New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-02-25
Vol. III. NO. 273.
For The Tribune
Williams's Political Historr.

interesting Chapter of Political History in
duces me to think that the early correction Of
some errors into which he has fallen will not be
unacceptable
In speaking of Governor Leisler, Mr. " illiams
seems to have adopted the Tory writers, Smith
and Hutchinson as his authorities. He would
have found mere reliable sources of information
quoted by Dunlap and TO be found in the printed
and manuscript collections of the New Y 1k His.
torical Society. MIR. Williams states that Jacob
Leisler assumed the government, seized Lieut..
Governor Nicholson, secured the forlifcations,
called to his assistance Committee of Safety,
and that meanwhile William of Orange becoming
King Of Englasd, Leisler signed declaration en-
gaging to submit to such orders as he should re
ceive from him.
Now if Mr. Williams will examine cotempora-
neous authorities, he will learn that it was the
news OF Williams accession which induced the
people of New-York to rise on the memorable
evening OF June Cd, 1899; that headed by the FIVE
captains of the trained bands, they (the people)
seized the forts; that Nicholson the Governor of
James, instead Of being captured entered on
shipboard and returned to England that De
Las Noy and others, who afterward formed the
Committee of Safety, called Leis!er to the gov
eminent, in obedience to the general voice of the
people; that in responding to the call, Lesler in
stantly proclaimed King William by sound of
trumpet, and wrote to the Monarch with his own
hand an account Of what had been done and wha,
he was still doing in repairing the Notifications to
rePel the Jacebte or French cruisers that might
assaii the town, and at the same time accounting
to the King, like an honorable, high-minded mer-
chant as he was, for every iorin of the public mo-
ney thus expended. Upon the two years admin
istraton of Leisler have not the leisure now to
dwell His bold but unsuccessful attempt to
wrest Canada from the French and to annex it to
the British possessions in America, is worthy
OF chapter by itself. But cannot permit your
correspondent to serve up the stale and stupid
Preludlces OF Smith, in relation to the closing act
of his life, veritable history. Mr.. Williams,
following the Tory authorities, says -
In March, 1Gsl Henry Slaughter arrived as
Governor, when Leisler and his son.in-law Mil
bourne, acting as Secretary, attempting to retain
to the new Governor, were seized, tried for trea-
son, and soon after executed
Now what are the facts in this case? Slaughter
had sailed from England in company with Capt.
Ing oldsby, commanding detachment Of the Kings
troops. Their ships were separated in storm
nsoldsby arrived here month before Slaughter
and demanded the keys of the town. Leisler re-
fused him entrance till he showed his commission
as Kings officer. Upon showing it, quarters
were assigned to the troops within the walls
Ingoldsby then demanded possession of the forts
citadel as the representative of Slaughter. But
he had neither warrant nor letter TO enforce this
claim of authority. He attempted to urge ii by
force ofarms, and while both parties were arrayed
against each other, Slaughter arrived. Leisler
Immediately wrote to Slaughter, congratulating
him on his appointment in,mntng that no time
ought be lost in procuring his legal instalmeht
Governor and asking when the necessary forms
of swearing in his Council &c. had been gone
through Sloughier would send an officer to exam
inc into the condition Of the fort, audit his ac-
counts, &c. in order that the King might know he
had done his duty as d good officer and an honora-
BILE man. Slaughter in return took no notice of
Leiser's suggestion, save to demand the instant
surrender of his authority. He published his own
commission by authority, associated the personal
enemies of Leisler with him as Council and be-
fore either he or they had been sworn into Office,
summoned Leiser before them traitor
Leisler was tried by special commission Of oyer
and terminer, the new Governor naming the eight
Judges, one half from among his OWE officers and
the others from among the most violeat personal
enemies of the accused Ae was Of course con-
demned by such tribunal! and the warrant for
his execution was signe3 oy Slaughter in the midst
of drunken debauch.
Is Mr.. Williams, in ais historical! notices, should
be more careful of the real acIa OF ;!sa case than
to perpetua1e the absurd plea upon which this foul
judicial murder was perpetrateo
A DESCENDANT OF JAcoB LEIsLER.
FRENCH ORATeRs-An article in late British
Review-,he Foreign terly-notices the char
acteris,ics of the chief orators among the French
of the present day. Oiillion Barrot, Berger,
Guizot, Theirs, Lamartine, and some others are
mentioned. The following relates TO individual
who, to his reputation an orator and statesman
has added the fame of an able historian:
CAS- TO THEIRS his eloquence is unlike anything
that ever existed, or ever imagined. Fancya
bronze sta,ue,te, gifted with the power of motion
and the power of speech. If cracked, so much
the better: the tingliag sounds which it may be
supposed 10 emit, vii! only be the n.uer. His tea-
lures are as unmoved, as much bronze as those OF
the statue,te. Dantaa could make Theirs in
three hours-if any else would but find the or
gans the senses, and the intellect. The first time
this s,atuette gets up to speak, squeak, there
il universal desire to put him down with uni