1755.] HISTORY iiF DELAWARE COUNTY. 263 



Still the Society of Friends pursued the even tenor of their 

 way, regardless of the storm that was gathering around them. 

 Their meetings, their religious missions to distant places, tlieir 

 visitation of families, and their formal marriages were continued. 

 The Friends of Chester Monthly Meeting even selected this 

 period as the time " to build the old end" of the Providence meet- 

 ing-house, "with stone, and to make other necessary repairs." 

 This "old end," now to be supplied with a stone structure, was 

 probably the first erected meeting-house at the place indicated. 



In accordance with notice given to the Proprietaries, in 175-3, 

 Governor Hamilton resigned his office the fulhjwing October. He 

 was succeeded by Robert Hunter Morris, of New Jersey. 



The events occurring in America in 1754, induced Ixjtli the 

 English and French governments to send troops to aid in the 

 defence of their American possessions. Those from England 

 were sent by way of Virginia, but did not arrive until the spring 

 of 1755. In conjunction with a considerable number of colonial 

 troops, they were placed under the unfortunate General Brad- 

 dack, and constitsted the expedition defeated by the French and 

 Indians near Fort Du Quense. The prudent conduct displayed 

 by Washington on this occasion may be regarded as the com- 

 mencement of the glorious career of this great man. 



On the morning of the 18th November, 1755, a severe shock 

 of an earthquake was felt throughout this region of country.' It 

 lasted about two minutes. It was felt along the coast for a dis- 

 tance of 800 miles, being most severe in the vicinity of Boston. 



The disputes between Governor Morris and the Assembly, in 

 which the Quakers still had a majority, were constant, and un- 

 fortunately were not conducted with that spirit of moderation 

 and forbearance that should have prevailed in a period of so 

 much difficulty and danger. The Assembly could not vote mo- 

 ney specifically for carrying on the war, and in providing means 

 "/cvr tlie king's wse," they desired to issue an additional amount 

 of paper money. This was opposed by the Governor under Pro- 

 prietary instructions. Another difficulty arose in providing for 

 the assessment of a heavy land tax. The Assembly included 

 the Proprietary lands in the assessment, and the Governor so 

 far forgot himself as to accuse that body with having included 

 these lands for the purpose of defeating the bill ; especially <lid 

 he censure Dr. Franklin, whom he regarded as the author of this 

 measure."^ Notwithstanding the .alarming condition of the coun- 

 try, there were those who endeavored to stir up sedition. For 



1 Smith's Hist. N. J. 4.36. 



- Col. Rec. vi. 600. Dr. Franklin, in speaking of Gov. Morris, »ays: " His admin- 

 istration was a continual battle, in which he labored hard to blacken the Assembly, 

 who wiped off his coloring as fast as he laid it on, and placed it in return thick upou 

 his own face." 



