there is more liberty to have them slaves than it is to have other white ones.”
“Or have these poor negers not as much right to fight for their freedom as you have to keep them slaves?”
“Now, what is this better done than Turks do? Yea, rather is it worse for them which say they are Christians.”
The opinions of the writers are expressed in a sturdy and vigorous language, which, under the circumstances, was certainly remarkable. “But, to bring men hither, or to rob or sell them against their will, we stand against.”
It is probable, from the learning and ability of Pastorius, that he was the author of this protest, though there is no positive evidence of the fact; but it is reasonably certain that Dirck op den Graeff bore it to the quarterly meeting at Richard Worrall's, and his is the only name mentioned in connection with its presentation to the yearly meeting, to which it was referred as a topic of too much importance to be considered elsewhere. Perhaps, also, it should be observed that among the signatures, his name precedes that of Pastorius, so that if any significance whatever attaches to this circumstance, it may not be forgotten.
A short time after this earnest expression of humanitarian sentiment had been laid away among neglected records, awaiting a more genial air and a stronger light in which to germinate, events of seemingly much more moment occurred to claim the attention of the Society of Friends. George Keith, whose memory is apostatized by them, and revered by Episcopalians, who had been one of the earliest and most effective of their preachers, began to differ with many of the leading members of the Society concerning questions of doctrine. In the nature of things, the defection of a man of such prominence was followed by that of many others. Dis-
