The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-03
VI

tits conceded by Mr. Fisher that, during part
Of 1880. and up TO the spring of 1890. an opinion
was Expressed by Penn which Macaulay chooses
10 consider evidence that he was conspiring to
restore James H., and doing Everything In his
power TO bring foreign army into the heart of his
own country" The only proof Of such a con-
spiracy that Macnulny advances Ia n letter written
by Avaux. the French Ambassador. to Louis
XIV, june g. 1859. In which Avaux says that he
rnclosrs some notes Of news from England and
Scotland, and then adds that the beginning Of his
news from England ia taken from letter written
by Penn. the original Of which lie had seen. In
the notes enclosed the news relating TO England
taken from PENIS letter IN merely TO the effect
that the Prince OF Orange begins to DO Disguised
with the English. and the aspect Of affairs is
changing rapidly. as is the way with these island
ers, and that the Princes health is bad. Macaulay
assumes that Penn sent this letter To Janes There
is no evidence that he did Avaux docs not say
60 The letter may have been written to any body,
and what Il says well known. namely, that
Williams health was bad. that the people wero
not 10 enthusiastic about him as they had been
and that he was becoming Disguised with them
Penn or anybody. Williams best friend or william
himself, might have written such a statement
There Ia not the slightest evidence Of a plot in
it. In tho spring Of 1900. however. tho Eng.
lish Government intercepted a letter from James
H. asking Penn TO como 10 his assistance in the
present state and condition he was In. and 10 ex-
press the resentmcnts OF his favor and be neyo-
lence." This Of course. was n serious incident.
and Penn ordered TO app ear before the Priv
Council. The authority for what happened on
that occasion s Gerard Crocsc's General History
Of the Quakers." published In 1900 "Upon this
Penn. being cited to appear, was asked why King
James wrote unto him: he answered he could not
hinder such thing. Being further questioned
what resentmcnts these were which the late King
seemed to desire Of him. he answered he knew
not, but said he supposed that King James would
have him to endeavor his restitution, and that.
though he could not decline the suspicion. yet he
could avoid tho guilt And, since he had loved
King James in his prosperity, he should not hate
him in his adversely: yea, he loved him yet for
many fayors he had conferred on him, though
he would not Join with him in what concerned
the state of the kingdom. lie owned he had been
much Obliged TO King James and that he would
reward his kindness by any private service as far
rs no could, observing inviolably and entirely
that duty TO the public and the Government which
was equally incumbent upon nll subjects an
therefore, that he had never the vanity 10 wit
OF endeavoring 10 restore him that crown which
WINS fallen from HIS head 10 that nothing In that
letter could at all seem 70 fix the guilt upon him
This frank and honest statement described the
position OF friendly neutrality which Penn in
tended TO maintain, In the biography of Penn
by Besse, who was contemporary we are told
that. when first brought before the Council ON
this OCCASION Penn asked 10 be heard In tho pres.
ence OF tho King, and this request was granted
Besse goes on to say that after two hours exam.
'nauon. William I'LL was inclined TO aoquit Penn