lent,and produce good crops, but the largest portion of the county is mountainous, and fit only for graz-. ing. Many streams rise in the mountains and descend to the ocean, some by the Hudson and some by the Connecticut, affording a great hydraulic power. Lead and iron ores of good quality' are found ing this county, and large quarries of beautiful white marble. The num- ber of sheep in this county in 1837 was 69,828.
Beimington, Vt.
One of the chief towns of Ben- nington county. It lies 120 miles S. tV. by S. from Montpelier, 25 S. from Manchester, and 30 east from Troy, N. Y. Population, 1830* 3,419. ' Present population, about 4,200. First settled, 1761. The town is situated high above the great riv- ers and the ocean, yet we find it of good alluvial soil, delightfully en- circled by ever-green mountains. It abounds in iron ore, manganese, ochre and marble. The streams are numerous and afford excellent mill sites. The products of the soil consist of all the varieties com- mon to New England. Great at- tention is paid to the rearing of sheep : about 7000 of those useful animals feed on the hills and valleys. There are in Bennington, 6 cotton and 3 woollen factories, a very ex- tensive iron foundry, 2 furnaces, a paper mill, flouring mills, &c. The public schools justly sustain an ele- wated rank. Bennington is finely- located for the muses. On the bor- der of this town, about 6 miles W. of the court house, the gallant Stark, with a small band of “ Green Mountain Boys,” celebrated for their bravery, gained an important victory over the British? August 16, 1777. The fame of that battle is as imperishable as the mountains which overshadow the ground. Shame to the country .’—there is not a stone to mark the spot!
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Bensoia, Vt.
Rutland co. This town, on Lake Champlain, was first settled in 1783. Population, 1830, 1,493. It lies; 84 miles E. from Montpelier, 20 W. N. W. from Rutland, and opposite to Putnam, N. Y. The lake.at this place is about a mile in width. The town has. some streams affording mill sites, but none of great im- portance. The waters are generally brackish and unpleasant. A stream issues from a swamp in this town, and after running a short distance, passes through the base of a high hill, a distance of more than half a mile. Benson has good pine, ma- ple, walnut, oak and beech timber, and a bog of marl resembling ful- ler’s earth. There are about 14,000 sheep in this town.
Berltiey, Mass.
Bristol co. Berkley lies 37 miles S. from Boston, 18 E. from Provi- dence, and 5 S. from Taunton. Pop- ulation, in 1837, 878. Taken from Dighton in 1735, from which it is separated by Taunton river. Some coasting vessels belong to this place, and some ship building is carried on. Assonet village, on Taunton river, is the principal place of business. The soil is light and sandy.
Berlcsliire County, Mass.
Lenox is the chief town. This county was incorporated in 1770. Population, 1820,35,666; 1830,37- 825, and in 1837, 39,101; area, 860 square miles. Bounded N. by Ben- nington county, Yt., W. by Rensse- laer and Columbia counties, N. Y., S. by Litchfield county, Ct., and E. by Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties. This county is rough and hilly in many parts, but it affords considerable very fine land, and produces much wool, all sorts of grain, and exports great quantities of beef, pork, butter, &c. The number of sheep in this coun- ty in 1837, was 136,962. Berkshire |