Page:Cambridge Modern History Volume 7.djvu/76

 44 The usurpation of Leisler. [1688- obstinate, wholly lacking in the moral force which surmounts difficulties or in the dexterity which evades them. When rumours of the Revolution in England reached New York, Nicholson, acting as his superior Andros had acted in Massachusetts, kept the tidings secret. But soon afterwards there came simultaneously to New York the news of three events, any one of which would have made Nicholson's position difficult. The Prince of Orange was in power in England ; Andros was a prisoner at Boston ; France had declared war, and the colony might at any moment be invaded. Nicholson's first impulse was a sound one. He called together the aldermen of New York, the members of the Council, and the militia officers, to form a convention. Then at once was felt the lack of all those conditions which had enabled the men of New England to defy con- stituted authority and yet to avoid anarchy. The pay of the militia was in arrears, and their disaffection threatened danger. The people demanded that the control of the fort should be transferred from the Deputy to their representatives. The townships bordering upon New England went further and deposed the Proprietors' officials. Two purely personal disputes set fire to the train. A quarrel having broken out between Nicholson and one of his subordinates, Cuyler, Nicholson foolishly used the words, "I would rather see the city on fire than be commanded by you." Immediately the story circulated that the Deputy-Governor had threatened to burn New York. Next day Nicholson denied the charges and dismissed Cuyler. Thereupon the people rose and seized the fort. Their leader was Jacob Leisler, a German brewer, who also had a personal grievance. He had already refused to pay customs, on the plea that the collector was a Papist and his commission therefore invalid. He now took command of the mutineers. Nicholson fled, and Leisler might not unreasonably be supposed to have stepped de facto and by popular approval into the vacant governorship. Thereupon a convention met. More than half the community stood aloof ; and of the eighteen representatives who came together, eight took no part in the proceedings. The remainder invested Leisler with some- thing like dictatorial power. But it is clear that he was no more than the leader of a faction. In New York itself Leisler succeeded by promptness and energy in forcing his authority on an inert majority. At Albany a far more vigorous temper prevailed. The inhabitants refused to accept the authority of Leisler unless he could prove that it had been granted to him by the new sovereigns : let him produce a commission from William and Mary ; then he would be obeyed. The home government at first made mistakes of which Leisler took advantage. A commission was sent to Nicholson, authorising him to act as governor. If he was absent, this duty was to be transferred to " such as for the time being take care for preserving the peace." Leisler took possession of this letter and, without giving any details, told the citizens