xxrv THE PEMBERTONS 301 



Dealing first with Logan's letter, the argument turns, 

 he writes, upon his assertion that all government is 

 founded on force. If this be so, he must still show that 

 there is no difference in the degrees of it, but that the 

 force exercised in the correction of a child is the same 

 as that used in the slaughter of an enemy. Fothergill 

 goes on to allude to the Assembly's controversy with the 

 governor. " I can scarcely, upon the whole," he says, 

 " forbear to take his side. Your cause is undoubtedly 

 good, but I am afraid you discover a little more warmth 

 than is quite consistent with the moderation we profess. 

 The provocations I confess are great. The arguments 

 made use of by the Assembly are strong and cogent, but 

 he justly accuses you of too much acrimony. Truth 

 never appears more agreeable than when dressed with 

 mildness and temper. And be pleased to remember that 

 a deference is due to a magistrate." 



The Pemberton family was one of high repute in the 

 colony. The father, Israel Pemberton, was born there 

 soon after its first settlement, had known Fothergill's 

 father on one of his visits, and was " well beloved for his 

 innocent life and good behaviour in the Truth." He was 

 member of the Assembly for nineteen years, just, upright 

 and moderate. His large merchant's business in Phila- 

 delphia was continued by his sons. The eldest of these, 

 Israel Pemberton, to whom Fothergill's letter was ad- 

 dressed, was born in 1716. He was early conspicuous in 

 civil and religious work ; a man of large understanding, 

 natural eloquence and integrity, both feared and beloved : 

 they called him " King of the Quakers." I. Pemberton 

 sat in the Assembly for a number of years, and after 

 leaving office at the age of forty, devoted himself to works 

 of benevolence and hospitality until his death in 1779. 

 He took a deep interest in the Indians, and their deputies 

 were often entertained in his ample mansion at the corner 

 of Chestnut and Third Streets ; and he was an advocate 

 too of the negro slaves. 



Another son, James Pemberton, was the politician of 

 the family. Born in 1723, he had " a sense of religion on 



