5. During the winter of 1681-82, Penn drew up a constitution for his people. In the meantime, the duke of York had surrendered his claim to the three counties on the Delaware. The whole country on the west bank of the river, from Cape Henlopen

to the fortythird degree of latitude,

was now

transferred

to Penn.

The sum

mer of 1682

was spent

in

further

WILLIAM PENN.

preparation. The propri

etor wrote a letter of farewell to the Friends in England; embarked with a large

company of emigrants; and on the

27th of Oc

tober, land

ed at New Castle, where the people were waiting to receive him. 6. WILLIAM PENN was born on the 14th of October, 1644. lle was the oldest son of Sir William Penn of the British navy. At the age of twelve he was sent to the University of Oxford, where he distinguished himself as a student until he was expelled on account of his religion. Afterward he traveled on the Continent, and then became a student of law at London. For a while he was a soldier, and was then converted to the Quaker faith. His father drove him out of doors, but he was not to be turned

from his course. He proclaimed the doctrines of the Friends; was arrested and imprisoned, first in the Tower of London, and afterward at Newgate. Despairing of toleration in England, he cast his gaze across the Atlantic. West Jersey was purchased; Pennsylvania was granted by King Charles; and now Penn himself arrived in America to found a government on the basis of peace.

7. The Quaker governor delivered an affectionate address to the crowd of Swedes, Dutch, and English who came to greet him. His pledges of a liberal government were renewed, and the people were exhorted to sobriety and honesty. Penn then ascended the Delaware to Chester; visited West Jersey; and spent some time at New York. In a few weeks he returned to his own province and began his duties as chief magistrate.

8. Friendly relations were established between the Friends and Red men. A great conference, appointed with the sachems of the neighboring tribes, was held on the banks of the Delaware. Penn declared his brotherly affection for the Indians. Standing before them, clad in the simple garb of the Quakers, he said: "MY FRIENDS: We have met on the broad pathway of good faith. We are all one flesh and blood. Being brethren, no advantage shall be taken on either side. When disputes arise, we will settle them in council. Between us there shall be nothing but openness and love." The chiefs replied: "While the rivers run and the sun shines we will live in peace with the children of William Penn." And the treaty was sacredly kept. The Quaker hat and coat proved to be a better defence than coat-of-mail and musket.

9. In December, 1682, a general convention was held at Chester. The object was to complete the territorial legislation. After the session, Penn repaired to the Chesapeake to confer with Lord Baltimore about the boundaries of their provinces. After a month's absence he returned to Chester and drew a map of his proposed capital. The neck of land between the Schuylkill and the Delaware was purchased of the Swedes. In February of 1683, the native chestnuts, walnuts and ashes were blazed to indicate the lines of the streets, and PHILADELPHIA was founded. Within a month a general assembly was in session at the new capital. A democratic form of government was adopted. The officers were the

governor, a council consisting of members chosen for three years, and a popular assembly, to be annually elected. The right of vetoing objectionable acts of the council was left in the hands of Penn. 10. The growth of Philadelphia was astonishing. In 1683 there

were only three or four houses. The ground-squirrels still lived in their burrows, and the wild deer ran through the town. In 1685 the city contained six hundred houses; the schoolmaster had come and the printing-press had begun its work. In another year Philadelphia had outgrown New York. In August of 1684, Penn took leave of his colony, and sailed for England.

11. Nothing occurred to

disturb the peace of Pennsylvania until the secession of Delaware in 1691. The three lower counties, which had been united on terms of equality with the six counties of Pennsylvania, became dissatisfied with some acts of the assembly and insisted on a separation. The proprietor gave consent; Delaware withdrew from the union and received a separate deputy-governor.

12. For his adherence to the cause of King James II., Penn was several times imprisoned. In 1692 his proprietary rights were taken away, and the government of Pennsylvania was transferred to Fletcher of New York. In the following year, Delaware shared the same fate; all the provinces between Connecticut and Maryland were consolidated under Fletcher's authority. But the suspicions against Penn's loyalty were found to be groundless, and he was restored to his rights.

13. In December of 1699, Penn visited his American commonwealth. He found the lower counties in a state of hostility to the assembly. In order to restore peace, the proprietor drew up another constitution, more liberal than the first. But

Delaware would not accept the new frame of government. In 1702 the assemblies of the two provinces sat apart; and in the following year Delaware and Pennsylvania were finally separated.

14. In the winter of 1701, Penn returned to England. The ministers had now formed the design of establishing royal governments in all the colonies. The presence of Penn was required in England in order to prevent the success of the scheme. After much controversy his rights were fully recognized. In July of 1718, the founder of Pennsylvania sank to rest. His estates, vast and valuable, were bequeathed to his three sons, John, Thomas and Richard. By them, or their deputies, Pennsylvania was governed until the American Revolution. In the year 1779, the claims of the Penn family were purchased by the legislature of Pennsylvania for a hundred and thirty thousand pounds.

15. The colonial history of the State founded by Penn is one of special interest and pleasure. It is a narrative of the victories of peace, and of the triumph of peaceful principles over violence and wrong. It is doubtful whether the history of any other colony in the world is touched with so many traits of innocence and truth. “I will found a free colony for all mankind," were the words of William Penn. How well his work was done shall be told when the bells of his capital city shall ring out the glad notes of AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.

RECAPITULATION.

The Friends are persecuted in Europe.-Penn designs to plant a Quaker State in America.-Charles II. grants the charter of Pennsylvania.--Penn relinquishes his claims on the British government.- Declares his purposes.-Invites emigration. A colony departs under Markham.-The Indians are assured of friendship.-Penn frames a constitution.-The Duke of York surrenders Delaware.-Extent of Penn's dominion.-He leaves England with a colony.Sketch of his life. He addresses the people at New Castle.-Visits New York.Makes the great treaty with the Indians.-A convention is held at Chester.A constitution is adopted.-Penn visits Lord Baltimore.- Philadelphia is founded.-Growth of the city.-Penn sails for England.-Delaware secedes.-Penn adheres to James 11.-Is imprisoned.-His province is taken away.-But restored.-Penn revisits America.-The constitution is modified.-Delaware is separated.-Penn returns to England.-Dies.-His sons become proprietors of Pennsylvania.-The province is purchased by the legislature.

MINOR SOUTHERN COLONIES.

CAPTAI

CHAPTER XXVI.

1.

MARYLAND.

APTAIN JOHN SMITH was the first white man to explore the Chesapeake. In 1621, William Clayborne, an English surveyor, was sent out by the London Company to make a map of the country around the bay. By the second charter of Virginia that province included all of the present State of Maryland. To explore and occupy the country was an enterprise of the highest importance to the Virginians.

2. In May of 1631, Clayborne was authorized to survey the country as far north as the forty-first degree of latitude, and to establish a trade with the Indians. This commission was confirmed by Governor Harvey of Virginia, and in the spring of 1632 Clayborne began his important work.

3. The enterprise was attended with success. A trading-post was established on Kent Island, and another near Havre de Grace. The Chesapeake was explored and a trade opened with the natives. The limits of Virginia were about to be extended to the borders of New Netherland. But in the mean time, religious persecutions were preparing the way for the foundation of a new State in the wilderness. Sir George Calvert, a Catholic nobleman of Yorkshire, better known by his title of LORD BALTIMORE, was destined to become the founder.

4. King James, who was not unfriendly to the Catholics, first granted to Sir George a patent for the southern part of Newfoundland, and here, in 1623, a colony was established. But it soon became evident that the settlement must be removed, and Lord Baltimore turned his attention to the Chesapeake.