a province of North America, situated on a river of the same name.

The Dutch, under the pretended purchase made by Henry Hudson, took possession of the lands on both Delaware sides the river Delaware; and as early as the year 1623 built a fort at the place, which has since been called Gloucester. In 1627, by the influence of William Ufeling, a respectable merchant in Sweden, a colony of Swedes and Finns came over, furnished with all the necessaries for beginning a new settlement, and landed at Cape Henlopen; at which time the Dutch had wholly quitted the country. The Dutch, however, returned in 1630, and built a fort at Lewistown, by them named Hoarkill. The following year the Swedes built a fort near Wilmington, which they called Christia or Christiana. 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 about the same time built forts at Chester, Elfinburgh, and other places. John Prinz then governed the Swedes, who, in 1654, deputed his son-in-law, John Pappgoa, and returned to Sweden. Pappgoa soon followed his father-in-law to his native country, and John Rysing succeeded to the government. In 1655, the Dutch, under the command of Peter Stuyvesant, arrived in Delaware river, from New Amsterdam (New York), in seven vessels, with 600 or 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. On the first of October 1664, Sir Robert Carr obtained the submission of the Swedes on Delaware river. Four years after, Col. Nicolls, governor of New York, with his council, on the 21st of April, appointed a scout and five other persons to assist Capt. Carr in the government of the country. In 1672, the town of New-castle was incorporated by the government of New York, to be governed by a bailiff and fix 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 10l. 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. Wampum was at this time the principal currency of the country. Governor Lovelace of New York, by proclamation, ordered that four white grains and three black ones should pass for the value of a silver or penny. This proclamation was published at Albany, Esopus, Delaware, Long-Island, and the parts adjacent. In 1674 Charles II, by a second patent, dated June 29th, granted to his brother 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, by deed dated Aug. 24th, sold to William Penn the town of Newcastle, with the district of 12 miles round the same; and by another deed of the same date, granted to him the remainder of the territory, which till the revolution was called the Three Lower Counties. These three counties were considered as a part of Pennsylvania in matters of government. Delaware. vernment. The same governor presided over both: but the assembly and courts of judicature were different; different as to their constituent members, but in form nearly the same. At the late revolution they became a distinct territory, called

The Delaware State. This state is bounded on the north by the territorial line which divides it from Pennsylvania; on the east by Delaware river and bay; on the south, by a due east and west line, from Cape Henlopen, in lat. 38. 30. to the middle of the peninsula; and on the west by Maryland. The climate is in many parts unhealthy. The land is generally low and flat, which occasions the water to stagnate, and the consequence is, the inhabitants are subject to intermittents.

The Delaware state is divided into three counties, viz. Newcastile, Kent, Suffex: the chief towns of which are, Wilmington and Newcastile, Dover, Milford, and Lewiftown.

Three rivers, the Choptank, Nanticock, and Pokomoke, have their sources in this state, and are navigable for vessels of 50 or 60 tons, 20 or 30 miles into the country. They all run a westerly course into Chesapeake bay. The fourth part of the state is a low flat country, and a considerable portion of it lies in forest. What is under cultivation is chiefly barren, except in Indian corn, of which it produces fine crops. In some places rye and flax may be raised, but wheat is a foreigner in these parts. Where nature is deficient in one resource, she is generally bountiful in another. This is verified in the tall thick forests of pines which are manufactured into boards, and exported in large quantities into every sea-port in the three adjoining states. As you proceed north, the soil is more fertile, and produces wheat in large quantities, which is the staple commodity of the state. They raise all the other kinds of grain common to Pennsylvania. The state has no mountain in it, except Thunder Hill, in the western part of Newcastile county, and is generally level, except some small parts, which are stony and uneven. The trade of this state, which is inconsiderable, is carried on principally with Philadelphia, in boats and shallops. The articles exported are principally wheat, corn, lumber, and hay.

There are in this state, 21 Presbyterian congregations, belonging to the synod of Philadelphia; seven Episcopal churches; fix congregations of Baptists, containing about 218 souls; four congregations of the people called Quakers; besides a Swedish church at Wilmington, which is one of the oldest churches in the United States, and a number of Methodists. All these denominations have free toleration by the constitution, and live together in harmony.

In the convention held at Philadelphia, in the summer of 1787, the inhabitants of Delaware were reckoned at 37,000, which is about 26 for every square mile. There is no obvious characteristic difference between the inhabitants of this state and the Pennsylvanians. See PENNSYLVANIA.

Under the present constitution, 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, Delaware, who must be more than 25 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. All money bills must originate in the house of assembly, but they may be altered, amended, or rejected by the legislative council. 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 the three succeeding years. If this office becomes vacant during the recess of the legislature, or he is unable to attend to business, the speaker of the legislative council is vice-president for the time; and in his absence, the powers of the president devolve upon the speaker of the assembly. A privy council, consisting of four members, two from each house, chosen by ballot, is constituted to assist the chief magistrate in the administration of the government. The three justices of the supreme court, a judge of admiralty, and four justices of the common pleas and orphans courts, are appointed by the joint ballot of the president and general assembly, and commissioned by the president to hold their offices during good behaviour. The president and privy council appoint the secretary, the attorney-general, registers for the produce of wills, registers in chancery, clerks of the common pleas and orphans courts, and the clerks of the peace, who hold their offices during five years, unless sooner removed for mal-conduct. The house of assembly name 24 persons in each county for justices of peace, from which number the president, with the advice of his council, appoints and commissions twelve, who serve for seven years, unless sooner dismissed for mal-administration. The members of the legislative and privy councils are justices of the peace for the whole state.—The courts of common pleas and orphans courts have power to hold chancery courts in certain cases. The clerk of the supreme court is appointed by the chief justice, and the recorders of deeds by the justices of the common pleas, for five years, unless sooner dismissed. All the military and marine officers are appointed by the general assembly. The court of appeals consists of seven persons: the president, who is a member, and presides by virtue of his office, and fix others, three to be chosen by the legislative council, and three by the house of assembly. To this court appeals lie from the supreme court, in all matters of law and equity. The judges hold their office during good behaviour.

The justices of the several courts, the members of the privy council, secretary, trustees of the loan office, clerks of the common pleas, and all persons concerned in army or navy contracts, are ineligible to either house of assembly. Every member, before taking his seat, must take the oath of allegiance, and subscribe a religious test, declaring his belief in God the Father, in Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost; and in the inspiration of the Scriptures.

The house of assembly have the privilege of impeaching delinquent officers of government; and impeachments are to be prosecuted by the attorney-general, or other persons appointed by the assembly, and tried before the legislative council. The punishment may extend to temporary or perpetual disability to hold hold offices under government, or to such other penalties as the laws shall direct.

There is in Delaware no establishment of one religious sect in preference to another; nor can any preacher or clergyman, while in his pastoral employment, hold any civil office in the state.