"Resolved, That the compelling any man upon trial by a jury, or otherwise, to pay any fees for his prosecution, or anything whatsoever, unless the fees of the officers whom he employs for his necessary defence, is a great grievance, and contrary to justice."*

Lord Cornbury was no less obnoxious to the people of New Jersey than to those of New-York. The assembly of that province, impatient of his tyranny, drew up a complaint against him, which they sent home to the queen.

Her majesty graciously listened to the cries of her injured subjects, 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.

As soon as my lord was superseded, his creditors threw him into the custody of the sheriff of NewYork; and he remained here till the death of his father, when succeeding to the earldom of Clarendon, he returned to England.

We never had a governor so universally detested, nor any who so richly deserved the public abhor rence. In spite of his noble descent, his behaviour was trifing, mean, and extravagant.

It was not uncommon for him to dress himself in a woman's habit, and then to patrole the fort in which he resided. Such freaks of low humour exposed him to the universal contempt of the people; but their indignation was kindled by his despotic rule, savage bigotry, insatiable avarice, and injustice, not only to the public, but even his private creditors. For he left some of the lowest tradesmen in his employment unsatisfied in their just demands.

John, lord Lovelace, baron of Hurley, was appointed to this government in the spring, 1708, but did not arrive here till the 18th of December following. Lord Cornbury's oppressive, mean administration had long made the people very desirous of a

*This had a special relation to the late prosecution of Mr. M'Kemie.

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.

22

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