of gratitude for the prompt and successful execution of one of her noblest public works.

By an act of the State Legislature, passed in 1832, our town was constituted a city, by the name of "THE CITY OF WILMINGTON," with authority to hold courts, for the trial of criminal of fences, enumerated in the charter; together with such other powers, as are necessary to the good government of a municipal corporation. If there be any dignity If there be any dignity or utility in the title and constitution of a city, which did not appertain to the old system, they were conferred by this act. Our first Mayor was Richard H. Bayard, who, by his legal knowledge, and devotion to the concern, was eminently useful in organizing and putting in operation the city government, under the new charter.

The first continuous range of houses in Wilmington, was built on Shipley near Tenth street, about the year 1822, by our enterprizing fellow citizen, James Canby. Since that time his example has been followed in many instances; and our city can now exhibit a considerable number of such rows, which, for size and elegance, would do no discredit to the fairest cities in our country. The extensive plain below the original town, on its eastern side, towards the Old Swedes' Church, is fast filling up with handsome brick houses. It is understood that about two hundred such buildings have been erected within our limits in the present year, [1845.]

Manufactories of iron and paper, worked by steam, have lately been erected. New shipyards have been established,— one for building iron ships of any magnitude, by our fellow citizen, Mahlon Betts, at which several beautiful vessels, of large size, have already been completed. Our markets are abundantly supplied with the best of beef, butter, poultry, vegetables, and other articles; and for its size, variety, and the excellence of its provisions, is probably unrivalled by any city of the same dimensions in America. "The Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Rail Road" passes through the town, giving facilities to travellers never anticipated in olden times.

A number of steamboats daily ply between this city and Philadelphia, employed in the transportation of passengers and merchandize. The successful enterprize of our citizens, in various ways, too numerous to be described within our limits, has given a cheerful aspect to Wilmington, as a place of business, and a well grounded hope for its permanent prosperity.

It was the intention of the writer to give a detailed account of circumstances connected with the two old churches at New Castle, belonging to the Episcopal and Presbyterian congregations. But their history is so imperfect, and difficult to obtain, that after spending some time and pains in the cause, he has not succeeded in procuring satisfactory information on the subject. The drawing of the Episcopal church, which is presented in this work, will give a very correct view of that interesting old edifice.

In the course of the author's inquiries preparatory to writing the history of the Original Settlements on the Delaware, a number of interesting facts and circumstances connected with the objects he had in view, came to his knowledge. To have introduced them in the order of their occurrence, would have too much incumbered the narrative; to have omitted them altogether, would have been inconsistent with the object of the work. It has, therefore, been determined to give them in the closing chapter of the book, by way of addenda.

CHAPTER VI.

HISTORICAL ADDENDA.

THE following memoir of William Shipley and Elizabeth his wife, is principally taken from a manuscript memorandum book, in the family of one of his descendants. To William Shipley, Wilmington was indebted for many of its improvements, and much of its prosperity, in its infant state. The dream of his wife is related as a curious occurrence, without the least desire to support or increase any confidence in the wild vagaries of the mind during sleep. It is given as a circumstance connected with the history of Wilmington,-as a well authenticated fact, which had, at a very early period, a powerful agency in promoting the settlement and increase of the town. Whatever may have been its origin, its consequences were highly important to the little village of Willingtown, and productive of more substantial fruits than usually result from the unbridled ramblings of the mind.

William Shipley was born in Leicestershire, England, in the year 1693. His wife was the daughter of Robert and Ann Tatnall, from whom are descended all the families of the Tatnalls, the Leas, the Canbys, the Shipleys, and Prices, in the neighborhood of the Brandywine Mills; and all the Richardsons and Latimers, near Mill Creek, on the New Port road. William Shipley and his wife, with their three children, Thomas, Ann, and Elizabeth, embarked at Bristol, in England, in the spring of 1725, on board a ship bound to Philadelphia, commanded by a Captain Dicks. The vessel was crowded with passengers, having upwards of