their papers, and calling on the Council to apprehend "all persons as well among the people called the Quakers as others, who have in their general conduct and conversation evidenced a disposition inimical to the cause of America." With the aid of Cols. Bradford and Delaney, Capt. Peale and Mr. Rittenhouse, the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, made. out a list of persons dangerous to the State. This list contained 41 names in addition to those specified in the resolution of Congress, and on the 31st of August the Council appointed a committee of 25, among whom was C. W. Peale, to execute the will of Congress; and it was directed that John Pemberton and Samuel Emlen should have early attention. Most of those who were actually arrested were taken to Winchester, Virginia, when the British approached Philadelphia, and remained there until the last of April, 1778. The part taken by Peale in these arrests is described by him. "By much the most grevious task, he conceived, was that of going on such an errand to Mr. James Tilghman, who had been his friend of long standing, yet he thought it better, however disagreeable it might be to him to do this business, to take it on himself, rather than another should do it, who might not use the same tender and polite manner he wished to do. He therefore waited on Mr. Tilghman, and acquainted him with this disagreeable errand he was sent on. And Peale then exposed his hurt feelings on the occasion. Mr Tilghman hesitated, on which Peale told him he would give him time to consider what would be most agreeable to him, and appointed the next morning to wait on him. Accordingly he called again, and Mr. Tilghman seeming yet to hesitate, Mr. Peale then begged leave to intrude his opinion; he presumed that giving the Parole was certainly the most eligible mode, as by that he was indemnified with each party, and further trouble would not be given to Mr. Tilghman. And the Parole was then taken; it need not be said, it will be readily imagined how much Peale was pleased to have the affair got over. It had been happy for some others had they done so also. Mr. John Pemberton was not so complying, he would

'History of Philadelphia, Vol. I, Scharf and Westcott.

not do either the one thing or the other, which is acting up to the true principles of friends. Peale begged, he entreated, but all he could say was without effect. At last he was told that he must go into safe keeping (the lodge room having been provided for the reception of those who chose to become prisoners), but Mr. Pemberton would not go, without his being forced; he was desired to consider the consequences of compulsive measures, a mob would be gathered round him. How much better it would be for him to walk quietly with one person. So reason was in vain. He was then told that an armed force should be sent for, and a file of men was accordingly ordered. The men were paraded on the opposite side of the street. It was thought that the appearance of soldiers might have some effect, but fear had not any more force than argument before, and nothing remained but compulsive measures. The guard was then ordered into the house and Mr. Pemberton pointed to as their prisoner. This was not enough, he would not move until he was taken by the arm, and partly raised to his feet.1

When he waited on Mr. Samuel Emlin, he found him in bed, somewhat indisposed. Peale was desired to go up to him, which he did, and acquainted Mr. Emlin with his business. Mr. Emlin began to preach on the occasion-that he would have to answer at a future day, &c. Peale replied that he was of an age to judge for himself, that he also had his belief, and would do his duty, regardless of what any man might think of him; however disagreeable the duty, yet being a duty he would execute it. Mr. Emlin being confined by sickness nothing personal was done at that time. But as the securing of papers were ordered, this part of the duty was attended to; yet the keys could not be obtained, as they were at Mr. Pemberton's. No means that could be thought of would succeed, therefore his desk below stairs was broke open, but

This was the John Pemberton who as clerk of the Yearly Meeting of Philadelphia, signed the Ancient Testimony which was issued January 20, 1776, and in which the members of the Society of Quakers were counselled "not to be shaken in their allegiance but to unite firmly against every design of independence." The Pembertons and Samuel Emlen are frequently referred to by Dr. S. Weir Mitchell in his novel " Hugh Wynne."

nothing of treasonable nature appeared and his papers were left as they were found. Peale sent a cabinet-maker to repair the desk, but the workman was not suffered to make the repair."

"The Battle of Brandywine having proved unfortunate o American arms, Peale set out on a journey to provide once more a place of safety to put his family. He rode up the Schuylkill, and engaged a room, near 30 miles distant from Philadelphia. This jaunt took him two days, and on his return to his home late at night, he found it all shut up, and loud and repeated raps were unanswered, the noise had awakened the next door neighbor, who hoisted a window and acquainted Peale that his family left the house that morning before daylight, and were gone into the Jerseys. Mr. Hancock, then President of Congress, had sent a messenger at 12 o'clock, to acquaint Peale's family, that the enemy were crossing the Schuylkill, and would shortly be in the city. The family immediately packed up what cloaths they could carry in sheets, and ran down to the ferry, with the intention of crossing directly-but hundreds of people were in like hurry, therefore this family were obliged to wait their turn. The Hon'ble Doct. Elmer, a delegate of Congress for New Jersey, was so friendly as to lend his assisance to the family in this time of extreme difficulties, and how amid'st such hurry and confusion they would otherwise have fared, is impossible to tell, for. they were very helpless. Col. Ramsey, who lay ill of a fever in the House at the time, could give no assistance, and he took his wife in his chaize, and went to Mr. Britton's. While the family were waiting at the ferry-landing to take their turn of crossing the river, Mr. Elmer advised the sending back to the house to get some trunks of cloathing, beds etc., and he would get a wagon on the other side of the river to carry them to some place of safety. After the family had got to the other side of the river, they were obliged to stay with their goods on the shore side, not alone, for there were hundreds of their fellow citizens in the like situation. Men, women and children, with all the property that they could in their hurry bring with them, were scattered along the shore; some of their goods were landed so near the water's edge, that the rising tide

flowed on them. Perhaps this was in the time the owners were in search of wagons to take them away. The next morning Peale crossed the river, and went in search of his family. They had taken precaution to leave directions, and he found them at a butcher's house, about six miles from Philadelphia. They were all in good health, and very happy in having got into a habitation, where the owners of it did the best they could to accommodate them. He then returned back to the city to inquire the news, and finding it had been a false alarm, he set out in search of his sister and brother-in-law, finding their situation was in the house of a kind old couple, one mile dis

RACHEL BREWER, FIRST WIFE OF CHARLES WILLSON PEALE. Original miniature by Anna Peale. From "Heirlooms in Miniatures," by Anne H. Wharton, by permission of J. B. Lippincott Co., publishers.

tant from Philadelphia. It was proposed that the family should re-cross the Delaware and stay together. Two wagons were immediately engaged to be in Philadelphia early the next morning, and Peale returned to his family, and according to appointment, met the wagons at his house the next day. Everything was now carried away that could be managed, and the family again mounted upon the goods. The British had now actually crossed the Schuylkill, and were passing through Germantown at the same hour that Peale's wagons passed through Frankford. How great the risk and narrow

the escape from being plundered, his family abused, himself made a prisoner, or perhaps killed, for he rode armed. The family arrived safe at Mr. Britton's, and were happy to meet Colonel Ramsey and Mrs. Ramsey, whom they had so lately parted with in complicated distress. They now for awhile. seemed to forget all their troubles, and for some few days all was quiet, as the British were employed in making their arrangements in the city, none of their scouting parties having yet ventured into the country. The Whigs began to think that they ought to assemble and put themselves in some position of defense, in case the British Horse should become troublesome. But they wanted ammunition, being cut off from their resources in the city. Peale undertook to go to General Washington, to ask a supply, and had a long, perplexing ride through a part of Pennsylvania that he had never been in before, and the fear of falling in with the enemy made him take a circuitous ride to get to General Washington's army, which he did not accomplish until the morning of the second day. after he left his family.

Peale waited on the General and acquainted him with his proposal of putting the militia in a position of defense, and obtained the supply of powder wanted. Bullets the militia would find themselves, and he returned immediately with as much powder in a bag as he could well manage on horseback. A short time after this the battle of Germantown took place. Very early in the morning the family were alarmed with the reports of the volleys of small arms, and now and then some cannon. Mr. Britton then became very uneasy, that army powder should be lodged in his house, and Peale mounted his Horse and took his charge of powder and carried it about three miles distant, and then rode as fast as he could towards Germantown, from which quarter the sound of battle came. He met the American Army retreating. The first were some few straggling soldiers, whom he endeavored to turn back, but soon after the numbers increasing, and some intelligent persons amongst them, he then is obliged to retreat with the retreating troops, and he rode in great diligence through all the troops in search of his brother, James, and Colonel Ramsey