The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-05-11
From the Pennsylvania Inluirer.l
PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE AND
MARYLAND.
THE BOUNDARY LINES.

we nave received copy OF the Mes
sage Of the Governor transmitting to the
State Legislature, Reports Of the Joint
Commissioners, and Of Col Graham, OF the
u. 5. Engineers, IN relation TO the bound
arv lines between the States OF Pennsyl-
vania, Delaware, and Maryland. The
documents in all occupy thlr'y-six pages.
The Commissioners appointed by the Gov
ernors OF the three States, were H. G. s.
Key, on the part OF Maryland, Joshua p.
Eyre, on the part OF Pennsylvania, and
George r. Riddle. on the part OF Della
ware. Early IN October last, they indi-
vidually and in joint consultation, sought
the Information necessary in the discharge
OF their duties, saw that much SCIENCE and
many intricate mathematical problems
were Involved, and secured the services OF
two distinguished NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
also sought assistance from the General
Government, aud through the pollteness
Of the Secretary of War, obtained the aid
OF 1t Col. James D. Graham, of the Corps
vi Typographical Engineers, whose Re-
port is given at length. He commenced
his operations in November last, and con-
tinued them up to February. He says:
81 repaired, on the 30th of October last,
to Annapolis, to confer with the Governor
.ot Maryland, in reference to the duty
which relates to the veriiicaton rt certain
POI ITS IN the boundary between the Stat
OF Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania
and to investigate the notes OF Mason and
Dixon, which were understood to be IN
the archives Of the State Of Marvlanf.
"Ihesr documents, together with the
articles OF agreement between Charles
Lord Batimorr, an the heirs and sue
ccSsors Of Wi liam Penn, on the 10th day
ot May, 1882, and OF the subsequent
agreement between Frederick Lord Balt-
mole and rho"sas and Richard Penn, the
SURVIVING heirs Of William Penn, entered
INTO the Eth OF July, 1860, and also the
records OF the proceedings OF their COM
'nssloners and surveyors, from time to
time duly appointed, all in manuscript,
were placed at ny. d,sp sal by his Excel
lency, Philip F. Thomas, Governor Of
Maryland. These manuscripts rmbla ei
perlol OF near ti,irtv-scvrn years
II n'"iy, from May 10th, 1882, t, n. c, d
81 Tho year 1858. F:om then ca ex-
tr"cs and brl minutes were II ade, as
were deemed requisite to proper TN ie.-
sanding of the lines 10 be cxym ned.
"fhe;r lis OF agreement fnall V 'n'e"-
tered INTO between the parties, and their
In'trurtlons to their commissioners, define
clearly the lines OF boundary between the
then provinces of Maryland and Pcnnsyl-
wanna, in conformity to the memorable de-
cree Of Lord Chancellor Hardwicke, pro-
nounced the l5,h of May, 1850, which
SIT at rest for time, and was the basis of
tn" final settlement of a dispute that had
lasted many years, between the propre-
tarics, as well as the border inhabitants, OF
these two provinces.
"Wilhout quoting these articles, 1t
will he Sufficient here to state that the
boundary between the two provinces was
thus required to be run, namely: to begin
al Cape Henlnpen, and run line due
west toa poin, midway between that cape
and the shore Of Chesapeake Bay.
From the middle point a line was TO be
run northerly in such direction, that it
should be- tangrn, to circle whose centre
was decided to be the centre of the Court
House at New Castle, and whose radius
should be twelve English statue miles,
measured horIzontaly. From the tangent
pom, of contact ofthe norlh,rly line with
the periphery of the circle, the line vas
To BE- continued due north until 1t should
reach a point fifteen English statute miles,
measured horizontally, south of the paral-
lei OF latitude until the western limits OF
Maryland and Pennsylvania should res
prctivelv be reached, which in the casr
OF PennSy l,ania, was defined to be FIVE
degrees Of longitude west OF the river
Delaware.
.'The conclusion OF the eighth article OF
the agreement OF 1882, which is ncol-
porated into the instructions Of Lord Baltl-
more and John Thomas and Richard
Penn. to their respective commissioners,
dated the 18th OF May, 1882 and repeated
in all the subsequent Instructions, provides
liul III dot Stiii HOIilI INV ilt)IIl tlc
gent Of the circle OF New Castle. shall
break in upon the said circle, in such case.
so much OF the said circle as shall be cut
offby the SAID line, shall belong to, and be
part of the county of New Castle.'
"ln pursuance of the decree OF 1850.
commissioners ard surveyors were appoint
ed to run the required line. In 1851, a
line was traced due west from Cape Hen
lop n to the shore Of Chesapeake Bay, and
its length ascerainrd, by measuring with
chain, to be sixty-nne niles and two
hundred and ninety-eight perches. ~,
the distance of s,xtv-six miles and twent,
four and one-half perches from the poin'
of beginning. Slaughter's creek was reach
ed, and her. Lord Baltimore's commission
nre II L. 4 4 L..