would have been carried, if it had not been for the wisdom of William Penn, who had entered into all the objections on both sides with great minuteness and impartiality, and who desired a conference with the Assembly on the subject. It was proposed by him, that nineteen hundred pounds should be raised in the Province and Territories, four hundred of which should be paid out of the Territories clear of all charges of collection, and fifteen hundred out of the Province clear of the same charges, for the support of the Government. It was immediately afterwards proposed, that one hundred pounds should be added to the aforesaid nineteen hundred, seventy-three pounds of which should be paid out of the Province, and the residue, twenty-seven pounds, out of the Territories, for the same purpose. It was proposed lastly, that the Counties should pay their proportion as follows: Philadelphia county one thousand and twenty-five pounds, Chester three hundred and twenty-five, Bucks two hundred and twenty-five, Newcastle one hundred and eighty, Kent one hundred and thirty-nine, and Sussex one hundred and six. These propositions were severally agreed to.

They

They were then incorporated into a Bill, and in this shape brought again before the House and passed. Thus at length was completed a Law, the principle and equity of which were admitted by the discordant parties, and which provided permanently for the first time for the good government of the two fœderated countries.

William Penn having obtained this supply, which was more immediately wanted either than the alteration of the Charter or the revision of the Laws, was not so urgent for their determination upon the latter. These indeed were so important both to them and their posterity, that they could not well be too often or too seriously discussed. He therefore prorogued the Assembly on the twenty-seventh of November, after having kept it sitting for about six

weeks.

In looking over the Journals of the Proceedings of this Session we are furnished with certain facts trifling in themselves, but which yet as matters of curiosity may be worth noticing. It appears first, that but very few members absented themselves during the whole session. They used to meet

twice a day for the dispatch of business, namely, at eight in the morning and three in the afternoon. They were called together by the ringing of a bell. Any member who was half an hour behind the time was fined ten pence. Every member had an allowance of three pence per mile for travelling charges, and six shillings a day for his attendance in Assembly. The Speaker's daily allowance was ten shillings. Aurelius Hoskins had twenty pounds for his attendance as Clerk. The Assembly was to sit in future once in three times in the Territories, and the county in which they sat to pay the expense of room, fire, and

paper.

CHAP

CHAPTER XIV.

A. 1701-sets out for East Jersey to quell a riot there extracts from a letter written on that occasion-makes a treaty with the Susquehannah and other Indians— suggests a plan of trade with them, to secure them from imposition and to improve their morals-calls the Assembly-their proceedings-issues an order to watch against invasion-renews a treaty with another tribe of Indians-account of it-being called to England, summons the Assembly again—its proceedings-several tribes of Indians come to take their leave of him—his reply to the same-signs a new Charter-constitutes and incorporates Philadelphia a city—appoints a Council of State-and a Deputy Governor-embarks for England-arrives there.

WILLIAM PENN was with his wife and family at Pennsbury, when he received the news that a riot had taken place in East Jersey, during which some of the persons concerned in it had taken arms. It appears that a criminal had dared to put insolent questions to a Magistrate in Court, and because the Magistrate had refused to answer them the commotion had arisen. William Penn, on the receipt of the intelligence, hastened to Philadelphia, and there selected twelve of the most respectable of his own Society, with whom he was proceeding to assist the

Govern

Government in East Jersey to get the better of the insurgents; but being informed on his way that the matter had been settled, he returned home. He dispatched however a letter to his Friends in that Government, by which we see his sentiments in such cases; and that, though he was meek and tender in his nature, he could yet be firm where the cause of justice required it. He tells his Friends, that he "had received the surprising news of the practices of some East Jersians which were as unexpected to him as dishonourable and licentious in them. It would be hard to find temper enough to balance extremes ; for he knew not what punishment those rioters did not deserve, and he had rather live alone than not have such people corrigible. Their leaders should be eyed, and some should be forced to declare them by the rigour of the law; and those who were found to be such should bear the burthen of such sedition, which would be the best way to behead the body without danger. If lenitives would not do, coercives should be tried; but though men would naturally begin with the former, yet wisdom had often sanctioned the latter as

VOL. II.

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remedies,