DELAWARE. 437 



Government... .During the revolution, the three counties of Dela- 

 ware were erected into a sovereign state, having a governor, senate, 

 and house of representatives. The senators are nine in number, three 

 from each county ; and the representatives twenty-one. The former 

 must be 27 years old, and the latter 24 ; and senators must have a 

 freehold of two hundred acres, or real and personal estate to the value 

 of one thousand pounds. The governor is not eligible more than 

 three years in six. In other particulars the constitution of Delaware 

 almost exactly agrees with that of Pennsylvania. 



Religion". ...In this state there is a variety of religious denomina- 

 tions. Of the presbyterian sect there are 24 churches ; of the epis- 

 copal, 14; of the baptists, 7; of the methodists and Friends, a consi- 

 derable number. Besides these there is a Swedish church at Wil- 

 mington, which is one of the oldest churches in the United States. 



Learning.. ..There is a college in the borough of Wilmington, 

 which was incorporated in 18 '3, and power given the trustees to hold 

 property which should not exceed 2,666,000 dollars, yearly value. It 

 is a handsome stone edifice, three stories high, containing accommo- 

 dations for a large number of pupils. There is an academy at New- 

 ark, incorporated in 1769. The legislature, in January 1796, passed 

 an act to create a fund for the establishment of schools throughout the 

 state. At Wilmington, there is a very respectable female academy. 



History. ...Settlements were made here by the Dutch about the 

 year 1623, and by the Swedes about the year 1627. Their settle- 

 ments were comprehended in the grant to the duke of York; and 

 William Penn united them to his government by purchase. They 

 were afterwards separated in some measure from Pennsylvania, and 

 denominated the Three Lower Counties. They had their own assem- 

 blies, but the governor of Pennsylvania used to attend, as he did in 

 his own proper government. They joined the United Provinces in 

 their opposition to the British Parliament in 1774 ; and they.now send 

 two senators and two representatives to the general congress 



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