rately wicked were the hearts of those men who persecuted a Columbus and a William Penn?

At the opening of the assembly, the governor communicated a letter from Queen Ann, in which the queen remarked that it was reasonable for the other colonies to contribute towards the support of the military post at Albany, in as much as they were benefited by this frontier fortress. The assembly made it their first question to determine whether they should proceed upon the basis of their own charter and laws, or upon the laws of New-York; they accordingly resolved to request the governor by an address, that they might be governed by their own laws. The governor in his reply to their address, informed them that the feuds in their government rendered it highly improper that he should comply with their request; but assured them at the same time, that he would unite with them in promoting the best good of the province, in any manner, consistent with the laws of England; and pressed them to diligence, and dispatch in business; this reply called forth a remonstrance from the assembly, in a modest dissent from the sentiments, contained in the governor's reply; but concluded by saying, "Nevertheless we own thee for our lawful governor, saving to ourselves, and those we represent, our, and their just rights, and privileges." The assembly next proceeded to business, and a general disposition to harmonise, appeared among the parties; the governor signed all the bills that were passed, in due form, and in June he dissolved the assembly; he appointed William Markham, as deputy-governor, and returned to New-York.

In 1694, Gov. Fletcher again visited Philadelphia, and called an assembly on the 23d of May, and in his message informed them that the Five Nations had been seduced by the intrigues of the French, to desert the English interest, and were then threatening Albany, and the adjacent coun

try, with hostilities; he at the same time, urged the necessity, as well as the justice and propriety of the measure, that they should afford aid and assistance to New-York, to quell this storm, by raising money to furnish presents to the Indians, which might draw them back to the interest of the English.

This message was not so far agreeable as to raise the money, and William Penn, in his letter soon after, chides them sharply, as being the destroyers of their own peace, and the best interest of the province, in refusing to furnish supplies for the common defence.

In September, another session of the assembly was held at Philadelphia; several laws of importance were passed, and with the close of this assembly, closed the administration of Gov. Fletcher in Pennsylvania, Sept. 1694.

At this time died President Lloyd, a useful and valuable man in the province; one who had sustained the first offices with dignity and honour to himself, and the best interest of the colony. No man in the province possessed the confidence of the proprietary, to a higher degree, than President Lloyd.

During this procedure in the province, the friends of William Penn expressed to his majesty their concern, that so good a man as William Penn should suffer so unjustly, from the malice of such enemies as had risen up against him; part of whom had, from remorse of conscience, asked his pardon for their high offences, and others had fled, to escape that justice that awaited their cruel and malicious offences against him, and besought his majesty that he might be openly acquitted, and restored to his government. To all which the king replied, "William Penn is one of my old friends, as well as yours; and he may follow his business without further molestation," and authorised them to make this known to him. Which was done accordingly, on the 30th of November following. Amidst all, this

weight oftroubles, died Gulielma-Maria, the wife of William Penn, which added greatly to the weight of his afflictions. The tenderness of his affections are best expressed by himself, in his description of her excellent character.

In August 1694, (previous to the last session of the assembly under Governor Fletcher,) William Penn was restored, by letters patent from their Majesties William and Mary, to the government of his province; upon which he commissioned William Markham as his lieutenant-governor over his province of Pennsylvania. William Penn was not only restored to his government, but to the confidence of his friends, both in England and America, and to his accustomed usefulness.

On the 20th of April 1695, Governor Markham met his council, and on the 10th of September following, he met the assembly; but for some cause he dissolved this assembly at an early day. On the 26th of October, 1696, the governor again convened his assembly, and requested by message, their compliance with the queen's letter; to which they replied by way of remonstrance, that they were ready to comply, provided they could be restored to all the privileges they enjoyed under their former charter, before Governor Fletcher's administration. At this time Governor Fletcher wrote pressingly for the money proposed, for the Indians at Albany; this called forth a committee from the council and the house, to unite in a reply to the queen's letter. The result of this conference was an act to raise money, to the amount of three hundred pounds, for the support of government and the relief of the Indians. This act was passed so as to embrace a bill of settlement, and a money bill at the same time. This bill, with sundry others, gave a new stamp to the govern ment, and may be fairly termed the third frame, or form of government, in Pennsylvania.

In the year 1697, Governor Fletcher accounted for the expenditure of the 3007. sent the last year, and requested a further supply. This request the assembly declined, as exceeding their present ability.

In 1698, the affairs of the province were generally regular, and in 1699, William Penn sailed from England with his wife and family for Pennsylvania, where he arrived safe on the beginning of December. By his late arrival, he very providentially escaped the yellow-fever, which had raged in Philadelphia through the autumn, and had proved very malignant and mortal. The calamity of this awful disease was thus expressed by Thomas Story, a noted preacher amongst the Quakers, who was present in the time of the fever. "Great was the majesty and hand of the Lord, great was the fear that fell upon all flesh; I saw no lofty look, or airy countenance, nor heard any vain jesting, to move men to laughter; nor witty repartee to raise mirth; nor extravagant feasting, to excite the lusts and desires of the flesh above measure; but every face gathered paleness, and many hearts were humbled, and countenances fallen and sunk, as such that waited every moment to be summoned to the bar, and numbered to the grave."

It was known that the proprietary had now come to spend his days with his family, in the midst of his people; and they bid him welcome, with all suitable expressions of joy and gratitude. Anxious for the prosperity of his colony, the governor called an assembly at an early day, to devise means to suppress the illicit and piratical trade that had infested their borders; and severe laws were passed accordingly. His next concern was to give suitable religious instruction to the Indians and negroes; to effect this, he appointed monthly meetings for their instruction, and encouraged and assisted in the religious exercises of

these, and others more frequent, and procured such interpreters as would best promote the design.

The next assembly was convened in May, at Philadelphia, which was dissolved in June, and another convened at New-Castle in October following, in order to heal the differences that had distracted the colony in his absence. The first object was to frame such a body of laws as should meet the views of both parties, and then confirm them with a new charter; to effect this the proprietary consulted the private feelings of the more influential, amongst the people, and by the weight of his influence corrected such as were wrong, and confirmed and strengthened such as were right, until he accomplished his purpose, and then cemented their union by granting them a new charter of privileges, in October 1700. In August 1701, the proprietary convened the assembly, to take into consideration. the king's letter, requesting three hundred and fifty pounds to assist the colony of New-York, in fortifying their frontiers. The assembly took the letter under consideration, and concluded that they were unable at this time to comply with his majesties' request. Their answer was returned to the governor in a very handsome and respectful address, in which they not only urged their inability; but the inexpediency of the measure, as being incompatible with the plan, and views upon which the province was settled, to promote war. They therefore recommended to cultivate the arts of peace, by the principles of justice, and a regular deportment towards the savages, with high expectations that the effects would become the same in NewYork as in Pennsylvania.

In April 1701, William Penn held a grand treaty at Philadelphia, with about forty grand sachems, and others of the great tribes, lying upon the waters of the Susquehannah, Potowmac, &c. The essential articles of this treaty were as follows.