and at Shamokin; and fears were entertained that the whole frontier would be laid waste. The following are abstracts from the colonial records of that date:

1755. Oct. 31. Conrad Weiser appointed colonel of the forces in Berks co.

Nov. 2. Accounts from C. Weiser and others, Reading, Oct. 31, 8 o'clock at night, that the people at Aughwick and Juniata were all cut off, and that they were all in uproar at Reading. No authority, no commissions, no officers practised in war, and without the commiseration of our friends in Philadelphia, who think themselves vastly safer than they are.

There was a warm dispute going forward, at this dangerous crisis, between the governor and the assembly, on the propriety of taxing the proprietary lands; each refusing to yield, and each charging the other with promoting, by obstinate delays, the troubles on the frontier. Nov. 8, a deputation of Indians, Scarooyady and his son, Andrew Montour and Iagrea, came down, and taking with them Conrad Weiser, proceeded to Philadelphia, to make explanations and offer their services, and those of their tribes on the Susquehanna-" they were willing to fight the French, but wished to know whether the English would fight or no; if they would not, they would go somewhere else."

Nov. 17. Account of 16th Nov. that the Indians had passed the Blue mountains, broke into the county of Berks, and murdered and scalped 13 persons at Tulpehocken-which occasioned great alarm at Reading. "The people exclaim against the Quakers, and some are scarce restrained from burning the houses of those few there are in this town."

Dec. 16. Accounts from Bethlehem and Nazareth, that about 200 Indians had broke into Northampton county, beyond the Blue mountains, murdering and burning.

From Conrad Weiser, Reading, Dec. 13. "This country is in a dismal condition. It can't hold out long-consternation, poverty, confusion, everywhere."

Dec. 25. Accounts from C. Weiser, who had been sent to Harris's ferry, that he had gone up the west branch of the Susquehanna, and the Delawares at Nescopec had given that place to the French for a rendezvous. That the Paxton people had taken an Indian and shot and scalped him in the midst of them, and threw his body into the river.

Alarms of this nature continued to arouse the people of Berks from time to time, until the great battle of Wyoming, in 1778; soon after which the Indians were finally driven beyond the Allegheny mountains. The desolating track of the revolutionary war did not reach Berks county; although many of her brave sons were engaged in the struggle. Since that event, the history of the county possesses little interest. Farms have been cleared and improved; large stone houses and larger stone barns have been built; sons and daughters have been reared, and in their turn have reared others; the annual crops have been gathered; roads and turnpikes, and canals and railroads, and bridges have been constructed; banks have been established and have failed, and manufactories have been put in operation; churches and schoolhouses have been erected, (but not enough of either ;) and the county has immensely increased in wealth and population.

READING, the seat of justice, is situated on the left bank of the Schuylkill, about 53 miles from Philadelphia. The ground slopes gently up from the Schuylkill to the base of Penn's mount, a lofty ridge that rises directly east of the town. Other hills, with quiet and fertile valleys between, aid in rendering the scenery highly enticing and picturesque. Pure and copious springs gush out from the hills, one of which, from Penn's mount, supplies the whole borough with water. That this water is pure, as well as the atmosphere and climate of the vicinity, there is no better proof than the chubby red cheeks of the little boys in the streets, and the great number of hale, hearty old men to be seen in their daily rounds.

The general aspect of the place corresponds with the beauty of its site. The stranger entering the town from the west, is struck with the three unusually tall spires on the public buildings, with the dark, frowning mountain behind them, with the elegant bridge across the river, open

ing upon Penn-street, a noble avenue, and with the spacious diamond, or central area of the borough, surrounded with tall houses and stores, and alive with the bustle of a city. The general aspect of the centre of the borough reminds one somewhat of the grandeur of a European city, combined with the peculiar freshness and cleanliness of an American

The annexed view was taken from the west side of the Schuylkill. Penn's mount is seen beyond the town.

Reading is said to be the largest borough in the United States. The extent of the compact part of the town is about a mile east and west, and half a mile north and south. The town is rapidly extending towards the south and southwest, where the principal business with the canal is done, and where several extensive manufacturing establishments have been erected. Reading contains a new and magnificent courthouse, a jail, 12 churches, 32 hotels and taverns, a great number of stores and manufactories, 7 printing-offices, 5 or 6 extensive manufactories of iron in various forms, such as foundries of brass and iron; locomotive engine and machine shops, &c. &c.; a water-works, an academy, a female seminary, 9 private schools, and 13 public schools, but only 4 public school houses; a mineralogical cabinet, a masonic lodge, 3 public libraries, 1 German and 2 English, and quite a number of societies organized for useful instruction or charitable purposes. Reading was incorporated as a borough by the act of 12th Sept. 1783, and reorganized on the 29th March, 1813.

The following sketch of the early history of Reading was published in the Ladies' Garland, in Feb. 1839.

As early as 1733, warrants were taken out by John and Samuel Finney, and 450 acres of land surveyed under their sanction, which are now entirely embraced within the limits of Reading. Whether the inducements to this selection were other than its general beauty and fertility, it is now difficult to say, though it is asserted that when the proprietaries, John and Richard Penn, became aware of its advantages, and proposed to repurchase for the location of a town, the Messrs. Finney long and firmly resisted all the efforts of negotiation. This produced a momentary change in the design of the proprietaries, as they employed Richard Hockley to survey and lay out the plan of a town on the margin of the Schuylkill, opposite its confluence with the Tul

pehocken. This survey is still to be found on record, though divested of any date or name by which the precise period in which it was made can be ascertained. It is now only known as an appended portion to Reading, under the designation of the "Hockley Out-lots." The importance, as well as reality of the design now appears to have subdued the objections of the Finneys to the sale of their claim, as they immediately relaxed in their demands, and finally yielded them to the proprietaries, who at once caused the "Hockley plot" to be abandoned, and in the fall of the year 1748, that of Reading to be laid out. The difficulty in obtaining water, even at great depths through the limestone, was the specious reason generally assigned for the sudden vacation of the former site, as the new one was remarkable for the numerous and copious springs existing within its limits. Thus Thomas and Richard Penn, proprietaries and governors-in-chief of the province of Pennsylvania, became private owners of the ground plot of Reading, the lots of which they carefully subjected in their titles to an annual quit or ground rent. Singular as it may seem, this claim became almost forgotten, through neglect and the circumstances that resulted from the change in the old order of things produced by the revolution; indeed, when recurred to at all, it was generally believed to have become forfeit to the state, by the nature of that event. But a few years ago it was revived by the heirs, and its collection attempted under the authority of the law; but so excited were the populace, and adverse to the payment of its accumulated amount, that it was generally, and in some cases violently, resisted, till the deliberations of a town meeting had suggested measures leading to a more direct, amicable, and permanent compromise.

Like most of the primitive towns of the state, Reading is indebted for its name, as is also the county in which it is situated, to the native soil of the Penns. The streets intersect each other at right angles. Their original names were retained to a very recent date, (Aug. 6, 1833,) and were characteristic of the loyalty of the proprietary feeling, as well as family attachment and regard. King, Queen, Prince, Duke, Earl, and Lord streets, sufficiently evidence the strength of the former, whilst the main, or central streets, Penn and Callowhill, are as distinctly indica tive of filial regard. Hannah Callowhill, their mother, was the second wife of William Penn, and had issue, besides Thomas and Richard, of John, Margaret, and Dennis, whence also had originated the names of Thomas, Margaret, and Richard streets. Hamilton-street from James Hamilton, Esq., who was deputy-governor of the province at that period. The names now substituted "as more compatible with the republican simplicity of our present form of government," are similar to those of Philadelphia, as the streets running north and south commence at Waterstreet, on the Schuylkill, and extend to Twelfth-street, while those running east and west are called Penn, Franklin, Washington, Chestnut, and Walnut streets. In 1751, Reading contained 130 dwelling-houses, besides stables and other buildings-106 families, and 378 inhabitants, though about two years before it had not above one house in it. The original population was principally Germans, who emigrated from Wirtemburg and the Palatinate, though the adminis tration of public affairs was chiefly in the hands of the Friends. The former, by their prepon. derance of numbers, gave the decided character in habits and language to the place, as the German was almost exclusively used in the ordinary transactions of life and business, and is yet retained to a very great extent.

From a small pamphlet, published in 1841, by Major William Stahle, an aged and highly respectable citizen of the place, the following facts and statistics are derived.

Old Berks was erected into a county, and Reading established as the county seat, in the year 1752. The first deed was recorded in the office, Nov. 17, and the first will, Nov. 29th of that year; and to complete the honors of the new county, a lawsuit was instituted about the same time. Here follow some records of the doings of his majesty George the Third's justices of the peace.

SEAL.

To one of ye Constables of Reading.

BERKS COUNTY. Henry Christ-Subpoena Philip Adam Klauser and Joseph Sollenberger of ye township of Bern, so that they be and appear before me and Wm. Reeser, on ye first day of September next at one of the o'clock in ye afternoon, then and there to give evidence in a certain dispute now depending before us and undetermined, between ye Lutheran and Reformed Congregations about Sanct. Michael's Church.-Hereof you are not to fail at your peril. Given under my hand and seal at Reading ye 27th day of August 1770.

BERKS, SS.

L. S.

HENRY CHRIST.

Apprehend George Geisler, and bring him immediately before me, or the next Justice to ansr unto such mattrs and things, as on his Majesty's behalf shall be objected against him by Catharine Reese; hereof fail not.-Given undr my hand and seal, Decr ye 26th 1770.

To Samuel Jackson, Constable.

JAMES DIEMER.

That is the true magisterial style, and I have no doubt that between the justice and Catharine Reese, poor George Giesler had a hard time of it.

The following are illustrative of the times. "Ann appraisement of the goods late the property of Wm. Kees, taken in execution-by Samuel Jackson, constable. One gunn, 15s, one pair of leather breeches, 15s." But see how they strip Samuel Dehart of the comforts of life. "A list of the goods taken in execution from Samuel Dehart by the constable, and appraised by us the subscribers as follows. Amity August 24th 1770, to wit-one coat 30s, one jacket and trowsers, 12s, one rugg 5s, one pillow 2s-total, £2 9s." I am not quite sure that Mr. Dehart would congratulate himself that his body was left.

A body of Hessian prisoners, captured at Trenton in 1776, together with many British, and the principal Scotch royalists subdued and taken in North Carolina, were brought to Reading and stationed in a grove on the bank of the river Schuylkill, in the south part of the borough. In the fall of the same year they were removed to the hill, east of the town, which is called the "Hessian Camp" to this day. There they remained some time, and built themselves huts in regular camp order, the greater part of which may be seen at the present day.

The oldest houses standing in the borough are, the house of Widow Graeff, No. 134 East Penn-street, formerly kept as a tavern; the house of Daniel Graeff, No. 133 East Penn-street; No. 158 in 8th-street, between Penn and Washington, and the Spring Garden house. The corner house occupied by Keim and Stichter, was built in the year 1755, by Conrad Weiser, the Indian interpreter and agent for government, and was for many years occupied as a wigwam, where many tribes met for treaty, &c. The first coal-stove was introduced into use in Reading in 1812, by William Stahle. And the first stone coal was brought into town about the same time by Marks John Biddle, Esq.

In 1751 the population was 378; in 1769, twenty years after the first settlement, the number may be estimated, from the 241 taxables, to have been about 1,000 or 1,200. In 1810, by census, 3,462; in 1820, 4,278; in 1830, 5,631; and in 1840, 8,392. Nine revolutionary soldiers survived in 1840, whose ages ranged from 78 to 85; they were Michael Spatz, Sebastian Allgaier, Peter Stichter, Aaron Wright, Henry Styles, Christian Miller, Wm. James, Joseph Snablee, John P. Nagle. The number of taxables in the borough is now 1,795, of which are married men, 1,378, single, 417; in 1769 they stood, married, 223, single, 18. The number of females, at the present time, exceeds that of the males by about 350. This great inequality has principally grown up within the last ten years, as in 1830 the difference was only about 50. It would be interesting to know the number of unmarried males and females within some of the periods noted in the table of the census-say from 15 years upwards. The number of the latter must be very large; and many of them would be left unprovided with husbands even should the young men all make haste to get married betimes. This, however, seems by no means to be the fact with them, judging from the great number of single men taxed as above, who are of course all more than twenty-one years old. In 1769, there were only 18 taxable single men in the borough. Matrimony flourished then. But the times are sadly changed now! The fault is not altogether with the young men, nor are the ladies to be rashly charged with unkindness. The truth is, that the expense of living, especially in the style of fashion, has become so extravagantly great, that a large portion of the more genteely bred young men, are, from the insufficiency of their income, under the severe necessity of indefinitely postponing matrimony. A mutual consciousness of this necessity, occasions mutual forbearance between the sexes. Thus are luxury and false notions of gentility extinguishing the fires upon the altar which burned brightly in Reading in 1769. The first house of worship in Reading was a loghouse, built by the Friends, on their buryingground, in 1751. In 1766, it was pulled down, and in its place the present one-story loghouse was built in Washington-street. Their old log schoolhouse, near it, was built in 1787. The German Reformed church was organized soon after the settlement of Reading, but the exact date, as well as that of the erection of their first edifice, has not been ascertained. The present building was erected in 1832, and the previous one in 1762. The steeple is 151 feet high. The German Lutheran church was organized shortly after the German Reformed. The congregation long occupied a log building where their church now stands. The present church, the largest in Reading, was erected in 1791. The splendid steeple, 201 feet high, was erected in 1833. In this church, and in the German Reformed, divine service is performed in the German language. The ancient stone schoolhouse near the church, was erected in 1765. One of the bells was cast by Henry Keppele, of Philadelphia, in 1755. On one of the grave-stones in the yard, with a German inscription, is the date of 1703. The old 30 hour clock in the town, the first in the place, was imported from London about the year 1755. The Presbyterian church was erected in 1824. The Catholic chapel in 1791. The Episcopal church in 1826. The Methodist in 1839. The Baptists formerly occupied a site near the river, but the location was disliked, and in 1837 a new brick church was erected by Rev. Enoch M. Barker, the pastor at that time, which he after. wards conveyed to the society. The Universalist church was erected in 1830. Besides the above, there are three African churches. The magnificent new courthouse was completed in 1840, after the designs of Thomas U. Walter, architect, of Philadelphia. The front is an Ionic portico, with six columns of red sandstone. The edifice is surmounted by a very high cupola,

presenting a conspicuous and beautiful object to one approaching the borough. The old courthouse, which formerly stood in the centre of the public square, at the intersection of the two principal streets, obstructing the beautiful and extended view through those streets now enjoyed. It was built in 1762, and is said to have been "remarkable for nothing but its ugliness." The Office of Discount and Deposit was established in 1808; the Farmers' Bank was incorporated in 1814; the Berks Co. Bank in 1826.

The postoffice was established at Reading in 1793; Gotleib Yungmann first postmaster. Previous to this, letters were conveyed from Reading to Philadelphia and other important places by private individuals, upon their own account. In 1789, a two-horse coach was started by Mr. Martin Hausman, to run weekly for the conveyance of passengers and letters between Reading and Philadelphia. It made its passage through in two days. Fare $2-letter carriage 3d. In 1790, the establishment was transferred to Alexander Eisenbeis. Mr. Eisenbeis sold out in 1791 to William Coleman, who soon after started a coach also to Harrisburg, which performed its trips in the same time, and at the same rates of fare and postage, as that to Philadelphia. At the close of the year 1800, the mail was carried from here to Sunbury once a week, on horseback; to Lancaster and Easton once a week, in a private two-horse carriage. But it is time to speak of the present.

Seventy-seven houses were erected in 1840; one of which, built by Mr. Daniel H. Boas, goes by the name of the Forge-hammer, from its resemblance in shape to that favorite implement of Vulcan. When applied to by the builders for a plan, Mr. Boas sent them a forge-hammer for their model. The result was a rather odd-looking, but very convenient house. It is a two-story frame building, situated at the canal landing.

No manufacturing was done in Reading previous to the year 1836, except in the articles of boots and shoes, hats and stoneware. Since that period, the iron and nail works of Messrs. Keim, Whitaker & Co., the iron and brass foundry of Messrs. Darling, Taylor & Co., the locomotive engine manufactory and machine-shop of D. H. Dotterer & Co., the stationary steamengine and rifle-barrel manufactory of William G. Taylor, the foundry of Adam Johnston, the auger manufactory of Messrs. Rankin & Phillips, the steam saw-mill and chopping-mill of Messrs. Ferry & Frill, and three shops for manufacturing horse-power thrashing machines, cornshellers, patent ploughs, revolving hay-rakes, cultivators, &c., have been established. There are also two extensive flour-mills in the borough.

The Schuylkill canal commences at Port Carbon, in the coal region, passes through Reading, and terminates in Philadelphia. It is 108 miles long, with 117 lift-locks, overcoming a fall of 610 feet. The Union canal commences at Middletown, on the Susquehanna, enters the Schuylkill at Reading, near the foot of Penn-street, and continues in and along the river for about two miles below Reading, where it forms a junction with the Schuylkill canal. These canals are of the highest importance to Reading; the one affording a cheap and safe mode of transportation to Philadelphia and Pottsville, and the other connecting with the Pennsylvania canal at Middletown, opens a direct line of transportation to Pittsburg and the far west. The Philadel phia, Reading and Pottsville railroad, which passes through the borough, was opened through to Pottsville early in 1842, and the event was celebrated with military display and an immense procession of 75 passenger cars, 1,255 feet in length, containing 2,150 persons, 3 bands of music, banners, &c., all drawn by a single engine! In the rear was a train of 52 burden cars, loaded with 180 tons of coal, part of which was mined the same morning 412 feet below the water level. The whole was under the charge of Mr. Robinson, chief engineer, and Mr. G. A. Nichols, superintendent. This road is one of the best in the United States. From Pottsville to Philadelphia there is no ascending grade, but a regular descent of 19 inches to the mile. The cut through the town of Reading, 22 1-2 feet deep, walled up on each side, is a fine specimen of art. It was made in 1839, by Messrs. Graul & Henry.

During the revolution, Reading was a favorite place of resort for Philadelphians, who wished to retire a little from the stormy political atmosphere of the city. Alexander Graydon, who was then on parole, having been captured by the British, near New York, has recorded in his graphic "Memoirs of a Life chiefly passed in Pennsylvania, within the last Sixty Years," many interesting reminiscences of his residence here.

Many other Philadelphians had recourse to this town, as a place of safety from a sudden incursion of the enemy; and, among a score or more of fugitive families, were those of Gen. Mifflin and my uncle, as I have called Mr. Biddle, though only standing in that relation by marriage. It was also the station assigned to a number of prisoners, both British and German, as well as of the principal Scotch royalists who had been subdued and taken in North Carolina. I soon discovered that a material change had taken place during my absence from Pennsylvania; and that the pulses of many, that at the time of my leaving it had beaten high in the cause of whigism and liberty, were considerably lowered. Power, to use a language which had already ceased