lature meet once a year in December. The executive power is vested in a governor, who must be 30 years of age, and have resided in the state the 7 years next before his election. He is elected for 3 years; but cannot be chosen above 9 out of any 12 years. He has the appointment of subordinate officers. If the governor return a bill presented for his approbation, two thirds of each house must concur to render it a law.

All persons have a right of voting, who pay taxes. The elec tion takes place in October.

The judicial power is vested in a supreme court consisting of 4 judges; courts of oyer and terminer; courts of common pleas; orphan's courts; register's courts; courts of quarter sessions; and justices' courts. The judges of the supreme court, and of the courts of common pleas, hold their office during good behavior.

Population. The number of taxable inhabitants, in 1760, was $6,667; in 1770, 39,765; and, in 1793, 91,177. The whole num❤ ber of inhabitants was in the year

The following were the items of the census of 1810:

Pennsylvania is entitled to 23 representatives to Congress.

Militia. In 1800, there were in this state,

Infantry in battalion

Flank companies

Artillery and cavalry

The state at that time contained 602,545 souls. Supposing the militia to bear the same proportion to the whole number of inhab, itants in 1810, as in 1800, they will now amount to about 125,000.

Manners and Customs. About half of the inhabitants are of English and New-England origin, about a fourth German, and an eighth Irish. The rest are Scotch, Welch, Swedes, and Dutch. These various classes retain in a great degree, their own national character. The Germans, Dutch, and Catholic Irish retain their own languages, and many of them cannot speak English. The Swedes, who have the character of "probity, mildness, and hospitality," have blended the English language with their own, and speak neither well. The diversities of religion here are also very great. The inhabitants, who are of English and New-England origin, are mostly Friends, Episcopalians, and Presbyterians. They

live principally in the city of Philadelphia, and in the counties of Chester, Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, and Luzerne. The Irish, and descendants of Irish, are chiefly settled in the western and frontier counties; a large proportion of them are Presbyterians from the north of Ireland. There are likewise many Roman Catholics from this nation.

The Germans are most numerous in the north part of the city of Philadelphia, and in the counties of Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Dauphin, Lancaster, York, and Northampton; chiefly in the four last; but are spreading in other parts. They consist of Lutherans, (who are the most numerous sect) Calvinists, Moravians, Catholics, Mennonists, Dutch Baptists, (corruptly called Tunkers and Dunkers, by way of reproach) and Zwingfelters, who are a species of Quakers. These are all distinguished for their tem perance, industry, and economy. The Germans have usually about a fourth of the members in the assembly; and some of them have arisen to the first honors in the state, and now fill a number of the higher offices.

Literature. Dickinson college* at Carlisle, was founded in 1783, and put under the care of 40 trustees. It has a principal, who is professor of logic, metaphysics, and moral philosophy, a professor of mathematics; of the learned languages; of modern languages; a lecturer on natural philosophy and chemistry, and a tutor; a philosophical apparatus, and a library of about 3000 volumes; 10,000 acres of land, and $10,666-67 in funded certificates. The number of students is about 100. This seminary is flourishing.

There is an institution in Philadelphia, called the university of Pennsylvania. The philosophical apparatus, which was before very complete, has been lately increased to the value of several hundred pounds. The funds of the university produce annually a revenue of about 23657. The aggregate number of students, in the several schools, is, on average, about 500; and the number usually admitted to degrees in each year, about 25. The medical establishment connected with it is the most respectable in the union.

In 1787, a college was founded at Lancaster, and named Franklin college, after Dr. Franklin. This institution hitherto has been merely nominal.

At Washington, in the western part of the state, a college was established about 1802, with a fund of several thousand acres of land.

The Episcopalians have an academy at Yorktown, in York county. There are also academies at Germantown, at Pittsburg, at Allenstown, and other places.

The schools for young men and women in Bethlehem and Nazareth, under the direction of the people called Moravians, are among the best establishments of the kind in America. Besides thesc, there are numerous private schools in different parts of the state; and, to promote the education of poor children, the legisla ture has appropriated a large tract of land for the establishment of

* Named after the Hon. John Dickinson of Pennsylvania.

free schools. A bill for establishing schools throughout the state, was passed February, 1796. Much, however, remains to be done on this subject.

Cities and Towns. PHILADELPHIA, the Indian Coaquannoc, and after New-York, the most populous city of the union, was planned and founded by William Penn, in 1682; and, incorporated in 1701. It lies on the narrow isthmus between the Schuylkill and Delaware. The city extends E. and W. 2 miles between the two rivers, and N. and S. 1 mile on the Schuylkill, and 3 on the Delaware. The streets cross each other at right angles. Nine, of two miles in length, run from river to river, and 23 of 1 mile or upwards, run N. and S. The houses are principally of brick, three stories high, and built in a plain, neat, style, without much display of ornament. Those in Sanson street are uniform; as are most of those in Walnut and Second streets. The number of houses in 1769, was 4474. The population in 1790, was 28,522, in 1800, 41,220, and in 1810, 53,722; exclusive of the suburbs. Including the suburbs, in 1810, there were 92,247 inhabitants in Philadelphia. The city contains 35 churches. The most numerous denominations are Presbyterians, Friends, Episcopalians, Baptists, and Catholics.

The trade of the city is very extensive. It imports foreign goods for the greater part of the state, for half of New-Jersey, and for Delaware; and is now contending with New-York, New-OrJeans, and Montreal, for the commerce of the western country. The Delaware is navigable, as far as Philadelphia, for ships of any size, and for sloops to Trenton. The Schuylkill is navigable, for large ships, as high as the town. Almost all the exports from Pennsylvania, except what go down the Ohio, are shipped from this city. The aggregate tonnage for the year 1810, was 125,431 tons. The Philadelphia library contains more than 20,000 volumes; most of them well selected, and accessible to all persons. The chief literary and humane societies are the American philosophical society; the college of physicians; the society for promoting political inquiries; the Pennsylvania hospital; the Philadelphia dispensary; the Pennsylvania society for the abolition of slavery; the society for alleviating the miseries of prisons; the Pennsylvania society for the encouragement of manufactures and useful arts; the Philadelphia society for the information and assistance of immigrants, and two other societies of the same kind; one for the relief of German, and another for the relief of Irish immigrants; and a humane, an agricultural, marine, and various other charitable societies. Few cities in the world, of the same population and riches as Philadelphia, are better provided with useful institutions, both public and private. There are also a sufficient number of academies for the instruction of both sexes. Almost every religous society has one or more schools under its immediate direction, where children belonging to the society are taught to read and write, and are furnished with books and stationary articles.

This city is governed by a mayor, recorder, 15 aldermen, and 30 common council men; according to its present charter, granted in the year 1789.

The city is increasing very rapidly. In 1802, there were built 464 houses; in 1803, 385; in 1804, 273 houses. The environs are very pleasant, and finely cultivated. Philadelphia lies in lat. 39 56 54 N. lon. 75 8 45 W. from London. It is 110 miles from the ocean, by the river and bays 60; in a S E direction. It is 347 miles S. W. of Boston, 95 from New-York, 144 N. E. of Washing

ton.

LANCASTER, the seat of government, and the largest inland town in the United States, is built on a side hill, a mile and a half W. of Conestoga creek; which falls into the Susquehannah, 9 miles S. by W. from the town. The public buildings are a handsome statehouse and markethouse of brick, a strong stone gaol, and 6 churches for Presbyterians, Episcopalians, German Luther ans, German Calvinists, Moravians, and Catholics. The population in 1800, 4292 and in 1810, 5405.

PITTSBURG lies on a beautiful plain, between the Allegany and Monongahela, at their confluence. The site of the town is low, and liable to inundations. The streets cross each other at right angles, and the plan of the town resembles that of Philadelphia. It contained in 1808, about 400 houses, and in 1810, 4768 inhabitants. It has a courthouse, gaol, 4 churches, and an academy. Pittsburg is 303 miles W. by N. from Philadelphia; its neighboring hills abound with coal; it is already an important manufacturing town; and is probably destined to be one of the large cities of the western country. Lat. 40 31 44 N. lon. 80 8 W.

CARLISLE, 125 miles W. by N. from Philadelphia, is built on a pleasant plain, near the southern bank of Conedogwinet creek. The streets cross each other at right angles. The public buildings are a court house, gaol, college, and 4 churches. Population in 1800, 2032; in 1810, 2491.

Canals. It has long been an object of contemplation to establish a water communication between lake Erie and Philadelphia. The country was surveyed in 1790, by public commissioners, who proposed the following route, the whole distance of which is 561 miles. Up the Schuylkill to Reading; thence to the head waters of the Tulpehocken, which were to be connected by a canal with those of the Quitapahilla, a branch of the Swetara, and down this last to the Susquehannah; thence up the Susquehannah, the Juniata, and the Frankstown branch, to Frank's Old town; thence by a canal to Poplar Run, and by a portage of 18 miles across the mountains to the Little Connemagh, and down that river and the Kiskemanitas to the Allegany; thence up the Allegany and French creek to Le Bœuf; and thence by a portage of 15 miles to the lake.

Attempts have been made to complete the two first stages since 1791; but hitherto, owing to the want of funds, they have not been completed.

At the Conewago falls in the Susquehannah, in the gap of the Blue Ridge, the descent of which is 19 feet, a canal has been com`pleted for several years, 1 mile in length; expence $14,000.

Commerce. The value of the exports from this state was in 1799, $12,431,967, and in 1810, $10,993,398. Of this last sum $4,751,634

were of domestic produce, and $6,313,757 of foreign. The trade with the eastern and southern states is chiefly by barter.

Climate. The climate of Pennsylvania is perceptibly more temperate than that of the New-England states. The winters are never so severe, and the summers are generally warmer. Snow lies on the ground but a short period in the winter, and sleighs are but little used. This is however generally a healthy country, and has but few peculiar diseases.

Face of the Country. The counties of Bedford, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Cumberland, Franklin, Dauphin, and part of Northumberland, Berks, and Northampton, are mountainous; the mountains. stretching in a N E. and S. W. direction a little E. of the centre of the state. The rest of the country is generally level or uneven. The streams in this state have a great number of falls, suitable for every kind of mill works, and labor saving machines.

Soil and Agriculture. A great proportion of the state is good Jand; and no inconsiderable part excellent The two richest tracts are, one on the south line, comprising York and Lancaster counties, and the valley of Franklin and Cumberland; and the other in the N. W. including the land between lake Erie and the sources of the eastern branches of the Allegany. Generally the soil is more fit for grain than grass. The borders of the streams and rivulets are good natural meadows; but the turf of other unimproved lands is greatly inferior in the quantity and quality of its grass to that of the eastern states. This is a serious inconvenience, and renders it necessary for the farmers to cultivate large quantities of clover and other artificial grasses. Wheat is the grain of far the most general cultivation. It flourishes admirably, and fears no enemy here but the Hessian fly, whose ravages however are not so fatal as in New-England. Maize is of the next importance: Buck wheat yields a very considerable crop throughout the country. Rye, within the last ten years, has been very generally cultivated for the distillerics. The crop of barley is constantly increasing with the number of the breweries. That of oats is sufficient for the demand. The Germans cultivate spelts for their horses. Hemp is now raised extensively in the western part of the state, and the crop is very rapidly increasing. Flax has a portion of ground on almost every farm. Potatoes yield a great crop.

Rivers. The Delaware is the eastern boundary. The Susquehannah and the Allegany run the greater part of their course in this state; the Ohio 42 miles; the Monongahela partly in Virginia; the Tioga chiefly in New-York, and about 3 miles in Pennsylvania. All these have been described.

The Schuylkill, a branch of the Delaware, rises N. W. of the Kittatinny mountains, and empties opposite Mud island, 5 miles in a straight line below Philadelphia. Its whole length is about 120 miles.

The Lehigh rises near Wilksbarre, and makes its way to the Delaware, at Easton, 75 miles from its source; of which distance it is navigable, for boats, 30 miles.

The Swetara and Conestoga both run S. W. about 40 or 45 miles,