publickly avowed the Neutrality the People here wanted to maintain with the Enemy in
Canada, which lam astonished at, as I conceive that holding a Correspondence with the enemy
in time of War is high Treason. I have the greatest reason to believe that M' De Lancey is
deeply concerned in this Villainous Declaration by several Expressions dropt from him in his
Conversation ; and as he still supports the Faction in opposition to all Measures for His
Majesty's service, I have complained of him to the Ministry as a person not proper to be
continued Chief Justice of this Province, or to hold any Place or preferment under the Crown,
which I hope will have due weight with them, and as I am resolv'd to suspend him from His
Majesty's Council, I hope this Representation of his Conduct will have due weight with Your
Lordships for my doing so, as it may be a great means to recover the King's Powers in this
412 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
Province, when this factious Gentleman is remov'd : and a step taken to undeceive an ignorant
Multitude, who are taught by him to beleive that their Representatives oppose a Governour's
Measures, out of regard of saving their mony, when his real motives are his own Interests.
I am with very great Respect, My Lords,
Your Lordships most humble
New York & most obedient Servant
10. November 1747. G. Clinton.
The R' Hon'>''= The Lords Com" for Trade & Plantations.
Governor Clinton to the Lords of Trade.
[New York Papers, Bundle Gg., No. 21S.]
New York 30 Nov' 1747.
My Lords,
The many obstructions and difficultys I have met with by a Faction set up against His
Maj"" Prerogative in the course of my Administration (of wiiich I have frequently of late
informed Your Lord^') has made it absolutely necessary for me to dissolve the General
Assembly of this Province, for the reasons set fortli in my speech, which I have inclosed, and I
beg leave to refer Your LordPP' thereto, and when Your Lord?*' have considered the same,
I hope You will be of opinion, that I have had very weighty and just causes for doing so.
The Assemblys of this Province have long since taken hold of every necessity or want the
Govern' is in of their Assistance, to incroach on the Kings prerogative, and to assume to
themselves new power. The yielding of the Gov"^" from time to time on the urgency of affairs,
has only confirmed their appetite for more power, so that now in every Mony Bill they pass,
they assume to themselves the nomination and appointment to Offices and the sole Rewarding
to all services. By this, they have in their power to oblige and gratifie such of their Friends
that disavow the Govern' and are fond of Anarchy, and thereby the Crown is stripped of all
power to support itself against any attempts that are made to weaken Govern', so that now the
power of Assemblys are come to an exhorbitant height. I have from time to time complained
of this evil, since I had the honour to be intrusted with the care of this Province. Nothing
but expedients have been hitherto tried to take off a present inconveniency, and which only-
have produced greater inconveniences.
I can think of no method to remedy these attempts of the Assembly on the Administration,
but either the interposition of Parliament, or his Majesty's disallowing all or a great number of
the Money Bills, by which paper Bills are made current money, because it is in these Bills, and
in the application of the money that they incroach on the Prerogative and reward their Friends,
But if instructions were given to assent to making such quantity of those Bills current again
as shall be found necessary, under such conditions as his Maj'^ shall think proper, in order
to have a sufficient Fund always for the support of his Govern' during the currency of those
Bills, it might in some measure check this growing power. This I conceive deserves Your
LordPP' consideration.
LONDON DOCUMENTS : XXVIII. 413
The great desire the People of this Province has had to Trade and correspond with the
Enemy in Canada in time of War, and for that end to become neutrals and spectators of
the Barbarity committed in the neighbouring Colonys, has established a very powerful Faction
against me for endeavouring to suppress such practices, and which I was commanded by His
Maj'y to do, by engaging the Six Nations of Indians in the War.
Some of the Council are deeply concerned in this Faction, and I beg leave to point them out
to Your LordPP'. viz' M"' Delancey Chief Justice of the Province, at the head ; Daniel
Horsmanden (suspended) their secretary and waiter. Joseph Murray their Councillor and
Solicitor, Stephen Bayard (suspended) their common Cryer, Philip Livingston formerly a
Trader with the Enemy at Albany, and although he is Secretary for Indian Affairs, he has
abandoned his Country, neglects his Office and supports the neutrality. Therefore I pray
Your LordPP' to move His Maj'^ to suspend him from that and all other employments in this
Province as he is a dangerous person to be employed under Govern', and indeed I have the like
reasons to complain of the rest of the Council herein mentioned.
I must observe once more to Your LordP?" that popular Faction and power are become so
very prevalent, not only in this, but in all the Northern Colonys, that unless some extraordinary
assistance be given to His Maj'*' Governours, I am humbly of opinion it will not be in their
power to support His Majesty's authority, as one takes example from another.
Great pains are taken in my Govern' to disavow the King's authority, and it has been said by
M'' Oliver Delancey, the Chief Justices Brother whom he supports in all his arrogance, that
the Faction would hang three or four people and sett up a Govern' of their own — and
upon the dissolution of the Assembly he asked his Brother the Chief Justice, whether affairs
in the Province could not be carried on without an Assembly, to which he answered, yes, if
the people could be perswaded into it, but they won't care to part with their money at
that rate.
I have inclosed the Titles of such Mony Bills as I have been under a necessity to give my
assent to since I came here together with some extracts of the Minutes of Council in the
Legislative capacity, wherein are contained some reason's entered by M' Colden for my not
assenting to some Bills which the Council and Assembly had passed. But the exigency of
affairs and the immediate safety of the province which became greatly exposed to the Enemy
(by the Troops raised upon the Expedition being discharged without being wholly paid off)
induced me to assent to this last provision and Money Bill, which I hope will plead my excuse
with his Majesty for doing it.
I am with very great respect — My Lords ettc
G. Clinton
Governor Clinton to the Dulce of Newcastle.
[New-York. (8. P. 0.) X., 511.]
My Lord.
The many obstructions & difficultys I have mett with by a faction sett up against his
Majesty's prerogative in the course of my Administration (of which I have frequently of late
414 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
informed your Grace) has made it absolutely necessary for me to dissolve the General!
Assembly of this Province, for the reasons sett forth in my speech, which I've inclosed, and I
beg leave to refer your Grace thereto, and when your Grace have considered the same, I hope
you'l be of opinion that I iiave had very weighty and just causes for doing so.
The great desire the People of this Province has had to trade and corespond with the enemy
in Canada in time of war, and for that end become neutrals and spectators of the barbarity
committed in the neighbouring Provinces, has established a very powerful! faction against me
for endeavouring to suppress such practices, and which I was commanded by His Majesty to
do, by engaging the Six Nations of Indians in the War. Some of the Council are deeply
concerned in this faction, and I beg leave to point them out to your Grace. M'' De Lancy
Chief Justice of the Province, at the head, Dan' Horsmanden (supended) their Secretary, and
Writer, Joseph Murry their Counceilor and Sollicitor, Stephen Bayard (suspended) their
Common Cryer, Phillip Livingston formerly a Trader with the enemy at Albany, and altho'
he is Secretary for Indian ASairs he has abandoned the Country, neglects his office, and
supports the neutrality. 1 beg your Grace to move His Majesty to suspend him from that
and all other employments in this Province as he is a dangerous person to be employ'd
under Government ; and indeed I have like reason to complain of the rest of the Council
herein mentioned.
Great pains are taken in my government to disavow the King's authority, and it has been
said by M"' Oliver De Lancy (the Chief Justice's brother) whom he supports in all his
arrogance, that the faction wou'd hang three or four people and set up a government of their
own, and upon the dissolution of the Assembly he ask'd his brother the Chief Justice, whether
affairs in the Province cou'd not be carried on without an Assembly ; to which the Chief
Justice answered " Yes, if the people cou'd be persuaded into it, but they won't care to part
" with their money at that rate."
The exigency of affairs and the immediate safety of this Province which became greatly
exposed to the enemy by the troops raised on the expedition being discharged without being
wholly paid off, induced me to assent to this last provision and money Bill; which I hope will
plead my excuse with His Majesty for doing it.
I am with the greatest respect, My Lord,
Your Graces most obedient
New York and most humble Servant
30 Nov 1747. G. Clinton.
His Grage the Duke of Newcastle.
Governor Clinton to the Duke of Newcastle.
[ New-Tork (S. P. 0.) X., 51S. ]
(Copy)
Fort George in New York Jan^ ZO"^ 174^.
My Lord.
Since I had the honor of writing to Your Grace the troops raised upon the Expedition for
the reduction of Canada were discharged the 31" Ocf last pursuant to Governour Shirley and
LONDON DOCUMENTS : XXVIII, 415
GovernourKnowles's orders for that purpose, without their making or giving any other directions
for their pay, than recommending to the Assemblys of the respective Provinces to provide for
it or drawing on the Crown untill a fund could be raised in Parliament to reimburse that
expence. The first method I communicated in the strongest manner I was capable, to the
Assembly of this Province ; but they absolutely refused to give the Crown any money or
credit for this service, & the merchants refused taking my bills without some prefixed time for
payment of them.
As many of these troops were assembled on the frontiers of this Province and had been upon
actual & severe duty from the time they rendevouzed at Albany till they were discharged
(with which they could not be made acquainted till the 19"" Nov'" last, the discharge not
coming to my hands till 5"' of that month) The Field officers and Captains of these Companies
have set forth a memorial to me on this occasion which I herewith inclose to your Grace,
whereby your Grace will observe what reasons I have had to draw on the Crown for the pay
of these levies and other services incurred on this expedition, & which I shall still be under a
necessity of doing to perfect & fullfill His Majesty's promises on that head, agreeable to your
Graces letter of the 9"" April 1746. and my proclamation thereon : and as these gentlemen
were without remedy (by the nature of the discharge) to satisfy their men in their returns to
their respective habitations, I have allowed them pay to 24"" Nov'"'' for that purpose & for other
extraordinary expeuces they have been at during their continuance upon service.
The confidence the Officers had of receiving His Majesty's commissions when this expedition
was first make known, encouraged many gentlemen to leave their employments to enter into
His Majesty's service, whereby they have thrown themseves out of all business & have no
other recourse left for their support than a dependance upon His Majestys promise. For which
end several of the Captains have determined to go for England in hopes to be provided for by
His Majesty in his forces at home or abroad. And as I am particularly acquainted with the
hardships they must suffer if they are not provided for, I take the liberty of recommending
them & all others that have any certificates for their good behaviour to your Graces favour, &
I persuade myself that when their case is fully represented to His Majesty by your Grace, he
will be graciously pleased to consider their services and disappointments accordingly.
I was in hopes to have been able to transmit to your Grace by this opportunity an account
of the exact expence the Crown has been at for the several services incurred for the use of the
Six Nations of Indians, their allies, and the troops raised & assembled within my government;
but as the troops were posted in different parts of the Frontiers of the Province at a
considerable distance from home & many Indians & Christians were out in partys, it has not
yet been in my power to collect the accounts and demands made upon the Crown so soon as I
could wish, in order to liquidate the same ; however your Grace may be assured that no time
shall be lost in collecting & stating the same for Your Graces information. In the mean time I
most earnestly intreat your Grace that all the bills I have drawn since my Secretary was in
England, & am still obliged to draw, towards the expence of the Indians & discharge of these
troops may be duly paid, that I may not suffer by any protest or nonpayment of them, as
nothing but meer necessity, the preservation of His Majesty's Province & the good of his
service, could have induced me to imbark my self in such a scene of trouble & fatigue.
As these troops raised iu this Province were discharged without pay or provision for some
time by the Assembly's stopping the provisions from them (unknown to me) as soon as they
heard they were to be disbanded I was under a necessity of using the utmost precaution by
416 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
my directions to Colonel Roberts the Commanding Officer at Albany (who acted quite
prudently on the occasion) to preserve the men in temper; otherwise many terrible
consequences would have ensued to the inhabitants of the Provinces, by the disbanded men,
besides the great confusion it must have thrown the Indians into, whereby they might have
been tempted to revolt to the French, as finding themselves no longer protected by us. This I
foresaw and consequently took care to prevent, & I am well pleased that my intentions had
the desired effect.
As Coll. Roberts has all along endeavoured to promote his Majesty's service while upon
command, I beg once more to recommend his services to your Grace, either by giving him a
rank in the service adequate to that of Lieutenant Colonel, which he held upon this Expedition
or such other preferment or employment as to Your Grace shall seem meet.
, I must injustice to Mayor Rutherford beg leave to recommend his service also, and likewise
Coll. Johnson's great services among the Indians, who remains still with them at great expence,
fatigue & trouble, & runs a great risque of his life & fortune ; but was he not to continue
amongst them I have reason to dread the consequences of the sudden discharge of these troops.
I am with very great respect. My Lord,
Your Graces most obedient
humble servant
To his Grace the Duke of Newcastle G. Clinton.
Governor Clinton to the Diihe of Newcastle.
[ New-Tork, ( S. P. 0.,) X., 525. ]
My Lord Duke.
I am honoured with your Grace's letter of the 27"' Octob"" last, with my leave of absence
inclosed, for which favour I am infinitely obliged to your Grace. At the same time your Grace
has signified to me His Majesty's pleasure in appointing Chief Justice de Lancey Leiu*
Governor of the Province with a commission to be delivered to him at my leaving my
Government. By this appointment I conceive Your Grace had not received my letters
transmitted in Scarborough, nor the dispatches from Gov'' Shirley and M'' Knowles, otherwise
I perswade my self it cou'd not have been done.
M' De Lancy has strongly opposed me in all the measures I undertook for his Majesty's
service in the late expedition against Canada for the sake of an abominable neutrallity the
people of this Province wanted to enter into with the Six Nations of Indians and the French
in Canada, which I have fully explained to your Grace in my former letters, and by his means
and influence I have mett with the most cruell undeserved treatment that possibly cou'd be
given, both by Council & Assembly, excepting M"' Golden, M' Kenedy and M"" Rutherford
of the Council who have supported me as much as in their power for the interest and service of
his Majesty against a violent faction in which M'' De Lancy has been the principal actor and
continues so to be.
LONDON DOCUMENTS : XXVIII. 417
Upon his receiving the news of his appointment most of the inhahitants of this City seemed
greatly moved with dislike to it, as thinking that he and his family had ingrossed already too
much power, and most people now plainly discover that it was only for power he was aiming
at, by his ungratefull behaviour to me ; and as he had some assurances from Sir Peter Warren
his brother in law, for some time past, of this preferment, he has made it his study to make
me uneasy in my Administration in order to quit my government, as he can receave no benefitt
by being Leiu* Governour during my stay here, which he industriously rumoured abroad among
his friends, with assurances that his interest wou'd support any measures or steps he undertook
in opposition to me.
Nothing could have been so unhappy for the Province and myself as the unexpected
promotion, which became known when the elections were coming on for a new Assembly,
wherein I had carried the choice of severall members for the Countyes that were well attached
to His Majesty's interest and welfare of the Province, and shou'd have succeeded with many
others, but that messengers were immediately dispatched through out the Province with the
news of M'' De Lancy's being made Lieu' Governour, which damp'd the inclinations of all my
freinds, as dreading the exorbitant power & resentment of this man.
I find by Sir Peter Warren's letter to me that he has concerned himself much in the
recommendation of M' De Lancy to your Grace's favour, notwithstanding he knows him to be
a man leveller in principles with such other qualityes as I have y* honour to represent to Your
Grace. In this I think Sir Peter has been highly partiall, because he is his brother in law, and
has gone too great lengths, consistant with prudence to interfere himself with any appointments
in my government without my consent or approbation.
As yi"^ Shirly and M'' Knowles have taken some pains to represent to 3'our Grace the ill
treatment I have received from AP De Lancy and his party and the shamefull cause thereof,
I persuade my self when their letters and mine come to hand your Grace will think I have the
greatest reason to hope for his removal again, or at least to receive your Grace's orders not to
deliver his commission upon my leaving the Government; and altho' it is very disagreable
to stay much longer here, yet rather than M' De Lancy shou'd be gratified any how, I am
willing to stay till I have the honour of your Grace's commands on this head, unless a ship is
ordered out to bring me home, as I expect, and in that case I am in hopes I may be justifyed
to bring his commission back, the people being thoroughly sensible that their rights and
priviledges must be greatly affected under his insatiable thirst of power which he shows too
much as Chief Justice, and I am certain His Majesty's interest and service in this Province
will greatly suffer thereby if he is allowed to govern.
Give me leave to beg it as a favour of your Grace that no other alterations or promotions
are made in my government without my knowledge, that the two Councillors continue suspended,
that I may be allowed to stop the Chief Justice's Commission, and M"" Golden left President in
my absence for his faithfull services, and that Sir Peter Warren may not be allowed to apply
for any more places in this Province during my administration, in which he has taken too
many freedoms to my disadvantage here, and I may say without president.
I hope for forgiveness from Your Grace for taking up so much of your time, but as I find by
the discourse 1 have had with him that his whole design & drift is to restore all those of his
faction without any condition for those that has distinguished themselves in my favour, but to
Vol. VL 33
418 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
be left to his mercy when I go, therefore in justice to those gentlemen I hope plead my excuse
for the length of this. I am with the greatest of respect, my Lord Duke,
Your Graces most humble
Fort George's at New York and most obedient Servant
13"" Feb'y. 1747. G. Clinton.
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle.
(Indorsed) " Rec"* 2. of May 1748."
Governor Clinton to the Dvke of Newcastle.
[New-Tork. (8. p. O.,) X., 529.]
My Lord.
I have received the honour of Your Graces letter of the 27"" October, acknowleding the rec' of
my letters to the 23'' July last. It gives me the highest satisfaction that His Majesty has been
pleased to approve of my care and attention to His service, to which I shall ever keep attached
at all events, as well from inclination as duty, notwithstanding the opposition I meet with from
His Majesty's subjects in this Province.
I have acquainted your Grace in what manner the troops raised for an Expedition against
Canada under my command, were disbanded, which I hope will be approved of, as I took the
most prudent steps to preserve the Province from the insults of a body of men, enraged with
disappointments, and am now drawing bills on the Paymaster to satisfie their resentments,
which I pray your Grace may be punctually paid ; and as M"' Shirley has given Certificates to
the Officers in his government for their pay, I am doing the like to the Officers assembled here,
as some satisfaction to them for present, till I can transmit my account properly liquidated for
the whole, which I am now labouring with all the dispatch in my power; but [it] is not to be
express'd what time trouble and expence attends the same, as the troops under my command
were all along upon actual service and many of them, in conjunction with the Indians, had
often skirmishes with the enemy in different parts on the frontiers of this Province.
I am sensible the preservation of the Indians on this occasion is of the utmost importance to
His Majesty's service, and to the security of all his colonies in North America ; and as I have
omitted nothing that can conduce thereto, I shall observe your Graces directions on that head.
At the same time I am obliged to tell Your Grace that this service has and will occasion a very
great expence to the Crown, as the French in Canada use all artifices and bribes to bring them
over to their interest, in order to annoy our settlements.
When the presents ordered for the Indians arrive, I shall take care to distribute them in
such manner as will tend most to His Majesty's service, and upon all occasions Your Grace may
be assured that I will use my utmost endeavours with the Assembly of this Province to enable
me to promote His Majesty's service, and to carry on a scheme at the joint expence of this
Province, Massachusetts Bay, and Connecticut to annoy the enemy in their own settlements,
LONDON DOCUMENTS : XXVIII. 419
with the assistance of the Indians ; for which end I made tlie Assembly the inclosed Speech
at the opening of their Session.
I am with the greatest of respect
My Lord,
Your Grace's most obedient
New York humble Servant
24"" Feb'' 1747 G. Clinton.
P. S. I observe by your Grace's letter to Gov' Shirley, that the security of the Indians is
also strongly recommended to him, and as I had appointed Coil. Johnson, Coil' of them, when
the Expedition was going forward, I propose to continue him over them in that Capacity,
as none upon the Continent can influence them to continue stedfast to their engagements,
so much as this Gentleman, and I am sure your Grace will have M"" Shirley's sanction for
my doing so.
G. Clinton.
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle &â– = &â– = &â– =
Governour Clinton to the Ixyrds of Trade.
[ New-Tork Papers, Hh., No. 6.]
My Lords
Since I did myself the honour of writing to Your Lordships, I have been closely employed
(in conjunction with Governour Shirley) to promote a service, which His Majesty has been