he votes of the time, and in the Historical Review I afterward
publish'd. But between us personally no enmity arose; we were often
together; he was a man of letters, had seen much of the world, and was
very entertaining and pleasing in conversation. He gave me the first
information that my old friend Jas. Ralph was still alive; that he was
esteem'd one of the best political writers in England; had been
employ'd in the dispute between Prince Frederic and the king, and had
obtain'd a pension of three hundred a year; that his reputation was
indeed small as a poet, Pope having damned his poetry in the Dunciad;
but his prose was thought as good as any man's.

[15]The Assembly finally finding the proprietary obstinately persisted
in manacling their deputies with instructions inconsistent not only
with the privileges of the people, but with the service of the crown,
resolv'd to petition the king against them, and appointed me their
agent to go over to England, to present and support the petition. The
House had sent up a bill to the governor, granting a sum of sixty
thousand pounds for the king's use (ten thousand pounds of which was
subjected to the orders of the then general, Lord Loudoun), which the
governor absolutely refus'd to pass, in compliance with his
instructions.

[15] The many unanimous resolves of the Assembly--
what date?--[Marg. note.]

I had agreed with Captain Morris, of the paquet at New York, for my
passage, and my stores were put on board, when Lord Loudoun arriv'd at
Philadelphia, expressly, as he told me, to endeavor an accommodation
between the governor and Assembly, that his majesty's service might not
be obstructed by their dissensions. Accordingly, he desir'd the
governor and myself to meet him, that he might hear what was to be said
on both sides. We met and discuss'd the business. In behalf of the
Assembly, I urg'd all the various arguments that may be found in the
public papers of that time, which were of my writing, and are printed
with the minutes of the Assembly; and the governor pleaded his
instructions; the bond he had given to observe them, and his ruin if he
disobey'd, yet seemed not unwilling to hazard himself if Lord Loudoun
would advise it. This his lordship did not chuse to do, though I once
thought I had nearly prevail'd with him to do it; but finally he rather
chose to urge the compliance of the Assembly; and he entreated me to
use my endeavours with them for th