[ 58 ] NOTES TO BOOK I. Note A, page 8. Of all those that planted colonies, the fame of William Penn shines the brightest, whether we view him as negotiating with the Indians, or giving a constitution to Pennsylvania . On the latter occasion he sayS—« Whatever be the form of a government, the people always are free when they share in the legislative power, and are governed only by the laws." It is alleged against him, that the value of what he gave to the Indians was trifling in proportion to the vast territory he received from them. This may be true, but it must not be forgotten, that the bargain was fair and amicably entered into; that the use of those articles given by Penn to the Indians, was to them of immense im¬ portance ; that the lands, on the other hand, were of no value to them but for hunting grounds ; and that a large tract of country was thus obtained with the free consent and good-will of the original pos¬ sessors. His concili»*nry treaties with the Indians, and the mea¬ sures he adopted to secure their confidence, were so satisfactory to them, that they never have " lifted the tomahawk against the race of William Penn. " Mr Duncan found a paper in the United States, containing what was said to be Penn's treaty. It stated, " that for all the land between the two rivers, as far as a man could ride in two days with a horse," Penn was to give the Indians " 20 guns, 20 fathoms matchcoal, 20 fathoms stroudwater, 20 blankets, 20 kettles, 20 pounds powder, 100 bars lead, 40 tomahawks, 100 knives, 40 pairs stockings, 1 barrel beer, 20 pounds red lead, 100 fathoms wampum,