THE NATIONAL MAGAZINE. Vol. XVI. SEPTEMBER, 1892. No. 5. THE LEISLER TROUBLES IN NEW YORK 1688-1692.* IN the midst of the activities of his excellent administration, Governor Dongan received notice that he had been superseded. The man who had submitted to his master the charter which gave New York legislation by the people, and who before it had passed the seals had already put into operation this important concession, was not one to be depended on to carry into effect the despotic measure which King James had in mind. This was the consolidation of the United Colonies of New England with the Provinces of New York and New Jersey, to be placed under one Governor-General with viceregal authority. In July, 1688, Governor Dongan received a letter from the royal hand, announcing that Sir Edmund Andros had been appointed to this exalted position, and requiring him to resign the administration of New York. Almost at the same time Andros received his new commission at Boston, where he ruled as Governor of New England. On August 11th he was in New York, to take the government of that province from the hands of Dongan, and on August 15, his commission was proclaimed at Elizabethtown, the capital of the New Jersey colony. To the people of New York the change of governors was more acceptable than the change in provincial government. They were not "pleased that their province should lose its individuality and be consolidated with New England," says Brodhead. "Geographically, politically, and socially, New York was unlike any British possession in North America. Her eclectic people never wished to be ruled by incorporated oligarchies similar to those in New England. The *From The Memorial History of New York." people of New York felt themselves in an unmerited state of degradation.' Their metropolitan city especially lamented 'that unhappy annexation to New England.'" In significant contrast with this popular dissatisfaction, those of the citizens who occupied a seat in the Council rather enjoyed the change. Bayard, Brockholls, Philipse, and Van Cortlandt found that from being merely consulted on matters appertaining to a single province, they now had an influential voice in the affairs of several, and they soon passed at New York ordinances which Andros had sought in vain to enact at Boston. His stay in New York, however, was very brief. On August 30th In dian affairs on the frontiers between New York and Canada required his presence in Albany, and he summoned Lieutenant-Governor Francis Nicholson, whom he had left in command in Boston, to meet him. When the Indians had been assured of aid against the French, and the old friendship with the Iroquois had once more been cemented at a council-fire, Indian hostilities of a serious nature which had broken out in Maine necessitated the immediate repairing of the Governor-General to Boston. He therefore ordered Nicholson to assume the command at New York, where he arrived on October 1, 1688. His Council was composed of Frederick Philipse, Stephen Van Cortlandt, Nicholas Bayard, and Anthony Brockholls, and their first care was to place the fort in better condition. The advent of Nicholson was at first hailed with much delight. But the consciences, or the prejudices, of the citizens were soon offended by his tolerance of a priest whom Dongan had employed, and whom he allowed to place some images of saints in an apartment of his own choosing, presumably to accommodate Roman Catholic worshipers. And thus the eventful year 1688, was drawing peacefully to a close in America. But on November 5th, William of Orange had landed in England; in December, James II. had abandoned throne and kingdom and fled a fugitive to the court of Louis XIV, of SUCCRESCO POMA MEDAL OF THE REVOLUTION. France. Before the year 1689 was six weeks old, William and Mary were proclaimed King and Queen of Great Britain. The revolution under William of Orange was not a popular revolution; It was an aristocratic rebellion, inclusive of property and wealth, against tyrannous evils; and yet it sufficiently voiced the nation. Hence it was peaceful, and it was also Prot STANFORD FIRD ADIES |