roclamation; and if you hear that
they persevere with such intentions, so to disturb the inhabitants of
this county, that you then, in the name and behalf of the convention and
inhabitants of the city and county of Albany, protest against the said
Leisler, and all such persons that shall make attempt for all losses,
damages, bloodshed, or whatsoever mischiefs may insue thereon; which you
are to communicate with all speed, as you perceive their design."

Taking it for granted that Leisler at New York and the convention at
Albany were equally affected by the revolution, nothing could be more
egregiously foolish than the conduct of both parties, who, by their
intestine divisions, threw the province into convulsions, sowing the
seeds of mutual hatred and animosity, which, for a long time after,
greatly embarrassed the public affairs of the colony. When Albany
declared for the Prince of Orange, there was nothing else that Leisler
could properly require; and, rather than sacrifice the public peace of
the province to the trifling honor of resisting a man who had no civil
designs, Albany ought to have delivered the garrison into his hands,
until the king's orders were received; but while Leisler was intoxicated
with his new-gotten power, Bayard, Courtland and Schuyler, on the other
hand could not brook a submission to the authority of a man, mean in his
abilities and inferior in his degree. Animated by these feelings both
sides prepared for hostilities. Mr. Livingston, a principal agent for
the convention, retired into Connecticut to solicit aid for the
protection of the frontier against the French. Leisler, suspecting that
these forces were to be used against him, endeavored to have Livingston
arrested as an aider and abettor of the French and the deposed King
James.

The son-in-law of Leisler, Jacob Milborne, was commissioned for the
reduction of Albany. Upon his arrival before the city, a great number of
the inhabitants armed themselves and repaired to the fort, then
commanded by Mr. Schuyler, while many others followed the members of the
convention to a conference with him at the city hall. In order to win
the crowd over to his side, Milborne declaimed much against King James,
popery and arbitrary power; but his oratory was lost upon the hearers,
who, after several meetings, still adhered to the convention. Milborne
drew up a few of his men in line of battle and advanced to within a few
paces of the fort with bayonets fixe