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Introduction to the History of the Revolt of the American Colonies (The Era of the American revolution)
Introduction to the History of the Revolt of the American Colonies - The Era of the American revolution Author:George Chalmers Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER V. New York. — Disputes between the Assembly and Governor Hunter.— The Assembly makes a Compromise with the Governor, in relation to his Salary. — Pap... more »er Money. — Governor Burnet's Administration. — The Revenue granted to him. — Indian Trade. — Burnet's Complaints to the Board of Trade, respecting the Conduct of the French. — The Assembly maintains and exercises the Right of appropriating Money, without the Cooperation of the Governor, and of establishing the Salaries of Civil Officers. So greatly had the province of New York prospered during the foregoing reign, notwithstanding internal contests and foreign warfare, that it contained, at the accession of George the First, twenty-seven thousand planters, who enjoyed the labor of four thousand slaves; and to these numbers were daily added the numerous emigrants from New England and from Ireland, who, while they augmented their population, confirmed their principles. Their commerce of peltry, of provisions, of naval stores, and of lumber, required seven thousand five hundred tons of shipping, which were navigated by fifteen hundred men. The provincials lived under a royal but feeble government, composed of a governor and twelve counsellors, who were appointed by the king; of a body of nineteen representatives, who were chosen by the freeholders. And under this form they enjoyed some degree of tranquillity at the joyful commencement of the present reign, because men's hopes and fears were suspended. Confusion, however, was expected from the choice of the new delegates, subsequent to the demise of the crown, since " their ill-humor had grown upon forbearance, and the threatening mandates of the late reign were regarded as bullying letters." With these prospects before him, Hunter exclaimed, " Happy he who has nothing t...« less