VIEW   OF   NEW-YORK   IN   GOVERNOR   BURNET'S   TIME.
 

CHAPTER   V

THE   ADMINISTBATIOlSr   OF   WILLIAM   BUBNET

1720-1728
 

matter
 

F the people of New-York had ever been accustomed to be
consulted in the selection of their chief magistrates, it
would have provoked them to learn that the proud posi¬
tion of governor of their great province was largely a
private barter and arrangement between individuals.
Governor Hunter was suffering the tortures of sciatica, and de¬
spaired of improving in America.^ William Burnet had been light¬
ened in purse by his ventures in the South Sea scheme,^ and wished
to replenish his fortunes. The two were warm personal friends. So
Hunter agreed to exchange his office of governor for Burnet's less
lucrative but more convenient position of comptroller-general of the
customs in Grreat Britain, with a salary of £1,200 per year.^ Both
had sufficient influence at court to secure the ratification of their
bargain by the king, and presto! it was done. As an impartial his¬
torian remarks: "It unfortunately happened for our American prov¬
inces at the time we now treat of, that a government in any of our
colonies in those parts was scarcely looked upon in any other light
 

1*^1 have no hope of Ease on this Side, having
try'd all remedys, Christian and Pagan, Palenical,
Chymical and Whimsical, to no purpose. Aix-la-
Chappelle is all my present Comfort." Hunter to
Secretary Popple, New Jersey Archives, 4: 387.

2 Wynne's ^^British Empire" (London, 1770),
1:181;  " History of the United States," by James
 

Grahame (Boston, 1845), 3: 99; Smith's '^ History
of New-York " (London, 1776), p. 201.

3 Smith's ''History New-York," p. 201; Doug¬
lass's '' Summary " (London, 1755), 1: 480 ; Wynne,
1:191. New-York paid her governor £1,200 ster¬
ling, and New Jersey paid £500 or £600; the per¬
quisites were considerable in both provinces.