and not to protect them.

Bloodshed would have resulted but for

the discretion and cool bravery of Milbourne.

When these things were made known to Leisler, he immediately issued a warrant against Livingston as a rebel, and against Colonel Bayard, who had also contributed his influence to excite the Albanians. Livingston fled to New England, and was not heard of afterward, except in a very tragical way, which will be related hereafter. Bayard sneaked into New York, and tried to obtain possession, in a surreptitious way, of a dispatch from the king. He was denounced to Leisler by the bearer of the dispatch in question; was forthwith arrested and put in jail "upon the charge of high misdemeanors against his majesty's authority."

These events gave a decided character to the administration of Jacob Leisler, and his opponents saw that nothing but an extensive and unscrupulous organization could overthrow its power. Parties were now distinctly defined: for the people's governor— for the Jacobites.

In midwinter the threatened attack of the French took place. On the 9th of February, 1690, after a remarkable march, about two hundred French and Indians made a sudden descent upon Schenectady, and massacred sixty-three men, women, and children, besides making twenty-seven prisoners and destroying the village. The atrocity and boldness of this crime threw the province into a state of the most intense agony. For their own safety, the Albanians were now ready to co-operate with the executive of New York. Leisler concluded, and wisely, that the success of this attack would lead to others of a more horrible character, and that the only remedy was to carry the war into the enemy's own country, and conquer Canada itself. He at once addressed letters to the governors of the other provinces, and Jersey, Maryland, and Connecticut favored the enterprise. Thus encouraged, he straightway armed and equipped the first man-of-war ever fitted out in the harbor of New-York; and in a short time a fleet of three vessels sailed from the bay, with orders to proceed immediately to Quebec, and co-operate with the land forces that would join them there from the other provinces. This decision and activity met with a poor return. A number of disasters befell the expedition, and no good was done at all. There is no reason to doubt that Leisler's enemies threw all the impediments they could in his way, and were perhaps more pleased with the failure of the

expedition than they would have been with its success. Certain it is that the land forces (upon whom every thing depended) under General Winthrop made an ignominious retreat, without having even reached the shores of Lake Champlain.

When the news became known to Leisler, he hurried in person to Albany, and ordered the general to be placed under arresta very proper measure, but extremely hazardous for one whose power was not yet consolidated. The Jacobites attributed the failure of the expedition to Leisler, and this decided action was a good opportunity for raising the cry of tyranny. All the malcontents united themselves to oppose the power of the governor and to effect his overthrow. The people, who had exhausted themselves in equipping the unsuccessful expedition, were impatient and dissatisfied. It was not difficult to persuade the thoughtless and unreasonable masses. The Jacobites had their opportunity, and made the best use of it.

In England a new governor had been appointed by William as early as 1689, but, until two years later, Leisler knew nothing of the circumstance. The first notice of Governor Sloughter's appointment was brought to this country by Captain Ingoldsby, who, with his company, arrived in advance. This weak creature fell into the hands of the anti-Leislerians, and was immediately used by them. With an impudence that was remarkable even for a captain of foot, he demanded that Leisler should immediately surrender his authority into his hands. Leisler replied that he would do so the moment he saw an order from the British ministry requiring him to do so, or from Colonel Sloughter, the newly-appointed governor. Ingoldsby being destitute of the authority that Leisler required, the latter simply issued a proclamation announcing that Colonel Sloughter had been appointed governor of the Province of New York, and that on his arrival the fort and government would be cheerfully surrendered to him. In the mean time he desired that Ingoldsby and his companions might receive all proper entertainment and kindness.

This discreet policy did not satisfy the enemies of Leisler. The willing tool, Ingoldsby, was once more used to make another demand for the surrender of the fort, and, being again unsuccessful, to end by besieging it. Leisler was not to be intimidated, and retained possession, protesting most vehemently against the conduct of Ingoldsby. He had the mayor and common council on his side, but against him were wealth, fanaticism, and unscrupu

lousness. The royal authority, too, was held in dread, and people Desertions bewere afraid of opposing it even in a right cause.

came frequent from the popular ranks. Every day Ingoldsby's position became stronger. He saw his advantage, and freely used the terrible word rebel against Leisler and those who sided with him.

The noble little band were not to be daunted by words. They simply replied that they would not be turned from their duty to God and the king by fear of the term rebels, and resolved that they would protect their liberty at the hazard of their lives. Ingoldsby and his backers were somewhat daunted by this courageous action; but, while they were deliberating as to what should be the next step, the long absent Sloughter made his appearance (19th of March, 1691). Before he had touched land, Ingoldsby, as the mouthpiece of the Jacobin party, had poisoned his ear with an ex parte statement.

Leisler's first act was to satisfy himself as to the identity of Sloughter. He then dispatched his son-in-law, Col. Milbourne, and Mr. De la Noye, the mayor, to consult with him as to the proper form of making a transfer of the government, and also to procure some guarantee for the safety of himself and his friends. These peaceful embassadors were immediately handed over to the guard. Thus brutally outraged, Leisler determined that he would not surrender the fort until the governor and his full council had taken the customary oath of allegiance to the Protestant king and government. This ceremony was gone through on the day following, and Leisler immediately handed over his authority to the new official. He felt that he had protected the province in a critical period; that he had acted firmly and conscientiously for the common good. It was with a sense of relief, therefore, that he wrote to Sloughter "that he would give his excellency an exact account of all his actions and conduct."

The ink with which he wrote was scarcely dry when he and nine of his friends were dragged off to prison as common rebels. A special commission of Oyer and Terminer was issued to try the prisoners, and the governor named eight judges for the purpose. He selected The task of making a selection was an easy one. four of his own friends and four others who were known enemies of Leisler. When the trial came on, Leisler refused to acknowlAn inedge the authority of the court, but it was of no avail. iquitous verdict was returned, and Leisler and Milbourne were condemned to death.

By this time Sloughter seems to have awakened to a slight sense of justice, as clear, perhaps, as his fuddled faculties would allow him to see it. He hesitated to sign the death-warrant. This did not satisfy the bloodhounds who were seeking Leisler's life. Unfortunately, they were acquainted with Sloughter's weaknesses. They invited him to a supper, plied him with wine, and in the midst of the orgy the drunken idiot scrawled his name to the fatal document. Without a moment's delay it was conveyed to the sheriff, and the two unfortunate men were led forth to execution. The scaffold stood at the lower end of what is now called the Park. A company of soldiers under the command of Ingoldsby surrounded it, and kept off the populace, already pressing forward to obtain a last look of a noble martyr and his brave companion ; some, perhaps, to triumph over their downfall. They stood together, unawed by the occasion. Milbourne spoke first. He had but little to say, but it was awful: "Robert Livingston, I will implead thee at the bar of heaven for this deed!" Leisler, touched by the untimely fate of his son-in-law, turned to him and said, "Why must you die? You have been but as a servant doing my will, and, as a dying man, I declare before God that what I have done was for King William and Queen Mary, the defense of the Protestant religion, and the good of the country." Commending his soul to the Savior, and praying for his enemies, "Father, forgive them; they know not what they do," this strong man, upright and noble to the last, suffered the final penalty of the law, if the word law can be used in such a base connection. A fierce tempest raged in the heavens, as if Nature were indignant at the outrage. 'The shrieks of the people," says a writer of the time, "were dreadful; some were carried away lifeless, and some, rushing forward, almost ere the life of their beloved ruler was extinct, cut off pieces of his garments as precious relics, and his hair was divided, out of great veneration, as for a martyr."

These measures were subsequently disapproved by the English king, and the attainders against the murdered heroes reversed; but the shame of the transaction will last to the end of history. Well might Dr. Increase Mather write to Governor Dudley, “I am afraid that the guilt of innocent blood is still crying in the ears of the Lord against you: I mean the blood of Leisler and Milbourne. My Lord Bellamont said to me that he was one of the committee of Parliament who examined the matter, and that those men were not only murdered, but barbarously murdered."

THIS renowned statesman and eloquently intellectual man was born at Salisbury, Merrimac County, New Hampshire, on the 18th of January, 1782. In the immediate vicinity his ancestors (who were of Scotch descent) had lived from the earliest times. The house in. which he was born was the centre of a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land, on the produce of which the family depended. His father was a man of large and stalwart form, of swarthy complexion, and of remarkable features; of clear intellect, strong convictions, and indomitable will. Many of these traits, especially the last, survived in his illustrious son.

From his mother Daniel Webster received the first rudiments of an education. Mrs. Webster is described as an unusually beautiful woman, of superior intellect and of the warmest affections. She prophesied that her son would become eminent, and lived to see a portion of the prophecy fulfilled. He was a member of Congress when she died.

About half a mile from the farm was a log school-house kept by Master Tappan. To this primitive academy the little Daniel