change; and therefore his successor was received with universal joy. Having dissolved the general assembly soon after his accession to the government, he convened a new one on the 5th of April, 1709, which consisting of members of the same interest with the last, re-elected William Nicoll, the former speaker into the chair. His lordship told them at the beginning of the session, "That he had brought with him large supplies of soldiers and stores of war, as well as presents for the Indians," than which nothing could be more agreeable to the people. He lamented the greatness of the provincial debts, and the decay of public credit; but still recommended their raising a revenue, for the same term with that established by the act in the 11th year of the last reign. He also pressed the discharge of the debts of the government, and their examination of the public accounts, "that it may be known (says he) what this debt is, and that it may appear hereafter to all the world, that it was not contracted in my time." This oblique reflection upon his predecessor, who was now ignominiously imprisoned by his creditors, was displeasing to no body..

Though the assembly in their answer, heartily congratulated his lordship's arrival, and thanked the queen for her care of the province, yet they sufficiently intimated their disinclination to raise the revenue, which the governor had requested. "Our earnest wishes (to use the words of the address) are, that suitable measures may be taken to encourage the few inhabitants left to stay in it, and others to come. The just freedom enjoyed by our neighbours, by the tender indulgence of the government, has extremely drained and exhausted us both of people and stock; whilst a different treatment, the wrong methods too long taken, and severities practised here, have averted and deterred the usual part of mankind from settling and coming hitherto." Towards the close, they assure him, "that as the beginning of his government gave them a delightful

prospect of tranquillity, so they were come with minds prepared to consult the good of the country and his satisfaction."

The principal matter which engaged the attention of the assembly, was the affair of the revenue. Lord Cornbury's conduct had rendered them utterly averse to a permanent support for the future, and yet they were unwilling to quarrel with the new governor. They however at last agreed on the 5th of May, to raise £2500 to defray the charges of the government to the 1st of May ensuing, £1600 of which was voted to his excellency, and the remaining sums towards a supply of fire wood and candles to the several forts in New-York, Albany, and Schenectady; and for payment of small salaries to the printer, clerk of the council, and Indian interpreter.

This new project of providing annually for the support of government, was contrived to prevent the mischiefs to which the long revenues had formerly exposed us. But as it rendered the governor and all the other servants of the crown dependent upon the assembly, a rupture between the several branches of the legislature would doubtless have ensued; but the very day in which the vote passed the house, his lordship died of a disorder contracted in crossing the ferry at his first arrival in the city of New-York. His lady continued here, long after his death, soliciting for the sum voted to her husband; but though the queen interposed by a letter in her behalf, nothing was allowed till several years afterwards.

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PART IV.

From the Canada Expedition in 1709, to the arrival of Governor Burnet.

LORD Lovelace being dead, the chief command devolved upon Richard Ingoldsby, the lieutenantgovernor, the same who had exercised the government several years before, upon the decease of colonel Sloughter. His short administration is remarkable, not for his extraordinary talents, for he was a heavy man, but for a second fruitless attempt against Canada. Colonel Vetch, who had been several years before at Quebec, and sounded the river St. Lawrence, was the first projector of this enterprise. The ministry approved of it, and Vetch arrived in Boston and prevailed upon the NewEngland colonies to join in the scheme. After that he came to New-York, and concerted the plan of operations with Francis Nicholson, formerly our lieutenant-governor, who at the request of Ingoldsby, the council, the assembly, Gurdon Saltonstal, the governor of Connecticut, and Charles Gookin, lieutenant-governor of Pennsylvania, accepted the chief command of the provincial forces, intended to penetrate into Canada by the way of Lake Champlain. Impoverished as we were, the assembly joined heartily in the enterprise. It was at this juncture our first act for issuing bills of credit was passed, an expedient without which we could not have contributed to the expedition, the treasury being then totally exhausted Universal joy now brightened every man's countenance, because all expected the complete reduction of Canada before the ensuing fall. Big with the pleasing prospect of an event which would put a period to all the ravages of an encroaching, merciless enemy, extend the British empire, and augment our trade, we exerted ourselves

to the utmost for the success of the expedition. As soon as the design was made known to the house, twenty ship and house carpenters were impressed into the service for building batteaus ; commissioners also were appointed to purchase provisions and other necessaries, and empowered to break open houses for that purpose, and to impress men, vessels, horses, and wagons, for transporting the stores. Four hundred and eighty-seven men, besides the independent companies, were raised and despatched to Albany by the 27th of June, from whence they advanced with the main body to the wood creek. Three forts were built there, besides many blockhouses and stores for the provisions, which were transported with great despatch. The province of New York, all things considered, has the merit of having contributed more than any of her neighbours towards this expedition. Pennsylvania gave no kind of aid, and New-Jersey was only at the expense of £3000. One hundred batteaus, as many birch canoes, and two of the forts were built entirely, and the other fort for the most part, at the charge of this government. All the provisions and stores for the army were transported at our expense; and besides our quota of volunteers and the independent companies, we procured and maintained six hundred Indians, and victualed a thousand of their wives and children at Albany during the campaign.

The history of an infant country must consist of many events comparatively trivial: they were nevertheless often characteristic. Some of our levies for the expedition were Dutchmen. General Nicholson applied to Mr. Dubois, a city minister, for a person to read prayers to the Dutch soldiery. Dubois, who, if one may so speak, was a presbyterian bishop among the Dutch churches, then supplied with pastors from Holland and other parts of the United Provinces, and under the care of the Classis of Amsterdam, informed the assembly of this request. The house named a serious layman, of the name of

Paulus Van Vlech, for this service, and ordered Mr. Dubois and two other Dutch ministers to examine him before two of the council and as many assemblymen, "and if he was found orthodox, to ordain and qualify him for the ministerial function accordingly" Van Vlech urged their compliance, and had a second command upon the ministers. Two of them, Dubois and Antonides, signified by a memorial, “That they were not empowered to ordain any person to the ministerial function in the Dutch churches, by the directions of the Classis of Amsterdam; and therefore prayed they may not be ordered to do any thing inconsistent with the constitution of the church to which they belong." Colonel Livingston presented this. memorial, upon which no other step was taken.

The legislature was at that time chiefly composed of members of the Dutch churches, in which the ministers had great sway; and therefore the clergy were puzzled with no questions, respecting the divine rights of ordination, claimed by all presbyterian ministers; nor a doubt started concerning the authority of the Classis of Amsterdam, under the capitulatory articles of 1664.

Having put ourselves to the expense of above twenty thousand pounds towards this enterprise, the delay of the arrival of the fleet spread a general discontent through the country; and early in the fall, the assembly addressed the lieutenant-governor to recall our forces from the camp. Vetch and Nicholson soon after broke up the campaign, and retired to Newport in Rhode-Island, where there was a congress of governors. Ingoldsby, who was invited to it, did not appear in compliance with the inclination of the assembly, who incensed at the public disappointment, harboured great jealousies of all the first promoters of the design. As soon therefore, as lord Sunderland's letters, which arrived here on the 21st of October, were laid before the house, they resolved to send an address to the queen,