These mount qual sections, counting the mountainous part as the central one. ains deviate considerably from their general line in the interior of Pennsylvania. They cross the boundary of Virginia with a course nearly northeast, soon incline northeasterly, and at length run for some distance eastwardly; then stretching again more northwardly, cross the New York line in the usual course, northeast. The most easterly ridge enters the state in York county, and is cut through by the Susquehannah, a river which, instead of conforming its direction to that of the mountains, crosses the entire range nearly at right-angles. The Delaware river, which forms the whole eastern boundary, rises in the state of New York. A system of canals forms an important line of navigation for boats and arks from the Lehigh river to Philadelphia, by which the productive coal-mines at Mauch-Chunk send thousands of tons to that city. The Delaware communicates, also, at different points, with the Delaware and Hudson canal, the Morris canal, and the Delaware and Chesapeake canal, and, through the Schuylkill, by the improved navigation of that river, and the great Western canal line, to the Ohio. At the same time, the numerous and long lines of railroads, crossing the country in different directions, meet the Delaware at Philadelphia; while the navigation of that noble stream by steamboats, coasting and foreign vessels, adds another very important branch to the extensive commerce of the state. The Susquehannah, though flowing through regions abounding in various products, is naturally so much broken by the irregularity of the surface, that it was navigable only for boats, and at great risk; and, at the same time, the more important agricultural portion of the state, west of the mountains, offered strong inducements to the opening of a channel of communication between it and the commercial capital. The example of New York encouraged the undertaking; and Pennsylvania embarked more extensively than any other state in the construction of canals. Immense labors were performed. Railroads were in some places connected with them. But the first results proved unfavorable, and a general depression for a time succeeded, so great that the legislature at length resorted to a temporary suspension of payment; but arrears are now paid, and prospects improving. THE HISTORY of the settlement of Pennsylvania, and the early years of its colonial existence, have ever been regarded with peculiar interest, on account of the professions and character of the people, and especially their founder. The earliest European colony was planted in this state by Swedes, in 1627, or 1628, and conquered by the Dutch, from New York, in 1655. But the English having taken possession, in 1681, William Penn obtained a grant of land on the Delaware, landed at New Castle, and entered upon the government of about 3,000 inhabitants-Swedes, English, Dutch, and Finlanders. A place called by the Indians Coaquanock, was chosen for the site of a city, and named Philadelphia, a name corresponding with the pacific principles of the society of Friends, of which Penn was so distinguished a member. By his mild, just, and humane treatment of the Indians, he set an example worthy of imitation, and gave the poor savages, so often misunderstood, abused, and misrepresented, opportunities to display some of the virtues of which they have too t often been declared to be destitute. A characteristic anecdote is told, by tradition, of the sagacity and Christian liberality of William Penn, which forcibly illustrates the truth, that the way which is right is usually that which is most profitable in the end. The Indians once came to him with a complaint that they had been under some misapprehension in the terms of a bargain they had made with the white men, who had purchased of them a large tract of land. The colonists at the same time represented that the bargain, though hard for the Indians, was a fair one, and that they were ready to fight for it. to fight for it. Penn, however, in consistency with the principles of the gospel, which he professed, inquired of the Indians how much more they considered the land worth than they were to receive; and, on being informed, made such an addition of the articles used in trade as fully satisfied them, though really of trifling value, and thus not only prevented immediate bloodshed, and other evils attendant on 'war, but confirmed the grateful wildmen in their pa cific spirit and friendly attachment to the colonists, most favorable to the permanency of a good understanding and free trade for the future. The relations between Pennsylvania and Connecticut were disturbed for a number of years, after the settlement of a colony from the latter in the valley of Wyoming, which was claimed under the patent of King Charles, as it lay in her territory, as marked out by the two parallels extending to the South sea. The encroachments of the French in the west, on the Ohio river, threatened Pennsylvania, as well as Virginia; but, until the Revolutionary war, her inland position, and the obstacles presented by her mountains, contributed to secure her from most of the trials through which many of the other colonies had to pass, in the early stages of their history. Having no internal enemies, in consequence of the just and pacific policy pursued by Penn, she had little to disturb the peaceful lives of her inhabitants, until the Revolutionary war involved her in a full share of the public sufferings and losses. Her capital, after |