turned. The reception of fees for patenting lands was probably one of his objects in interfering with the action of the Proprietary Council. Whether the charges of actual corruption in office are admitted or not, his avidity for gain is sufficiently obvious. His fondness for show and expensive pleasure, subjected him to wants which the colonists had neither the ability, or the inclination to supply. He was also but illy informed in the duties of his place. He had entered upon office with but low desires; it was not to perform an exalted duty, but to secure the means of indulgence. He was therefore careless in inquiry, and deficient in knowledge, and may sometimes have committed a wrong as well from his ignorance of what lay in his path, as from the unworthiness of his aim. In the direction of government in New York, the conduct of Cornbury was no more acceptable or advantageous than in New Jersey; indeed, in the former province his character and conduct appeared in a still worse light than in the latter; in addition to ignorance and rapacity, he there exhibited arrogance and bigotry. Reiterated complaints were finally addressed to the Queen, both from New Jersey and New York, and her Majesty, convinced at length of the Governor's unfitness for so important a trust, recalled his commission and divested him entirely of power.

CHAPTER XVI.

ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT BY LOVELACE, INGOLDSBY, HUNTER, BURNET, MONTGOMERIE AND COSBY.

THE successor of Cornbury in the government of New York and New Jersey was John Lord Lovelace, Baron of Hurley. Ingoldsby, the Lieutenant Governor, continued in office. If the connexions of the new Governor were not so elevated as those of his predecessor, his qualifications for the place to which he was appointed were far greater. His first communication with the Assembly (which met on the 3d of March, 1708,) was expressed in terms which manifested a suitable regard to the feelings, and to the rights of the colonists. He declared that he would give them no just cause of uneasiness, and expressed a hope that mutual forbearance might be exercised, and that in the endeavour to promote the interests of the province, all former differences and animosities would be forgotten. In regard to those matters which had been the occasion of former dissension, the address of the Governor was conciliatory and prudent. He stated that her Majesty would not be burdensome to her people, but that it was necessary that government should be supported, and he recommended the subject to their notice and care; that they best knew what the province could bear without inconvenience and injury, and also in what manner it could most properly be raised. He also recommended that a militia law should be prepared on such grounds as should seem likely to give satisfaction. The reply of the House exhibited a spirit of moderation, and a willingness to concur in the views and measures which his Excellency had offered to their notice. They expressed satisfaction on account of his appointment, declared that they had acted from no "animosities," but only from a desire to maintain their rights, and they did not doubt but that a hearty agreement would now be maintained. They were willing, they said, to give support to the

government to the utmost of their ability, and the more so, as they should now be exempt from arbitrary exactions. This amicable interchange of sentiment was introductory to a course of harmonious action. In accordance with the Governor's recommendation, an act was passed for the support of her Majesty's government, granting the sum of seventeen hundred pounds for one year. A law was also passed for settling the militia. Important enactments were also made relating to the election of the General Assembly, and to the privileges and rights of the members. By implication, the Assembly had power under the royal instructions to make alterations in respect to the number of its members, or the mode of their election, subject to her Majesty's approval.1 This power was now exercised by making a change in relation to the qualifications of some of the electors. Under existing regulations, the members for the towns of Perth Amboy, Burlington and Salem, had been elected by the inhabitants freeholders of these places respectively, but it was now enacted that the electors in the towns, as in the counties, should be freeholders. It was also distinctly declared that the right of determining as to the qualifications of members, was "in the House of Representatives when met in General Assembly."2

The hopes of settlement and continued prosperity which the coming and conduct of Governor Lovelace had excited, were suddenly terminated by his death. The disappointment and regret occasioned by this event, were also further inereased on account of the accession of the Lieutenant Governor, who assumed the control of affairs. Ingoldsby had rendered himself unpopular in the province, and an application had been made to Governor Lovelace for a hearing in relation to the charges which had been made by Ingoldsby, and some of the Council, in their address to the Queen. A time had been appointed for the purpose, but the efforts of the Assembly had been defeated from time to time, and

It was prescribed in the instructions that no such changes should be made except "by an act or acts of the General Assembly there, and confirmed by us, our heirs or successors."

It has been seen that a former Assembly had made enactments upon the same subject; but different from the present law, in many particulars.

at length, the death of the Governor, and the accession of Ingoldsby to the principal place in the province, rendered it necessary to suspend the design. At this period the distant relations of the country were such as to involve the interests, and to demand the attention of the provincial government. The French nation had acquired possession of extensive portions of country in America, and their claim had been acknowledged by England, in the treaty of 1632. A powerful and active opponent of England and of English interests, had thus become established on the borders of the American colonies. In 1702, war had been declared by England against the French, and the latter nation taking advantage of the occasion had made incursions from their possessions in America, upon the neighboring English provinces. These attempts were carried on with so much perseverance and vigor that the French forces had succeeded in penetrating into the country as far as to the Merrimack River, and had demolished Haverhill, a considerable town. The inhabitants of New England applied to the mother country for aid and support, and the Ministry projected a plan for the invasion of Canada, and other places belonging to the French. A squadron of ships was to be prepared for an attack upon Quebec, whilst a separate force, composed of troops to be furnished by the colonies, and commanded by Colonels Nicholson and Vetch, were to make an attempt by the lakes. Instructions were given to Colonel Vetch to demand the co-operation of the several colonies, and New Jersey was required to furnish two hundred men for the enterprise. The Assembly of the province convened in May, 1709, when the plans of the Ministry and the particular requisitions that had been made, were laid before the House by Governor Ingoldsby. A ready assent was given by the Assembly. An act was passed for raising three thousand pounds by bills of credit, to be used for her Majesty's service "in this present juncture," and particular provisions were made for enforcing the currency of the bills, when emitted.

The enterprise for the conquest of Canada was not finally prosecuted, but a part of the forces that had been raised for the purpose, proceeded, under the command of Colonel Nicholson, to

'Smith's New Jersey, p. 362.

Port Royal, in Nova Scotia, and that place was reduced, and full possession was taken by the English.

Among the incidents deserving of notice arising out of the undertaking just mentioned, was the issue of a currency of paper, which was then first resorted to in the province. It was designed, as has been seen, to answer a pressing emergency, and ⚫ perhaps this emergency could not otherwise have been met. "A paper credit currency," it has been said, "is a great promoter of military expeditions." But the same expedient was afterwards resorted to, and became a part of the policy of government. It was a policy capable of being made highly instrumental either for good or for evil. It afforded the means of present relief, and gave facilities by which the resources and abilities of a community, as well as of individuals, might be more fully and advantageously developed. But it also served as a temptation to hasty and hazardous action, and to obtain an immediate good by a mortgage upon future and uncertain advantages and means. In New Jersey endeavours were made to guard against the evils of the system, by a careful restriction of the amount, and timely regulations for redemption.

At the next meeting of the General Assembly, which took place in November of the same year, the attention of the House was again directed towards the domestic affairs of the province, and an enactment was made defining more fully the qualifications of the members of the House. It prescribed that each Representative should be an actual resident within the province, and of some city, town or county of that division in which he was chosen. It was represented that much "inconvenience" might arise from the election of persons inhabiting neighboring provinces, inasmuch as such persons might be swayed by a regard to the interests of the places where they resided, rather than by a desire for the prosperity of the parts they represented. It was also set forth that it was absolutely necessary that the Assembly, when met, should

4

Douglass' Summary. Douglass was a strenuous opponent of paper money. He says that "The Sham Canada Expeditions" in 1709 and 1711, led this province and all the other Bri ish provinces to the northward, into a pernicious paper currency called public bills of credit. Summary, p. 285.