Next to Wilmington, the most considerable ports are Newbern and Edenton. Newbern is seated on the river Neus, at its confluence with the Trent, about one hun dred miles from the sea, from which the wnole coast of North Carolina is separated by long and small islets from Cape Lookout to the borders of Virginia. The exports of Newbern amounted, in 1791, to 105,685 dollars ; in 1792, to 101,567 dollars ; in 1793, to 60,695 dollars ; in 1794, to 69,617 dollars ; and in 1795, to 73,652 dollars.
Edenton is situated on the river Roanoke, near the point of Albemarle Sound, about 150 miles from the islet which takes its name from the Roanoke. Ships of 150 tons burthen can sail a few miles above Eden ton. Its exports amounted, in 1791, to 92,306 dollars ; in 1792, to 87,203 dollars ; in 1793, to 59,576 dollars ; in 1794, to 50,648 dollars ; and in 1795, to 77,907 dollars.
From the books of the custom-house, it appears, that in 1791, the total amount of tile exports from North Carolina was 524,548 dollars ; in 1972, 227,899 dollars ; in 1793, 365,414 dollars; in 1794, 321,587 dollars ; and in 1795, 492,161 dollars. Of the produce of the back country, a great proportion is conveyed to South Carolina and Virginia; the southern interior coun ties send their produce to Charleston, and the northern to Petersburg in Virginia. The exports from the low er parts of the state are tar, pitch, turpentine, rosin, In dian corn, boards, scantling, staves, shingles, furs, to bacco, pork, lard, bees-wax, myrtle-wax, ith a few other articles. The commerce of North Carolina is chiefly with the West Indies and the northern states. From the former, it receives rum, sugar, and coffee ; from the latter, flour, cheese, cider, apples, potatoes, unaware, cabinet ac ticks, hats, teas, and dry goods of all kinds imported from Great Britain, France, and Rolland.
Like all the southern states of United America, North Carolina has a considerable diversity of climate, occa sioned by the physical peculiarities of its different parts. In the level part of the country, intermittent fevers are frequent during summer and autumn ; which, though seldom immediately dangerous to tuose whose constitu tions are not injured by intemperance, yet, if neglected at lirst, invariably bring on other disorders. which destroy the igour both of mind and body, and generally termi nate in death. During these sickly seasons, the counte nances of the inhabitants haA e a pale yellowish hue, oc casi 'lied by the prevalence of bilious affections. Vet more fall victims during winter, to picurisies and perip netnnohies, than to the fevers occasioned by the heats of summer. Physicians allege, that these fatal diseases, which arc generally brought on by intemperance, acid .an imprudent exposure to the weather, might in general be escaped by sobriety and caution. The use of flannel next to the skin, they recommend as an excellent pre ventative of the diseases incident to this climate and sea son. In tue western hilly parts of the state, the air is as pure and salubrious as in any part of America, and the inhabitants in general live to a great age. The heat of the summer's day is succeeded in the evening by a grate ful and refreshing coolness ; autumn is temperate and serene ; and in some years the winters are so mild, that autumn may be said to continue till spring. 1Vheat
harvest commences in the beginning of June, and that of Indian corn early in September.
When the conduct of the British government had roused the Americans to an assertion of their indepen dence, a constitution was framed for each individual state, by its representatives assembled in congress. The con stitution of North Carolina, ratified in December 1776, vests all legislative authority in two distinct branches, both dependent on the people, viz. a Senate, and House of Commons. Each county in the state is represented in the Senate by one member, chosen annually by ballot; and in the House of Commons by two members, elected in the same manner. The towns of Edenton, Newbern, Wilmington, Salisbury, Hillsborough, and Halifax, have each, likewise, the privilege of having one representative in the House of Commons. The Senate and House of Commons, assembled for the purpose of legislation, are styled the General Assembly. No person can be elected a senator who has not resided at least one year immedi ately before the time of election in the county which he wishes to represent, or who does not possess there 300 acres of land in fee ; and those who vote for his election must be freemen, not below twenty-one years of age, who have resided in the state one year previous to the day of election, and have possessed a freehold of fifty acres of land, for at least the last six months of that time. The candidate for a seat in the House of Commons must have resided one year previous to the election in the county which he is to represent, and must have possessed for at least six months, and continue to possess, not less than 100 acres of land in fee, or for the term of his life ; his election is decided by a majority of the freemen in the county, not under twenty-one years of age, who have re sided in the state a year before the time of election, and have contributed their portion of public taxes. These two houses, when convened, choose each its own speak er, and decide on the qualifications and elections of their respective members. At their first meeting, after each annual election, they jointly choose by ballot a go vernor for one year, who is not eligible to that office of tener than thrice in six successive years. The governor must possess a freehold of more than 1000/. and must have resided in the state at least five years. At the same time, and in the same manner, they elect a council of state, consisting of seven persons, to assist the governor in discharging the duties of his office. They appoint one or more treasurers for the state ; a state scene tart', who continues in office for three years ; judges of the supreme courts of law and equity, judges of admiralty, and an attorney-general, who are commissioned by the governor, and hold their offices during good behaviour. Intended laws must be proposed in the form of bills, which must be read three times in each house, and signed by the speakers, before they can be enacted.