of experience in judicial affairs;" nor would he have made his rulings as Chancellor dependent upon the approbation of any of the laymen in the Provincial Council. After his appointment as Lieutenant-Governor he was sometimes spoken of as "Colonel" Keith, but we do not believe that this indicates previous service in the British army,—we conjecture that the title accompanied his right to command the militia of the Province,-nearly every colonial Governor at a certain period being so called. In his "Defence of the Constitution of the Province of Pennsylvania" he says that he "had the honour to be personally and intimately acquainted" with William Penn "for above seven years, just after his last return to England from Pennsylvania." Logan, in a letter of 2 mo. 27, 1716, speaks of the friendship. There is no unfairness in saying that Penn was a Jacobite, and that political sympathy probably brought him and Keith together at the time the latter arrived in England from France. It must have been in the year 1710 that they were separated, probably by Keith removing from England either to Scotland, which had become part of the same kingdom, or beyond sea upon some public employment which authorized him to transport himself; a supposition which derives some likelihood from his composing afterwards an essay on the office of an ambassador. He seems to have been a friend of William Penn, Jr., who, according to Gordon's "History of Pennsylvania," recommended him for the LieutenantGovernorship.

Keith was appointed Surveyor-General of the Customs for the Southern Division of America in place of Colonel Robert Quary, deceased, and sailing from England in June, 1714, arrived in Virginia on the 17th of August following. Upon the first notice of the accession of George I. he took the oath of allegiance to him before the Governor and Chancellor of Maryland, where Keith happened to be; and going through Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, caused the officers under him to do the same. In the winter he went to Jamaica, the voyage taking a month, and after four months' stay, recovered eight thousand pounds sterling for

the Crown,-a debt of nine years' standing. In June, 1715, in a small sloop which took three weeks to go from that island to South Carolina, he returned to the continent of North America. Discharging his duties with zeal and efficiency, he was, without any cause being assigned, deprived of his office by the appointment of a successor. The battle of Sheriff Muir, which left the new king in possession of the throne, took place in November, 1715. James Logan, some years later, speaks of the battle and a closet, apparently a refuge after the battle, having given Thomas Græme a claim upon Keith. Keith's kinsman, the young Earl Marischal, may have hid at the Græme seat, Balgowan, before leaving Scotland, with a price upon his head, losing his title by attainder. At the same time the commander of King George's army, John, second Duke of Argyll, was a friend of the subject of this sketch. The latter, after his removal from the Surveyor-Generalship, visiting Penn's dominions, and becoming aware of the great dissatisfaction with Gookin's administration, saw in the Lieutenant-Governorship and in the Governorship, when the sale to the Crown should be consummated, a future provision for himself; while the principal inhabitants turned to him as a politician upon whom they might impose the task of delivering them from Gookin. Much being afterwards said about their having taken pity on Keith, the "Just and Plain Vindication of Sir William Keith," printed in 1726, and attributed to himself, declares that he did not make his circumstances at that time known to any man in Pennsylvania, and was “so far from thinking of that employment" that he had actually gone as far as New Castle on his way towards Virginia when he received a letter from two of the Council asking him to return and hear their proposals. Logan's letter of 2 mo. 27, 1716, says that a confidential messenger was sent by Keith from New Castle to the Council in Philadelphia, and conveys the impression that by this means Keith made the first proposal. Those Councillors who were in town at the time met and unanimously concurred, "having from his first appearance here, generally entertained a very favour

able opinion of his good sense, sweetness of disposition, and moderation in his former post." Keith returned to Philadelphia, and his "Vindication" says they offered their recommendation to the Proprietary's family, if he would undertake to obtain the office, and gave him twenty-four hours to consider it. Their letter to Hannah Penn recommending him is dated 2 mo. 27, 1716. It was feared, however, that Keith might be suspected by the King's Ministers, whose approval of the appointment would be necessary, of disaffection to the House of Brunswick. The prudent Logan asked Keith not to show the letter outside of the circle of Penn's friends, lest, should the person recommended be rejected as a Jacobite, some disadvantage might come to the signers. Gookin was ready to impute such political views to them; Logan says, "Than which nothing can be more false. But as these distinctions cannot affect us who want nothing but peace under the Crown of England, and have no power either to advance or retard any interest, all our views, or rather wishes, are to have a person over us who may truly pursue the Interest of the Country." Counting upon his influence with the Duke of Argyll and others to smooth the way at Court, Keith went to England to obtain the appointment as Lieutenant-Governor from Penn or those who controlled him, and confirmation from the Crown.

Upon his arrival, he found no opposition in Penn's family, but the "Just and Plain Vindication," hereinafter mentioned, declares, and it sounds probable, that

"it was above Three Months before he could reconcile to his Proposal a Set of grave Politicians that went under the Name of Mortgagees, tho' in Reality they were only plain Shop-keepers in the City of London, and creditors to Mr. Penn, who had pledg'd his Estate in Pensilvania for securing the Payment of his Debts to them; Now some of those Gentlemen affecting much Grandeur, by having it in their Power to dispose of one of his Majesty's Provinces abroad, it was not more Trouble to find Access to a first Minister of State, and far less difficult to persuade him, than it was to find an Opportunity of Reasoning with, and Convincing some of these Gentlemen. However, after a

reasonable Time spent in good comfortable Eating and Drinking, (after the Manner of the City) at Sir William's proper Cost and Charge, he found Means to sooth the Gentlemen into an unanimous compliance with his Design."

The Assembly of Pennsylvania had adopted on May 3, 1716, an Address to King George, expressing joy at his accession, apologizing for not congratulating him sooner, and speaking with horror of the "unnatural" rebellion, for the suppression of which they thanked God. Keith undertook the presentation of this, a matter of considerable expense, and finally obtaining an interview with the Prince Regent, the King being in Hanover, received the assurance that the Quakers were looked upon as loyal subjects, that the King had a great regard for them, and that they might at all times depend on the Prince's good will to serve them in anything they had to ask of his Royal Father.

A letter signed by William Penn "with the advice and consent of his Friends and Trustees under written,"-viz., Henry Gouldney, Silvanus Grove, and Joshua Gee,—was addressed to the Prince of Wales, Guardian of the Realm, certifying that Penn nominated and appointed William Keith to be Lieutenant-Governor of Pennsylvania. "The said Keith having been well recommended as a Person who has lately given evident Proofs of his Capacity and Zeal in the King's Service as well as of his dutiful Affection to the Present Government." With this Keith danced attendance upon the great Lords of the Privy Council and the officers of state. In a letter in possession of the Historical Society, he writes from Hampton Court, September 10, 1716: I have been here ten days waiting for the opportunity of a General Council which I find we are not to expect befor next Thursday, & then I hope to give you the good news of success, if the statesmen will be true to what they have promised & frankly undertaken to do for me in that affair. The Prince has been acquainted with the business, and I have not yet been able to discover one enemy to oppose it." The Council meeting on the 13th, the subject was referred to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and

Plantations. On the 16th, Messrs. Perry and Hyde-the former being, we suppose, Micajah Perry, afterwards a correspondent of Keith-offered to go his security. A letter from Keith dated September 22, says, "I have had all the success in my business which I could possibly expect but people are so much out of Town at this time of the year, that I daily meet with unavoidable delays, however I am assured that the Board of Trade will meet next wedensday, and my interest is now so much stronger than it was, that I hope to get things despatched with all convenient speed, & without any difficulty." The statement of his case was communicated to the Board on September 27, and read on October 16, when the Board agreed upon a favorable report, with the provisos that he give the usual security for observing the Acts of Trade and Navigation, and that William Penn renew his declaration that the King's approbation of the appointment should not impair his Majesty's claim to the Lower Counties. Penn signed a paper to this effect on October 25. The report of the Board of Trade was approved at a meeting of the Privy Council held at St. James on November 12, and, security being duly entered, the appointment was confirmed on December 17. Hannah Penn writes, "Collonel Keith has obtained his approbation by so general a consent that whatever becomes of proprietary government, we think he will be continued over you if his conduct answer his character. His obtaining the post and removing his large family have been no small expense to him." Keith himself wished to impress upon the Assembly in his first speech "the diligence wherewith I obtained at a considerable charge the commission of Governour." He borrowed one hundred pounds of Henry Gouldney, giving him his bond dated March 13, 1716, for the payment of that sum on the 14th of September following. It was proved by a witness in April, 1724, and sent over to Philadelphia, and recorded. On Keith's embarkation for America, his family consisted of a wife and three sons, besides his step-daughter, Miss Diggs. At sea his wife gave birth to another son, who was baptized