Having hitherto attended our author through a continued series of his labours and travels in the service of the gospel, and work of the ministry in these parts of the world; we shall now accompany him to his province of Pennsylvania.

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King Charles the second, in consideration of the services of Sir William Penn, and sundry debts due to him from the crown at the time of his decease, by letters patent bearing date the 4th of March, 1680-1, granted to William Penn and his heirs that province lying on the west side of the river Delaware, in North America, formerly belonging to the Dutch, and then called the New Netherlands: the name was now changed by the king, in honour of William Penn, whom and his heirs he made absolute proprietors and governors of it. Upon this, he presently publishes an Account of the Province of Pennsylvania," with the king's patent, and other papers relating thereto, describing the country and its produce, and proposing an easy purchase of lands, and good terms of settlement, for such as might incline to transport themselves. Many single persons, and some families, out of England and Wales, went over; and with singular industry and application having cleared their purchased lands, settled, and soon improved plantations to good advantage, and began to build the city of Philadelphia, in a commodious situation on the aforesaid navigable river Delaware. And to secure the new planters from the native Indians, (who, in some other provinces, being injuriously dealt with, had made reprisals, to the loss of many lives) the governor gave orders to treat them with all candour and humanity; and appointed commissioners to confer with them about land, and to confirm a league of peace; by whom also he sent them the following letter.

'My Friends,

'London, the 18th of the 8th month, 1681.

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, and not to do harm and mischief unto 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 where 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 would the great God do

to us? who hath made us not to 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 hath been' too much exercised towards you by the people of these parts of the world, who have sought themselves, and to make great advantages by you, rather than to be examples of justice and goodness unto you, which I hear hath been matter of trouble unto you, and caused great grudgings and animosities, sometimes to the shedding of blood, which hath made the great God angry. But I am not such a man, as is well known in my own country: I have great love and regard towards you, and I 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 a full and speedy satisfaction for the same, by an equal number of just men on both sides, that by no means you may have just occasion of being offended against them. I shall shortly come to you myself, at what time we may more largely and freely confer and discourse of these matters; in the mean time I have sent my commissioners to treat with you about land, and a firm league of peace : let me desire you to be kind to them and the people, and receive these presents and tokens which I have sent you, as a testimony of my goodwill to you, and my resolution to live justly, peaceably, and friendly with you.

'I am your loving friend,

W. PENN.'

His friendly and pacifick manner of treating the Indians begat in them an extraordinary love and regard to him and his people, so that they have maintained a perfect amity with the English of Pennsylvania ever since. And it is observable, that upon renewing their treaty with Sir William Keith, bart. their governor in 1722, they mention the name of William Penn with much gratitude and affection, calling him,* A good man,' and, as their highest compliment to Sir William, use this expression,+We esteem and love you as if you were William Penn himself.' So universally doth a principle of peace, justice, and morality, operate on the hearts even of those we call heathens. He also drew up the fundamental constitutions of Pennsylvania, in twenty-four articles, consented to and subscribed

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* See the Historical Register for the year 1798, numb. XXX. pag. 107. + Ibid. P. 108.

by the first adventurers and freeholders of that province, as the ground and rule of all future government: the first of which articles, shewing that his principle was to give, as well as take, liberty of conscience in matters of religion, we shall transcribe:

The First Constitution.

IN reverence to God, the Father of light and spirits, the author, as well as object, of all divine knowledge, faith and worship, I do, for me and mine, declare and establish, for the first fundamental of the government of this country, that every person that doth or shall reside therein, shall have and enjoy the free profession of his or her faith, and exercise of worship towards God, in such way and manner as every such person shall in conscience believe is most acceptable to God: and so long as every such person useth not this Christian liberty to licentiousness, or the destruction of others; that is to say, to speak loosely and prophanely or contemptuously of God, Christ, the holy scriptures, or religion, or commit any moral evil or injury against others in their conversation; he or she shall be protected in the enjoyment of the aforesaid Christian liberty by the civil magistrate.'

In the next year, 1682, he published "The Frame of Government of Pennsylvania," containing twenty-four articles, somewhat varying from the aforesaid constitutions, together with certain other laws to the number of forty, agreed on in England, by the governor and divers freemen of the said province: of which laws one was,

'That all persons living in this province, who confess and acknowledge the One Almighty and Eternal God, to be the Creator, Upholder and Ruler of the world, and that hold themselves obliged in conscience to live peaceably and justly in civil society, shall in no-wise be molested or prejudiced for their religious persuasion or practice in matters of faith and worship; nor shall they be compelled at any time to frequent or maintain any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever." The rest of those laws relating to the encouragement of the planters, suppressing of vice and immorality, and the good government and regulation of the province, our reader may peruse at his pleasure.

The time of his departure for America being now at hand, he wrote the following letter to his wife and children a little before he embarked.

'My dear Wife and Children: 'My love, that sea nor land, nor death itself can extinguish or lessen toward you, most endearedly visits you with eternal embraces, and will abide with you for ever: and may the God of my life watch over you, and bless you, and do you good in this world, and for ever.-Some things are upon my spirit to leave with you in your respective capacities; as I am to one a husband, and to the rest a father; if I should never see you more in this world.

'My dear wife; remember thou wast the love of my youth, and much the joy of my life; the most beloved as well as most worthy, of all my earthly comforts: and the reason of that love was more thy inward, than thy outward excellencies (which yet were many). God knows, and thou knowest it, I can say it was a match of Providence's making; and God's image in us both was the first thing, and the most amiable and engaging ornament in our eyes. Now I am to leave thee, and that without knowing whether I shall ever see thee more in this world, take my counsel into thy bosom, and let it dwell with thee in my stead while thou livest.

1st. 'Let the fear of the Lord, and a zeal and love to his glory, dwell richly in thy heart; and thou wilt watch for good over thyself and thy dear children and family, that no rude, light, or bad thing be committed: else God will be offended, and he will repent himself of the good he intends thee and thine.

2dly. Be diligent in meetings for worship and business; stir up thyself and others herein; it is thy day and place: and let meetings be kept once a day in the family, to wait upon the Lord, who has given us much time for ourselves: and, my dearest, to make thy family matters easy to thee, divide thy time, and be regular; it is easy and sweet; thy retirement will afford thee to do it: as in the morning to view the business of the house, and fix it as thou desirest, seeing all be in order; that by thy counsel all may move, and to thee render an account every evening. The time for work, for walking, for meals, may be certain, at least as near as may be ; and grieve not thyself with careless servants, they will disorder thee; rather pay them, and let them go, if they will not be better by admonitions: this is best to avoid many words, which I know wound the soul, and offend the Lord.

3dly. Cast up thy income, and see what it daily amounts to; by which thou mayest be sure to have it in thy sight and power to keep within compass: and I beseech thee to live low and sparingly, till my debts are paid; and then enlarge as thou seest it convenient. Remember thy mother's

example, when thy father's public-spiritedness had worsted his estate (which is my case.) I know thou lovest plain things, and art averse to the pomps of the world; a nobility natural to thee. I write not as doubtful, but to quicken thee, for my sake, to be more vigilant herein; knowing that God will bless thy care, and thy poor children and thee for it. My mind is wrapt up in a saying of thy father's, 'I desire not riches, but to owe nothing;' and truly that is wealth; and more than enough to live, is a snare attended with many sorrows. I need not bid thee be humble, for thou art so; nor meek and patient, for it is much of thy natural disposition: but I pray thee be oft in retirement with the Lord, and guard against encroaching friendships. Keep them at arm's end; for it is giving away our power, aye, and self too, into the possession of another; and that which might seem engaging in the beginning, may prove a yoke and burden too hard and heavy in the end. Wherefore keep dominion over thyself, and let thy children, good meetings, and Friends, be the pleasure of thy life.

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4thly. And now, my dearest, let me recommend to thy care my dear children; abundantly beloved of me, as the Lord's blessings, and the sweet pledges of our mutual and endeared affection. Above all things endeavour to breed them up in the love of virtue, and that holy plain way of it which we have lived in, that the world, in no part of it, get into my family. I had rather they were homely than finely bred, as to outward behaviour; yet I love sweetness mixed with gravity, and cheerfulness tempered with sobriety. Religion in the heart leads into this true civility, teaching men and women to be mild and courteous in their behaviour; an accomplishment worthy indeed of praise.

5thly. Next breed them up in a love one of another: tell them, it is the charge I left behind me; and that it is the way to have the love and blessing of God upon them: also what his portion is who hates, or calls his brother fool. Sometimes separate them, but not long; and allow them to send and give each other small things, to endear one another with. Once more, I say, tell them it was my counsel, they should be tender and affectionate one to another. For their learning be liberal: spare no cost; for by such parsimony all is lost that is saved; but let it be useful knowledge, such as is consistent with truth and godliness, not cherishing a vain conversation or idle mind; but ingenuity mixed with industry is good for the body and mind too. I recommend the useful parts of mathematicks, as building houses or ships, measuring, surveying, dialing, navigation, &c. but agriculture is especially in my eye: