PENNSYLVANIA. 433 



by lot into four classes; and the seats of one class vacated and re- 

 filled yearly. 



Religion.. ..Liberty of conscience is allowed in this state in its 

 fullest extent. A perfect equality in the enjoyment of lights and 

 privileges, religious as well as civil, was a fundamental article in 

 its first frame of government. Nor have these rights been abridged 

 since the revolution, except by those laws that relate to military ser- 

 vices, which subject Friends, Menonists, and some others, to heavy 

 fines for non-attendance. The Presbyterians form the most numer- 

 ous religious sect. The next in number are the German Lutherans 

 and Calvinists, and the next the Friends or Quakers. The Metho- 

 dists have lately become very numerous. 



University, colleges.. .There is a university at Philadelphia, 

 and colleges at Carlisle and Lancaster. The Episcopalians have an 

 academy at York Town, in York county. There are also academies 

 at Germantown, Pittsburg, Washington, West-chester, Allen's-town, 

 and other places: some of these are endowed by donations from the 

 legislature, and others by liberal contributions of individuals. The 

 legislature have also reserved 60,000 acres of the public lands for pub- 

 lic schools. The United Brethren, or Moravians, have academies 

 at Bethlehem and Nazareth, on the best establishment of any schools 

 perhaps in America. The literary, humane, and other useful socie- 

 ties, are more numerous and flourishing in Pennsylvania than in any 

 of the other states. Among these are two which deserves a particu- 

 lar notice, which is the American Philosophical Society, held at Phi- 

 ladelphia, and a public Library the largest in the United States. The 

 Philosophical Society was formed, January 2d, 1769, by the union 

 of two other literary societies that had subsisted for some time, and 

 were created one body corporate and politic, with such powers, pri- 

 vileges, and immunities, as are necessary for answering the valuable 

 purpose which the society had originally in view, by a charter grant- 

 ed by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the 15th of March, 1780, 

 This society has published several very valuable volumes of their 

 Transactions. In 1771, it consisted of nearly 300 members, and 

 many others have since been added; a large proportion of whom are 

 foreigners. There is also an Academy of the fine Arts, which pos- 

 sesses some very valuable specimens of painting, as well as seve- 

 ral busts and casts of some of the most celebrated statues of anti- 

 quity. 



History.. ..This country, under the name of the New Netherlands, 

 was originally possessed by the Dutch and Swedes. When these 

 nations, however, were expelled by the English, admiral Penn, who 

 in conjunction with Venables, had conquered the island of Jamaica 

 (under the auspices of Cromwell) being in favour with Charles II, 

 obtained a promise of a grant of this country from that monarch. 

 Upon the admiral's death, his son, the celebrated quaker, availed 

 himself of this promise, and, after much court-solicitation, obtained 

 the performance of it. Though as an author and a divine Mr. Penn 

 be little known but to those of his own persuasion, his reputation in 

 the character of a legislator, is more generally known and esteem- 

 ed. As soon as he published his proposals for colonising Pennsylva- 

 nia, vast numbers of his brethren agreed to follow him into his neAv 

 settlement, to avoid the persecutions to which the Quakers, like 

 other dissenters, were then exposed; but it was to his justice, wis- 

 dom, and ability that the colonists were indebted for that charter of 



