principal rivers in Africa are the Nile and the Niger, already mentioned, the Senegal, the Zara, the Gambia, the Coanza, and the Sierra Leone. Its chief mountains are, the Atlas mountains, which reach from Morocco to Egypt, the mountains of the Moon, Sierra Leone, or Lion's Mountains, and the Peak of Teneriffe. The chief productions of Africa are gold-dust, ivory, gums, drugs, and formerly slaves; but the slave trade, as it respects England, is now abolished. No general character can apply to a whole continent like Africa, but, where barbarism so universally prevails, all the vices belonging to ignorance may be expected to abound. The Mahometans are reckoned less civilized, or at least less humane, than the Pagan negroes; as for Christians there are but few on this continent, which is still but imperfectly known. The principal islands belonging to Africa are, in the Atlantic Ocean, the Madeiras, the Canaries, the Azores, and Cape de Verd; in the Gulf of Guinea, Ascension and St. Helena; in the Indian Ocean, Madagascar, Bourbon, the Isle of France, Comora, &c. and in the Red Sea, Zocotora. Africa may properly be divided into Egypt, Barbary, Guinea, Negroland, Nubia, Abyssinia, the coast of Ajan, Congou, or Lower Guinea, and Caffraria.

Egypt.

Egypt is about 600 miles long, and 250 broad, and is divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower Egypt: the latter, comprehending the Delta, is famous for its fertility and its remains of antiquity. Egypt is now a province of Turkey, and is governed by a Pacha, who resides at Grand Cairo. The Copts, or ancient Egyptians, profess Christianity; the Arabs are Mahometans.

Barbary.

Barbary is divided into Barbary Proper, containing Barca, Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, Fez, and Morocco; Biled ulgerid, and Zaara, or the Desert, extending about 3300 miles in length, and from 12 to 1500 in breadth; and inhabited by Moors, Arabs, and Turks, with a considerable portion of Jews.

Guinea.

Guinea is about 1800 miles in length, and 360 in breadth; and is divided into three distinct portions: the Pepper or Malaguette coast, so called from a kind of long pepper,

which it produces; the Tooth coast, which receives its name from elephants' teeth; and the Gold coast, so named from the gold it furnishes. The English settlement of Sierra Leone adjoins to Guinea on the west.

Negroland, Nubia, &c.

Negroland is about 2400 miles in length, and 900 in breadth; and contains several barbarous states and kingdoms, of some of which we know little more than their names, especially towards the interior. The negroes are much more mild and tolerant than the Moors, who are mixed with them. Nubia is about 900 miles in length, and 600 in breadth; and is divided into several states or kingdoms, where despotism and ignorance prevail.

Abyssinia, Ajan, &c.

Abyssinia is divided into several provinces, the principal of which are Tigri, Grojam, and Damboea. Gondar is the capital. The religion of the Abyssinians is a mixture of Christianity and Judaism. They are lively, active, and sober, but intractable. Ajan is that portion of Africa which lies on the east, extending from the straits of Babelmandel to the coast of Abex.

Congou.

Congou is divided into four principal kingdoms: Loango, Congou, Angola, and Benguela. Its natives are a mild, indolent race, and rank idolators.

Caffraria.

This is an extensive track, and includes Monomotapta, Minemugi, and the coast of Zanguebar. There are three distinct races of people in this part of Africa, the Hottentots, the Caffrees, and Europeans. The Hottentots inhabit the most southern extremity of Africa, they are of a red copper colour, filthy in their habits, but muscular and active. The Cape of Good Hope is now in possession of the English, and the possession is valuable, from the salubrity of the climate, and the fertility of the soil.

AMERICA.

America is called the New World, because it was first discovered, in 1493, by Christopher Columbus, a Genoese in the service of Spain; but received its name from Ame

ricus Vesputius, a Florentine, who made a voyage to its continent, four years after. America is divided, into North and South America, which are joined by the isthmus of Darien; and extends about 9000 miles in length, and 3700 at the greatest breadth, passing through every variety of climate, and possessing every variety of soil. America was peopled, when first discovered, in some parts by a personable race of men, of a copper colour; but, except in the more genial climates, they had very imperfect notions of laws and government, and very confused ones of any kind of religion, beyond worshipping the sun. The principal mountains are, in South America, the Andes, the highest in the world, which are always covered with snow: in North America, the Apalaches are the most considerable. Its principal rivers are the Ohio, the Missouri, the Missisippi, the St. Lawrence, the river of the Amazons, La Plata, and some others, all of great magnitude.

North America.

By a wise provision, this very extensive track of land is furnished with a variety of inland seas and lakes, which render one part of it more accessible to the other, and facilitate commerce. Some of the lakes resemble seas. It includes the United States, Spanish America, British America, and the independent Indian nations.

The United States.

The United States, exclusive of Louisiana, purchased of the French, are 1650 miles in length, and 1250 in breadth; and contain the following states or provinces; Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusets, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennesee, Ohio, Louisiana, and the territory on the north-west of the Ohio, the greatest part of which formerly were British colonies. The productions of the United States are grain, fish, fruit, tobacco, leather, skins, cattle, timber, hemp, flax, and all kinds of metals. The form of government established here is federative; every province sending deputies to a congress held at Washington, a new built city, under a president, elected every four years. The inhabitants of the United States are both proud and ignorant; but frugal, industrious, and warmly attached to liberty.

Spanish North America.

The Spanish dominions in this division of America are, Florida, California, Old Mexico, and New Mexico. These are extremely fertile, and the valleys especially, produce almost all kinds of fruits. Mexico is the capital.

British North American Dominions.

These are, Upper and Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, producing corn, timber, and furs; the islands of Breton, Newfoundland, famous for their fisheries; and the Bermudas or Summer islands.

Independent North America.

Independent North America consists of Greenland, Labrador, the regions about Hudson's Bay, and some other interior countries, besides those on the western coast. The inhabitants of these are strangers to civilization.

South America.

The chief divisions of South America are, Terra Firma, Peru, Paraguay, Chili, Brazil, Amazonia, Guiana, and the Magellan islands.

Spanish South America.

The parts of South America which belong to the Spahiards are the finest and richest of the whole, and indeed in the whole world, comprehending Terra Firma, divided into several governments; Peru, the ancient empire of the Incas; Paraguay, Chili, and the Magellan islands, dependent on the latter. These provinces produce gold and silver, jewels, gums, drugs, and the choicest fruits.

Portuguese South America.

The part of South America subject to Portugal is the Brazils, to which the Portuguese court has removed, since the mother country has been exposed to French invasion. The Brazils are rich in mines of gold, silver, and diamonds, and are well situated for commerce with all parts of the world.

French and Dutch South America.

They divide Guiana between them. The soil is rich, but the climate is unwholesome.

Independent South America.

The parts of South America still independent are, Ama zonia, or the country on the river of the Amazons, and Patagonia, a desolate country near the southern extremity of America, where men have been seen of a gigantic size.

American Islands.

There are many islands belonging to this quarter of the globe; but those in what is called the West Indies are the most important; and these almost exclusively belong to Great Britain and Spain. The principal West India islands are Porto Rico and Cuba, belonging to Spain; St. Domingo, partly belonging to Spain, and partly the seat of the black empire, named Hayti; and Jamaica, belonging to England. Of the Caribbee islands, England likewise possesses Barbadoes, Antigua, St. Christopher's, St. Vincent's, Dominica, Grenada, Trinidad, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Lucia, Tobago, and the Virgin isles, besides Martinico and Guadaloupe, lately taken from the French. The Danes owned St. Croix and St. Thomas; and the Dutch Eustatia, but those too have fallen under the power of the lords of the ocean. There are also several other islands contiguous to different parts of the continent of America, such as the Falkland islands, Terra del Fuego, Chiloe, and Juan Fernandez; the Gallipoli islands near the equator, and the Pearl islands, in the Bay of Panama.

ASTRONOMY.

THIS sublime science is of too interesting a nature to require any recommendation; it is therefore only necessary briefly to observe, that a knowledge of Astronomy, even in its most confined and limited sense, will expand the mind, beyond any other science. With the sacred poet we shall at every step exclaim, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth forth his handy work!"

The Solar System.

In this system, the sun is placed nearly immovable in the centre of the orbits of the planets, that is, in the circles, or