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Gookiii as on his predecessor. The spirit of discontent which reigned in 

 the Assembly probabl.y originated in the embarrassment of Penn, whose 

 nu;ans were now greatly curtaik-d l)y his generosity towards his province 

 and the cause of the Quakers. Alread\' in 1707 he was involved in a 

 heavy lawsuit with the executors of his former steward, Avho preferred 

 large claims against him. tlic iujustice of which he could not sufficiently 

 ])rove, since even the Court of Chancery could not liberate him from 

 imprisonment until he liad satisfied the complainants. The income of hi.s 

 European estate was inadequate to }tay his other debts and he had to . 

 borrow ;£6G00 sterling, Ibr whicli he mortgaged his province. The 

 knowledge of his situation may have ]irom})ted the Assembly to extort 

 more privileges Irom him and t'> liuiit his prer(^gative. On the other 

 hand, necessity compelled him to bo attentive to the collecticui of his 

 revenue from the province and to increase it as much as possible. This 

 (;onduct of the Assembly, however, contributed not a, little to disgust him 

 Avitli the whole undertaking.^ liepeatedly urged to restore the province 

 To tlic crown, but long struggling against the abandonment of the 

 ))rilliant ho})es he had cherished to found a religious nation and a model 

 of true freedom, his growing necessities and the constant opposition of the 

 legislature oi' Pennsylvania finally compelled him to take that step. 

 Several circumstances which tK'curred during the administration oi' 

 <TOokin, contributed to jn-oduce this ivsolution. The Queen required the 

 aid of the province towards the conquest ol' I'anada, in which the New 

 KngUind colonies assisted her with zeal. Pennsylvania was required to 

 luruish and support loO men at an estinuited expense of £4000. The 

 Assenibly voted a free gift to the queen of £800. 'J'o this was added the 

 Governor's salary of £200, which, howevei", they would not allow until 

 he slKjuld have i)assi>d the bills presented to him and redressed the!]- 

 grievances, which bor(! chiefly on the retention of Logan. The latter 

 being about to visit England on the proprietary's business, at the next 

 sitting ol the Asseuibly, demanded a trial, instead of granting which the 

 As.sembly ordered the sheriff to take him into custody; the Governor 

 prevented his arrest l)y issuing a supersedeas. This put the Assembly 

 quite out of temper and arrested all business besides the entering on theiV 

 miniites of a. protest against the Governor's illegal and arbitrary measures. 

 Logan went to London, fully justified his conduct, and returned to the 

 l)rovince confirmed in his office and enjoying more than ever the favor 

 of the government. 



Penn addressed a touching letter to the Assembly, in which he detailed 

 and described their unjust and illegal pretensions, taxed them with ingrati- 

 tude, took the part of Logan, and finally informed them that, if they 

 should persist in their opposition to his government,'-^ he must seriously 

 1 labeling. -2 Ebeliuo-. Gordon. 



