CHAPTER X.

THE GOVERNMENT UNDER THE FIVE COMMISSIONERS, 1688.

THE government under the five commissioners was not destined to be long lived; with a Council and Assembly in existence to be overawed by five men with the authority of one governor, it would require careful management not to excite factious feelings. The new order of things lasted only from February to December, 1688. The new commission was read before the Provincial Council, and the priority was quietly settled by naming Thomas Lloyd always first at the meetings.

The Assembly adopted a resolution of secrecy as to their actions and speeches, which was probably aimed against the Council. The latter in return expressed also new sentiments of their superiority and the deference that should be shown them by the Assembly. Such proceedings at the commencement were not likely to produce very harmonious action between the three bodies representing the Proprietary and the people. Finally, Thomas Lloyd declined to serve as president of the Executive Board, and upon proper representations being made to the Proprietary he appointed John Blackwell, son-in-law of General Lambert, and formerly an officer under Cromwell, to serve as governor. He was at the time in New England, and he arrived in the city in December, and his commission was read at the first meeting, December 18th.

But little worthy of note occurred this year. It had been customary to hold an annual fair, and this year the place of holding it having been changed to the Centre, some dissatisfied residents, more distant from this than before, made strong objections. It was ordered that the fair should be held in May, and another one at the Centre in August.

An alarm, which created great uneasiness, was widespread concerning an attack by the Indians. As they outnumbered the whites and resided very near the settlements, people were very timid about them. The rumors were finally put at rest by Caleb Pusey of Chester county and five other Friends visiting unarmed the Indians at their town on the Brandywine, and finding them most peaceably disposed.

The Friends were also foremost in another good work, the abolition of slavery. The first testimony against slavery on record is a paper emanating from the Monthly Meeting of German Friends at Germantown in April of this year. It was signed by Garret Henderich, Derick op de Graeff, Francis Daniel Pastorius, Abram op de Graeff. The arguments were weighty and unanswerable, and the remonstrance was passed from one Meeting to the other, and the Yearly Meeting postponed its consideration for the present.

CHAPTER XI.

JOHN BLACKWELL, GOVERNOR, 1688–1690.

THE new governor had a troublous time during his career as such. The first month Thomas Lloyd, keeper of the Great Seal under Penn's commission, refused to affix it to commissions issued by the governor. The constant succession of quarrels between the governor, the Council, and the Assembly, and they again amongst themselves, kept the Province in a turmoil, and it is unnecessary for us at this day to repeat them. The controversies led to the printing of the "Frame of Government," with a view of the better understanding of the rights of governed and governing. Of course, as there was but one printer, William Bradford was brought up for examination. He made a shrewd defence of himself and the liberty of the press, and demanded his accusers.

The governor laid before the Council some rumors of an intended attack by the French, Papists, and Indians to cut off the Protestants. The design of these representations was to induce the Council to authorize the raising of a defensive force. The Friends were true to their principles and refused, and there the matter ended.

Though the news of the flight of James II. and the accession of William and Mary reached the Province in February, 1689, the prudence of the people led them to be thoroughly certain of the permanence of the new monarchy before declaring it; consequently, the proclamation of their accession was not formally made till November. The announcement that England was about to wage war upon the French, and the demand of the governor for militia and arms to place the Province in a state of defence, again created a warm discussion, and a refusal on the part of many to have anything to do with such matters. Finally, the subject was left to the governor's discretion. Shortly after, in January, 1690, the governor announced to the Council that he had been relieved of his authority, and expressed his thanks at his release from such troubles.

Penn sent at this same time a letter full of advice and entreaty for peace to the Council; also two commissions-one authorizing them to select three persons, of whom he would choose one, to act as deputy or lieutenant-governor, and the other authorizing the one of the three having the highest number of votes to act until his pleasure and choice should be known.

This year Robert Turner, John Tissick, Thomas Budd, Robert Ewer, Samuel Carpenter, and John Fuller proposed to establish a "Bank ffor money," etc., probably on the plan formerly pro

posed by Thomas Budd in his book, but it does not seem to have
been carried out. Also was originated the first public school, of
which an account is given under the head of "Education"
p. 160).

(see

CHAPTER XII.

THOMAS LLOYD, PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL, 1690-1693.

ON January 2d, 1690, Council met and took into consideration Penn's letter, and elected Thomas Lloyd president. Governor Blackwell gave the members new instructions of Penn as to the manner of conducting the government.

In February, William Markham presented to the Council a request from Penn that they should build him a house on his lot after a model he sent William Markham, in lieu of six hundred pounds due him, and which yet remained unpaid; or in lieu of that to stock the three plantations of his three children, each two hundred pounds.

In April of this year Benjamin Chambers and Francis Rawle presented a plan for constructing an arched bridge over Mulberry street at Front street. "Mulberry street being not less than sixty foot in breadth, in ye midst of the same, and about twenty perches back from ye river, we intend to cutt out a cart-road of twenty foot in breadth, from thence to extend with a graduall dessent to low-water mark, and to have ye said passage paved and walled up with stones on both sides, and to have a bridge over ye said passage in ye middle of ye ffront street, and that part w'ch remains uncovered to be ffenced with railes, and ye river end of the s'd passage to make a ffree and publick wharf of twenty ffoot in breadth on each side thereoff."

Council consenting to this, the cut was made and a bridge arched over it, and thus did the name of "Arch" street gradually supplant "Mulberry" street, though the writer well remembers the direction-boards at the corners bearing the name of Mulberry street, the official designation long remaining after "Arch" was the popular one.

At the same meeting the counties were authorized to divide their boundaries into hundreds or such other divisions as they should think most convenient for collecting taxes. They laid them out in townships.

At the same meeting it was requested a bill might be prepared to prevent hogs running at large in Philadelphia and New Castle. But such a bill was inoperative even within my recollection, as hogs were allowed to run at large in the best streets.

In September a county seal was ordered for Philadelphia; also, that the watch should be strengthened.

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