Travels Through North America 



separate government, though under nearly the same 

 regulations with that province, ever since. The 

 same governor presides over both; but the assembly, 

 and courts of judicature are different: different as to 

 their constituent members, for in form they are nearly 

 alike. The assembly consists of eighteen persons, 

 elected annually by the people; six for each county: 

 this, with the governor, forms the legislature of the 

 province. There is a militia, in which all persons, 

 from eighteen to fifty, are obliged to be enrolled; and 

 the county of Newcastle alone furnishes more than 

 seven hundred. 



The next day I set out for Philadelphia, distant 

 about thirty-six miles, and arrived there in the eve- 

 ning. The country all the way bore a different 

 aspect from any thing I had hitherto seen in America. 

 It was much better cultivated, and beautifully laid 

 out into fields of clover, grain, and flax. I passed 

 by a very pretty village called Wilmington; and rode 

 through two others, viz. Chester and Derby. The 

 Delaware river is in sight great part of the way, and 

 is three miles broad. Upon the whole nothing could 

 be more pleasing than the ride which I had this day. 

 I ferried over the Schuylkill, about three miles below 

 Philadelphia; from whence to the city the whole 

 country is covered with villas, gardens, and luxuriant 

 orchards. 



Philadelphia, if we consider that not eighty years 

 ago the place where it now stands was a wild and un- 



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