Valley of the Mississippi, embracing more than 20 degrees of latitude and about 30 of longitude, there is, of course, notwithstanding the comparatively inconsiderable difference of elevation, a great diversity of climate. The inclined plane constituting the western side of the valley, or, in other words, the great slope down which the Red, Canadian, Konzas, and Platte rivers have their courses, is believed to have a greater inclination than any other side. The immediate valley of the Illinois is consequently to be viewed as the lowest part of the great valley, above the mouth of that river or the parallel of 39°.* Mr. Flint divides the Valley of the Mississippi, in respect to temperature, into four climates. The first, commencing at the sources of the river, and terminating at the Prairie du Chien, corresponds to the climate of the region between Montreal and Boston. In this climate, the Irish potato attains its perfection, and wheat and the cultivated grasses succeed well; the apple and the pear require a southern aspect; the peach, still greater care; and during five months in the year, the cattle occasionally require shelter. The second climate is that of Illinois and Missouri, the region between the parallels of 41° and 37°, in which wheat, the apple, the pear, the peach-tree, the persimon, and the papaw flourish to perfection; it is less favourable to the cultivated gramina; cattle, though often needing shelter, are seldom housed in winter. The third climate extends from the parallel of 37° to 31°. In this region, the apple degenerates below 35°; cotton is raised for home consumption between that parallel and 33°, and, below the latter degree, is the staple article of cultivation; the fig-tree ripens its fruit in this climate.

* James, vol. iii. p. 264.

From latitude 31° to the Gulf of Mexico, is the fourth climate, that of the sugar-cane and the sweet orange, in which the olive also would probably thrive; the streams are never frozen; the forests are in blossom early in March; and there is a thunder-storm almost every night.*

It has already been seen, that the Mississippi, the St. Lawrence, (considering the waters of Lake Superior as its true source,) and the south-eastern branch of the Nelson or Saskatchi wine, three of the greatest rivers of North America, flowing in opposite directions, have their sources under nearly the same parallel, and within an inconsiderable distance from each other in the same vast plain. The sources of the Missouri and those of the Colombia not less singularly approximate. A narrow ridge forms the dividing line between the waters of the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans; and the northern fork of one branch of the Colombia has its source on the western declivity of the same low mountain from the eastern foot of which issues the remotest water of the Missouri. + This is in about latitude 43° 30′, longitude 112°. The southern fork of this branch, (called Lewis's River, from its discoverer,) has its sources in the same ridge, in latitude 40°, longitude 106°, not far from those of the Padouca fork of the Platte River, flowing to the Missouri; those of the Rio Bravo or Del Norte, which has a southerly course through New Mexico, and ultimately flows into the Mexican Gulf; and those of the Colorado, which falls into the Gulf of California. The branch of the Colombia, called Clarke's River, has its sources

Flint's Geography of the Western States.-North American Review, No. Ixii. p. 84.

† See Lewis and Clarke, vol. ii. pp. 81, 185.

in about lat. 45° 20′, long. 112°. Further to the north, the Tacoutche Tasse or great northern branch of the Colombia, which may be regarded, perhaps, as the main branch, has its source very nearly opposite to the highest or southernmost source of the Unjigah or Peace River, which is in latitude 54° 24′ N., longitude 121° W. And those of the true Saskatchi wine are situated in a ridge proceeding from the Rocky Mountains, intermediate between the two great branches of the Colombia. Thus, says Mackenzie, "in these same snow-clad mountains rise the Mississippi, if we admit the Missouri to be its source, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico; the River Nelson, which is lost in Hudson's Bay; Mackenzie's River, that discharges itself into the North Sea; and the Colombia, emptying itself into the Pacific Ocean. It is, indeed, the extension of these mountains so far south on the sea coast, that prevents the Colombia from finding a more direct course to the sea, as it runs obliquely with the coast upwards of eight degrees of latitude before it mingles with the ocean." + The mouth of the Colombia is in latitude 46° 10'.

The following table will exhibit a general view of the course of the principal rivers referred to in the preceding description.

Source.

Rocky

Moun

The Missouri

The Missouri,

and Lower Mis

tains in 44° N.3096 miles. sippi in 38° 55′ N. 1100 W.*

89° 57′ W.

tains in 42° N.

(left b.) in 37°N.

The Rio Bravo,

Rocky Mountains

or Del Norte.

45' W.

་

The Mobile, or ( Georgia, in 35o N.
Alabama.
84° 50′ W.

in 40° 20' N. 107° 1650 miles. in 25° 55′ N. 97°

*The extreme navigable point of the Missouri," as given by Captain Clarke, is 43° 30′ 43′′ N.-Lewis and Clarke, vol. ii. p. 118. If we take the junction of the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin, as the source, it will be in 45° 24′ N., 106° 55′ W.; but its length will then be reduced to 2858 miles, or, with the Lower Mississippi, 4078 miles.

+ If we reckon the head-waters of Lake Superior as the source of the St. Lawrence, then its source will be in 46° 30' N., 92° 10′ W.; and the total length of its course through the chain of Lakes to the Ocean, about 1853 miles.

III. BASIN OF THE ARCTIC OCEAN.
Source.

The Mackenzie, ( Rocky Mount. in

or Unjigah.

54° 24′ N. 121°W. J

Mouth.

Length. 2800 miles. f Arctic Sea, in 69°N.135°15/W.

IV. BASIN OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

The Colorado

1060 W.

Rocky Mount. in

Gulf of Califor

40° 15' N. 1080 1000 miles. nia, in 32° 32′ N.
30' W.
114° 25' W.

The other chief rivers of the United States, will fall under our notice in the topographical description of the country. They may here be dismissed with a brief enumeration. The Mexican Gulf receives, besides those above mentioned, the Apalachicola, formed by the union of the Chatapouchy and Flint Rivers: the former, during the latter part of its course, separates Georgia from Alabama. The principal rivers which have their sources on the eastern side of the Alleghanies, are, (proceeding from the south,) the Savannah, which divides Georgia from South Carolina, and falls into the Atlantic in latitude 32° N.; the James, the Potomac, and the Susquehanna, which all fall into Chesapeake Bay; the Delaware, which separates the State of New York from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and falls into Delaware Bay; the Hudson, above mentioned, which falls into New York Bay; and the Connecticut, which falls into Long Island Sound. The small river St. Croix claims our notice also, as separating the territory of the United States from New Brunswick.