stian wisdom, or they adopted the policy of
the Gospel instead of the policy of the world. They had to deal with the
same savage Indians as the other settlers. They had the same fury to
guard against, and were in a situation much more exposed to attack, and
of course much more creative of alarm; for they had neither sword nor
musket, nor pallisadoe, nor fort. They judged it neither necessary to
watch, nor to be provided with ammunition, nor to become soldiers. They
spoke the language of peace to the natives, and they proved the
sincerity of their language by their continuance in a defenceless
condition. They held out also, that all wars were unlawful, and that,
whatever injuries were offered them, they would sooner bear them, than
gratify the principle of revenge. It is quite needless to go farther
into the system of this venerable founder of Pennsylvania. But it may be
observed, that no Quaker settlers, when known to be such,[18] were
killed, and, whatever attacks were made upon the possessors of land in
their neighbourhood, none were ever made upon those who settled on the
lands purchased by William Penn.

[Footnote 18: "The Indians shot him who had the gun, says Storey in his
Journal, and when they knew the young man they killed was a Quaker, they
seemed sorry for it, but blamed him for carrying a gun. For they knew
the Quakers would not fight, or do them any harm, and therefore, by
carrying a gun, they took him for an enemy." This instance, which was in
after times, confirms still more strongly all that has been said on this
subject. Quakers at this time occasionally armed themselves against the
wild beasts of the country.]

It may not be improper to observe farther, that the harmonious
intercourse between the Quakers and the Indians continues uninterrupted
to the present day. In matters of great and public concern, of which I
could mention instances, it has been usual with the Indians to send
deputies to the Quakers for advice, and the former have even been
prevailed upon by the latter to relinquish wars, which they had it in
contemplation to undertake. It is usual also for some of these to send
their children to the Quakers for education. And so great is the
influence of the Quakers over some of these tribes, that many
individuals belonging to them, and now living together, have been
reclaimed from a savage life. These have laid aside the toilsome
occupations of the chase. They raise horses, cattle, and sheep. Th