partners, formed the design of acquiring for himself a separate estate. On his petition, a charter was issued, in

chased twenty thousand acres of Penn's land. Their objects were to encourage the manufactures of leather and glass; the cutting and sawing of timber, and the whale fishery.

The fee simple of the soil was sold, at the rate of twenty pounds, for every thousand acres. They, who rented lands, were to pay one penny yearly, per acre. In every hundred thousand acres, the proprietor reserved ten for himself. The quit-rents were not agreed to, without difficulty. The purchasers remonstrated against them, as a burden unprecedented in any other American colony.

All preliminaries being adjusted, the first colony came over to America, and began their settlement, above the confluence of the Schuylkill with the Delaware. By them, the proprietor sent a letter to the Indians, informing them, that "the great God had been pleased to make him concerned, in their part of the world, and that the king of the country, where he lived, had given him a great province therein; but that he did not desire to enjoy it, without their consent; that he was a man of peace; and that the people whom he sent were of the same disposition: and, if any difference should happen between them, it might be adjusted, by an equal number of men, chosen on both sides." With this letter, he appointed commissioners to treat with the Indians, about purchasing lands, and promised them, that he would shortly come, and converse with them in person.

At this time the English penal laws, against dissenters, were rigorously executed. This made many of the Quakers desirous of accompanying or following Penn, into America, where they had a prospect of the most extensive liberty of conscience. Having chosen some for his particular companions, he embarked with them, in August, 1682. As the ship sailed up the Delaware, the inhabitants came on board, and saluted their new governor, with an air of joy and satisfaction. Penn, on his landing, summoned the people to meet him. He entertained them with a speech, explaining the purpose of his coming, and the views of his government. Having renewed the commissions of their former magistrates, he went to Chester, where he repeated the same things, and received the congratulations of the inhabitants. Those of them, who were Swedes, appointed a delegate to compliment him on his arrival, and to assure him of their affection and fidelity.

At this time, the number of previous settlers was about three thousand. These were Dutch, Swedes, and Finns. The Dutch were settled on the bay of Delaware, and applied themselves chiefly to trade. At Newcastle they had a court-house, and a place of worship. The Swedes and Finns lived higher up the river, and followed husbandry. Their settlements were Christiana, Tenecum, and Wicoco, at each of which they had a church. They were a plain, sober, and industrious people; and most of them had large families. The colony, which Penn had sent over the year before,

1681, in which king Charles granted to him, in absolute property, by the title of Pennsylvania, that tract of country,

began their settlement above Wicoco; and it was, by special direction of the proprietor, called Philadelphia.

Within a month after Penn's arrival, he called a general assembly at Chester, when the constitution, which had been formed in England, was to undergo an experiment. The freemen, both of the province and territory, were summoned to compose this assembly in person. Instead of which, they, of their own accord, elected twelve members, in each settlement, amounting in all to seventy-two. These, at the request of their constituents, were distributed into two houses. Three out of each county made a council, consisting of eighteen, and the remaining part formed an assembly of fifty-four.

Penn's next object was to treat with the natives. The benevolence of his disposition led him to exercise great tenderness towards them, which was much increased, by an opinion that he had formed, and which he openly avowed, that they were descended of the ten dispersed tribes of Israel. He travelled into the country, visited them in their cabins, was present at their feasts, conversed with them in a free and familiar manner, and gained their affections, by his obliging carriage, and frequent acts of generosity.

Some of their chiefs made him a voluntary present, of the land which they claimed: others sold it at a stipulated price. He was so happy as to succeed in his endeavours, to gain the good will of the Indians. They have frequently, in subsequent treaties, many years afterwards, expressed great veneration for his memory; and to perpetuate it, they have given to the successive governors of Pennsylvania, the name of Onas, which in their language signifies a Pen.

One part of his agreement with the Indians was, that they should sell no Pands to any person, but to himself, or his agents: another was, that his agents should not occupy, nor grant any lands, but those fairly purchased of the Indians.

Penn foresaw, that the situation of his province, and the liberal encouragement which he had given to settlers, would draw people of all denominations thither, and render it a place of commerce. He therefore determined to lay the plan of a capital city, which, in conformity to his catholic and pacific ideas, he called Philadelphia. The site of it was a neck of land, between the river Delaware and Schuylkill; and he designed that the city should extend from one to the other. This spot was chosen on account of the firm soil, the gentle rising from each river, towards the middle, the numerous springs, the depth of water, for ships of burden, and the good anchorage. The ground was surveyed, and a plan of the intended city was drawn, by Thomas Holme, surveyor general. Ten streets, of two miles in length, were laid out from river to river, and twenty streets, of one mile in length, crossing them at right angles. Four squares were reserved for common purposes; one in each quarter of the city, and in the centre, on the

bounded on the east by the river Delaware, extending westward five degrees of longitude, stretching to the north, from twelve miles northward of Newcastle, to the forty-third degree of latitude, and limited on the south by a circle of

most elevated spot, was a larger square of ten acres, in which were to be built a state-house, a market-house, a school-house, and a place of worship. On the side of each river it was intended to build wharves, and ware-houses; and from each front street, nearest to the rivers, an open space was to be left, in the descent to the shores. All owners of one thousand acres were enti. tled to a city lot. Before each house, was to be an open court, planted with rows of trees. The city was rapidly built, and its increasing inhabitants were plentifully supplied, from the adjacent farms.

Penn was well contented with the country. Among his printed works, we find an affectionate address to the people of Pennsylvania. This concludes as follows: "my friends, remember that the Lord hath brought you upon the stage. He hath now tried you, with liberty; yea, and with power, he hath put precious opportunities into your hands Have a care of a perverse spirit; and do not provoke the Lord, by doing those things, by which the inhabitants of the land, that were before you, grieved his spirit: but sanctify God, the living God, in your hearts, that his blessing may fall, and rest upon you and your offspring!"

In the spring of 1683, a second assembly was held in the new city of Philadelphia; and a great number of laws were passed. Among other re gulations, it was enacted, that, to prevent lawsuits, three arbitrators, called peace makers, should be chosen by every county court, to hear and determine small differences, between man and man.

The state of the province at this time, has been compared to that of "a father and his family; the latter united by interest and affection, the former revered for the wisdom of his institutions, and the indulgent use of his authority. Those who were ambitious of repose found it in Pennsylvania; and as none returned with an evil report of the land, numbers followed. The community wore the same equal face: no one was oppressed. Industry was sure of profit, knowledge of esteem, and virtue of veneration." In this prosperous state of his province, Penn left it, and went to England. During his absence, a period of fifteen years, the province experienced many inconve niences. The provincial council, having no steady hand, to hold the balance, had fallen into a controversy respecting their several powers, and privileges and Moore, one of the proprietary officers, had been impeached of high mis demeanors.

Penn returned in 1699: but did not find the people so tractable as before. Their minds were soured by his long absence, and by the conduct of his deputies. After much time spent in trying their tempers, and penetrating their views, he found it most adviseable to listen to their remonstrances: Discontents were allayed; but perfect good humour was not restored.

twelve miles, drawn round Newcastle, to the beginning of the fortieth degree of latitude.

In this charter, there was no express stipulation, as had been inserted in all other colonial patents, "that the Pennsylvanians, and their descendants, should be considered as subjects born within the realm." But clauses were inserted, providing, that "acts of parliament, concerning trade, navigation, and the customs, should be duly observed;" and it was also stipulated, that "no custom, or other contribution should be laid on the inhabitants, or their estates, unless by the consent of the proprietary or governor, and assembly, or by act of parliament, in England." The omission of the first clause, the insertion of the second, and the reservation in favour of parliament in the last, may have been occasioned by difficulties which had then arisen, about the rights of the colonists, and the power of parliament over them. Massachusetts had, before that time, questioned the authority of parliament to tax them, and legislate for them. The general clause, that the colonists should retain all the privileges of Englishmen, had already been made the basis of claims, against which some in the mother country had many objections. Perhaps the ruling powers of England were sensible, that they had previously delegated too much of independence to their colonies, and intended to be more guarded in future: but their caution was too late. Nearly a century afterwards, Dr. Franklin, when examined at the bar of the British house of commons, explained the matter, by saying, "that the inhabitants, from the first settlement of the province, relied that the parliament never would or could tax them, by virtue of that reservation, till it had qualified itself constitutionally for the exercise of such right, by admitting representatives from the people."

Penn soon commenced a settlement, and published a frame of government for Pennsylvania. Its chief intention was declared to be, "for the support of power in reverence with the people, and to secure the people from the abuse of power, that they may be free by their just obedience, and the magistrates honourable for their just administration: for liberty,

without obedience, is confusion; and obedience, without liberty, is slavery." To carry this intention into effect, it was ordained, that the assembly should consist, first, of the whole body of freemen, afterwards, of two hundred, and never more than five hundred persons. A provincial council was established, consisting of seventy-two members, to be chosen by the freemen; a third of whom annually went out of office, and were replaced by others, chosen in the same manner. After the expiration of the first seven years, an interval of one year was required, before any person, going out of the council, could be re-elected. The governor, possessed of three votes, presided in this council, which was invested with the executive power, and with an authority to prepare bills, to be laid before the assembly, which bills were to be published, and affixed in the most noted places, thirty days before the meeting of the legislature. The people had no further share in the passing of laws, than by their simple yea or nay, to accept or reject such as were prepared, and offered for their consideration by the council of seventy-two.

This frame of government was at length laid aside, as inapplicable to the condition of the colony: and a more simple form, resembling those established in the other provinces. was adopted. This remained, until the proprietary government itself was dissolved.

In August, 1682, Penn, after long solicitations, obtained, from the duke of York, a conveyance of the town of Newcastle, with the territory twelve miles around it, and that tract of land extending thence southward, on the Delaware, to cape Henlopen. This is now the state of Delaware. He soon afterwards set out for America, accompanied by about two thousand emigrants; and, in the October following, landed at Newcastle, on the banks of the Delaware, where, in addition to the colonists sent out by himself, he found settlements, consisting of about three thousand persons, composed of Swedes, Dutch, Finlanders, and English. He cultivated with care the good will of the natives, and purchased from them, at a satisfactory price, such lands as were necessary for the present use of the colony. Within the space of a year