sent, from Berkeley and Carteret, to the Governor and Council,--a Paper explanatory of the Concessions; and a Declaration to the People of the Province; both papers designed and adapted to sustain Gov. Philip Carteret in his pretensions. In their Response to the Petition of the Representatives, they give them no encouragement of redress, but promise to consider their case, if they should send over any person to make good their Allegations. Pardon had secured an order of indemnity "for the several Indignities, Losses, and Injuries done unto him by Wm. Mecker, Constable of Elizabeth Town, his Assistants and all others concerned." *

The first recorded proceeding of Dep. Gov. Berry and his Council, after the reception of these papers, was the issuing of a proclamation, May 21, 1673, forbidding all persons to buy the estates of Meeker and his associates, if offered for sale, of which the constable of the town was to notify the people. An order was published, the next day, requiring all malcontents-"those persons who were the chief actors in attempting the making an alteration in the government," to make "their submission at the town of Bergen," on "the 10th day of June next ensuing," "when such as are conscious of their offences may repair to crave remission, and after that time to expect no favour but what the Law affords."+

Not content with this exhibition of power, they issued on the same day a Proclamation, in which they reminded the people, that, according to the Declaration of the L. Proprietors,

No person or persons whatever shall be accounted a freeholder of the province, nor have any vote in electing, nor be capable of being elected for any office of trust, either civil or military, until he doth actually hold his or their lands by patent from them.

Therefore, they required all who desired to be regarded as freeholders to repair to the Secretary of the Province, to obtain warrants for surveys; or if already furnished with such

Leaming and Spicer, pp. 32-41. E. J. Records, III. 64,

† E. J. Records, III. 82.

warrants, then to obtain patents in due form, within a limited time; ten weeks being allowed the people of this town:

And whosoever shall neglect so to do within the time limited as aforesaid shall lose the benefit of the L. Proprietors' favour in the premises and forfeit such lands as they are settled upon and pretend unto.

With so high a hand, did Berry,

"Armed with a little brief authority,"

proceed to carry out his instructions. Such measures, so far from conciliating the disaffected, and uniting the discordant elements of the population, tended directly to kindle anew, and with redoubled fury, the flames of strife and bitterness. So slow were the Stuarts and their creatures in learning the very first rudiments of social and political economy! *

Meeker and his associates were brought to trial, June 24, 1673, for the damage done to Pardon the year before; and, of course, they were cast; Meeker being condemned to forfeit his estate to Pardon, and the others to pay each £10. Meeker was afterwards remunerated by the people, at least in part, for his losses in this affair.

To counteract and nullify the designs and measures of their now exultant adversaries, it was determined to send a messenger, with a suitable petition, to the authorities in England. At the "Town Meeting, July 1st, 1673," of the Newark people,

It was Voted and agreed by the General and universal Consent and Vote of all our People, that there should be an Address by way of Petition, sent to the Lords Proprietors of this Province, for the removing of the Greviances incumbent, and obtaining of what may be necessary for the Good of the Province.t

A committee of five men were chosen "to consider with the messengers from the other Towns about sending a Petition to England." Also "to agree with Mr. Delevall [of New York], the father-in-law of Capt. Carteret, about Money to send a Messenger to England." The same course, doubtless, was taken by this town.

E. J Records, III

† Newark Town Records, p. 50

Many of the first settlers, here and at Newark, were personally known to Mr. John Winthrop, Governor of Connecticut, "the most accomplished scholar and gentleman of New England," an humble and devout Christian, and of influence second to none in America. He was personally known to. Berkeley and Carteret, having spent a considerable time at court in 1662, in negotiating the Charter of Connecticut. A full representation of the case is made to him; and in connection with Mr. Samuel Willis, one of the Magistrates at Hartford, he wrote, July 2, 1673, to Sir George Carteret, at London, as follows:

Right Honourable: There having divers persons of good repute and approved integrity who were formerly improved in publicke offises in this Colony, viz: Mr Jaspar Crane, Mr John Odgden, Mr Robert Bond, Mr Abraham Peirson, Mr Brewen with many of their Lovinge Neighbours and friends wel disposed men, of sober and peaceable conversation did Transplant themselves And famalys into your Honours Province, who beinge persons well known to us, But strangers to your Honour desired us to give you our Carracter of them that soe they might not bee misrepresented, whose presence in this Colony was both acceptable, and usefull; and theire return To us would bee very gratfull. But that wee would promote in your Honour's Colony that good worke of subduing the Earth and replenishinge of it, which in this remote, desert part of the world never Formerly inhabited nor Cultivated is A very difficulte worke, and requires much hard Labour, to subdue so Ruff and woody A wildernesse. In this Cold Clymet where clothinge is very Deare, beinge so far distant From the Market. Soe that the people will need the more encouragement which we doubt not upon all occasions will be afforded them. Upon which the progresse and prosperity of your province doth depend. In order to which we would further make bould to suggest unto your Honours Wisdome and prudence, As very expedient, that your Colony be Branched out into Convenient Townshipps, which we finde Best Conducinge to Safty and the advansinge of Civil Societays. Thus wishinge your Honour all prosperity in the well settlement of this your American Province-wee are, &c.

Of this letter, so complimentary to the early settlers of this neighborhood, and so complete a vindication of those worthy men from the aspersions then and now cast upon them, Capt. Berry presently received kuowledge, and, supposing that it was designed to induce the New England people to return to Connecticut, he wrote in remonstrance, and received, by

Capt. Nicolls, a reply from Winthrop, dated July 29, 1673, in which, after correcting Berry's misapprehensions, he says:

It hath beene very farr from my acting or intentions to incourage or invite any one to a removall thence. I have often at their first beginning there and since, as I had occasion, incouraged that good publicke designe of planting that place, and am alwaies desirous to promote the prosperous increase of those plantations, and therein, and all other good respects to be ever Your very reall servant.*

It is not known whether the messenger, with the people's petition and Gov. Winthrop's introductory letter, was sent or not. Circumstances occurred soon after, that suddenly put an end to these negotiations, and brought the town into entirely new and unexpected relations.

3 Mass. His. Soc. Coll., X. 85, 6.

CHAPTER VIII.

A. D. 1673-1674.

Departure of James Carteret and Hopkins - Vessel captured by the Dutch — Hopkins discloses the weakness of N. Y.-Capture of the City by the Dutch -Deputation from E. Town at N. Y.-N. Jersey yields to the Dutch - Land Claims confirmed - New Officials-Recusancy of Vauquellin-Census of E. T. Men-Notices of the new Comers-Militia Officers-Edicts -- Indian Depredations Monthly Day of Prayer appointed - Legislative Assembly -Redress of Injuries - Termination of Dutch Rule.

CAPT. JAMES CARTERET had scarcely completed his honeymoon, before he received, by Capt. Bollen, dispatches and instructions from his aged father, requiring him to retire from the scene of conflict in New Jersey, and look after his patrimony in Carolina. He was now the only surviving son of his father, his elder brother, Sir Philip, having been slain in battle, almost a year before,--May 28, 1672. Bidding farewell, therefore, to the kind people of the town, he took passage, with his wife, early in July, 1673, (after nearly two years' sojourn in the town), on board of a sloop, Samuel Davis, captain, bound for a southern port. Samuel Hopkins, one of the planters of the town, accompanied them. England had now been at war with the United Provinces of Holland since March of the previous year. The fleets of the contending parties were traversing the seas in search of merchantmen, rendering navigation peculiarly hazardous.

As Davis's sloop was entering between the Capes of Virginia, a Dutch fleet was seen coming out of James River, where, July 11th, they had captured, "near Point Comfort," several English vessels. The sloop was speedily overhauled and added to the list of prizes. Capt. Carteret and his wife