Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/207

] however, was left to struggle with debt and official censure; and he complains warmly of the neglect and ill usage of many of those who professed to be his friends and supporters: "My country subscribers," he says, "are earnestly desired to pay their arrearages for this journal, which if they don't speedily, I shall leave off sending, and seek my money another way. Some of these kind customers are in arrears upwards of seven years! Now, as I have served them so long, I think it is time, aye and high time too, that they gave me my outset, for they may verily believe that my every-day clothes are nearly worn out. N. B. Gentlemen, If you have not ready money with you, still think of the printer; and when you have read this advertisement and considered it, you cannot but say, come, dame, (especially you inquisitive wedded men, let the bachelors take it to themselves,) let us send the poor printer a few gammons, or some meal, some butter, cheese, poultry, &c."

Cosby died suddenly, in 1735, and after disputes between members of the Council as to who was entitled to act ad interim, George Clarke, in 1736, was made governor. The Assembly took ground against any but an annual grant for revenues, and this policy was thereafter adhered to in New York. Clarke, offended at their proceedings, dissolved the Assembly; the popular party, however, triumphed in the new election. A portion of their address to the Governor is worthy of quotation: "We therefore beg leave to be plain with your honor, and hope you will not take it amiss when we tell you, that you are not to expect that we will either raise sums unfit to be raised, or put what we shall raise into the power of a governor to misapply, if we can prevent it; nor shall we make up any other deficiencies than what we conceive fit and just to be paid; nor continue what support or revenue we shall raise, for any longer time than one year; nor do we think it convenient to do even that, until such laws are passed as we conceive necessary for the safety of the inhabitants of this colony, who have reposed a trust in us for that only purpose, and which we are sure you will think it reasonable we should act agreeably to; and by the grace of God we shall endeavor not to deceive them."

Clarke deemed it unwise to enter into a contest with men who avowed their sentiments thus decidedly, and so he promised his co-operation in all measures calculated to promote the welfare of the province. In his speech, however, at the opening of the next session, he declared that unless the revenue was granted for as long a time as it had been granted by former Assemblies, his duty to his majesty forbade him from assenting to any act for continuing the excise, or for paying the colonial bills of credit. The House unanimously resolved, that it would not pass any bill for the grant of money, unless assurance should be given that the excise should be continued, and the bills of credit redeemed. He thereupon immediately ordered the members to attend him. He told them that "their proceedings were presumptuous, daring, and unprecedented; that he could not look upon