New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-24


from the peculiar position in which Andres was
| placed, the least malignant of the epitbets he
| slowed upon him was, most unjustly, that OF the
! arbitrary and sycophantc tool Of dcspotic King
| The administration of Governor Andres, moreover,
| forms not only distinct but memorable epoch
in the colonial history of the City Of New-l orK
| 1t is true that he failed in his efforts 70 place
| the currency OF the colony on healthier OASIS
than it was under Dutch rule, but in nearly every
| other measure Of reform he was entirely success
| full He effected n complete reorganization OF
| the militia repaired the fort and strengthened
| the dcfences Of the harbor; increased the trace
| of the province; beautifed the city; largely
| augmented the revenue from the excise; and by
a personal supervision Of municipal affairs ana
an untirng industry gave such tone TO the
political and social condition of the people that
its effects were apparent for fully century after
the period of his incumbency.'
That is certainly high praise, and moreover IL
appears to be deserved. But Governor Andros
was not the only early ruler of New-lork who
has suffered from harsh and preiudiced Judgment
One Of the most interesting chapters in the pres
ent volume lis that on the period of the Lesler
troubles l6ss-l692). The view taken by tie
editor and his contributor is strongly favorable
to Jacob Leisler, whose tragic fate was caused
by the spirit of faction and class hatred. IT has
been common to represent him as mere dema-
gogue at the head Of mutinous rabble, ana as
such his enemies at the time undoubtedly regarded
him But the circumstances were most unla'or-
able to cool observation. The Revolution which
drove the last Stuart from the English throne hao
left the coloniss in North America uncertain az 10
where authority lay. Boston was the
first to revolt from the Stuart rule
to recognize William, and TO overthrow the
local government representing James Ncw-iofk
followed more cautiously. There IN" James "oN-
ernmcnt desired to hold on, but the people "ouIo
not have il so, and the traln-bands, OF uilh''d'
practically settled the matter by marching 10 'c
Fort, demanding the keys, and resolving that the
government should alternate among The militia cup
tains, each of whom should be supreme during his
term of duty Jacob Lesler was the senior
captain and so naturally came into this arrange
ment. and when later, Williams cautious, not 10
say ambiguous letter arrived, its tenor certainty
warranted the choice of Leiser as Lieutenant
Governor.
Had the new Governor, Slaughter. reached New
York at the same time as Major lngoldcsby, there
would have been question OF authority f1iSeu
But when IDgoldcsby arrived first, ana WITHOUT
credentials demanded the instant surrender OIL uic
Fort Loisler was justified in refusing TO comply
with the demand What led to tho unjust trial. ana
still more unjust execution Of Lciscr the fury
of tho James Government Of Ncw-lo which had
been chatting for months over the disappointment
of its hopes and expectations, and Which found III
the new Governor weak and ptbic instrument
of vengeance The reversal Of the colonial pro-
ceedings in this case by the English Parliament,
after full and dispassonatc investigation, shonid
have put end to all controversy in the premises
il might be thought hut the Lcslcr party was far
,i,I tl,n Lois lori.
il happened that the memory of this victim Of
faction has never been completely cleared from
the ia sc imputation Of deuaGossm The elah-
crate presentation Of the case in the memorial
history ought TO determine it finally for no I'M
prejudiccd person can read this statement without
becoming convinced that Jacob Leis!cr died the
death OF a martyr.
Benjamin Fletcher appears here as good Gov
crnor, contrary TO many previous opinions, but /
the editor never forgcts that the early Ncw-Hork
ers were turbulent. factous, ccusDriOus AMI
nsubordnate folk, and that consequently II is
necessary TO receive their accounts of their ruier'
with a good deal of allowance The old Dutch
element was disposed 10 quarrel with every Eng
ish Governor and the Dutch, English and French
merchants regard and treated enemies and
Oppresscrs all who would not let them do as they
pleased without any restriction in matters Of trade
~
ton that the rise Of piracy occurred, to make
New-York picturesque, to fiji the pockets Of scores
of her merchants and 10 do no good to hcr morals.
We see here the first act in the drama Of Captain
Kidd AS he sailed" and Lord Bccmont 50
nysteriousy associated with the who went
out to suppress piracy by becoming pirate him
self Fletcher seems really TO have been innocent,
but Beemont, whose own innocence IS disputed.
prosecuted him. and beng able 10 pack the Board
| of Investigation, succeeded in running his an
tagonist, who forthwith disappears from history.
The two concluding chapters Of this volume are
occupied with the constitutional and legal history
Of New-York in the seventeenth century, and with
an account of printing in New-York during the
same period The frst-named chapter Is an
erudite judicial treatise which leaves little or
nothing to be said on the subjects treated. The
chapter on printing in the seventeenth century IN
New-York is illustrated by quite a profusion OF
| facsimes, mostly examples from the press OF
William Bradford. who held the post OF royal
printer in the city for upward Of half century.
We have omitted to mention in IFS proper order
the administration Of Thomas DUNCAN. one Of the
most useful and bencfcent in the line Of royal
Governorshipe and which is here illustrated by the
full text of the charter granted to New-IOrk by
DUNCAN. together with fac-simile specimens Of the
| original document
The steel engravings, which include portraits
and scenes, are very good, and so are the wood
cuts in the text, and the examples Of old print
ing ooktitlcs, etc. In short, the memorial his
tory has been written and made mechanically IN
the most careful and thorough manner and the
first of its four volumes gives conclusive evidence
that il is to be monumental work, and standard.