in their church; but this the governor expressly prohibited. He, therefore, preached in a private house on the ensuing sab bath and Mr. Hampton, on the same day, officiated in the Presbyterian church at Newton Long Island. For preaching without his lordship's license, both these gentlemen were soon after arrested and committed to prison, in this city for six weeks and four days, when they were admitted to bail, till the next meeting of the supreme court. No bill was found against Mr. Hampton and Mr. Mc'Kemie, though acquitted by the jury was, owing to the shameful partiality of the court, not discharged from his recognizance, till they had illegally extorted from him all the fees of his prosecution, which together with his expenses, exceeded two hundred dollars.

Lord Cornbury was now daily losing the favour of the people. His persecution of the Presbyterians had greatly encreased the number of his enemies, and the Dutch were afraid of his bigotted fury against them. His excessive avarice, his embezzlement of the public money, and his sordid refusal to pay his private debts, bore so heavily upon his reputation, that it was impossible for his adherents to support him.

Nor was Cornbury less obnoxious to the people of New Jersey than to those of New-York. The assembly of that province made a complaint to Queen Ann respecting his bad conduct, who forthwith divested him of his power and appointed lord Lovelace in his stead, declaring that she would not countenance her nearest relations* in oppressing her people. His lordship was no sooner superseded, than hi creditors threw him into prison, where he remained till the death of his father, when he was liberated and returned to England.,

During the administration of Lovelace, which was very short, nothing extraordinary oacurred. He died on the 5th of May 1709 and was succeeded by Richard Ingolsby the lieutenant governor who had exercised the government, several years before, upon the death of Colonel Sloughter. During the short time, that he was at the head of affairs, nothing occurred worthy of notice except a fruitless attempt to reduce Canada under the British crown. Towards this enterprise, the province of New-York contributed more than its proportion in men and money but owing to some unexpected occurrences, the fleet did not arrive in time, with the expected reinforcements, a general discontent took place throughout the country and the expedition was abandoned. Ingolsby was displaced on the 10th of April 1710 and Gerardus Beek

* Cornbury was Queen Anne's cousin.

man acted as governor till the arrival of Brigadier Hunter on the 14th of June following.

Governor Hunter, who was a native of Scotland, had the honour of being intimately acquainted with Addison, Swift and many of the other literary characters of the day and it was probably owing to their interest, that he was advanced to this important office. He brought over with him about 3000 Palatines, who had fled to England from the rage of persecution in Germany. Many of these people settled in this city, where they built a Lutheran church, on the same spot on which Grace church now stands. Part of them seated themselves on Living-ton's Manor, where they formed a village called the Camp, and some went into Pennsylvania, where they were soon after followed by many thousands of their countrymen. Queen Anne's liberality to these people was not more serviceable to them than to this city, and other places, where they took up their residence. They as well as their descendents who are very numerous are, in general, distinguished for honesty industry and sobriety, and may be ranked amongst our best citizens.

On the 2d July 1711, the assembly was convened in this city, when the governor laid before them the orders which he had received from the British ministry, respecting a third invasion of Canada. That body was so well pleased with the design, that, in a few days thereafter, an act was passed for raising forces, the price of provisions was restricted to certain particular sums and bills of credit for forwarding the expedi tion were issued to the amount of $25,000.

While these preparations were making in this city, the fleet consisting of twelve men of war, forty-six transports, with a fine train of artillery sailed from Boston for Canada, and about a month afterwards, General Nicholson arrived at Albany, at the head of 4000 men raised in this colony and in those of Connecticut and New Jersey, with about 600 Indians raised by Colonel Schuyler. The fleet, however, had only reached the mouth of the river St. Lawrance, when it experienced a severe storm, in consequence of which eight transports containing 800 persons, were cast away. On the 14th September, the fleet arrived at Spanish River Bay, where it was determin ed in a council of war to return home, without making any farther attempts; and the news of the disaster having reached this city, the troops were recalled from Albany, without having effected any thing.

Our public affairs never wore a more gloomy aspect than at this juncture. Great fears were entertained, that, in conse

quence of the late ill success against Canada, the minds of the Five Nations would be alienated from the British interest. The Senecas and Shawanas were also highly disaffected and it was generally apprehended, that they would attack the inhabitants on the Hudson River. An invasion by sea was expected on this city, where the inhabitants had been alarmed in April preceding by an insurrection of the negroes, who in the prosecution of a plan to set fire to the city, had burnt down a house in the night and killed several persons engaged in extingnishing the flames, for which nineteen of them were executed. But distressed as the colony then was, the assembly were inflexibly averse to the establishment of a revenue, which in former cases, had been shamefully misapplied. The governor, at the next session, endeavoured to cajole them into a compliance with his wishes; but the house strictly adhered to their former determination. Provoked at what he termed their obstinacy, and to put an end to the disputes between the two houses, he dissolved the assembly.

Before the meeting of the next assembly, the peace was concluded between France and England by the treaty of Utrecht, on the 31st March 1713, in consequence of which all fears for the safety of the city subsided. Governor Hunter was greatly disappointed in his expectations respecting the result of the election; for though several new members were chosen, the majority were equally opposed to some of his favourite measures, as the late assembly. They convened on the 27th of May 1713, and though not without some hesitation, passed a law for the support of government, to which as well as to that laying an excise on strong liquors, (the first of the kind, which had been passed in this colony) the governor gave his assent. But the debts of the government remained unnoticed till the summer of the year 1714. Their amount was $78,000 to pay which, as it was then deemed a prodigious sum, recourse was had to the emission of bills of credit to that value.

The news of Queen Anne's death having arrived in the ensuing fall, a dissolution of the assembly took place of course, and a new one met in May 1715, which continued only to the 21st of July following; for the governor being now determined to to subdue those whom he could not allure, again dissolved the assembly. He succeded in his design. The new House met on the 9th of June 1716, soon after which it became evident, from the harmony introduced between the two branches of the legislature, that a majority of the members were in the interest of the governor and they continued to be so, during the remaining part of his administration.

On the 24th June 1719, Governor Hunter delivered his farewell address to the assembly, from which I select the following interesting passage. "I look with pleasure" says he "on the present quiet and peaceable state of the people here; whilst I reflect on that, in which I found them at my arrival. As the very name of party or faction seems to be forgotten, may it, for ever, lie buried in oblivion and no strife ever happen among you, but that laudable emulation, who shall approve himself the most dutiful subject and the most useful member of a well established and flourishing community, of which you, gentlemen, have given a happy example, which I hope▾ill be followed by future assemblies."

The house in their answer, which was written by their speaker Robert Livingston Esq. and Colonel Morris of Morisania and which was subscribed by all the members, shewed that they were unwilling to be outdone by his Excellency in point of courtesy and contains so favourable a testimonial of his good conduct, as few governors have had the honour of carrying home with them.

The governor having left the province 31st July 1719, the chief command devolved on Peter Schuyler, the eldest member of the council. During his short administration, he behaved with great moderation and integrity; but nothing occurred in regard to this city which is worthy of notice.

CHAPTER VI.

From the arrival of Governor Burnet in 1720 till the Negro Plot in the year 1739.

WILLIAM BURNET Esq. entered on his office as governor of this province, 17th September, 1720. He was a son of the celebrated bishop of that name, whose active exertions in promoting the revolution, which placed King William on the throne, rendered him very conspicuous in the history of Great Britain. He was a well bred scholar, sprightly, and social in his disposition, averse to pomp, and studious, by every means in his power, of rendering himself agreeable to the people. No governor before him did so much business in chancery as he. Indeed, he seemed peculiarly fond of attending to his office as chancellor; but in the discharge of his duty, he displayed a foible very unsuitable for a judge, viz. that he resolved too precipitately; for he used to say of himself "I att first

and think afterwards." Although he began under the most favourable auspices, his conduct in this court, as well as several other circumstances, w ich afterwards occurred, tended to render his administration very unpopular, towards its close. Previous to his leaving England, he held the office of comptroller of the customs in London, which he resigned to Brigadier Hunter, as the latter did the government of this and the colony of New Jersey to him. Mr. Burnet's acquaintance with that gentleman gave him an excellent opportunity of be- . coming acquainted with the state of affairs in these colonies even previous to his arrival. Those who had been appointed by his predecessor were, with few exceptions, retained in office, by Mr. Burnet and Mr. Morris the chief justice, Dr. Cadwallader Colden and Mr. Alexander, two Scotch gentlemen all of them eminent for the purity of their morals, literary talents, and thorough knowledge of public affairs, were his principal advisers. These gentlemen as well as Mr. Van Horne whose daughter he married, were raised to the council board.

As the confidence, which the public reposed in Mr. Burnet, at first seemed to be unbounded, business went on with the greaest harmony and nothing intervened to disturb the general tranquillity Several acts of great importance were passed, the most remarkable of which was one " for prohibiting the sale of Indian goods to the French" This was a favourite act of the governor, and though very advantageous to the province, gave rise to an opposition against him, which continued through the whole of his administration. Mr. Burnet's scheme was to draw the Indian trade into the hands of the province and to obstruct the communication of the French, with its Indian allies, both of which were objects of great consequence to the peace and prosperity of this and the neighbouring colonies; but however beneficial the effects of this law might have been, men actuated by interested motives, particularly the importers of goods from Europe were greatly prejudiced against it and from the time that it was enacted, did every thing in their power, to thwart the views of the governor.

A circunstance took place in this city, in the year 1724, which rendered the governor still more unpopular. A dispute had arisen amongst the members of the French Protestant church, concerning their two pastors the Rev. Messieurs Rou and Moulinaars. The governor unwisely interfered in his capacity of chancellor and supported the cause of the former, although it seems to have been then the general opinion, that Moulinaars had equity on his side and that the governor decided in favour of Mr. Rous, merely because he deemed him to be a man of superior talents.