proprietors (who have all along been subject to and under the
protection of the Crown of England) by one Godfrey Dellius and
granted to him by patent under the seal of this province in the year
1696, which grant was afterwards resumed by act of Assembly whereby
they became vested in the Crown; on part of these lands I proposed to
settle some Scotch Highland familys who came hither last year, and
they would have been now actually settled there, if the Assembly
would have assisted them, for they are poor and want help; however as
I have promised them lands gratis, some of them about three weeks ago
went to view that part of the Country, and if they like the lands I
hope they will accept my offer (if the report of the French designs
do not discourage them:) depending upon the voluntary assistance of
the people of Albany whose more immediate interest it is to encourage
their settlement in that part of the country."[96]

That Captain Campbell would have secured the lands there can be no
question had he complied with Governor Clarke's demands, although said
demands were contrary to the agreement. Private faith and public honor
demanded the fair execution of the project, which had been so expensive
to the undertaker, and would have added greatly to the benefit of the
colony. The governor would not make the grant unless he should have his
fees and a share of the land.

The quit rent in the province of New York was fixed at two shillings six
pence for every one hundred acres. The fees for a grant of a thousand
acres were as follows: To the governor, $31.25; secretary of state, $10;
clerk of the council, $10 to $15; receiver general, $14.37; attorney
general, $7.50; making a total of about $75, besides the cost of survey.
This amount does not appear to be large for the number of acres, yet it
must be considered that land was plenty, but money very scarce. There
were thousands of substantial men who would have found it exceedingly
difficult to raise the amount in question.

It is possible that Captain Campbell could not have paid this extortion
even if he had been so disposed; but being high-spirited, he resolutely
refused his consent. The governor, still pretending to be very anxious
to aid the emigrants, recommended the legislature of the province to
grant them assistance; but, as usual, the latter was at war with the
governor, and refused to vote money to the Highlanders, which they
susp