A remark may be made in this place, that what may be designated the rainy and dry seasons, are not confined to the tropics. Rain and snow are mere relative terms, therefore, in the United States. The rainy and dry seasons are nearly as regular in their succession and pe riods, as similar seasons are within the tropics. The difference is rather in the quantity, than in the times of rain and fair weather. To this theory, Louisiana is the most remarkable exception ; and when viewed in con nection with the adjacent and distant regions, the causes of the aberrations of the seasons of that state, are at once perceived, and clearly understood. It ought, how ever, to be recollected, that we are now making a natu ral, and not a political survey ; therefore, in specifying Louisiana, the Delta of the Mississippi and contiguous places are meant. It is when making such expansive surveys, and elucidating the phenomena of nature on so large a scale, that the full value of maps can be fully appreciated. Without maps, no enlarged views of the laws of meteorology could ever be formed by any exer tion of the human intellect ; and it is from neglect of such comprehensive combinations, that so many crude notions on particular climates pass current.
Climate, Seasons, and Productions.—After what has been given in this article, little can be added on these heads.
The climate of Missouri is liable to great extremes of heat and cold. The winters at St. Louis are severe ; the Mississippi, in ordinary seasons, being frozen before the end of December. The illimitable plains to the south-west and west of the state, leave an open vent to the winds, and superinduce a much greater severity of cold in a given latitude than on the Atlantic coast.
The seasons of Missouri partake of the unsteady cha racter of the climate of the Mississippi basin, and in deed of the continent of North America in general. No two seasons in succession have much resemblance to each other. The occurrence of first frost in autumn, the last in spring, or the quantity and times of rain and snow in winter, are equally uncertain.
In one respect, the climate of Missouri differs essen tially from that on the Atlantic slope in similar latitudes: as we before observed, less moisture falls on the former than on the latter, either as rain or snow. This circum stance has misled many as to the real nature of the cli mate of Missouri, and has given to it a character of mild ness, the reverse of the fact.
The productions of Missouri have been noticed, both vegetable and metallic. 'We may merely add, that the vegetables usually cultivated, are those found in the middle states generally.
In metallic and other fossil substances, :Missouri is perhaps the richest region in the United States. The
following catalogue, given by Mr. Schoolcraft, yields a result, which strongly illustrates the mineral wealth of the state of Missouri, where most of these substances are found.
Metallic Substances.
Native iron, Iron sand, Red oxyd of iron, Native magnet, To the above may be added carbonate of lime, in form of limestone, and marble.
The lead-mines of Missouri are principally in the county of Washington, but there are also diggings in St. Genevieve, Madison, and Jefferson counties.
The ore is that species called galena, by mineralo gists ; the sulphuret of lead, of chemistry. The ore yields about 80 per cent. of pure lead. The mass seems inexhaustible, but very irregularly disposed, the veins having no stratification, but branch through the other substances in every direction, and an indefinite thick ness. Taken as a whole, the lead district of the state of Missouri is the richest in the production of that metal of any ever discovered.
Counties and Historical Enocha.—Bounded on the Missouri and the Mississippi, and occupying the north and west sections of the state, arc the counties : The lead mines of the state of Missouri deserve sonic historical notice, from tbeir immensity and national im• portance.
The West Company was formed by letters patent under the regency of the duke of Orleans, during the minority of the king of France, Louis XV.; dated the 23d of August, 1717, and enregistered the 6th of Sep tember following.
Under this company, came out to Louisiana in 1719, Philip Francis Renault, son of Philip Renault, a noted ironfounder at Consobre, near Manberge, in France.
In 1720, Renault and one of his associates, a M. La Motte, discovered the respective mines which bear their names.
Renault worked the mines extensively, but was in the end obliged to abandon the undertaking, from some fiscal arrangements in France, and returned to his native coun try in 1742. From that period until 1797, or during the long period of 55 years, no attempts of any consequence were made to smelt lead in these neglected mines.
In 1797, a Moses Austin, Esq. from \Vythe county in Virginia, made a journey to the lead mines in Louisiana, and obtained a patent from the Spanish authorities for one league square, in consideration of erecting a rever beratory furnace. This work was commenced in 1798. Mr. Austin sunk the first regular shaft for raising the ore.
In 1799, this gentleman erected a shot tower, and made shot of approved quality. The latter work was erected under the superintendance of Elias Bates. Since the foregoing period, the lead-mines have continued to attract public attention, and have been extensively work ed. When Mr. Schoolcraft visited this tract in 1818, he enumerated forty-five diggings.