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Mason AND DIxoN's LINE.-What was
the origin aud purpose of il'-We hear Il
frequently spoken of as connected with
slavery, and as originally connected with
that subject. No'hing can bc farther from
the trulh--at the time that line was estab.
lished, slavery existed on both sides Of il.
4 bfici account oliis origin may be Of some
interest Just at this time.


As early a. the year i0s2 dispute arose
between William Penn and Lord Bali.
more, respecting the construction of their
respective grants. OF what now forms the
states Of Pennsylvania. Delaware and
Maryland. Lord Baltimore claimed To-,
and including tho iOlh degree of North
latitude; aud William Penn, mildly, vet
firmly, resisted the claim. The debaieablc
land was one degree of 90 English miles
on tue south o, Pennsylvania, and extended
west as far as the State itself. The mat.
ter was finally brought into the Court of
Chanoey in England and after tedious dc
lays, on the 10Th day OF May, 1850, Lord
Chancellor llardwick made decree award.
ing costs against Lord Baltimore, and di.
recling that commissioners should DO mp.
pointed to mark tho boundaries between
the parties.


The commissioners so appointed, me, at
New Castle on the 9Th day Of November,
l775, and not being able to agree, sepa.
rated. Alter further litigation and delay,
the whole matter was settled by The mutual
agreement between the surviving heirs oil
the original liIiganls.


In the year 1901, Mr.. Charles Mason,
Of the Royal Observatory, was sent to
Pennsylvania, with all the needlul asiro
nomical instruments 10 measure oil do.
gree Of latitude. That duty he performed,
and a report oI his proceedings was made
10 the Royal Society Of London, for the
year 1867.


This Mr.. Mason and Jeremiah Dixon
were appointed TO run the limo in dispute,
which appears 10 have been done In con.
iormily with the Lord Chancelor's decree.
This Is the famous MASON and DIGon's
Line, and tho boundary between Pennsyl.
yania, on the south, aud Maryland on the
north.


Little did the actors in this matter think
that In after times, the linc established
with 50 much trouble and expense, would
ever be connected with subject calculated
TO shake a great nation To It's centre.


Albany Journal.