Philadelphia, August 12. Yesterday Afternoon, our Governor having received by Express the agreeable News of the Arrival of the Honourable THOMAS PENN, Esq; our Proprietary, at Chester, immediately dispatch’d his Secretary thither with his Compliments of Congratulation; and next Morning, attended by the Council, and many other Gentlemen, His Honour our Governor set out for Chester, where great Numbers of People from the neighbouring Parts of the Country were flocking together. After Dinner, our Honourable Proprietor, with his Company which was now grown very numerous, set out for Philadelphia, and passing the Ferry at Skuylkill, was met by the Mayor, Recorder and Aldermen of this City, in whose Name Andrew Hamilton, Esq; the Recorder, made the following congratulatory Speech.
May it please our Honourable Proprietor,
The Mayor and Commonalty of the city of Philadelphia, do most joyfully congratulate You, on your safe Arrival into your Province of Pennsylvania.
You are now entring into the Liberties of the City of Philadelphia, the Capital of your Province, where You have been long and impatiently expected: Be pleased, Sir, to accept from this Corporation, the Acknowledgements due to a Son of its Honourable Founder.
That generous Charter which he gave this City, those wise and just Laws which he gave to the People of Pennsylvania, and above all his religious Care in securing to all its Inhabitants that natural Right Liberty of Conscience, and Freedom from Spiritual Tyranny, will ever continue a Testimony of his great Wisdom and Goodness, in framing a Constitution every way fitted to make a happy People, and be a lasting Monument of his Benevolence to Mankind.
But he is gone! — and to whom can we so properly own these Obligations, as to the Descendants of that good Man, under whom, next to our gracious Sovereign, the Inhabitants of Philadelphia derive and enjoy so many valuable Privileges.
We are indeed strongly prejudiced in favour of a Son of the great Mr. PENN; We know you have the same Powers of Government, and if You shall imitate his excellent Example, in using them for the Good of the People, as that made his Memory dear to all who lived under his Influence, so this will give you a peculiar Claim to Our Duty and Affections, and lay the Citizens of Philadelphia under the strongest Obligations of doing you the most acceptable Services in their Power.
To which our Honourable Proprietor gave the following Answer.
“I am oblig’d to the City of Philadelphia, for this Mark of their Affection to me, and Regard for the Memory of my Father; and shall be pleased with every Opportunity of doing your Corporation any agreeable Service.”
The Proprietor then proceeding forwards, was welcomed to this City with the Discharge of many Guns from the Ships in our River, and the joyful Acclamations of a Multitude of People, who lined all the Streets through which the Cavalcade (consisting of between Seven and Eight Hundred Horse) passed; and alighting at our Governour’s House, was saluted with the Discharge of a large Battery of Cannon on Society Hill. The universal Joy and Satisfaction which appeared on this Occasion, seems a just Tribute to a worthy Son of the Great and Good Mr. PENN, whose Memory must ever remain dear to all those who set a just Value on the ample Privileges and Liberties granted by him, and at this Time fully enjoyed by all the Inhabitants of this flourishing Colony.
The Pennsylvania Gazette, August 14, 1732