Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/200

  concerning the boundaries alone contained the seed of future wars, which could only end with the absolute ascendancy of the stronger party. The conquest of Canada had become the favorite scheme both of the English government and the northern colonies; an object for which the colonists were willing to expend their blood and treasure, and one which their success at Louisburg incited them ever to keep before their eyes.

 

1691—1748.

unhappy fate of Jacob Leisler, as related in a previous chapter, produced a deep impression in New York, and gave rise to party feuds which lasted a long time in that colony. From this date, as Mr. Hildreth correctly states, there was a final abandonment of the ancient Dutch usages, and the complete introduction of English law; and although the king vetoed a statute declaring the right of the people to participate in the enactment of all laws, through an Assembly, yet in practice an Assembly became from this time an essential part of the political system of New York.

Sloughter's sudden death left New York for a year or so under Ingoldsby's charge; in the latter part of 1692, however, Benjamin Fletcher was appointed governor. He was much such a character as Sloughter, in want, and ready to grasp all within his reach: he took sides, too, with the anti-Leislerian party, which, together with his efforts to obtain endowment for the ministers of the Church of England, stirred up strong opposition. Fortunately for Fletcher as well as for the general progress of the colony, he was duly impressed with a sense of the importance of cultivating the friendship and obtaining the aid of Major Schuyler, in all matters relating to Indian affairs. This able officer's influence with the Five Nations was almost 