e with any country except England; hard laws, that were constantly
broken, for the merchants could not see why they should not trade with
anyone they saw fit. Bellomont was so strict in enforcing these laws and
in collecting duties that he made more enemies, who sought his recall.

Nevertheless many improvements were carried out while Bellomont was
Governor. A first effort was made to light the streets, which had, up
to this time, only had the light of the moon at night. This was done by
a lantern with a candle in it hung on a pole from the window of every
seventh house. A night-watch was also established, consisting of four
men.

After Bellomont had been Governor for a few years, what remained of the
city wall was removed, and Wall Street had its beginning on the line of
the old wall. The same year the old Stadt Huys was found to be in a
state of decay. Then a new city hall was erected on the new Wall Street,
close by where Nassau Street now touches it. There were dungeons in the
new building for criminals, cells in the attic for debtors, and a
court-room on the main floor.

[Illustration: New City Hall in Wall Street.]

The first library, under the name of the Corporation Library, was
opened in the City Hall. This is the library that afterward became the
Society Library. It is still in existence, and now has its home in
University Place.

All in all, Lord Bellomont was a good Governor, who did much for the
people, and much to make the city an agreeable place to live in; and
there was deep regret when he died suddenly in the year 1701. He was
buried in the chapel in the fort, and as an especial honor to his
memory his coat-of-arms was fixed on the wall of the new City Hall in
Wall Street. This was a great honor, even though the fickle people, a
few years later, when a new Governor came, did tear down the arms and
burn them in the street.

John Nanfan, the Lieutenant-Governor, took command of the province until
news reached the city that Lord Cornbury had been appointed Governor.
Nicholas Bayard, who had made such a bitter fight against Leisler, and
who had been imprisoned so long, hated Governor Nanfan, because Nanfan
was a friend of the people who called themselves the Leislerian party.
So Bayard sent an address to Lord Cornbury saying that Nanfan was an
enemy. But Nanfan arrested Bayard, and had him tried under the self-same
act under which Leisler had been tried. This act pronounced traitors
anyone who should