the principal source whence that city draws its staple commodity. Indeed flour is the chief article of export, and the manufacture of it is carried to a higher degree of perfection here than in any other state of the Union. Besides the well-constructed mills on Red Clay and White Clay creeks, and other streams in different parts of the state, the famous collection of mills at Brandywine, already noticed, merit a particular description. They are called the Brandywine mills, from the stream on which they are erected. This stream rises in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and after a winding course of thirty miles through falls, which furnish numerous mill-seats (above 150 of which are already occupied) flows into Christiana creek, near Wilmington. These mills are in great perfection, and give employment to upwards of 600 persons, who manufacture not less than 500,000 bushels of wheat annually. The navigation quite up to the mills is such, that a vessel carrying 1,000 bushels of wheat may be laid along side any of them; while there are some of them that will admit of vessels loaded with double the above quantity. The cargoes are discharged with astonishing expedition: there have been instances of 1,000 bushels of wheat being carried to the height of four stories in four hours. It is frequently the case that shallops carrying the same quantity, come up with flood tide, unload and go away the succeeding ebb with 300 barrels of flour on board. By means of machinery, the wheat is received on the shallop's deck, thence carried to the upper loft of the mill, and a considerable portion of the same returned in flour on the lower floor, ready for packing, without the assistance of manual labour, but in a very small degree, in proportion to the business done. The transportation of flour from the mills to the port of Wilmington, does not require half an hour; and it often happens that a cargo is taken from the mills, and delivered at Philadelphia the same day,

Among other branches of industry exercised in and near Wilmington, are cotton manufactories and one for boltingcloths; and throughout the county of Newcastle are a number of fulling-mills, several paper-mills, snuff-mills, two slitting-mills, and upwards of seventy mills for grinding grain, besides others for sawing timber and stone, all of which are turned by water. Besides the wheat and flour trade, this state carries on a considerable commerce in various other articles; among which are iron, salted provisions, flaxseed, lumber, paper, &c. The foreign exports in 1817 amounted to 44,854 dollars, of which 38,771

was domestic produce. The principal trade with Britain is through the medium of Philadelphia.

Constitution.-At the revolution, the three lower counties on Delaware river became independent, by the name of the Delaware state. Under their present constitution, which was established in September, 1776, the legislature is divided into two distinct branches, which, together, are styled "The General Assembly of Delaware." One branch, called the "House of Assembly," consists of seven representatives from each of the three counties, chosen annually by the freeholders. The other branch, called the "Council," consists of nine members, three for a county, who must be more than twenty-five years of age, chosen likewise by the freeholders. A rotation of members is established by displacing one member for a county at the end of every year. A president or chief magistrate is chosen by the joint ballot of both houses, and continues in office three years; at the expiration of which period, he is ineligible for the three succeeding years. Every white freeman of the age of twenty-one, who has resided in the state two years next before the election, shall enjoy the right of an elector. The sons of persons so qualified shall, between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-two, be entitled to vote, though they have paid no taxes,

History. The Dutch, under the pretended purchase made of Henry Hudson, already noticed, took possession of the lands on both sides the river Delaware, and, as early as the year 1623, built a fort at the place which has since been called Gloucester, four miles below Philadelphia. Four years afterwards, a colony of Swedes and Finns came over, furnished with every necessary to begin a new settlement, and landed on Cape Henlopen, at the entrance of Delaware bay; at which time the Dutch had wholly quitted the country.

In 1630, the Dutch returned, and built a fort at Lewistown, a short distance from Cape Henlopen. The year following the Swedes built a fort near Wilmington, which they called Christiana, in honour of their queen: here also they laid out a small town which was afterwards demolished by the Dutch. The same year they erected a fort higher up the river, upon Tenecum island, which they called New Gottenburgh; they also at the same time built forts at Chester, Elsinburgh, and other places.

In 1655, the Dutch arrived in the river Delaware from New Amsterdam (now New York) in seven vessels, with 700 men. They dispossessed the Swedes of their forts on the river, and carried the officers and principal inhabitants prisoners to New Amsterdam, and from thence to Holland. The common people submitted to the conquerors, and remained in the country. In 1664, sir Robert Carr obtained the submission of the Swedes on Delaware river; and four years after, colonel Nicolls, governor of New York, by the advice of his council, appointed a scout, and five other persons, to assist captain Carr in the government of the country.

In 1672, the town of Newcastle was incorporated by the government of New York, to be governed by a bailiff and six assistants; after the first year, the four oldest were to leave their office, and four others to be chosen. The bailiff was president, with a double vote; the constable was chosen by the bench: they had power to try causes not exceeding teu pounds, without appeal. The office of scout was converted into that of sheriff, who had jurisdiction in the corporation and along the river, and was annually chosen. They were to have a free trade, without being obliged to make entry at New York, as had formerly been the practice.

In 1674, Charles II., by a second patent, dated June 29th, granted to his brother, the duke of York, all that country called by the Dutch New Netherlands, of which the three counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, were a part. In 1683, the duke of York sold to William Penn the town of Newcastle, with the district twelve miles round the same; and at the same time granted to him the remainder of the territory, which, till the revolution, was called the three lower counties, and has since been called the state of Delaware. Till 1776, these three counties were considered as a part of Pennsylvania. In matters of government, the same governor presided over both; but the assembly and courts of judicature were composed of different mem bers, though their forms were nearly the same.

STATE OF MARYLAND.

Situation, Boundaries, and Extent.

THIS state is situated between 38° and 39° 43′ N. lat. and 2o E. and 2° 30′ W. long. It is bounded on the north by Pennsylvania; south and west it has Virginia and the

Atlantic ocean, and east by the state of Delaware and the same ocean. Its length from east to west is 198 miles, and its breadth from north to south ninety miles; containing 10,800 square miles, or, 6,912,000 acres, of which about one-sixth part is water.

Bays, rivers, and face of the country.-Chesapeak bay has already been noticed, page 32; but it merits a more particular description, from its vast importance to this state, and indeed to the United States generally. This bay is formed by the outlet of the Susquehannah river, where it receives French creek, and a number of smaller streams. It is there about seven miles broad, and so continues to near the branch that leads up to Baltimore; from theuce it assumes various breadths, from ten to fifteen miles, during a course downwards of about seventy miles, to near the Potomac river. It then stretches out to twenty-five or thirty miles, during a passage of ninety miles more, and finally passes into the Atlantic ocean by an outlet of twelve miles broad. The whole extent of this grand bay from north to south, is upwards of 270 miles, and it receives in its course the entire waters of this state, nearly all those of the eastern part of Virginia, a principal part of the Pennsylvania rivers, and some from the state of Delaware; exhibiting a greater confluence of waters than is to be seen in any quarter of the United States, or almost in the world. The Chesapeak divides this state into eastern and western divisions. From the eastern shore in Maryland, among other smaller ones, it receives Pokomoke, Nanticoke, Choptank, Chester, Elke, Wye, Sassafras, and Bohemia rivers. From the north, the rapid Susquehannah; and from the west Patapsco, Severn, Patuxent, Potomac, (half of which is in Maryland and half in Virginia,) Gunpowder, and Wicomico: except the Susquehannah and Potomac, these are small rivers.

Patapsco river rises in York county, Pennsylvania, and pursues a south-east course till it reaches Elkridge, about eight miles south-west of Baltimore; it there turns eastwardly over falls, and widens into a broad bay-like stream to its mouth. It is about forty yards wide just before it communicates with the bason on which stands the large commercial town of Baltimore; which it leaves on the north, and passes into the Chesapeak. It is navigable for vessels drawing eighteen feet water to Fell's Point at Baltimore; but the falls above Elkridge prevent the navi

gation farther. The entrance into the harbour, about a mile below Fell's Point, is hardly pistol shot across, and of course may be easily defended against naval force.

Patuxent is a larger river than the Patapsco, rises near the same source, and empties into Chesapeak bay about twenty miles north of the mouth of Potomac. It admits vessels of 250 tons to Nottingham, forty-six miles from its mouth, and boats twelve miles higher. Patuxent is as remarkable a river as any in the bay, having very high land on its north side, with red banks or cliffs.

The face of the country is remarkably variegated. Its south-west boundary line is formed by the river Potomac ; and the fine bay of Chesapeak, with its numerous waters, passes through the middle of it. On the east side, it presents a coast of about thirty-five miles to the Atlantic ocean, low, level, and in general sandy; but in many places covered with stagnant water, except when it is intersected by numerous creeks. The land continues to rise by a gentle ascent, but is generally level to Baltimore, 160 miles from the sea; it then swells out into a hilly country, till it reaches the Blue ridge of mountains, which stretches across the western part of this state, and passes through Pennsylvania and Virginia. East of these mountains, the land, like that in all the southern states, is generally level and free from stones; and appears to have been made much in the same way of course the soil must be similar, and the natural growth not materially different. The northern parts of the state are varied with hills and valleys.

Climate, soil, and productions.-The climate is various in different districts, but for the most part mild and agreeable, well suited to agricultural productions, and particularly fruit trees. The eastern parts are similar to Delaware, having large tracts of marsh, which during the day load the atmosphere with vapour, that falls in dew in the close of the summer and autumn, which are unhealthy, and indicated by a sickly colour in the inhabitants, who are subject to intermittent fevers. In the interior hilly country the climate improves very much, and among the mountains it is delightful and healthy; the summers being cooled by fine breezes, while the winters are tempered by a southern latitude, which renders them much milder than to the northward.

The soil is as various as the climate; and a great portion

of it is rather poor. The swamps on the eastern shore