German Jews, who had a synagogue and a graveyard there. The wall around the yard, though built about the year 1732, is still standing; and the cement with which it is built is quite as solid as the stone. This cement is said to have a larger proportion of lime than those in common use. The place was afterwards reinforced by Germans of other denominations. About two miles from Shaefferstown, on the road to Lancaster, on a high hill, are the ruins of a fort or castle built by the celebrated Baron Steigel, who at that time had charge of the Elizabeth furnace. He was a German baron, of considerable wealth, fearless enterprise, great skill in the arts, and a much larger proportion of ostentatious vanity than was desirable in a new country. He resided with his family in Philadelphia, but was in the habit of occasionally inviting his friends into the country with him, to enjoy his baronial hospitality. He had two of these towers or castles erected, one about five miles N. W. of Ephrata, and the other near Shaefferstown. They were mounted with cannon for the express purpose of firing a salute whenever he made his appearance in the country. This salute was the signal for his more intimate friends to repair to his castle, and enjoy with him the festivities of the occasion; and for all his workmen in the furnaces and glasshouses to wash the dirt from their hands and faces, take up their musical instruments, (in which every German is more or less skilled,) and repair to the baronial castle, to entertain the great man and his guests. This kind of life could not endure long. The revolutionary war cut off access to his resources in Europe, embarrassment ensued, and the utter failure of his enterprises. His property passed into other hands, and he was employed subsequently as a superintendent of iron-works for Mr. Coleman. Many of the old Steigel stoves still remain as monuments to his memory among the older families of Lancaster and Lebanon.

JONESTOWN is a considerable village, situated near the forks of the Big and Little Swatara, 7 miles N. W. of Lebanon. It contains Presbyterian, Lutheran, and German Reformed churches. Southeast of the town rises a high hill, which bears the honored name of Bunker Hill. Jonestown was one of the settlements pertaining to the "Paxton boys," and was originally settled by Scotch and Irish Presbyterians. The Irish and their descendants have yielded to the inroads of the more persevering Germans, and have retired to the west. The Indians were settled generally along under the mountain, near the head-waters of the Tulpehocken and Swatara. There was a line of provincial forts extending along these mountains to the Susquehanna, intended as defences against the French and Indians. One of the blockhouses, now a dwelling-house, still remains on the Swatara. At the "Hill Church," on the Quitopahilla, the old Presbyterians held their worship, while sentinels with loaded rifles watched to prevent surprise by the Indians.

MYERSTOWN, on the Reading turnpike, 7 miles east of Lebanon, is one of the largest villages in the county. It is on the head-waters of the Tulpehocken, contains about 120 or 130 dwellings, principally of wood. and a Lutheran church.

The other villages are Campbellstown and Palmyra, small villages near the Dauphin co. line, on the two turnpikes to Harrisburg.

LEHIGH COUNTY.

LEHIGH COUNTY was separated from Northampton by the act of 6th March, 1812. Length 28 ms., breadth 15; area 389 sq. ms. Population in 1820, 18,895; in 1830, 22,256; in 1840, 25,787. The lofty barrier of the Blue mountain separates the county on the northwest from the coal region beyond. The South mountain, here known as the Lehigh hills, crosses the S. E. end of the county; presenting a rugged surface, but exposing among its strata many valuable beds of iron ore. Between these mountains is spread out a portion of the lovely Kittatinny valley, a region full of the elements of agricultural wealth, and highly cultivated by an industrious, persevering, and thriving German population. The limestone region of this valley, which lies next to the South mountain, abounds in sinking springs; and there is also in it a remarkable cave at one of these springs on Jordan cr., a few miles north of Allentown. The Lehigh river, breaking through a wild gap in the Kittatinny or Blue mountains, flows along part of the northeastern boundary, and after courteously bending to pay its respects to the county town, turns suddenly to the N. E. and passes on to Easton. Jordan cr., Little Lehigh, Saucon cr., Trout cr., and Copley cr., tributaries of the Lehigh, are the other principal streams. The principal business of the county is agriculture; there are also several extensive iron works; and the citizens are more or less interested in the coal and lumber business on the Lehigh above the mountain. Good roads intersect the county in all directions; several bridges cross the Lehigh, one of which is a chain bridge; and there are substantial stone bridges across the principal creeks. The canal of the Lehigh Navigation Co. furnishes a convenient outlet for the products of the county.

The early history of Lehigh co. is merged in that of Northampton co. It is probable that the Scotch-Irish settlements of Allen township extended into the upper part of the co. The Moravian Germans settled at Emmaus. The Schwenckfelders also spread into the lower corner from Montgomery, and other classes of Germans from Berks. At present the population of the co. is chiefly German, and the German language is of course predominant. This county, together with parts of Bucks, Northampton, and Berks, was the scene of great excitement about the years 1798-'99, in consequence of the attempt by the federal government to collect a direct tax. The particular kind of tax objected to in this instance was "the house tax." The following extracts are from an old report of the trials published by Wm. W. Woodward, Philadelphia, 1800. "Reported by Thomas Carpenter, in shorthand."

Trial of John Fries and others for treason.

Mr. Sitgreaves (of Easton) opened the trial on the part of the U. S. The following are extracts from his speech. "It will appear, gentlemen, from the testimony which will be presented to you, that during the latter months of the year 1798, discords prevailed to an enormous extent throughout a large portion of the counties of Bucks, Northampton, and Montgomery, and that considerable difficulties attended the assessors for the direct tax in the execution of their duties,—that in several townships associations of the people were actually formed in order to prevent the persons charged with the execution of these laws of the U. S. from performing their duty, and more particularly to prevent the assessors from measuring their houses; this opposition was made at many public township meetings called for the purpose; in many instances resolutions in

writing were entered into, solemnly forewarning the officers, and many times accompanied with threats. Not only so, but discontents prevailed to such a height, that even the friends of the government in that part were completely suppressed by menaces against any who should assist those officers in their duty; repeated declarations were made, both at public as well as at private meetings, that if any person should be arrested by the civil authority, such arrest would be followed by the rising of the people, in opposition to that authority, for the purpose of rescuing such prisoners; indefatigable pains were taken, by those charged with the execution of the laws, to calm the fears and remove the misapprehensions of the infatuated people; for this purpose they read and explained the law to them, and informed them that they were misled into the idea that the law was not actually in force, for that it actually was; at the same time warning them of the consequences which would flow from opposition; and this was accompanied with promises that even their most capricious wishes would be gratified on their obedience. The favor was in many instances granted, that where any opposition was made to any certain person executing the office of assessor, another should be substituted; in some townships proposals were made for people to choose for themselves; but, notwithstanding this accommodating offer, the opposition continued. The consequences were, actual opposition and resistance; in some parts violence was actually used, and the assessors were taken and imprisoned by armed parties, and in other parts mobs assembled to compel them either to deliver up their papers or to resign their commissions; that in some instances they were threatened with bodily harm, so that in those parts the obnoxious law remained unexecuted in consequence. The state of insurrection and rebellion had arisen to such a height, it became necessary to compel the execution of the laws, and warrants were in consequence issued against certain persons and served upon them; in some instances, during the execution of that duty, the marshal met with insult and almost with violence; having, however, got nearly the whole of the warrants served, he appointed head-quarters for these prisoners to rendezvous at Bethlehem, where some of them were to enter bail for their appearance in the city, and others were to come to the city in custody for trial.

"On the day thus appointed for the prisoners to meet, and when a number of them had actually assembled, agreeably to appointment, a number of parties in arms, both horse and foot, more than a hundred men, accoutred with all their military apparatus, commanded in some instances by their proper officers, marched to Bethlehem, collected before the house in which were the marshal and prisoners, whom they demanded to be delivered up to them, and in consequence of refusal, they proceeded to act very little short of actual hostility; so that the marshal deemed it prudent to accede to their demands, and the prisoners were liberated.

"This, gentlemen, is the general history of the insurrection. I shall now state to you the part which the unfortunate prisoner at the bar took in those hostile transactions. The prisoner is an inhabitant of Lower Milford, Bucks co. Some time in February last a public meeting was held at the house of one John Kline, in that township, to consider this house tax; at that meeting certain resolutions were entered into and a paper signed; (we have endeavored to trace this paper so as to produce it to the court and jury, but have failed;) this paper was signed by fifty-two persons, and committed to the hands of one of their number. John Fries was present at this meeting, and assisted in drawing up the paper, at which time his expressions against this law were extremely violent, and he threatened to shoot one of the assessors, Mr. Foulke, through the legs, if he proceeded to assess the houses: again the prisoner at a vendue threatened another of the assessors, Mr. S. Clarke, that if he attempted to go on with the assessment he should be committed to an old stable and there fed on rotten corn. The assessor in Lower Milford was intimidated so as to decline making the assessments, and the principal assessors, together with three other assessors, were obliged to go into that township to execute the law. At the house of Mr. Jacob Fries, on the 5th March, Mr. Chapman (the assessor) met with the prisoner, who declared his determination not to submit, but to oppose the law, and that by next morning he could raise 700 men in opposition to it."

[Fries and his partisans continued to follow and persecute several of the assessors, chasing them from township to township, in parties of 50 or 60, most of whom were in arms, with drum and fife. Fries was armed with a large horse-pistol, and accompanied by one Kuyder, who as. sisted him in command. Thus equipped they went to Quakertown, seized two assessors, and attempted to fire at another who ran away, but the fire-arm did not go off. They examined the papers of the assessors, and exacted a promise that they should not proceed in the valuation of the houses in Lower Milford. They abused a traveller who had the independence to stand up for the government. At Quakertown, learning that the marshal had taken a number of prisoners, they resolved to effect their rescue, and the people of Milford were invited to assist in this business, and a paper setting forth their design, was drawn up by Fries, at his own house, and signed by the party.] "On the morning of the next day 20 or more of them met at the house of Conrad Marks, in arms. John Fries was armed with a sword, and had a feather in his hat. On the road as they went forward they were met by young Marks, who told them they might as well turn about, for that the Northampton people were strong enough to do the business without those from Bucks Some were so inclined to do, but at the instance of Fries and some others they did go for. ward, and actually proceeded to Bethlehem. Before the arrival of these troops a party going on

co.

the same business had stopped at the bridge near Bethlehem, where they were met by a deputation from the marshal, to advise them to return home; they agreed to halt there, and send three of their number to declare to the marshal their demand: during this period Fries and his party came up, but it appears when they came, Fries took the party actually over the bridge, and he arranged the toll, and ordered them to proceed. With respect to the proof of the proceedings at Bethlehem, it cannot be mistaken; he was then the leading man, and he appeared to enjoy the command. With the consent of his people he demanded the prisoners of the marshal, and when that officer told him that he could not surrender them, except they were taken from him by force, and produced his warrant for taking them, the prisoner then harangued his party of the house, and explained to them the necessity of using force; and that you should not mistake his design, we will prove to you that he declared, that was the third day which he had been out on this expedition, that he had had a skirmish the day before, and if the prisoners were not released he should have another that day.' 'Now you observe,' resumed he, that force is necessary, but you must obey my orders. We will not go without taking the prisoners. But take my orders, you must not fire first; you must be first fired upon, and when I am gone you must do as well as you can, as expect to be the first man that falls.' He further declared to the marshal that they would fire till a cloud of smoke prevented them from seeing each other, and executing the office of command of the troops, which at that time overawed the marshal and his attendants. He harangued the troops to obey his orders, which they did. The marshal was really intimidated to liberate the pri soners; and then the object was accomplished, and the party dispersed amid the huzzas of the insurgents. After this affair at Bethlehem, the prisoner frequently avowed his opposition to the law and justified that outrage; and when a meeting was afterwards held at Lower Milford to choose assessors, the prisoner refused his assent, and appeared as violent as ever."

Most of the above statements were proved, including a variety of other details. Fries, after two trials, in both of which he was found guilty of treason, was sentenced to be hung, but was subsequently pardoned by John Adams.

Several others from the same vicinity were tried, and generally found guilty of the subordinate crimes of sedition, insurrection, and riot; they were imprisoned for a time, and heavily fined, and held to bail for good behavior. George Gittman and Frederick Hainey were also condemned for high treason. Among the disaffected who had been taken prisoners by the marshal, and who were rescued by the insurgents, was one Jacob Eyerman, a German minister, recently arrived from Germany. He seems to have exerted nearly as much influence as Fries in stirring up the people in Chestnut Hill and Hamilton townships to opposition. History does not state to what sect he belonged, but the testimony would seem to show that he strongly favored the "church militant."

One of the assessors testified that while on his round of duty in Chestnut Hill township, “the prisoner (Eyerman) came in and began to rip out in a violent manner against this taxation, saying that Congress had made laws which were unjust, and the people need not take up with them; if they did, all kinds of laws would follow, but if they would not put up with this, they need not with those that would come after, because it was a free country; but in case the people admitted of those laws, they would certainly be put under great burdens. He said he knew perfectly what laws were made, and that the President nor Congress had no right to make them. That Congress and the government only made such laws to rob the people, and that they were nothing but a parcel of damned rogues or 'spitz bube,' [highwayman or thieves."]

"Yes, you

"Were the people of the township much opposed to the law?” "Yes, they were so violent that I knew but one man on the same side as myself." "Would this have been so if it had not been for the parson ?" "I am fully convinced it would not." "Did Eyerman appear to be a simple sort of man, easily to be led astray or deluded ?" 'No, he was not thought so: he was always a very good preacher." Prisoner."Did I not pray for the government, president, and vice-president?" did when in the pulpit; but when you were out, you prayed the other way." John Sneider deposed, that he lived in Hamilton township, and knew the prisoner-as much as he understood, the prisoner meant to take arms against it. He said if we let that go forward, it would go on as in the old country, but that he [Eyerman] would rather lay his black coat on a nail, and fight the whole week, and preach for them Sundays, than that it should be so. "How long has this man been at Hamilton?" "About 18 months."

"The township was always peaceable, I suppose, before he came among you?" "Yes, and I believe if he had not come, nothing would have happened of the kind."

Another witness said that the prisoner came to his house, where conversation began about the house tax, whereupon he said he did not care whether they put up with it or not, for he had no house to tax. A person present answered, But you have a great quantity of books to tax. The prisoner answered that "if anybody would offer to tax his books, he would take a French, a Latin, an Hebrew, and a Greek book down to them, and if they could not read them, he would slap them about their ears till they would fall to pieces." The prisoner continued preacher to that congregation until he was taken up.

After the rescue, he fled to New York state, but was apprehended and brought back, and

found guilty of conspiracy, &c., &c.; was sentenced to be imprisoned one year, pay fifty dollars fine, and give security for his good behavior one year.

About 30 others were convicted, and fined and imprisoned according to the degree of crime.

ALLENTOWN, the county seat, is situated at the junction of the Jordan and Little Lehigh creeks, about half a mile west of the Lehigh river. The town is situated upon high ground, commanding a fine view of the surrounding country. The annexed view was taken from a road east of

Jordan cr. It shows in the centre the splendid stone bridge across the Jordan, with the town on the hill in the distance. The two large buildings on the hill, apart from the rest and from each other, are those of the Homœopathic Medical School. The clump of trees on the left in the distance conceals the elegant mansion of Mr. Livingston, one of the heirs of the original founder of the town. Mrs. Greenleaf's house is on the left of the road leading into town. The town is regularly laid out, with the streets at right angles, and a public square in the centre. It contains an elegant courthouse, a spacious prison, Methodist, Presbyterian, German Reformed, and German Lutheran churches, and a church free to all denominations, called a "free hall;" an academy and boarding-school, two libraries, a splendid water-works, erected in 1828, about half a mile from town, by means of which cool spring-water is forced to the height of 160 feet, and distributed in cast-iron pipes through the town; several valuable mills; a foundry; the Northampton Bank, incorporated in 1814, and became utterly bankrupt in 1843; and the Homœopathic college; although the latter institution never went into successful operation, as it was designed to do, under the administration of two eminent professors from Philadelphia. The Mauch Chunk company's canal (Lehigh Nav. Co.) has opened the trade to Philadelphia and New York, and produce to the amount of $200,000 per year is sent from Allentown to those cities. Elevated above the surrounding cities, Allentown has been remarkably healthy; and it is a fact worthy of notice, that during the prevalence of the yellow fever of 1793 and '99, and cholera in 1832-33, there was not a single case of either in that place. The natural curiosities are well worth