86 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



Matters Avere adjusted temporarily with the provision for a conditionaJ 

 separation, if they chose it, within the space of three years. 



"The constitution, which had been under consideration for more than 

 eighteen months, was finally adopted on the twenty-eighth of October, 

 six parts in seven of the Assembly having formally surrendered the pre- 

 vious charter granted by Penn. The new charter was as comprehensive 

 on the subject of civil and religious liberty as the former ones. Whilst 

 it secured, by general provisions, the most important of human rights, it 

 left minor subjects to be detailed and enforced by the laws."' 



The Charter itself, which remained in force until the final separation 

 of Pennsylvania from Great Britain, is given in full in Division X, No. 6. 



Penn likewise, by letters-patent, under the great seal, established a Coun- 

 cil of State, composed of ten members, chiefly Quakers, and his intimates 

 friends, of whom four made a quorum; who were empowered " to consult 

 and assist, with the best of their advice, the proprietary himself or his dep- 

 uties, in all public aftairs and matters relating to the government." And, 

 in his absence, or on the death or incapacity of his deputy, they, or any five 

 of them, were authorized to execute all the proprietary powers in th(^ 

 administration of the government. The members of the council were 

 removable at the will of the governor, who might increase their number- 

 at pleasure.^ 



Andrew Hamilton, one of the proprietaries of East Jersey, and foi"- 

 merly Governor of East and West Jersey, having been appointed Deputy 

 Governor, and James Logan, Provincial Secretary and Clerk of the 

 Council, William Penn sailed for England in the ship Dalmahoy, and 

 arrived at Portsmouth about the middle of December. The bill for 

 reducing the proprietary into regal governments, pending in Parliament, 

 was entirely dropped. King William died on the 18th of the first month, 

 1701-2, and was succeeded by the Princess Anne, of Denmark, with 

 whom William Penn was in great favor. 



Governor Hamilton's administration was very brief, for lie died in the 

 twelfth month of this year [1702.] ^ His chief efforts had been unsuccess- 

 fully directed to the consummation of a union bct^v'een the province and 

 territories. Upon his death the government devolved upon the Council, 

 Edward Shippen being President. 



"During this time of dispute, or endeavors for an union between the 

 representatives of the province and territories, not much other public 

 business of importance appears to have been transacted in the affairs of 

 the government. The latter persisted in an absolute refusal to join with 

 the former, in legislation, till it was finally, ii\ the year 1703, agreed and 

 settled between them, that they should compose different and distinct 

 Assemblies, entirely independent of each other, pursuant to the liberty 

 1 Gordon. 2 Proud. 



