184 [Assembly 



tion in the city of Wilmington, and other parts of the State in propor- 

 tion. In our ship-yard, several steam and other vessels with iron hulls 

 have been built this season. The display of manufactured articles at 

 our Agricultural Fair and Mechanics' Institute, evinced a degree of 

 perfection never before attained. 



Several joint-stock companies, chartered by our Legislature last 

 winter, are preparing to go into active operation. Their location is on 

 the Brandywine, formerly that of the paper mill of Thomas Gilpin, 

 on the north side, on tide water, where loaded vessels can unload on 

 the floors of the factory. These will furnish an additional market for 

 the products of our farmers. The whole amount of capital employed 

 in manufactories, in 1840, in this county, was $1,289,700 ; the amount 

 of machinery annually made, $314,000. I will name two or three 

 items in the list of our manufactures. 



New Castle county made in 1840, 2,100,000 lbs. of powder. A 

 single firm (Messrs. Dupont), are now working up 5000 lbs. of wool 

 weekly. This is one of the oldest establishments, and of great ad- 

 vantage to the farmers, in furnishing a demand for their wool and pro- 

 visions. The prejudice against home manufactures has been so great 

 that these gentlemen could not sell, even in time of war for $8, until 

 they employed a foreign agent, who secured a ready sale at $14 per 

 yard. 



Some attention has been given to wool growing. In Sussex, the 

 most southern county in the State, they numbered 17,996. In New 

 Castle, our favorite sheep has been the Bakewell. The late John 

 Barney, frequently sold the bucks for $100 a piece. The first full 

 blooded Merino ram (Don Pedro) brought to this country, was im- 

 ported from England by the Mrssrs. Dupont. Many of the descend- 

 ants of Don Pedro are yet in our flocks. 



Major Philip Reybold is now the most extensive wool-grower in 

 Delaware. His flocks now number about 2,000. He has for several 

 years held his annual sales oifat sheep in Philadelphia and Baltimore ; 

 last year many were sent to New-York, and amongst the number, the 

 fine wether " Frank," whose live weight was 292 lbs. With the view 

 of improving his own and the flocks around him, the Major sent his 

 youngest son, Clayton Reybold, to England, and he has returned, 

 bringing with him several ewes and rams from the best flocks of Eng- 

 land, among them the celebrated Cotswold. 



