part of the state, as they might deem expedient. In 1819 and 1821, the state granted further aid by a guarantee of interest, and a monopoly of the lottery privilege. The additional subscriptions, obtained in consequence of this legislative encouragement, enabled the managers to resume operations in 1821. The line was relocated, the dimensions of the canal changed, and the whole work finished in about six years from this period; after 37 years had elapsed from the commencement of the work, and 65 from the date of the first survey. The Union canal is 89 miles in length, including the Swatara feeder, &c., from Middletown, on the Susquehanna, to a point on the Schuylkill a short distance below Reading. It is calculated for boats of 25 to 30 tons burden. At Middletown on the Susquehanna, it connects with the main line of Pennsylvania canals; at Reading, with the works of the Schuylkill Navigation Co. The descent from the summit to the Schuylkill is 311 feet; to the Susquehanna, 208.

The summit is 6 miles (between the Swatara and Tulpehocken) 78 chains in length; to which must be added the navigable feeder, which at present extends 6 3-4 miles. This summit passes over a limestone district: much deep excavation in rock was required. In consequence of the many fissures which abound in limestone rocks, the usual expedient of puddling did not succeed in retaining the water in the summit. After many experiments, it was found necessary to plank this section throughout. On the Schuylkill Navigation Co.'s canal, near Reading, which passes over the same limestone formation, a similar expedient was adopted. In both cases the plan was successful. On this section, the canal passes through a tunnel of 729 feet in length, excavated in solid rock. This summit is supplied by the water of the Swatara, conducted to it by the feeder already mentioned. As the summit is above the level of the feeder, two large water-wheels and pumps are resorted to for the purpose of raising the water to the requisite height. Two steam-engines, one of 120, the second of 100 horse power, are provided for the purpose of supplying the feeder in case of accident to the water-works. [The feeder has since been continued to a point within four miles of the coal-mines.]

A great error was committed, in making the dimensions of this canal too small-an error which threatens to be fatal to its existence. It arose partly from the great scarcity of water, and partly from erroneous views entertained by engineers and others having charge of the work. The locks, being adapted only for boats of 25 tons, while those of the state canals accommodate a boat of 40 or 50 tons, exclude the greater portion of the boats plying on the state works; added to which,' the work has to contend with the competition of the railroads from Harrisburg and Columbia to Philadelphia. This latter competition discourages the Union Canal Co. from enlarging their locks.

In 1828, about $1,600,000 had been expended in the construction of the work, in addition to the proceeds of the lottery, and excluding the sums expended on the old work.

LEBANON, the county seat, is a large and well-built borough, pleasantly situated on a small branch of the Quitopahilla, 25 miles from Harrisburg, and 28 from Reading by the turnpike. The town is regularly laid out, with a large area in the centre, in which stands the market-house. The buildings are generally of brick or stone. The courthouse is a spacious and splendid edifice of brick, surmounted with a cupola. There are in the place Lutheran, German Reformed, Catholic, Methodist, German Methodist, and United Brethren churches, an academy, and a public library. The canal passes one mile north of the town, where the busy little village of North Lebanon has grown up. The annexed view was taken from a field southwest of the town. The Lutheran church, with a tall spire, is seen in the centre. The population, by the census of 1840, was, of the borough proper, 1,860; of the north ward, 1,430; south ward, 2,907: total of Lebanon township, 6,197. The borough was incorporated 20th Feb. 1821.

Little has been recorded, or preserved by tradition, concerning the early history of the town or county. The following facts, with those relating to other towns, were learned from some of the aged citizens of the borough. Lebanon-or Steitzetown, as it was for a long time called,

*The first tunnels which were excavated in the Union were in Pennsylvania. There are two on the Conemaugh, one on the Union, one on the Schuylkill canal, one still unfinished near Mauch Chunk, and two on the Reading railroad. We do not include the small tunnels, leading from mines.

and still is by many of the old Germans-was probably laid out about the year 1750, by one Mr. Steitze. The father of Col. Adam Reitscher, now living in the town, was one of the first settlers, and paid groundrent, as appears by his receipts still extant, as early as 1751. He cleared the lot west of the one upon which his son now lives, from the forest then standing. The Moravians also made a very early settlement, about two miles east of the town. Their present stone church was erected about the year 1760 or 1770; but it was probably the second on the same site. The present Lutheran church, in town, was erected in 1798; and the previous one, near the same site, about 1765 or '66. The German Reformed church was erected about 1787.

During the war of the revolution, many of the residents of this place took arms on the American side, and were engaged at the battle of Germantown. After the battle of Trenton, many of the Hessian prisoners were brought here, and confined in the old Lutheran and Moravian churches.

The Mennonists settled in the southern part of the county, as early as 1732. Much of the history of this county is merged in that of Lancaster, of which the southern townships formed a part.

MILLERSTOWN is a flourishing village on the Quitopahilla, 5 miles west of Lebanon. It contains about 120 dwellings, Lutheran and Methodist churches, and one church common to the Presbyterians and German Reformed. There are several mills on the creek. The place was formerly called Annville, and the post-office here still bears that name officially. It was laid out by Messrs. Ulrichs and Reigel. Two or three miles west of Millerstown, during the "late war" of 1812, several wealthy gentlemen from Lancaster, at the head of whom was Mr. Hentzleman, established an immense cotton and woollen factory at a cost of $96,000. Their fabrics were accounted equal to any manufactured in the country. At the close of the war, the opening of our ports to foreign manufactures was ruinous to the concern.

SHAEFFERSTOWN is a large village, 8 miles S. E. from Lebanon, containing about 100 dwellings, and Lutheran and Presbyterian churches. This is one of the oldest places in the county. It was originally settled by

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 popu lation 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.

66

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 considera. ble 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 par ticularly 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 forewarming 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 gov ernment. 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 co. 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