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COPY
of Part of a Letter from
Israel Pemberton,
and Son, of
Philadelphia,
to
David Barclay,
and Son, of
London.
Philadelphia,
the
1st
of the
3d
Mo.
1740.
THE
latest Accounts we have received, confirming the Apprehensions we have been long under, of a Rupture with
France,
afford us a melancholy Prospect of the State of Affairs: But, as we are circumstanced here, People generally (and more particularly those of our Society) think it safest to stand still: And we are sorry to find, that some with you have been forward, in their Letters sent hither, to express themselves in a Manner quite contrary to the Profession we ever made: Which is made use of, to insinuate, That Friends here are singular in opposing, or not agreeing to such Measures, as some others desire may be taken, for military Preparations, &c. But tho' the Governor has been very urgent to bring the Assembly into these Things, they have hitherto avoided doing any Thing; and have the Satisfaction to find, that their Conduct is much approv'd by the far greater Part, even of those, who do not refuse these Things on Principle, but as they believe they cannot be agreed to, without an Infringement of the fundamental Privileges we enjoy.
Their Answer is dated at
London,
the 27th of the
4
th Month
1740.
THE
Fears you have of a War with
France
seem ill-grounded, there being no such Apprehensions in common here; it being generally thought the Cardinal's favourite Scheme is to make a Peace between us and
Spain,
and thereby establish Peace all over
Europe.
We are sorry to hear of the Difference between the Assembly and Governor: It's a very nice Point: We don't see our Friends can any ways meddle, other than they do here,
Which is, to pay
Cæsar
his Due, and to let the Government do therewith as they judge best for the Good of the Country.
We are Strangers to what you mean by any of our Society here Writing over, and expressing themselves in a Manner contrary to the Profession we have ever made. We have blamed some on your Side, who make no Profession with us, for sending their Ships out quite Defenceless, liable to be taken by any Bark, and at the same Time expect them insured at a low Rate: That can no ways affect either the Writers as Friends, nor our Society with you; who can ever distinguish between a Letter to a Friend, and one wrote to a Person making no such Pretence. We are far from Faulting our Friends with you, or any where else, for keeping to their primitive Principles, as well as holding fast the Rights they have as
Englishmen.