CHAP. VI. ment continued to be administered in the name 1689. of James, for some time after the abdication of the crown by that monarch was known. At length, however, William and Mary were proclaimed; and Penn had the address to obviate the unfavourable impressions at first made on them, by this delay in recognising their authority.

Smith....Hutchinson.... Chalmer....Trumbull.

CHAPTER VII.

New charter of Massachussetts....Execution of Leisler .... War with France....Expedition against Port Royal.... And against Quebec....Acadié recovered by France, and Pemaquid taken....Attempt on St. Johns....Peace.... Affairs of New York....Of Virginia.... Disputes between England and France about the boundaries of their American colonies.... Recommencement of hostilities with France....Quotas of men required from the respective colonies....Treaty of neutrality between the French and Five Nations....Expedition against Port Royal fails.... Incursion into Massachussetts.... Plan for invasion of Canada....Port Royal taken....Expedition against Quebec....Treaty of Utrecht....Affairs of Carolina....Expedition against St. Augustine....Attempt to establish the episcopal church in Carolina....That colony invaded.... Bills of credit issued....Legislature continues itself.... Massacre in North Carolina by the Indians.... Tuscaroras defeated....Scheme of a bank....Contests of the legislature of New York with lord Cornbury....Expedition against Montreal....Adjustment of boundary line between Massachussetts and Connecticut.

THE revolution which placed the prince and princess of Orange on the throne revived in Massachussetts the hope of recovering that charter, to which the people were devoted, because they judged of its merits, rather from the practice which had prevailed under it, than from its letter. Elections were held by authority of the temporary government, and the representatives, assembled at Boston in June 1689, immediately requested the council to take upon

CHAP. VII. themselves, until orders should be received 1689. from England, the powers and authority vested

in them by the charter. This proposition was acceded to, and the ancient system re-established.

It was soon perceived by the agents of Massachussetts, that the restoration of the old charter was not to be hoped for. The king very early discovered his determination, to retain in his own hands the appointment of a governor. A new charter, with as many of the privileges of the old as were attainable, was therefore all that could be expected. In the mean time, express authority was granted the colony to exercise the powers of government according to their ancient system, until the new arrange. ment should be made. The vessel, by which these directions were transmitted, carried also orders that sir Edmond Andros, and those imprisoned with him, should be sent to England.

The general court deputed two of their body of assistants, mr. Cooke and mr. Oakes, to join their agents already in England, and instructed them to solicit, in the parliament and elsewhere, the confirmation of their beloved charter. These solicitations, however, were unsuccessful. The king adhered inflexibly to his first resolution, and, at length, a new charter was framed, certainly more eligible than the first in many respects, but in which were made some very important changes, affecting

of Massa

radi cally the independence which had been so CHAP. VII. long practically enjoyed by the colony. By this 1689. new system, the governor, deputy governor, and New charter secretary, were to be appointed by the crown, chussetts. instead of being chosen by the colony. The governor could call, adjourn, prorogue, and dissolve the assembly at pleasure; he had the appointment of all military officers, solely; and, with the consent of his council, of all officers belonging to the courts of justice. Sir William Phipps, who was appointed the first governor, arrived at Boston with the charter in May. He 1692. immediately issued writs for a general assembly, which met the eighth of June following, and which joyfully accepted the charter, though a considerable party had been formed to oppose it. This charter united the colony of Ply. mouth to Massachussetts, and also annexed Nova Scotia to that province; but, contrary to the wishes of both colonies, it omitted New Hampshire; which from this time became permanently a separate government.

In New York Leisler obtained the entire control of the lower country. He associated with himself in the government a few trusty persons, whom he denominated a committee of safety and over whom he presided. Some of the principal characters of the city, dissatisfied with seeing a man of low birth, without education, in possession of the supreme power, retired to Albany, where a convention of the H h

VOL. I.

CHAP. VII. people assembled, who determined to hold the 1692. fort and country for the king and queen, but not to submit to the authority of Leisler. On receiving intelligence of these transactions, Jacob Milbourne was detached with a small force to reduce the place; but finding that the people adhered to the convention, and that his harangues against James and popery had no influence on them, he returned to New York. The next spring he appeared again before the fort, and being favoured by an irruption of the Indians, he obtained the possession of it. The principal members of the convention immediately absconded, upon which their effects were seized and confiscated. This harsh measure produced a degree of irritation, which was for a long time transmitted from father to son.

Leisler retained in his hands, without further opposition, the supreme power in New York, until the arrival of colonel Henry Slaughter, in March 1691, who had some time before been appointed governor of the province.

Though well informed of the commission which Slaughter bore, this weak infatuated man refused to yield the government to him, and showed a disposition, without the ability, to resist. This ill judged obstinacy threw the governor, who soon obtained possession of the fort and garrison, entirely into the arms of the Execution opposite party. Leisler and Milbourne were arrested, tried for high treason, condemned,

of Leisler.