computed from said eastern bounds. Said lands to be bounded on the north by the said 43d degree, and on the south by a circle drawn twelve miles distance from New Castle, northward and westward unto the beginning of the fortieth degree of north latitude, and then by a straight line westward, to the limits of the longitude above mentioned," &c. 1

This patent goes on in this stile, through twenty-three long sections, in which the rights, powers, and privileges of the proprietary are more full, ample, and definite, than any other patent that has come to our knowledge. I have given the words of the patent thus far, to shew, that notwithstanding it is so clearly and expressly defined, yet a dispute arose between Maryland and Pennsylvania, about the right of possessing lands lying upon the 40th degreethat it occasioned much time and expense, and was finally divided, between the contending parties, fixing the southern boundary of Pennsylvania at 39 degrees 44 minutes, where it now stands.

These preliminaries for the settlement of the colony be ing closed, William Penn published his patent, and such a general description of the province as could then be obtained, and offered his lands for sale, at forty shillings sterling the hundred acres, or one shilling per annum for ever, with good conditions of settlement to such as might wish to become adventurers. To shew the purity of his motives, William Penn published a general caution to adventurers against making hasty movements, and thus concludes—

a

..." I desire all my dear country-folks who may be inclined to go into those parts, to consider seriously the premises, as well the inconveniences, as future ease and plenty; that so none may move rashly, or from a fickle, but a solid mind; having above all things an eye to the providence of God, in disposing of themselves; and I would further advise all

such at least to have the permission, if not the good liking, of their near relations, for that is both natural and a duty incumbent upon all. By this will natural affections be preserved, and a friendly and profitable correspondence be maintained; in all which I beseech Almighty God to direct us; that his blessing may attend our honest endeavours; and then the consequence of all our undertakings will turn to the glory of His great name, and all true happiness to us and our posterity. Amen."

This address had the desired effect in England; it excited the attention of the disciples of George Fox,* whose confidence was now strongly fixed upon William Penn; a company was soon formed in London, under the name of the Free Society of Traders in Pennsylvania; twenty thousand acres of land were immediately purchased, and articles of trade were drawn up and published, and entered upon by several divisions of the company, which were soon followed by others; and Pennsylvania became at that day, what we have seen different sections of the western country become in our days, theatres of ambition, enterprize, agriculture, and trade. Religion formed the bond of civil and social intercourse and union amongst this people, and rendered Pennsylvania a brotherhood of adven

turers.

William Penn, by the deeds of settlement, or the conveyance of his lands, guaranteed to each settler, that constitution, or form of government, which was vested in him by the fundamental principles of his charter, and which secured to each settler the unalienable rights of civil and religious liberty. These rights or rules of settlement, regarded the treatment required towards the savages, particularly justice and friendship, &c. [See Appendix E.]

In 1681, two ships from London and one from Bristol sailed for Pennsylvania; these all arrived safe with settlers

Founder of the sect called Quakers, in the 17th century.

for the new colony, and brought out. William Markham, the deputy governor, with several commissioners to unite with him, in treating with the Indians and purchasing their lands, &c. William Penn being a Quaker and opposed to all methods of coercion, saw clearly that the peace, safety, and even the whole success of his colony, depended upon maintaining the principles of strict justice, with a mild and gentle policy towards the natives; relying upon such a policy as the only means of securing their peace, friend ship, and confidence; knowing the ferocity of their nature, he strove to establish and maintain such an intercourse with them, as should disarm them by his goodness, kindness, and benevolence, and thereby hoped to avert from his colony those horrors of war, which so often distressed, wasted, and even ruined some of the other provinces; and from whose calamities not one of them had hitherto been exempt. This policy was well calculated to insure the peace and prosperity of the colony; but William Penn was actuated by higher and nobler motives of policy, a policy which embraced the eternal principles of justice and benevolence, well calculated not only to restrain the violent natures of the savages, but to tame them into an observance of the great principles and duties of the gospel. The following letter of William Penn, addressed from London, in the year 1681, to the natives of Pennsylvania, may serve to illustrate the truth of these remarks.

"MY FRIENDS

"There is a great God and power, that hath made the world and all things therein, to whom you, and I, and all people owe their being, and well-being; and to whom you and I must one day give an account for all that we do in the world.

This great God hath written his law in our hearts, by which we are taught and commanded to love, and help, and

do good to one another. Now this great God hath been pleased to make me concerned in your part of the world, and the king of the country wherein I live, hath given me a great province therein; but I desire to enjoy it with your love and consent, that we may always live together as neighbours and friends, else what will the great God do to us, if we devour and destroy one another; but to live soberly and kindly together in the world? Now I would have you well observe, that I am very sensible of the unkindness and injustice, that have been too much exercised towards you, by the people of these parts of the world; who have sought themselves to make great advantages by you, rather than to be examples of goodness and patience unto you, which I hear hath been a great trouble unto you, causing great animosities, and even the shedding of blood, which hath made the great God very angry. But I am not such a man, as is well known in my country. I have great love and regard towards you; and desire to win and gain your love and friendship, by a kind, just and peaceable life; and the people I send are of the same mind; and shall in all things behave themselves accordingly; and if in any thing any shall offend you or your people, you shall have speedy redress and satisfaction; by an equal number of just men on both sides; that by no means you may have just occasion of offence against them.

"I shall shortly come to you myself, at which time we may more largely and freely converse of these matters; in the mean time, I have sent my commissioners to you to treat about land, and a firm league of peace; let me desire you to be kind to them, and the people, and receive their presents and tokens of friendship, which I have sent to you as a testimony of my good will to you, and my re-v solution to live justly, peaceably, and friendly with you."! I am your loving friend.

WILLIAM PENN.

I have inserted this letter at large, not only to shew the stile and principles which it contained; but likewise to shew how well William Penn understood the character of the people he addressed, and the good effects it produced; as may be seen in the sequel.

We have seen in Appendix E, the conditions belonging. to each contract, sale, or conveyance of land for settlement, in Pennsylvania. In Appendix F may be seen the form of government agreed upon in England, between William Penn and his settlers, entitled the "Frame of Government of the Province of Pennsylvania, in America," &c. William Penn, in his preface, has a number of remarks upon government, which, although inserted at large in the Appendix, it may not be uninteresting to give a few extracts from in this place..

After having examined several portions of the sacred volume relative to government, he thus concludes:-"This settles the divine right of government, beyond exception, and that for two ends; first, to terrify evil doers, and to reward such as do well; which gives government a life beyond corruption, and makes it as durable in the world, as good men shall be," &c.

"They weakly err who think there is no other use of government than correction, which is the coarsest part of it; daily experience tells us, that the care and regulation of many other affairs, more soft and daily necessary, make up much the greater part of government, and which must have followed the peopling of the world, had Adam nevér fallen."

There is hardly one frame of government in the world, so ill designed by its first founders, that in good hands would not do well enough, and history tells us that the best in ill ones, can do nothing that is great and good; witness the Jewish and Roman States. Governments, like VOL. II.

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