1764, Jan.] ALAEM OF THE QUAKERS. 137 



as they were in numbers, their enterprise was not 

 so hopeless as might at first appear, for they counted 

 on aid from the mob of the city, while a numerous 

 party, comprising the members of the Presbyterian 

 sect, were expected to give them secret support, 

 or at least to stand neutral in the quarrel. The 

 Quakers, who were their most determined enemies, 

 could not take arms against them without glaring 

 violation of the principles which they had so often 

 and loudly professed ; and even should they thus 

 fly in the face of conscience, the warlike borderers 

 would stand in little fear of such unpractised war- 

 riors. They pursued their march in high confi- 

 dence, applauded by the inhabitants, and hourly 

 increasing in numbers. 



Startling rumors of the danger soon reached 

 Philadelphia, spreading alarm among the citizens. 

 The Quakers, especially, had reason to fear, both 

 for themselves and for the Indians, of whom it was 

 their pride to be esteemed the champions. These 

 pacific sectaries found themselves in a new and 

 embarrassing position, for hitherto they had been 

 able to assert their principles at no great risk to 

 person or property. The appalling tempest, which, 

 during the French war, had desolated the rest of 

 the province, had been unfelt near Philadelphia; 

 and while the inhabitants to the westward had been 

 slaughtered by hundreds, scarcely a Quaker had 

 been hurt. Under these circumstances, the aver- 

 sion of the sect to warlike measures had been a 

 fruitful source of difficulty. It is true that, on 

 several occasions, they had voted supplies for the 



