CHAPTER   XL

THE   ADMINISTRATION   OF   GOVERNOR   HUNTER.

Troublous Days for the Church—Points at Issue between the Governor and the Rec¬
tor—Sacrilegious Invasion of the Parish Church—The Chapel in the Fort—Threat¬
ened Schism—Controversy about the Act for Maintaining the Ministry—Public
Agitation—Projected Invasion of Canada—Intended Insurrection by the Negroes—
Absurd Accusations against the Church—Plans of Mr. Vesey for Promoting Christian
Education—Presentation of Plate by Queen Anne—Mr. Vesey compelled to go to
England for Relief from Assaults of his Enemies—Accomplishes his Object and Re¬
turns in Triumph—Submission of the Governor—Mr. Vesey Appointed Commissary
to the Bishop of London—Settlement of the Contest about the Chapel in the Fort—
Story of the Indian Pow-wow at Stratford, and how it was Quelled by the Rector—
Comment of the Puritan Party at his Success.

WHATEVER other troubles Mr. Vesey may have
endured during his rectorship of nearly half a
century, they were slight compared with those which be¬
fell him under the administration of Governor Hunter.
For lack of full contemporaneous records, it is hard to as¬
certain the real reason for the quarrel between them ; but
it was long and bitter ; it covered a wide range of affairs,
personal, political, theological, and parochial ; and finally
drove the rector to England, to obtain that favorable con¬
sideration of his case which it could not receive in New
York. Many episodes of an unpleasant and exasperating
nature were connected with this administration ; and this
is the more to be deplored, because of Hunter's strong
claims to respect and favorable regard. Beginning as an
apothecary's apprentice, he left his master and entered
the army, where he rose to honorable distinction, and
ultimately married a lady of high rank. In 1707, having
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