CHAPTER IX.

THE   ADMINISTRATION   OF   LORD   CORNBURY.

Relief o£ Churchmen on Cornbury's Arrival—Address to him by the Rector and Cor¬
poration of Trinity—His Commission and Instructions—Rev. George Keith in New
York—Convention of Clergy, November, 1702—Movement in Favor of Collegiate
Education—Society for the Propagation of the Gospel—Proposals to Erect an Oi^an
—William Bradford, Printer and Vestryman of Trinity—Elias Neau, his History,
Labors, and Conversion to the Church—Madam Knight's Account of the City and
Vicinity—Rev. George Muirson—The Queen's Farm Becomes the Property of the
Church—Labors among the Negroes—Lady Cornbury's Death—Sermon by Rev. John
Sharpe—Rev. James Honeyman—Trinity the Foster Mother of Other Churches—Dis¬
graceful Close of Cornbury's Administration.

EDWARD HYDE, Lord Cornbury, was appointed
successor to the Earl of Bellomont, June 13, 1701.
On the 9th of September he received his commission
under the Great Seal'; but it was not until May 3, 1702,
that he arrived in his government." The clergy regarded
his arrival as a great deliverance ; and no wonder, consid¬
ering the reign of terror which he found here. Letters
are extant, from the Rev. John Bartow and other mis¬
sionaries of the Venerable Society, graphically depicting
the perils of the Church under the adininistration of
Bellomont and Nanfan, and hailing the arrival of the new
Governor as an auspicious event.'

An election for Church Wardens and Vestrymen was
held April 7,   1702,  only nine members being present;

' N. Y. Col. Docs., iv., S83-4, 1152.

' Cornbury himself fixes flie day ; writing May 3, 1702, he spealcs of " being ar¬
rived here this day."—//,  Y. Col. Docs., iv., 955.

^ Boiton, LListory of the Church in Westchester County, Introduction, xviii.

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