TABLE OF THE COUNTIES AND COUNTY TOWNS.-Continued.

Slaves.

3,737

1,706

1800

1810, 207,546

795

1810

1820, 239,222

211

386

Phil

1830, 1,347,672 1820 1830, 298,659

There are three incorporated cities in this state, adelp a, Pittsburg, and Lancaster. The other most noted towns are Reading, Easton, Bethlehem, Carlisle, York, Germantown, Chambersburg, Columbia, Sunbury, Brownsville, Washington, &c.

The principal rivers are the Delaware, Schuylkill, Lehigh, Susquehanna, Juniata, Alleghany, Monongahela, and Ohio.

The Union Canal extends from Reading on the river Schuylkill, where it intersects the

Canals.

Schuylkill Canal, to Middletown on the Susquehannah river, a distance of 80 miles.

The Schuylkill Canal extends from Philadelphia to the coal mines at Port Carbon, a distance of 114 miles. The Lehigh Canal extends along that river from Easton to Whites Haven, a distance of 66 miles. A rail-road, 9 miles in length, extends from Mauch Chunk to the coal mines.

The Lackawaxen Canal extends from the Delaware river, at the mouth of Lackawaxen creek, up it to Honesdale, 24 miles; it there unites with a rail-road 9 miles in length, which extends to the coal mines at the Lackawannock mountains, at Carbondale.

The Conestoga Canal connects the city of Lancaster with the Susquehanna river, length 18 miles.

620 POTTSVILLA Tunnel

The Susquehanna Canal extends along the west side of that river from the mouth of the Juniata river to near the junction of the north and west branches, a distance of 39 miles. The canal is then extended along the north branch to the state of New York, a distance of 165 miles, and along the west branch to Dunnstown, a distance of 70 miles.

PROFILE VIEW OF THE CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL

The Pennsylvania canal extend sfrom Columbia on the Susquehannah to the Juniata river, and thence to Pittsburg, a distance of 322 miles.

The Pittsburg and Erie Canal is intended to unite the Ohio river at Pittsburg, with lake Erie at the town of Erie. Length 168 miles, of which about 20 miles are now finished.

The Delaware division of the Pennsylvania Canal extends from Easton, at the mouth of the Lehigh river, to Bristol on the Delaware, a distance of 60 miles.

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal will extend through the south-west part of Pennsylvania, from the state line at Wills' creek to Pittsburg, a distance of 151 miles.

Finances.

The state debt of Pennsylvania amounts to $34,141,663 80, of which $29,914,003 32 bear an annual interest of $1,494,700 16. The amount borrowed by the state from the 15th of January, 1839, to October 31st, was $6,524,000, all of which, with the exception of $180,000 for the survey of a rail-road from Harrisburg to Pittsburg, was appropriated to the payment of debts and liabilities due and falling due in the year 1839.

Receipts into the Treasury during the year ending October

31st, 1839,

Of this sum the receipts by loans amounted to

Payments at the State Treasury during the same year,

$8,209,301 55

6,309,750 00 6,971,490 21

The Philadelphia, Germantown, and Norristown Rail-Road extends from the city of Philadelphia, in a north-western direction, to Norristown, upon the river Schuylkill, a distance of about 18 miles.

Pennsylvania is intersected by various mountains. The principal ridges of the Alleghany mountains, comprehended in Pennsylvania, are the Kittatinny, or the Blue mountains. Behind these and nearly parallel to them, are Peters, Tuscarora, and Nescopeck mountains, on the east side of the Susquehanna; on the west, Shareman's hill, Sideling hill, Ragged, Great, Warrior's, Evit's, and Wills' mountains; then the great Alleghany ridge, which being the largest, gives name to the whole; and west of this are the Chestnut ridges. Between the Juniata and the west branch of the Susquehanna, are Jacks, Tussys, Nittiny, and Bald Eagle mountains. The valleys between these mountains are often of a rich, black soil, suited to the various kinds of grass and grain. Some of the mountains admit of cultivation almost to their summits. The other parts of the state are generally level, or agreeably diversified with hills and valleys.

The soil of Pennsylvania is various; a small part of it is barren, but a great proportion of it fertile and a considerable part very excellent. It is generally better adapted to tillage than grazing; and much of it, particularly the south-east part, is under excellent cultivation. The two best tracts of land are, one in the south-east part, along the Susquehanna, the other in the north-west part, between lake Erie and Alleghany river. Wheat is the most important

L

article of produce. The next in value is Indian corn. Buckwheat, rye, barley, oats, flax, hemp, beans, peas, and potatoes are extensively cultivated. Cherries, peaches, apples, and cider are abundant. There are large dairies in many parts. Pennsylvania has an excellent breed of horses.

Iron ore is distributed in large quantities in many parts of the state; and in some places copper, lead, and alum are found. Here are also numerous lime-stone quarries, and various kinds of marble; and in the middle and western parts there is an abundance of coal.

Pennsylvania exceeds all the other states in the variety and extent of her manufactures; some of which are of superior excellence. In 1842 there were 76 cotton manufactories in the state, with an aggregate capital of $4,000,000, and making annually 24,332,467 yards of cloth. In the article. of iron manufactures Pennsylvania far excels any other state in the Union. The total value of manufactures, including about 250 different articles, is estimated at $70,000,000.

In 1841 there were 70 banks in this state, 13 of which were in the city of Philadelphia.

Internal

According to the report of the Canal Commissioners for the improvement. year ending October 31st, 1839, this state had then completed and in operation, 726 miles of canals and rail-roads, and 2073 miles of canals in progress: total number of miles of canals and rail-roads completed and in progress, 934.

The principal literary seminaries in this state are the University Education. of Pennsylvania, with its Medical School, at Philadelphia; Dickinson College, at Carlisle; Jefferson College, at Canonsburg; Washington College, at Washington; Western University, at Pittsburg; Alleghany College, at Meadville; Madison College, at Union Town; Mount Airy College, at Germantown; the Theological Seminaries, at Gettysburg, York, and Alleghany Town; and the Moravian schools, at Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Litiz.

The Constitution declares that "the legislature shall, as soon as conveniently may be, provide by law for the establishment of schools in such manner that the poor may be taught gratis." Under this injunction means have been provided in nearly all the counties of the state, for the instruction of the children of indigent parents. They are sent to the most convenient schools of the neighborhoods in which they respectively reside, and the expense is paid by the county commissioners. In the city and county of Philadelphia, which constitutes the First School District of Pennsylvania, the Lancasterian system has been introduced for the education of the children described in the Constitution. In the Twelfth Annual Report of the Comptrollers of the Public Schools of this district, dated Feb. 23, 1830, it is stated, that "during twelve years, 34,703 children had received the benefits of tuition under the wise and beneficent provisions of the existing act of the General Assembly." These schools are superintended by gentlemen who serve without compensation. The teachers are well qualified for their duties, and are liberally paid.

Comparative View of the Returns of Common School Districts, from 1835 (the Commencement of the System) to 1839.

Pennsylvania was granted by Charles II. by a charter signed on History. the 4th of March, 1681, to the illustrious William Penn, who was constituted the proprietary of the province. In 1682, William Penn, together with about two thousand settlers, most of whom, like himself, belonged to the society of Friends or Quakers, arrived in the country; and in the following year he laid out the plan of the city of Philadelphia. He established a friendly intercourse with the Indians, which was not interrupted for more than seventy years.

From the beginning of the 18th century till the commencement of the American Revolution, the government was generally administered by deputies appointed by the proprietaries, who mostly resided in England.

The first Constitution of Pennsylvania was adopted in 1776; the Constitupresent Constitution in 1838.

The legislative power is vested in a General Assembly, consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives.

tion and government.

The representatives are elected annually on the second Tuesday in October by the citizens of Philadelphia and of the several counties, apportioned accord ing to the number of taxable inhabitants.

The senators are chosen for three years, one third being elected annually, at the time of the election of the representatives. Their number cannot be greater than one third, nor less than one fourth of the number of the representatives.

[In 1829, it was enacted by the General Assembly, "that until the next enumeration of taxable inhabitants, and an apportionment thereon, the senate, at a ratio of 7,700 [taxable inhabitants], shall consist of 33 members;" and "the house of representatives, at a ratio of 2,554, shall consist of 100 members."-The following statement shows the representative number, and the number of members of the legislature, at different periods.

The executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected by the people on the second Tuesday in October, and who holds his office during three years, from the third Tuesday in January next following his election; and he cannot hold the office more than 6 years in any term of 9 years.

The General Assembly meets annually (at Harrisburg) on the first Tuesday in January, unless sooner convened by the governor.

The judicial power is vested in a Supreme Court, in courts of oyer and terminer and jail-delivery, in courts of common pleas, an orphan's court, a register's court, a court of quarter sessions of the peace for each county, and in such other courts as the legislature may, from time to time, establish. The judges of the Supreme Court and the several courts of common pleas, are nominated by the governor, and, by and with the consent of the senate, appointed and commissioned by him. The judges of the Supreme Court hold their office for fifteen years; the president judges of the courts of common pleas, for ten years; and the associate judges for the term of five years.

The right of suffrage is possessed by every freeman of the age of 21 years, who has resided in the state one year next preceding an election, and within that time paid a state or county tax, assessed at least ten days before the election. The state sends 28 representatives to congress. Governor's salary, $4,000