FRIENDS’ REVIEW. 37 was confirmed without one word of opposition. John Storer informed the meeting that he had attended each of the sittings of the committee, and was sensible that Divine good attended their deliberations. Thus the clear, full, united sense of the body is given, owning those sufferings to be for the testimony of truth; which, I trust, occasioned in many minds reverent thankfulness to the Master of our assemblies, and tended to strengthen and encourage to faithfulness in suf- fering for his cause and truth. For, indeed, that this matter should be so calmly and unitedly resulted, appeared marvellous in the eyes of some of us.” This question of taxes appears to have elicited much discussion, which was carried on with warmth, and, on one side at least, with no little sophistry, evidence of which is contained in letters now lying before us. Our Lord’s mira- cle, providing for the payment of tribute, was much harped upon. Passing these by, as not tending to edification, we insert one of later date from a dear and honored Friend, whose vacant seat in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting still suggests pensive emotions in the minds of many. JOSEPH WHITALL TO DAVID COOPER. oe 1lth month 10th, 1791. My Dear Uncle :—I read with singular satis- faction the piece which thou lent me respecting taxes, as it was very strengthening to my mind, which before was somewhat encompassed with weakness on this account. Whenever the mat- ter came before me, it appeared very plain that it would be an inconsistency for Friends to pay this: tax. But what weighed in my mind was this :—Whether I as an individual had so known the truth and a stability in it, as to lay myself open to suffering by refusing to pay; believing that unless the building is laid on this founda- tion the storms will overthrow it. The evening after thou first mentioned the subject to me, as I returned home, the matter was brought into more close consideration than I had known it, apprehensive that the time of trial was not afar off. Several discouragements at that time pre- sented; my situation as being entirely depen- dent on my father and having no property of my own, I must either consent to his paying it or submit to go to prison; as also the thought of what elder Friends, who did not refuse, would judge of me for so doing. In this situation, I was engaged to feel after resignation and quiet- ude of mind, which I was favored in some measure to experience, believing that if I should be so required, I should be strengthened to bear up under it. After I had returned home, and sat awhile in retirement with (I believe I may say) a single desire to be rightly guided in this weighty matter, several Scripture texts were presented to view, and the thing appeared so plain to me, I had then to believe that if I ever consented to the payment of such a tax, I should be condemned by the Light which maketh man- ifest : and my confidence was greatly strength- ened in the holy Arm of Power, which made and sustaineth all things. But I have since felt much weakness, and had come to no solid con- clusion of mind, until I read thy little manu- script, which caused my heart to rejoice, under a feeling sense that it is the Truth which lead- eth those who walk and abide in it, to hold forth this testimony unto the world. And oh, saith my soul, that I may yield faithful obedience ta its monitions, let what will be the consequence. Soon after I had read the piece, my father came home, when I asked how the present tax was to be appropriated ; and being told that none of it relates to war, I was glad notwithstanding that Thad felt such a settlement of mind. Since reading thy little piece, I thought I felt sweet freedom of mind, in the aboundings of love, to send thee this in return, and also to take occasion to mention, that the letter with which thou favored me, soon after my return from Trenton to live at home, was received with | gladness, and hath often since, upon reviewing it, afforded encouragement to my mind. fe I am thy affectionate nephew — JOSEPH WHITALL. Pursuing his notices of the Yearly Meeting of 1786, D. C. writes: “In this meeting was revived the concern that was before the meeting in 1783 respecting the importation of slaves. It was now given in charge to the Meeting for Sufferings, who in the tenth month agreed on an address to Congress, to revive in their consider- ation the subject as set forth in the address of the Yearly Meeting in 1783.” [This was the address presented at Princeton as narrated in number xviii.] _ “ Nine Friends (of whom I was one) were appointed to wait upon Congress with it, at New York, where they now sit. On the 9th of 11th month I set forward to accompany — the other Friends; on the 10th lodged at Benj. Clarke’s at Stony Brook, where were Jacob Lindley and Thomas Lightfoot; next morning met with Isaac Zane, James Thornton, James Pemberton, and John Drinker; on the 12th attended Rahway meeting, and reached New York that evening; next day came John Par- rish and William Savery ; and on the 14th we at- tended the Meeting for Sufferings, which body appointed Henry Haddock, George Bowne, James Parsons, Edmund Prior and John Mur- ray to our assistance. As Congress was not in session, we divided into two companies, and vis- ited a number of their members, and other per- sons of eminence, much to our satisfaction, most of them appearing zealously earnest in the cause with us.* We had reason to believe it had a greater effect than barely to have delivered the address, which we left with our said friends, I ~ *Nathaniel Greene was President of Congress at that time. er