might be, and much was said at the time on both sides; and diverse and exaggerated representations were made by the Irish and Presbyterian party on the one hand, and by the Quakers, Moravians, and those in the proprietary interest on the other. The foregoing extracts have been given with a view of letting the Paxton men be heard in their own defence. But no historian ought to excuse or justify the murders at Lancaster and Conestoga. Let who will describe those scenes, they must ever remain, with the murder of Logan's family, and the massacre of the Moravian Indians on the Muskingum, as dark and bloody spots in our provincial history. Perhaps no better judge of the transaction is now living than a venerable Presbyterian clergyman of this region, whose head is now white with the snows of some eighty winters, who in early life had known many of the Paxton men, and had some of them under his pastoral charge. On applying to him to furnish some documents, if possible, or traditionary evidence, to justify the Paxton men engaged in that transaction, the aged patriarch replied-" I fear, sir, that would be a difficult task; I cannot perceive how that transaction could be justified." It should be noticed in this connection, that only some 15, 20, or 30 of the rangers were engaged in the affair. After it was done they returned to their homes, where they remained unmolested, and mingled with their fellow-citizens of Paxton in the ordinary pursuits of life.

At the opening of the revolution most of the Paxton men sought the ranks of the army, from which but few of them returned to settle again in Paxton. Many of the survivors probably settled on the new lands of the West branch of the Susquehanna, and others around Pittsburg, and, after Wayne's treaty, beyond the Allegheny. In those regions their descendants may be found; but he who seeks for the descendants of the Scotch-Irish in Dauphin co., finds but here and there a solitary, isolated family, surrounded everywhere by an entirely different race, that of the German emigrants, who came about the close of the last century, and whose descendants inherit the language, the farms, and the plodding industry and thrift of their forefathers. The ancient churches and graveyards of the Irish still remain as monuments of their former occupants; and occasionally may be found, as at Hanover, some venerable pastor, pleasantly passing the evening of a useful life, and waiting to be "gathered to his fathers."

The country above the Kittatinny mountain was but sparsely settled previous to the opening of the coal mines within a few years past. The Duke de la Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, a French traveller, who passed up the Susquehanna in 1796, speaks of stopping only at three settlements in the county, above Harrisburg. The first was at McAlester's, who had then been settled at the mouth of Fishing cr. about 11 years, and had a very thriving establishment. The duke says, [in substance-we abridge his language]

McAlester owns about 300 acres-about 120 cultivated. Price of lands near him is $8 for woodland; $50 for cleared. The houses, all of wood except the inn, stand on the Susquehanna and in the precincts of Fort Hunter, erected many years ago. * went on. In this

long journey through forests, we found few straggling houses one or two miles distant from each other, most of them unfinished. Taverns had been closed-unwilling to pay for a license,—passed one about 12 miles from McAlester's, the only one in 22 miles. At length we arrived at an old German's-Deblerff's-who after having served in Canada in 1758, in an English regiment, settled here after the peace. The state gave him his land; the Indians drove him off during the revolution; he returned again after the peace. He can neither write nor read-he presents to

every traveller a slate and pencil to write down his bills as he dictates to them, for there is not a single person in the house able to distinguish one letter from another. He complains of being cheated frequently by travellers, in their summing up. Twelve miles to White's; an Irish farmer has resided here about 17 years, and now owns an island; he has been twice a member of the legis lature keeps tavern to oblige travellers-has no sign-but charges high.

HARRISBURG, the capital of the state, and seat of justice of Dauphin co., occupies a commanding site on the left bank of the Susquehanna, a short distance above the mouth of Paxton creek. It is 97 miles from Philadelphia, and 200 from Pittsburg.

Situated in the midst of the fertile Kittatinny valley, and looking out upon some of the most magnificent scenery in the world,-with splendid bridges spanning the broad river, and shaded walks along its banks,with canals, railroads, and turnpikes radiating from it in all directions,-with a highly intelligent resident population, and the annual presence of a transient population, comprising the highest talent in the state,-Harrisburg has great and varied attractions to tempt the resident, the politician, the trader, and the stranger who comes only to observe and admire.

The capitol, with the public offices on either side of it, occupies a fine eminence on the northern border of the town, fronting towards the river, from which it is a few squares distant. From the cupola may be seen one of the finest landscapes in the state, comprising the river, studded with lovely islands and spanned by splendid bridges, the undulating fields of the valley, and the lofty barrier of the Kittatinny mountain. The main building is 180 feet front by 80 feet deep. The hall of the house of representatives is on the lower floor, at the right end, as seen in the view, the senate chamber being at the left end. The library is over the senate chamber. The governor's apartments, and secretary of state's and treasurer's offices, are in the building on the left of the capitol,-the land offices, &c., in that on the right.

The other public edifices in the town are, the courthouse, formerly used as a state-house,-the new prison, a noble, massive structure of stone, in the style of a Norman castle,-the state arsenal, a Masonic lodge, an academy, the Harrisburg bank, and a branch of the Bank of Pennsylvania; and of churches, there are Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal, German Reformed, Catholic, Methodist, Unitarian, Baptist, and African.

Near the capitol is a reservoir, filled from the river by steam power, for supplying the town with water. In the centre of the town, which is regularly laid out, is a "diamond," or public square, upon which stands the market-house.

Harrisburg was incorporated as a borough on the 1st Feb. 1808. The population in 1830, of the borough, was 4,307, and including M'Claysburg, 4,526; and in 1840, 6,020.

The bridge at the end of Market-street, across the Susquehanna—in two parts, which are separated by an island-was erected in 1817, by Mr. Burr, the distinguished bridge architect. It is 2,876 feet long, 40 ft. wide-cost $155,000, of which the state subscribed $90,000. It belongs to a company. A short distance below it, opposite Mulberry-st., is the magnificent bridge of the Cumberland Valley railroad, one mile in length, erected within three or four years past. It awakens interesting associations to stand by the grave of John Harris and look forth upon the river, contrasting, in imagination, the appearance of the solitary trader, and his pack-horse loaded with furs, crossing in a flat at "Harris's ferry" some hundred years since-with the swift "iron horse" puffing and rattling with his long train across that beautiful bridge on an iron road elevated 50 feet above the water,-almost literally a fiery steed flying through the air.

The annexed extracts are copied by permission from the introduction to Mr. H. Napey's Harrisburg Directory.

The first John Harris is said to have been a native of Yorkshire, in England. He was a middle-aged man when he emigrated to America, and he first settled in Philadelphia. He was there married to Esther Say, an English lady, and who was a woman of rather extraordinary energy and capacity. They first moved to Chester county,-thence to (or near to) the mouth of Conoy creek, on the Susquehanna, about the present site of Bainbridge, in Lancaster county,—and finally to the present site of Harrisburg. At this place was born, about the year 1726, his son John Harris, the founder of Harrisburg, and who is said to have been "the first white child born in Pennsylvania, west of the Conewago hills."

About the time of the settlement of John Harris at Harrisburg, Indian towns were existing on the flat near to Squire Wills' stone house, opposite Harrisburg, and at the mouth of the Conedoguinnett and Yellow Breeches creeks. There had been one on the low ground on the river, about the lower line of Harrisburg, and another at the mouth of Paxton creek. These two last are supposed to have been abandoned at the time of his making his settlement. The Indians who resided in this neighborhood, were of the Six Nations; and it is said that at one time, by firing a gun, several hundred warriors could be assembled at the present site of Harrisburg.

John Harris fixed his habitation on the bank of the river, below the grave-yard, and he dug the well now existing there. About twenty years ago the cellar of one of his buildings was visible. He traded extensively with the Indians, and had connected with his house a large range of sheds, which were sometimes literally filled with skins and furs, mostly obtained by him in traffic with the Indians, and stored there by the Indian traders, who brought them from the western country. These skins and furs were carried, at an early day, on pack-horses to Philadelphia. John Harris experienced much difficulty at his first settlement, as his supplies could not be had nearer than Philadelphia, and had thence to be transported on pack-horses to his place of residence. His attention, however, was not confined to trading with the Indians; he engaged extensively in agriculture, and from the statement of old Parson Elder to Wm. Maclay, "he was the first person who introduced the plough on the Susquehanna."

An incident in his life has excited considerable interest, and been the subject of much inquiry: -On one occasion a band of Indians came to his house. Some, or most of them, were intoxicated. They asked for lum, (rum,) as the modern whiskey was not then manufactured in Pennsylvania. Seeing they were already intoxicated, he feared mischief, and refused. They became enraged, and seized and tied him to the mulberry tree to burn him. Whilst they were proceeding to execute their purpose, he was released, after a struggle, by other Indians of the neighborhood, who generally came across the river. How the alarm was given to them, whether by firing a gun or otherwise, or by whom, is not now certainly known. In remembrance of this event, he afterwards directed that on his death he should be buried under the mulberry tree which had been the scene of this adventure. He died in 1748, and his remains still repose, with those of some

of his children, under the shade of his memorable tree. In the words of Parson Elder, "he was as honest a man as ever broke bread." Part of the trunk of this tree is still standing.

It may be curious now to know that John Harris was once offered, by the Penns, all of the land from the river to Silver Spring, and extending across the Cumberland valley from mountain to mountain, for £5000. He offered £3000, and refused to give more. At his death he owned about 900 acres of land, including the present site of Harrisburg and Maclaysburg, and extending down to the upper line of Fulton's place; also, 200 acres on the opposite shore from Harrisburg, now owned by Messrs. Hummel & Lebkicher, and including the ferry, and Gen. Simpson's place below Yellow Breeches, extending to the South mountain, and including Shriners Island; and 700 or 800 acres at the mouth of Conedoguinnett creek on the upper side, where the old Indian town had once been.

Of Esther, the wife of John Harris, several anecdotes are told which establish her promptness and energy of character. The mansion-house, situated on the river bank, as before mentioned, was surrounded by a stockade for security against the Indians. An English officer was one night at the house, when by accident the gate of the stockade was left unfastened. The officer, clothed in his regimentals, was seated with Mr. Harris and his wife at the table. An Indian entered the gate of the stockade and thrust his rifle through one of the port-holes of the house, and it is supposed pointed it at the officer. The night being damp, the gun simply flashed. Instantly Mrs. Harris blew out the candle, to prevent the Indian aiming a second time, and he retreated. John Harris, jun., the founder of Harrisburg, died 29th July, 1791, and is buried in the graveyard of Paxton church. He was about 65 years of age, and was consequently born at least as early as 1726. Under the will of his father, and by purchase, he became the owner of 700 acres of land, on a part of which Harrisburg is now laid out. It extended up to the lower line of Maclaysburg. He was an active, energetic, and industrious man. He farmed extensively, and also traded with the whites and Indians for skins and furs; and his son, the present Robert Harris, has seen ten or a dozen wagon loads of skins and furs in his father's storehouse, belonging to him and to Indian traders. In his time, Harris's Ferry became a celebrated place. It is said to have been so well known in Ireland, England, and Germany, that letters were directed from those countries "to the care of John Harris, Harris's Ferry, N. America." He was successful in business, and had an extensive acquaintance throughout Pennsylvania.

He had strong faith in the advantages of the position of his property here. It is said, that twenty or more years before the town was laid out, he observed to a gentleman, Mr. Hollenback, who afterwards settled at Wilkesbarre, that this place would become the centre of business in this section of country, and would be the seat of government of Pennsylvania. When the town was laid out in 1785, he conveyed, with other property, to the commissioners for laying out the town-viz., Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden, and William Brownthe four acres of ground on Capitol Hill, to the east of the present state buildings, "in trust for public use, and such public purposes as the Legislature shall hereafter direct."

That he was patriotic, the following incident will establish :-When independence was agitated, he thought the Declaration premature. He feared that the colonies were unequal to the task of combating with Great Britain. But when Independence was declared, the present Robert Harris observes, that his father took his mother aside, and in the presence of his son, read to her the Declaration from a Philadelphia newspaper. When he concluded it, he observed,

The Susquehannah, and the Cumberland Valley Railroad bridge, are prominent in the foreground. Beyond are seen the old bridge from the island, the Capitol, Arsenal, and several churches.