of Pennsylvania," and the following year he published "The Frame of Government," one of the laws of his code, held out for that time a remarkable degree of religious liberty. It was thus expressed, "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."

On publishing these proposals, a great number of purchasers soon appeared, in London, Liverpool, and especially, about Bristol. A company was formed called "The Free Society of Traders," of which Nicholas Moore Predt, and J. Claypole were conspicuous members, and residents of Philadelphia. They bought at first 20,000 acres; and their appurtenant city lots "were an entire street, and on one side of a street from river to river," comprising therein 100 acres, exclusive of 400 acres besides in the Liberties. A Society of Germans was also formed at Frankfort in Germany, with a view to send out settlers. These took up Germantown township, Manatawny, &c. The first colony left England in Aug. 1681, in three ships, and the first arrival was the ship John and Sarah, from London, Capt. Smith.

In August, 1682, William Penn, with about 100 colonists, mostly Friends or Quakers, embarked in the ship Welcome for America. On their passage, the small-pox broke out and proved fatal to about one-third of the passengers. Penn landed at Newcastle, October 27th, and the next day the people were summoned to the Court House; where legal possession was given to the proprietor and founder of Pennsylvania. The ship with the passengers proceeded further up the river to the general rendezvous or settlement. Penn soon after proceeded to Upland, now Chester, where he held the first assembly.

Penn soon proceeded to select a site, and lay out a plan for a city, and to conclude his celebrated treaty of purchase of the Indians, by which the peace of the province was preserved for a period of seventy years. Penn named his city, Philadelphia, or the "city of brotherly love," which before the end of the year contained eighty houses or cottages. The second Assembly was held in Philadelphia, in March, 1683. At the request of the freemen and delegates, Penn granted them a second charter, which diminished the number of the Council and Assembly, and was, in other respects, different from the first.

Among the regulations adopted at this assembly it was ordained "that, to prevent lawsuits, three arbitrators, to be called peacemakers, should be chosen by the county courts, to hear

[The above is a representation of the large elm, under which it is said was held the celebrated treaty of William Penn with the Indians. This venerated tree stood at Kensingston, the northern part of Philadelphia; it was blown down, March 3d, 1810. "In its form," says Mr. Watson, in his Annals of Philadelphia, "it was remarkably wide spread, but not lofty; its main branch inclining towards the river measured one hundred and fifty feet in length; its girth around the trunk was twenty-four feet, and its age, as it was counted by the inspection of its circles of annual growth, was two hundred and eighty-three years." While it stood, the Methodists and Baptists often held their summer meetings under its shade. A marble monument has been erected on this spot to designate its site, &c.]

and determine small differences between man and man: that children should be taught some useful trade, to the end that none might be idle, that the poor might work to live, and the rich if they should become poor: that factors, wronging their employers, should make satisfaction, and one-third over: that every thing, which excites the people to rudeness, cruelty, and irreligion, should be discouraged and severely punished." These and other judicious regulations attracted numerous emigrants, and within four years from the date of the grant of Penn, the province contained twenty settlements and Philadelphia two thousand inhabitants.

In 1684, Penn was obliged to return to England, where his enemies taking advantage of his absence, had thrown his affairs into a critical situation. He left his province in a tranquil state under the administration of five commissioners, chosen from the council. The unfortunate James II. about this period ascended the throne. "As he has," said Penn, "been my friend, and my father's friend, I feel bound in justice to be a friend to him." He continued his adherence to him while he remained on the throne,

and for two years after he was expelled from his kingdom, the government of the province was administered in his name.

On account of this display of attachment to the exiled monarch, Penn incurred the displeasure of King William, on vague suspicion, and unfounded charges, the founder of Pennsylvania was four times imprisoned. The government of his province was taken from him, and given to Gov. Fletcher of New York. After many persecutions, Penn was permitted to make his own defence before the king and council. By this means, he easily succeeded in removing every unfavorable impression against himself, and was speedily reinstated in his rights as proprietary and governor. William Markham was soon after sent out

as deputy governor.

In 1699, Penn again visited Pennsylvania, and found the people discontented. As they complained of some of the provisions of the existing charter, he prepared a new one, which was submitted to the Assembly and accepted by them in 1701. It gave to the Assembly the right of originating bills, which, by the previous charters, was the right of the governor alone, and of amending or rejecting those which might be laid before them. To the governor, it gave the right of rejecting bills passed by the Assembly, of appointing his own council, and of exercising the whole executive power. The Territories, (now the state of Delaware,) refusing to accept the new charter, separated from Pennsylvania, and were allowed a distinct assembly, under the same governor.

Immediately after granting his third and last charter, Penn returned to England, where he remained till his death, in 1717. The executive authority of the province was administered by deputy governors appointed by the proprietor. The people murmured and complained; but the great prosperity of the colony shows that but slight causes of complaint existed. The greatest cause of irritation among the colonists was, the refusal of the deputy governors to assent to any law imposing taxes on the lands of the proprietors, although the sum raised was to be expended for the benefit of the whole province.

In 1742, a treaty was holden at Philadelphia by the government of Pennsylvania with the deputies of the Six Nations, who agreed to relinquish their claim to all the lands on both sides of the river Susquehanna, so far south as the province extended, and northward to the Endless Mountains, or Kittochtinny hills. In compensation for this territory, they received goods of considerable value. The first settlement in the western part of the state was at Pittsburg on the Ohio. This was the site of the French fort, Du Quesne, which, in 1758, was reduced by Gen. Forbes. The town was commenced in 1760, purchased of the Indians in 1768, and in 1785, contained 1,303 inhabitants.