THE NATIONAL MAGAZINE. VOL. XIX. DECEMBER JANUARY, 1893-4: NO. 2-3. NEW YORK IN THE STAMP ACT TROUBLES, 1761-1768. THE MONCKTON ARMS. PART I SIR CHARLES HARDY having resigned the post of governor, the king on March 20, 1761, on the recommendation of the Earl of Halifax and the Board of Trade, appointed Robert Monckton governor and captaingeneral, and Cadwallader Colden lieutenantgovernor. The officer now appointed as governor was a favorite in the colonies. A son of Viscount Galway, he was entitled to the social distinction which he received in the intimacy of the high families of the province, Mr. John Watts being one of his warmest personal friends. He began his career in Flanders, and was transferred in 1753 to the American station, where he successively commanded the posts of Halifax, Annapolis Royal, and Nova Scotia, of which he had been lieutenant-governor since 1756, during which period he also commanded the Royal Americans in Loudoun's army, was engaged at the siege of Louisburg, and later was second in command to General Wolfe at the capture of Quebec. Severely wounded in this action, he was promoted colonel, and in 1761 major-general. It may here be added that, although offered a command later in the war of the Revolution, he declined to draw his sword against the colonists who had fought under his command in the French war. General Monckton's commission reached New York by the Alcide man-of-war on October 20, 1761, and on the 26th he was sworn in as governor. He was received with great enthusiasm by *From "The Memorial History of New York." |