Twenty-one feet water in the channel into Mobile bay. Improvements made by, or introduced into the coast survey. The following list refers briefly to improvements which have been introduced upon the coast survey and perfected in the work, or to inventions made in connection with it: Improvements have been made or introduced in instruments and methods of observations in geodesy and astronomy. 1. An apparatus for measuring bases, combining the principle of contact with invariable length at different temperatures, and when the temperature is rising or falling. Improvements in the apparatus for measuring expansions. 2. Improved instruments introduced for observations adapted to the triangulation of the southern coast. The details of signals and other accessories of this work and modes of observing much improved. Improvements in the dividing machine for circular instruments in the examination of the centering, &c. 3. Talcott's method introduced for latitudes, and the zenith and equal altitude instrument improved for use by this method. Zenith sector introduced. Comparisons of different instruments and methods of determining latitudes for geodetic purposes. Discovery of local attraction deflecting the plumb line from the vertical in places where the topographical features of the country would not beforehand show the existence of such deflection. The remedy found for such irregularities, and applied. 4. Methods of observing azimuths improved, and computations simplified. 5. Methods of observing difference of longitude by telegraph perfected. This method was first used to measure an arc of the parallel by the coast survey. Application of the galvanic circuit to purposes of registering astronomical observations generally. The mathematical theory of telegraphic longitude was first developed in this work. 6. The modern magnetic instruments and methods have been introduced upon the work, and persons have been trained up to their use. 7. Lehman's system of topography has been adapted to the character of our coast. Scales of shade prepared by the ruling machine have been introduced. 8. Many improvements in hydrography have been made or introduced. The system of lines of equal depth in making soundings. The collection and classification of specimens of the bottom obtained by the Stellwagen lead.—Systematic tidal observations are made and discussed in forms duly prepared. The observations of currents have been reduced to a system, and modes of representing them on diagrams introduced. Triangulation of vessels for off-shore work has been introduced. Measurement of angles regulated by time. The representation of character of the bottom by abridged signs has been matured. 9. Systematic observations of the temperature of the gulf stream at different depths, and on different sections across the stream, have been made with new instruments, and represented on diagrams. The separation of the gulf stream into two or more branches has been discovered, and the equilibrium of temperature from the depth of about forty fathoms to the greatest depths explored. Mechanical contrivances for making deep sea soundings, reeling up the line, &c. The "cold wall" between the coast and gulf stream has been defined by observation from Cape Hatteras to Cape Cod. 10. Improvements in the accessories of hydrography have been introduced. The colouring of buoys has been systematized. The officers of the survey have rendered service in selecting places for buoys and in placing them, in selecting sites for light houses, in examining reefs and rocks in reference to their removal. 11. In the reduction of drawings many improvements have been made or introduced The camera lucida has been introduced. The apparatus for reducing by squares has been perfected. The method of printing maps has been improved, so as to do away or diminish distortion. 12. Many improvements in the details of engraving have been introduced. The electrotype method of copying engraved plates was first used in this country on the coast survey, and permits the indefinite multiplication of maps from one original engraved plate. 13. Systematic methods of computation, including printed forms for all the different kinds of work, have been introduced. THE UNION. THE STATES AND TERRITORIES. The Cincinnati Chronicle furnishes an interesting article in relation to the old and new states. The thirteen original states that formed and confirmed the union, were united, first, under the articles of confederation, adopted during the revolutionary war, and next under the constitution of the United States, which went into operation in 1789. Before this union, they were deemed and termed colonies of Great Britain, and their governments were established under grants and charters from the crown. The following brief notes of their history, will serve as an appropriate preface to the subjoined statement of their adoption of the constitution and the admission of the new states into the Union. Massachusetts.-Settled under compacts of the emigrants of November 3, 1620; chartered March 4, 1629; also January 13, 1630; explanatory charter August 20, 1726; more completely chartered October 7, 1731; formed a constitution March 2, 1780, which was altered and amended November 3, 1820. New Hampshire.-Embraced under the charters of Massachusetts, and continued under the same jurisdiction until September 18, 1679, when a separate charter and government were granted. Formed a constitution January 5, 1776, which was altered in 1784, and altered and amended February 13, 1792. Rhode Island.-Embraced under Massachusetts until July 8, 1662, when a separate charter was granted, which continued in force until a constitution was formed in 1842. Connecticut.-Embraced under Massachusetts until April 23, 1662, when a separate charter was granted, which continued in force until a constitution was formed September 15, 1818. New York. Granted to the Duke of York by grants March, 20, 1664, April 26, 1664, June 24, 1664; newly patented February 9, 1674; formed a constitution April 20, 1777, which was amended October 27, 1801, and November 10, 1821. New constitution formed in 1846. New Jersey.-Held under the same grants as New York; separated into East and West Jersey March 3, 1667; its government surrendered to the crown in 1702, and so continued until a constitution was formed July 2, 1776. Pennsylvania.-Chartered February 28, 1681; formed a constitution September 28, 1776; amended September 2, 1790. Delaware.-Embraced in the charter, and continued under the government of Pennsylvania until the formation of a constitution, September 20, 1776. New constitution June 12, 1792. Maryland.-Chartered June 20, 1632; formed a constitution August 14, 1776; amended in 1795, 1799, and 1812. Virginia.-Chartered April 10, 1606, May 23, 1609, and March 12, 1612; formed a constitution July 5, 1776; amended January 15, 1830. North Carolina.-Chartered March 20, 1663, and June 30, 1665; formed a constitution December 18, 1776; amended in 1835. South Carolina.—Embraced in the charters of Carolina or North Carolina, from which it was separated in 1729; formed a constitution March 26, 1776; amended March 19, 1778, and June 3, 1790. Georgia.-Chartered June 9, 1732; formed a constitution February 5, 1777; a second in 1785; and a third May 30, 1798. Dates of the adoption of the federal constitution and amendments, and of the admission of new states. The constitution was adopted September 17, 1787, by a convention of members from the states, held in pursuance of a resolution of the congress of the confederation, passed February 21, 1787, and was ratified by convention of the several states, as follows: Delaware, December 7, 1787. Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787. Massachusetts, February 6, 1788. Maryland, April 28, 1788. South Carolina, May 23, 1788. New Hampshire, June 21, 1788. Virginia, June 26, 1788. New York, July 26, 1788. North Carolina, November 21, 1789. Of the twelve amendments to the constitution, the ten first were proposed at the first session of the first Congress, September 25, 1789, and were finally ratified by the constitutional number of states, December 15, 1791. The eleventh amendment was proposed at the first session of the third Congress, March 5, 1794, and the president, by message to Congress, January 8, 1798, declared it ratified by the constitutional number of states. The twelfth amendment, superseding the old mode of electing the President, under which Washington, Adams, and Jefferson were chosen, and establishing the present mode, was proposed at the first session of the eighth Congress, December 12, 1803, and adopted by the constitutional number of states, according to a public notice by the secretary of state, dated September 25, 1804, in time for Mr. Jefferson's election to his second and last term, under the new mode. No amendments have been since adopted. The "new states," admitted into the Union since the adoption of the constitution by the "old thirteen," above named, were received as follows: Vermont, March 4, 1791. Kentucky, June 1, 1792. Alabama, December 14, 1819. Maine, March 15, 1820. The territories are as follows: The District of Columbia, ten miles square, ceded to the United States by Maryland and Virginia, the cession of the former dated December 23, 1788, by the latter, December 3, 1789, accepted by acts of Congress of July 16, 1790, and March 3, 1791; the boundaries established March 30, 1791, and Congress assumed complete and sole jurisdiction over it by an act February 27, 1801. Oregon, the boundaries settled by treaty with Great Britain in 1846, and territorial government established by act of Congress, 1848. The territories of Nebraska and Minesota, beyond Iowa, are not yet organized by acts of Congress. New Mexico and California, acquired from Mexico by the treaty of peace in 1848, had military governments during the war, which were legally dissolved on the return of peace, but which continue to exist de facto until the action of Congress. THE PRECIOUS METALS. The London Globe gives the following interesting facts relative to the movements of the precious metals: According to returns which have been prepared, exhibiting the amount of specie and bullion which has been imported from foreign countries during the six months ending the 30th of June, by the various lines of royal mail steamers arriving at Southampton, it appears that the West India steamships, during the first half of the present year, have landed at Southampton gold and silver in bars, dust, and coin, to the value of 11,814,275 dollars, or say £2,362,855 sterling. Of this amount the principal proportion was in silver, the quantity of gold being about 3,317,750 dollars, or £663,592 sterling, the greatest part of which or nearly £500,000, was transmitted across the Isthmus of Panama, where it was received, directly or indirectly, from California. Half a million sterling is, therefore, about the amount of California gold which may be estimated to have reached this country during the past six months; the remainder of the precious metals received at Southampton by the West India mail steamers being the produce of Chili, Peru, Bolivia, Central America, Mexico, &c. About 1,000,000 dollars in silver have been received from the coast of Mexico, via Panama, being the first remittance from that part of the world, the produce of the mines having been generally collected on the coast by her majesty's ships of war, and conveyed via Cape Horn. It is anticipated that when the new route of the steamers is in operation, the whole of the silver will in future be transmitted to England by the way of Panama. The amount brought during the past six months, as remittances for account of the Mexican dividends, is 451,865 dollars, or £90,373 sterling. As compared with the corresponding half year of 1849, the importations of bullion from the Western hemispheres show an increase of $1,243,620, or £248,730; thus proving that the flow of specie is unchecked and increasing. There is a slight falling off when compared with the last half year of 1849, when the amount was $12,679,705, or £1,534,141 sterling, but there is every probability that during the next six months this amount will be considerably exceeded. From other parts of the world, the receipts of the precious metals show a considerable falling off when compared with the corresponding periods of former years. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamers from Alexandria have brought only £56,732 sterling, against £498,591; thus giving a Y |