those of the Atlantic cities, may be mainly traced to the influence of steam boat navigation. The first steam boats began to run in 1812; and a trip from New Orleans to the mouth of the Ohio in thirty days was blazoned in the western papers, as an achievement of incredible advancement in steam boat navigation. They would make the trip in 9 days from New Orleans to Louisville, 450 miles farther. The number of steam boats by degrees advanced from 1 to about 250, the present number. They are of every amount of tonnage, from 50 to 500 tons, and every degree of improvement, from the rude steam hulk, in which cattle and horses are transported to New Orleans, to boats of the most sumptuous show, and the most ingenious arrangement for comfort and luxury.

The diffusion of books, papers, pamphlets, and generally the means of information and improvement has been of late years, great and unquestionable. Newspapers in this state have tripled in number, and advanced more than that in general improvement. There are not far from 100 periodicals in the state of Ohio.

The paper of the western country has hitherto been of the darkest appearance and meanest texture. Efforts are commencing to improve this very important manufacture. Chloride of lime is introtroduced for bleaching, and a marked improvemement in the appearance of the paper has been the consequence. School books to a great extent are published among these, and other and more miscellaneous publishing has been commenced in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Lexington, Nashville and New Orleans.

In common with the other parts of the union, they have too great a number of seminaries, dignified with the names of colleges and academies. These almost innumerable rival institutions prevent. the development of any first rate seminaries.

But an era, incomparably more important than any other, in western education has dawned, in the commencement of the free school system, on the principle of those of the eastern states. The state of Ohio, now containing nearJy a million of inhabitants, has set the example. It was a long struggle with prejudice, before the system received the sanction of legislative enactment. — After the system was adopted by law, it was two or three years before it went into any considerable operation, and it is even now far from being universally

carried into effect. But the progress is strong and irresistible over all the state, and it daily becomes more popular.

In Cincinnati, the first anniversary of free schools was kept in the summer of 1830. Eighteen hundred scholars, almost exclusively children that had previously been little instructed in any school, were arranged under their several banners, and marched to the sound of music to the first Presbyterian church, where an address was delivered to them, in which the speaker stated, that forty years preceding, the spot on which that church was built was a wilderness, the abode of Indians and wild beasts. It appeared, that about 3000 pupils belonged to the free schools of Cincinnati. The laws regulating these free schools differ from those of New England but little, except in points adjusted to the peculiar organization of western society. For instance, black and colored people are not assessed for the maintenance of these schools- nor are their children instructed in them.

The example of Ohio has had its influence upon other western states. In diana has appointed a committee of its legislature to report upon the expediency of adopting this system. And if we may judge from the tenor of communications in the papers and pamphlets upon education, the system is making steady progress in all the western states, and will shortly be adopted as in Ohio.

CANALS.-The construction of the Ohio canal (the commencement of which has been heretofore mentioned,) was prosecuted this year with great activity. It was contemplated that from lake Erie to the Licking summit, 190 miles would be finished during the season. The average cost on this section amounted to $10,977 per mile. The first boat which passed from Cleaveland to Newark, arrived at Newark on the 10th of July, 1830, and by the 1st of September $20,000 had been received from canal tolls.

The residue of the line, 119 miles, together with a feeder of 11 miles, is under contract to be finished at different periods previous to the first of June, 1831.

The total cost of the Ohio canal is estimated at 3,584,367 96, that of the Miami canal at $759,666 48.

The cost of repairs and additional work on the Miami canal during the year 1829, was $11,334 83.

The great canal is to pass through the town of Chillicothe, and a considerable

water power will be created by its locks; and a powerful impulse to manufactures is expected. Twenty years ago, bar iron, nails, &c, were brought from distant places to Chillicothe iron cost 18, and nails 25 cents per ib. The best quality of iron, made in the neighborhood, now sells at 14 cents, and nails are worth only 7 or 8. Iron ore is plentiful.

It has been proposed to unite the Miami canal, connecting Cincinnati with Dayton, with lake Erie and with the Erie and Ohio canal, by rail roads. The same project has been seriously contemplated, in regard to the proposed Wabash and Erie canal, upon which the legislature of Indiana have legislated so far, as to appoint commissioners to survey the route from the Wabash to the Miami canal. A rail road is contemplated from the boatable waters of Fever river to those of lake Michigan, by which the Galena lead may be conveyed from the mines to lake Michigan, and thence to New York.

The magnificent work, which has been some years in progress, to unite lake Erie with the Ohio by a canal, commencing at Cleaveland and terminating at Portsmouth on the Ohio, it was thought, would be completed by the fourth of July of 1831. The greater 'part of the canal will, no doubt, be in operation at that time. But the complete union of the lake with the Ohio cannot be expected before 1832.

The Delaware and Ohio canal is in operation for the greater part of the long distance between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. From the western slope of the Alleghany to Pittsburgh, the canal is complete. About forty miles of the distance over the mountains are still wanting to complete the chain of communication. The project of tunneling the mountains seems to be abandoned, and the present plan is to connect the eastern and western links of this long line of canal by an intermediate railway over the mountains.

It was contemplated to make a canal from the Wabash to unite with the Miami canal, on the supposition, that the latter would be continued from Dayton to lake Erie. A committee of the legislature of Ohio has reported unfavorably to continuing this canal to the lake, partly influenced by the apprehended fear of the want of sufficient water, without constructing artificial reservoirs, and partly, it is supposed, by a generally growing persuasion, that rail roads will supersede canals. The contem

plated canal for the state of Indiana from the Wabash to the Miami canal, will probably fall with this, as the legislature of that state seems to have become strongly impressed, that rail roads will supersede cana's.

GENERAL LEGISLATIVE MEASURES.Governor Trimble's message was delivered to the legislature on the 9th of December. It is a direct and sensible exposition of the general condition of the State. It alludes to the delays in justice in consequence of the resignation of some and illness of other of the supreme judges, and recommends a special term of the supreme court to relieve the docket. With regard to the treasury, the disbursements during the year are stated at $209,708, leaving a balance in the treasury of $6000. The money received from the sale of lands granted by Congress to the state to aid in the construction of her canals, amounts to $65,000. It suggests that the members of Congress from that state oppose the bill reducing the price of public lands to 25 cents per acre, as detrimental to the interests of the state, by depreciating and unsettling the value of its lands. The navigation of the Miami canal has been uninterrupted during the year, and the amount of tolls is stated at $50,000, fifty per cent beyond the receipts of the preceding year. The northern division of the Ohio canal from Cleaveland to Newark, was navigable from the middle of August; the amount of tolls to the close of the season is estimated at $30,000, making an aggregate of tolls from the canals of $80,000. Even this partial experiment of Ohio canals seems to have equalled the public expectations. The southern division of this great work has been pushed rapidly during the past year; and it is believed that another year will complete it, and the whole line, from the Lake to the Ohio river (commenced in 1825), be made navigable in the spring of 1832. The common schools have gradually increased; it is estimated that not less than 360,000 children receive, or are entitled to receive, instruction in these primary schools. The colleges and academies are flourishing, and the female academies increasing. There are 130 students at the medical college at Cincinnati; and 18 pupils receive instruction at the deaf and dumb asylum. The penitentiary, or State prison, is spoken of as a disordered and sinking institution, which requires renovation. The militia returns show a force of 116,000.