The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII, Part 66

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 438

USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII > Part 66

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The crude and imperfect annals collected by Robert Proud, although they bear the title of "History of Pennsylvania, " are generally acknowledged to be un- deserving of that name. As a chronicle of the earlier times of our commonwealth, this book is valuable, as well as for the numerous documents with which it is interspersed. It comes down, as a narrative, no later than the end of governor Thomas's administration, in 1747; beyond that period we find only a few dates of some of the most remarkable events; from which we must conclude that the author became tired of his task, or, perhaps, that he undertook it at too advanced a period of his life, and was prevailed upon by his friends to publish it in its unfinished state. For Robert Proud is well known to have been a man of strong natural powers, and not deficient in acquired knowledge; but the monument which he has left behind him does not entitle him to the fame of an historian. As a man, he was good and benevolent; he was a lover of virtue, and his work breathes throughout those sentiments of stern morality and mild philanthropy, which characterized our early settlers, and are still to be remarked in their descendants.

thentic sources, and his authorities are regularly quot- ed. It contains few errors, and those but trifling, and such as may be amended in a translation. This work is not encumbered with tedious documents, crowded with uninteresting details, or swelled with unnecessary notes. The author displays great discernment in his selection of facts, and impartiality in his delineation of charac- ters, and does not appear to have been swayed by any feeling's but those which become an historian.

Your Historical Committee were early sensible of the value of this book, and, at their recommendation, a learned member of this society" undertook its transla- tion, which is now ready for the press. It is to be hop- ed that it will soon be published, and that its sale will amply reward the publisher. Its size and its merit pe- culiarly recommended it to be used as a school book throughout this extensive state.

Still Pennsylvania wants an historian. The book I have just noticedt will always be valuable as an abridg. ment of our history; it will also be an excellent guide to him who will undertake to write it on a large scale, and save him much laborious research, by pointing out the sources from whence he is to derive his information on each particular event. I do not hesitate to say that it will shorten his labour by more than one half; for he will no where else be able to obtain the very important aid which this book will afford him. It will, in a short compass, give him a complete view of his whole ground, enable him to measure each period of time, and cach event in the scale of relative importance; in short, he will have a sketch of his work ready prepared to his hand, with the subdivisions exhibited in their various proportions; such, at least, as the author conceived them to be. 'Those who have ever attempted the la- bour of historical composition will well understand the value of such helps as these.

As you have shewn me so much indulgence as not to restrict me in the choice of the subject of this anniver- sary discourse, you will not wonder that, as a member of your Historical Committee, zealously devoted to the ob- jects of its institution, I have chosen the topic which is nearest to my heart. If I had but talents equal to my zeal, neither my advanced age nor the weight of pro- fessional avocations should stand in the way of my am- bition to become the historian of this great and impor- tant state; but I need not regret my deficiency, while there are others so eminently qualified for the task, and to whom the country looks for its execution. I shall have attained the object of my wishes if my weak ef- forts shall stimulate some one among those men of high- ly gifted minds to this honourable undertaking.

Let it not be imagined that the annals of Pennsylva- nia are not sufficiently interesting to call forth the ta- lents of an eloquent historian. It is true that they exhibit none of those striking events which the vulgar mass of mankind consider as alone worthy of being transmitted to posterity. No ambitious rival warriors occupy the stage, nor are strong emotions excited by the frequent

A work of much higher pretensions, however, claims our attention. When I said that Pennsylvania still wanted an historian, I was far from intending to depre- ciate the labours of our former associate, professor Ebe- ling, of Hamburg, whose valuable history deserves to be better known to our fellow citizens. In the small space of one duodecimo volume, he has condensed the whole history of this state from its first settlement to the year 1802. His narrative is well connected through. out, drawn up in plain and unaffected language, and * John Eberle, M. D. of this city. without pretensions to literary ornament; yet his style pleases from that very simplicity. It is close and me- thodical, and particularly distinguished by great perspi- cuity. His facts have been obtained from the most au- } be given in a note at the end of this discourse.

+ This History of Pennsylvania is the sixth volume of a larger work of the author, entitled " Geography and History of America," of which a particular account will

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description of scenes of blood, murder, and devastation. But what country on earth ever presented such a spec- tacle as this fortunate commonwealth held out to view for the space of near one hundred years, realizing all that fable ever invented or poetry ever sang of an ima- ginary golden age. Happy country, whose unparallel- ed innocence already communicates to thy history the interest of romance! Should Pennsylvanians hereafter degenerate, they will not need like the Greeks, a fabu- lous Arcadia to relieve the mind from the prospect of their crimes and follies, and to redeem their own vices by the fancied virtues of their forefathers. Pennsylva- nia once realized what never existed before except in fabled story. Not that her citizens were entirely free from the passions of human nature, for they were men and not angels; but it is certain that no country on earth ever exhibited such a scene of happiness, innocence, and peace, as was witnessed here during the first cen- tury of our social existence.

I well remember them, those patriarchal times, when simple, yet not inelegant manners prevailed every where among us; when rusticity was devoid of rough- ness, and polished life diffused its mild radiance around, unassuming and unenvied; when society was free from the constraint of etiquette and parade; when love was not crossed by avarice or pride, and friendships were unbroken by ambition and intrigue. This was the spec- tacle which Pennsylvania offered even in the midst of the storms of our revolution, and which she continued to exhibit until a sudden influx of riches broke in upon the land, and brought in its train luxury, more baneful than war. * This torrent has been checked in its course; we are gradually returning to those moderate habits, which we never should have abandoned. But we are too far advanced in population and arts ever to see our ancient manners restored in their primitive purity; all that we can do now is to preserve their memory in the historical page, as a subject of pride to our descendants, and of admiration to succeeding generations throughout the world.

Yet amidst this simplicity, what grand and magnifi- cent scenes court the pencil of the historian! His it will be to delineate the majestic features of one of the greatest legislators that ever appeared among mankind. Did I say one of the greatest? I hasten to correct my error: WILLIAM PENN Stands the first among the law- givers whose names and deeds are recorded in history. Shall we compare with him Lycurgus, Solon, Romulus, those founders of military commonwealths, who organ- ized their citizens in dreadful array against the rest of their species, taught them to consider their fellow men as barbarians, and themselves as alone worthy to rule over the earth? What benefit did mankind derive from their boasted institutions? Interrogate the shades of those who fell in the mighty contests between Athens and Lacedæmon, between Carthage and Rome, and be- tween Rome and the rest of the universe. But see our Wm. Penn, with weaponless hands, sitting down peace- ably with his followers in the midst of savage nations whose only occupation was shedding the blood of their fellow men, disarming them by his justice, and teaching them, for the first time, to view a stranger without dis- trust. See them bury their tomahawks in his presence, so deep that man shall never be able to find them again. See them under the shade of the thick groves of Coa- quannock extend their bright chain of friendship, and solemnly promise to preserve it as long as the sun and moon shall endure. See him then with his companions establishing his commonwealth on the sole basis of re- ligion, morality and universal love, and adopting as the fundamental maxim of his government, the rule handed clown to us from heaven, " Glory to God on high, and on earth peace and good will to all men."

Here was a spectacle for the potentates of the earth

to look upon, an example for them to imitate. But the potentates of the earth did not see, or if they saw, they turned away their eyes from the sight; they did not hear, or if they heard, they shut their ears against the voice which called out to them from the wilderness,

Discite justitiam moniti, et non temnere Divos.

The character of William Penn alone sheds a never fading lustre upon our history. - No other state in this union can boast of such an illustrious founder; none be- gan their social career under auspices so honourable to humanity. Every trait of the life of that great man, every fact and anecdote of those golden times will be sought for by our descendants with avidlity, and will furnish many an interesting subject for the fancy of the novelist, and the enthusiasm of the poet. It is, there- fore, highly important, that while recent tradition and numerous authentic but perishable documents, are still in our power, we should collect all those valuable ma- terials, and embody their substance in an historical work worthy of being handed down to posterity. Although such a work will not be fruitful of great incidents, still it will exhibit human nature under many a varied as- pect; great faults will be found associated to great vir- tues; the reader will, more than once, while he admires the latter, be compelled, with regret, to acknowledge, as the former strike his view, that no efforts of the hu- man mind can ever produce absolute perfection in this sublunary world, and that it is in vain for us to expect to be angels on this side of the eternal mansions; and, upon the whole, it may, with truth, be asserted that there will be found in the History of Pennsylvania, much to instruct and much to delight.

The historian will take a cursory view of the various vicissitudes that attended the first settlement of the an- cient colony of Virginia, during a quarter of a century, from the time when it was taken possession of for the English crown by Sir Water Raleigh, in 1594, to the year 1610, when Lord Delaware, arriving there from England, as captain general, found its population re- duced, by a dreadful famine, to the inconsiderable number of 60 souls. Yet three years afterwards the colony had so far recovered from that calamity, that her next governor, Dale, sent an expedition to the north- ward, under Argal, which destroyed the French set- tlements in remote Acadia, and compelled the Dutch, already established at Manhattan island, to submit to the sovereignty of England.

It was on his voyage to Virginia that Lord Delaware discovered the great bay and river to which he gave his name, and which Hudson, sailing in the Dutch service, had passed by in the preceding year. The Dutch call. ed it the South River, by which name it was known for more than half a century, to recover afterwards and preserve for ever that of the gallant commander who had saved the first English colony in America from im- pending destruction . .

But the Dutch on the Manhattan did not long ac- knowledge the supremacy of the English crown. In the year 1614, they erected Fort Amsterdam, where New York now stands, and put themselves in a posture of defence against foreign assailants. Then commenc- ed in America the empire of the Dutch nation, flushed with the pride of her young independence, and of her victories over Spain, at that time considered the great- est power in Europe. She claimed all the country be- tween the two great rivers which Hudson had discover- ed, one of which still retains the name of North river, which he gave to it, and even extended her pretensions. to the south side of the river Connecticut. At the time the soil of New England was yet untrodden by Euro- pean feet; but a numerous and hardy population was. soon to press on the Dutch settlements from the east, and in less than fifty years to put an end to their do- minion on this continent. This was to have been ex- pected by those who considered the different spirit in which the two nations colonized the country, where the

* Sævior armis. Luxuria incubuit -- LUCAN.

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Dutch sought only trade, while the English sought | New Gottenburg, the metropolis of the Swedish Ameri- freedom and a home.

The Dutch and English colonies were now progres- sing together, but with unequal steps. What was do- ing towards the north is of little interest to our history, it is enough for us to know that for several years the former nation did not extend her settlements to the Delaware, where she had only a few trading establish- ments on the eastern shore of the river, when another nation appeared and seated herself on the opposite side, then considered a part of the territory of Vir- ginia.

That nation was Sweden, then governed by the il- lustrious daughter of Gustavus Adolphus, aided by the counsels of chancellor Oxenstiern, one of the greatest ministers that a sovereign was ever blessed with. Their genius carried into execution the establishment planned while Gustavus was yet on the throne, of a colony on the banks of the Delaware, which was doomed to last no longer than the reign of the one and the life of the other .* A cession of the British title to that part of the country was obtained from the unfortunate Charles; but the Dutch elaim subsisted in its full force, and after nineteen years' unquiet possession, the Swedes were compelled, in 1655, to submit to the superior force of that nation, which in less than ten years afterwards was to see her own power annihilated by the same means which she had employed against her weaker neighbors.

The first settlement of the Swedes on the Delaware took place in the year 1638, at which period our histo- ry properly begins. The descendants of those sons of the north make part of our present population, and we trace with pleasure among the names of many of those who shone at that time among the first ranks of society, and one of their public edifices still meets our view, and strikes our minds with that veneration which never fails to be inspired by relics of former times. The historian will not pass over that period in silence. By the mu- nifieence of Mr. Russell, our society is in possession of valuable authentic records from the chancery of Stock- holm, which throw considerable light on the colonial views and policy of Christiana's government #

Here two Swedish governors, Printz and Risingh, successfully exercised a supreme but short lived author- ity. History will delineate their characters, and trace the consequences of the timidity of the one, who suffer- ed the Dutch to erect a fort on the Swedish territory, t and the rashness of the other, who unseasonably expel- led them from it, and by this act of force lost the coun- try, for ever, to his sovereign. The historian will pay a deserved tribute of praise to the mildness of the Swe- dish government and - people, and above all to their strict justice towards the Indian nations, by means of which they firmly secured the love and affection of all the surrounding tribes. He will not fail to interest his reader by a lively description of the face of the country at that time, of the various settlements of the Dutch and Swedes on both sides of our river, and point out the situation of the numerous forts which their mu- tual jealousy erected, and of which, at present, not a vestige remains. On Tinicum island rose the fortress of

can empire. Here, says their historian Campanius, governor Printz built an elegant mansion house for himself and his dependants, with a garden, a pleasure- house, and other appurtenances. * There a church was built, and there the principal inhabitants had their houses and plantations. What is become of that seat of luxury and grandeur? Not a trace of its former glory is to be seen, it lies 'waste and desolate, tenanted only by grazing cattle; and near it, where perhaps, formerly stood one of those handsome dwellings whieli the histo- rian describes, is an impure lazaretto, the chosen abode of pestilenee and death. Such are the vicissitudes which our young country has already experienced.

A different scene will soon open to our view. The Dutch expel their rivals from this continent, and Nova Suecia again becomes a part of the New Netherlands. At New Amstel, now New Castle, is established the seat of delegated authority; and Old Upland,t since honoured by our first colonial legislature, is made he chief place of a judicial district. But this new order of things was not to be of long duration. In 1664 the English expel the Dutch from all their North American territory, with as little ceremony as these had done their former neighbors. Three years afterwards, the treaty of Breda sanctioned the irregular conquest.

Now another race of men is about to appear upon the stage. The names of both Dutch and Swedes are going to be merged into that of Englishmen, which, . after the lapse of a century, is to be changed for anoth- er destined to still greater fame.

On the eastern side of the Delaware, Burlington alrea- dy appears, but will soon be eelipsed by a rival city, which will be the pride and glory of the western world. * * *

* But I perceive that my subject is carrying me far be- yond the object and limits of this discourse. Our histo- ry is so full of interesting scenes that I am at a loss how to choose the few traits that I am permitted to exhibit to you.

See you yon gallant ship, sailing with propitious gales up the river Delaware? Her decks are covered with passengers, enjoying the mild temperature of our climate, and the serenity of our autumnal sky. They view with astonishment the novel scenery which strikes their sight; immense forests on each side, half despoiled of their red and yellow leaves, with which the ground is profusely strewed. No noise is heard around them, save that of the deer rustling through the trees, as she flies from the Indian who pursues her with his bow and arrow. Now and then a strange yell strikes the ear from a distance, which the echoes of the woods rever- berate, and forms a strong contrast to the awful still- ness of the scene. Observe the plainness of the dress of those venerable pilgrims, and see them lift their eyes with silent gratitude to heaven. They are a chosen band of friends who have left the British shores to esta- blish here in peace their philanthropic commonwealth; their ship is called the Welcome, Greenaway commands her and, WILLIAM PENN is among them.

Now they land at New Castle, amidst the acclama- tions of the diversified population which inhabit these shores. The English, the Welch, the Dutch, the Ger- mans, the Swedes, all erowd to hail the great man whom they had been expecting for one long year, and whose fame had already preceded him to these distant regions. The historian will not omit to describe this pleasing scene, and it will be more than once the favorite subject of the painter's pencil. He will choose the instant when William Penn has just landed with his principal followers, while the others are still on board the vessel, or in boats, making for the shore. There you see him supported by his friend Pearson. From his manly port and the resolution which his countenance displays, you

* Christiana abdicated the crown of Sweden, and Ox- enstiern died, in 1654.

t Fort Casimir, which was built by the Dutch, in 1651, on the spot where New Castle now stands. By this means they obtained the command of the naviga- tion of the Delaware, to counteract which, governor Printz caused another fort to be erected below, on the east side of the river, which was called Elfsborg, from which, however, the Swedes were soon after driven away by the mosquitoes.

In 1654, governor Risingh took fort Casimir by sur- prise; but the next year the Dutch came in force and took possession of the whole Swedish territory .- EP- ELING.

# See Reg. Vol. IV. p. 376.

* He gave it the name of Printzhoff .- CAMPANIUS.

t At present Chester.

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would take him to be a warrior, if the mild philanthropy which beams from his eyes did not reveal his profession, still more than the simplicity of his garb. He who stands before him in British regimentals, and whom he shakes affectionately by the hand, is his relation Markham, whom he had sent in the preceding year to explore the land and prepare the way for the new settlers. Those. on the right, a numerous band, are your honored ances- tors, some of whom accompany him on the voyage, and others had arrived before, and are now assembled here to greet him. There stands Pemberton, Moore, Yard- ley, Waln, Lloyd, Pusey, Chapman, Wood, Hollings- worth, Rhoades, Hall, Gibbons, Bonsall, Sellers; Clay- poole, whose ancestor, not many years before, ruled the destinies of the British empire ;* West, one of whose descendants will charm the world by his magic pencil, and for whose name and fame rival nations will, in after ages, contend; and many other worthies whom it would be too long to enumerate. On the left is a number of Swedes, whom their national dress, light hair, and northern countenances, sufficiently designate, there you see the brothers Swanson,t who own the ground on which the city of Philadelphia is soon to stand; and whose name one of our streets will perpetuate. With them are Stille, Bankson,# Kempe, Rambo, Peterson, and several others, whose names still live in their de- scendants. Their leader is Lacy Cock, § whose merit entitles him to a seat in the first council of the new commonwealth. Observe how he extends his hands; promising, in the name of his countrymen, to love, serve, and obey their reverend proprietor, and declaring that this is the best day they ever saw. The Dutch are dis- seminated through the town which was built by them, as you may easily perceive by the sharp pointed roofs of their houses. They smoke their pipes in silence; and, after their manner, partake of the general joy.

But see, close to that half ruined fort, this motley group of Indians, whose anxiety manifests itselfon their countenances, and who view the new comers with looks in which suspicion seems as yet to predominate. They are the Lenni Lenape, whose history and manners are already familiar to you. At their head is TAMANEND, I the great and the good, who is said never to have had his equal for virtue and goodness, and whose memory is still held in veneration by the savage nations. His eye is steadily fixed on William Penn! His great mind has already discovered in him a congenial soul; alone among his tribe, lie shows by his looks that noble confi- dence which will not be deceived. He it is, who under that elm tree, which many of us have seen in its vigor, but which, alas! has not long since been destroyed by the violence of the winter storm, will sign that famous treaty which the genius of the west has immortalised, and which a great writer of another nation T has, with more wit than truth, described as the only one which was never sworn to and never broken. Nor was it vio- lated while William Penn lived, nor while the ascend- ency of his great mind was yet operating among us.

Afterwards, indeed !- but I will not anticipate on the painful duty of the historian.

This memorable landing took place on the 24th of October, 1682, a day of proud and glad remembrance, which we ought to celebrate on every returning anni- versary. While our brethren of Massachusetts comme- morate every year, in the dreary time of winter, the landing of their pious ancestors on the barren rock of Plymouth, which their gratitude has consecrated to per- petual veneration; shall we suffer the epoch of the ar- rival of our great founder, and his venerable band of followers, to pass away unnoticed? Let us begin this very year to distinguish ourselves by a similar act of patriotism, at a time when the season invites, and the bosom of our mother earth is covered with her choicest fruits.

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The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII, Part 66

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870 Publication date: 1828 Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ; Number of Pages: 438

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 438