I had a pretty good one) I must, in a deep seems to have been electric. The measures sense of sorrow, say, that I fear the kind to which he alluded in the penultimate parahand of Providence, that has so long favoured and protected you, will, by the ingratitude of many there to the great mercies of God, hitherto shown them, be at length provoked to convince them of their unworthiness; and, by changing into calamities the blessings that so little care has been taken by the public to deserve, reduce those who have been so clamorous and causelessly discontented, to a true but smarting sense of their duty. I write not this with a design to include all; I doubt not, many of you have been burdened at, and can, by no means join in, the measures that have been taken; but while such things appear under the name of an assembly that ought to represent the whole, I cannot but speak more generally than I would desire, though I am not insensible what methods may be used to obtain the weight of such a name.

graph, most probably alarmed them. To be transferred from the paternal government of the benevolent father of his country, to that of the crown, even when Anne held the sceptre, was not likely to diminish the grievances of which they so loudly complained. The consequence was, that at the ensuing election, an entirely new set of members was returned to the assembly; and a degree of harmony between them and the governor, which had been unknown for several years, marked the progress of the session; and this state of things continued with little interruption, during the short time in which William Penn was capable of taking an active part in these concerns.

"I have already been tedious, and shall now, therefore, briefly say, that the opposition I have met with from thence must, at length, force me to consider more closely of my own private and sinking circumstances, in relation to that province. In the mean time, I desire you all seriously to weigh what I have written, together with your duty to yourselves, to me, and to the world, who have their eyes upon you, and are witnesses of my early and earnest care for you. I must think there is a regard due to me, that has not of late been paid; pray, consider of it fully, and think soberly, what you have to desire of me, on the one hand, and ought to perform to me, on the other; for, from the next assembly, I shall expect to know what you resolve, and what I may depend on. If I must continue my regards to you, let me be engaged to it by a like disposition in you towards me. But if a plurality after this shall think they owe me none, or no more than for some years I have met with, let it, on a fair election, be so declared, and I shall then, without further suspense, know what I have to rely upon. God give you his wisdom and fear to direct you, that yet our poor country may be blessed with peace, love and industry, and we may once more meet good friends, and live so to the end; our relation, in the truth, having but the same true interest.

"I am, with great truth and most sincere regard, your real friend, as well as just proprietor and governor,

"WILLIAM PENN."

It does not appear that any reply was returned by the assembly to this epistle. But the effect upon the people of the province

It may be proper to mention, though not immediately connected with the biography of William Penn, that during the administration of Governor Gookin, an effort was made by the legislature of Pennsylvania, to check the importation of African slaves. The Yearly Meeting of Friends, as noted in a former chapter, in the year 1696, had expressed its disapprobation of the traffic; and it does not appear that the people of Pennsylvania were ever deeply engaged in it. But the effort now made to restrain it by legislative authority was overruled by the mother country. The encouragement of that abominable commerce, was then a part of the settled policy of Great Britain. In the treaty of Utrecht, a stipulation was made, securing to the South Sea Company, the privilege of importing annually, from 1713 to 1743, four thousand eight hundred negroes, into the Spanish West Indies.

In the year 1712, William Penn agreed with the ministers of the crown, upon a sale of his interest in the province and territories, to which he had devoted so large a part of his laborious life. His pecuniary difficulties and the impossibility of giving his personal attention to their concerns, were probably the moving causes of this measure. The sum to be paid was twelve thousand pounds;* one thousand of which were actually paid. But before the documents for making a legal

*The smallness of this sum, is no inconsiderable evidence, that the original grant, in 1681, was not considered or intended as the payment of a debt amounting to sixteen thousand pounds. For notwithstanding the quantity of land which had been sold, the proprietary rights which remained in 1712, were unquestionably of much greater value at that time than the whole wilderness province was in 1681; particularly, as the Indian claims to the most valuable parts of the province had been extinguished by amicable purchase.

transfer, were completed, he was attacked with a disease of an apoplectic character, which left him with a memory so far impaired, that he was judged incompetent to their execution.

He had, in the same year, three attacks of this distemper, the last of which appeared at the time, likely to close his earthly career. He at length revived, but his understanding and memory were so completely prostrated, that he was never afterwards capable of public action.

In the following year, 1713, an intimate friend, who spent a few days at his house, relates that he found him pretty well in health, and cheerful of disposition, but defective in memory, so that though he could relate many past transactions, yet he could not readily recollect the names of absent persons; nor could he deliver his words so readily as formerly: yet he uttered many sensible and savoury expressions, which rendered his company still acceptable, and manifested the religious settlement and stability of his mind.

In the spring of 1714, the same Friend, paying another visit, found him but little changed since the former year. The Friend went with him in his chariot to meeting at Reading, where he spoke several sensible sentences, but was not able to say much. At parting, he took leave of his friends with much tenderness and affection.

that he had a good sense of truth was plain, by some very clear sentences he spoke in the life and power of truth, in an evening meeting we had there; wherein we were greatly com forted, so that I was ready to think this was a sort of sequestration of him from all the concerns of this life, which so much oppressed him; not in judgment, but in mercy, that he might not be oppressed thereby to the end.”

In 1715, the annual visit of the first-mentioned Friend was repeated. His memory was found to be still more defective, but his love of the Truth and sense of religious enjoyment apparently continued; for he frequently went in his chariot to the meeting at Reading, and there sometimes uttered short, but sound and savoury expressions.

In the year 1716, the same Friend and another paid him a visit. He seemed glad to see them, though he could not remember their names; yet it appeared by his answers that he knew their persons. He was then much weaker than in the former year, but still at times expressed himself sensibly. When they were about going away, he took leave of them in these words. "My love is with you; the Lord preserve you, and remember me in the everlasting covenant."

In the summer of 1717, the same Friend found his understanding so much impaired, that he scarcely knew his old acquaintances; In the autumn, or beginning of winter, of he was almost too weak to walk without asthe same year, he was visited by his intimate sistance; and he could hardly express himself friend, Thomas Story, who was then just re-intelligibly. Thus his powers of body and turned from America. He found his memory mind suffered a gradual decline for about six almost gone, and the use of his understanding suspended; so that he was not so conversable as formerly, but as near the Truth in the love of it as before. He was then incapable of any business, and yet as sensible of the enjoyment of the Truth as at any time in his life.

years.

On the 24th of fifth month, 1718, Thomas Story paid him a visit and remained with him till the 27th, when he left him and proceeded to Bristol; at which place he received a letter from Hannah Penn, informing him of the decease of her husband, who departed on the 30th. No symptoms of the disorder of which he died, were observable when Thomas Story left him three days before.

"When I went," says he, "to his house, I thought myself strong enough to see him in that condition; but when I entered the room, and perceived the great defect of his expres We find by what little remains of the closing sions for want of memory, it greatly bowed years of this remarkable man, that as he was my spirit, under a consideration of the uncer-made willing in his youthful days, to purchase tainty of all human qualifications; and what the pearl of great price, the consolation which the finest of men are soon reduced to, by a flows from the Divine presence and a condisorder of the organs of that body with which science void of offence toward God and tothe soul is connected and acts, during this ward man, whatever it might cost, so in his present state of being. When these are a closing period, when his mind was incapable little obstructed in their various functions, a of enjoyment from any other source, the con man of the clearest parts and finest expres-solations of religion continued unabated. Thus, sion, becomes scarcely intelligible. Nevertheless, no insanity or lunacy at all appeared in his actions; and his mind was in an innocent state, as appeared by his very loving deportment to all that came near him. And

though a cloud was permitted to cover his understanding, yet as regards his everlasting prospects, his sun went down in brightness.

The account given by Thomas Story rela tive to his funeral, is in the following words:

love and true honour, and we cannot but have the same regard to his memory, when we consider the blessings and ease we have enjoyed under his government; and are rightly sensible of his care, affection, and regard, always shown with anxious concern for the safety and prosperity of the people, who many of them, removed from comfortable livings to be adventurers with him-not so much with views of better acquisitions, or greater riches, but the laudable prospect of retired, quiet habitations for themselves and posterity, and the promotion of truth and virtue in the earth. And as his love was great and endeavours constant for the happiness of his friends, countrymen, and fellow-subjects, so was his great tenderness, justice, and love towards the Indians, from first to last, always conspicuous and remarkable. Here we cannot but gratefully and humbly acknowledge to the gracious God of all our mercies, the wonderful preservation of this colony from such injuries and barbarous depredations as have befallen most others; and add that we believe the same love wherewith the Lord had so fully and effectually prevailed on the heart of this our worthy friend, was the chief and durable motive of his affection and kind behaviour towards those people; and was the cause, as he was made a means, of this our peace and preservation; so that his name remains precious, even amongst the heathens.

If William Penn did not accomplish, in the settlement of Pennsylvania, all that his ardent and comprehensive mind originally antici pated, he unquestionably effected more towards establishing the practicability of sup porting a government upon strictly Christian principles, than ever was effected by any other man. To disarm by lenient means, the wild and untutored inhabitants of the woods; to obtain possession by fair and honourable purchase, of such an extensive tract of country without exciting a murmur among its original occupants; to bring so many discordant tribes "More might be truly said of him as he was into treaties of friendship and peace; and to the proprietary and governor of this province; establish an intercourse with them, which was and we now find it our duty, (incited thereto maintained on friendly terms as long as the by the love of our heavenly Father in our authorities of Pennsylvania adhered to the souls) to add a few lines concerning him as principles of the founder, was certainly to set he was our worthy elder, friend, and brother an important example to succeeding ages. If in the blessed Truth; many of us having been we judge from the history of the early settlers often comforted, edified, and solaced with him in New England and Virginia, we shall proin the enjoyment thereof. As was his testi-bably adopt the conclusion, that there is quite mony, so was his conversation,-edifying and as much difficulty in maintaining the relations lovely, administering grace and knowledge. of peace with such people as those who occuHis behaviour was sweet and engaging, and his condescension great, even to the weakest and meanest; affable and of easy access; tender of every person and thing that had simplicity of truth, or honesty for a foundation.

"It was our comfort to understand that after all his various troubles, trials, and afflictions, when, in an advanced age, infirmity of body, and a distemper which affected his memory in most other things which befell him, yet the love of God remained with him, and his sense thereof was frequently strong and evident,

pied the forests of North America, as with the civilized nations of Europe; yet from the experience of William Penn's settlement here, we have ample reason to believe that if the whole continent of North America had been colonized upon the same Christian principles, and the system been steadily maintained, we might at this day have pointed to the western world for a verification of the prophetic declaration, that "nation should not lift up sword against nation, or the people learn war any more."

A JOURNAL

OF THE

LIFE, TRAVELS AND LABOURS,

IN THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, OF

JOHN GRIFFITH,

LATE OF CHELMSFORD, IN ESSEX, IN GREAT BRITAIN, FORMERLY OF DARBY,
IN PENNSYLVANIA.

CHAPTER I.

Birth-character of his parents-early visitations of Divine grace-removal to Americaconversion-true baptism-regeneration-his various exercises and view of being called to the ministry—first appearance in that weighty work-remarks on the nature of Gospel ministry.

able Friend; having at times, a few words by way of testimony, tenderly to drop in religious meetings, which were acceptable to Friends. My father, as I have heard him relate, was convinced of the blessed Truth after he had arrived to man's estate, and found it a great cross to join with the despised Quakers; he being the only one of the family, which was pretty large, who joined in society with that people. But the IT has been much upon my mind to write Lord making hard things easy to him, he something by way of journal, of my life, gave up in earnest to the heavenly discoveries, travels and experience in the gracious and and in process of time, had a dispensation of merciful dealings of the Lord with me, through the Gospel of peace and salvation committed the course of my pilgrimage in this world; to him; wherein he laboured in the parts together with some remarks on the state of where he lived, with remarkable sincerity our Society in my time, interspersed with and uprightness; being a truly living minisobservations relating to our conduct in various ter and a heavenly-minded man, as I well restations of life, but chiefly in a religious sense; member, though I left him when I was young, to remain, when my body is laid in the dust, and never saw him again. He finished his a lasting memorial and testimony to the Truth. course in this world, on the 24th of the And as the Lord shall be pleased to open my second month, in the year 1745; and it understanding, it may also afford profitable is added in the register of the Monthly way-marks to some weary travellers, who Meeting to which he belonged, "He was a are seeking a city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

minister many years, and left a good report behind him among all sorts of people." He I was born on the 21st day of the fifth was a serviceable instrument in the Lord's month, 1713, in Radnorshire, South Wales; hand against undue liberties, which were then being favoured with parents who had the sub- creeping in; and was very deeply affected stance of religion in themselves, and were with the declining state of the church in those conscientiously concerned to train up their parts, many having removed to America, children in the fear of God. The names of which since his decease has become almost a my parents were John and Amy Griffith; my desolation.

mother was educated in society with the peo- Having thus paid a small tribute, which I ple called Quakers, and was a steady, valu-thought due to the memory of my worthy

VOL. V.-No. 9.

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