OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 85 



respects, be kind to them, and entertain tliem witli all courtesy and de- 

 monstrations of good- will, as himself had ever done ; which the said mem- 

 bers promised faithfully to observe. Then, after making them some 

 presents, they withdrew." 



The Assembly prepared an address detailing their wants and wishes, 

 which related particularly to the appointment of a Lieutenant-Governor 

 in his absence, the security of their land-titles, and the allowance of ten 

 for every hundred acres connected with them, which they claimed by 

 virtue of the Governor's promise. They proposed the establishment of 

 a patent office and that the quit-rents should be made redeemable. The 

 lower counties in the twenty-one articles of which the address consisted, 

 had asked much for themselves in direct opposition to the proprietary's 

 interest ; yet he granted the most of what was asked, refusing only some 

 unjust demands and others of a private character, with which the Legis- 

 lature had no right to interfere. The Assembly, on the other hand, 

 pressed their demands, although Penn's complaisance went so far as to 

 invite them to nominate his Lieutenant, which however, they modestly 

 declined.^ 



While they were debating on a bill to confirm the laws at Newcastle 

 and the majority seemed to be in favor of its passage, the misunderstand- 

 ing between the representatives of the two colonies was again revived, 

 with more violence than ever, so that several of the members for the 

 lower counties left the House. It needed all of Penn's weight of char- 

 acter and earnest interposition to prevent an open rupture. He promised 

 to agree to the separation of the tAvo colonies.^ " But then," continued the 

 proprietar}^, "it must be upon amicable terms, and a good understanding. 

 That they must first resolve to settle the laws ; and that, as the interest 

 of the Province, and that of those lower counties would be inseparably the 

 same, they should both use a conduct consistent vv^ith that relation." &c. 



They appear to have remained obstinate, by the following letter of the 

 proprietary, written the next day, and directed to the Speaker, to be 

 communicated to the whole House, viz: 



"Friends: Your union is what I desire; but your peace and ac- 

 commodating one another, is what I must expect from you. The repu- 

 tation of it is something ; the reality much more. And I desire you to 

 remember and observe what I say. Yield in circumstantials, to preserve 

 essentials; and, being safe in one another, you will always be so in esteem 

 with me. Make me not sad, now I am going to leave you ; since it is for 

 you, as well as for, 



'^Your Friend and Projrrietarij and Governor, 



William Penn." 



''Odoher loth, 1701." 



1 Votes. Proud. Ebeling. 2Eberiii)g. Proud. 



