annual appropriation for this purpose, of 50 cents for each pupil in Sussex and Kent counties, and 20 cents for each pupil in Newcastle county. In 1870, there were 326 public schools in the State, with 17,835 pupils. The number is about the same at present.

A State Normal School was established in 1866. Besides this, there are two colleges in the State with about 90 students. Delaware College is located at Newark, and St. Mary's College at Wilmington. The schools being closed to colored children, about 24 colored schools have been opened in various parts of the State.

In 1870, the State contained 473 libraries, of which over 200 were public. There were 14 political papers-1 daily, 10 weekly, and 3 semi-weekly-and 1 literary paper (a weekly) published in Delaware. They had a total annual circulation of 1,607,840 copies.

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

Delaware maintains its insane, deaf, dumb, and blind, in the insti tutions of other States, and has no such establishments of its own. The State is also without a penitentiary. Criminals are confined in the county jails. Until within a year or two, many offences were punished by whipping at the public whipping-post, and standing in the pillory. As late as the 5th of December, 1868, a scene of this kind occurred at Newcastle.

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

In 1870, the value of church property in Delaware was $1,823,950. The number of churches was 252.

FINANCES.

At the beginning of the year 1871, the aggregate indebtedness of the State of Delaware amounted to $1,632,000, an increase of $176,000 in two years. The State has investments amounting to $1,074,150, which is $224,000 more than it held at the beginning of 1869. The receipts of the Treasury for the year 1870 were $120,577.

In 1868, there were 11 National Banks in Delaware, with an aggregate capital of $1,428,185.

GOVERNMENT.

In this State every free male citizen, 22 years of age, who has resided one year in the State, and for the last month of this year in the

county, and who has paid a county tax assessed at least 6 months before the election, is entitled to vote; but free male citizens between 21 and 22 years of age may vote without paying taxes, provided they have complied with the other conditions.

The Government is conducted by a Governor, and Legislature consisting of a Senate (of 9 members) and a House of Representatives (of 21 members), all elected by the people. The Secretary of State is appointed by the Governor, and serves for 4 years. The AttorneyGeneral is appointed in the same way, and holds office 5 years. The State Treasurer and Auditor are elected by the Legislature for 2 years. The Governor serves for 4 years, and the members of the Legislature for 2 years. The Legislature meets once in two years.

The Judiciary consists of a Court of Errors and Appeals, Superior Court, Court of Chancery, Orphans' Court, Court of Oyer and Terminer, Court of General Sessions of the Peace and Jail Delivery, Register's Court, and Justices of the Peace. The Chancellor is the principal Judge of the State.

Dover, in Kent county, is the capital.

For purposes of government, Delaware is divided into three counties, viz: Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex.

HISTORY.

The first settlements in this State, were made by the Swedes and Finns, in 1627. As we have shown in the sketch of Pennsylvania, they were conquered by the Dutch, in 1655, and turned over to the English when New York passed into their hands, in 1664. Delaware formed a part of the territory granted to William Penn, in 1682; and from that time until the Revolution, continued to form a part of Pennsylvania. It was allowed a separate Assembly about the year 1701, but remained subject to the authority of the Governor of Pennsylvania until 1776, when it was granted an independent existencé. It adopted a State Constitution, on the 20th of September, 1776, and was received into the Union of the States. The province bore its full share of the burdens of the wars with France; and in the Revolution, the Delaware regiment was known as one of the most efficient in the army. On the 7th of December, 1787, the State ratified the Constitution of the United States; and in 1792, a new State Constitution was adopted.

In 1865, slavery was abolished in the State by the ratification of an

amendment to the Federal Constitution. The number of slaves was 1798 in 1860, but had been considerably reduced by 1865.

CITIES AND TOWNS.

Wilmington is the largest town in the State. The other places of importance are, Smyrna, Dover, Newcastle, Delaware City, Seaford, and Lewes.

DOVER,

The capital of the State, is situated in Kent county, on Jones' Creek, 5 miles above the Delaware River. It is 50 miles south from Wilmington, and 114 northeast from Washington City. The town is prettily situated on high ground, and is built mostly of brick. The streets are wide and cross each other at right-angles, and are prettily shaded with trees. The town contains a fiue State House, and the buildings devoted to the public offices, all of which face an open and tastefully ornamented square. The railway from Wilmington to Crisfield, Md., passes through Dover, which is thus brought in communication with all parts of the State. There are several flourishing schools in Dover, 4 churches, and 1 newspaper office. Many of the residences are handsome and attractive. In 1870, the population was 1913.

WILMINGTON,

The largest and most important city of the State, is situated in Newcastle county, on Christiana Creek, just above its junction with the Brandywine, and within 2 miles of the Delaware River. It is 28. miles southwest of Philadelphia, and 108 miles northeast of Washington City. It is built on the southern slope of a hill, the summit of which is 110 feet above tide-water. The upper portions of the city command excellent views of the Delaware River and the surrounding country. The general plan of Wilmington is regular, with wide, straight streets intersecting each other at right-angles. The buildings are principally of brick, and give to the city a substantial air, which is being greatly improved of late by the frequent introduction of stone in the more modern edifices. The principal business thoroughfare is Market street, about a mile in length. It extends from the Christiana to the Brandywine, intersects the other streets at right-angles, and crosses each of the creeks named by a handsomedge. Street railways connect the principal points of the city.

The Public Buildings are the Town Hall, the Custom House, a fine granite structure, and the Institute. The Roman Catholic College, about 10 public schools, and 7 or 8 private schools constitute the educational establishments. The Institute contains a spacious hall, a scientific lecture-room, and a library of over 8000 volumes. The city also contains a large hospital, an alms-house, and about 30 churches; is supplied with pure water from the Brandywine, and is lighted with gas. It has a well organized police force, and a steam fire department. It is governed by a Mayor and Council. Five newspapers are published here.

Wilmington is accessible to steamers and ships, and is connected with Philadelphia and Baltimore by railway. It is also the northern terminus of the Delaware Railway. It is a place of considerable trade, and is also largely engaged in manufactures. The principal of these are iron steamboats, railway cars, steam engines, railroad wheels, locomotive and car springs, mill machinery, other iron goods, powder, carriages, flour, leather, shoes, cotton and woollen goods, and agricultural implements. The famous powder works of the Duponts are

situated about 2 miles from the city. In 1870, the population of the city was 30,841.

Wilmington occupies the site of Fort Christiana and the village built back of it, which the Dutch called Christianham. After the surrender of the Dutch possessions on the Delaware, it was called Altona. The town was first laid out in 1732, by Thomas Willing, and was called Willing Town, which name was afterwards changed to Wilmington. In 1777, it was occupied by the British. In 1809, it was chartered as the "Borough of Wilmington;" and in 1832, it was incorporated as a city.

The other towns of the State stand as follows, in respect to population: Smyrna, 2110 inhabitants; Newcastle, 1916; Delaware City, 1059; Seaford, 1308; Lewes, 1090.