Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

',

Having left the Hague, he proceeded to Amsterdam to promote the object for which he had originally come into these parts. Here he visited the members of his own religious society, and used occasionally his gift as a minister of the Gospel. While here he was at the house of William Sewel, a man of great learning, who wrote afterwards the " History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress of the People called Quakers." Sewel was at this time translating his "Account of the Province of Pennsylvania," and his "No Cross, No Crown," into the Belgic language. They had before known each other, and had corresponded together. This correspondence, which was conducted in Latin, was afterwards continued. I have had access to work.

a part of it, and shall find it useful as I proceed in my From Amsterdam he pursued his travels in the ministry, directing his course to Utrecht; but we know nothing after this of the particular places which he visited. All we know is, that he extended his journey to Germany, and that he was satisfied with the result of it; for, in a letter which he wrote to one of his friends in America, after his return from it, he says, in his usual way of speaking on such occasions, that "he had had a blessed service for the Lord.”

On his arrival in England he proceeded directly to Worminghurst. But here he did not remain long. The same cause which had occasioned him to go into Holland and Germany impelled him to travel over a considerable part of his native land. He visited Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and the counties of Westmoreland and Durham. In all these he laboured in the vineyard of the Gospel; and it appears that he was equally satisfied with this as with his foreign journey, thankfully confessing that "the Lord had been with him at this season, in a sweet and melting life, to the great joy of himself and refreshment of his friends.”

Having now traced his movements for this year, as far as they appear to be known in Europe, it will be proper to see how his American concerns went on for the same period. And, first, it appears, by a letter dated Worminghurst, addressed to Thomas Lloyd, the President of his Council, to have been his opinion that the Assembly had conducted themselves rashly, both in the cases of Patrick Robinson and Nicholas Moore, as mentioned in the last chapter. "I rejoice," says he, "that God has preserved your health so well, and that his blessings are upon the earth, but grieved at the bottom of my heart for the heats and disorders among the people. This quarrel about the Free Society of Traders' has made your great guns heard hither. I blame nothing, nor the society here to be sure; but I could wish N. Moore and P. Robinson could have been softened, and that J. Claypole had been more composed. It may be a mighty political vice, but it is not a moral one. I entreat thee to consider of the true reason of our unhappiness, of that side (Pennsylvania), among our magistrates. Is it not their self-value? Men should be meek, humble, grave. This draws

[ocr errors]

reverence and love together. This wise and good men will do. Is any one out of the way? They should not so much look at his infirmities, as take care they are not also overtaken; eyeing how many good qualities the offender has to serve the public, and not cast a whole apple away for one side being defective."

By two letters written subsequently, dated Loudon, one of them to the before-mentioned Thomas Lloyd, and the other to James Harrison, his agent for the estate and manor of Pennsbury, it appears that he had serious cause to be grieved on other accounts. He complained that the Provincial Council had neglected and slighted his letters; that he had religiously consecrated his labour, but that it was neither valued nor understood by them; that they had conducted themselves in such a manner in other respects as to have forfeited their charter over and over again, if he had chosen to ake advantage of it; and that they had entirely neglected the supply which they had promised him. On this latter subject he descended to particulars. He stated, "that his quit-rents were then at least of the value of five hundred pounds a-year, and then due, though he could not get a penny. God is my witness," said he, "I lie not. I am above six thousand pounds out of pocket more than ever I saw by the Province; and you may throw in my pains, cares, and hazard of life, and leaving of my family and friends to serve them."

From the same letters it may be collected, that he began to be embarrassed for want of remittances from America-so that, though it was his intention to have returned there in the autumn of the present year, he was prevented in some measure from doing so on this account. He declared that the neglect of the supply, which the Council had promised him in cousequence of his great expense on account of the Province, was one cause which kept him from Pennsylvania; adding, "that he would not spend his private estate to discharge a public station."

By another letter, written afterwards to James Harrison, his agent, all the above particulars are confirmed. Besides," says he, "that the country think not of my supply (and I resolve never to act the governor, and keep another family and capacity on my private estate), if my table, cellar, and stable may be provided for, with a barge and yacht, or sloop, for the service of

governor and government, I may try to get hence; for, in the sight of God, I am six thousand pounds and more behind-hand, more than ever I received or saw for land in that Province. There is nothing my soul

*We may now estimate the sacrifices of William Penn. If his quit-rents amounted to 5007. per annum, he must have sold one million of acres of land, for which, according to the terms of sale, he must have received 20,000. To this add the 6,0007. now mentioned, and he must have spent 26,0007. upon the Province, in presents to the Indians, in re-purchases of the land from these, in the maintenance of the government and Governor, and in other public matters--a sum not much short of 100,000%. in these days.

breathes more for in this world, next my dear family's life, than that I may see poor Pennsylvania again-but I cannot force my way hence, and see nothing done on that side inviting."

To remedy these and other matters, it appears that, after having taken into consideration the conduct of the Council, he resolved, though they had forfeited their charter, to let them remain as such; but he would no longer allow them to have also the executive power in their hands. One reason of their tardiness and negligence he conceived might be their number, great bodies being more unwieldy and moving with less celerity than smaller. He determined, therefore, to reduce the Executive to five persons, and made out a fresh commission accordingly. Considering that Nicholas Moore had been unjustly treated by the Assembly, who had removed him from his high situation as a Provincial Judge, he took this opportunity of repairing the injury by appointing him one of the new commissioners. This step was particularly honourable to William Penn, as it could only have proceeded from his love of justice-Nicholas Moore never having belonged to the society of the Quakers. It was a step, too, particularly bold, when we consider the imputation it threw upon the Assembly, and the clamour it would be likely to produce against himself. Bold, however, as it was, he ventured upon it; and Nicholas Moore never disgraced his appointment, continuing in it with honour for the remainder of his life. The following is a copy of the commission:

"WILLIAM PENN, PROPRIETOR AND GOVERNOR

[ocr errors]

"To my trusty and well-beloved Friends, Thomas Lloyd, Nicholas Moore, James Claypole, Robert Turner, and John Eckley, or or any three of them, in Philadelphia :

Trusty and well-beloved! I heartily salute you. Lest any should scruple the termination of President Lloyd's commission with his place in the Provincial Council, and to the end that there may be a more constant residence of the honorary and governing part of the government, for the keeping all things in good order, I have sent a fresh Commission of Deputation to you, making any three of you a quorum, to act in the execution of the laws, enacting, disannulling, or varying of laws, as if I myself were there present; reserving to myself the confirmation of what is done, and my peculiar royalties and advantages.

"First: You are to oblige the Provincial Council to their charterattendance, or to take such a council as you think convenient to advise and assist you in the business of the public; for I will no more endure their slothful and dishonourable attendance, but dissolve the frame without any more ado. Let them look to it, if any further occasion be given.

[ocr errors]

Secondly: That you keep to the dignity of your station, both in Council and out, but especially that you suffer no disorder in the Council, nor the Council and Assembly, nor either of them, to entrench upon the powers and privileges remaining yet in me.

Thirdly: That you admit not any parleys or open conferences between the Provincial Council and Assembly; but let one, with your approbation, propose, and let the other consent or dissent, according to the charter.

"Fourthly: That you curiously inspect the past proceedings of both, and let me know in what they have broken the bounds or obligations of the charter.

"Fifthly: That you, this very next Assembly General, declare my abrogation of all that has been done since my absence; and so of all the laws Du: the fundamentals; and that you immediately dismiss the Assembly and call it again; and pass such of them afresh, with such alterations as you and they shall see meet; and this to avoid a greater inconveniency, which I forsee, and formerly communicated to Thomas Lloyd.

"Sixthly Inspect the qualifications of members in Council and Assembly, and see they be according to charter; and especially of those that have the administration of justice; and whatever you do, let the point of the laws be turned against impiety, and your severe brow be upon all the troublesome and vexatious, more especially trifling appealers.

"You shall shortly have a limitation from the King, though you have power, with the Council and Assembly, to fix the matter and manner of appeals, as much as to do any justice, or prevent any disorder in the Province, at all.

Seventhly That, till then, I have sent you a proclamation to that effect, according to the powers of ordinance making, as declared in my letters patent, which you may expose as you please.

Eighthly Be most just, as in the sight of the all-seeing, all-searching God; and, before you let your spirits into an affair, retire to Him (who is not far away from any of you, and by whom kings reign and princes decree justice), that he may give you a good understanding and government of yourselves in the management thereof; which is that which truly crowns public actions, and dignifies those that perform them. You shall hear further from me by C. King. The ship is ready to sail: so I shall only admonish you in general, that, next to the preservation of virtue, you have a tender regard to peace and my privileges, in which enact from time to time. Love, forgive, help, and serve one another; and let the people learn by your example, as well as by your power, the happy life of concord. So, commending you to God's grace and keeping, I bid you heartily farewell.

"Given at Worminghurst, in Old England, the first of the twefth month, 1686."

CHAPTER XXIII.

A. 1687.-CARRIES UP ADDRESS OF THE QUAKERS TO JAMES THE SECOND ON HIS DECLARATION FOR LIBERTY FOR CONSCIENCE-HIS SPEECH TO THE KING-THE KING'S ANSWER-TRAVELS INTO DIFFERENT COUNTIES-PREACHES AT BRISTOL FAIR, AND AT CHEW UNDER AN OAK--AND AT CHESTER, WHERE THE KING HEARS HIM -GOES TO OXFORD-MEETS THE KING THERE, WHO INTERFERES UNJUSTLY IN THE ELECTION OF A PRESIDENT FOR MAGDALEN COLLEGE-HIS NOBLE REPROOF OF THE LATTER-HIS INTERVIEW WITH A DEPUTATION FROM THE COLLEGE-WRITES "GOOD ADVICE TO THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, AND CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT DISSENTERS" - ALSO "THE GREAT AND POPULAR OBJECTION AGAINST THE REPEAL OF THE PENAL LAWS STATED AND CONSIDERED "-AFFAIRS OF PENNSYLVANIA.

WILLIAM PENN, having come to England in behalf of religious liberty, could not but look back with pleasure upon the Proclamation which had been made the preceding year. Anxiously as he desired to return to America, and much as his presence was wanted there, he could not leave the kingdom just when success began to dawn upon his endeavours. He resolved, therefore, to stay awhile longer, that he might continue his exertions in the same

cause.

In the month of April, the King, influenced in part by his representations, issued a Declaration of Liberty of Conscience for England, and for suspending the execution of all penal laws in matters ecclesiastical. In the preamble to this he expressed his abhorrence of persecution for religion, in which he said he did not doubt of the concurrence of his Parliament. He renewed his promise of maintaining the Church of England. He suspended all the laws made against Dissenters. He declared all his subjects equally capable of employment in the state. He suppressed, therefore, all oaths and tests which limited them in this respect, and concluded by promising that he would maintain all equally in their properties, and particularly in the possession of the Abbey-lands.

By this Declaration Protestant Dissenters experienced a general ease, and enjoyed their meetings peaceably. The Quakers, who had smarted more than others by the penal laws, could not be less sensible of their relief than these. They could not see such a Declaration as the preceding without feeling thankful to the author of it; and, therefore, though they did not approve of all the political acts of the King during the short time he had reigued, they determined, at their yearly meeting, the representatives of their body being then assembled, to express their gratitude for this seasonable respite from oppression. Accordingly, the following Address to James the Second, containing the humble and grateful acknowledgments of his peaceable subjects called Quakers, was proposed and carried :—

"We cannot but bless and praise the name of Almighty God, who hath

« ZurückWeiter »