four articles. A body of laws was also agreed upon in England with the adventurers, and published in the succeeding month. They were partly of a political, partly of a moral, and partly of an economical nature, and have been noticed by an acute historian, as "doing honour to their wisdom as statesmen, to their morals as men, to their spirit as Colonists.” "A plantation" he adds, "reared on such a seed plot, could not fail to grow with rapidity, to advance to maturity, to attract notice of the world.* Three ships with a body of adventurers sailed in 1681, two of which arrived that year. One, the Bristol Factor, brought to, off Chester Creek, and the river freezing the same night, they went on shore, and remained there all winter. The John and Sarah from London had previously arrived. The other ship having been blown off to one of the West India Islands, arrived in the following year. . The commissioners appear to have been on board the latter ship, for their arrival is mentioned as having taken place in June 1682. William Penn himself having been detained by a variety of concerns, did not embark until the month of August following. Previously to which he procured of the Duke of York, a release of his claim upon the province which he or his successors might have in consequence of the deed to him for the same by King Charles. In the same year he obtained from the Duke a grant for the land now the State of Delaware, and in the month and year just mentioned, embarked in the ship Welcome, Robert Greenway, master, with upwards of one hundred passengers, for the New World. In six weeks they saw the wished for coast, and on the 24th of October 1682, he landed at New-Castle in Delaware. * Chalmer's annals, p. 643. † Proud 1. p. 193. Whatever impressions the inhabitants may have received of their future governor from his friends who had preceded him, his conduct on his arrival was sufficient to ensure their attachment. His fleet though numerous, was unaccompanied by a single ship of war; their fears therefore, if any existed respecting a hostile assertion of his right must have subsided at once. The day subsequent to his arrival he summoned the inhabitants, and formally received the country of them; a promise of perpetuating their spiritual and temporal rights was made, and the commissions of all the magistrates renewed. It was a happy circumstance that out of twenty three ships which composed the fleet of emigrants, not one was lost. Penn had the satisfaction as he proceeded to find every disposition on the part of the original settlers, Dutch and Swedes to welcome his arrival, and to submit to his authority. The Swedes in particular, who were by far the most numerous, volunteered their services in unloading the vessels, * and in furnishing the passengers with accommodations, until they could provide for themselves: and as a body, deputed Lacy Cock, one of their prominent characters, to Chester, to inform him, that "they would love, serve and obey him ;" and no doubt happy that the conflicting pretensions to the soil would probably now cease, they added " that it was the best day they had ever seen."+ On the fourth of December 1682 he called an assembly at Upland, (now Chester,) and passed all the laws that had been previously agreed upon in England, with some others. The important consideration, the great incentive to emigration, claimed of course primary attention. The law concerning LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE, was therefore placed at the head of the list. * Swedish records Proud 1. p. 206. This measure was very natural: the proprietary and his friends having suffered greatly on account of the difference of their religion, and mode of worship, from that of the established church in England, it was to be expected that provision should be made for the free exercise of forms of worship peculiar to all those who adventured their fortunes under his patronage. Some policy was also evinced in placing a law respecting a measure so dear to the colonists, at the head of those by which they were to be governed, for mankind in all ages have evinced a greater attachment to the enjoyment of their religion, than the preservation of their property. The title by which William Penn took possession of his territory was such as is deemed valid by all nations-a grant from his King, whose own title was derived from the discovery of the country by his subjects, and by subsequent conquest from those who disputed his claim thereto; but Penn thought it necessary to obtain an additional right from the aborigines of the soil by fair and open purchase, and thus says an eloquent writer "signalized his arrival by an act of equity which made his person and principles equally beloved." This measure was so conformable to the pacific character and principles of Penn himself, that though certainly advised by the Bishop of London, we cannot but believe would have been adopted of his own accord. A treaty was therefore held with the natives, and the foundation of a friendship established between them, according to which says Penn they agreed to "live in love as long as the sun gave light. -It is not possible to find words more expressive than those adopted by the Indian orator on this occasion, and it was a proof of the sincerity with which they were used, that no disposition ap دو * Raynal's E. & W. Indies, B. 18th. 1. p. 274. †Penn's letter. Proud peared on either side to interrupt their harmony during the life time of any of the parties. The impression made upon the minds of the Indians was certainly strong respecting the justness and good will of Penn towards them, from their frequent mention of him in treaties held at various times for near a century after his death.* The particular spot at which the first treaty was held, by tradition is said to have been under the venerable elm that lately stood on the Delaware shore at Kensington, but of this there is no record. The treaty however has been immortalized by the pencil of our celebrated countryman West; whose grandfather having been one of the first settlers, and a prominent character, was no doubt present at its ratification. Upon a survey of the land on the river, the present site of the City was perceived to be the most suitable place for the intended town. The approach of the two rivers, the short distance above the mouth of the Schuylkill; the depth of the Delaware; the land heavily timbered; the existence of a stratum of brick clay on the spot; immense quarries of building stone in the vicinity, all conspired to determine Penn in his choice of the spot, but the land was already in possession of the Swedes, and justice required that their wishes should be consulted respecting its occupancy. An exchange of the desired site was therefore proposed for land in the vicinity, and hav *Of this there are many records in treaties preserved. (See Prouds history vol. 1. p. 214.) On one occasion they said "they should never forget the council that William Penn gave them, and that though they could not write, as the English did, yet they could keep in the memory, what was said in their councils." Brother Onas was the title by which they distinguished Penn, and after his death, the State.-In Indian, Onas signifies a Pen. ing been accepted, the City was laid out. It has been transmitted to us, that either under an apprehension of the unwillingness of the proprietors to part with their land, or from their actual refusal, the commissioners previously to the arrival of Penn, had resolved to establish the town about twelve miles up the Delaware. Civilized nations have ever been anxious to be made acquainted with their origin, and to record their progress from the stages of rude society to comfort, riches, refinement. The history of the founders of Philadelphia is short; and yet when duly weighed is not without interest: for the hand of a particular Providence was more than once interposed in their behalf, a favour which the pious and grateful Quakers did not fail to acknowledge and record.* The fleet that accompanied Penn, after landing their goods at the inlet, now known by the name of the dock, then "a sandy beach" were laid up for the winter in the creek now occupied by Dock street; the first attention of the passengers would of course be directed to the means of procuring a shelter from the elements. The attention of the aborigines was great, and the Swedes lent them every assistance, which their necessities required, or they themselves could afford. Their privations must nevertheless have been great. They had left comfortable homes, regular establishments, and were now obliged to content themselves with bark huts, which the experience of the natives taught them to fashion; or with caves, which they dug out of the high bank that overlooked * Townsend's testimony. Proud 1. p. 228. |