a squadron of seven armed ships and transports, containing between six and seven hundred men, sailed for the Delaware, and having taken Fort Cassimir, laid siege to Fort Christiana. Rising, the Swedish governor, had a force of only thirty men, and with these he could make no sortie, or prevent the Dutch from gaining positions to completely command the fort. On the 24th of August, Stuyvesant summoned Rising to surrender within twentyfour hours, or suffer the consequences of a capture by force of arms. Being without a supply of powder, or hope of relief, the Swedes were compelled to capitulate.

All the country on the west side of the Delaware was divided into two colonies. That which included Fort Christiana, was called the "Colony of the Company." In 1658, William Beekman, an alderman of the city of Amsterdam, was appointed vice-governor over the colony-his residence being at Altonia, now Wilmington. The number of Swedish families in the colony at this time was but one hundred and thirty, although they comprised the majority of the population. The Dutch had no regular ministry among them, while the Swedes were careful to maintain public worship as constantly as their isolated situation would admit, and being much the larger portion of the population, especially about Christiana, the rising generation lost their Dutch character and language.

The ancient Swedes' Church, in Wilmington, was erected in 1699. Its size inside the walls, which are of hard free stone, is 60 feet in length, 30 in breadth, and 20 in hight. It was dedicated in May, on Trinity Sunday, and was named Trinity Church. The corner stone was laid on the 28th of May, 1698. It is said that all the materials for the building were carried in hand barrows, and that the Swedish women filled their aprons with sand, handing it to the workmen, so anxious were they to have the building completed. William Penn was so much pleased with the energy of the congregation, that he presented them a bill for fifty pounds. sterling, to aid in the good work. In the east end of the church, over the large window, iron letters were built in the wall, forming the Latin sentence, LUX L. S. TENEBR. ORIENS EX ALTO. On the south front, over the door, was the word IMMANUEL. On the north side was the sentence, "POL NR CHRIST." On the west end, over the large door, was the following inscription, in the same kind of letters, built in the wall:

SOUTH-EAST VIEW OF SWEDES' CHURCH AT WILMINGTON.

"1698. SI DE, PRO NOBIS QUIS CONTRA NOS SUB IMP. REG. D. G. ANG. WILL. III, Propr. Will. Penn, vice Gub. Will., Magnif. Reg. Suec. Nunc. Glov. Memor. Carol. XI. Hue Ableg: E. T. B. W. S. P. L."

[If God be for us, who can be against us? Rom. viii, 31. Under the reign of William III, by the grace of God, king of England, William Penn, proprietary, William Markham,

vice-governor, and in the reign of Charles XI, of Sweden. Their great king, now of glorious memory, sent to this place E. T. B. Biork, W. S. P. L. Wholly Stobey, highest subscriber.]

In 1762, the north and south walls of the church, owing to the heavy pressure of the arched ceiling and roof, became bulged outward six or eight inches. In order to prevent further damage, porticos were built on the north and south sides, to serve as buttresses or supports to the wall. In 1802, a small steeple of brick was built at the west end of the church. The graveyard which surrounds the building, was used by the first Swedish settlers as a place of interment, before the erection of their church edifice. The oldest gravestone within the inclosure appears to be that of William Vandever, who was interred Oct. 11, 1719. "For one hundred years after the adjacent city of Wilmington was laid out, the old church stood nearly half a mile from the built part of it. Its situation was secluded and quiet. The Christiana flowed by, between its green bordering of reeds, but a few paces from the church yard walls. Many a bright sail was to be seen in a summer evening, gliding along its noiseless current. Beyond it was the beautiful Brandywine, and still further on, the majestic Delaware, bounded by the blue line of Jersey woods, and rolling its mighty waters toward the mightier Atlantic. Rich green meadows lay immediately round the church." But time and trade have made encroachments on this venerable spot. The city is fast invading the quietude and retirement of the old church. The Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad has pushed its way through part of the graveyard. The very spot where the warlike Peter Stuyvesant, governor of New Netherlands, and John Claudii Rising, governor general of New Sweden, held a parley upward of two hundred years since, for the surrender of Fort Christiana, is now "a yawning gulf," excavated wide and deep, out of which have been taken thousands of tuns of stone to make the Delaware breakwater.

The following inscription is copied from a monument in the new cemetery at Wilmington:

Erected to the memory of Captain DAVID H. PORTER, nephew of the late Commodore Porter, born in New Castle county, Delaware, Feb. 19, 1805. Having served in the U. S. Navy until he had obtained the rank of Lieut., he entered that of Mexico whilst she was engaged with Spain in her struggle for Liberty and Independence. On the 10th of Feb., 1828, whilst commanding the brig-of-war Guerriere of 22 guns and 136 men, he engaged two Spanish brigs-of-war of superior force, and was victorious over their united strength. On the same day the Spanish frigate Lealtad, of 54 guns and 500 men, attacked him while in a crippled condition, and after a desperate action of 2 hours and 20 minutes, his ammunition being exhausted, Captain Porter surrendered to save his brave crew. The frigate continued her fire. As the colors of the brig had been twice shot away, Capt. Porter was in the act of hoisting them when he was killed by a grape shot passing through his body. Thus fell Captain David H. Porter, in the 23d year of his age, after as gallant a battle as history records.

He sleeps in death, the dauntlets hero sleeps,
No more to listen to the trump of fame;
Columbia's genius bending o'er him, weeps,
A sacred tribute due brave Porter's name.

NEW CASTLE, one of the oldest towns on the Delaware, and at one time the capital of the state, is situated on the west bank of Delaware River, five miles S. from Wilmington, and 31 N. from Dover. Its harbor is protected by long piers; railroads to Wilmington and Frenchtown afford direct communication with Philadelphia and Baltimore. It contains the county buildings, five churches, a bank, a public library of 4,000 volumes, and about 4,000 inhabitants.

In 1651, the Dutch erected a trading house, rather than a fortification, on a low point of land which commanded the Delaware, near where New Castle now stands. Hudde, left to rule and traffic there, purchased of the Minquaas the lands on the western side of the Delaware, from Christiana creek to the River Bompthook; which was the earliest purchase there made by the Dutch. The Swedes, observing this conduct of their rivals, protested against it, and Rising, the Swedish governor, took the place by force the next year, and named it Fort Cassimir. In 1655, the Dutch reduced the Swedish settlements, and in 1666, the governor general and his council at New Amsterdam, gave seventy-five deeds for land, chiefly for lots in the town of New Amstel, just then beginning to assume the character of a village. This was the commencement of the beautiful town, New Castle.

Western view of the central part of New Castle.

The court house is seen on the left, the town hall and market on the right. The spire of the Episcopal Church between the hall and court house; the Presbyterian Church on the right.

In 1657, some curious municipal regulations were established at New Amstel. All lots were to be fenced before the middle of March, under a penalty of six gyllen. Goats to be guarded by herdsmen, or all damages done by them to be satisfied. None to enter the fort by land or water without leave. None to settle between Fort Cassimir and Christiana, that wood might be saved for the use of the town and fort. All swine to be yoked within 24 hours, or be killed by the soldiers. In 1672, the town of New Castle was incorporated by the English government at New York, to be governed by a bailiff and six assistants; after the first year, the oldest four were to leave their office, and four others to be chosen. The bailiff was president, with a double vote; the constable was chosen by the bench. They had power to try causes not exceeding £10, without appeal. The office of scout was converted into that of sheriff, who had jurisdiction in the corporation and along the river, and was annually chosen. They were to have a free trade, without being obliged to make entry at New York, as had formerly been the practice.

The old church in New Castle is between the years 1702 and 1704. Swedes' Church in Wilmington. there since 1705, expect perhaps

called Immanuel Church, and was erected It is something similar in form to the A congregation has statedly assembled during a part of the revolutionary war.

The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the graveyard attached to this church:

To the memory of JOHN CURTISS, Esq., late Speaker of the Assembly, Judge of the Supreme Court, Treasurer and Trustee of the Loan Office, who departed this life Nov. 18th, 1753, aged 61 years. If to be prudent in council, upright in judgment, faithful in trust, give value to public men, to be sincere in Friendship, affectionate to Relations, and kind to all Mankind, make the private man amiable: thy death, O Curtiss, as a general loss long shall be lamented.

GEORGE READ, born A. D. 1732, died 21st December, 1798, Member of the Congress of the Revolution; of the Convention that formed the Constitution of the United States, and of the first Senate formed under it; Judge of Admiralty; President and Chief Justice of Delaware, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

DOVER, the capital of Delaware, is situated between the two branches of Jones' creek, 10 miles above its entrance into Delaware Bay, and 48 miles S. from Wilmington, with which it is connected by railroad. It is regularly laid out, with streets crossing each other at right angles. The state house is situated on the west side of the public square. There are 4 churches, a bank, and about 1,200 inhabitants.

Bishop Whatcoat, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died in the village in a building now occupied as the Farmers' Bank, on the opposite side of the square from

the court house. The following inscription is copied from a monument in the Methodist graveyard near the railroad station:

In memory of RICHARD WHATCOAT, who was born at Dunton, Gloucestershire, England, A. D. 1736; became a traveling preacher in 1769, was ordained Elder by Rev. John Wesley, and sent to America with Dr. Coke, to assist in organizing the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 1784; was constituted Bishop at the General Conference in 1800, and after six years faithful service in the Episcopal office, died in great peace in Dover, Delaware, July 5th, 1806. In Life, and in Death, he was the model of a Christian, a Minister, and a scriptural Bishop. Erected A. D. 1855, by the Philadelphia Annual Conference and the Congregation of Wesley Church in Dover. This stone marks the site of the old Wesley Church erected in 1780; the grave being under the Pulpit.

The following inscriptions are from monuments in the graveyard by the Presbyterian Church:

In memory of JOHN HASLET, Esquire, Colonel of the Delaware Regiment, who fell gloriously at the battle of Princeton in the cause of American Independence, Jan. 3, 1777. The General Assembly of Maryland, of the Delaware State, remembering his virtues as a man, his merits as a citizen, and his services as a soldier, have caused this monumental stone in testimony of their respect, to be placed over his grave, Anno MDCCLXXXIII.-Erected by the State of Delaware as a testimony of respect to the memory of Col. John Haslet, whose

remains, according to a Resolution of the Legislature on the 22d of Feb., 1841, were removed from their resting place in the graveyard of the First Presbyterian Church in the city of Philadelphia, and here interred on Saturday the 3d of July, 1841.

In memory of the Honorable JOHN PATTEN, Esquire, who distinguished himself as a brave and useful officer during the Revolutionary war, and afterwards served his country with honor at different periods, as a member of the American Congress. Amiable and beloved in social and domestic life! a firm Patriot! an honest man! He departed this life on the 26th day of December, 1800, aged 54 years and 8 months.

In memory of Honorable THOMAS CLAYTON, who departed this life Aug. 21st, 1854, in the 77th year of his age, beloved, respected, and universally regretted by all who knew him. Having fulfilled his mission on earth to the entire satisfaction of every one, this great and good man has now gone to a better world to dwell with the blessed in Heaven. Integer vitæ Scelerisque Purus.

In memory of WILLIAM KILLEN, Esquire. He was born in Ireland, A. D. 1772. He landed in Philadelphia, A. D. 1737, and soon afterwards came to this State and settled in this county. He was for many years member of the Bar, and at different times a Representative of the General Assembly. In the commencement of the Revolution, he accepted the office of chief justice of the Supreme Court, and the discharge of the duties of that office until the establishing the Constitution of 1792. Under this Constitution he was appointed chancellor, and held the office until A. D. 1801, when in consequence of his age, he resigned it. He died Oct. 5th, 1805, aged 83 years, having sustained through a long life in difficult times and important stations, the unquestioned character of an honest man.

Consecrated to the memory of the Rev. JOHN MILLER, A. M., who died July 22d, 1791, in the 69th year of his age. He sustained more than 43 years the pastoral charge of the Presbyterian churches of Dover and Duck Creek. Pious, faithful and beloved.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ETC.

George Read, a signer of the declaration of independence, was born in Cecil county, in Maryland, in 1734. He commenced the study of law at the age of 17,

Geshead

He

and in 1754, he settled in the county of
New Castle, Delaware, and commenced
the practice of his profession. He rose
to various offices of distinction.
was elevated to the bench as chief jus-
tice of the supreme court of Delaware,
in 1793, and died in 1798, in the 64th
year of his age.

Caesar Rodney, a signer of the declaration of independence, was born at Dover, Delaware, in 1730. Mr. R. was brought up to agricultural pursuits. He was sent

a delegate to the general congress, and while performing his duties there, he was appointed a brigadier-general of his province. He appears to have attended to both these duties, alternately in congress and at home. When the British, under Lord Howe, landed at the mouth of Elk River, and directed their march toward Philadelphia, he joined the main army under Washington. Mr. Rodney was also chosen president of Delaware, which, being much exposed to the enemy, rendered his duties arduous. While he was thus laboring for his country's good, he suffered greatly from a cancer on his cheek, which had been upon him from his youth. He died in 1783, in the 53d year of his age.

Casar Rodney

Joseph Kirkwood, a highly esteemed officer of the revolution, "was the gallant and unrewarded Capt. Kirkwood, of the Delaware line," to whom frequent and honorable allusion is made in Lee's Memoirs of the southern campaigns. Delaware had but one continental regiment, which, at the defeat at Camden with the