Maryland was so called in honor of Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I., in his patent to Lord Baltimore, June 30, 1632. Virginia was so called in 1584, after Elizabeth, the virgin Queen of England. Carolina was so called by the French in 1564, in honor of King Charles IX. of France. Georgia was so called in 1732, in honor of King George II. Alabama was so called in 1817, from its principal river. Mississippi was so called in 1800, from its western boundary. Mississippi is said to denote the _whole river_, that is, the river formed by the union of many. Louisiana was so called in honor of Louis XIV. of France. Tennessee was so called in 1796, from its principal river. The word Ten-assee is said to signify a _curved spoon_. Kentucky was so called in 1792, from its principal river. Illinois was so called in 1809, from its principal river. The word is said to signify _the river of men_. Indiana was so called in 1809, from its being, for a long time, occupied by several large Indian tribes. Ohio was so called in 1802, from its southern boundary. Missouri was so called in 1821, from its principal river. Michigan was so called in 1805, from the lake on its border. Arkansas was so called in 1819, from its principal river. Florida was so called by Juan Ponce de Leon, in 1572, because it was discovered on Easter Sunday, in Spanish _Pascua Florida_. Some say it was so called from its _florid_ appearance, in consequence of the great number of flowers it produced. Columbia was so called in reference to Columbus. Wisconsin was so called from its principal river. Iowa is so called from its principal river. Oregon is so called from its principal river. Battle between a Rat and a Crab. The following incident is related in a late English journal: In the year 1812, a sailor in company with several persons, at Sunderland, a short time before, perceived a crab which had wandered to the distance of about three yards from the water side. An old rat, on the look-out for food, sprang from his lurking-place and seized the crab, who, in return, raised his forcep claws, and laid fast hold of the assailant’s nose, who, when opportunity offered, hastily retired, squeaking a doleful chant, much surprised, no doubt, at the unexpected reception he had experienced. The crab, finding itself at liberty, retreated, as speedily as crab could do, towards its own element; but after a short space of time, it was arrested in its progress by Mr. Rat, who renewed the contest, and experienced a second rude embrace from his antagonist. The rat, as before, retreated, bemoaning such violent treatment. Frequent and severe were the attacks; on view of his enemy, the crab always prepared for action by raising its fore claws in a threatening attitude.