[Indian tribes. This trade will probably be considerable, since commercial stipulations are formed with those powers, and peace is concluded with the Indians. At present nearly the whole foreign commerce is carried on by the port of Philadelphia. Its distance from the sea, and its closing by ice in the winter, are disadvantageous; but the first is lessened by improved pilotage; the other by the construction of the piers below, and by the occasional thaws which permit vessels to clear their way during the winter. In common seasons the navigation is obstructed six weeks; a shorter period is as probable as a longer; though, in the late hard winters, loads of wood have passed the river, near the city, in the first days of March. The population of this state has been already mentioned; it is nearly 20 for every square mile. The number of militia is estimated at upwards of 90,000, between 18 and 53 years of age. The inhabitants are principally the descendants of English, Irish, and Germans, with some Scotch, Welsh, Swedes, and a few Dutch. There are also many of the Irish and Germans who emigrated when young or middle aged. The Friends and Episcopalians are chiefly of English extraction, and compose about one-third of the inhabitants. They live chiefly in the metropolis, and in the counties of Chester, Philadelphia, Bucks, and Montgomery. The Irish are mostly Presbyterians, but some are Roman Catholics their ancestors came from the n. of Ireland, which was latterly settled from Scotland; hence they have been sometimes called Scotch Irish, to denote their double descent. They inhabit the w. and frontier countries, and are numerous. The Germans composed about one quarter of the inhabitants of Pennsylvania. They are most numerous in the n. parts of the metropolis, and the counties of Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Dauphin, Lancaster, York, and Northampton; mostly in the four last, and are spreading in other parts. They consist of Lutherans (who are the most numerous sect), Calvinists, or Reformed Church, Moravians, Roman Catholics, Mennonists, Tunkers, and Zwingfelters, who are a species of Quakers. These are all distin guished for their temperance, industry, and economy. The Baptists, except the Mennonists and Tunker Baptists, who are Germans, are chiefly descended of emigrants from Wales, and are not numerous. A proportionate assemblage of the national prejudices, the manners, customs, religions, and political sentiments of all these, will form the Pennsylvanian character. The number of congregations in the state is as follows: Presbyterians, 86; German Calvinists, 84; nearly 84 of German Lutherans; Friends or Quakers, 54; Episcopalians, 26; Baptists, 15; Roman Catholics, 11; Scotch Presbyterians, 8; Moravians, 8; Free Quakers, 1; Universalists, 1; Covenanters, 1; Methodists, 3 or 4; and a Jewish Synagogue; the whole amounting to 384. The literary, humane, and other useful societies, are more numerous and flourishing in Pennsylvania than in any of the 16 states. The seminaries of learning are respectable. There is an university at Philadelphia, and colleges at Carlisle and Lancaster. The Episcopalians have an academy at Yorktown in York county. There are also academics at Germantown, at Pittsburg, at Washington, at Allen's-Town, and other places; these are endowed by donations from the legislature, and by liberal contributions of individuals. The legislature have also reserved 60,000 acres of the public lands for the public schools. The United Brethren, or Moravians, have academies at Bethlehem and Nazareth, on the best establishment of any schools perhaps in America. Besides Philadelphia, the metropolis, the chief towns are Lancaster, the largest inland town of the United States, Carlisle, Pittsburg, Sunbury, Bethlehem, Reading, Yorktown, Harrisburg, Washington, &c. The first frame of government for Pennsylvania is dated in 1682. By this form, all legislative powers were vested in the governor and freemen of the province, in the provincial council, and a general assembly. The council was to consist of 72 members, chosen by the freemen; of which the governor, or his deputy, was perpetual president, with a treble vote. One third of this council went out of office every year, and their seats were supplied by new elections. The general assembly was at first to consist of all the freemen, afterwards of 200, and never to exceed 500. In 1683 Mr. Penn offered another frame of government, in which the number of representatives was reduced, and the governor vested with a negative upon all bills passed in assembly. By several specious arguments the people were persuaded to accept this frame of government. Not long after, a dispute between Mr. Penn and Lord Baltimore required the former to go to England, and he committed the administration of government to five commissioners taken from the council. In 1686 Mr. Penn required the commissioners to dissolve the frame of government; but not being able to effect his purpose, he, in] [1688, appointed Captain John Blackwell his de puty. From this period the proprietors usually resided in England, and administered the government by deputies, who were devoted to their interest. Jealousies arose between the people and their governors, which never ceased till the late revolution. The primary cause of these jealousies was an attempt of the proprietary to extend his own power, and abridge that of the assembly; and the consequence was, incessant disputes and dissensions in the legislature. In 1689, Governor Blackwell, finding himself opposed in his views, had recourse to artifice, and prevailed on certain members of the council to withdraw themselves from the house; thus defeating the measures of the legislature. Two instances of a secession of members from the assembly, with similar views, have taken place since the revolution, and seem to have been copied from the example in 1689. head of Patomak, in the province of Pennsylvania. The Conostoga chiefs also in 1701 ratified the grant of the Susquehannah Indians made the preceding year. In 1708, Mr. Penn obtained from the Sachems of the country, a confirmation of the grants made by former Indians, of all the lands from Duck Creek to the mountains, and from the Delaware to the Susquehannah. In this deed, the Sachems declared that "they had seen and heard read divers prior deeds, which had been given to Mr. Penn by former chiefs." While Mr. Penn was in America, he erected Philadelphia into a corporation. The charter was dated October 25, 1701, by which the police of the city was vested in a mayor, recorder, aldermen, and common council, with power to inquire into treasons, murders, and other felonies; and to inquire into and punish smaller crimes. The corporation had also extensive civil jurisdiction; but it was dissolved at the late revolution, and Philadelphia was governed like other counties in the state, till 1789, when it was again incorpo In 1693, the king and queen assumed the government into their own hands. Colonel Fletcher was appointed governor of New York and Pennsylvania by one and the same commis--rated. sion, with equal powers in both provinces. By this commission, the number of counsellors in Pennsylvania was reduced. Under the administration of Governor Markham in 1696, a new form of government was established in Pennsylvania. The election of the council and assembly now became annual, and the legislature, with their powers and forms of proceeding, was new modelled. In 1699, the proprietary arrived from England, and assumed the reins of government. While he remained in Pennsylvania, the last charter of privileges, or frame of government, which continued till the revolution, was agreed upon and established. This was completed and delivered to the people by the proprietary, October 28, 1701, just on his embarking for England. The inhabitants of the Territory, as it was then called, or the lower counties, refused to accept this charter, and thus separated themselves from the province of Pennsylvania. They afterwards had their own assembly, in which the governor of Pennsylvania used to preside. In September 1700, the Susquehannah Indians granted to Mr. Penn all their lands on both sides the river. The Susquehannah, Shawanese, and Patomak Indians, however, entered into articles of agreement with Mr. Penn, by which, on certain conditions of peaceable and friendly behaviour, they were permitted to settle about the By the favourable terms which Mr. Penn offered to settlers, and an unlimited toleration of all religious denominations, the population of the province was extremely rapid. Notwithstanding the attempts of the proprietary or his governors to extend his own power, and accumulate property by procuring grants from the people, and exempting his lands from taxation, the government was generally mild, and the burdens of the people by no means oppressive. The selfish designs of the proprietaries were vigorously and constantly opposed by the assembly, whose firmness preserved the charter rights of the pro vince. At the revolution, the government was abolished. The proprietaries were absent, and the people, by their representatives, formed a new constitution on republican principles. The proprietaries were excluded from all share in the government, and the legislature offered them £130,000 in lieu of all quit-rents, which was finally accepted. The proprietaries, however, still possess in Pennsylvania many large tracts of excellent land. It is to be regretted, that among all the able writers in this important state, none has yet gratified the public with its interesting history. The present constitution of this state was ratified June 12th, 1792. A convention, to amend the constitution, may be called where the ma-] [jority of the people shall signify their wish for it. of Exports and Imports of the state, see PHYThe expense of the government of this state amounts to £22,280 annually. For an account LADELPHIA.] A LIST of the several PROPRIETORS, GOVERNORS, LIEUTENANT-GOVERNORS, and PRESIDENTS of the PROVINCE, with the times of their respective Administration. President, George Thomas, Anthony Palmer, Deputy Lieutenant Gov. James Hamilton, Robert Hunter Morris, William Denny, President, Lieutenant Gov. President of the Supreme Executive Council of the state of Pennsylvania, Governor, James Hamilton, John Penn, James Hamilton, Richard Penn, Thomas Wharton, Joseph Reed, William Moore, John Dickinson, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Thomas Mifflin, [PENN Fort, stands at the mouth of a small creek, on the w. side of Delaware river, in Northampton county, about 20 miles n. of the town of Easton, and near 65 n. of Philadelphia. Lat. from June 1747, to June 1748 from June 1748, to October 1754 from October 1754, to 19 August 1756 from 19 August 1756, to 17 November 1759 from 17 November 1759, to 21 October 1763 from 31 October 1763, to 6 May 1771 from 6 May 1771, to 16 October 1771 from 16 October 1771 from March 1777, to April 1778 from October 1778, to October 1781 from November 1781, to November 1782 from November 1782, to October 1785 from October 1785, tó October 1788 from October 1788 to October 1790 from October 1790.] 40° 59′. n. long. 75° 12' w. The road from Philadelphia to Tioga Point passes through the opening in the Blue Mountains, called Wind Gap, about nine miles s. w. of this fort.] [PENN, Port, in Newcastle county, Delaware, is situated on the w. bank of Delaware river, opposite to Reedy Island.] [PENN's, a township of Pennsylvania, on Susquehannah river. See Northumberland.] [PENN's Neck, in Salem county, New Jersey, lies on Old Man's Creek, which is part of the boundary between Salem and Gloucester counties. It is 12 miles n. e. by n. of Salem, 34 miles from the Delaware, and five below Swedesborough.] [PENN's Neck, the name of a range of farms of excellent soil, situated about 14 miles s. e. of Princeton in New Jersey, on a point of land formed by Millstone river and stony brook. It derived its name from the celebrated legislator, William Penn, who formerly owned this tract.] [PENN'S Rocks, three clusters of islands in the broadest and s. w. part of Hudson's Bay, N. America; distinguished by the names of E. W. and Middle Penns.] [PENNINGTON, or PENNYTOWN, a pleasant and flourishing village in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, six miles w. of Princeton, and 27 n. e. by n. of Philadelphia. It contains a church for public worship, and about 40 houses.] [PENNSBOROUGH, E. and W. two townships in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. There is also a township of this name in Chester county, Pennsylvania.] [PENNSBURY, a small town of Pennsylvania, in Buck's county, on a small creek of Delaware river. It was a manor which the celebrated Mr. Penn reserved for himself. Here he built a house, and planted gardens and orchards; which, with many additional buildings and improve ments, still continue.] PENNYCOOK, a river of the province of Hampshire, one of the four of New England. It rises in the White Mountain, runs s. then turns e. and enters the sea opposite the bank of Jeffrey. [PENNYTOWN. See PENNINGTON.] PENOBSCOT, or PENTAGUET, a river of the province of Sagadahock in N. America; it rises from various lakes, runs s. w. and enters the sea in the bay of its name. [The noble river which empties its waters into that bay, is the most considerable in the district of Maine, and rises by two branches in the high lands. The e. branch passes through several smaller lakes. From the Forks, as they are called, the Penobscot Indians pass to Canada, up either branch, principally the w. the source of which, they say, is not more than 20 miles from the waters which empty into the St. Lawrence. At the Forks is a remarkable high mountain; from thence down to Indian Old Town, situated on an island in this river, is about 60 miles (that is to say, by water), 40 of which the water flows in a still smooth stream, and in the whole distance there are no falls to interrupt the passage of boats in this distance the river widens, and embraces a great number of islands. About 60 rods below Indian Old Town are the Great Falls, where is a carrying-place of about 20 rods; thence 12 miles to the head of the tide there are no falls to obstruct boats. no falls to obstruct boats. Vessels of 30 tons come within a mile of the head of the tide. Thence 35 miles to the head of the bay, to the scite of Old Fort Pownal, the river flows in a pretty straight course, and is easily navigated. Passing by Majabagaduse on the e. 7 miles, and Owl's Head 20 miles further, on the w. you enter the ocean. It is high water here, at full and change, 43 minutes past 10. At the entrance of the river is 10 fathoms water. The Indians have a communication from this river to Scoodick river by a portage of three miles. This river was the w. limits of Nova Scotia or Acadia, by the treaty of Utrecht.] PENOBSCOT. This bay is large, handsome, and convenient, and full of islands. [It lies on the coast of Hancock county, district of Maine, and was called Norombega by the first discoverer; is about 16 leagues wide from Naskeag Point and Burnt Coal Island, on the e. to the point near Musket's Island, on the w. side of the bay. The chief islands it encloses are Fox, Haut, Long, and Deer Islands, besides a number of small isles, rocks, and ledges. Through this bay to the mouth of the river of its name, the w. channel goes up by a head-land on the w. called Owl's Head, and between Long Island on the w. and Cape Rosier on the e. to Bagaduce Point. The e. channel is between Haut Island on the w. and Burnt Coal Island on the e. and through a reach, called Long Reach, formed by the shores of Naskeag, or Sedwick, on the e. or n. e. and Deer Islands on the w. or s. w. till it unites with the other channel, between Point Rosier and Long Island. On a fine peninsula on the e. side of the bay the British built a fort, and made a settlement, which is now the shire-town of the county of Hancock, and is a commodious place for the lumber trade. Haut Island, or Isle of Holt, lies in lat. 44° n. and long. 68° 28' w. and is the southernmost of the large isles.] [PENOBSCOT, a post-town of the district of Maine, on the e. side of the bay of its name, situ ated in lat. 44° 27′ n. eight miles n. by w. of Blue Hill, 88 n. e. of Portland, 169 n. by e. of Boston, and 402 from Philadelphia. It is a port of entry, and carries on a small trade in fish and lum ber. The exports in 1794, ending September 30, amounted to 5825 dollars. This township contained, in 1790, 1048 inhabitants. In February, 1796, it was divided into two towns; the one retaining the name Penobscot; the other, named Castine, was made the shire-town, is a port of entry, and contains the post-office.] [PENOBSCOT, a small tribe of Indians who live in Indian Old Town, on an island in Penobscot River. They aver, that they have possessed the island, on which their town stands, 500 years. It stands just above the Great Falls, and consists of about 200 acres of land. See INDIAN OLD TOWN. In a former war this tribe lost their lands; but at the commencement of the last war, the Provincial Congress forbad any person settling on the lands from the head of the tide on Penobscot river, included in lines drawn six miles from the river on each side; that is, a tract 12 miles wide, intersected by the middle of the river. They, however, consider that they have a right to hunt and fish as far as the mouth of the Bay of Penobscot extends. This was their original right, in opposition to any other tribe, and they now occupy it.] PENOL, a city of Nuevo Mexico in N. America; founded by the Indians in a situation so strong and singular, as to be without its equal. It formerly had 2000 houses so strong and large, that they were said to be inhabited by upwards of 7000 inhabitants. It stands in the middle of some extensive llanuras, which extend upwards of 15 leagues in length, on the top of a rock, from whence it takes its name, and which is of such an extraordinary height as to be reckoned at a thousand fathoms, and is a league in length, entirely of rock, and with no other ascent than what is artificial, and where one person only can pass at a time, with some niches that one may retire should two happen to meet. At the top are several cisterns for catching water, and below, in the plain, are the crops of corn and seeds. PENOL DEL MARQUES, an island of the lake of Mexico, situate in the middle of the lake, and s. of the capital. Here is a mountain, on which Herman Cortés, Marquis del Valle, ordered some baths to be constructed. PENOLES, an alcaldia mayor of the province and bishopric of Oaxaca, in the Nueva España. The whole of its territory is rough, cold, mountainous, and barren; so much so, that the natives have no other commerce, save that of which arises from a little maize, and the cutting of timber in its serranias, which are covered with large firs and other trees, by which the neighbouring provinces are supplied. This consists, besides the capital, which is Ixquintepec, of the following settlements: S. Pedro Chilapa, S. Mateo Tepautepec, S. Pedro Totomachapa. S. Juan Elotepec, Santa Maria Huitepec, Santiago Gajolotipac, Sta. Catarina Estella, Santiago Ilazoyaltepec, PENOLES, an unpeopled track of the province of Tepeguana and kingdom of Nueva Vizcaya, in the direct road to the garrisons. At the distance of eight leagues to the n. w. is an estate called Sarca, very abundant in fowl and cattle; 23 leagues from the garrison and settlement of Mapimi. PENON, a settlement of the province and government of Cartagena in the Nuevo Reyno de Granada: situate on the shore of the river Grande de la Magdalena, opposite the mouth of the river Cesaré. PENON, another settlement of the province and government of Venezuela, in the same kingdom as the former; on the coast near the port of Cabello. PENONES SIETE, a settlement of the province and government of Antioquia in the Nuevo Reyno de Granada, on the shore of the river Grande de la Magdalena. PENONOME, a settlement of the district and alcaldía mayor of Natá in the province and kingdom of Tierra Firme; thus called from the name of a cacique, the master of that district. It is situate in a pleasant valley surrounded by mountains, and on the shore of the river Sarati, which renders it fertile and delightful, abounding in maize, plantains, pulse, pigs, and tame fowl; with all of which it supplies the city of Panama, the capital of the kingdom; from whence it lies 62 miles to the w. s. w. in lat. 8° 42′ n. PENONOME, a river of this province and kingdom, which rises in the mountains of the s. part, and, running n. enters the Cocle. Here there is nearly a communication between the N. and S. Seas, an isthmus of five leagues only intervening; and it was by this part that the contraband traders passed with their effects that they had bought of some foreigners in the N. Sea, and at the mouth of the Cocle, |