STATE OF DELAWARE 383 



sits at a table, in a rather high chair. He brings for- 

 ward the subjects to be considered, and to him and 

 towards him the speakers direct themselves when they 

 open their minds regarding questions pending. He 

 calls the Assembly to order, when he observes inatten- 

 tion, or talk that is disturbing, and puts the question 

 when the matter has been sufficiently discussed pro and 

 contra, and is now to be decided by a majority of the 

 votes. The members sit in chairs at both sides of the 

 table and of the room, but seldom quietly, and in all 

 manner of postures ; some are going, some standing, 

 and the more part seem pretty indifferent as to what is 

 being said, if it is not of particular importance or for 

 any reason uninteresting to them. When the votes 

 are to be taken, those in the affirmative rise, and those 

 in the negative remain sitting. The members of Ger- 

 man descent (if as is sometimes the case, from a lack 

 of thorough readiness in the English language they 

 either do not properly grasp the matter under discus- 

 sion or for any other reason cannot reach a conclusion) 

 are excused for sitting doubtful until they see whether 

 the greater number sits or stands, and then they do the 

 same so as always to keep with the largest side. Each 

 county elects and returns yearly six representatives to 

 the Assembly, the full number is thus 69 ; * but they 

 are seldom all present. 



* Pensylvania numbered formerly but 10 counties : City of 

 Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia, Buckingham or Bucks, 

 (capital Newtown,) Chester, Lancaster, York, Cumberland, 

 (Carlisle,) Berks, (capital Reading,) Northampton, (Easton), 

 Bedford, Northumberland, (Sunbury) ; to these there have 

 been recently added six new counties, beyond the mountains : 

 Westmoreland, Washington, Fayette, Franklin, Montgomery, 

 Dauphin, and Luzerne. 



