FRIENDS, OR QUAKERS. 153 



gence in the past history of the island were members 

 of the society of Friends who were largely engaged in 

 commerce. There are many names that are familiar 

 to old people of to-day, whose ships brought teas from 

 China, rice and silks from ports on the Hoogly and 

 the Ganges. They visited Sweden for iron, and Rus- 

 sia for hemp and duck. Their ships were seen in all 

 the then known foreign trading ports, and they visited 

 every sea and clime for seals or whales; and wher- 

 ever they went they always acted in the interest of 

 peace and on peaceable principles. 



" The Friends are not generally politicians in the 

 common acceptation of the term, but they are politi- 

 cians so far as to desire a good government and just 

 laws; and though at times conservative as to acting 

 with the popular movements of the day, they have been 

 far in advance in their views in most or all reforms, 

 moral and civil, and have from a sense of duty accepted 

 and held places of trust and responsibility, and without 

 show or display, have honored, as well as been hon- 

 ored by, such trusts. 



"They have been members of the Legislature, as sen- 

 ators and representatives, and in the governor's coun- 

 cil. One Friend filled the office of State treasurer for 

 five consecutive years, which is the longest time that 

 any one can hold the office (that being the time limited 

 by law). He was highly respected, and on intimate 

 terms socially as well as officially with the two gov- 

 ernors under whom he served. 



"Friends have, as has been stated, led and not fol- 

 lowed in giving general education, in the antislavery 

 movement, in temperance, and in peace, and in the 

 endeavor to soften and ameliorate life's hard duties. 



