Pennsylvania 



bill for 100,000 1. to raise five and twenty hundred 

 men; and these they have kept up ever since; they 

 afterward passed a militia bill, but it was such an 

 one as answered no good purpose. The Quakers 

 have much the greatest influence in the assembly, 

 and are supported there by the Dutch and Germans, 

 who are as adverse to taxes as themselves. Their 

 power, however, at present seems rather on the de- 

 cline; which is the reason, as the opposite party 

 pretend, that they stir upon all occasions as much con- 

 fusion as possible, from that trite maxim in politics, 

 divide et impera. They have quarrelled with the 

 proprietors upon several occasions, whether alto- 

 gether justly or not, I will not pretend to say; it is 

 certain, however, that the determinations at home 

 have been sometimes in their favour. The late 

 subjects of their disputes have been chiefly these: 



First, Whether the proprietary lands ought to be 

 taxed ? This has been determined at home in the 

 affirmative. 



Secondly, Whether the proprietor ought to have 

 any choice or approbation of the assessors ? 



Thirdly, Whether he ought to give his governor 

 instructions ? And, 



Lastly, Whether the judges of his appointment 

 ought to be during pleasure, or quamdiu se bene 

 gesserint ? These three last are still undecided. 



Upon the whole, though this province is exceed- 

 ingly flourishing, yet there are certainly great abuses 



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