Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1841-10-21
MASON AND DIyoN's LINE.

This famous line is so often mentioned in
and out of Congress, that to American ears
its name is as familiar as household words.
Its history and location are not, however, SO
we'll or generally known but that the annexed
article, from the Salem Gazette, will be
found to contain Information, new ut least to
some OF our readers, or this subject.
This boundary is so termed from the names
of Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon-two
gentlemen who were appointed to run unfin-
ished lines in 1862, between Pennsylvania
and Maryland, ON the Territories subject 10
the heirs of Penn and Lord Baltimore. A
temporary line had been run in 1889, between
themselves. A decree had been made in
1913 by King James, delincating the boun-
duries between the hndsgi4en by charter TO
the first Lord Baltimore, and those adjudged
to his Majesty, afterwards 10 William Penn,
which divided the tract of land between Del.
aware Bay and Chesapeake Bay, by a line
equally inlersecting it, drawn from Capo
Hcnlopea TO the 4Olh degree of north latitude.
A decree ia chancery rendered tho King's
decree Imperative But the situation OF Hen
lopen became long subject Of serious, pro.
tracted and expensive litigation; particularly
utter the death Of Penn, Ills, and Lord Balti-
more, in liza, until John aud Richard and
Thomas Penn. (who had become the sole
proprietors of the American possessions OF
their father WilliaMO and Cecillious, the
original patentec, entered into an agreement
on the 10Th of May, 1922. TO this agreement,
a chart was appended, which ascertained the
site of Cape llenlopen, and delineated o d.
vision east and west line, running westward
from that Cape to the exact middle of the
peninsula. .,l
Lord Baltimore became dissatisfied with
this agreement, and endeavorcd to invalidate
it. Chancery suits, kingly DEGREES, and
proprietary arrangements followed, which
eventually produced the appointment OF
commissioners to run the temporary liae.-
This was effected in 1889. But the case in
chancery being decided in 1889, new com.
missioners were appointed, who could not,
however, agree, and the question remaining
open until 1862, when the line was run by
Messrs. Mason and Dixon.
The Columbia. Is. c. Times, in alluding
10 the second veto, says the Presidents views
about fiscal agent arc about as clear as the
end of circular line That's an illuslra-
ton certainly
Contest Of the Old Ones.-Thc venerable
Judge Gilbert of Hebron, Con. has address
I'd letter to the Hartford Courant, in which
he contests the priority Of subscription TO that
paper with another Nonogenarian. II had
been stated in letter to the Gourant, that
Gen. Potter Of L:chfield county had taken il
for sixty years, and that he was member
of the Legislature Of Connecticut, from his
native town Plymouth in the year 1855. and
the oldest member living. Judge Gilbert
contradicts this, and says he was a member
in l7SO, six years before general Potter, and
that he is therefore the Oldest Connecticut
Legislator living, besides being the oldest
subscriber to the Courant We con answer
for the latter at least Ofthese men Of the An
Client regime that the proprietor OF the time
honored newspaper to which he still contln-
ues subscriber, has never during the whole
time been under the necessity OF asking for
his pay.--COn. COarGnt. t,. uf
Causes Of Crime.-SO' long as the proper
educaiieB OF youth continues to De neglect
eti;' so long as they are surrounded WIN
numerous Temptations TO oInmit evil 50 long
as they perceive that money instead Of inieg-
rity, is valued the most, and that the posses
sors'of il are more respected, than the viriu-
ous who are in poverty 30 long as hypocri.
~ is considered preferable TO moraity' and
the unassuming man Of talent and industry
10 held in less estimation than the upsta ri, ar
rogant pretender,-so long will s0ctesy' ne
invested with erimes.-BostOa {nrcsf,gGt0r.
The EsterEf Argus announces the death OF
Gen. Chandler. formerly q member ct Con-
gress from the State Of Maine, and recently
u. s. Collector at Portland.
A Noble ComplimenG--The Louisville
Jo,urual saws 1--WE understand that the
citizens of Woodford have purchased the
fine farm in that County on which the Hon.
]. j. Crittenden was born, and made him a
present Of it. The price paid was $l7'O0o