the atmosphere, the vapor began to ascend, and a gentle current of air wafted it, as by the sweet soft breathing of Morn herself, without breaking the sheet, to the western side of the river. There for a time it hung in angel whiteness, like a zone of silver belting the wild mountain. Below, to the bottom of the gulf, the mountains were yet clothed in solemn shadow, while, in bright and glorious contrast-the sun having begun to climb the sky in good earnest-their proud crests were glittering as with the radiant flame of molten gold. Climbing a hill at the west of the hotel, and looking into the chasm to the south, we had a picturesque view of the winding of the river to the second bend, where its deep narrow stream was apparently brought to a dead stop by the naked rocky buttress of the mountain on the Jersey shore. But the best position for surveying the entire pass, and enjoying its sublimity to the full, is from a small boat paddled leisurely through the whole pass, a distance of two miles. The maps furnish no just idea of the course of the river through the gap; the actual course resembling the sharp curvatures of an angry serpent-or rather, perhaps this section of the river would be best delineated by a line like the letter S. The general height of the mountains at this point is about 1600 ft. They are all very precipitous; and while sailing along their bases in a skiff, their dreadful summits seem actually to hang beetling over the head. This is especially the case with the Jersey mountains-the surfaces of which next the river are of bare rock, lying in regular blocks in long ranges, as even as though hewn, and laid in stratifications like stupendous masonry-" the masonry of God." Just below the gap, on the Pa. side, is a quarry of slate; and a mile above, in the gorge of a glen, a slate manufactory is in operation. (See Northampton co.) Among the cnoice natural productions of these mountains, are rattle-snakes of a superior quality. A fellow passed along with a pair of these amiable playthings in a box, on his way to Philadelphia. Arriving at Easton in the evening, and having disregarded the principles of the temperance society, he heedlessly took them out of the box to show their docility. Not perhaps liking the familiarity of a tipsy keeper, one of them struck him in the hand, and his death was reported on the following day.""

Delaware Water-gap-distant view from the south.

The annexed view of the Gap, taken from a point some two miles below, is copied from a larger engraving by Mr. A. B. Durand of New York.

Geologists have conjectured that the deep chasm through which the waters here make their way, was formed by some mighty convulsion of nature; and some analogy has been apparently traced between the lateral disturbances of the strata at a number of these gaps-both in the

Kittatinny and its parallel chains-and the subterranean faults encountered by the coal miners in the anthracite region. Others have conjectured that some vast lake above had burst its barriers, and in the progress of ages had worn out the channel to its present dimensions. A combination of both causes seems most probable; yet the most learned geologists are still perplexed by this subject. Some of the old lumbermen had a tradition that there was no bottom to be found in the middle of the chasm, but there is no truth in this notion. Those living in the vicinity, say that the river is not more than thirty feet deep at the deepest part of the Gap.

"That great disturbances of the earth marked the period which closed the formation of the slate, and accompanied the production of the overlying conglomerates and sandstones, is appa. rent from the coarseness of the ingredients in the latter rocks, the promiscuous manner in which they have been swept together, and especially from the suddenness of the transition between the fine-grained slate, the sediment of very tranquil waters, and the extremely coarse conglomerate directly in contact with it-the whole aspect of which implies that an enormous mass of sand and gravel, derived from strata just broken up, was suddenly strewed into the waters where the slate was forming. But if evidence still more unexceptionable be required of an upheave of the bed of the ancient ocean at the epoch immediately preceding the formation of these rocks, we have it strikingly exhibited at the northeastern end of the formation, where these conglomerates and sandstones occur on the Delaware and Hudson canal near the end of the Shawangunk mountain. They are here displayed near Rondout, resting unconformably, and with a gentle inclination, upon the steeply uptilted, contorted, and disrupted strata of the immediately adjacent slate."-Prof. Rogers' Geol. Rep. 1838.

Perhaps, until the further developments of science shall have thrown clearer light upon the mystery, the following theory of some traveller among similar chasms in New Hampshire, may satisfy most minds; although it will still be a very proper inquiry by what secondary means, or in what manner, this stupendous result of God's power has been effected. The narrow pass from which you now emerge is rightly named the Notch, and was evidently cut through on purpose for the main branch of the Saco, which rises in a small lake about a hun. dred and fifty rods further north. See Job xxviii. 9, 10: "He putteth forth his hand upon the rock, he overturneth the mountains by the roots. He cutteth out rivers among the rocks, and his eye seeth every precious thing." This is my geology; for while I have no doubt that immense and accumulating masses of water have sometimes broken through barriers of loose rocks, and afterwards worn away the solid basis for some distance, I have no more doubt that in most cases God made the defiles for the rivers and streams among the mountains, than that he made the mountains themselves. How few of all the hundred little streams that have their rise in Alpine regions, where the mountains are thrown together in the wildest apparent confusion, meet with any serious obstruction on their way to the great lakes and rivers, however remote ! We look at them as they spring out of the ground and murmur along at our feet, and then look at the mighty ramparts by which they are hemmed in, and it seems impossible that they should ever escape; but they flow rejoicing on, in the secret channels which He who " poured them from his hand" hath made for them, without ever having to stop, day or night, except it be to rest awhile in some eddy or pool, where they may reflect the bright heavens till they reach the ocean.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, originally a part of Philadelphia county, was established by the act of 10th Sept., 1784. Length 30 miles, breadth 15; area 450 sq. miles. Population in 1790, 22,929; in 1800, 24,150; in 1810, 29,683; in 1820, 35,793; in 1830, 39,406; in 1840, 47,241.

There are no mountains in this county. The lands are agreeably di

versified by undulating hills and valleys. Few valleys in any country can boast of more picturesque scenery than that of the Schuylkill. Forming the S. W. boundary for some distance, it meanders through broad cultivated fields, furnished with substantial stone houses and barns, with here and there an elegant country seat: again it sweeps past bold bluffs of rocks, grudging a passage to the railroad, and then past some bright and busy manufacturing town, to which its own sparkling waters impart the movement. The other streams are the Perkiomen and its branches, and the upper branches of the Wisahiccon, Pennepack, Tocony, and Neshaminy. The primary rocks, gneiss, and talcose slate, form a narrow belt across the S. E. end of the county. The very valuable primitive limestone of the Great Valley, lies in a narrow belt, from one to two miles wide, from near Willow Grove to Reesville, crossing the Schuylkill at Swedes Ford and Conshohocken. The limestone and marble of this deposit constitute a source of great wealth. The greater portion of the county is occupied by the red shales and sandstones of the "middle secondary" formation. The red shale makes an excellent soil, especially when treated with lime. The co. is traversed in every direction by stone turnpikes and good common roads. Several of these turnpikes were made between 1800 and 1810. In bridges the co. may vie with any in the state. Across the Schuylkill there are bridges at Norristown, Pawling's, and Pottstown; and a splendid railroad bridge of stone above Phenixville. The Perkiomen bridge, on the Reading turnpike, is a noble monument of the enterprise of the co. forty years since. It is built entirely of stone, consists of six arches, and cost $60,000. It was founded in 1798, finished in '99. Frederick Conrad, Samuel Mauldsby, Conrad Boyer, James Bean, and Henry Scheetz, were then county commissioners. similar but smaller bridge was erected soon after in 1803 over the Manatawny at Pottstown; and all the creeks in the county are now bridged with stone at the principal crossings. The other internal improvements are the Schuylkill Navigation Company's canals and pools; the Reading railroad, following down the Schuylkill on the left bank as far as Phenixville, and below there on the right bank; and the Norristown and Philadelphia railroad, passing on the left bank of the river, through Manyunk. Copper mines are said to have been opened many years since near Perkiomen creek, and more recently at another place; Scott's old Geography speaks of a silver mine, and a lead mine in Providence township discovered about the year 1800; but it is not known that any one has grown rich by working either. The streams, large and small, together with the dams on the Schuylkill, create an immense amount of waterpower, which is well improved for manufacturing purposes. It was estimated that in 1830 there were in the county 17 merchant-mills, 99 gristmills, 76 saw-mills, 3 marble saw-mills, 15 paper-mills, 30 oil-mills, 10 clover-mills, 11 powder-mills, 5 iron works of various kinds, 9 cottonfactories, 3 woollen-factories, 11 fulling-mills, and 27 tanneries. There are also in the co. two incorporated academies, besides a number of excellent private seminaries, and five public libraries. The co. was originally settled in the S. E. end by Welsh and Swedes; in the upper end by Germans; and the descendants of these races, retaining many of their peculiarities, still occupy the soil. The Germans still retain their mother

tongue, but the original languages of the Swedes and the Welsh, for a long time preserved, have been eradicated by the English.

The early settlement of Montgomery co. followed close upon the arrival of Wm. Penn. Robert Townsend, one of the early settlers about Germantown, says:

“In the year 1682, I found a concern on my mind to embark, with my wife and child, and went on board the ship Welcome, Robert Greenaway, commander, in company with my worthy friend Wm. Penn, whose good conversation was very advantageous to all the company." About a year after our arrival there came in about twenty families from high and low Germany, of religious good people, who settled about Germantown-the country continually increasing, people began to spread themselves further back. "Also a place called North Wales was settled by many of the ancient Britons, an honest-inclined people, although they had not then made a profession of the truth as held by us; yet in a little time a large convincement was among them, and divers meeting-houses were built."

Proud, in his History of Pennsylvania, states—

"Among those adventurers and settlers who arrived about this time, were also many from Wales, of those who are called ancient Britons, and mostly Quakers; divers of whom were of the original or early stock of that society there. They had early purchased of the proprietary in England, 40,000 acres of land. Those who came at present, took up so much of it on the west side of Schuylkill river as made the three townships of Merion, Haverford, and Radnor; and in a few years afterwards their number was so much augmented as to settle the three other townships of Newtown, Goshen, and Uwchland. After this they continued still increasing, and became a numerous and flourishing people.

"Divers of these early Welsh settlers were persons of excellent and worthy character, and several of good education, family, and estate— chiefly Quakers; and many of them either eminent preachers in that society, or otherwise well qualified and disposed to do good.

"John Thomas, Robert Owen, and Jane his wife, from Merionethshire, were pious and of good family, education, and abilities, and had suffered much persecution for their religion, being Quakers; but they died soon after their arrival. There was also another Robert Owen, who removed from Wales into Pennsylvania in 1690-an eminent preacher among the Quakers a skilful peacemaker, and of much service and utility. He died in the year 1697.

"Rowland Ellis was a man of note among the Welsh settlers, from a place called Brin-Maur, near Dolgelly, in the county of Merioneth. In 1682, he sent over Thomas Owen and his family to make a settlement. This was the custom of divers others of the Welsh, at first, to send persons over to take up land for them, and to prepare it against their coming.

"Rowland Ellis first came over in 1686, bringing with him his eldest son, Rowland, then a boy. About 100 Welsh passengers came at the same time. They had a long passage-suffered much for want of provisions-touched at Barbadoes, &c. Many died. R. Ellis, after remaining about nine months here, returned to Wales, leaving his son with his uncle, John Humphrey. He returned to Pennsylvania in 1697, with his family, and about 100 other passengers, all from North Wales. He was then in his 45th year. He was a preacher among the Quakers, and an acceptable man in every station. He lived long to do good, and died in his 80th year, at his son-inlaw's, John Evans' house, in North Wales, Pa.

"Hugh Roberts was an eminent Quaker preacher; he removed from Wales to Pennsylvania about the year 1683, where he lived near 18 years, to an advanced age. He had suffered much for his religion in his native country prior to his removal.

"On his return from a religious visit to his native country, in the service of preaching the gospel, in the year 1698, a number of the inhabitants of North Wales removed to Pennsylvania in company with him, where he arrived on the 7th of the 5th month, many of the passengers having died at sea of the bloody flux during the passage.

"In the latter end of this year, (1698,) William Jones, Thomas Evans, Robert Evans, Owen Evans, Cadwallader Evans, Hugh Griffith, John Hugh, Edward Foulke, John Humphrey, Robert Jones, and others, having purchased of Robert Turner 10,000 acres of land, began, in the following year, to improve and settle the same, and called the township Guinedd-in English, North Wales. Some of the last mentioned passengers settled here, who, in general, did not, at first, profess with the Quakers; but afterwards they, with many others, as the neighborhood increased, joined in religious society with them, and were an industrious and worthy people.

"Ellis Pugh, one of the early Welsh settlers who arrived in the province in the year 1687, lived much of his time, and died here, 1718. He was convinced of the Quakers' principles in Wales about the year 1674. He became a minister among them in 1680; in which capacity he continued till his death."

This tract of 40,000 acres, extending across the lower end of Montgomery into Chester and Delaware counties, was known formerly as the Welsh line. The names of the townships are derived from favorite places in Wales. Oldmixon, who wrote in 1708, says :

"This tract is thick of townships; as Radnor before-mentioned, Haverford, West Merioneth, and others. "Tis very populous, and the people are very industrious; by which means this country is better cleared than any other part of the county. The inhabitants have many fine plantations of corn, and breed abundance of cattle, insomuch that they are looked upon to be as thriving and wealthy as any in the province-and this must always be said of the Welsh, that wherever they come, 'tis not their fault if they do not live, and live well too; for they seldom spare for labor, which seldom fails of success.

Many of the Welsh who first came over, as mentioned by Proud, were devout members of the Church of England. Of the early settlers of Gwinned township, only John Hughes and John Humphrey were Quakers, originally. The others, who were Episcopalians, were in the habit of meeting at Robert Evans', where Cadwallader Evans read the Bible to those assembled. But, says Mr. Watson, in his Olden Time

One time, as Cadwallader Evans was accustomed to relate to the late venerable Jesse Foulke, he was going as usual to his brother Robert's; when passing near the road leading to Friends meeting, held at John Hughes' and John Humphrey's, it seemed as if he was impressed "to go down and see how the Quakers did." This he mentioned to his friends at the close of his own meeting, and they all agreed to go to the Friends meeting the next time,-where they were all so well satisfied that they never met again in their own worship. In 1700, the Friends built their log meeting-house, on the site where now stands their present stone house, built in 1823. An intermediate stone house was built there in 1712.

Mrs. S. Nancarro, the kinswoman of the above-mentioned Jesse Foulke, who lived to be 80 years of age, used to tell the story a little variant, saying that the brothers Evans used to read the public services of their church, in a summer-house, constructed of boughs of trees; and that when one of the brothers was proceeding to his meeting, having to pass by where William Penn was speaking, he became so convinced, that he succeeded in bringing over all his brethren to the same profession.

The same Mrs. N. had often seen and conversed with her grandfather, Hugh Evans, who lived to be ninety years of age. When he was a boy of twelve years of age, he remembered that William Penn, with his daughter Lætitia, and a servant, (in the year 1699 or 1700,) came out on horseback to visit his father, Thomas Evans. Their house was then superior, in that it was of barked and hewn logs, a refinement surpassing the common rank. At that house, William Penn ascended steps on the outside to go to his bed-chamber; and the lad of twelve, curious to see so distinguished a guest, went up afterwards to peep through the apertures, and saw him on his knees at prayer, giving audible "thanks to God for such a peaceful and excellent shelter in the wilderness!" The same facts I heard also from another ancient person.

Some of these, either returned to their ancient faith, or others came in