PREFACE. IN this centennial year, when the repre sentatives of nearly all civilized nations will meet in the city of Brotherly Love, and engage in harmonious intercourse, it seems to be an appropriate season to revive the memory of the Founder of Pennsylvania, and to illustrate the principles of peace. There is, in thoughtful minds throughout Christendom, a growing disposition to consider the best means of averting the dreadful calamities of war, and the oppres sion that results from maintaining vast armaments in time of peace. But we must not expect the rulers of nations to reform these evils until the people shall demand it, nor will the people demand it until they are more generally enlightened and imbued with Christian principles. A good work is being done by the Peace Societies in this country, and in Europe. Their publications have thrown a flood of light upon the enormous evils of war, and the means that may be used to secure the blessings of peace. They have shown that International arbitration has, in many instances, succeeded in settling disputes that endangered the peace of nations, and that a code of International laws, administered by a High Court of Nations, would be the means of preserving peaceful relations, and leading to a general disarmament throughout Christendom. They have called in earnest language upon the ministers and members of Christian Churches to proclaim and to practise the Law of Love as taught and exemplified by the Author of our religion,a law that is no less imperative upon nations than upon individuals, which would lead to the reign of universal peace as foretold by the prophet, when “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." My design, in this work, is to give a concise account of the only attempt that has ever been made to govern a commonwealth on the principles enunciated by our Saviour, in His Sermon on the Mount, and to show that the reign of "peace on earth, and good will to men," is not only beautiful in practice. in theory, but feasible in It will be observed that a portion of the materials used in this essay are reproduced from my work entitled "The Life of William Penn, with Selections from his Correspondence and Autobiography," to which the reader is referred for further particulars relating to the early history of Pennsylvania. SAMUEL M. JANNEY. LINCOLN, LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA. THIRD MONTH, FIRST, 1876. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Dutch settlement-Fort Nassau-Captain Mey-De Vrie's colony at Hoor-kills-Destroyed by Indians-Swedish colony and fort at Chris- tina-At Tinicum-Colonel John Printz-Warlike measures-The Dutch build Fort Cassimer-The Swedes subdued-Dutch policy-The English take possession for the Duke of York-Disastrous results of Penn at Oxford-Religious impressions-Tour of Europe-Sent to Ire land- Military expedition-Preaching of Thomas Loe-Penn con- vinced of Friends' principles-Displeasure of his father-Penn becomes an author-Imprisoned in the Tower-Released - Arrested at a Friends' meeting-Trial of Penn and Mead-Their imprisonment- Penn pleads for liberty of conscience-Death of his father-Coloniza- |