HUNTERS LIFE AND  CHARACTER.
 

CHAPTER   XXIII.
 

GOVERNOR ROBERT HUNTER.

GovERNOB Robert Hunter.—Hunter's Life and Character.—Hunter's Corre¬
spondence WITH Swift. — Hunter's Counselors. — John Barbarie. — Rip Van
Dam.—The Germans. — Livingston Manor.—Hunter's Countrt-seat "Andro¬
borus."— The City Finances.—Negro Slaves.—Lobsters.—Origin of the
Debt of England. — Prophecies. — The Canadian Campaign. — The Disappoint¬
ment, — The Negro Insurrection. — City Improvements. —The Assembly. —
Death of Queen Anne. — George L — Chief Justice Lewis Morris. — Robert
Watts. — The New York Families.—James Alexander. — First Presbyterian
Church Wall Street. — Potatoes. — Hunter's Farewell Address. — Peter
Schuyler in Command of New York.

IN June, 1710, New York once more rejoiced in a governor. Eobert
Hunter was unlUi:e any of his predecessors. He was a strong, active,
cultivated man of middle age, with refined tastes and feelings, combined
with genial and persuasive manners; and he was a model of moraUty.
His attainments were such that he had for many years enjoyed the warm
personal friendship of Swift, Addison, Steele, and other distinguished lit¬
erary men ;n England. He was something of a poet himself, although he
had alwa}-s written under a nom de plume. He was fond of men of
learning, and encouraged the arts and sciences wherever and whenever
he had an opportunity. He was also a most agreeable and entertaining
social companion.

His early life was fuU of incident. He was one of the gentlemen who
served rs guard under the Bishop of London to the Princess Anne when
she retired from her father's court. He soon after received a commission
in William's army; and he had in all the wars since that time given
proof of great courage and rare ability. One winter he was in command
of a regiment of troops who were quartered in a Holland town. The
foUowing is one of many similar anecdotes related of him: —

The magistrates of the place had incurred the displeasure of the people,
and a move was made for a new election.    The magistrates in great heat