received instructions from the Proprietors, dated Nov. 13, 1684, requiring that the new town of Perth Amboy be henceforth regarded as the capital of the Province; that the Court. of Common Right, if possible, be always held there; "and that all other necessary Courts, as also the Assembly (when called) do sit there; and particularly the Deputy Governor, for the time being, do inhabit there, and convene his Council. in the said town of Perth." * Notwithstanding this order, Lawrie continued to reside in this town during his continuance in office and until his death. So that no Assembly having been convened during 1684 and 5, this town remained the virtual capital almost to the close of his administration. In May, 1685, tidings were received of the death, Feb. 6, 1684, of Charles II., and of the peaceful accession of the Duke of York, James II., to the throne. The news created a profound sensation here, as well as elsewhere throughout the Colonies. James was an avowed Papist. The Puritan population hated Popery with perfect hatred, and dreaded greatly the influence of a Papal Sovereign, especially one so unscrupulous as James;-"a libertine without love, a devotee without spirituality, an advocate of toleration without a sense of the natural right to freedom of conscience, in him the muscular force prevailed over the intellectual;" so that "he floated between the sensuality of indulgence and the sensuality of superstition." + Dongan, the Governor of New York, a Papist also, had kept up the agitation, begun by Andros, respecting the union of the two Colonies under one head,-a project that now was likely to be effectively prosecuted. This state of, alarm continued to the end of Lawrie's rule, and tended to promote peace between him and the people. A difficulty sprang up about this time between this town and Newark, as appears from a vote of the latter town, March 9, 168, when certain persons were "chosen as a Committee to treat with Elizabeth Town about the Bounds, and to issue Leaming and Spicer, p. 199. ↑ Bancroft's U, States, II. 408. it with them if they can; "-a vote renewed, April 5th, 1686, and Jan. 24, 1689.* A General Assembly being needed, it was called, obedient to instructions, to meet at "Amboy Perth," Ap. 6, 1686; and from this time Amboy became the seat of government for the Province. The Court of Common Right, the Supreme Court of the Province, was ordered, by Act of Assembly, to be held semi-annually at Amboy, on the pretence that it was more conveniently situated, and near the centre of the Province, and the most encouraging place for trade and traffick by sea and land, which will occasion great concourse of people:" an expectation yet remaining to be fulfilled.† The Quaker Rule had now continued about four years, long enough to give it a fair trial. The Proprietors had been at great expense in sending over colonists and all manner of necessary material for the planting of towns and the cultivation of the soil, but had been greatly disappointed in the results. The Indian titles had not been surrendered, the rents came in slowly, and the prospect of regular dividends was quite unpromising. It was intimated that Lawrie, as well as Rudyard, was more intent on securing the best lands for himself, than on promoting the interests of the Proprie tors. A change is agreed upon. A new Deputy must be appointed-not, however, a Quaker. A large proportion of the present Proprietors are Presbyterians-and these had sent over a considerable number of Colonists of like faith. The old Puritan settlers would greatly prefer a Presbyterian to an Episcopalian like Carteret, or a Quaker, as Lawrie was -as Rudyard had been. Lord Neill Campbell receives the appointment.+ Newark Town Records, pp. 97, 9, 100. † Leaming and Spicer, pp. 283, 293. - CHAPTER XII. A. D. 1686-1702. Lord Campbell, Dep. Gov. — And. Hamilton, Dep. Gov. - French War-Rates - THE history of the town has thus far been, to a considerable extent, identified with the history of the province. As the place of the Governor's residence, and of the meetings of the General Assembly, it exerted a powerful influence over public affairs. Gradually, however, as it ceased to be the provincial metropolis, and the patronage of the Proprietary government was withdrawn, and expended on their favorite project, the establishment of a great commercial mart at the mouth of the Raritan, it lost, in part, its paramount influence, and its prominence in the provincial history. Some years, however, elapsed before Amboy became a desirable place of residence, and the comfortable government-house in this town, erected by Carteret, held out superior attractions, and was at least occasionally occupied by the representatives of the Proprietors. Lord Neill Campbell was the brother of that "excellent. and truly great and good man," Archibald Campbell, Earl of Argyle, who, in defence of the Church of Scotland, and in dread of the restoration of Popery by the cruel and intolerant James II., had adhered to the Duke of Monmonth, taken up arms against the government, and, having been taken prisoner, was beheaded, June 30, 1685, at the Market-cross of Edinburgh. "So high did the tide run at this time against this noble and excellent family, that the Earl's brother, that excellent person, Lord Neill Campbell, could have no liberty to live at his own house, but was forced to go in the hazard of his life to America, and leave his lady and family behind him." His son, Archibald, however, who had been, Aug. 1, 1685, condemned to death for treason-which sentence was commuted, Aug.18th, to banishment,-accompanied his father, and a large company of servants, to this Province, of which he became an influential resident. Lord Neill, like his noble brother, was "heartily averse from prelacy and popery," and thoroughly a Presbyterian in his principles. He found a refuge and hearty welcome here, among his countrymen and fellow Proprietors. He arrived in the autumn of 1686, and, for a season, at least, became a resident of this town, and, probably, a guest of Gov. Lawrie. His commission, as Deputy Governor, was received about the 1st of Oct., 1686, and published on the 5th, at which time he took the oath of office. The town was represented in the Council, appointed on the 18th, by Gov. Lawrie, and Richard Townley. The latter had come over in 1683, with Francis Howard, Lord Effingham, Governor of Virginia, whence, in 1684, he found his way to this Province, and became a resident, and soon, by his marriage with Mrs. Carteret, and other wise, an influential citizen of this town, where his posterity still continue to reside. Mr. Townley was made Captain of the Train bands of this town, Dec. 10, 1686.* James II., having tried to the fullest extent the policy of persecution, was now gravitating towards toleration, in order to the restoration of Popery. Lord Neill must have become aware of it, many months before the Declaration of Indulgence, Ap. 4, 1687. He had not sought the post to which he had been appointed, and so relinquished it as soon as it was * Woodrow's Chh. of Scotland, IV. 43, 811, 320. pp. 21-3. E. J. Records, C., 115. Whitehead's E J., p. 117, and Amboy, possible for him in safety to rejoin his loved ones at home. Capt. Andrew Hamilton, of Amboy, who had come over in the autumn of 1684 (having previously been a merchant in Edinburgh), and had been one of Lord Neill's Council, was left in charge of the government, in March, 1687, and Gov. Campbell returned from exile to his home and estates in Scotland.* The invasion of the country of the Five Nations by the French from Canada, about this time, was filling the land with alarm. It gave occasion to a call of the General Assembly, to meet May 14, 1688, at Amboy, and for an assessment of a penny on the pound, for the service of his Majesty against the French; to be paid in Wheat, at 4s. and Indian Corn, 2s. a bushel; Butter, 6d. ; Pork, 24d.; Beef, 2d., and Tobacco, 24d. a pound; Land to be rated at £10. a hundred acres; Oxen of year old or more, £4; Cows of 3 years old or more, £3; Cattle of 3 years old £3, of two years old, £2, and yearlings, £1; Horses, of 3 years old or more, £3, two years old, £2, of one year, £1; and swine of one year old or more, 10s. a head. Benjamin Price, who, after the decease of John Ogden, seems to have been the leading man of the town, was appointed Assessor for this place.† 4 Dongan, the Governor of New York, in almost every dispatch to the authorities at home, was insisting on the necessity of including the Jerseys under the jurisdiction of New York: "There is an absolute necessity," he said, Feb. 22, 1687," those Provinces and that of Connecticutt bee annexed." The Mayor and Council of New York, also, in an Address to the King, March 2, 1687, insisted on "the absolute necessity there is that those adjacent parts of Connecticut, East and West Jersey, Pensilvania, should be united to the Province of New York." James required no urging. He was determined to reduce his American Provinces to his sovereign will, and to consolidate them under one rule. Sir Edmund Andros had already been commissioned, and sent over, as Capt. General of all New England, and was eagerly prosecuting the work of subverting the liberties of the elder com *Whitehead's E. J., pp. 118, 9, 120. t Leaming and Spicer, pp. 806-7. |