32 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



seven, and sometimes eight a day, for several weeks; there being few 

 houses, if any, free of the sickness. Great was the majesty and hand of 

 the Lord, great was the fear that fell upon all .flesh; I saw no lofty, or 

 airy countenance, nor heard any vain jesting, to move men to laughter; 

 nor witty repartee, to raise mirth; nor extravagant feasting, to excite 

 the lusts and desires of the flesh above measure; but every face gather- 

 eth paleness, and many hearts were humbled and countenances fallen and 

 sunk as such that waited every moment to be summoned to the bar and 

 numbered to the grave." 



Penn was cordially Avelcomed, it being generally believed that lie had 

 come resolved to spend the remainder of his life in the province.^ Still 

 he did not encounter that warm affection and unbounded confidence? 

 among the colonists, which on his first visit had enabled him to lead 

 them entirely according to his will. 



The first Assembly, Avhich met in January, 1700, had princii)ally in 

 view to increase the severity of the laws against piracy, and the violation 

 of the British statutes concerning navigation. 



The proprietary, believing everything ready for the introduction of a 

 new form of government, free from the defects of the former forms, and 

 calculated to impart strength and unity to the administration, called an 

 extraordinary meeting of the Assembly in May, 1700, which consisted oi" 

 a larger number of members than those which preceded it, and held a 

 session of unusual length. The new Charter, although frequently dis- 

 cussed by the two houses jointly and separately, was not carried through 

 at this and the next General Assembly which was held in October of the 

 same year, at Newcastle. The formation of a code of laws securing the 

 titles to landed property and a grant for the support of the government 

 in addition to the new charter, were the chief objects of said Assembly. 

 Its enactment failed to be accomplished chiefly on account of the exacting 

 and unreasonable conditions stipulated by the lower counties. - 



"The proprietary now procured a system regulating the treatment of 

 slaves, to be incorporated in the discipline of the society, thereby allevi- 

 ating the situation of those whose masters were not yet convinced of the- 

 iniquity of slavery. Although these measures could not abolish the 

 horrid traffic, they discouraged the wealthy and respectable inhabitants 

 from prosecuting it, and fostered a spirit of humanity which led to the 

 moral, religious and physical improvement of the slave. To the dictates 

 of philanthropy Penn endeavored to give the force of law. He proposed 

 to the Assembly two bills; one regulating the marriages of negroes; 

 rightly judging that connubial ties and domestic affections, promoted by 

 the inhibition of promiscuous sexual intercourse, were the most efficient 

 means to establish pure morals; the other, establishing a mode for the 

 lEbelins;-. -Gordon. Proud. Clarkson. Votes. 



