" as they delighted to call the proprietor.

In the following March, the new city was honored by the gathering there
of the second assembly of the province, when Penn offered to the people,
through their representatives a new charter. The new charter was so
liberal in all its provisions, that when he asked the question:

"Shall we accept the new constitution or adhere to the old one?" they
voted in a body to accept the new charter, and became at once a
representative republican government, with free religious toleration,
with justice, for its foundation, and the proprietor, unlike those of
other provinces, surrendered to the people his chartered rights in the
appointment of officers. From the beginning, the happiness and
prosperity of his people appeared to be uppermost in the heart and mind
of William Penn. It was this happy relation between the proprietor and
the people, and the security against Indian raids, that made
Pennsylvania far outstrip her sister colonies in rapidity of settlement
and permanent prosperity.

It was late in 1682 that a small house was erected on the site of
Philadelphia for the use of Penn, and only a few years ago it was still
standing between Front and Second Streets, occupied by Letitia Court.

There he assisted in fashioning those excellent laws which gave a high
character to Pennsylvania from the beginning. Among other wise
provisions was a board of arbitrators called peace-makers, who were to
adjust all difficulties and thus prevent lawsuits. The children were all
taught some useful trade. When factors wronged their employees, they
were to make satisfaction and one-third over. All causes for irreligion
and vulgarity were to be suppressed, and no man was to be molested for
his religious opinions. It was also decreed that the days of the week
and the months of the year "shall be called as in Scripture, and not by
heathen names (as are vulgarly used), as ye First, Second and Third
months of ye year, beginning with ye day called Sunday, and ye month
called March," thus beginning the year, as of old, with the first spring
month. Pennsylvania was first divided into three counties--Bucks,
Chester and Philadelphia, and the annexed territories were also divided
into three counties--New Castle, Kent and Sussex--known for a long time
afterward as the "Three Lower Counties on the Delaware."

Penn returned to England in the summer of 1684, leaving the government
of the province during his absence