is on the Eastern Continent, as it is round the earth, as far as civilized man is concerned, very far the most important of all geographical curves. Advancing eastward, this latitude reaches the Eastern Continent about 15 statute miles to the southward of Cape Mondego in Portugal, traverses the Spanish peninsula, passing between Toledo and Aranjuez, and leaving Cuença a little to the North, reaches the Mediterranean between Castallan de la Plana and Oropesa, leaving most of the Balearic group of islands to the South, crosses Minorca and Sardinia, and both of the southern capes of Italy; traverses European Turkey, the Gulf of Saloniki, and the Archipelago, reaches Asia exactly at the mouth of the Hellespont, having a range of 30 degrees of longitude, or 1585 statute miles. Enter

ing on Asia, North lat. 40°, traverses the northern part of Asia Minor, leaving Tocat a little to the North, and Erzeroom to the South, crosses Mount Ararat, leaving Erivan in southern Russia, a little to the North, and reaches the Caspian Sea, about 40 statute miles to the southward of Cape Abcharon: having traversed Asia through 23 degrees of longitude, or about 1200 statute miles, and very nearly 2800 from the Atlantic to the Caspian.

Advancing from the West, North lat. 50, first passes over land by merely touching the Lizard Point, or the extreme southern cape of England, and thus leaving the whole group of British islands to the North, and thence passing through six and a half degrees of longitude obliquely up the British Channel, reaches the coast of France near Eu, in the department of the Seine, and thence over northern France, leaving Amiens and Peronne to the South, traverses the Duchies of Luxembourg and Lower Rhine, reaches the river Rhine near but below the mouth of the river Mayne, and city of Mayentz. Thence over Germany, leaving Bamberg in Bavaria to the South; passes over Bohemia, leaving Prague about four miles to the North of Austrian Poland, leaving Lomberg to the South, reaches Russian Poland, over which this curve traverses the great slope of Southern Russia, touching the city of Khaikoff and crossing the Wolga near Kamychin, reaches the Ural river; having had a range over Europe from the Lizard Point, of 55 degrees of longitude, equal to a fraction over 2400 statute miles.

Calculated on the same principles adopted in determining the area of the American zone, that of the Eastern Continent, embraced in similar lines of latitude, comprises 3,822,000 square miles; but within the outlines includes part of the British Channel, a small portion of the Atlantic Ocean north west of Africa, and the whole surface of the Mediterranean and Euxine or Black, with their minor seas of Venice, Marmora, and Azoph; which, taken together, cover 1,275,000 square miles, and deducted from 3,822,000, leaves a nett land surface of 2,137,000 square miles.

The Eastern zone between North latitudes 30° and 50° includes the far greater part of habitable Northern Africa, all Western Asia between those two latitudes, and westward of the Persian Gulf and Caspian Seas, and in Europe the three Southern Peninsulas of Spain, Italy, and Greece; the far greater part of France,

at least four-tenths of Germany, all Switzerland, most part of the Empire of Austria, with all Southern Russia and European Turkey, and all the islands in the Euxine, Marmora, Mediterranean, and their connecting seas. It embraces the theatres, in Asia, Africa, and Europe, of a very large part of all history, ancient and modern, and now comprises at the very lowest estimate which our best data will warrant, two hundred millions of people, of whom whole nations are among the most powerful and civilzed. Yet, when

we come to compare surface with surface, the American zone is the most extensive, and in so large a proportion as three to two. No person who has connected statistical data to historical, will admit for a moment that the Eastern zone, taken as a whole, is peopled to any near approach to the capabilities of population it affords; and still, were the American zone as well stocked with inhabitants, it would sustain two hundred and seventy millions. To all this may be added, safely, that comparatively with extent of surface, the American zone, in regard to climate, soil, and such natural features of rivers, seas, and lakes, as contribute to superinduce and sustain population, by affording means of commercial and social intercourse, on so large a surface, stands altogether pre-eminent. It contains the one-fourteenth part of all the land surface, and full one-tenth of all the land of our planet, on which any considerable density of population can ever

exist.

We now proceed to take a few general views of the whole American zone, which from the hand of Nature is divided into three physical sections-the Eastern, or Atlantic Slope, Central Basin, and Western or Pacific Slope.

Under any change within the grasp of human foresight, the Atlantic Slope must sustain its comparative importance amongst the large land sections of the earth. Let the increase and spread of population be quadrupling on the whole zone in each cycle of fifty years, for at least the three following half centuries, the Atlantic border, occupying the intermediate position between the two immense civilized masses to the East and West of the Atlantic Ocean, must, under any conceivable change, continue to enjoy, with accumulating means, the peculiar advantages of its relative situation. Every facility afforded by roads of any kind-but rail-roads in particular-from

ocean to ocean, must enhance the wealth and power of the people who inhabit the Atlantic border of North America.

When taken in its utmost extent, the Atlantic slope stretches from the southern point of Florida to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, about 1800 miles. The breadth is narrow, when compared with length and area fully estimated at 300,000 square miles. There are few other coasts, if there are any other, of so great continuous length, containing such a succession of harbors.

The Central Basin comprises two subbasins, that of St. Lawrence, and that of Mississippi. The St. Lawrence Basin, properly speaking, belongs to the Atlantic Slope, but from relative position and very peculiar features, is naturally connected with the central portion. Here we must notice one essential and peculiar feature of North America, which presents an entire contrast with Asia. The latter continent rises from the Pacific Ocean, through thirty degrees of longitude, or at least a mean of 1800 statute miles, to an immense table land, which, so far from depressing beyond the sources of the rivers, rather rises, independent of mountains, and spreads over the most elevated and extensive waste, from which no river flows, which exists on our planet. The Plateau, indeed, of Mongolia, between the sources of the rivers of China and those flowing from the Beloor mountains towards the Aral Sea, has a breadth as great as the whole Continent of North America, on latitude 30°. Our continent rises from the Atlantic Ocean by a narrow border of less than a mean of three hundred miles, and thence depresses in the central part. The same observation applies again to the Pacific side, where the ocean border or slope is rather more than twice the breadth of that on the East. But from the Rocky or Chippewayan ranges, the slope inwards towards the centre of the continent bears waters that commingle with those from the Appalachian spine, and are thence discharged southerly by the Mississippi, and northeastwardly by the St. Lawrence. So deep, indeed, is the central depression, that an oceanic elevation of from 700 to 800 feet would insulate the whole Appalachian region, and produce an inland sea from the Gulf of Mexico to that of St. Lawrence.

The Canadian basin, as it exists at present, if taken in the fullest extent, spreads over 600,000 square miles, from which

deduct one-fifth for water surface, and the land area will be 500,000 square miles.

Of the principal section of the great central basin, named from its principal river the Mississippi, and in which we may include the very minor streams entering the Gulf of Mexico to the east and west of the estuary of the main river, measuring the whole carefully by the rhombs, we find the combined area about 1,500,000 square miles.

The western or Pacific slope, or that part between North latitude 30° and 50°, has a general length of 1400 miles, with a mean width of about 600, and area of 840,000 square miles. The aggregate of the sections amount to 3,240,000 square miles, a discrepancy arising from the greater difficulty of measuring the sections separately. But the dissonances amount to so little comparatively, that we may with confidence of sufficient accuracy, assume the space under review as about equal to all Europe. And to repeat what has already been premised, the American zone, in every facility of human habitation and support, is fully equal to any other, and far superior to most regions of continuous extent on the earth.

In addition, however, to the internal advantages it presents, the temperate regions of North America stand utterly the superior vantage ground. The mean breadth of the Continent between latitude 30° and 50° north, is about 2500 miles, which is the breadth very nearly on north latitude 35°. Of this distance upwards of 1400 miles are over the central valley, or nearly six-tenths of the entire distance. On any line which can be traced within the limits under review, great diversity of soil and climate will be found, but the stern desert character of Africa or Arabia will no where appear. Far the greater part will admit a very dense population, while others less naturally productive, must be more thinly populated; but the whole space admits connected settlement from ocean to ocean-a consummation in most rapid advance. In order to give some idea of this advance, we here bring before us a synopsis of the progress of population on the theatre before us, since 1790. In the outset of presenting this tabular view, we may remark, that by the census returns of 1790, there were not represented three hundred thousand persons, under the United States government westward of the mountains, or in the central basin, even including what num

All the data which we have collated on the subject of the increase of our population since 1821, to this moment, have concurred to sustain the result of an aggregate at the end of this century, not much over or under one hundred millions. Again, though the data on which these tables have been constructed, were confined to the United States, it ought to be borne in mind, that another Anglo-Saxon mass exists in the Canadian provinces, and are also increasing, by not a slow, though probably on a lower ratio, than that of the United States. Let it be further observed also, that in our geographical survey, only the space which lies between north latitudes 30° and 50° were included, yet-as the climate on the Pacific slope of the Continent is milder, as is the case with the same relative parts of the Eastern Continent, than on the eastern side

therefore, human settlements will no doubt extend much farther northwards, and be far more dense on the Pacific than on the Atlantic sides, other facilities to human support being supposed equal.

Under all these considerations and correspondences of data, we may, with perfect confidence anticipate, that, in the period of fifty-five years from this time, in that part of North America under review, on a continuous area of 3,300,000 square miles, there will exist above 100, 000,000 of human beings. These conclusions being admitted and adopted, as our bases of reasoning on the future, the startling question arises, in the mind of every reflecting person, what will be the state of distribution of this great mass. If we make ample allowance for water surface, mountainous tracts, and some parts 1 now regarded as deserts, we cannot restrict the really habitable surface to

less than 3,000,000 of square miles N. of lat. 30°; which, with 100,000,000 of inhabitants, gives only 33 to the square mile. Here, we must perceive at once, that even with the amount of population we have deduced, the distributive population will still be thinly scattered, were all parts equally inhabited in proportion to surface, a state of things which, it is safe to say, cannot exist; and that all causes of unabated increase, as far as surface is concerned, will continue their force and effects at the close of the current century. But to advance on safe ground, and to be rather below, than even equal to what our data would sustain, let us allow, that through the next century the quadrupling of the population will be made not in fifty, but in the entire hundred years, then the aggregate on the opening of A. D. 2000 would be four hundred millions. Many, indeed most persons, at first glance, will regard expectations of such results as altogether illusory, and yet, the calculations of a solar, or lunar eclipse, do not rest on much more certain principles. When in 1827, the original elements of these tabular views were published in Philadelphia, the results were scouted, but two centennial enumerations have sustained their accuracy.

From another point of view, this subject appears in a striking light. At the census of 1790, the annual increment was about 118,000, in 1840 it was 516, 000, and now, 1845, it is within an inconsiderable fraction of 600,000. If it demands 60,000 white persons residing on a given surface, to legally demand their incorporation as a State, the actual increment of the current year, would, with every due deduction for colored persons, be adequate to form seven or eight independent states. These are elements too few reflect on. It is true that the far greater number of the people of the United States are unaware of their extent, and, of course, regardless of their consequences. They are elements which render all legislation opposed to their force, either nugatory or injurious. They are elements fundamental in our social condition, and beyond all comparison, the most important part of our political history, and, in fact, of all history now in action. In the close of this paper, I trust to show that under the uncontrolable effects of these elements, the AngloSaxon population of North America is rapidly advancing towards an entire and

irreversible change of the history of the world.

By the returns of the census of 1840, the aggregate population of the United States was, we may assume, in round numbers, seventeen millions. By the tables it appears that of this mass, nine millions existed on the Atlantic slope, and eight millions on the Central Basin. From numerous calculations, based on the census returns, we have found that the population of the Central Basin has doubled in every seventeen years, and that with a uniformity, at every succeeding period, which few persons, if any, would suspect, without that pains which very few will ever incur-actual resort to an analysis of the element. Extending the limits on which the population of the United States existed in 1840, to the space included in the then organized States and Territories, or to about 1,100,000 square miles, the respective spaces East and West of the Mountains would be 300,000 East and 800,000 West. These elements shew the respective distributive population to be to the square mile, thirty on the East and eight on the West. But when we extend the interior surface to the Pacific, or over 1,900,000 square miles, the distributive population in 1840, would appear to exceed, by only a very small fraction, four to the square mile."

Let us turn to an examination of what must be the results at the end of the current century, commencing our view in 1840, and allowing reduplication West of the mountains in every twenty years.

Or to yield, to the Atlantic borders, in 1900, an aggregate of forty millions, and to the interior and extreme West, sixty millions; the respective masses being as 2 to 3, whilst the distribution would be to the square mile, 133.6 East and 31.6 West. Thus the western surface exceeding the eastern more than 6 to 1, and the density of population reverse 4.4 to 1. In other terms, the price of land more than four-fold higher on the Atlantic border, than in the great interior and West. To those persons who are startled at the sound of so many millions, let us observe, that on 3,200,000 square miles the distributive population would very little exceed thirty to the square