546 Slide – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

514 XY. AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

ered the commission as directed to himself, and esteemed his
authority to have received the royal sanction. By advice of
the committee of safety, he now assumed the title of lieuten-
ant governor. To add strength to his party, a convention
was summoned of deputies from all the towns to which his in-
fluence extended, and various regulations were adopted for
the temporary government of the province.

Nicholas Bayard, a member of the Albany convention, be-
ing found in New York, was arrested and imprisoned for
high misdemeanors, and for certain libellous writings, con-
taining ‘‘execrable lies and pernicious falsehoods.”’ The con-
vention at Albany was dissolved, the members took refuge in
the neighboring colonies, and there was soon no open and
organized opposition to Leisler’s authority. King William
had received Leisler’s messenger in a flattering manner; but
Nicholson, who had arrived in England, contrived to poison
the royal ear against the man who first raised the standard
of the revolution in New York, and Leisler vainly waited for
any express confirmation of his power, or thanks for his ef-
forts in the cause of his sovereign.

Sloughter* was eppointed governor in 1689; arriving in
New York in March, 1691, he sent Ingolsby to demand the
surrender of the fort. Leisler’a feara for his safety, or his
love of power, overcame his prudence, and he refused to
obey, thus giving his enemies a pretense for his destruction,
which otherwise they would have vainly sought im all his
acts. A second demand was made, but Leisler knew that his
enemies had obtained the ear of the governor, and, in the
effort of folly and despair to secure his own safety, he still
hesitated, but sent messengers to the governor, who were im-
mediately seized as rebels. Leisler now abandoned the fort,

‘Stovantss, Hevry. Appointed Governor of New York by
William of Orange, to sueceed Jacob Leisler; commission was dated
September, 1689, but beeause of delay in Hngland and mishaps to
his vessel ‘at Bermuda, Sloughter did not reach New York until
1601; had Jacob Leisle and Jacob Miltorno hanged, May, 1681;

loughter died suddenly, in New York, July 23, 1691,
erts, New York, Vol L)” duly 28, (See Role