solely to himself. In conjunction with these, he exercised the government; assuming to himself only the honour of being president in their councils. This model continued, till a packet arrived, with a letter from the Lords Carmarthen, Halifax, and others, directed "to Francis Nicholson, Esq. or, in his absence, to such as, for the time being, take care for preserving the peace, and administering the laws, in their majesties' province of New York, in America." This letter was accompanied with another from Lord Nottingham, which empowered Nicholson to take upon him the chief command, and "to do every thing appertaining to the office of lieutenant governor, according to the laws and customs of New York, until further orders."

Nicholson, who had acted as lieutenant governor, under king James, having absconded, when this packet came to hand, Leisler considered the letter as directed to himself; and, from that time, issued all kinds of commissions in his own name, assuming the title, as well as the authority, of lieutenant governor. Except the eastern inhabitants of Long Island, all the southern part of the colony cheerfully submitted to Leisler's commands. The people of Albany, in the mean time, were determined to hold the garrison and city for king William, independent of Leisler; and formed themselves into a convention, for that purpose.

Taking it for granted, that Leisler at New York, and the convention at Albany, were equally well affected to the revolution, nothing could be more unwise than the conduct of both parties, who, by their unaccommodating tempers, threw the province into convulsions, and sowed the seeds of mutual hatred and animosity. When Albany declared for the prince of Orange, there was nothing else that Leisler could properly require. Rather than sacrifice the public peace of the province to the trifling honour of resisting a man, who had no evil designs, the people of Albany ought, in prudence, to have delivered the garrison into his hands, till the king's definitive order should arrive: but, while Leisler, on the one hand, was inebriated with his new-gotten power, so, on the other, Bayard, Courtland, Schuyler, and their associates,

could not brook a submission to the authority of a man, mean in his abilities, and inferior in his degree.

Jacob Milborne was commissioned for the reduction of Albany. Upon his arrival there, a great number of the inhabitants armed themselves. In these circumstances, Milborne thought proper to retreat; and soon afterwards departed from Albany. In the spring, he commanded another party, upon the same errand; and the distress of the country, on an Indian irruption, gave him all the desired success. No sooner was he possessed of the garrison, than most of the principal members of the convention absconded; upon which, their effects were arbitrarily seized, and confiscated.

Colonel Henry Sloughter, who had a commission from king William, to be governor of the province, arrived, and published it on the 19th of March, 1691. Never was a governor more necessary to the province, than at this critical conjuncture: but either through the hurry of the king's affairs, or the powerful interest of a favourite, a man was sent over, utterly destitute of every qualification for government; licentious in his morals, avaricious, and poor. If Leisler had delivered the garrison to colonel Sloughter, as he ought to have done, upon his first landing, he would doubtless have attracted the favourable notice, both of the governor and the crown: but, being a weak man, he was so intoxicated with the love of power, that, though he had been well informed of Sloughter's appointment, he not only shut himself up in the fort, with Bayard and Nichols, whom he had imprisoned; but refused to deliver them up, or to surrender the garrison. From this moment, he lost all credit with the governor, who joined the party against him. On the second demand of the fort, Milborne and Delanoy came out, under pretence of conferring with his excellency; but, in reality, to discover his designs. Sloughter, who considered them as rebels, threw them both into gaol. Leisler, upon this event, thought proper to abandon the fort, which colonel Sloughter immediately entered. Bayard and Nichols were now released from their confinement, and sworn of the privy council. Leisler,

having thus ruined his cause, was apprehended, with many of his adherents; and a commission of oyer and terminer issued for their trials.

In vain did they plead the merit of their zeal for king William, since they had so lately opposed his governor. Leisler endeavoured to justify his conduct, insisting that Lord Nottingham's letter entitled him to act in the quality of lieutenant governor. Leisler and his son were condemned to death, for high treason. These violent measures drove many of the inhabitants, who were fearful of being apprehended, into the neighbouring colonies. Tranquillity was not completely restored, till an act of general indemnity was passed.

Colonel Sloughter proposed, about this time, to set out to Albany: but, as Leisler's party were enraged at his imprisonment, and the late sentence against him, his enemies were afraid new troubles would spring up, in the absence of the governor for this reason, both the assembly and council advised, that the prisoners should be immediately executed. Sloughter chose rather to delay such a violent step; being fearful of cutting off two men, who hal vigorously appeared for the king, and so signally contributed to the revolution. Nothing could be more disagreeable to their enemies, whose interest was deeply concerned in their destruction; and, therefore, when no other measures could prevail with the governor, tradition informs us, that a sumptuous feast was prepared, to which colonel Sloughter was invited. When his excellency's reason was drowned in his cups, the intreaties of the company prevailed with him, to sign the death warrant. Before he recovered his senses, the prisoners were executed. The bodies of these unhappy sufferers were afterwards taken up, and interred with great pomp, in the old Dutch church, in the city of New York. Their estates were restored to their families, and Leisler's descendants, in the public estimation, are rather dignified than disgraced, by the fall of their ancestor. The severity on both sides irritated one half of the people against the other. Leislerians and Anti-Leislerians became the names of two parties, who, for many years,

hated and opposed each other, to the great disturbance of the people.

The revolution being established, governors were appointed, by the new order of British sovereigns. As they were good, or bad, the people were happy or otherwise. About this time, the French schemes, for joining Canada and Louisiana, and limiting the English colonies to the Atlantic coast, began to be unfolded. The governor of Canada built forts, and otherwise encroached on the limits of New York. He also began to make, and extend, a communication from the St. Lawrence to the lakes of Canada; and gradually to approach the head waters of the Ohio. The friendship of the confederacy of Indians, known by the name of the Six Na tions, was courted by both. Roman Catholic missionaries from Canada were sent among them, ostensibly to convert them to Christianity; but really to secure their attachment to France. Severe laws were passed in New York, to punish them as intruders. A great trade was carried on, between Albany and Canada, for goods saleable among the Indians. Burnet, governor of New York,* with the view of keeping

* William Burnet was, at the same time, governor of New Jersey, and atterwards of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. A sketch of his life will throw light on the history of these provinces. He was the eldest son of the celebrated bishop Burnet, and was born at the Hague, in 1688, and named after king William, who, when prince of Orange, stood his godfather. He was governor of New York and New Jersey, from 1720 to 1728.

None of his predecessors had such extensive and just views of the Indian affairs, and of the dangerous neighbourhood of the French. He penetrated into their policy; being convinced, from their possessing the main passes, from their care to conciliate the natives, and from the increase of their settlements, in Louisiana, that the British colonies had much to fear from them. In his first speech to the assembly, he expressed his apprehensions, and endeavoured to awaken the suspicion of the members. Agreeably to his desire, an act was passed, prohibiting the sale of such goods to the French, as were suitable for the Indian trade. This was a wise and necessary measure; for, by means of goods procured from Albany, and transported to Canada, by the Mohawk river, and Lake Ontario, the French were enabled to divert the fur trade from the Hudson to the St. Lawrence, and to seduce the fidelity of the Indian allies. But wise and necessary as this measure was, a clamour was raised against it, by those whose interests were affected. The governor,

the Six Nations dependent on the English for their supplies, procured acts of the legislature, for restraining this trade:

however, was not prevented from pursuing his plans, for the public welfare. He perceived the importance of obtaining the command of lake Ontario, in order to frustrate the project of the French, for establishing a chain of forts, from Canada to Louisiana; so as to confine the English colonies to narrow limits, along the sea coast. For this purpose, he began the erection of a trading house, at Oswego, in the country of the Seneca Indians, in 1722.

Another circumstance, in addition to the act above mentioned, increased the disaffection of the people to the governor. As he sustained the office of chancellor, he paid great attention to its duties. Though he was not a lawyer, he, in general, transacted the business which was brought before him, with correctness and ability. He had, however, one failing, which disqualified him for a station, that sometimes required a patient application of mind. His decisions were precipitate. He used to say of himself, "I act first, and think afterwards." Such was his disinterested zeal, in prosecuting his plan of opposition to the French, that, after they had built a large storehouse, and repaired the fort at Niagara, in 1726, he, in the following year, at his own expense, built a fort at Oswego, for the protection of the post and trade. This was a measure of the highest importance to the colonies.

Being appointed governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, he reached Boston, July 13, 1728, and was received with unusual pomp. In his speech to the assembly, July 24, he made known his instructions, to insist upon a fixed salary, and expressed his intention firmly to adhere to them. Thus, the controversy, which had been agitated during the administration of his predecessor, Shute, was revived. On the one hand, it was contended, that, if the support of the governor depended upon an annual grant, he would be laid under constraint, and would not act with the necessary independence, and regard to the rights of the king. On the other, it was asserted, that the charter gave the assembly a full right to raise and appropriate all monies, for the support of government; and that an honourable support would always be afforded to a worthy chief magistrate, without rendering him completely independent of the people, whose interests he was bound to promote. The governor pursued the controversy with spirit; but without success. The opposition had an evident effect upon his spirits.

Governor Burnet was a man of superior talents, and, in many respects, of an amiable character. His acquaintance with books, and his free and easy manner of communicating his sentiments, made him the delight of men of letters. His library was one of the richest private collections in America.

He published some astronomical observations, in the transactions of the royal society, and an essay on Scripture prophecy, wherein an attempt is made to explain the three periods, contained in the twelfth chapter of Daniel, and to prove, that the first period expired in 1715. This was published in 1724. He died in 1729.