Dr. Fothergill's Advice to Philadelphia Friends

Abstract

I04 BULLETIN OF FRIENDS' HISTORICAL SOCIETY DR. FOTHERGILL'S ADVICE TO PHILADELPHIA FRIENDS. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War Dr. Franklin for America, and Dr. Fothergill and David Barclay for Englnd tried to find some common ground to settle the dispute. The matter is explained in full in Franklin's works, and also in a letter of David Barclay to James Pemberton, probably never published, but which substantially agrees with Franklin's account. The plan failed to receive the approval of the English Government, and war seeming inevitable, Franklin sailed for America, bearing with him the following letter of advice from Dr. Fothergill to James Pemberton, which, I suppose, except short extracts, has not been printed. James Pemberton, by his prominence alike in the Government and the Yearly Meeting, was much relied on to steer the course of Friends in the trying days to come. It will be noted that Dr. Fothergill advises a more conciliatory course towards the new government than Friends thought proper to pursue. Had they simply testified against war they would probably have had a better standing with the Americans than was afterwards the case. But they brought out an old English testimony against revolution and changes in the government and pledged the Yearly Meeting to have nothing to do with the revolutionary movement and the machinery set up by it in Pennsylvania. They had provocation to this in the abolition of Penn's charter and the treatment accorded to them. Yet we can hardly doubt that had they followed Dr. Fothergill's advice they would have avoided the charge of Toryism, which was only partially true. But James Pemberton, himself a British sympathizer, though quietly so, and his friends committed the Yearly Meeting to a policy of non-recognition of the American cause, which was exceedingly troublesome, and as the American cause finally triumphed, makes historic explanations rather awkward . The wisdom of Dr. Fothergill's counsel is now evident. I. S. DR. FOTHERGILL'S ADVICE TO PHILADELPHIA FRIENDS 105 Dr. J. Fothergill to James Pemberton. London, 3 mo. 17, 1775. Dear friend Tho' I am exceedingly straitened for time by almost unceasing application in the duty of my profession, I could not let my friend Dr. Franklin return without some proof of my remembrance of my friends in America, tho' this is the only letter I have time to write at present. Perhaps Dr. F. will inform thee sometime or other that D. Barclay and myself have not neglected taking every step in our power to promote a reconciliation, tho' ineffectually. The present troubles must continue untili both sides are more disposed to a good understanding, and indeed if bloodshed may but be prevented, the continuance of this kind of war—acts of Parliament on one side, resolves on the other—may be continued till both sides being tired, they may think worth while to lay passion and resentment aside and think of ways and means to cement a better understanding. We have labored so much in the affair, as to be thoroughly satisfied that no good can be done at. present. We are heady and high-minded, and must perhaps by the means of your steady adherence to prudent resolutions be brought to more just sentiments on this subject. I may have occasion perhaps to speak more fully hereafter, and indeed I must trust to the leisure of my friends here, to acquaint thee with many things that pass here, in which America is much interested. To enter upon the subject is too much for me,—I shall only here observe, that Friends here have thought it expedient to present a petition to the King, that every means might be tried to effect a reconciliation without bloodshed, and that it has not been unfavorably received. It was delivered this day, and it was proposed to the Meeting for Sufferings, to appoint a Com. to draw up an answer to the Epistle, received from your Meeting for Sufferings, which will probably be done in the course of next week. We have seen the Testimony given out by Friends, and the nation has seen it. We doubt not but that it was thought right and...