[PHILADELPHIA.] Norristown, on the left bank of the Schuylkill, 85 miles E.S.E. from Harrisburg, population 6024, possesses a great amount of water power, which is rendered available for several extensive factories. A handsome bridge spans the river, and a canal and railways afford ample facilities for the transit of goods, &c.
Northern Liberties ; Oxford [Pnit.spumith]. Phamixrille, on the left bank of the Schuylkill, 73 miles E.S.E. from Harrisburg, population 2670, is largely engaged in the manufacture of iron and iron-ware.
Pottsville, on the right bank of the Schuylkill, 45 miles N.E. from Harrisburg, population 7516, is the capital of an important coal- and iron-mining district There are extensive Iron-works, machine and engine shops, breweries, Ito. ; and the place has abundant canal and railway facilities. Reading, on the left bank of the Schuylkill, 65 miles E. from Harrisburg, population 15,743, is a well-built town founded in 1748. Many of the public buildings are of a superior character, and there are very extensive Iron-works, cotton factories, hat manufactories, potteries, breweries, grist and saw-mills, lumber yards, &c. Southwark; :Pring Garden [Putt.szaLenta]. Tamaqua, on the Little Schuylkill, 58 miles N.E. from Harrisburg, population 30S0, is another busy coal mining village. Washington, on the Chestier Creek, 170 miles \V. from Harrisburg, population 2662, is the seat of Washington College, and has considerable manufactures. Westchester, 70 miles E.S.E. from Harrisburg, population 3172, is a well-built town with several churches, schools, an athenaeum, &c., and a place of considerable trade. York, on the Codorus Creek, 22 miles S. by E. from Harrisburg, population 6863, is regularly laid out, contains several handsome public building., and has extensive manufactures.
Government, history, 1a—Tho constitution of the State of Penn sylvania was framed in 1776 upon the base of that originally drawn up by William Penn. This was subsequently arneuded, and in 1838 entirely remodelled. The present amended constitution dates from 1850. By it the right of voting is vested in every free white citizen of the United States 21years of age, who shall have resided in tho state during one year. The legislature consists of a Senate of not less than one-fourth nor more than one-third the number of repro sentatives (row of 33 members), who are elected for three years; and a House of Representatives of not less than 60 nor more than 100 (at present 100) members, who are elected annually. The governor is elected for three years. The judges are also elected by the people; the judges of the supreme court for 15 years, of the other courts for 10 and 5 years. The public funded debt of the state on December lat
1854 was 39,750,000 dollars. The total revenue of the state for the year ending December lat 1854 was 6,666,000 dollars; the expenditure was 5,425,000. dollars. The state militia in 1852 was composed of 13,32S men, of whom 212 were comesissioned officers. Since 1844 the sum of 200,000 dollars has been annually appropriated by the state for the support of echools. The whole number of schools in the state in 1853 was 9703 with 2S6,105 male, and 238,535 female scholars. There are 9 colleges, and 14 theological, medical, and law schools in the state. A large'part of the population of Pennsylvania, especially in the middle and western districts, are Germans; they retain the use of their language, and a considerable number of newspapers in German are printed and circulated in the state.
The first settlements on the shores of Chesapeake Bay were made by the Swedes in 1627. The Dutch took possession of the Swedish colony in 1658, but were obliged to cede it to the English in 1664. Several dispersed settlements had been formed along both sides of Chesapeake Bay. The country was granted by Charles IL in 16S1 to William Penn, who considered it just to buy from the original pos sessors, the Indians, what had been granted by the king of England. In 16S2 he founded the town of Philadelphia, and published a 'Frame of Government,' whicfi was confirmed by an assembly of the people at Chester, in December, 1682. The humane principles on which the constitution and laws of Penn were based, attracted numerous colonists to this country from most parts of Europe, especially from Germany. They all settled however in the south-east region, whilst the Indians remained in undisturbed possession of the north-west region. Tho French, advancing from Canada, got possession of this back country, and in 1752 built Fort Duquesne, the name of which was changed to Pittsburg after it was taken by the British. In 1774 the delegates of the colonies assembled in Philadelphia, declared against the right of the English parliament to tax the colonies, which may be considered as the declaration of war ; and it was at Philadelphia that, in 1776, the representatives of the 13 states ad.:fisted and promulgated the 'Declaration of Independence.' The seat of the federal government WAS at Philadelphia till 1800, when it was removed to Washington.
(Statistical Gazetteer of the United States ; Lippincott, New and Complete Gazetteer; Seventh Census of the United States ; Rogers, Geological Survey of the State of Pennsylvania; Marcou; Lyell ; Ansted; American Almanac, 1855.)