NEW   YORK   UNDER  LEISLER.
 

CHAPTER   XX.
 

NEW  YORK  UNDER  LEISLER.

New York under Leisler. — The Elections of 1689. —Mrs. Van Cortlandt's Cour¬
age.— Leisler's Executive Ability.—Albany in Peril. — Independence of
Albany, — Mayor Peter Schuyler. —Milborne's Defeat. — Connecticut to the
Rescue.—Colonel Nicholas Bayaed.—Captain Lodwyck in Disgrace.—Cap¬
tain De Peyster in Disgrace. — The Rough Search for Colonel Bayaed. — Wil¬
liam III. of England. — The Tangle in New York.—The King's Letter to
Nicholson. — New York threatened by the French. — Leisler's Agent at
Whitehall.—Matthew Clarkson.—The King's Letter seized by Leisler.—
Leislee's Assumption.—An Outburst of Rage.—Philip French in a Dungeon.

— The Jails and Prisons filled.—Arrest of Colonel Bayard.—Arrest op
"William Nicolls. — Pursuit of Robert Livingston. — The French on the War-
Pa tii. — Burning of Schenectady. ^Shocking Massacre. — Albany appalled. ~
Albany submits to Leisler, — The First Colonial Congress in America. — Leis¬
ler's Vigor.—Wholesale Complaints. —Connecticut's Rebuke.—Despotic Laws.
New Eochelle. — Wedding of Leisler's Daughter.—Advice from Boston.—
The Government op New York as ordained by William III.—Arrival of
Lieutenant-Governor Ingoldsby. — The City in Tumult. — Leisler

— Bloodshed in New York. — Governor Sloughter's Arrival. — Leisler
oned. — The Sunday Sermon. —The Trial of Leisler and his Council. — Leis-

der Sentence ofDeath. — The Assembly of 1691.

- Sloughter's Character. — Signing of the Death-War-
rant.—The Execution of Leisler and Milborne. — Impressive Scenes,
fects of Leisler's Death. — The French and Indian War. — Death of Slough¬
ter.— Ingoldsby Commander-in-Chief.—Etienne De Lancey.

THE summer passed away in tolerable quiet. The city of
New York was under a miUtary despotism. Leisler counted
all as " Papists " who would not recognize his authority. As none of the
city magistrates would administer the oaths of allegiance in the fort, he
sent for Dr. Gerardus Beekman, a Long Island justice, to perform that
service. On one occasion four Cambridge students came into the city
with Perry, the postman, and on suspicion of papacy were arrested and
their letters seized and examined. Even the dmms beat an alarm and
four hundred soldiers appeared.    But the modest travelers were found to