which they had before violated; and were supported throughout the trial, by the attendance of many hundred active members, as though the prosecution had been levelled against their existence, as a religious body of people.

THUS by an imposition practised upon the society, the plaintiff laboured under many prejudices, which, but for this cause, had never existed. The defendants throwing aside their private characters, proceeded to vindicate their official conduct as the representatives of the Quaker society; but exhibited no kind of proof to show the propriety of their proceedings. Thus by allegations unsupported by facts, the defendants used every effort to excite prejudice against the plaintiff for daring to oppose the discipline, or to question the right of its adoption! Whereas the plaintiff on the contrary, tested the propriety of his conduct by the same discipline; and urged the rules applicable, as he conceived, in his justification,

THIS manœuvre of the defendants, like all others, had its object; and, throughout the whole of their defence, the principles which previously characterized their proceedings against the plaintiff were clearly distinguishable.

WHEN We consider the manner in which the business originated and came before the Quaker society when we view the members, as passive instruments, tacitly contributing to the measures enforced against me by silent vote! without a single explanation! without any charge, real or supposed, which could affect my moral or religious character! it is to them, though at this late period, a desirable object to be made acquainted with circumstances, of which they have heretofore been totally ignorant.

My name was publickly exposed on the minutes of the meeting, as though I had been a notorious offender. I was accused of having a "difference" with another member; but the nature and circumstances of the accusation were not made known to me nor to my fellow members: nay, the suppression of the name of my accuser, formed another prominent feature in this mysterious affair; and rendered it

impossible to conjecture the nature of a complaint, where neither accusation nor accuser were even whispered at the bar of this tribunal.

THE mystery which veiled these transactions from the publick eye, is now dispersed. In a court of justice, the affair has been developed. But many facts connected therewith, were proscribed by circumstances, from giving that evidence, which the nature of the case demands; and as these facts form an essential part of this compilation, their force must be admitted as full evidence, in the mind of every unprejudiced citizen.

MANY and various reflections,"highly injurious to my character, have been entertained by those ignorant of the real situation of the business; and no doubt, with a liberal hand, the most unfounded imputations have been heaped upon me, as the supposed offender against the discipline of the Quaker society. But this was natural; when a member is arraigned as a violator of their laws-when all is so carefully managed, and covered with such mystery! unknown, and impenetrable! except to those who are admitted into the great SANCTUM SANCTORUM! where their proceedings, bid defiance to the most persevering scrutiny. I say they could not, they dare not think otherwise, than that he was guilty of misconduct, and of course, a violator of their discipline. Such impressions did not keep within the limits of the meeting where they originated. They soon diffused throughout the society, and created a shyness, a distrust, an oblique friendship; the necessary consequence of such imputations! Nor was this all; but persons of other religious denominations, led by appearances, were equally liable to be deceived, and to be unduly influenced by the circumstances! My moral character would, therefore, suffer in the estimation of my friends-in the estimation of the world!

THESE are some of the evil consequences resulting from the wanton exercise of uncontrouled ecclesiastical power! But in this instance, though some of the above consequences have, in part, been produced; yet, without the pale of the society, I

trust, I am not the less respected; and within its limits, nonə have imputed to me the least moral defect.-No, not even amongst my enemies.

It is to the thinking, the considerate part of the community I appeal. I wish not improperly to influence your judgFar be it from me to raise any impressions, not warranted by truth and justice.

ment.

JUDGE then for yourselves, on an impartial view of the merits of this transaction. You observe my character, against which, the tongue of calumny has not dared to breathe, exposed to the unmerited strictures of numerous assemblies! My name bearing the odium of a defaulter in my duty, is publickly mentioned in the most humiliating terms, and coupled with an infamous accusation! That on my case, numerous committees were appointed, and frequent reports made, to the prejudice of my moral character!

CONSIDER also, that this case, carried on in religious assemblies, and bearing the seeming features of moral and religious turpitude, originated in the exercise of a civil right, as the acting trustee to a large interest, and in the exercise of which, I was protected by the laws of my country: And then, can you fail to express your just abhorrence of transactions, not only contrary to the discipline of that society, but contrary to every principle of law, reason, equity, and justice!! JOHN EVANS.

Philada. Dec. 24th, 1810.

IN order properly to develope the subject relative to the meetings, it will be necessary to take a view of the circumstances preceding that event.-And though this preliminary part of the subject may be somewhat prolix, it is unavoidably rendered so by the complicated situation of the business, and the difficulty attending an arrangement of it.But notwithstanding the difficulties which present in a regular procedure, I shall endeavour to take up the subject at its commencement, as the most likely to produce a gradual disclosure of all the subsequent events.

IN the month of April, 1799, John Field and John Field & Son made assignments to John Evans, Philip Nicklin, Robert Smith, and Thomas Clifford, of a considerable part of his and their landed property, in trust, for the benefit of their creditors, which assignments were directed to be acted on at certain limited periods, viz. one of the assignments in two, and the other in three years from the date.

AFTER the expiration of those terms, the trustees consulted together on the business. The duties pointed out by the deeds of trust were so obvious that no apprehensions were then entertained of any error in the immediate discharge of them. But John Field creating some difficulty by representing modes different from those entertained by the trustees, they, at his request, and for his satisfaction, applied to William Rawle, Esq., attorney at law, for his opinion on the mode they should adopt, and he directed them by written opinion of January, 1803, to proceed immediately to make sale of the property, agreeably to the deeds of trust.

B