CHAPTER XV.

CLOSING   YEARS   AND   DEATH   OF   MR.    VESEY.

Arrival of Governor Clinton—Address to him by the Vestry—Death of William Brad¬
ford, 1742—Restoration of bis Tombstone in Trinity Churchyard 1863—Proceedings
of the New York Historical Society—A Richly Laden Prize in the Harbor—Mr.
Vesey's Failing Strength—Review of his Administration—Death, July rr, r746—
Contemporaneous Records of his Character and Work.

AS early as the 24th of August, 1741, it was known in
New York that George Clinton had been appointed
Governor of the Province. He did not arrive, however,
until Sept. 20, 1743. On the 28th an address was voted
to his Excellency, in reply to which the Governor, receiv¬
ing a committee of the Vestry at his house, said : " Your
Church in particular may be assured of my countenance
and protection, in the secure Enjoyment of all your Re¬
ligious Rights and Privileges."*

In the year 1742, William Bradford, the famous printer
died. He served as a member of the Vestry of Trinity
Church from 1703 to 1710. He was buried in the church¬
yard, on the north side, not far from Broadway. The
stone erected on his grave having become shattered, was
replaced at the expense of the Corporation of Trinity,
with a new one, a precise reproduction of the original,
but of better material.' On the occasion of the restora¬
tion of this tombstone. May 20, 1863, a special service was
held in the churchyard;  and, the day being the 200th

^ Records, i., 227.

^ The original stone is now in the possession of the New York Historical Society.
226