The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-18
THE REPU UBLIC.
From he Boston Transcript.


no pleasure in them. No mortal, probably, ever en-
joyed more continual feast from the conscious
ness OF life devoted to the glory of God and the
welfare of man; but many Of his temporal rei-
| ances had crumbled under hm and trouble had
gathered about his path and about his bed.
He had not much more comfort in his govern
mcnt, fear, than Sancho Panza enjoyed in that
Of Barataria. Its commencement was marked by
a vexatious dispute with Lord Baltimore; and the
Governors absence was ever the signal for alter
cation between different cliques and parties, and
vexatious neglect on the part Of his tenants and
dent Of his council nc complains OF some in the
government for drinking, carousing, and official
extortion.
In his letters to Lloyd and Harri.an 4 ,sss, he
complains of the council, for negiectng ...d slist
ing his letters; that he cannot get 'a penny of his
quit-rents; and adds: "God Is my witness, lie
| not. am now above six thousand pounds out OF
pocket, more than ever saw by the province; and
you may throw in my pains, cares, and hazard of
life, and leaving of my family and friends to serve
Them"
| It is even stated by Clarkson, VOL l., chap. %,
that want of funds from the province prevented his
| returning to America, in 1856. In the following
year he renews these complaints
In 1858, and after the revolution, he was exam
ined before the lords of council, the charge of
being papist and Jesuit; gave bonds for his at
| tendance on the first day of the next term; and,
no witness then appearing against him. he was dis
charged.
In 1880 he was again arrested, and bound over,
as before, and, no witness appearing, was again
discharged. In the same year he was once more
| arrested and committed to prison. On the day Of
trial no witness appeared, and he was again dis
charged He resolved to fly from such continual
persecution to America, and while making his
preparation, he was again arrested upon the in
formation OF one Fuller, who afterward set in
the pillory for his crime.
Penn sought safety in privacy and retirement
from the world. In 1851 a new proclamation
issued for his arrest and his American affairs
gloomy aspect. In 1903 he was deprived of his
government by King William, and pursued with
unrelenting rage by his enemies In the words OF
Clarkson, he was poor, persecuted erien
T" Cdnonized TO- day and cursed to-morroc :" such
seems to have been the fortune OF William Penn.
His only prudent course seemed TO be to bow down
| before the wrath of that popular hurricane which
| swept furiousy over him, and went upon its way.
This good and great man was not wholly forgotten.
He had never forfeited the rcspectof some
persons who have left bright names for the admra-
| ton Of future ages Such were Locke and Tillot-
| son. They marked their time, and moved in be-
half Of the oppressed. Lords Ranelagh, Rochester
and Sidney went to King William; they 90 consid-
cred Il dishonor TO the government, that man tcho
had iiued such exemplary life, aud ,cho had been
disfinguished for his talents, disinteesfedness,
genosiiy and public spirit should be buried IN ig
noble otscrty, and prevented from rising TO future
eminesce and ussiness, in consequence Of the charge
Of unprinciped retch, ,ohom parliament had pub
| iiciy sfigmatized a cheat and imposfor.'
King William replied to these truly noble lords,
| "that William Penn was ay old friend Of his tcea
4
freely as ever, for he had nothing TO say against
him" The principal Secretary Of State, Sir John
| Trenchard, and the Marquis Of Winchester, bore
| these joyful tidings " William Penn. And how
did he receive thems He went instantly, OF course.
! 10 tender the homage OF his humble acknowledge
ments TO King William-not lie was then
greatly embarrassed in his pecuniary affairs Foes
| were on every side. The wife whom, in his part
ing letter, he bade remember that she the love
Of has YOUTH and ths joy Of his ie was ON her death
bed; Frustrated there, according TO Carkson In no
small degree, by her too keen sympathy for her
long suffering husband. His heart was broken-hs
spirif not. lie preferred rights before favors,
| and desired permission publicly 10 defend himself
before the king in council This was granted, and
he was abundantly acquitted, after deliberate
hearing.
The last hours Of his wife, GuIielna Maria, were
| cheered by this intelligence. In about month
after this event, she died. ''she was an excellent
person., said he, as wife, child, mother mistress,
friend, and neighbor."
In 1894 a complete reconciliation took place be-
tween Penn and the Society of Friends, and In the
same year he restored TO the government of
| Pennsylvania In 1896 he married Hannah Cal
lowhill Of Bristol. These CLEANS Of returning hap
| piness obscured A few weeks after this
marriage he lost his eldest This young man
| was upon the eve Of twcnty-onc. His fathers sim
pic narrative Of the dying hour Is truly affecting:
| " His time drawing on apace, he said 10 me- My
| dear father, kiss me- Thou art dear father. How
can l mako thee amends? He also called his SIS
| ter, and said 20 her, Poor child, come and kiss
| me- between whom seemed a tender and long
parting. sent for his brother, that he might kiss
| him too, which he did. All were in tears about
him. Turning his head 10 me. he said softly, Dear
| father, hast thou no hope for me' answered,
My dear child, am afraid 10 hope, and dare not
| despair, but am and have been resigned through
| one Of the hardest lessons ever learned When
the doctor came he was very weak, and the nara
tive continues thus lie said, Let my father speak
10 the doctor, and I'll go TO sleep, which he did,
and walked no more, breathing his last upon my
breast, the tenth day Of the second month, between
nine and ten in the morning, 1896. 80 ended the
life Of my dear child and eldest son. much Of my
comfort and hope, and one Of the most tender and
dutiful, well as ingenious and yirtuous, youths
knew, II I may say 40 OF my own dear son, IN whom
lost all that any father lose in child, since
he was capable Of any thing that became n sober
| young man, my friend and companion, as well ne
most afIcctionatc and dutiful child"
About this time Penn was sorcly gricved by the
conduct of G Gorge Keith, the apostate Quaker who
had been accommodated, and now spent his time
/ in abusing the society.
| Penn had become well convinced Of many solemn
truths presented in the lastchaptcr Of Ecclesastes
and Of none more fully than that there is end Of
making books. lie continued 10 pour forth pamph-
lets ON various subjects In this year 1896, he be-
came acquainted and had several interviews with
Peter the Great, who was then working, es com
| mon shipwnrht in the dock-yards at Deptford.
| In I69o he once more visited Pennsylvania. In
| i7Ol ne returned 20 England. In l702 and 1903 he
continued TO preach and publish as vigorously AZ
| ever.
In l7O7 he became involved in lawsuit with the
executors Of one Ford, his former steward agent
| Ford was undoubtedly knavc. Penn suffered Sc
| verely from this cause The decision was against
him; and, though chancery could not relieve, many
thought him greatly wronged. He was compelled,
In 175 20 live within the rules OF the Fleet. This,
doubtless was the occasion Of Mr.. Burke's crronc-
Gus statement many years after, that Penn died IN
| the Fleet prison. An amusing anecdote may be
referred to this period, which, though not men
toned by Clarkson, nor in the life by Chalmers,
may be found in the Encycioped'a Brifanniea, OF
I795 and is repeated in Napier's edition Of 1872.
Penn is said 20 have had peep-holc, through
which, unseen, he could sec every visiter. cred
itor having often knocked, and becoming impa-
tient, knocked more violently. "Will not your
master see mei" said he, when the door opened;
ssHc hath seen thee, friend" the servant replied,
'sbut he doth not like thee"
| In 1909 his necessities were such that he mort
| qaQed his whole province Of Pennsylvania for
| G6.eO0 This necessity, az Oldmixon says, in his
account ofthe British empire in America" arose
from shis bounty TO the Indians, his generosity in
minding the public affairs Of the colony than
his own private Ones his humanity 10 those who
have not made suitable returns, his confidence in
those who have betrayed him"
In r7l2 he had three spoplectic fits, followed by
those painful effects which usual in such
| rra-- h. Er.~f "a