schools, with 693 pupils, and seven aca lemies, with 338 pupils. RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Congregationalists, Roman Catholics, Dutch Reformed, Unitarians, Jews, Universalists, and Friends. HISTORY. In the town of Pompey, a stone was found some years since, about fourteen inches long, twelve broad, and eight thick.. It had a figure of a serpent entwined about a tree, and this inscription. L. S.

Leo X De

This inscription has been interpreted-Leo X. by the grace (or will) of God, sixth year of his pon ificate, 1520. L. S. the initials of the person buried, (as it was undoubtedly a sepulchral monument,)—the cross, an indication that he was a Catholic, and the character perhaps a rude intimation that he belonged to the masonic fraternity. The date is correct, Leo X. having been elected Pope in 1513-14. It seems probable that some Spanish adventurers, in quest of gold or silver, lured by the report of the salt springs, and hoping to find there the object of their search, had wandered hither from Florida, which had been discovered and explored in 1502. One of the number dying here, his companions erected this simple memorial to mark the place of his burial.

In 1655, Father Dablon, a French Jesuit, established himself at one of the Onondaga villages, in the present town of Salina, as a missionary. The succeeding year, the governor of the French possessions in Canada, at his request, sent a colony of fifty men, under the command of the Sieur Dupuys, to settle on the banks of the Onondaga Lake.

For a time the Indians were friendly, but at length they became hostile, and the colonists were compelled to escape by stealth. Having secretly prepared boats sufficient to transport themselves and their effects, one of their number succeeded in inducing the Indians to make a feast, and when, after a hearty repast, all had sunk into a profound slumber, he and his comrades availed themselves of the opportunity to escape, and ere the Indians had awaked, they were beyond their reach.

In 1666, a French settlement was formed, in the northwestern part of the town of Pompey, and flourished for three years, when a party of Spaniards arrived in the village, and quarreling with the French, instigated the natives to destroy them. The Indians, looking with no favorable eye on either, destroyed both, leaving not a survivor to tell the manner of their death.

In the Onondaga Hollow, in the town of Onondaga, formerly stood the town, castle, and council house, of the Onondaga

Indians, the most formidable and highly civilized tribe of the Iroquois confederacy. Here the great council fire was always kept burning, and all matters of importance to the interests of the confederacy were decided. All the leagues and treaties with the whites were made here, and from this tribe was selected the grand Sachem, or principal civil chief, while the Mohawks furnished the principal war chiefs.

Garangula, Thurensera, Decanesora, and Sadekanaghtie, were the most celebrated among their orators, in their early intercourse with the whites.

Black Kettle was the most renowned of their warriors, and more than once he carried war and devastation among the French settlements, even to the gates of their citadels. He was treacherously murdered in 1697, by a party of Algonquins, at the instigation of the French.

In 1696, Count Frontenac, with his usual subtlety, attempted to seduce the Five Nations from their good faith toward the English, and induce them to form a separate treaty of peace with the French. Failing in this, he determined to avenge himself on the Onondagas, whom he regarded as the principal instigators of the opposition to his wishes. Accordingly on the ninth of July, 1696, he set out on an expedition against them, with a large force. The Onondagas, not receiving seasonable succors from the other members of the confederacy, and finding themselves, (though numbering about 1500 warriors,) unable to cope single handed with so formidable a force, abandoned and set fire to their dwellings, and left to the French commander a barren victory.

The Onondagas, after the return of the French, repossessed themselves of their beautiful valley and reared again their council house and castle. They were the fast friends of the English, and under the direction of Sir John Johnson, took part with them in the revolution. In consequence of their predatory incursions, Colonel Van Schaick was despatched by General James Clinton, to lay waste their towns. As before, they retired at the approach of the invading force, and destroyed their town and castle; only one of their number was slain.

In a few weeks after, they revenged this attack, by an invasion of the settlement of Cobelskill, Schoharie county, in which they butchered several of the unarmed inhabitants. During the late war with Great Britain, they took up arms on the side of the Americans.

The first permanent white settler in the county was a Mr. Webster, who came here in 1786, and settled in Onondaga Hollow, intermarrying with the Indians. In 1788, he obtained permission from the Indians for Messrs. Danforth and Tyler to

establish themselves in the same valley. This county was originally part of the Military Tract. In the spring of 1788, settlements were made in several towns of the county. In 1790, Manlius was settled. Since the commencement of the present century, the growth of the county has been very rapid.

VILLAGES. SYRACUSE, the county seat, is situated in the town of Salina, on the Erie canal, at its junction with the Oswego canal. It was incorporated in 1825, and owes its rapid growth to the facilities for trade afforded by the canals, and to the extensive salt springs in its neighborhood.

From half a million to a million of bushels of salt are annually produced here; beside iron ware, leather, machinery, flour, &c. Population, nearly 10,000.

It has several extensive and well conducted hotels; its public schools are of a high order; and its substantial buildings and numerous manufactories indicate the enterprise of its inhabitants.

Salina, in the same town, possesses the most productive salt springs in the state, yielding from one to two millions of bushels annually. Its population is about 3000.

Geddes and Liverpool, in the same township, the former on the Erie, and the latter on the Oswego canal, are thriving villages, containing productive salt springs.

Skeneateles, in the town of the same name, is pleasantly situated at the foot of Skeneateles lake. Its site cominands a fine view of the lake, for a distance of seven or eight miles. Its growth has not been rapid, but healthy, and it is one of the most flourishing villages of the county. Population, about 1500. Manlius, in the town of the same name, is situated on the Cherry Valley turnpike. It has a flourishing incorporated academy, several manufactories, and about 1200 inhabitants.

Jordan, in the town of Elbridge, is situated on the Erie canal, and is engaged to some extent in manufactures. Population, about 1200.

Onondaga Hollow, in the town of Onondaga, is pleasantly situated on the great western turnpike, four miles south of Syracuse. The Onondaga academy located here, is an old and flourishing institution. Population, about 800.

About three miles south of the village is the Onondaga Indian reservation, where reside the remnant of that once powerful tribe. The legislature, in April, 1846, granted the sum of $300 for the erection of a school-house for the children belonging to this reservation, and a well conducted school is now maintained there.

Fayetteville, in the town of Manlius, has an incorporated academy, and is a thriving village. Population, 900.

BOUNDARIES. North by Tompkins and Cortland; East by Broome; South by the State of Pennsylvania; and West by Chemung and Tompkins counties.

SURFACE. This, like the other counties bordering on the Pennsylvania line, is elevated. Apparently it was once level, but it is now cut into hills and valleys by the eastern branch of the Susquehanna, and its tributaries, which affords abundance of water for the convenience of the farmer, and in many instances, it may be used for manufacturing purposes. On either side of the Susquehanna, are lofty swells of heavy rolling land, yet the creeks are frequently skirted with broad valleys.

RIVERS. The Susquehanna, having a south-west course through the southern part, and its branches the East and West Owego, Cattotong and Cayuta creeks, flowing southerly, are the principal streams of the county.

RAILROADS. The New York and Erie railroad will probably pass through the valley of the Susquehanna. The Ithaca and Owego railroad is already in operation, connecting the two villages whose name it bears.

CLIMATE. The county has a low temperature, owing to the elevation of its surface. It is regarded as healthy.

GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. This county lies wholly within the Chemung sandstone formation, except a small tract of the old red sandstone upon its southern border.

Its minerals are few. Marl is found in the town of Spencer, which is burned for lime. There are several sulphur springs in the county.

SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The soil is mostly fertile, consisting of a light gravelly loam, with occasional patches of marl and clay. Grass succeeds better than grain in the highlands, but the valleys yield large crops of wheat and corn, while the other crops thrive almost every where. White pine, hemlock, spruce, oak, maple, and beech are the principal timber, and have a dense growth. Maple sugar is produced in considerable quantities.

PURSUITS. Agriculture. The people are for the most part engaged in agricultural pursuits. Some grain is raised, and considerable attention paid to the products of the dairy.

Manufactures. The only manufactures of importance are those of lumber and flour.

Commerce. The products of the county find their way to market, by the Susquehanna river, and the Ithaca and Owego railroad.

STAPLE PRODUCTIONS. Oats, corn, potatoes, wheat and butter. SCHOOLS. This county has 139 district schools, taught in 1846, an average period of eight months each, having 8291 scholars, and paying their teachers over $9,329. The school libraries contained, the same year, 12,744 volumes.