xxvn FOTHERGILL'S STAND FOR LIBERTY 341 



had become a classic of freedom, made a firm stand for 

 legal methods : the cause of liberty, he said, is not to be 

 sullied by turbulence and tumult. And so it came to 

 pass that the first Congress in Philadelphia (1774) was 

 very moderate in its demands, and scouted the notion 

 of independence. Friends on their part professed their 

 loyalty to the king ; and would pursue their work for 

 freedom in a legal way through the regular Assembly. 

 They regarded Franklin and the more ardent revolu- 

 tionary spirits with suspicion. 



At this crisis Fothergill did not waver. Neither his 

 loyalty to George III., with whom he had been in personal 

 touch, nor his peace principles, nor his Quaker quietism 

 none of these things hindered him from seeing that the 

 cause of freedom must go forward and prevail. His 

 friend Logan was one of those who disapproved of Franklin. 

 To him Fothergill wrote on March 18, 1775 : 



Friends here are in general unanimous, and anxious for 

 the preservation of the civil and religious liberties of our 

 Friends in America. ... I have received your epistle and 

 testimony [i.e. of the Friends of Philadelphia] : the last has 

 been laid before parliament by the ministry as a proof of your 

 approbation of the measures carried on against the liberties 

 of America. I must confess that I know not how to express 

 the concern which thy letters gave me. I can only say that 

 we are quite of opposite opinions ; a case that has not hitherto 

 happened in the course of our correspondence. . . . May I 



speak to thee in confidence ? I think wish to reduce 



all America to the standard of Quebec and Canada an 



abject slavish people, to be governed solely by the will of . 



I am satisfied that those who have stood up in defence of your 

 liberties have carried some things to an extreme. But if the 

 principles on which they act are just, shall we reprobate them 

 because their supporters are not perfect, have committed 

 excesses and often act from prejudice, passion or interest ? 

 I shall request Dr. Franklin to get a few of you together : he 

 knows my sentiments fully, and the pains which D. Barclay 

 and myself have taken in these affairs. Listen to reason, 

 make every allowance for his resentment for unmerited 

 injuries, for his sentiments bordering on republican, for his 

 assion for the freedom of America ; and yet there will be so 



