the Quantity of a Quarter of an acre each, in such form, with respect to streets, lanes and alleys, as the Commissioners may approve, a large street to be left for Publick landings along the River side. That the said John Harris agrees that the Honorable Assembly of this Commonwealth shall appoint Commissioners to value his said lots, after reserving Twenty Lots for his own use: That the s'd John Harris will convey all the streets, lanes and alleys, to the inhabitants of s'd Town, & will convey to proper Commissioners a lot for a Court House & Jail, and a square of Four Acres to the State of Pensilvania, for such purposes as the Government may apply the same: the applyers to have it at their choice to take the lots on a reasonable Groundrent, or to purchase the fee simple of the same: The Commissioners in both cases to be Judges: That as soon as the s'd Two Hundred lots are built on or disposed of, should there be a further demand for lots, the s'd John Harris engages, that the Publick shall be accommodated at a reasonable rate.

JOHN HARRIS."

THE TOWN LAID OUT-DEED OF CONVEYANCE TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

The town proposed by Harris was laid out in the spring of 1785, by William Maclay, who was a son-in-law of Mr. Harris. Mr. M. also made the draft of the town, and drew up the following conveyances from John Harris to the commissioners:

"JULY 6th, 1785.

"By virtue of which said several grants, devices and conveyances the title to the land on which the town of Harrisburg in the county of Dauphin is situated is legally vested in the said John Harris his heirs and assigns; And whereas in and by a certain bond or obligation duly executed by the said John Harris to the State of Pennsylvania for the sum of five thousand pounds lawful monies of the same State bearing date

the 4th day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five conditioned for the faithful performance of all and singular the agreements promises engagements, articles matters and things which he had therein undertaken to do and perform, among other things did covenant to, and with Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and William Brown as follows: Whereas the Representatives of the freemen of the said Commonwealth in General Assembly met, in and by a certain bill before them now depending have resolved to erect part of the county of Lancaster into a separate county to be known and called by the name of the county of Dauphin, and that the seat of Justice in the said county of Dauphin shall be fixed at or near the place of the said John Harris' residence, and that Joshua Elder, Jacob Awl, Andrew Stewart, Wm. Brown and Jas. Cowden or any three of them shall be commissioners for certain purposes, in the said bill mentioned; And Whereas the said John Harris in order to promote the good intentions of the said General Assembly in fixing the seat of Justice at the said place, to enable the said commissioners to regulate the laying out a county town there to public advantage, and to promote the more speedy settlement thereof by a liberal encouragement to purchasers hath promised, covenanted, and agreed to and with the said commissioners, that as soon as the said bill shall be passed into a law he, the said John Harris will without delay lay out two hundred lots containing about one quarter acre each on the high grounds near his present dwelling house on the bank of the river Susquehanna as a site for the said county town, and that with the same lots shall be laid out such streets, lanes and alleys as the said commissioners or a majority of them shall direct, which streets shall be confirmed for public use forever; and that he will also lay out a large street along the river for public landing places; And Whereas the said John Harris in consideration of the

promises and other good causes hath also promised covenanted and agreed to and with the said intended commissioners that in case the said bill shall be passed into a law he will upon request convey to the said commissioners, or any three of them and their heirs a good and sufficient lot of ground for erecting a Court House and goal thereon in trust for the use of the inhabitants of the said county of Dauphin." [Here follows a quotation from the act erecting the new county.] "Now this inden

ture witnesseth that in consideration of the premises and for and in consideration of the sum of five shillings lawful money of Pennsylvania to them the said John Harris and Mary his wife in hand paid by the said Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and William Brown at and before the ensealing and delivery of these presents the receipt of which sum of five shillings they the said John Harris and Mary his wife do hereby acknowledge, and thereof, and every thereof do acquit release the said Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and Wm. Brown their and each of their heirs executors administrators and assigns, and every of them have granted bargained sold released enfeoffed and confirmed and by these presents do grant bargain, sell allien, release enfeof and confirm unto the said Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and Wm. Brown their heirs and assigns all the streets, lanes alleys or highways as laid out by the commissioners of, in, and for the town of Harrisburg aforesaid in the county of Dauphin the butts, boundaries, courses, distances length and breadth thereof are as follows:" [Front, Paxton, Second, Market, Third, Pine, Locust, Walnut, Chestnut, and Mulberry streets, River, Raspberry, Barbara, Cranberry, Strawberry, Blackberry and Cherry alleys are here described]; "And in consideration of the further sum of five shillings lawful money aforesaid to them the said John Harris and Mary his wife in hand well and truly paid by the said Jacob Awl, And.

Stewart, Joshua Elder, James Cowden and Wm. Brown the receipt thereof is hereby acknowledged and thereof and every part thereof the said Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and Wm. Brown, their and each of their heirs are fully acquitted and forever discharged, have granted, bargained, sold released alliened enfeoffed and confirmed, and by these presents do grant bargain, sell allien release, enfeoff and confirm unto them the said Jacob Awl Joshua Elder Andrew Stewart Jas. Cowden and Wm. Brown, their heirs and assigns four certain lots of ground in the aforesaid town of Harrisburg, marked on the general plan of said town Nos. 120, 121, 142, 143, situated and bounded as follows: Beginning at a corner where Rasberry alley intersects Market street, thence along the line of Market street to the line that divides lots No. 141 and 142; thence on the same division line crossing Strawberry alley to Walnut street; thence on the line of Walnut street to Rasberry alley; thence down the line of said alley to the place of beginning."

CONVEYANCE OF THE FERRY LOT.

On the 6th of July, 1785, "in consideration of the sum of five shillings," John and Mary Harris also conveyed to Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and Wm. Brown, in trust for the use of the public, "a certain lot of ground in the town of Harrisburg, called and known as the 'Ferry Lot,' beginning at a post marked for a corner on the line of Front street, thence north 37 degrees east 10 perches, to a corner; thence 53 degrees west 4 perches to a corner; thence south 37 degrees west 10 perches to the place of beginning, containing one quarter of an acre, together with all and singular the rights, liberties, privileges, hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging."

THE FUTURE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA PREDICTED.

Impressed with a strong faith that this point on the Susquehanna would be looked to, if not as a great commercial point, at least one possessing advantages from its central position, and at that early day presenting itself as the great crossing for the growing trade of the western and northern settlements, Mr. Harris is said to have observed to a gentleman, Mr. Hollenback, who afterwards settled at Wilkesbarre, that this place would become the seat of government of Pennsylvania; and so strongly persuaded was he of the realization of his prophecy, that by deed dated July 6, 1785, he gave in trust to the commissioners, for the use of the Commonwealth, in case the seat of government should be fixed at Harrisburg, four acres and twenty-one perches of land, being the present site of the State Arsenal.

The following is an extract from the deed conveying the same. It is recorded in book A, Recorder's Office:

"In consideration of the sum of five shillings, grant, bargain, sell, release and enfeoff, and confirm unto Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden, and William Brown, their heirs and assigns, in trust for public use, and such purposes as the Legislature shall hereafter direct, a certain lot or piece of ground, situated in the said town of Harrisburg, in the said county of Dauphin, marked on the general plan of the said town "Public Ground," situated and bounded as follows: Beginning at a post marked for a corner on the lines of Third and Walnut streets; thence along the said Walnut street, north thirty-seven degrees east seventeen perches and a quarter to a post marked for a corner; thence north thirty-five degrees west thirty-one perches to a black oak; thence south fifty-seven degrees west twenty-three perches to a post marked for a corner on the line of Third street; thence down the said street, south