[the tangent line, dividing it from the state of Maryland; on the w. by the said tangent line, passing n. up the peninsula, till it touches the w. part of the territorial circle; and thence on the n. by the said circle, described with a radius of 12 miles about the town of Newcastle, which divides this state from Pennsylvania. This state derived its name from Lord De-La-War, who was instrumental in establishing the first settlement of Virginia. It is divided into three counties, Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex; whose chief towns are Wilmington, Newcastle, Dover, and Lewis. Dover is the seat of government. The number of inhabitants, in 1790, was 59,094, of whom 887 were slaves; and by the census of 1810, the population amounted to 72,674 souls.

The e. side of the state is indented with a large number of creeks, or small rivers, which generally have a short course, soft banks, numerous shoals, and are skirted with very extensive marshes, and empty into the river and bay of Delaware. In the s. and w. parts of this state spring the head waters of Pocomoke, Wicomico, Nanticoke, Choptank, Chester, Sassafras, and Bohemia rivers, all falling into Chesapeak bay; some of them are navigable 20 or 30 miles into the country, for vessels of 50 or 60 tons.

The state of Delaware, the upper parts of the county of Newcastle excepted, is, to speak generally, low and level. Large quantities of stagnant water, at particular seasons of the year, overspreading a great proportion of the land, render it equally unfit for the purposes of agriculture, and injurious to the health of the inhabitants. The spine or highest ridge of the peninsula runs through the state of Delaware, inclining to the e. or Delaware side. It is designated in Sussex, Kent, and part of Newcastle county, by a remarkable chain of swamps, from which the waters descend on each side, passing on the e. to the Delaware, and on the w. to the Chesapeak. Many of the shrubs and plants growing in these swamps are similar to those found on the highest mountains. Delaware is chiefly an agricultural state. It includes a very fertile tract of country; and scarcely any part of the United States is better adapted to the different purposes of agriculture, or in which a great variety of the most useful productions can be so conveniently and plentifully reared. The soil along the Delaware river, and from eight to 10 miles into the interior country, is generally a rich clay, producing large timber, and well adapted to the various purposes of agriculture. From thence to the swamps above men

VOL. 11.

tioned the soil is light, saudy, and of an inferior quality.

The general aspect of the country is very favourable for cultivation. Excepting some of the upper parts of the county of Newcastle, the surface of the state is very little broken or irregular. The heights of Christiana are lofty and commanding; some of the hills of Brandywine are rough and stony; but descending from these, and a few others, the lower country is so little diversified as almost to form one extended plain. In the county of Newcastle the soil consists of a strong clay; in Kent there is a considerable mixture of sand; and in Sussex the quantity of sand altoge ther predominates. Wheat is the staple of this state. It grows here in such perfection as not only to be particularly sought by the manufacturers of flour throughout the Union, but also to be distinguished and preferred for its superior qualities in foreign markets. This wheat possesses an uncommon softness and whiteness, very favourable to the manufactures of superfine flour, and in other respects far exceeds the hard and flinty grains raised in general on the higher lands. Besides wheat, this state generally produces plentiful crops of Indian corn, barley, rye, oats, flax, buck-wheat, and potatoes. It abounds in natural and artificial meadows, containing a large variety of grasses. Hemp, cotton, and silk, if properly attended to, doubtless would flourish very well.

The county of Sussex, besides producing a considerable quantity of grain, particularly of Indian corn, possesses excellent grazing lands. This county also exports very large quantities of lumber, obtained chiefly from an extensive swamp, called the Indian River or Cypress Swamp, lying partly within this state, and partly in the state of Maryland. This morass extends six miles from e. to w. and nearly 12 from n. to s. including an area of nearly 50,000 acres of land. The whole of this swamp is a high and level bason, very wet, though undoubtedly the highest land between the sea and the bay, whence the Pocomoke descends on one side, and Indian river and St. Martin's on the other. This swamp contains a great variety of plants, trees, wild beasts, birds, and reptiles.

Almost the whole of the foreign exports of Delaware are from Wilmington: the trade from this state to Philadelphia is great, being the principal source whence that city draws its staple commodity. No less than 265,000 barrels of flour, 500,000 bushels of wheat, 170,000 bushels of Indian corn, besides barley, oats, flax-seed, paper, slit-iron, snuff, salted provisions, &c. &c. to a very]

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[considerable amount, are annually sent from the waters of the Delaware state; of which the Christiana is by far the most productive, and probably many times as much so as any other creek or river of like magnitude in the Union; 245,000 barrels of flour, and other articles, to the amount of 80,000 dollars more, being exported from this creek; of which, to the value of 550,000 dollars are manufactured on its n. bank, within two or three miles of the navigation. Among other branches of industry exercised in and near Wilmington, is a cotton manufactory, (lately however burnt); a bolting cloth manufactory has lately been established by an ingenious European; both of which have promised fair to be a lasting advantage to the country. In the county of Newcastle are several fulling-mills, two snuff-mills, one slitting-mill, four paper-mills, and sixty mills for grinding grain, all of which are turned by water. But though Wilmington and its neighbourhood are probably already the greatest seat of manufactures in the United States, yet they are capable of being much improved in this respect, as the country is hilly, and abounds with running water; the Brandywine alone might, with a moderate expence, when compared with the object, be brought to the top of the hill upon which Wilmington is situated, whereby a fall sufficient for 40 mills, in addition to those already built, would be obtained. The heights near Wilmington afford a number of agreeable prospects; from some of which may be seen the town, the adjacent meadows, and four adjoining states. No regular account of the births and burials has been kept, but the place is healthy. The number of children under 16 is probably equal to that of any town which is not more populous, and, according to an accurate account taken the year 1794, there were upwards of 160 persons above 60 years old. The legislature of this state, in 1796, passed an act to incorporate a bank in this town.

There is no college in this state. There is an academy at Newark, incorporated in 1769. The legislature, during their session in January 1796, passed an act to create a fund for the establishment of schools throughout the state.

Wheat is the staple commodity of this state. This is manufactured into flour, and exported in large quantities. The exports from the port of Wilmington, where a number of square-rigged vessels are owned, for the year 1786, in the article of flour, was 20,783 barrels superfine, 457 do. common, 256 do. middling, and 346 do. ship stuff. The manufacture of flour is carried to a higher

degree of perfection in this state than in any other in the Union. Besides the well constructed mills on Red-clay and White-clay creeks, and other streams in different parts of the state, the celebrated collection of mills at Brandywine merit a particular description. Here are to be seen, at one view, 12 merchant mills, (besides a saw mill), having double the number of pairs of stones found in the others, all of superior dimensions and excellent construc. tion. These mills are three miles from the mouth of the creek on which they stand, half a mile from Wilmington, and 27 from Philadelphia, on the post road from the e. to the s. states. They are called the Brandywine Mills, from the stream on which they are erected. This stream rises near the Welch mountains in Pennsylvania, and after a winding course of 30 or 40 miles through falls, which furnish numerous seats (130 of which are already occupied) for every species of water works, empties into Christiana creek, near Wilmington. The quantity of wheat manufactured at these mills annually is not accurately ascertained. It is estimated, however, by the best informed on, the subject, that these mills can grind 400,000 bushels in a year. But although they are capable of manufacturing this quantity yearly, yet from the difficulty of procuring a permanent supply of grain, the instability of the flour market, and other circumstances, there are not commonly more than from about 290 to 300,000 bushels of wheat and. corn manufactured here annually. In the fall of 1789, and spring of 1790, there were made at the Brandywine mills 50,000 barrels of superfine flour,. 1354 do. of common, 400 do. middling, many of ship stuff, and 2000 do. corn meal. The quantity of wheat and corn ground, from which this flour, &c. was made, was 308,000 bushels, equal to the export of those articles from the port of Philadelphia for the same year.

as

These mills give employ to about 200 persons, viz. about 40 to tend the mills, from 50 to 70 coopers to make casks for the flour, a sufficient number to man 12 sloops of about 50 tons each, which are employed in the transportation of the wheat and flour, the rest in various other occupations connected with the mills. The navigation quite to these mills is such, that a vessel carrying 1000 bushels of wheat may be laid alongside of any of these mills; and beside some of them the water. is of suflicient depth to admit vessels of twice the above size. The vessels are unloaded with astonishing expedition. There have been instances of 1000 bushels being carried to the height of four stories in four hours. It is frequently the case]

that vessels with 1000 bushels of wheat come up with flood tide, unlade, and go away the succeed ing ebb with 300 barrels of flour on board. In consequence of the machines introduced by the ingenious Mr. Oliver Evans, three quarters of the manual labour before found necessary is now sufficient for every purpose. By means of these machines, when made use of in the full extent proposed by the inventor, the wheat will be received on the shallop's deck, thence carried to the upper loft of the mill, and a considerable portion of the same returned in flour on the lower floor, ready for packing, without the assistance of manual labour but in a very small degree, in proportion to the business done. The transportation of flour from the mills to the port of Wilmington does not require half an hour; and it is frequently with ease that a cargo is taken from the mills and delivered at Philadelphia the same day. The situation of these mills is very pleasant and healthful. The first mill was built here about 50 years since. There is now a small town of 40 houses, principally stone and brick, which, together with the mills and the vessels loading and unloading beside them, furnish a charming prospect from the bridge, from whence they are all in full view.

Besides the wheat and flour trade, this state exports lumber and various other articles. The amount of exports from the year ending September 30th, 1791, was 119,878 dollars, 93 cents; ditto 1792, 153,972 dollars, 27 cents; ditto 1793, 93,559 dollars, 45 cents; ditto 1794, 207,985 dollars, 33 cents; ditto 1795, 158,041 dollars, 21 cents. In this state there is a variety of religious denominations. Of the Presbyterian sect there are 24 churches; of the Episcopal 14; of the Baptist 7; of the Methodists, a considerable number, especially in the two lower counties of Kent and Sussex the number of their churches is not exactly ascertained. Besides these there is a Swedish church at Wilmington, which is one of the oldest churches in the United States.

There are few minerals in this state except iron; large quantities of bog iron ore, very fit for cast ings, are found in Sussex county, among the branches of Nanticoke river. Before the revolution this ore was worked to a great amount; but this business has since declined. Wheat and lumber are the staple commodities of this state. The other articles of produce and manufacture, are Indian corn, barley, oats, flax-seed, salted provisions, paper, slit-iron, snuff, &c.

Settlements were made here by the Dutch about the year 1623, and by the Swedes about the year

1627. Their settlements were comprehended in the grant to the Duke of York; and William Penn united them to his government by purchase. They were afterwards separated, in some measure, from Pennsylvania, and denominated the Three Lower Counties. They had their own assemblies, but the governor of Pennsylvania used to attend, as he did in his own proper government. At the late revolution, the Three Counties were erected into a sovereign state; and have established a republican constitution.]

[DELAWARE County, in Pennsylvania, is s. w. of Philadelphia county, on Delaware river. It is about 21 miles in length, and 15 in breadth, containing 115,200 acres, and subdivided into 19 townships, the chief of which is Chester. The number of inhabitants is 9483. The lands bordering on the Delaware are low, and afford excellent meadow and pasturage; and are guarded from inundations by mounds of earth or dikes, which are sometimes broken down in extraordinary freshes in the river. If this happens before cutting the grass, the crop of hay is lost for that season, and the reparation of the breaches is expensive to the proprietors. Great numbers of cattle are brought here from the w. parts of Virginia and N. Carolina, to be fattened for supplying the Philadelphia market.]

[DELAWARE, a new county in the state of New York, on the head waters of Delaware river, taken from Otsego county.]

[DELAWARE, a township in Northampton county, Pennsylvania.]

[DELAWARES, an Indian nation, formerly numerous and powerful, and who possessed part of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. This name was doubtless given them by the Eu ropeans; for they call themselves Lennilenape, that is, Indian men; or Woapanachky, which signifies a people living towards the rising sun. They now reside about half-way between lake Erie and Ohio river. They are an ingenious and intelligent people; and like the Six Nations, are celebrated for their courage, peaceable disposition, and powerful alliances. Almost all the neighbouring nations are in league with them, especially the Mahikan, Shawanves, Cherokees, Twichtwees, Wawiachtanos, Kilkapus, Moshkos, Tuckachshas, Chippeways, Ottawas, Putewoatamies, and Kaskaskias. The Delawares were lately hostile, but made peace with the United States, 1795, and ceded some lands. The United States, on the other hand, have engaged to pay them in goods, to the value of 1000 dollars a year for ever,

Twenty years ago the Delawares could furnish 600 warriors; but their number is considerably decreased by war since that time.]

DELE, a small province of the kingdom of Brazil, in the middle of the captainship of Seara. It is contiguous to the province of Petaguay, and are both of them inhabited by savage Indians, with some few Portuguese, who have fled hither on account of their crimes. It abounds greatly in sugar-cane and Brazil-wood. The climate, though very hot, is healthy. The Portuguese endeavoured in vain to subject this province to their dominion, after several attempts, in which numbers of people were slain, but at length finding all efforts vain, they desisted from the enterprise.

DELEC, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Cuenca in the kingdom of Quito; situate between two rivers, the one to the e. the other to the w. both of them uniting together to form the Abancay. It is of a fertile and delicious territory, healthy climate, and mild and pleasant temperature, lying to the n. n. e. of its capital, in lat. 2° 48' s.

DELFIN, or DAUPHIN, a small island in the gulf of Mexico, near the coast of W. Florida, 20 miles to the e. of the entrance or mouth of the river Chicasawhay, and in that of the Mobile. It is five miles long and very narrow. In one half of it there are no trees, and in the other but very few. The only fort and settlement that it contains is situate in the w. part of it. Between this island and another about a league's distance, called Del Cuerno, the water is very shallow, and at the extremity of the last mentioned island is another small one, which should rather be looked upon as a rock. This is called Redonda, from its round figure. The rock Delfin was formerly called Mas sacre, and had upon it many store-houses and small buildings; in as much as its port offered a greater convenience for the French established here to unlade their merchandise than to carry it on in small craft as far as the Mobile. In a short time it became well peopled; and a few years after the French built a fort, so that it became the principal place of the colony; maintaining this title, not only by virtue of the assistance it received from France, but likewise by the successful resistance exhibited against the native savages; although these afterward were made to manifest a very friendly disposition. Some of these Indians established themselves upon the river Mobile, where they cultivated a piece of ground, and lived in amity with the French, preferring them to the Spaniards, with whom they had lived some

time, and notwithstanding that the latter had established a misson amongst them for the purpose of instructing them in religion. The other Indians, bent upon nothing more than enhancing the prosperity of the colony, and thinking that it was not advantageous to raise corn, set about making some plantations of tobacco, which succeeded admirably; and, indeed, they had an idea that this article was preferable to any found in Virginia. Some time after an English pirate destroyed and burnt their storehouses, committing, at the same time, incredible cruelties amongst the inhabitants, in the hopes of forcing them to communicate where they might have hidden treasure. The loss sustained on this occasion, which was by far less serious to the king than to individuals, amounted to 80,000 francs; and after this it was deeemed expedient to fortify the island. The fruits of all the industry and labour manifested on this occasion were entirely lost, owing to a hurricane which happened, and which filled up the entrance of the port by a mountain of sand; the whole of the island was nearly inundated, and the numbers of cattle that perished were very great. In 1719, the Spaniards endeavoured, for four days following, to take it by surprise, but they found themselves obliged to desist from their undertaking. It is in lat. 30° 18′ n. Long. 88° 12′ w.

DELFIN, a bay on the s. coast of the straits of Magellan, close to the point of San Fernando.

DELFIN, a settlement and parish of the French, in the island of St. Domingo; situate on the n. coast, on the shore of a port of its name, being between the settlement of Caracol and the bay of Manzanillo. [See DAUPHIN.]

DELGADA, a point of the n. coast of the straits of Magellan, one of those which form the mouth of the first narrow pass of these straits, called also Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza.

DELGADA, another point of land on the coast of Nueva España, and alcaldía mayor of Tampico. It is 50 leagues from the river of this name, in lat. 20° 12'. Long. 98° 28'.

[DELIVERANCE Cape is the s. e. point of the land of Louisiade. Bougainville was here, and named it in 1768.]

DELORA, a large and rapid river of the kingdom of Chile, in the province and corregimiento of Santiago. It runs from e. tow. and receives the waters of the Teno, Pereróa, and Mataquito, fertilizing some beautiful plains, and then in a large and copious stream emptying itself into the Pacific, in lat. 34° 45' s.

[DEL-REY, a captainship in the s. division.