PURSUITS. The inhabitants are for the most part engaged in agricultural pursuits. Some grain is raised, but the rearing of cattle and sheep is a more favorite and profitable business, The preparation of lumber for market also furnishes employment to many of the citizens.

Manufactures are increasing in importance, but are, at present, chiefly limited to the manufacture of pig and bar iron, nails, glass, flour, lumber, and woollen goods.

Commerce. The shipping of the Champlain district amounted, in 1845, to 3192 tons, the greater part of which is owned in this county. Several steamers ply on the lake, as well as sloops, schooners, &c.

Mines. There are extensive iron mines in the county. The marble quarries, near Plattsburgh, are in high repute.

STAPLES. Butter, cheese, beef, pork, corn and potatoes. SCHOOLS. 138 district schools were maintained in the county an average period of six months, in 1846. $8958 was expended for the instruction of 8056 children. The school libraries numbered 14,460 volumes.

There were also in the county, nineteen private schools, with 527 pupils, and three incorporated academies with 191 students.

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Methodists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Baptists, Roman Catholics, Friends, and Episcopalians. There are thirty-three churches and forty-five clergymen of all denominations.

HISTORY. At the close of the French war, this county was visited by numerous speculators, in quest of pine and oak timber; but no permanent settlements were established till 1765, or 1766, when a grant having been made to two officers of the British Navy, Messrs. Stewart and Freswell, of 2000 acres of land, in two tracts, one situated in Plattsburgh, and the other in Peru, a few families removed here, but were soon driven off by the revolutionary war. The descendants of one of them, however, (Mr. Hay,) still occupy his property.

Grants were also made previous to the revolution, to two gentlemen named Beekman and Deane, with each of whom several partners were associated. A settlement was made in Deane's patent, in 1768, (though not by purchase from him,) by Mr. James Framboise. Being driven out by the enemy in 1776, he served in the American army through the war, and, in 1784, returned to his farm, which is still held by his family.

A German nobleman, Count Vredenburg, who had married a lady of the Queen's household, in England, obtained a grant of 30,000 acres of land, which he located on Cumberland bay, in the present town of Plattsburgh. He resided here, in great

splendor, for several years, previous to the revolution, at the commencement of which he sent his family to Montreal, but remained himself, for some time, on his estate, and at length ysteriously disappeared. It was supposed, that he was robbed and murdered. His house, and a saw mill which he had erected, some three miles from his residence, were burned, at the time of his disappearance.

In July, 1783, Lieutenant (afterwards Major General) Benjamin Mooers, with two other officers, and eight men, ascended the Hudson in a boat, from Fishkill landing, and, taking the route by way of Lake George, and Lake Champlain, reached Point au Roche, nine miles above Plattsburgh, on the 10th of August, and commenced a settlement.

In 1784, Judge Zephaniah Platt, and several others, who had formed a company, for the purchase of military warrants, located their lands on Cumberland bay, and laid out the town of Plattsburgh, reserving ten lots, of 100 acres each, as gifts to the first ten settlers, who should remove thither, with their families, and another hundred acre lot for the first male child, born in the settlement.

These gifts were soon claimed, and the settlement prospered steadily from this period. During the late war with Great Britain, one of its severest battles occurred within the limits of this county—we allude to the battle of Plattsburgh, and the simultaneous naval conflict, between the squadrons of Commodore Downie and Commodore McDonough, on the 11th of September, 1814.

In this battle, a force of 1500 regulars, and about 2500 militia, under General Macomb, defeated and routed a force of 14,000 well appointed, and veteran troops, the victors of a hundred battle fields; and the squadron, under the command of Commodore McDonough, destroyed a force. considerably its superior, on the lake. The loss of the British land forces, was more than 2000, in killed, wounded, prisoners, and deserters; that of the Americans, not more than 150.

On the lake, the English loss was about 1000, in killed, wounded, and prisoners; that of the Americans, 110. The British commander, Commodore Downie, was killed, in the naval action.

The mineral wealth of this county, and its vast forests of valuable timber, will undoubtedly continue to attract emigrants hither, and no where will industry receive a more ample reward. VILLAGES. PLATTSBURGH, in the town of the same name, is the county seat, and is situated at the head of Cumberland bay. It has numerous manufactories, and is the proposed terminus of

the Ogdensburgh and Lake Champlain railroad; several railroads are now in the course of construction, which will probably connect this road with Boston, and other ports on the Atlantic.

Plattsburgh is a United States military post, and the government have erected extensive stone barracks here, and a permanent breakwater for the protection of the harbor.

The Saranac here furnishes a fine water power, descending by a succession of falls, about forty feet. The manufactures of the village are principally cotton and woollen goods. Population, 2500.

Near the village are the ruins of the temporary barracks and breast works, occupied by the troops of General Macomb, during the late war with Great Britain. One mile north of these is the house occupied by the British commander, General Prevost, as his head quarters, during the siege. Between this and the village, the marks of cannon shot can still be seen on the trees and other objects. At a distance of about five miles from the village, on a hill overlooking the village of Beekmantown, is the spot where the British troops met the first repulse in their approach to Plattsburgh, on the 6th of September. In this skirmish, several of the British officers and about 100 men were killed. The British camp was north of the Saranac river.

Clintonville, on the Au Sable river, situated partly in this and partly in Essex county, is a thriving village, largely engaged in the various manufactures of bar and rolled iron, nails, chain cables, &c. which are produced here, in large quantities. The Arnold Hill mine, near the village, furnishes magnetic iron ore of very superior quality. Population, 1000.

Peru is a flourishing village, in the town of the same name. Population, 900.

Redford, in the town of Saranac, is famous for its manufacture of crown glass, which is of superior quality. Population, 700.

Chazy is a small, but thriving village, in the town of the same name. It has some manufactures. The Chazy black marble, quarried near this village, bears a high reputation.

Champlain, in the town of the same name, is a village of some importance. The village of Keeseville, on both sides of the Au Sable, is partly located in this town, and, in point of importance, is only second to Plattsburgh. It is more particularly described in Essex county.

Rivers. a. Mud Creek, b. Canandaigua Outlet. c. Flint Creek. d. Honeoye.

Lakes. BB. Seneca. h. Canandaigua. e. Honeoye. f. Caneadea or Canadice. g. Hemlock.

Colleges. Geneva.

Villages. CANANDAIGUA. Geneva. Vienna. Port Gibson.

BOUNDARIES. North by Monroe and Wayne counties; East by Seneca county and Seneca lake; South by Yates and Steuben counties; and West by Livingston and Monroe counties.

SURFACE. The surface of Ontario county is diversified, being naturally divided by a north and south line, taking the Canandaigua lake in its course. The whole eastern portion is spread out in beautiful plains and gentle undulations. The western portion comprises numerous swells of rich rolling land, interspersed with fertile vales. In the southwestern portion of the county, these swells form some bold elevations, towering into highlands, having an altitude of twelve or fourteen hundred feet.

RIVERS. Mud creek, Canandaigua outlet, Flint creek and Honeoye, are the principal streams.

LAKES. Canandaigua lake is fourteen miles long, from one to two broad, and surrounded by diversified and beautiful scenery. The other lakes are Seneca, Honeoye, Caneadea and Hemlock.

CANALS. The Erie canal just touches the county at Port Gibson, and the Seneca and Cayuga canal commences at Geneva.

RAILROADS. The Auburn and Rochester railroad has a circuitous course, from east to west, through the county. CLIMATE. The climate is mild and equable.

In some sections remittent and intermittent fevers prevail in autumn, but the county, as a whole, is decidedly healthy. It is well adapted to the growth and perfection of the peach, apple and other fruits.

GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. Slate is the underlying rock of the county, but it is generally covered with limestone, and, on the higher hills, with gray wacke. In the southern part, the clay slate sometimes appears on the surface. In the west it alternates with the limestone, forming an excellent soil. The county lies mostly within the limits of the Ontario group.

Water lime, gypsum and marl are abundant. Iron ore is also found in large quantities. Sulphur springs exist in Manchester. One of the most interesting features in the mineralogical history of this county, is the carburetted hydrogen or inflammable gas, in Bristol and Canandaigua.

The gas forces its way through fissures in the rocks, and in Bristol through the waters of a stream, where it is most abundant; when lighted it burns with a steady, brilliant flame, till extinguished by storms, or by design. The gas has the odor of pit coal, and burns without smoke, but deposits a small quantity of bituminous lampblack. The hillocks where it appears are destitute of verdure, and no plant will live within its influence. There are similar springs in East Bloomfield and Richmond.

SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The constituents of the soil render it quite fertile, and the northern and central towns are peculiarly adapted to the raising of wheat and other grains. It also yields grass and fruits abundantly.

The timber is principally oak, chestnut, hickory, with beech, maple, and some pine in the southern part.