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Congress were not equal to the emergency. He was in favor of conceding everything but separate independence to the South, not seeing that the leaders of the secession movement would accept nothing but separation, and by his timidity lost the advantages which the Government would have gained by a bold and firm course. Still, he refused to yield to the pressure which was brought upon him for the purpose of securing the surrender of Fort Sumter to the State of South Carolina. He also refused to sell the fort to the State, or to order Anderson back to Fort Moultrie, as he was urged to do.

Various plans were proposed in Congress and by the States for the settlement of the national troubles, but none were attended with success. A Border State Convention met in Washington on the 4th of February, 1861, for this purpose, but adjourned, after a session of three weeks, without having accomplished anything of a definite character. The quarrel waxed hotter every day.

An attempt on the part of the Government to send reënforcements and supplies to Fort Sumter was resisted by the forces of South Carolina, and the vessel charged with that duty was fired on, and turned back. South Carolina, through her Legislature, declared that any future attempt to send aid to Fort Sumter would be regarded as an act of war, and would be resisted by force. On the other hand, the Legislatures of New York, Ohio, and Massachusetts pledged those States to assist the President with their whole military force "in putting down the rebellion."

On the 4th of March, 1861, Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated President of the United States.

Here it is deemed best to bring this brief outline to a close. The history of the country since March, 1861, is well known to every reader of this book, and the numerous histories of the war which have appeared since its close, some of which are to be found in every household, render the further extension of our narrative unnecessary.

PART II.

THE NEW ENGLAND STATES.

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MAINE is the most easterly of the United States. It is situated between latitude 42° 57′ and 47° 32′ N., and longitude 66° 52′ and 71° 06′ W. Its extreme length, from north to south, is 303 miles, and its extreme width 212 miles. Its average length is about 200 miles, and its average width about 160 miles. It covers an area of 20,330,240 acres. It is bounded on the north and northwest by Canada, on the east by New Brunswick, on the south and southeast by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the west by New Hampshire.

TOPOGRAPHY.

Beginning on the west at Kittery Point, and following the general coast line to Quoddy Head, on the east, the shore of Maine measures about 278 miles; but if we follow its indentations, and include the islands, the coast line will measure 2486 miles. The coast is deeply indented with numerous bays and inlets, many of which form excellent harbors. Many islands lie along the shore, some of them of considerable size.

Mount Desert, the principal island, is situated in Frenchman's Bay, and forms a part of Hancock county. It comprises an area of 60,000 acres, and is 15 miles long, and 12 broad. It is traversed from west to north by a range of thirteen granite peaks, rising to a height of from 1500 to 2300 feet. Mount Adam, or Mount Green, is the highest of these. Several beautiful lakes lie high up in these mountains. Some of these are quite large, and from nearly all of them flow clear,

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cool streams, abounding in trout. The southeastern coast is formed of huge cliffs, several hundred feet high. A narrow bay enters the island from the south side, and extends into the interior in a northerly direction for about seven miles. The scenery of the island is surpassingly grand and beautiful, and attracts many visitors and artists. Mount Desert is divided into 3 townships, Eden, Tremont, and Mount Desert. It contains 6 small villages, 9 post-offices, 8 churches, and over 50 schools. Its population is about 4000. Shipbuilding and mackerel fisheries are carried on, and there is regular steamboat communication with Portland and Bangor. The island was discovered and named by the French near the year 1600. In 1613, a small French settlement was formed here, which was broken up soon after by an expedition from Virginia. It was first permanently settled by Abraham Somes, in 1761. Twenty miles to the southward is Mount Desert Rock, with a fixed light, 50 feet above the sea.

The other islands of the State which merit notice are Isle au Haut, at the entrance to Penobscot Bay, Deer, Long, and Fox islands, in that bay, and the Isle of Shoals, a group belonging in part to New Hampshire.

The principal Bays are Passamaquoddy, Machias, Pleasant, Frenchman's, Penobscot, Muscongus, Casco, and Saco.

Passamaquoddy Bay lies at the southeast extremity of Maine, and separates the State from the British province of New Brunswick. It extends inland about 15 miles, and is 10 miles wide. It is irregular in shape, contains a number of islands, affords numerous good harbors, and receives the waters of the St. Croix River.

Frenchman's Bay extends inland about 30 miles. It contains Mount Desert and several other islands, and abounds in good harbors, which are never closed by ice.

Casco Bay does not extend very far inland, but lies along the coast for a distance of 20 miles. It contains nearly 300 islands. Portland harbor opens upon it.

The principal Rivers are the Penobscot, the Kennebec, the Androscoggin, the Saco, the Woolastook, and the Aroostook.

The Penobscot is the largest river in the State. It is formed by two branches, the East and the West, which rise in northern Maine, and unite in the upper part of Penobscot county, near the centre of the State. The general course of the river is south-southwest, and it flows into the sea through Penobscot Bay. Its length from its mouth to the headwaters of its western and larger branch, is about 300 miles,

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