after the adjournment of the Assembly, in about three months. In August the Governor, after a series of quarrels with the Assembly about it, examined a number of witnesses, and went through the form of a trial, as a result of which he announced that Moore had purged himself of every one of the original charges, and that he had never known a more full and clear defence. Smith went to England to prosecute an appeal to the crown and on February 13th, 1760, there was signified formally to the Assembly “His Majesty's high displeasure” at their unwarrantable behavior in assuming power, that did not belong to them, and invading the royal prerogative and the liberties of the people. The time had not yet come when this authority could be resisted, and Moore and his friends came off victorious. As in most political contests, there was much unnecessary heat and some truth on both sides. There is plenty of contemporary evidence to show that Moore, admirable as was the part he played in those old days, and loath as I would be to take even one horse-tooth button set in brass from the dimity coat he wore,[1] was haughty in temper, and none too gentle in the exercise of power. “Unless they put me to the necessity of bringing ejectments, and in that case they are to expect no favor,” he wrote in 1769 to Benjamin Jacobs about some people who had made improvements on some of his
- ↑ “Run away from William Moore of Moore Hall, in Chester
County, a likely young Negro Man, named Jack, speaks but
indifferent English, and had on when he went away a new Ozenburg
Shirt, a pair of striped homespun Breeches, a striped ticking
Wastecoat, an old Dimity Coat of his master's, with buttons of
Horse-teeth set in Brass and Cloth sleeves, a Felt Hat, almost new.
Whoever secures the said Negro and will bring him to his Master
or to John Moore, Esq., in Philadelphia, shall receive Twenty
Shillings Reward and reasonable charges. William Moore.”
Penna. Gazette, Aug. 10, 1730.
