BURLINGTON, the largest town in the state, is noticed in a separate article.
Bennington, the oldest town in Vermont, is situated on the right bank of the Hoosac River, 103 miles S. by W. from Montpelier : popu lation 3923. It is the market-town of a busy agricultural district, and contains several mills, furuaces, and factories. Brandon, on Otter Creek, about 46 miles S.S.W. from lloutpelier, population 2835, is a place of some trade. Brattlsborough, on the right bank of the Con necticut, 110 miles S. from Montpelier, population 3816, is a flourishing place, with woollen and cotton manufactures, paper-mills, &e. The Vermont Asylum for the Insane is at Bmttleborough ; it had 389 patients in the inatitutiou in 1854. In connection with the asylum there is a library of 1200 volumes, and a large number of newspapers and periodicals are taken in. Castleton, on Castleton River, 60 miles S.W. from Montpelier, population 3016, is a place of some trade; the point of intersection of the Saratoga and Castleton, the Rutland and Washington, and the Vermont and Canada railways; and the seat of a medical college. Danville, on a tributary of the Passumsia River, 23 miles N.E. from Montpelier, population 2577, has several manufacturing establishments. Middlebury, about 35 miles S.W. from Montpelier, on both banks of Otter Creek, which is here 170 feet wide, with falls of 20 feet perpendicular height, affording water power for many mills: population, 3517. There are several manu factures of woollen and cotton goods, nails, Itc., and white and variegated marble is extensively quarried and wrought. There are several churches, a court-house, and two academies. Middlebury College, pleasantly situated on elevated ground, consists of a spacious stone edifice, and had, in 1854, 7 tutors and 55 students. Newbury, on the Connecticut River, 30 miles S.E. by E. from Montpelier, population 2934, has considerable trade and manufactures, and is the site of a Methodist seminary. Rutland, on Otter Creek, about 60 miles S.S.W. from Montpelier : population, 3715. The town is well situated for business, and three railways pass through it. In the town are several marble- and alate-works, iron-foundries, machine shops, &c, besidea a court-house, jail, churches, schools, Itc. Iron-ore, lime, white and variegated marbles, &c., are largely worked in the neighbourhood. St. Albans, on Lake Champlain, abont 60 miles S.W. from Montpelier, population 3567, is the port of a fertile district, and has a large trade and some manufactures. Vergennes, on Otter Creek, near Lake Champlain, abont 36 miles W.S.W. from Montpelier : popu lation, 1378. This 'city' stands at the head of navigation, and though the city itself has but few inhabitants, a large business and consider able mannfactnres are carried on in it and in its vicinity. Windsor, on the Connecticut, 61 miles S. by E. from Montpelier, population 1923, is a flourishing and rather handsome town, with some manufactures.
1Voodstock, 14 miles N.W. from Windsor, on an affluent of the Con necticut, population 3011, contains a handsome court-house, churches, and other public buildings, Vermont medical college, &c.; and has some manufactnres.
History, Constitution, &a—The tract of country between Lake Champlain and Montpelier, called Vermont by the French settlers from its green mountains, was ceded by them to the British in 1763. The French had commenced their settlement as early as 1731, but little progress was made in colonising Vermont till after the British had conquered Canada in 1760, after which time it began to be settled rapidly. Vermont was at first claimed by Massachusetts, and after wards by New Hampshire and New York. The rival claims were decided by the king of England In council in 1761, in favour of New York. A serious quarrel was the result of this decision, which was interrupted by the war of the Revolution, in which the ' Green Moun tain boys,' as they were called, distinguished themselves by their hardiness and bravery. In January, 1777, they declared the state independent, but New York still claimed jurisdiction ; and the differ ences were only finally adjusted in 1790 by Vermont paying to New York 30,000 dollars in full of all demands. In 1791 Vermont was admitted into the federal union.
Tho constitution was adopted in 1793, but has since been several times modified. Every seventh year 13 censors are elected, whose duty it is to inquire whether the constitution has been duly observed, and to call a convention if it requires modification. Slavery is pro hibited ; imprisonment for debt is permitted only in cases of fraud; perpetuities are abolished. The nght of voting is vested in every man 21 years of age, who has resided in the state for a year, and is of quiet and peaceable behaviour. The legislature consists of a Senate of 30 members, and a House of Representatives of 230 mem bers, one for each town (township). The executive power is vested in a governor. The governor and the members of the legislature are elected by the people annually. The jndgee are elected by the general assembly in joint ballot.
Vermont has no state debt. The entire receipts for the financial year 1853-4 (including the balance from the previous year) was 165,111 dollars ; the total expenditure was 152,443 dollars. The state militia at the last return consisted of 23,915 men, of whom 1038 were commissioned officers. The number of colleges in tho state in 1850 was five, having 30 teachers and 464 students. The number of public schools was 2731 having 4173 teachers and 93,457 scholars. There is no state school fund.
(Thompson, Geography and Geology of Vermont; Adams, Annual Reports on the Geology of Vermont ; Hitchcock, Logan, Marcou, &sc. ; Statistical Gazetteer of the United States ; Seventh Census of the United States ; De Bow, Statistical Vino of the United States ; American Almanac, 1855, &o.) VEltNEUIL. (Eulte.)