New-York tribune., 1908-05-02
WILLIAM PENN.
II Biography by One of His
Descendants.

QUAKER AND COURTIER. The Life and Work
OF William Penn. BY Mrs. ColGuhoun Grant
Illustrated. Svo. Pr 259. E P. Dutton & Co.
1t would be a dull writer indeed who could
fail TO interest us in the remarkable career of
the most remarkable Of Quakers-and Mrs.
Grant is not dull writer, Herself direct de-
scendant OF Penn. she has been able to count
among her literary resources some family tradi-
tions and heretofore unpublished letters She
has painted the portrait of her ancestor with
an agreeable simplicity and Iiveliness: that it
should be a little fattered was to be expected.
The subject is. in truth, noble one, and vivid
colors are not inappropriate.
Particularly well told is the story of Penn 8
youth. OF his father the clever sailor, who at
twenty-three was rear admiral Of the Straits
and general in the first Dutch at thirty
two. this woman of his race writes with frank
ness. not forgetting to record that while serving
under Cromweu-and serving bravely and eff
ciently-he carrying on a secret correspond
ence with the exiled Charles Stuart actually
going so far as TO place the fleet at his disposal
This. by the way, was after the admiral had
received large and valuable grants Of land in
Ireland from the Protector. After the Restora-
ton King Charles knighted the distinguished
officer and made him Commissioner Of the Ad-
miralty, where he had Samuel Pepys. Esq. as a
fellow worker. Master Pepys, We may add. was
much moved in his often spiteful soul by con-
sideration OF the Kings kindness to the ad-
miral and he set down some unhandsome com
ments in his famous diary-as, for example his
opinion that Lady Penn. a fat, short. old
Dutchwornan hath more wit than her
husband" Though I do not love him" says
the shrewd Samuel yet I find it necessary to
keep in with him"-a statement which rather
discounts his assertion elsewhere that the adj
miraI was such hypocrtlcal rogue"
The truth seems TO be that Sir William Penn
energetic practical man of the world
who knew on which side his bread was buttered,
and as not one who needed 10 sing small be-
fore Master Pepys, his ideals not being any
lower than those OF that ingenious gentleman.
Imagine the feelings of the worldly courtlrr. SIR
William. when news came from Oxford that his
boy, student at ChTistchurch, had become in
feCted by the peStilent h+resy Of Quakerism,
This was, doubt, the first knowledge Of the
fact 10 be acquired BY King Charles's Commls-
sioner, though his son, know had begun
at the early age or eleven 10 mediate upon
religious subjects. and mad even then felt that
he was called upon 10 lead a holy life" The
fathers expedient was, from his point of view
He sent young VIII, aged eighteen
10 Paris with some companions OF his own rank
There the English lad went 10 court and yielded
told, his conduct was always more dis
Greet than that OF the other young men In
spite of this discretion, he is presently heard
from as fighting d duel and dsarmng his an
tagonist II is possible that this affair dis
gusted him with life lived under the rule OF
Louis XIV; at any rate, he left Paris and be-
came q student at the Huguenot college in
Saumur. where he mastered the French Ian
guage Thence he travelled into Italy return
ing to Papa at the end Of two years, d very
charming az we'll : splendidly handsome youth
Mr. Pen. Sir Williams son." says Pepys is
come back from France. and came to see my
wife-a most modish person grown, she says and
a fine gentleman" And later comes Mr.. Pen to
visit me. l perceive something of learning he
hath got but a great deal if not too much Of
the vanity Of the French garb and affected
manner OF speech and gait"
Here was young VIII, ready to enter upon a
mans career, the possessor of much polite learn
ing Of many physical graces, and Of a weIl-to-
do father who was nightly favored by a good
natured King Was ever youth more happily
for worldly success? Sir William be
gan TO realize with despair that his son was
likewise possessed Of a pestiferous gravity and
had no mind to racket with other young gentle
men Of Whitehall. SO ne sent aim off TO Ireland
10 look after the family property and to admin
lister small government office under the eye Of
the Viceroy The duties were efectuaIly per
formed but VIII grew be a courtier
than before and day in Cork he found a
Quaker preacher who renewed for him the SOL
emn impressions Of his childhood His spirit
was touched to its depths and he strai ightway
toined the sect. then most prosecuted and for
Iorn What could an elderly admiral Of thor
ougblv mundane tastes do with such a son, He
called him back TO London and fell into rage
because Quaker william kept his hat on during
their interview You may thee and thou other
folk as much as you like" cried the wrathful
dignitary but don't you dare TO thee or thou
the King or the Duke Of York, or me, or re-
main covered in their presence mine" The
Maternal order had little effect upon the
Quaker. who took particular pains to keep on his
hat when not long after, he met King Charles
in the park That humorous parsonage, enjoy
ing the situation in his sardonc way removed
his roval hat and stood bareheaded before young
william WHY dost thou remove thy hat,
friend Charles?" asked the youth Because,
answered the amused monarch, wherever 1 am
II is customary for only one person 10 remain
covered" An equally cheerful view of the sit
uation was impossible to the admiral. When he
proposed to kneel and pray that his son might
not be a Quaker William threatened TO jump out
,f the window II such petition were offered
Not out Of the window but out Of the door he
vent disowned by his father but not by the de-
voted Dutchwonan. mis- mother. Ii is not un-
cfr lrrau thaf