mutually covenanting to hold the fort for that prince. Until this time,
Colonel Dougan continued in the harbor, waiting the issues of these
commotions, and Nicholson's party, being unable longer to contend with
their opponents, were totally dispersed, the lieutenant-governor
himself absconding on the very night after the declaration was signed.

Leisler, being in complete possession of the fort, sent home an address
to King William and Queen Mary, as soon as he received the news of their
accession to the throne. The address was a tedious, incorrect, ill-drawn
narrative of the grievances which the people had endured and the methods
lately taken to secure themselves, ending with a recognition of the king
and queen over the whole English dominion. This address was soon
followed by a private letter from Leisler to King William, which, in
very broken English, informed his majesty of the state of the garrison,
the repairs he had made to it, and the temper of the people, and
concluded with a strong protestation of his sincerity, loyalty and zeal.

Jost Stoll, an ensign, on delivering this letter, had the honor to kiss
his majesty's hand; but Nicholson, the lieutenant-governor, and one
Ennis, an Episcopal clergyman, arrived in England before him, and by
falsely representing the late measures in New York, as proceeding rather
from their aversion to the Church of England than zeal for the Prince of
Orange, Leisler and his party were deprived of the rewards and notice
which their activity for the revolution justly warranted. Though the
king made Stoll the bearer of his thanks to the people for their
fidelity, he so little regarded Leisler's complaints against Nicholson,
that the latter was soon after made the governor of Virginia, while
Dougan returned to Ireland and became Earl of Limerick.

Leisler's sudden rise to supreme power over the province, with fair
prospects of King William's approbation of his conduct, could but excite
the envy and jealousy of the late council and magistrates, who had
refused to join in aiding the revolution; and hence the cause of all
their aversion both to the man and his measures. Colonel Bayard and
Courtland, the mayor of the city, headed the opposition to Leisler, and,
finding it impossible to raise a party against him in the city, they
very early retired to Albany, and there endeavored to foment the
opposition. Leisler, fearful of their influence, and to extinguish the
jealousy of the people,