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PEACE.

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the deserted village. One aged chief alone remained within the rude fortification to receive them. He was at once delivered over to the French Indians to be put to death. Although upward of one hundred years old, he bore the tortures they inflicted upon him with the most unflinching firmness. Exasperated by his stoical indifference, one of the savages at length stabbed him with a knife. "You had better," said he, "let me die by fire, that these French dogs may learn to die like men. You Indians, you dogs of dogs, think of me when you are in a like condition."

The death of this one aged and heroic Onondaga was the only result of an invasion which threatened the entire extermination of the Iroquois.

As soon as Frontenac commenced his return to Canada, the Onondagas harassed his rear, and succeeded in cutting off several of his batteaux. A desultory warfare followed, which was terminated in 1699 by the peace of Ryswick.

CHAPTER X.

Arrival of Bellamont-Ordered to suppress piracy on the coast -Fletcher discountenanced-Exultation of the popular party -Captain Kidd commissioned to apprehend the piratesTurns pirate himself Appears in Boston-Is arrested and sent to England for trial-Commotion in England-Address of Bellamont to the assembly-His popularity-Engages in a controversy with Frontenac-French treaty with the Indians-Law passed by the assembly against Roman Catholic priests-Death of Bellamont-Nanfan lieutenant-governorAppointment of Cornbury-His character-Attaches himself to the Royalists-Is granted a donation-Second intercolonial war- -Money appropriated for fortifying the Narrows-Embezzled by Cornbury-Difficulties with the assembly-Distrust of Cornbury-His profligate career-Petitions for his recall-Arrival of Lord Lovelace-Cornbury arrested for debt -His return to England.

On the 18th of June, 1697, Richard, Earl of Bellamont, received a commission as Governor of New York; but meeting on his voyage with contrary winds, did not arrive in the province until the 2d of April, 1698. Having been one of the committee to which was intrusted an examination into the conduct of the party by which Leisler and Milbourne had been sacrificed, he was already tolerably well informed in relation to the affairs of the province. As his commission embraced also the provinces of Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, in order that he might be enabled the more effectually to suppress the piracy

1698.]

BELLAMONT GOVERNOR.

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which had for a long time been notoriously encouraged on the coasts of North America, he brought over with him his kinsman, John Nanfan, as lieutenant-governor of New York.

The administration of Fletcher had given as little satisfaction in England as it had in the province over which he had exercised the authority of governor. The impunity with which the buccaneers had visited the harbour of New York was imputed to his encouragement and connivance. Bellamont, an able and upright man, soon exhibited his abhorrence of such proceedings, by regarding Fletcher and his adherents with disfavour. Elated at finding themselves once more under an executive who was disposed to consult the good of the province, rather than the elevation of an aristocratic faction, the popular party hailed his administration with delight; and the friends of the murdered Leisler, favoured by Bellamont, soon found themselves in a majority, both in the council and in the assembly.

In view of his orders to suppress piracy in America, Bellamont, previous to his leaving England, had made the acquaintance of Robert Livingston, who recommended that the apprehension of the pirates should be intrusted to Captain Kidd, a shipmaster of New York, who was well acquainted with their haunts, and whom he vouched for as a man of courage and integrity. The proposal was submitted to the king; but

as all the vessels in the royal navy were required to operate against the French, for the war had not then closed, the project could not be entertained by the Admiralty. Livingston then proposed the formation of a company, to be indemnified out of the recaptures, and offered to defray the fifth part of the cost and charges of a vessel, and to enter into bonds for the faithful performance of his commission by Kidd. To evince his approval of the design, the king took a tenth share himself, and Somers, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Shrewsbury, the Earls of Romney, Oxford, and others joined in the adventure, and raised the sum of six thousand pounds to carry it into effect. In April, 1696, Kidd, duly commissioned, sailed for Plymouth; but turning pirate himself, carried the vessel into the eastern seas, where he committed great depredations. After securing the wealth thus villanously acquired, he burned his ship, and returning to America, took up his residence at Boston. At this place, in 1698, he was arrested by Bellamont, who having advised the English government of the capture, a man-of-war was sent over to convey the prisoner to England. Being driven back to port in a storm, a rumour was spread that the ministry then in power were in collusion with the buccaneers, and were afraid to have Kidd brought back to England, lest he should implicate the whig lords as having confederated with him for pirati

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ADDRESS TO THE ASSEMBLY.

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cal purposes. These suspicions becoming general, a motion was made in the House of Commons, that all who had been concerned in the original adventure with Kidd, should be deprived of their offices under the government. This motion being lost by a large majority, several of the adventurers were next impeached in the House of Lords. They were soon after put upon their trial, and from the facts then elicited, were honourably acquitted by their peers.

The first assembly convened by Bellamont, met on the 18th of May. In his opening address, the new governor pointed out the disorderly condition into which the province had fallen through the culpable negligence, favouritism, and covetous spirit of his predecessor. Reminding the members that the revenue required to be provided for, he added: "It would be hard if I, that come among you with an honest mind, and a resolution to be just to your interest, should meet with greater difficulties in the discharge of his majesty's service than those who have gone before me. I will take care that there shall be no misapplication of the public money. I will pocket none of ' it myself, nor shall there be any embezzlement by others; but exact accounts shall be given you, when, and as often as you require.”

The custom adopted by Fletcher of influencing elections by his personal presence, was firmly discountenanced by Bellamont, who recommended