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of independence, but with the idea that a national union of colonies in America would redound to the glory of Great Britain. When it became apparent that the design of the French was to supplant the English in America, a prominent citizen of New Jersey, Daniel Coxe, published a volume in London (1722) in which he proposed that all the English colonies in America should be united by a national covenant, in a national government, over which a supreme viceroy or governor, appointed by the crown, should preside in some part of America, and the governors of the several colonies should be subordinate to him; and also that there should be a general congress of deputies chosen by the several colonies to promote unity of action in times of danger. Men of all shades of political opinion made similar suggestions; and Dinwiddie, governor of Virginia, recommended, not only a union of the colonies for mutual defence, but a confederation of the Indians then friendly toward the English, with the tribes more in the interior and under the influence of the French.

Meanwhile, there had been several conventions of the leading men of the colonies, as in the case of the convention at New London, Connecticut, in 1711, when the land and naval expeditions were sent under Colonel Nicholson on land and Sir Hovenden Walker by sea, which failed, as seen. In

1722, a congress of colonial officials and Indian sachems was held at Albany for the promotion of a friendly feeling and the strengthening of the alliance then existing with the Iroquois confederacy. In 1744, a similar congress for the same purposes met at Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

These colonial congresses began to exhibit a tendency toward a national union. After news had reached the colonies of a preliminary treaty of peace having been signed by the commissioners of England and France, a colonial congress was held at Albany (1748) which certainly looked more toward a national union than for defence. This congress was convened for a two-fold purpose. The antagonisms between the royal governors and the people were alarming to the crown officers in America, and the latter wished to secure a colonial revenue through British interference, and not be subjected, in the matter, to the will or caprice of colonial assemblies. Foremost among these crown officers who were willing to abridge the rights of the people, were Governor Clinton of New York and Governor Shirley of Massachusetts. They promoted the assembling of the congress with a hope that that body would favor their scheme, and both were there with their political friends. Another purpose of the meeting was the strengthening of the bond of friendship between the Six Nations

and their savage neighbors on the west and the English. A vast concourse of barbarians were there, and, while the royal governors gained nothing for themselves, a very satisfactory arrangement was made with the Indians. They agreed that no Frenchman should abide within their borders, also, not to send any delegation to Canada, and to have their warriors ready for the service of the English whenever they should be called upon.

That there was a crisis in political affairs in the colonies, every one knew. Nothing but the French and Indian wars prevented it coming sooner than it did. The royal governors saw that something must speedily be done to curb the democratic spirit. of the people, or local self-government would supersede royal authority. It was necessary to convince Parliament of this truth. Only through the Lords of Trade and Plantations could this be done. This was the board or committee appointed by the crown in 1696, to whom was entrusted a general oversight of the affairs of the American colonies. It was originally composed of seven members and a president. To them the royal governors were requested to give frequent and full information of the condition of their respective governments concerning political and commercial affairs, and particularly of the proceedings of the assemblies; also, of the appropriations for the public service and

how they were expended. To this board the royal agents in the colonies addressed their letters, and Frothingham says:

"It was the lion's mouth into which the accusations and complaints against the colonies were indiscriminately cast.

In order to arouse the Lords of Trade and Plantations to action, some overt act of disobedience must be obtained against the colonies. The bluff Admiral Clinton, Governor of New York was selected as the proper person to bring on the crisis, though each governor had some grievance to lay before the board.

Governor Clinton was not long in finding an occasion for quarrel with the New York assembly. He demanded of that body an appropriation for the support of the government for five years next ensuing, with a view of making himself, as governor, independent of the assembly. Of course they

refused compliance with his demands as he expected, and he then warned them of the danger of incurring the displeasure of Parliament, and dissolved the assembly. He wrote letters to the Lords of Trade, complaining of the rebellious tendencies of a greater part of the assembly whom he charged with "claiming all the powers and privileges of Parliament," asserting that they had "set up the people as the high court of American appeal, that

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they had "virtually assumed all of the public money into their own hands, and issued it without warrant from the governor," and, also had assumed the right to nominate all officers of government; to reward all services by granting salaries annually,

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not to the office, but by name to the person in the office," concluding that the system if not speedily remedied, would affect the dependency of the colonies on the crown. "I beseech his majesty, through the Lords of Trade and Plantations your honorable body, to make a good example for all America, by regulating the government of New York. Until that is done, I cannot meet the assembly without danger of exposing the king's authority and myself to contempt.'

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As the authorities at home did not come immediately to his relief, he became involved in a bitter quarrel with the assembly of New York and finally abandoned the government in disgust, and returned home. He was succeeded by Sir Danvers Asborne, who came with orders to demand from the assembly a permanent revenue to be disbursed solely by himself. His council assured him that the assembly would refuse compliance with the demand. He became involved in a bitter wrangle and ended by committing suicide by hanging himself with his pocket handkerchief to the garden fence at his lodgings in New York.

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