The beams of the evening sun were streaming through a deep bay window of
the country house of Worminghurst, in Sussex, on the heads of two men
seated at a large oak writing table in a room which, lined as it was
with bookcases, showed that it was devoted to study.
The heads of both of them betokened high intellect, traces of care and
thought being especially discernible on the countenance of the elder,--
that lofty intellect to be quenched, ere a few short years were over, by
the executioner's axe,--a deed as cruel and unjust as any caused by the
cowardice and tyranny of a monarch.
The table was covered with parchments, papers, books, and writing
materials. Both were holding pens in their hands, now and then making
note from the documents before them, at other times stopping and
addressing each other. The younger man was William Penn, who, lately
having obtained a grant of a large tract of country on the American
continent, was now engaged in drawing up a constitution for its
government, assisted by the elder,--the enlightened patriot and
philosopher, Sidney.
"See! such a constitution as this for Carolina will not suit a free
people such as will be our colonists!" said the former, pointing to a
document before him, "albeit it emanated from the brain of John Locke.
Here we have a king, though with the title of palatine, with a whole
court and two orders of nobility. Laws to prevent estates accumulating
or diminishing. The children of leet men to be leet men for ever, while
every free man is to have power over his negro slaves. Truly, society
will thus be bound hand and foot. All political rights to be taken from
the cultivators of the soil. Trial by jury virtually set aside. The
Church of England to be alone the true and orthodox, and to be supported
out of the coffers of the State."
"In truth, no," said Sidney. "John Locke has not emancipated himself
from his admiration of the feudal system. Let this be our principle,--
that those whose lives, properties, and liberties are most concerned in
the administration of the laws shall be the people to form them. Let
there be two bodies to be elected by the people,--a council and an
assembly. Let the council consist of seventy-two persons, to be chosen
by universal suffrage, for three years, twenty-four of them retiring
every year, their places to be supplied by new election. Let the
members of the assembly be elected annually, and all votes taken by
ballot. The suffrage to be universal. Let it have the privilege of
making out the list of persons to be named as justices and sheriffs, and
let the governor be bound to select one half of those thus recommended.
Now we must consider numerous provisional laws relating to liberty of
conscience, provision for the poor, choice of civil officers, and so on,
which can be in force until accepted by the council. We shall thus,
dear friend, I trust, have secured freedom of thought, the sacredness of
person and property, popular control over all powers of the state; and
we will leave our new democracy to develop itself in accordance with its
own genius, unencumbered with useless formalities and laws."
"Yes; I trust that the simplicity of our constitution will secure its
permanence," said Sidney. "I will take the papers home with me to
Penshurst, and there maturely consider over all the points."
Left alone, William Penn might have been seen lifting up his hands in
earnest prayer to heaven that his noble scheme might prosper. He was
interrupted by a knock at the door, and a servant announced a visitor.
In another minute a young man entered the room with modest air and in
sober costume.
"Who art thou?" said Penn, looking up.
"Wenlock Christison," answered the visitor. "I came at the desire of
Friend Mead."
"Yea; I wish to see thee, young friend," said Penn; "but when thou
earnest into the room I did not at first recognise thee. Thou art
somewhat changed, I may say, for the better. Sit down, and I will tell
thee what I require. Look at this map of the American continent. See
this magnificent river,--the Delaware, entering the Atlantic between
Cape Henlopen and Cape May. See those other fine rivers,--the
Susquehannah, the Ohio, and the Alleghany. Here is a country but a
little less than the size of England; its surface covered with a rich
vegetable loam capable of the highest cultivation, and of producing
wheat, barley, rye, Indian corn, hemp, oats, flax. Here too are mighty
forests supplying woods of every kind, abounding too in wild game and
venison, equal to any in England. The rivers are full of fish, oysters,
and crabs in abundance. On the coast the most luscious fruits grow
wild, while the flowers of the forest are superior in beauty to any
found in our native land. A few settlers from Sweden are already there,
and some Hollanders. The native red men have hitherto proved friendly;
and I trust by treating them kindly, with due regard to their just
rights, we may ever remain on brotherly terms with them. They are mere
wanderers over the land, build no cities, nor permanently cultivate the
ground. I trust before to-morrow's sun has set, unless I am deceived,
to obtain a grant of this territory, in lieu of a debt owing by the
government to my father of nearly 15,000 pounds. I wish forthwith to
despatch a vessel with certain commissioners authorised to purchase
lands from the natives; and as Friend Mead has spoken favourably of
thee, it is my wish to send thee with them. Wilt thou accept my offer?
I will tell thee, if thou wilt, more particularly of thy duties."
Wenlock's heart somewhat sunk within him at this proposal. He had been
hoping to make Mary Mead his wife; yet he was sure her father would not
allow her to go forth into a new settlement, and to undergo all the
incidental risks and hardships. How long a time might pass before he
could return, he could not tell. Of one thing only he felt sure, that
she would be faithful to him.
Some time had passed since he left Rotterdam, his friend Van Erk having
given him permission to go over to England to enter the employment of
William Mead. He had, since then, been living in his family, enjoying
an almost daily intercourse with Mary; not yet, however, having obtained
a position to enable him to marry her. Her father had resolved to put
his patience and constancy to the test. Here, however, was a trial he
had not expected; and when Penn had sent for him, he had, with the
sanguine spirit of youth, hoped that it was to receive some appointment
which would enable him to realise the wishes of his heart. Still the
offer was a flattering one, and he felt that it would be unwise in him
to decline it. He therefore, in suitable language, accepted the offer.
"Stay here then," said Penn, "as I have abundance of work for thee for
some days to come, and I will then more fully explain to thee my
wishes."
While Penn was still speaking, a messenger arrived from London. He
brought a summons for him to attend a council at Whitehall, a note from
a friend at court informing him that it was to settle the matter of the
colony. He hastened up to London. In the council chamber were already
assembled his majesty's privy councillors, and at the farther end of the
room was the king himself, hat on head. William Penn, not the least
conspicuous among them for his height and manly bearing, advanced up the
room in his usual dignified manner; but neither did he doff his hat nor
bend his knee before the king's majesty, although he has come in the
hope of obtaining an object among the dearest to his heart.
"I have come at thy desire, and thank thee for the invitation," said
Penn, standing before the king.
"Verily thou art welcome," said the monarch, with a smile on his lips;
at the same time removing his hat and placing it by his side.
"Friend Charles, why dost thou not keep on thy hat?" said Penn with
perfect gravity; at the same time making no attempt to remove his own.
"Ha! ha! ha! knowest thou not, Friend William, that it is the custom of
this place for only one person to remain covered at a time?" answered
the king, laughing heartily. "To business, however, my lords," he
added. "And what name hast thou fixed on for this new province, Master
Penn?"
"As it is a somewhat mountainous country, I would have it called New
Wales," answered the Quaker.
Here Master Secretary Blathwayte, who was a Welshman, interposed; in
reality objecting to have the country of a sect to which he was no
friend called after his native land.
"Well then, as it hath many noble forests, let it be called Sylvania,"
said Penn.
"Nay, nay; but I have a better name still," exclaimed the king. "We
will call it Pennsylvania, in honour of your worthy father,--the great
admiral. The forest land of Penn, that shall be it; and my word shall
be as the law of the Medes and Persians."
At this the courtiers laughed, not, perchance, considering the king's
word of much value. However, the name was thus fixed, the patent being
then and there issued under the king's inspection.
With the charter in his possession, Penn returned home to make the final
arrangements with Sidney for the great work he had undertaken. The
document was written on a roll of parchment. At the head of the first
sheet there is a well-executed portrait of Charles the Second, while the
borders are handsomely emblazoned with heraldic devices. Great had been
the opposition made to Penn's receiving this grant. Sidney had come
back to Worminghurst.
"God hath given it to me in the face of the world," exclaimed Penn, as
the friends met. "He will bless and make it the seed of a nation."
Truly has that prediction been fulfilled.