cret aspirations have been, under this trial, that the affliction may be sanctified to me, and that I may submit, without murmuring, to the Divine will."

In the subsequent year, his tender, affectionate, and honoured mother departed this life the 24th of the 2d month, after about four months illness. She was a woman adorned with those Christian virtues and graces which had tended to make her life useful in an eminent degree, and in various respects. Her house and heart were always opened by true hospitality for the reception of those Friends, who had been induced in the love of the gospel to come from distant places of the earth, on religious visits to their brethren. "As a shock of corn cometh in, in its season," fully ripe, she was gathered into the sacred garner of salvation, and entered into the eternal joys of her Lord.

James Pemberton was very early a generous contributor to the Pennsylvania Hospital; and being deeply interested for the welfare of that valuable institution, he was elected a manager of it in 1758, and continued for many years to use his best endeavours to uphold and extend its great benefits. The second part of the only circumstantial account of its progress that was ever published, was compiled by him, from the minutes of the managers.

In the midst of these duties, and of the various mercantile concerns which pressed upon his attention, and were very considerable at different periods of his life, he did not neglect his religious obligations; but rendered himself a valuable and useful member of the religious Society of Friends. His great mind was conspicuously manifested, not only in the exercise of the Discipline, but in the capacity

of clerk of the monthly, sometimes of the Quarterly and Yearly Meetings, and of the Meeting for Sufferings; for which respectable stations he was also well qualified, as well by his composition, as by his religious knowledge and experience. He wrote in a style peculiar to himself, perspicuous and dignified, and more similar than was common, to that used by primitive Friends.

During the Indian war, and those troublous times when so many ravages were said to be committed on our frontiers by them, he was very solicitous to restore peace and harmony, by every suitable and proper method. About this time, a very useful and benevolent institution was established, called "The friendly association for regaining, and preserving peace with the Indians, by pacific measures." Of this, James Pemberton was a member, and contributed liberally to its objects and designs.

A great and important object with him during his life, was the distribution of religious and instructive books among that class of the community who did not possess the advantages of a liberal education and extensive privileges. To perform this duty with propriety and efficacy, he devoted much of his time and attention; and, doubtless, his laudable efforts have oft-times been crowned with success, and the good which his liberal hand hath thus scattered among the people, will be as "bread cast upon the waters."

With a heart replenished with gratitude, he daily looked up to his Supreme Benefactor and Preserver, who had vouchsafed to favour him with many blessings, placing him head of a very harmonious and amiable family,-endowing him with a truly phi

lanthropic spirit,—and in the exercise of it, enabling him to be actively and extensively useful to his fellow creatures. And, amidst these blessings, humility appears to have been a predominant characteristic through the varied scenes of his earthly pilgrimage. Hence, in a letter to his friend Joseph White, in the year 1761, he expressed his desire to remain in this precious state of mind,—that it might be his daily companion; and that his abiding might be in prostration of heart, and under a deep sense of his own weakness, until strength should be administered from the right fountain.

On the 22d of the 3d month, 1768, he again entered in the marriage connexion, with Sarah, only daughter of Daniel and Mary Smith, of Burlington, New Jersey. This union was, however, but short. She gave birth to a daughter, (who was afterwards the wife of Anthony Morris) and in a very few days subsequently, falling a victim to a nervous fever, entered into the joys of eternity, on the 28th of 11th month, 1770.

In the year 1775, he was married the third time, to Phebe, widow of Samuel Morton, and daughter of Robert Lewis, of Philadelphia.

We now come to a very important and memorable era of his life, and to a series of events which tended to evince the firmness and resignation of his mind, while suffering under very unjust and injurious treatment. It was during the commotions and troubles that prevailed in the struggle with Great Britain, called the American revolution. On the 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th days of the 9th month, 1777, he, with several other Friends, who were conspicuous members of that religious Society, were arrest

ed under a warrant, dated August 28th, by the authority of the executive council of Pennsylvania, in pursuance of a recommendation of the American congress. They were taken to the mason's lodge, in Lodge alley, and confined there under a military guard. In this situation, they remonstrated with the ruling powers, against this uncommon exercise of arbitrary influence, but without avail; and were informed that they were soon to be banished to Staunton, in Augusta county, Virginia. On the receipt of this intelligence, a second remonstrance was made, with the same result.

On the 7th of the month, being prohibited from going to their usual place of worship, they held a solemn and satisfactory religious meeting together, in the place of their confinement at the lodge.

Without being permitted to have a hearing in defence of their innocency, or to know the cause of their arrest, which they had repeatedly demanded, they were carried away on the 11th to Reading, where they remained some days; and there learned that the board of war had determined on Winchester, in Virginia, to be the place of their exile. With James Pemberton, were both his brothers, Israel and John, and seventeen others, who were conducted to Winchester under a military escort.

Thus torn from their families and friends, and sent into exile to a distance of two hundred miles from their own habitations, they were obliged to remain at Winchester, with very poor accommodations, and at their own expense, during the whole of the succeeding winter. But in these distressing times, when the desolations of war and the horrors of bloodshed were prevalent in various parts of the VOL. VII.-6

land, they endeavoured to look for consolation and support to that Divine Source where only they were to be found.

As they were not, for a time, permitted to attend a religious meeting of Friends, held about a mile from the town,-their prison, they sought for opportunities of religious improvement and instruction among themselves, by regularly meeting together for the purpose of worshipping the Almighty Father; and in many of these seasons of retirement from the world, they were blessed with that Divine help which is able to sustain the mind when pressed by a load of calamities and trials.

James Pemberton kept a daily account of their journey from Reading to Winchester, describing their route, geography of the country, weather, and other incidents. On fourth-day, the 24th of 9th month, being then at Carlisle, in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, the company of Friends sat down together, at five o'clock in the afternoon, to wait upon the Lord. He says, "it was a satisfactory meeting; being favoured with humbling considerations on our state, and the calamities prevailing in the land, a thankful sense of the protecting power which had attended us in this perilous journey, amidst the fiery spirits which too generally possess the minds of the people, with breathing desires for the preservation of my dear and tender connexions, and a humble hope that they would be supported under this trying dispensation."

On second-day, the 29th, they arrived at Winchester. In the evening of sixth-day, 10th month 3d, James Pemberton says, "We had a short, satisfactory sitting together, and some instructive and en-