that would have led persons to conclude that he had been guilty of what had been laid to his charge. To stay in England was dangerous. Conscious, however, of his own innocence, he resolved to remain where he was, and to go at large as before, following those occupations by which he thought he could best promote the good of his fellow

creatures.

But it was not long after this determination, before he felt the effect of the political change which had taken place; for on the tenth of December walking in Whitehall, he was sent for by the Lords of the Council, who were then sitting. Here he underwent an examination. In reply to some questions which were put to him, he protested, that "he had done nothing but what he could answer before God, and all the Princes in the world; that he loved his country and the Protestant religion above his life, and had never acted against either; that all he had ever aimed at in his public endeavours was no other than what the Prince himself had declared for; that King James had always been his friend, and his father's friend; and that in gratitude he

himself

himself was the King's, and did ever, as much as in him lay, influence him to his true interest." Notwithstanding this manly and open declaration, and that nothing appeared against him, the Council obliged him to give security for his appearance the first day of the next term. Having complied with their mandate, he was discharged.

With respect to America, things did not go on to his satisfaction there, for he determined upon another change in the Govern-, ment by reducing the Executive to three persons. Instead of five Commissioners it was to consist of a Deputy Governor and two Assistants. This arrangement he communicated by letter to President Lloyd, who had before signified his intention of resigning his office, in which he offered him the Deputy Governorship. "Now, though I have," says he in this letter, "to please thee, given thee a quietus from all public business, my intention is to constitute thee Deputy Governor, and two in the character of Assistants, either of whom and thyself to be able to do all as fully as I myself can do: only I wait thy consent to the employment, of which advise me."

President

President Lloyd still persisting in his resignation, William Penn was obliged to look out for another person, and in the course of his inquiries fixed upon Captain John Blackwell. He therefore notified this appointment to the Commissioners. In his letter to them he stated that, when he determined upon this change, it "was not because he was dissatisfied with their care or service." He then adverted to the character of Blackwell. "For your ease I have appointed one that is not a Friend, but a grave, sober, wise man, to be Governor in my absence. He married old General Lambert's daughter; was Treasurer to the Commonwealth's army in England, Scotland, and Ireland: I suppose, independent in judgement. Let him see what he can do awhile. I have ordered him to confer in private with you, and square himself by your advice. If he do not please you, he shall be laid aside. I desire you to receive him with kindness, and let him see it, and use his not being a Friend to Friends' advantage. He has a mighty repute of all sorts of honest people, where he has inhabited; which, with my own knowledge, has made me venture upon him." He then spoke

of

of his quit-rents as if still in arrear, and as if Blackwell had been appointed as being a particularly proper person to superintend the collection of them. "I have rough people to deal with about my quit-rents, that yet cannot pay a ten-pound bill, but draw, draw, draw, still upon me. And it being his talent (Blackwell's) to regulate and set things in method, easy and just, I have pitched upon him to advise therein." It appears by the same letter as if he had been dissatisfied with the conduct of the Assembly. "I will add this," says he, "that the Assembly, as they call themselves, are not so without Governor and Privy Council*, and that no Speaker, Clerk, or Book, belongs to them; and that the people have their Representatives in the Privy Council to prepare Bills, and the Assembly, as it is called, has only the power of aye or no, yea or nay. If they turn debaters, judges, or complainers, they overthrow the Charter quite in the very root of the constitution of it, for it is to usurp

It is to be observed here, that when he changed the Executive to five Commissioners, the Council still existed separately, and so it did when he changed it to Deputy Governor and two Assistants.

the

the Privy Council's part in the Charter, and to forfeit the Charter itself."

At this time Captain Blackwell was in New England, and of course not far from his new Government: but his Commission had been sent him, and with it a letter, in which we find among others the following instructions: "That things should be transacted in his name by the style of his Patent only, namely, absolute Proprietor of Pennsylvania; that Commissions signed and sealed by him in England should be sufficient warrants to pass them under the Great Seal; that the Laws which were in being should be collected and sent over to him in a stitched book by the very first opportunity; that the Sheriffs of the respective counties should be charged with the receipt of his rents and fines, as in England, and give security to the Receiver-general for the time; that care should be taken of the roads and highways in the country, that they might be straight and commodious for travellers, having been improperly turned about by planters for their own convenience; that speedy and impartial justice should be done, and virtue cherished and vice punished; that fines should