George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 2, 17th edition.

‘ [399] could say it before the Lord, he had the comfort of

Chap XVI.}

having approved himself a faithful steward to his understanding and ability.’¹

Meanwhile the Quaker legislators in the woods of Pennsylvania were serving their novitiate in popular legislation. To complain, to impeach, to institute committees of inquiry, to send for persons and papers, to quarrel with the executive,—all was attempted, and all without permanent harm. But the character of parties was already evident; and the people, with an irresistible propension, tended towards the fixed design of impairing the revenues, and diminishing the little remaining authority, of their feudal sovereign.² Penn had reserved large tracts of territory as his private property; he alone could purchase the soil from the natives; and he reserved quitrents on the lands which he sold. Pennsylvania, for nearly a century, sought to impair the exclusive right to preemption, and to compel an appropriation of the income from quitrents, in part at least, to the public service. Colonial jealousy of a feudal chief was early and perseveringly displayed. The maker of

1686 Jan. 9

the first Pennsylvania almanac was censured for publishing Penn as a lord.³ The assembly originated

1685

bills without scruple; they attempted a new organization of the judiciary; they alarmed the merchants by their lenity towards debtors; they would vote no taxes; they claimed the right of inspecting the

1686 March 15.

records, and displacing the officers of the courts; they expelled a member who reminded them of their contravening