More  wonders  !  The  Assembly  received  a  Governor  of
the  Proprietary  family  with  open  arms,  addressed  him  with
sincere  expressions  of  kindness  and  respect,  opened  their
purses  to  him,  and  presented  him  with  six  hundred  pounds;
made  a  Riot  Act  and  prepared  a  Militia  Bill  immediately,
at  his  instance,  granted  supplies,  and  did  everything  that  he
requested,  and  promised  themselves  great  happiness  under
his  administration.  But  suddenly  his  dropping  all  inquiries
after  the  murderers,  and  his  answering  the  disputes  of  the
rioters  privately  and  refusing  the  presence  of  the  Assembly
who  were  equally  concerned  in  the  matters  contained  in
their  remonstrance,  brings  him  under  suspicion  ;  his  insult-
ing the  Assembly  without  the  least  provocation  by  charging
them  with  disloyalty  and  with  making  an  infringement  on
the  King's  prerogatives,  only  because  they  had  presumed  to
name  in  a  bill  offered  for  his  assent  a  trifling  officer  (some-
what like  one  of  your  tole-gatherers  at  a  turnpike)  without


452^  PRO  PR  IE  TARY   GO  VERNMENT.  [^t.  58.
consulting  him,  and  liis  refusing  several  of  their  bills  01
proposing  amendments  needless  disgusting.
These  things  bring  him  and  his  government  into  sudden
contempt.  All  regard  for  him  in  the  Assembly  is  lost.  All
hopes  of  happiness  under  a  Proprietary  Government  are  at
an  end.  It  has  now  scarce  authority  enough  to  keep  the
common  peace,  and  was  another  to  come,  I  question,  though
a  dozen  men  were  sufficient,  whether  one  could  find  so
many  in  Philadelphia  willing  to  rescue  him  or  his  Attorney
General,  I  won't  say  from  hanging,  but  from  any  common
insult.     All  this  too  happened  in  a  few  weeks.
