1833.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 357 



in comparison with the extensive estiiblisliments of the present 

 day, were certainly creditable at that early period, when steam 

 had been but little employed in propelling machinery, and when 

 it is considered that the w"hole extent of the County is only about 

 170 square miles. 



In 1827 the dissensions, that had for some time existed in the 

 Society of Friends, culminated in an open rupture. The history 

 of this unfortunate feud j)roperly belongs to the history of the 

 Society throughout the United States. The animosities that 

 were engendered among those who, in former times, had lived on 

 terms of the most friendly, and even social intercourse, existed 

 here, as in other i)laces, and were productive of the like conse- 

 quences. The author has witnessed with pleasure, within the 

 past few years, a softening down of those animosities, and indeed 

 of every feeling of unkindness in each party towards the other. 

 He would, therefore, regard himself as doing an unpardonable 

 mischief in reviving the facts and circumstances that unhappily 

 gave rise to them. 



On the 21st of September, 1833, the institution under whose 

 authority this history was prepared, w^as organized w^ith the title 

 of the "Delaware County Institute of Science," by the associa- 

 tion at first of only five individuals.^ The object of the associa- 

 tion was to promote the study and difi"usion of general knowledge, 

 and the establishment of a museum. The number of members 

 gradually increased, and when it became necessary for the insti- 

 tution to hold real estate, application was made to the Supreme 

 Court for corporate privileges, which were granted on the 8th 

 of February, 1836. A Hall of very moderate pretensions was 

 built in Upper Providence in the year 1837,^ at w^hich the mem- 

 bers of the Institute have continued to hold their meetings till 

 the present time. Lectures were also given in the Hall for some 

 time after its erection. The number of its members Avas never 

 lai-ge, but through the persevering efforts of a few individuals it 

 has been enabled to accomplish most, if not all, the objects con- 

 templated in its establishment. The museum of the Institute 

 embraces a respectable collection of specimens in every depart- 

 ment of the natural sciences, and particularly such as are calcu- 

 lated to illustrate the natural history of the County. It also 

 embraces many other specimens of great scientific or historical 

 value. Nor has the establishment of a library been neglected ; 

 and although the number of books it contains is not large, it is 

 seldom that the same number of volumes is found together of 



1 The persons referred to were George Miller, Minshall Painter, John Miller, George 

 Smith and John Cassin. 



2 The Hall of the Institute was formally opened in September of that year, upon 

 which occasion an appropriate address was delivered by Dr. Robt. M. Patterson, then 

 Director of the U. S. Mint. 



