MARYLAND. 



271 



western with Balti.nore. A continuous line of railroad, connecting these two cities, has late.v 

 been constructed across the State, passing through Wilmington. 



3. Towns. The largest town is the city of Wilmington., in the northern part of the State, 

 between the Brandywine and Christiana, a mile above their confluence, and two miles west of 

 the Delaware. It stands on a pleasant slope of ground, and is regularly laid out ; the houses 

 are mostly of brick. The commerce of the place is considerable, and the river admits vessels 

 drawing 14 feet of water to come up to the town. Several ships sail to the whale-fishery. 

 There are two bridges over the Brandywine and Christiana. The surrounding country is pleas- 

 ant, and, within a short circuit, contains 100 flour-mills and a large number of manufactories. 

 Population, 10,000. 



Dover is the capital of the State, and is situated on Jones's Creek, 7 miles from its entrance 

 into Delaware Bay. It is a small, but regularly built town, consisting of four streets running at 

 right angles. The houses are principally of brick. The State-house fronts upon a neat square 

 in the centre of the town. Dover has a flourishing trade, chiefly in flour. Population, 1,500. 



J\ewcastle, upon the Delaware, in the northern part of the State, was once the capital, 

 and enjoyed considerable trade. Delaware city has been laid out at the mouth of the canal 

 below. 



4. Agriculture. Wheat is the chief article of cultivation. The flour made here is of a su- 

 perior qualit)^, and is highly esteemed for its softness and whiteness. Maize, rye, barley, flax, 

 buckwheat, potatoes, &c., also receive attention. In the south, are some fine grazing lands, 

 which support considerable numbers of cattle. 



5. Commerce. There is little foreign commerce, but there is a considerable trade in the ex- 

 port of flour, and timber from the swampy districts of the south. The shipping amounts to 

 20,000 tons. 



6. Manufactures. Though small in extent, and the smallest of the States in population, 

 Delaware has important manufactures. The chief of these are at Wilmington and m the neigh- 

 borhood, and are devoted to the making of cotton and woolen goods, paper, gunpowder, snufF, 

 &c. Some of the largest and finest flour-mills in the country are in this vicinity. The manu- 

 facture of iron in the southern part was formerly extensive, but it has lately declined. 



7. Government. A General Assembly, consisting of a House of Representatives and Sen- 

 ate, compose the legislature. The Senate has 9 members, elected every 4 years ; the House, 

 21 members, elected biennially. The Governor is chosen for 4 years. Elections are popular, 

 and suffrage is universal. Delaware has but one representative in Congress. 



8. Religion. The Methodists have 15 ministers ; the Presbyterians, 10 ; the Baptists, 9 

 and the Episcopalians, 6. 



9. Education. Delaware has one college, at Newark, with 4 teachers, and 50 students. 

 There is a common-school fund, belonging to the State, yielding a yearly revenue of 10,000 

 dollars. The income also of 25,000 dollars, invested in the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, 

 .s appropriated to the purpose of education. In 1829, a law was passed, estabhshing a system 

 of common schools. 



10. History. The first settlement in this State was made at Fort Christiana, on the creek 

 of that name, by the Swedes and Finns, in 1637, and the country for some time went by the 

 name of New Swedeland. In 1655, the colony was subjected by the Dutch of New York, 

 and after the conquest of diat territory by the English, in 1664, it was annexed to the colony 

 of New York. In 1682, it was granted, as before stated, together with Pennsylvania, to Wil- 

 liam Penn, but was separated from that State in 1701. The two colonies, however, were 

 under one governor, with distinct legislatures, till 1776, when Delaware adopted a new consti- 

 tution, vesting the executive power in a president and privy council. The present constitution 

 was established in 1831. 



CHAPTER XVL MARYLAND. 



PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



1. Boundaries and Extent. Maryland is bounded N. by Pennsylvania ; E. by Delaware 

 and the ocean ; S. and W. by Virginia. It lies between 38° and 39"^ 44' N. lat., and 75° 10' 

 ar.d 79° 20' W Ion., and contains 13,800 square miles. 



