Jacob Leisler Papers Sample Transcription:

Leisler to Gov. Robert Treat

New York, January 1, 1691

Leisler's program for New York, based on popular sovereignty, abolition of monopolies, and restoration of traditional corporate liberties, made him widely popular from the Chesapeake to New England. To plan an attack on French Catholic Quebec, he organized in May 1690 the first intercolonial congress in American history in which all of England's North American colonies participated except Pennsylvania and Virginia (Maryland's delegates arrived late). At the same time, Leisler's zealousness in rooting out opposition and imprisoning of its leaders distanced him from the more conservative New England leadership. Pro- and anti-Leisler factions vied for policy control in New England, making Leisler's relations with those governments erratic. With the August 1690 collapse of the Quebec expedition and spreading word of the failure of Leisler's lobby in London, anti-Leislerians, influenced by New Yorker-in-exile Robert Livingston, gained domination over Massachusetts' and Connecticut's policy. A September proposal to Connecticut for a meeting at Rye, New York to plan for the defense of Albany against the French went unanswered. this January 1, 1691, letter to Connecticut Governor Robert Treat, written in response to a demeaning December 1, 1690, letter from anti-Leislerian Connecticut Secretary John Allyn, reveals Leisler's increasing frustration with the Connecticut government.

New Yorke January the 1st 1690/91

Honorable Sirs

Long have I waited for an answer to my Proposall relating to persons that should have beene empowered to meet at Rye, for consulting what might be requisite in this conjuncture for securing Albany &c. but hitherto have obtained no returne which denotes your unconcernednesse therein. Although I received lately a letter of a long date (vizt) Xber 1st (signed by Your Secretary per your Order, making no mention of mine sent Your Honors & the Generall Court or others) But in a stile as abstruce as it is malicious and Menacing.

Certainly if you believe that I dare be faithfull to the Kings Interest or the true publick weale, You cannot expect that I should omit dealing so plainly with you considering your behavior to me and this Province, by your breach of Covenant, insolent obtrusions, invading our Province, and defeating (what in you lay) those measures and undertakings to maintaine their Majesties dignity, to secure against and damnifie the Enemies of both; Exhorting you once againe to make due reflection, and shew some marks that may manifest it.

You cry out as condemned Fiends fearing to be tormented before your time; your dangers not taking that effect to use the meanes for preventing what impends, vizt, Men, Money, Provisions, or so much as a Capitulation concerning them, but fearfull Expectations of the Event; You allaying the Torment by conceiving of the numbers who may accompany you in the misery, rather than contrive auxiliaryes for releife; as appeares by that part of your letter vizt.

"You recommend that Albany may be well guarded, and made able to defend itselfe against any of the Assaults of the Enemy, which if neglected, it may be a discouragement if not the losse of the Five Nations, as well as of that Place, which will be a damage to our Lord the King & to all New England, as well as the Province of New York; farther I am to signifie to you what I have done, with my opinion of what is farther necessary to be done, which you are pleased to say shall be welcome."

St. James highly condemns those Hypocrites, who, instead of affording their charity gave the advice only, to be cloathed & warmed, although they did not upbraid them with the consequences that necessarily must ensue their indigence, conceiving their witholding from them and their duty Crime Sufficient without mocking them, and Divelry of insulting over them, vizt, that they should be called to an account for being starved, although (by charity) it was out of their Power to prevent. But that the World may see how far you are addicted thereunto, You play the Extent of the Game, Fancying if you can but patch up something looking like Loyall care in loosing the Kings Post by your owne default, (reflecting upon mee) that it answers the calls of God, your Prince, and trust the Country reposeth in you.

But mistake not yourselves to imagine such Fig leaves suffcient covering for your strenious evills, which that you may be more capable of accomplishing what already you have not compleated to the extent of your treachery, de novo you make the invitation that I would once againe shew you where my strength lyes, thereby to consider in your discretion in what part, and how far you may consummate the victory you have so long promised to yourselves & confederates.

But my thinkes to have the los of all New England attributed to mee as well as this Province is too much to lye at stake, for when I never was entrusted with the consults of any of those Colonyes, more then the Suffrages admitted me at the unanimous Result primo May last to which I referre the world to Judge of; And do declare my opinion absolutely herein, vizt. It is indifferent to me whether Don Quixote encounters with a Flock of Sheep or Windmills.

Good God, to what excess do men run themselves into, neither regarding morality or the legible proceedings of the Creator, when his Judgments are abroad and carry such remarkable stamps of punishing these Territories, without taking notice of the controversy, and warning us not to trust to our owne crafty inventions or formidable Powers, unlesse our intentions are pure, whereby they may qualifie us to call for a blessing, and so modestly hope for successe, contrary to guile and base Arts shifting the misfortunes (or rather proper Effects) upon those who never were thought worthy of consulting the Enterprize.

For my Part I must owne mine and the Iniquties of this Province, and that we have highly as well as justly merited whatever may befall us, and in a sence thereof acknowledge that it is the Lords mercy & long suffering that we are not consumed, not only for our accustomed Vices, but in an especiall manner for our ingratitutde under so marvelous a Deliverance, neither dare depend on any Arm of Flesh, farther then the obligations of my duty and endeavours subservient to our great Masters requirement and Governance.

I am the same time to acquaint you that the new Indian word is Stae or Staw, those 5 nations hitherto assuring us of their constancy we entertaine with suitable encouragements; and wish that there was not renewed occasions to remind your unrighteously practices in Countenancing & supporting Mr. Livingston & others to take Sanctuary amongst you, after repeated reasons of Fact which calls them to justice in this Province, to which they relate, and that once at last, you would thinke it time to make good what all nations would count obliging to performe (except yourselves) Vizt the Provisions, Ammunition, and other Disbursements to your Orders & Promises, whereby I may be so much the more advanced to do what you threaten me if I should neglect. I meane performing my duty with the money, which this Province hath entrusted me withall & that unaccountable article of yours, which was altogether mistaken in. Hoping God Almighty will thinke upon us for his owne, and the poor Protestant Cause sake; I am

yours as you have uneighbourly dealt withall.

Jacob Leisler

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