436 DELAWARE. 



less salubrious. The soil along the Delaware river, and from eight 

 to ten miles into the interior country, is generally a rich clay, adapted 

 to the various purposes of agriculture. From thence to the swamps 

 the soil is agiit, sandy, and of an inferior quality. Wheat grows here 

 in such perfection, as not only to be particularly sought by the manu- 

 facturers of flour throughout the union, but also to be distinguished 

 and preferred lor its superior qualities in foreign markets. Besides 

 wheat, this state generally produces plentiful crops of Indian corn, 

 barley, rye, oats, flax, buckwheat, and potatoes. 



Population and militia. ...The number of inhabitants in Delaware 

 in 1790 was 59,094, of whom 887 were slaves: in 1801 they amount- 

 ed to 64,273, including 6,153 slaves : and in 1810 to 72,674, includ- 

 ing 4,177 slaves. In 1810 the militia amounted to 7451. 



Chief towns... .Dover, being the seat of government, is consider- 

 ed as the metropolis, though it contains but about 140 houses. The 

 state house, in which the legislature holds its annual sessions, and in 

 which the different state courts sit, is a handsome brick building. 

 Wilmington is the most considerable town in the state, containing 

 700 houses, and 4400 inhabitants. It is regularly laid out in squares, 

 similar to Philadelphia. It stands on a hill, elevated 109 feet above 

 the level of the Delaware, and about two miles distant from that 

 river. The public buildings are a stone poor house, two market 

 houses, and a Town hall. The houses for public worship are, 2 

 presbyterian, 1 episcopalian, 1 quaker, 2 baptist, and 3 methodist. 

 Newcastle, a post town, and the shire town of Newcastle county, is 

 pleasantly situated on the west side of the Delaware, five miles below 

 Wilmington. It contains about 170 houses, and 1 100 inhabitants. 

 The public buildings are, a court house, jail, three public offices, an 

 academy and market house. The presbyterians, episcopalians, and 

 Roman catholics, have each a house for public worship. 



Trade and manufactures. ...The staple commodity of this state 

 is wheat, which is manufactured into flour, and exported in large 

 quantities. Besides wheat and flour, lumber and various other arti- 

 cles are exported from Delaware. The amount of exports from this 

 state, in the year 1802, was 697,396 dollars ; and in 1810, 120,342 

 dollars. The most important manufacture is that of flour, the excel- 

 lence of which has given a character and stability to this article over 

 that of the other states. The number of merchant and grist mills in 

 Delaware, is upwards of two hundred. The Brandywine mills, near 

 Wilmington, are 14 in number, and are capable of manufacturing, 

 annually, 500,000 bushels of wheat and corn, thereby giving employ- 

 ment to about 250 persons. Eight or ten sloops are constantly en- 

 gaged in the transportation of the flour. Vessels carrying from I to 

 2000 bushels can lay along side of any of the mills to load or dis- 

 charge. In the same neighbourhood, is the woollen manufactory, of 

 Messrs. Dupont and Bauduy, which is the best establishment for fine 

 cloths in the union. The same gentlemen have also an extensive 

 powder mill in operation. There are two other woollen factories on 

 the Brandywine, both on extensive plans. On the same stream are 

 four paper mills, three rolling and slitting mills, and other mills for 

 the manufacture of cotton, snuff, wire, &c. A manufactory of tuten- 

 ague (zi?ic) has been begun, and from an examination of the composi- 

 tion by judges, it bids fair to excel the European manufactures of the 

 same semi-metal. 



