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THE UNITED STATES

CHAPTER XVIII.

1689-1748.

THE MIDDLE COLONIES.

Party feuds in New York-The Leisler affair - Execution of Leisler and Milborne Sloughter succeeded in the governorship by Ingoldsby and Fletcher - Major Peter Schuyler and the Indians - Schuyler's address to the Assembly - Quakers refuse to aid in defence of New York - Fletcher insulted at Hartford Ecclesiastical affairs in New York - Revolting features of Indian warfare - Lord Bellomont governor His speech to the Assembly- Rapacious course of Lord Cornbury - Colonists prefer charges against the governor - Cornbury removed by the Queen - Succeeded by Lord Lovelace- Extension of the post-office system Robert Hunter governor Slave insurrection in New York - Administration of William Burnet John Peter Zenger and the liberty of the press — Address of Governor Clarke — Dispute with the Assembly regarding money grants-"The Negro Plot "-William Johnson appointed Indian agent Indian incursions Affairs in New Jersey - Keith's schism in Pennsylvania - Third frame of government passed— Penn arrives in the colony-Establishes a constitution or charter of privileges for Pennsylvania - Its provisions The Delaware provinces assert independence — Governor Evans displaced and Gookin appointed Penn's letter to the Assembly-Slavery abolished but law annulled by Queen Anne-Death of Penn Dispute over Penn's will-New financial system established - The boundary dispute with Maryland"The Walking Purchase" of Thomas Penn Quakers control Assembly - Dispute over the “Walking Purchase "- Penn succeeded by James Hamilton - Death of Proprietaries.

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T this time New York was the scene of great political excitement and commotion, the entire colony being convulsed by bitter internal dissensions such as she had not up to this time witnessed. The news of the accession of William of Orange to the throne of England had aroused the spirit of Protestantism in the colony, and the people enthusiastically rose to proclaim his authority. At this time there were in the colony a number of restless spirits who caused the authorities much trouble. Among these were Jacob Leisler and his son

in-law, Jacob Milborne. When the news reached New York that William had been proclaimed king, there was a rumor that all who favored William were to be massacred, and Leisler, who was senior captain of the five free companies under Nicholas Bayard, as colonel, was persuaded by those who feared for their lives to assume charge of affairs in the colony until the new king should appoint a successor to the present governor." A provisional government was therefore established, and Leisler was

* Roberts, New York, vol. i., p. 203; Lamb, City of New York, vol. i., pp. 344-349.

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THE LEISLER TROUBLES.

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1691, and immediately upon his ar-
rival was persuaded by Richard In-
goldsby, captain of the troops which
had reached New York before the new
governor, to put Leisler under arrest.
After this had been effected, Leisler
was placed on trial before a jury of
his bitterest antagonists. By an in-
solent mockery of justice,† Leisler
and Milborne, his principal associate,
were convicted of the charges made
against them and sentenced to suffer
the penalty of death for their actions.
Sloughter, however, was afraid to go
to such an extreme against a man who
had so distinguished himself in the
king's cause, but according to some
writers, while Sloughter was in a
drunken condition, Leisler's enemies
secured his signature to the death
warrant.‡ Hoffman says:
"The

placed in charge "till orders shall come from their majesties." Immediately upon assuming office, Leisler proceeded to proclaim William and Mary within the province, and then sent a letter to the king acquainting him with the condition of affairs, and also stating the reasons for his action. Bayard, the former colonel, now finding his authority gone, retired to Albany where he held out against Leisler and his party,† while the lieutenant governor, Nicholson, departed for England to see the king and make his report in person.‡ The attack on Schenectady and the tale of the horrible massacre there led the malcontents to submit to their hated opponent, and they called upon him for aid and support. The king, however, did not answer Leisler's letter, but in 1689 appointed Henry Sloughter to the governorships and transferred Nicholson to the governorship day miserable in our climate, raged

of Virginia. Sloughter was a man of moderate temper and fair common sense, but had little colonial experience, and his private character was not above reproach. He was lacking in those essential qualities which were required at this time to inspire confidence and respect. He did not arrive in the province, however, until March,

* Doyle, Middle Colonies, p. 197.

† Lamb, City of New York, vol. i., pp. 363–367. N. Y. Col. Docs., vol. iii., pp. 585-595; Roberts, vol. i., p. 204; Lamb, pp. 352–353.

|| Roberts, vol. i., pp. 205–207.

His commission is in N. Y. Col. Docs., vol. iii., pp. 623-639.

¶ Brodhead, vol. ii., p. 594.

carouse went on; a cold storm of sleet and rain, such as often makes a May

without. But, though those charged with the fatal missive had slipped away from the revel, and conveyed it, as quietly as possible to the sheriff, yet the soldiers of Ingoldsby, who

Lamb, City of New York, vol. i., pp. 384-387. †Doyle, however, takes an opposite view of this based on Leisler's own actions. For his reasons see Middle Colonies, pp. 217-220.

Doyle says the execution was not the work of Sloughter's own judgment, but was forced on him by popular clamor. He says, however, that in the tale told by the historian Smith regarding the drunkenness of Sloughter, there is little likelihood, for having referred the question to the council he virtually placed the decision out of his own hands. Middle Colonies, p. 222. See also Lamb, City of New York, vol. i., p. 391.

RESULTS OF THE LEISLER FEUD.

were drawn up to overawe the populace, gave note to them of the dreadful act that was about to be consummated. Leisler and Milborne stood there upon the scaffold together; and there too, within hearing of their voices, stood more than one of those who had brought them to this pass. The high spirit of Milborne could hardly brook the insulting presence of men to whom he owed this fate of ignominy; and, turning to one gentleman, whom he deemed personally most hostile to himself, he exclaimed, Robert Livingston, I will implead thee at the bar of Heaven for this deed!'"' Thus on May 16, 1691, died Jacob Leisler, protesting his loyalty to the king and his innocence of wrongdoing. Some years later, the bill of attainder against the estates of the two men was reversed, and they were restored to their rightful heirs.†

The Leisler feud made a deep impression upon the course of politics in New York, and gave rise to party

* See C. F. Hoffman, Administration of Jacob Leisler, Sparks, American Biography, vol. iii., p. 227. The dying speeches of Leisler and Milborne together with other documents are given in Fiske, Dutch and Quaker Colonies, vol. ii., pp. 357-369, and O'Callaghan, Documentary History of New York, vol. ii., p. 376.

Fiske, Dutch and Quaker Colonies, vol. ii., pp. 180-208; Brodhead, History of New York, vol. ii., p. 558 et seq.; the letters, narratives and memorials in N. Y. Col. Docs., vol. iii., pp. 590, 636, 665; Frothingham, Rise of the Republic, p. 83 et seq.; Doyle, Middle Colonies, p. 187 et seq.; Bancroft, vol. ii., pp. 34–38; E. S. Brooks, In Leisler's Times; Edwin L. Bynner, The Begum's Daughter; A. G. Vermilye, The Leisler Troubles of 1689; Lamb, City of New York, vol. i., pp. 391-393.

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strife which continued for a long time in that colony. From this time the ancient Dutch usages were finally abandoned, and English law was introduced. The king vetoed a statute declaring the right of the people to participate in the legislature through an Assembly, yet the Assembly thenceforth became an essential part of the political system of the colony.* For a year or so after the sudden death of Sloughter, the administration was in the hands of Ingoldsby, but in the latter part of 1692 a new governor was appointed in the person of Benjamin Fletcher, who was of much the same character as Sloughter, being in want and ready to grasp any and every opportunity to place a little money in his own pocket.† He the colonists, first by sympathising immediately embroiled himself with with the Leisler party, and secondly by endeavoring to secure endowment

for the ministers of the Church of

England. On the other hand, he cultivated the friendship of Major Peter Schuyler, and secured his aid in all matters pertaining to Indian affairs, which was most fortunate for the colony. Schuyler's influence with the

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4 FLETCHER'S ATTEMPT TO SECURE SUPPORT FOR CLERGY.

Five Nations was almost unbounded and he was ever ready to aid in measures for their defence against the French. In the early part of 1693, when the French made an incursion into the Mohawk Valley, Schuyler raised a voluntary force of 260 men and marched from Albany in pursuit of the French.† Fletcher also brought the independent companies and other troops from New York, but the French succeeded in making their escape. Though the Indians were much pleased with Fletcher's efforts in their behalf, they were, nevertheless, inclined to come to terms of peace with the French.‡

As before stated, Fletcher was especially urgent in his endeavors to secure support for the ministers of the Episcopal Church. In a speech to the members of the Assembly after his attempt to secure an endowment had failed, he said:

"Gentlemen, there is also a bill for settling a ministry in this city, and some other countries of the government. In that very thing you have shown a great deal of stiffness. You take upon you airs as if you were dictators. I sent down to you an amendment of three or four words in that bill, which, though very immaterial, yet was positively denied. I must tell you that it seems very unmannerly. There never was an

* Fiske, Dutch and Quaker Colonies, vol. ii., pp. 213-214.

See the report by M. de Champigny, in N. Y.
Col. Docs., vol. ix.,
P. 534.

Parkman, Count Frontenac, p. 289 et seq.;
Major Peter Schuyler's Journal of his Expedition
to Canada, in N. Y. Col. Docs., vol. iii., p. 800;
Lamb, City of New York, vol. i., p. 406; Colden's
Five Nations, pp. 145-148 (ed. of 1750); Doyle,
Middle Colonies, p. 235 et seq.

amendment yet decided by the council board but what you rejected. It is the sign of a stubborn ill temper, and this I have also passed. But, gentlemen, I must take leave to tell you, if you seem to understand by these words, that none can serve without your collation, or establishment, you are far mistaken. For I have the power of collating or suspending any minister in my government by their majesties' letters patent; and whilst I stay in the government, I will take care that neither heresy, sedition, schism, or rebellion, be preached among you, nor vice and profanity encouraged. It is my endeavor to lead a virtuous and pious life amongst you, and to give a good example: I wish you to do the same. You ought to consider that you have but a third share in the legislative power of the government; and ought not to take all upon you, nor be so peremptory. You ought to have the council do their part. They are in the nature of the House of Lords, or upper house; but you seem to take the whole power in your hands, and set up for everything. You have sat a long time to little purpose, and have been a great charge to the country. Ten shillings a day is a large allowance, and you punctually exact it. You have been always forward enough to pull down the fees of other ministers in the govern ment. Why did you not think it expedient to correct your own to a more moderate allowance? Gentlemen, I shall say no more at present, but that you do withdraw to your private affairs in the country. I do prorogue you to the 10th of January next, and you are hereby prorogued to the 10th day of January next ensuing."

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Outside of his own colony Fletcher had little sway. Penn had recently been deprived of the government of Pennsylvania and Delaware, and in 1693 Fletcher was placed in charge. He was also authorized to call on the other colonies except Carolina for aid in defending New York against the French. The Pennsylvania Quakers, however, being noted for their peace

*Journal of the Legislative Council, vol. i., pp. 47-48; Smith, History of New York, p. 84. See also Doyle, Middle Colonies, pp. 228-229; Lamb, City of New York, vol. i., p. 410.

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