Scotch; they have been generally succeeded by Germans. The annexed view was taken from the porch of the hotel, in the centre of the town.

The following sketch of the early history of this place was kindly drawn up by Mr. Fisher, a son of the original founder.

"The town of Middletown was laid out in 1755, by George Fisher, Esq., in the centre of a large tract of land bounded by the Swatara and Susquehanna, conveyed to him by his father, John Fisher, a merchant of Philadelphia. The site was that of an ancient Indian village founded by the Susquehanna nation. Middletown derived its name from its local position, midway between Lancaster and Carlisle."

"The proprietor being a Friend, several of this denomination from the city and the lower counties followed him; and these, with several Scotch and Irish merchants, formed the first inhabitants of the village, who enjoyed, up to the period of the revolution, a very extensive and lucrative trade with the natives and others settled on the Susquehanna and Juniata, and also with the Western traders. Several of the Scotch and Irish merchants entered the army, whence few returned. During the war a commissary department was established here, when the small boats for Gen. Sullivan's army were built, and his troops supplied with provisions and military stores for his expedition against the Six Nations."

"After the war, trade again revived, and flourished extensively until 1796, after which it gradually declined. Until then, the mouth of the Swatara was considered the termination of the navigation of the Susquehanna and its tributary streams. So far down, it was considered safe; beow this it was believed to be impracticable, on account of the numerous and dangerous falls and cataracts impeding its bed. In 1796, an enterprising German miller by the name of Kreider, trom the neighborhood of Huntingdon on the Juniata, appeared in the Swatara with the first ark ever built in those waters, fully freighted with flour, with which he safely descended to Baltimore, where he was amply compensated for his meritorious adventure. His success becoming known throughout the interior, many arks were built, and the next year, many of them, fully freighted, arrived safely at tide-water. This trade increasing, a number of enterprising young men were induced to examine critically the river from the Swatara to tide, by which they became excellent pilots. The enterprise of John Kreider thus diverted the trade of this place to Baltimore, where it principally centred, until the Union canal was completed in 1827, when it was again generally arrested at its old port. It would probably have so continued, if the Pennsylvania canal had not been continued to Columbia, by which the principal obstruction in the river, the Conewago falls, was completely obviated. Middletown, or rather Portsmouth, laid out in 1814, by the son of the original proprietor, at the junction of the Union and Pennsylvania canals, again declined. A large trade, however, in lumber and other articles of domestic produce, is still intercepted here, supplying the valleys of the Swatara, Quitapahilla, Tulpehocken, and the Schuylkill. It may fairly be presumed, from the local advantages enjoyed by this town, that it is destined ere long to become one of much importance."

Between Middletown and Portsmouth, in full view of the railroad, stands the Emmaus Institute, an elegant edifice, devoted to the educa

tion of poor orphan children, who are to be carefully trained in the doctrines of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Instruction is given in the German and English languages, and the charter has been so altered by the legislature as to permit the establishment of a literary and scientific department in connection with the orphan house, in which all the branches of modern learning are taught. The institution owes its origin to the liberality of Mr. George Frey, formerly a distinguished citizen of Middletown. It has only been recently erected, after many years of expensive and vexatious litigation since the death of the donor, some forty years since. The life of Mr. Frey was marked with not a little of romance. His name, by the way, was not Frey, but Everhart.

When Mr. Fisher, the founder of the town, first came to the place, he used to hire George, who was then a penniless German lad, to assist in ploughing his fields and clearing up his new land. George lived with Mr. Fisher some years until he had saved a little fund; but his ambition looked above the plough, and investing his money in a stock of trinkets, finery, and other articles for Indian traffic, he mounted his pack, and started up the Susquehanna. Passing the mountains, he encountered a party of soldiers from the garrison at Fort Hunter, who arrested him as a runaway redemptioner, (a servant who had been sold for a time to pay his passage from Europe,) a character common in those days, and far more consistent with George's appearance and language than that of a pedler; for what pedler, said they, would risk life and property thus alone and on foot on this dangerous Indian frontier? "Ich bin frey, ich bin frey," (I am free,) repeated George earnestly in German, in reply to their charges. He succeeded in convincing them of his independence, and went with them to the garrison, where he became quite a favorite, the soldiers knowing him by no other name than " Frey," which they had caught from his first reply to them. He sold out his pack at a fine profit, and continued to repeat his adventures, still passing as George Free, until he was able to start a little store in Middletown, and he afterwards erected a mill. Near the close of the revolution, when the old continental money was gradually depreciating, George, who always kept both eyes open, contrived to be on the right side of the account, so that, instead of losing, he gained immensely by the depreciation; and, in short, by dint of untiring industry, close economy, sharp bargains, and lucky financiering, George at length became, on a small scale, the Stephen Girard of the village, and owned a great part of the real estate in and around the town. He had not, however, all the good things of this life; although he was married, heaven had never blessed him with children-a circumstance which he bitterly regretted, as certain worthy fathers of the Lutheran Church can testify. The property, therefore, of the childless man was destined to cheer and educate the fatherless children of a succeeding age. He died in 1807 or 1808, and a splendid seminary, erected about the year 1840, is the monument of George Frey's benevolence.

HUMMELSTOWN is a considerable village 8 miles E. of Harrisburg, on the Reading turnpike, about one mile east of the Swatara, and 5 miles from Middletown. It contains a Lutheran church, and about 150 dwellings. The village is in the midst of a rich limestone district, cultivated by wealthy and industrious German farmers. About a mile S. from the village, near the Swatara, is one of those curious caverns which abound in limestone formations. Not far from this cave rises the lofty isolated mountain called Round Top, a conspicuous object in the scenery of this region.

HALIFAX is on the left bank of the Susquehanna, between the river and Armstrong cr., about a mile below the confluence of the latter, and 17 miles above Harrisburg. The village consists of 80 or 100 dwellings, a church, stores, &c. It was formerly the site of Fort Halifax, one of the line of frontier forts erected during the French war, in 1756.

MILLERSBURG Occupies a fine elevated site near the mouth of Wiconisco cr., on the left bank of the Susquehanna, 23 miles above Harrisburg. It contains a Lutheran church, and about 80 or 100 dwellings. The Lykens Valley railroad, communicating with the coal mines at Bear Gap in Short

mountain, terminates at this place. The Wiconisco canal, when finished, will perfect the communication with the main line of Pennsylvania canal at Duncan's island. The business resulting from these public improvements must eventually render Millersburg a place of much importance.

The Short mountain, in which the coal mines are contained, is the western termination of Broad mountain. It runs west of the Schuylkill co. line, and ends abruptly in the midst of Lykens valley, about 12 miles east from Millersburg. Between 2 and 3 miles from the end of the mountain is Bear Gap, a singular entrance into a narrow longitudinal valley or cove in the middle of the mountain. Bear cr., which flows through the gap, drains this valley. The gap exposes on each of its sides to the labors of the miner several most valuable veins of anthracite coal, from 6 to 11 feet in thickness. The mines immediately at the gap were owned by Messrs. Gratz and Shaeffer. Thomas P. Cope, Esq., was also an owner of coal lands here. Coal was discovered below the gap about the year 1830, by Messrs. Hugh Maxwell and Wm. White, of Lancaster, on lands owned by Messrs. Elder and Haldeman, of Harrisburg. Mining commenced soon after. The village of Wiconisco was started, the railroad located, and now Bear Gap is a busy spot. In 1834 there were at Wiconisco Mr. Sheafer's tavern, the agent's house, a store, 12 miners' houses, mechanics' shops, &c. There are some beautiful farms in Lykens valley. Among others, on the Wiconisco, is one now in possession of the Hon. James Buchanan, of Lancaster. This farm was the former residence of Lyken, the first settler of the valley. There is a wide contrast between the peace and prosperity enjoyed by the farmers of the valley now, and the dangers and hardships of its early pioneers. The following extract is from Gordon's History of Pennsylvania. The affair took place in the spring of 1756, after Braddock's defeat in the previous year.

On the 7th of March the house of Andrew Lycan, on the Wikenesko cr., was attacked by the Indians. Lycan had with him his son, a negro man, a boy, and John Revalt, and Ludwig Shut, two of his neighbors. Lycan and Revalt, whilst engaged early in the morning foddering the cattle, had two guns fired at them, but, being unhurt, ran to the house, and prepared for an engagement. In order to get a shot at the enemy, John Lycan, Revalt, and Shut, crept out of the house, but were instantly fired upon by five Indians, and were all wounded. Lycan, the father, perceiving over the hog-house an Indian, named Joshua James, fired upon, and killed him he also saw two white men run from the hog-house, and get at a little distance from it. The people in the house now endeavored to escape, and were pursued by sixteen Indians. John Lycan and Revalt, unable from their wounds to continue the fight, fled with the negro, whilst Andrew, Shut, and the boy faced the foe. One of the Indians approached the boy, and whilst in the act of striking him with his tomahawk, was shot dead by Shut, and at the same instant Lycan killed another These two heroic men continued the combat for some time, and killed and wounded several of their adversaries. Their bravery daunted the enemy, who did not dare to close upon them, even though they were compelled, from fatigue and loss of blood, to sit down upon a log to rest themselves; and they finally succeeded in making good their retreat to Hanover township. Several of the Indians were recognised as Delawares, and were well known in the neighborhood.

DUNCAN'S ISLAND is the name now applied to the flourishing settlement at the mouth of the Juniata, 14 miles above Harrisburg. The name properly belongs to the narrow alluvial island, about two miles in length, at the point of which the village is situated. This island, and its fellow, Haldeman's island, although apparently in Perry co., are really in Dauphin, Perry having been formed from Cumberland, and the original boundary of that county having been the western shore of the Susquehanna. Haldeman's island, (so called from its present owner,) is not of alluvial origin, but is elevated far above the neighboring flatlands. The farm

house on it commands a magnificent landscape, comprising many of the wonders both of nature and art. The river here is nearly a mile in width, and is crossed by a wooden bridge, on the Burr plan, resting upon many piers, the whole constructed with an elegance and strength equal to, if not surpassing, those of any public work in the country. A dam across the river just below the bridge creates a pool, upon which boats cross by means of the double towing-path attached to the bridge. The canal continues up Duncan's island, diverging at its upper end into the Juniata and Susquehanna divisions. The Juniata division then crosses the Juniata on a splendid aqueduct, with wooden superstructure, and continues up the right bank to the rope-ferry, twelve miles above. There is also a fine bridge across the mouth of the Juniata.

On a previous page, (275,) some interesting details are given relating to the aborigines who occupied these islands.

About half a mile above the village, Mrs. Duncan, the accomplished ` widow of the late proprietor of the island, still resides in the family mansion, where the traveller who chooses to tarry in this delightful region may find accommodations-not in a hotel, with its bar and bottles, and blustering loafers; but in a comfortable, well-furnished gentleman's home, with its quiet fireside, and books, and intelligent society, and sociable tea-table. The following facts were learned in a conversation with Mrs. Duncan:

Mrs. Duncan's grandfather, Marcus Hulings, was one of the earliest settlers in this section of the country. He settled, (possibly as early as 1735,) on the upper end of the island. Her other grandfather, Watts, was also another early settler in this vicinity. Mr. Hulings established a ferry across the mouth of Juniata, and built a causeway at the upper end of the island for packhorses to pass. A Mr. Baskin established a ferry across the Susquehanna at the foot of the big island, (Haldeman's.) The trade was at that time carried on entirely with pack-horses. When the hostile Indians broke in upon the frontier in 1756, Mr. Hulings left here and went out to Fort Duquesne, and afterwards became proprietor of the point where Pittsburg now stands. Becom ing discontented with his situation in that disturbed frontier, he sold out for £200, and returned to Duncan's island, where he re-established his ferry and made further improvements. A bloody fight occurred on the island between the whites and Indians about the year 1760. On one occasion news came to Mr. Hulings that the Indians were coming down the river to attack the settlements. Hulings packed up a few of his valuables in great haste, and putting his wife and child upon a large black horse, fled to the foot of the island, ready to cross over at the first alarm. Thinking that perhaps the Indians might not have arrived, he ventured back alone to the house to try to save more of his effects. After carefully reconnoitering the house, he entered and found an Indian up stairs, coolly picking his flint. Stopping some time to parley with the Indian so that he might retreat without being shot at, his wife became alarmed at his long delay; and, fearing he had been murdered by the Indians, she mounted the black charger, with her child on her lap, and swam the Susquehanna! This was in the spring when the river was up. Our modern matrons would scarcely perform such an achievement. Her husband soon arrived, and in his turn, became alarmed at her absence; but she made a signal to him from the opposite side, and relieved his anxiety.

There was a large Indian mound below Mrs. Duncan's on the island, (which was destroyed by the canal,) full of bones and other relics; large trees were growing over it. There appears also to have been an extensive Indian burial-place below Mrs. Duncan's, along where the canal passes. Many relics were found-beads, stone hatchets, &c.; and among other things, a small brass tobacco box, with a piece of tobacco in it. The box was curiously carved, but was evidently of European workmanship.

DELAWARE COUNTY.

DELAWARE COUNTY, although it comprises the most ancient settlements in the state, did not receive its present organization until 26th Sept. 1789,

when it was separated from Chester co. Length 16 m., breadth 11; area 177 sq. m. being the least of all the counties except Philadelphia. Population in 1790, 9,483; in 1800, 12,809; in 1810, 14,734; in 1820, 14,810; in 1830, 17,323; in 1840, 19,791.

The county lies entirely within the primitive formation, with the exception of the alluvial tract along the Delaware; the prevailing rocks being granite, gneiss, and feldspar, in every variety of decomposition. Some of these deposits of gneiss, on the creeks near the Delaware, furnish valuable quarries of stone. The surface is gently undulating, and near the northwestern boundary becomes hilly. The soil is not naturally fertile, but with the aid of lime, manure, industry, and the extensive market of Philadelphia, it is made very productive. The broad alluvial meadows along the Delaware, and some of the creeks, furnish rich pasturage for immense numbers of fat cattle. The farmers devote their attention principally to dairy farming, and the rearing of cattle.

The principal streams, besides the Delaware, are Cobb's cr., the eastern boundary, Darby, Crum, Ridley, Chester, and Hook crs. The Brandywine flows along the western boundary. Falling as these creeks do from the upland country to tide-water, they furnish a great abundance of water-power, most of which is usefully employed in a great variety of manufactures; among which are 21 cotton factories, 9 woollen factories, 3 dyeing and print-works, 11 paper factories, 1 furnace, rolling and nail mills, edge-tool manufactories, powder-mills, fulling, flouring, sawing, and oil mills. The decomposed feldspar of this county and Chester co. has been formerly much used in the manufacture of fine porcelain, by Mr. Tucker of Philadelphia; but it is believed the manufacture has been abandoned, in consequence of foreign competition. Copper has been found, it is said, on Chester cr., and there are indications of the two shafts once sunk in searching for it; but the mine is now unimproved. The population is generally composed of the descendants of the early Swedish, English, and Welsh settlers-a majority of whom, it is estimated, are connected; with the society of Friends; and there are also many churches of other denominations, especially of the ancient Welsh Episcopalians, and of the Swedes, who have now adopted the ritual of the Episcopal church. There are many excellent private seminaries in the county, among which that of Mr. Gummerie, in Haverford township, is celebrated. There is an extensive lazaretto and commodious hospital in Tinicum township, on the Delaware, for the accommodation of sick passengers and seamen bound to Philadelphia. The county also has a wellmanaged poorhouse, connected with a farm.

The Philadelphia and Baltimore railroad passes through Chester. Several important turnpikes also pass through the county, towards Baltimore, Chadsford, Westchester, Lancaster, &c.

Long before William Penn came to this country, indeed before he was born, the Swedes had already settled in "Upland," now Delaware co. They first landed near Cape Henlopen, in 1638, and soon after built a town and fort, which they called Christina, on the north side of Minquaas cr., (now Christina cr.,) not far above its mouth. (See Outline History, pp. 10, 11.) In 1643, Gov. John Printz, with the Rev. John Campanius as chaplain of the colony, arrived from Stockholm, in the ship Fame, accompanied by two other ships of war, the Swan and the Chari