the administration of government, who could have expected such ingratitude, to such a benefactor, or such a wanton abuse of so excellent a character as Gov. Gookin, or may I not say, of their own rights, as well as their own best interest, as we have witnessed in the successive sessions of the Assembly for the year past? This was not the spirit of freemen, such as we have witnessed in Massachusetts and Connecticut, under the administrations of an Andross and others; but here was a display of the corruptions of the human heart, wantonly abusing its own mercies through the excess of indulgence, the licentiousness of liberty. I have recorded, and shall continue to record, these facts, as they have occurred, and shall continue to occur, as lessons of instruction, both to the wise, and the unwise; and at a future period, shall call up their recollection to these interesting scenes, and attempt to shew what connection they have with the great subject before us; and what bearing these minute events have had, and will continue to have upon the great and important interests of united Amerrica. The effects of the letter of the proprietary upon the province, were such as do them immortal honor; with the dissolution of this assembly, faction expired, and in 1710,' an entire new assembly was chosen, who convened in October; chose Richard Hill for their speaker, and whom the governor met on the 16th, with the following speech: The governor, after the usual salutations, proceeded to observe-"That he did not doubt it was obvious to every one, why he could not agree with the other assembly; but as he took them to have different sentiments, they might promise themselves that his ready assent to all bills drawn up for the public good, would not be wanting; and that as he had often expressed his resolution of settling amongst them, he could have no aims contrary to the true interest of the people; that thus a confidence might be established in each other: he hoped they would cheerfully proceed with their bills, and make such provision for the support of the government, as consisted with the character that the province justly bore, in all her majesty's dominions," &c. He concluded by recommending dispatch in business, and cautioned them against increasing the public debt, by shewing that delay which in former assemblies had already rendered it so heavy, as they would find it difficut to discharge. The change in the members of the assembly, produced a total change in the feelings and measures of the government; and general discord was now converted into general harmony, and the public good became the prime object of the assembly, through the winter session. The summer following, the governor convened the assembly, and laid before them an express from her majesty, containing the following requisitions. ANN R "Trusty and well beloved, we greet you well. 1 "Whereas we have sent our instructions to our governors of New-York, New-Jersey, and of the Massachusetts Bay, and New Hampshire, relating to an expedition against the common enemy, the French, inhabiting North America. And whereas we have directed our said governors, and Francis Nicholson, Esq. to communicate to you such instructions as relate to the province under your command, &c. in execution of such things as shall then be resolved to be acted and done on your part; in the doing of which we do expect you to use the utmost vigour and dispatch, and for so doing this shall be your warrant; so we bid you farewell. "Given at our Court, &c. February, 1710-11, &c." The result produced by this requisition, was their raising the sum of two thousand pounds, to aid and assist her majesty's cause against the common enemy, the French in VOL. II. 35 Canada.* Another end proposed by this requisition was, that Gov. Gookin should meet the council of governors, then to be assembled at New-London, in Connecticut, as a grand council of war, to fix the plan of the campaign, as well as the several quotas of men to be furnished by each colony; as was noticed under Connecticut; but the notice was so short, that Gov. Gookin was unable to attend. This session was continued and closed with mutual harmony and concord. At the next session in October, 1711, some change took place in the election of members; David Lloyd, their old speaker, was again a member; but Richard Hill, became again their speaker. : At the opening of this session, the governor in his speech announced to the house, the wish of the proprietary to meet the wishes of the assembly in any measures that they might propose for the promotion of the prosperity of the province. The governor also reminded them, " that he had now been in their service three years, and that the compensation which he had recived, as might be seen by the acts of assembly, were far short of what the proprietary had given him to expect from the people." This strengthened the mutual harmony of the house, and the house made provision for the governor that was satisfactory. In 1712, William Penn made a formal sale of the province of Pennsylvania, to her Majesty Queen Ann, for the double purpose of relieving himself from the embarrassments in his affairs, which the expenses of the province had occasioned, as well as from the vexatious cares their unhallowed contentions had produced, and which had wasted his health, mind, and spirits; but before the surrendery was duly executed, the proprietary was seized with an apoplexy, which rendered him incompetent to the act. * This money was raised by a tax of five pence half-penny on the pound on estates, and twenty shillings per head upon every freeman. At the October session, Isaac Norris was chosen speaker, and the governor communicated to the house the intentions of the proprietary, and recommended dispatch in business, that he might be useful to them whilst he was continued to them; but the house expressed a wish to adjourn to a more convenient season; the governor complied with their wishes, and they adjourned. Nothing of importance occured at the adjourned session, or at the subsequent assembly, until October session, 1714, when the house, in a freak, with David Lloyd for their speaker, thought fit to adjourn themselves to the latter part of September, 1715. The governor was not pleased with this act, and on the 16th of April, he issued his writ to convene the assembly in May. They accordingly met on the 2d day of May, and the governor by his speech let them know, that many pressing exigencies of the government were unprovided for, and required their serious attention. Some warmth took place between the parties, but an accommodation ensued so far as not to impede the necessary acts and laws, to provide for the necessary supplies, and the assembly continued their session into June. During this June session, great tumults had arisen in Philadelphia, to rescue and screen a criminal offender from the just penalties of the laws, and the assembly preffered a petition to the governor, praying his most strenuous efforts to bring the offenders to justice; to which the governor replied, with assurances that met their wishes. The riots were quelled. At the October session of the assembly, 1715, Joseph Grawdon was chosen speaker, and the governor signified, in his speech to the house, his desire to return to England, and that he had written to the proprietary for his permission; and he urged them to dispatch in business, that the government might not suffer damage by his absence. 1 Queen Ann having died August 1st, 1714, and George I. then being proclaimed king, this assembly sent to his majesty their congratulatory address. In October 1716, Richard Hill was chosen speaker. At this session, the governor expressed a decided hostility against Quakers, by refusing to qualify them for office, in due form; and also some bitterness against the speaker, and James Logan the secretary, by charging them with disloyalty to their king, &c. as may be seen hereafter, in a long and laboured address to the governor, which is thus closed "But to sum up the whole, we can truly say, we are extremely troubled that we cannot enjoy the same happiness that most of our neighbours enjoy, of seeing our governor take such measures, as should by an agreeable force, sway the people's inclinations, to render him easy in all respects, which can be effected by no means so powerfully, as first rendering them easy in the enjoyment of those privileges which they have an undoubted right to," &c. This sketch may serve to shew the temper of the address, and the discordant relation that then subsitded between the parties. As this address consisted of a general uneasiness on the part of the people, rather than any definite, or specific charges; the governor waved a reply and let it pass, as one of the sour things of the day. In the month of March, 1717, Governor Gookin took a formal leave of the province, in an address by way of message to the assembly, and they voted him two hundred pounds upon the occasion; and in May following, Sir William Keith was appointed to the chair. On the 19th of August, Governor Keith convened the assembly, and on the next day he met them with the following address. |