VERMONT, one of the north-eastern states of the United States, bounded on the east by New Hampshire; on the south by Massachusetts; on the west by a part of New York, and thence by Lake Champlain, and on the north by Lower Ca nada, Having an outline along Connecticut ri ver opposite to New Hampshire, with out estimating the partial bends of the stream, - - 170 miles.
Boundary in common with Massachu setts, - - 43 do.
Do. in common with New York, and along Lake Champlain,- 160 do.
Boundary on the north in common with Lower Canada, - - 90 do.
Entire outline, - 463 This state extends in Lat. from 4'1° 44' at the south-eastern angle to 45°, or through 136 minutes of Lat. or within an inconsiderable fraction of 157 statute miles. Measured carefully on the best maps the area is rather above than below 8600 square miles; the mean breadth will consequently be about 55 miles.
Though not so represented on most maps of that state, there are two distinct chains of mountains which traverse it in its greatest length. These chains were noticed under the head of mountains, and were there shown to be the continuation of the Blue Ridge and South-east mountains. The moun tains of Vermont received their French name from the dense forests of evergreen laurel and terebin thine trees which clothe their slopes, valleys, and most of their summits. The name was extended to the country, and is rendered permanent by being given to the state.
By reference to Table XV. Art. UNITED STATES, or the route of the Massachusetts and Hudson rail-road, the elevation of the two mountain chains are given before their entrance into Vermont. These chains rather rise than depress in leaving 'Massachusetts. If, however, we examine Ver mont as a physical section, from the sources and respective slope of its river valleys, we find the state composed of two inclined plains, but of very unequal breadth and rapidity of descent. The bases of these plains are the Connecticut river on the east, and Lake Champlain on the west. By turning to Table XVI. Art. UNITED STATES, it will be seen, that the surface of Lake Champlain is only feet above the ocean tides; and by Table XVII, Art. UNITED STATES, if we compare the elevation of Connecticut river, 73 feet at the influx of Miller's river, with the general rise of that river channel, we shall find that the south-eastern angle of Vermont is very nearly of equal elevation with its north-western border on Lake Champlain. But the Connecticut channel rises so much as to he 1028 feet above the ocean level at Canaan in Essex coun ty, near the extreme north-eastern angle of Ver mont. From these elements, it is evident that the
arable surface of that state along its northern bor der, has a general declivity of about 1000 feet in 90 miles, equal to 11+ feet per mile. This conjugate declivity is very unequally distributed. 'f he state is divided into sub-valleys, which, to expose with more precision, we survey from south to north.
The south-western angle of the state, commensu rate with the county of Bennington, gives source to Batten Kill and Hoosack rivers, which flow westward into the Hudson river; and also, in its northern part, to the extreme sources of Paulet and Otter rivers, flowing N.N.W. into Lake Champlain.
Otter entirely overheads Paulet, the former ris ing on the central valley between the two main chains, and flowing northwards, between them, to about half its course, breaks through the western, and, inclining to N.N.W., falls into Lake Cham plain, after a comparative course of 70 miles. The Otter river is followed, on the same plain, by three other confluents of Lake Champlain—Onion, La Moelle, and Mississque rivers. Onion and La Mo elle, something more brief than Otter in length of course, rise also in the slopes and vales of the east ern chain, and traverse the western, in their way to their final recipient. To the sources of the Ot ter, Onion, and La Moelle, are opposed the more brief streams that fall into Connecticut river. Of these Deerfield river, though rising in Vermont, flows southwardly into Massachusetts, and in the latter bends to the eastward, and meets its recipi ent at the bottom of the great bend below the mouth of Miller's river. With courses generally to the south-east, beside innumerable creeks, are to the northward from Deerfield, West, Black, Water quechy, White, Watts, and Wells rivers. All these named flowing from the eastern Vermont chain, and fall into Connecticut river below the mouth of Pas sumpsie. At the latter point, the western slope of the Connecticut basin is so narrow, that it is not above twelve direct miles to the extreme sources of either Onion or La Moelle rivers. The western slope of Connecticut widens with the Passumpsic. but again narrows to not above six miles : t the ex treme north-eastern angle of Vermont. The pecu liar structure of the Passumpsic valley, and its con nexion with the Memphramagog valley,may be seen by reference to the head of Connecticut basin, and Table XVII., article UNITED STATES.