READING, a city in the United States of North America, capital of Berks county, Pennsylvania, on the left or east bank of the Schuylkill River, here crossed by two bridges, 52 miles E. from Harrisburg, and about the same distance N.W. from Philadelphia. It is a handsome town, compactly built, and intersected by straight, clean streets, crossing each other at right angles. It stands on a plain rising gradually from the river, and is inclosed on the east by an eminence called Penn's Mount. Among the most conspicuous public buildings are the court-house; the German Lutheran church, surmounted by a handsome steeple about 200 feet in height; and the German Reformed church, which has also a steeple 150 feet high. In addition to these, it has about twelve churches, an academy, two market-houses, two banks, and several public libraries. Reading is a flourishing town, and carries on an active trade, being in point of population and manufactures the third in the state. It is connected with Philadelphia, Pottsville, and other places by railway, and is the centre of a rich and populous agricultural district. It is also largely engaged in the manufacture of iron, hats, shoes, and other articles. It was laid out by William and Richard Penn in 1748; incorporated as a borough in 1783, and as a city in 1847. Pop. (1840) 8410; (1850) 15,743; (1853) about 17,000.