SURFACE The sorba a teraffet var pemula term tainous, or hy. Two TEN eastern bounded by the Taguatae aut

kill mountains; the western yng on he uter aut he high banks of the Hudson rive. Brade tea merous roking nges es den valleys paralel to the mouran raiga

The mountains rise in some je i se ungu #thout 1700 feet. The river rage presenta wote u' them at of the Highlands. The On Brown www Ful sarding is 1471 feet, and the New Braun Boem ist e mile farther wouth, 1555 lots, are ule wa AR yu Bery erase auf wart.tis RIVERS, &e. The prana eru at Ini will Wappinger's, and Crom Elbow craz

from the top of t

The Fishkill is about tweuta mia maga Mapyngor BALINE is about thirty-five mines ong

CLIMATE The cimate a grave aut wului tous from the elevations of some jonone of the song

than some of the agjanet ovutia.

GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY. The carbon som ut saw any is primitive. Grautt and guest art but provaling (Anfiskata,

West of these, the country belongs to the Taconic system; slate and limestone being the principal underlying rocks, and frequently cropping out upon the surface.

The county abounds in minerals. Iron ore, of rare purity and in extraordinary abundance, exists on the western slopes of the mountains; both the hematitic and magnetic ores occur in the county. Lead and zinc are also found in considerable quantities. Graphite, or black lead, is obtained in great abundance from a mine in Fishkill. Marble, peat, and marl, are found in almost every part of the county. Garnet, green actinolite, talc, anthophyllite, granular epidote, and Gibbsite are the other principal minerals.

In Dover is a cavern which, from its almost perfect Gothic arch, has received the name of "the Stone Church."

SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The soil in general, is very fertile, though portions of the mountainous districts are somewhat sterile.

Gypsum is too much relied upon as a fertilizing agent, while the equally valuable lime and marl upon, and beneath the soil are neglected; a beneficial change is however taking place in this respect. The timber is principally oak and chestnut with some hickory. The county is well adapted to the rearing of cattle and sheep, and the culture of grain.

PURSUITS. Agriculture is the pursuit of a majority of the inhabitants of this county. In the production of corn and oats, it stands first in the state, and maintains a respectable rank in the production of other grains. In the growth of wool and the production of butter, it occupies a high rank; in, the number of its swine too it exceeds any other county in the state. Flax and potatoes are also raised in great abundance.

Manufactures. Dutchess county is extensively engaged in manufactures. The most important articles are cotton and woollen goods, including prints, iron ware, flour, malt liquors, cordage, leather, oil, paper, &c. The entire value of manufactured products in 1845, exceeded two and half millions of dollars.

Commerce. The whale fishery is prosecuted from Poughkeepsie, and employs several large ships. Some eight or ten steamboats, and a considerable number of sloops, schooners and barges, are employed in the coasting trade.

Mines, &c. In Beekman, Dover, Fishkill, and Pawling, are extensive iron mines; in Fishkill a large mine of Plumbago; in Dover extensive quarries of white and black marble; and in Poughkeepsie numerous and extensive lime-kilns.

STAPLES. Corn, oats, butter, wool, beef, and pork.

SCHOOLS. In the county are 210 district school-houses, in which, in 1846, schools were maintained an average period of nine months. 12,854 children received instruction at an expense for tuition of about $27,962. The district libraries contained about 28,000 volumes.

There were also in the county, eighty-three private schools, with 1155 scholars; four academies, and two female seminaries, with 298 pupils, and one collegiate school, with about 120 pupils.

In the troubious times whms mensa kagi quotes

ess county took the side of the

her citizens, some of the moE LES:

fearful conflict. Such were Montgomery, the hero of Quebec, the Schencks, and others of imperishable renown.

During the revolutionary war, a part of the American army were stationed for a considerable time at Fishkill, under the command of General Putnam, and afterwards of General Parsons. Their barracks were about half a mile south of the village.*

VILLAGES. POUGHKEEPSIE, the county seat, in the town of the same name, is finely situated on the elevated bank of the Hudson, about equally distant from New York and Albany. During the Revolution, and after its close, the legislature of the state frequently held its sessions here. The convention of the state, which adopted the Federal Constitution, also met here in 1788. The building occupied by that body has since been used as a brewery.

Poughkeepsie is regularly laid out, and has many elegant public and private buildings. It has considerable commerce with New York and other home ports.

It is also largely engaged in manufactures. Of these, machinery, malt liquors, flour, carpets, cutlery, fire arms, silk, pins, iron and brass ware, sash and blinds, and bricks in large quantities and of superior quality, and the principal.

The Poughkeepsie collegiate school is a fine institution, unsurpassed in the beauty of its situation, and the elegance of its edifice. This building is 77 by 137 feet, modeled after the Parthenon at Athens, and surrounded by a massive colonnade. Its cost, exclusive of the extensive and beautiful grounds, was $40,000. The Dutchess county academy, also located in the village, is an excellent chartered institution. Beside these there are four female seminaries. Population about 9000.

Fishkill Landing, in the town of Fishkill, is situated on the Hudson, directly opposite Newburgh. It has much delightful scenery, and is a place of considerable trade. Population about 1000.

Fishkill Village, in the same town, is a picturesque and beautiful hamlet. The Fishkill academy, located here, is a flourishing chartered institution. Population 800.

Matteawan, in the same township, is an important manufactur ing village. Large quantities of moleskins, beaverteens, and fustians are produced here. It has also an extensive iron and brass foundry, several machine shops, flouring mills, and other manufactories. The Highland Gymnasium, a celebrated boarding school for boys, is located here. Population about 2000.

* In the old stone church in the town of Fishkill, Enoch Crosby the pedlar spy, [the "Harvey Birch" of Cooper's novel, "The Spy,"] was confined, and from thence he made his escape in an extraordinary and mysterious manner.