New Jersey as a royal province 1738 to 1776.

Preface

With the publication of this monograph, there is completed a detailed study of the colonial history of New Jersey. Dr. Tanner's exhaustive and admirable treatment of the subject comprises the period from the early settlements to 1738, when the executive union with New York was terminated. From that time until the Revolution, the compass of this study, New Jersey enjoyed a separate royal establishment in all departments. The purpose of this work is twofold. An attempt has been made, first, to outline the political history of the province, and, second, to show the part taken by New Jersey in the Third and Fourth Intercolonial Wars and in the preliminaries of the Revolution. The subject has been pursued to the threshold of the convention which formally declared the overthrow of the royal provincial government and adopted the first constitution of the state.

In the preparation of this volume, the available manuscript and printed sources have been used. The published volumes of the New Jersey Archives include documents relating to the colonial history, the journal of the governor and council in administrative session, of the council in legislative session, and newspaper extracts pertaining to the province. The Nevill and Allinson editions of the colonial laws. The Papers of Lewis Morris, and selections from the correspondence of William Alexander, Earl of Stirling, are some of the other im- 7] 7

8 PREFACE [8

portant printed original sources. There is a wealth of manuscript material for the later colonial history of New Jersey. The following are in the State House at Trenton : the Journal of the General Assembly in the State Library, the Minutes of the Supreme Court in the of^ce of the Clerk of the Supreme Court, and Liber AAA and Liber A B of Provincial Com?nissions in the office of the Secretary of State. The Minutes of the Council of Proprietors of East Jersey and the Minutes of the Council of Proprietors of West Jersey are still kept at Perth Amboy and Burlington, respectively. These records are of such value to the student of New Jersey history that they should be acquired by the state for preservation in the State Library. In the library of the New Jersey Historical Society at Newark, the manuscript sources include the papers of Lewis Morris, Robert Hunter Morris, James Alexander, Ferdinand John Paris and Joseph Sherwood, In the same library there are also copies of the original papers of Governor Belcher referring to New Jersey. The originals are in the possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society. In the library of the Pennsylvania Historical Society at Philadelphia there are two volumes of New Jersey manuscripts, and miscellaneous letters from the Penn Collection, that are of value and interest for this subject.

To those who have aided him in gaining access to the sources, the author is deeply indebted. The kindness and courtesy of the librarians and their assistants of the State Library at Trenton, the New Jersey Historical Society Library at Newark, the Pennsylvania Historical Society Library at Philadelphia and the Jersey City Public Library, is most gratefully acknowledged. He is likewise under obligations to Mr. Adriance Lyon, Register of the East Jersey proprietors, and Mr. H. S. Haines,

9] PREFACE g

Surveyor General of West Jersey, for the use of the proprietary records. Dr. Tanner's suggestions regarding the primary sources were of distinct service, and his work upon the eadier period of the history of New Jersey has been of great assistance in interpreting the later period. To Professor Herbert L. Osgood, of Columbia University, the author's most grateful thanks are due. The work was pursued under his guidance and helpful criticism, and he gave generously of his time to reading and preparing the manuscript for the press.

Edgar J. Fisher.

New York City, February 14, 1911.

CHAPTER I The Governor — Position and Personnel

pagb

Introductory Statement 21

New Jersey under the proprietary government . . 21

Royal government in New Jersey — the Union period 22

The movement for a separate governor 22

Position of the Governor 24

The Royal Governors from 1738 to 1776 25

Lewis Morris, 1738 to 1746 25

Estimate and sketch of his career 25

His commission and instructions 29

Jonathan Belcher, 1746 to 1757 30

Estimate and sketch of his career 31

His commission and instructions 37

President Reading's administration, 1757 to 1758 yj

The three brief administrations 38

Francis Bernard, 1758 to 1760 38

Thomas Boone, 1760 to 1761 39

Josiah Hardy, 1761 to 1763 39

Their commissions and instructions 40

William Franklin, 1763 to 1776 41

Estimate and sketch of his career 41

Attitude during the Revolution 42

Minor Executive Ofifices 43

Lieutenant Governor 43

Provincial Secretary 44

Other Officers 46

CHAPTER n The Council— Position and Personnel

Position of the Council 48

Dual capacity — administration and legislation 48

12 CONTENTS [i2

PAGE

The governor and legislative sessions of the council 48

Territorial division recognized in the council 50

Personnel of the Council 51

General character of the councillors 51

Morris's council 52

His appointments 53

Predominance of proprietary influence .... 60

Belcher's council 60

His appointments 60

Ashfield's contest for a seat in council 62

Struggle between Belcher and the proprietors for appointments, 66

Council changes under Bernard, Boone, and Hardy 67

Franklin's appointments 69

CHAPTER III The Assembly — Position and Personnel

Position of the Assembly 73

Rights and powers of the assembly 73

Alternate sessions at Perth Amboy and Burlington 73

Plan of representation 77

Important rules 80

Personnel of the Assembly 81

General character of the assemblymen 81

The assemblies 82

Members of the Eleventh Assembly, 1738 to 1740 82

Members of the Twelfth Assembly, 1740 to 1743 84

The three annual assemblies, 1743 to 1746 84

Members of the Sixteenth Assembly, 1746 to 1749 87

Members of the Seventeenth Assembly, 1749 to 1751 88

Members of the Eighteenth Assembly, 1751 to 1754 89

Members of the Nineteenth Assembly, 1754 to 1761 89

Members of the Twentieth Assembly, 1761 to 1769 89

Members of the Twenty-First Assembly, 1769 to 1772 .... 91

Members of the Twenty-Second Assembly, 1772 to 1776 ... 93

Method of election g^

The Colonial Agent g5

Theoretical and actual position of the agent 95

Method by which the assembly controlled the agent 95

Personnel: Partridge, Sherwood, Wilmot, Franklin, De Berdt . 98

13] CONTENTS 13

PACK

CHAPTER IV Legislative History — The Morris Administration

Character of the Constitutional Conflicts loi

Conflicts common to all the colonies loi

Conditions peculiar to New Jersey 102

The character of the land system 102

Quakerism 103

The two capitals 103

Chief Subjects of Legislation under Morris, Belcher and Franklin. 104

Legislation under Governor Morris 105

The Eleventh Assembly, 1738 105

Contest over the support bill 107

Results of the first assembly under a separate governor .... 108

The Twelfth Assembly, 1740 109

Lack of harmony shown in the addresses, 1740 no

Legislation for the West Indian Expedition no

Peaceful session of October, 1741 in

Morris's rejection of the ;,^40,ooo act, 1742 113

The Thirteenth Assembly, 1743 115

Governor and council reject assembly's favorite measures . . . 115

The indiscreet publication of the fee bill 115

Refusal of the assembly to amend the militia act, 1744 .... 116

The Fourteenth Assembly, 1744 117

Continued refusal to amend the militia act 117

Quarrel between assembly and council over public affairs ... 118

Hunderdon county loan-ofifice commissioner dispute 121

The Fifteenth Assembly, 1745 123

Revival of old quarrels - 124

Disagreement over support, paper money and militia bills . 124

Dispute about the place of meeting 126

The Sixteenth Assembly, 1746 129

Hunterdon county loan-office election again 129

Militia act passed 130

Support act contest 130

Legislation under President Hamilton 131

The Sixteenth Assembly, 1746 131

Legislation regarding the Canadian Expedition 131

The anti-proprietary outbreaks, 1747 131

14 CONTENTS [14

PAGE

CHAPTER V Legislative History — The Belcher and Franklin

Administrations

Legislation under Governor Belcher 132

The Sixteenth Assembly, 1747 132

The congratulatory addresses 132

The support bill passed does not satisfy the governor and

council 134

• Activity of the rioters calls forth legislation 136

Trouble with counterfeiters 137

The assembly's favorite bills passed 138

Beginning of the contest over the quotas act, 1748 139

Assembly's attitude toward rioting and counterfeiting .... 140

The Seventeenth Assembly, 1749 142

Quotas act and support act disputes 143

Refusal of assembly to pay the Morris salary arrears 145

Fifth failure of the quotas act, 1750 147

Case of the five Burlington County judges 148

Assembly attempts to force removal of Sherifif Riddle .... 149

Continued strife over the quotas act, 1751 150

The Eighteenth Assembly, 1751 151

Quotas and support bills finally passed 152

Subsequent difficulties regarding the quotas 153

The Riddle-Bonney controversy again 154

Renewal of the land troubles, 1752 155

The royal order for a revised edition of the laws 155

Case of Sheriff Anderson, 1753 . 157

French and Indian affairs, 1754 157

The Nineteenth Assembly, 1754 158

Assembly refuses to revise the militia act 159

The war necessitates frequent sessions 159

The paper money controversy, 1757 . 162

The Legislative Sessions under President Reading 162

Legislation under Governor Bernard 164

The Nineteenth Assembly, 1758 164

Bernard and the Easton Indian Conference 164

Harmony between the branches of government 165

Legislation under Governor Boone 165

The Nineteenth Assembly, 1760 165

The Twentieth Assembly, 1761, passes a two-year support act. . 165

Legislation under Governor Hardy 166

The Twentieth Assembly, 1761, concerned with military affairs. 166

1-] CONTENTS 15

PAGE

Legislation under Governor Franklin 167

The Twentieth Assembly, 1768 167

After the war, much profitable general legislation 167

The extra-legal session at Perth Amboy, 1765 168

Legislation for supplying royal troops 168

Bills affecting representation in the assembly, 1768 168

The Twenty-First Assembly, 1769 . 169

The demonstrations against lawyers, and legislation 169

^100,000 act and assembly's refusal to supply troops 169

The Twenty-Second Assembly, 1772 ... . 169

The new representatives 169

Controversy about East Jersey treasury robbery 170

Increasing estrangement between governor and legislature . . 170

CHAPTER VI The Proprietary System and the Land Troubles The Proprietary System 171

The unique character of this system in New Jersey after 1702 . . 171

The East Jersey proprietors . 172

Who composed the proprietary council 172

Council meetings and proprietary ofificers 172

The personnel of the East Jersey council 173

The West Jersey proprietors 174

Democratic character of landownership . . . . • 174

Council meetings and officers 175

The personnel of the West Jersey proprietors 175

The Land Conflicts in New Jersey 176

The conflicting grants 176

Early history of the Elizabethtown and Monmouth tracts ... 176

The claims advanced because of Indian purchase 184

Disturbances during the Morris administration 186

Many ejectment suits from 1741 to 1743 186

The Newark riots of 1745 to 1746, and results 187

Outlook during President Hamilton's administration .... 191

Partial adjustment during Belcher's administration 193

Dif^cult for council and assembly to agree 194

Legislation upon the subject, 1748 195

Perth Amboy riots, 1747 197

Petitions to the crown for aid 198

The action taken by the home government 200

Essex, Middlesex and Hunderton county disorders 202

Causes for the subsidence of the troubles 204

The Elizabethtown Bill in Chancery 206

1 6 CONTENTS [i6

PAGB

CHAPTER VII Boundary Disputes The Northern Boundary Dispute with New York 210

The point at issue ... 210

Early attempts at settlement 211

Progress during the Morris administration ........ 211

Erection of Morris county revives the controversy, 1740 ... 211

Governor Clinton's attitude . . 213

East Jersey proprietors petition for an act to run the line, 1743. 214

Progress during the Belcher administration 214

Legislature passes an act for running the line, 1748 214

New York successfully opposes the act 215

The pamphlet discussion 217

Erection of Sussex county renews border troubles, 1753. • . 221

Movement to secure a temporary line fails 222

Settlement effected during Franklin's administration 227

Both provinces act in favor of a royal commission, 1763 . . . 228

The commissioners and their report, 1769 229

Dissatisfaction, and movement for an appeal 232

The final adjustment 233

Observations upon the result 235

Disputed Claims to the Ownership of Staten Island 235

The Boundary between East and West Jersey 236

Early attempts to fix this line 236

East Jersey proprietors run the line ex parte in 1743 . . . 237

Effect of the northern boundary decision upon this line 237

West Jersey's attitude not unjustifiable ... 238

CHAPTER VIII The Judicial System The System of Courts 240

Alterations in the Judicial System 241

By royal instructions 241

By executive ordinances 244

By legislation .... . 248

The Riots against the Lawyers, 1769 256

Causes of the riots 256

The assembly investigation . . 256

The result and legislation 258

Personnel of the Supreme Court ... 262

The justices appointed to the bench 263

The Jones-Morris controversy 263

The Provincial Attorneys General 271 ij] CONTENTS 17

PAGE

CHAPTER IX General Character of Colonial Finances in New Jersey 273

Expenditures 273

The support of government 273

How salaries were paid 274

Character of a support bill 274

Support of government under Morris 275

Support of government under Belcher . 279

Support of government under Franklin 281

Officers petition for higher salaries . 282

Taxation in New Jersey ... ... 284

Method of apportioning taxes . . 285

Import and export duties 287

Excise tax ... 289

Simplicity of the system of taxation ... 289

The Bills of Credit 289

The instruction of 1740 and the attitude of the home government. 290

Failure under Morris to pass the ^40,000 act . 291

Emissions for the Third Intercolonial War 292

Disallowance of the .^f 40, 000 a:t passed in 1747 ... 293 Assembly report on the condition of paper money in New Jersey,

1753 ... 294

Emissions during the Fourth Intercolonial War . 296

Repeated failures to obtain general emissions under Franklin . . 298

Requirement that the bills should not be legal tender 298

Attitude of the assembly 299

Considerations involved in the paper money question 302

The Counterfeiting Evil . . 304

Grows with the increased use of paper money 304

Legislation against counterfeiting . . . .... 305

The Morris County counterfeiters in 1748 • • ...... 306

Activity of Samuel Ford and his associates . 307

The East Jersey Treasury Robbery, 1768 . 308

Circumstances of the robbery . . 308

Connection of Ford with the robbery 311

The long legislative deadlock 312

The assembly's demand upon the treasurer 313

Treasurer Skinner's resignation and the suit against him 315

Assembly Control in Financial Afifairs . . 317

CHAPTER I The Governor — Position and Personnel

With the growth of the English colonies in America in influence and wealth, the royal officials became more active in their endeavors to bring about a greater dependence of the colonies upon the crown. To obtain this end, the system of royal provinces was developed, that is, provinces in which there was a body of officials, appointed by and receiving instructions from the crown. The particular circumstances attending the transition, of course, differed in the different colonies, but the object 3f the royal officials in each case was the same.

In the case of New Jersey, which became a royal province in 1702, the disordered condition of the proprietary affairs made the change not altogether unwelcome. Title to the soil of New Jersey had been granted by the Duke of York to Berkeley and Carteret in 1664. By subsequent transfers this territory became subdivided, Berkeley receiving West Jersey and Carteret East fersey, the former division after different sales coming !nto the hands of a large number of proprietors, and the latter division by a somewhat similar process coming nto the possession of twenty-four proprietors. East [ersey affairs were managed by the twenty-four acting as a board of proprietors, while territorial matters in West Jersey came to be managed by an annually elected :ouncil of proprietors.'

' For the details of these various transfers see Tanner, Province of Nezv Jersey, ch. i.

The deeds of lease and release given by the Duke of York to Berkeley and Carteret granted territorial but not political rights. Inasmuch as maintaining political authority was a necessary accompaniment to the success of the enterprise, the proprietors assumed to exercise the rights of government, issuing in 1665 ^^^^ Concessions and Agreements under which New Jersey was to be governed. With the increase in the number and character of the proprietors came a natural divergence of interests, resulting in the formation of hostile factions. The doubts regarding the legality of the proprietors' claims to exercise political authority added to the unrest in the provinces. A contest for the governorship of East Jersey between Andrew Hamilton and Jeremiah Basse brought matters to a climax by practically nullifying political authority. In 1702, surrender was made to the crown and New Jersey became a royal province.

The authorites in England did not see fit at this time to appoint a separate royal governor for New Jersey, but gave the commission of governor to Lord Cornbury, who was in May, 1702, appointed governor of New York. The governorship was thus held jointly with New York, but in other respects New Jersey had its own separate and distinct organs of government. It was soon realized that the joint governorship was not without its disadvantages, so that there developed a decided movement for the appointment of a separate governor for New Jersey.'

Although surface indications of this movement had appeared before 1736, it was not until that year, when Governor Cosby died, that earnest and concerted efforts were made for the desired end. John Anderson, who as

'Tanner, op. cit., ch. xiii.

president of the council, became acting governor of New Jersey at Cosby's death, sent a petition to the king signed by himself, the council, and some assembly members.' The petition cited New Jersey's disappointment that Queen Anne had not appointed a separate governor when the royal government was instituted, and mentioned the chief arguments that were used to support New Jersey's contention. The governor resided in New York and preferred the interests of that colony to those of New Jersey. He was absent from the latter province for sometimes an entire year, with consequent neglect of public affairs. It was detrimental to have one governor for the two provinces, and New Jersey could support a separate governor. For those reasons, in general, was the king humbly petitioned to appoint a distinct governor. At the same time the Grand Jury of Middlesex County sent a petition in hearty accord with the petition sent by the governor, council and assembly.^

Two months later, in May, 1736, the Lords of the Committee of Council submitted to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations for their examination and report, a petition to the king from Richard Partridge, the colonial agent of New Jersey, adding his influence in support of the New Jersey idea.^ Sir William Keith, a former governor of Pennsylvania, in a memorial to the lords of trade, insisted that it was impracticable to faithfully discharge the duties of governor of both provinces and regarded himself as a lit person to explain the petitions that had been laid before the crown."* In August, 1736, Partridge again urged the matter upon the author-

* Keith had previously applied for the separate governorship of New Jersey.

ities in a long petition, giving " Reasons Humbly offer'd why a Separate Governor should be appointed for New Jersey, and ordered constantly to reside there/

But notwithstanding this continued petitioning, when in June, 1737, Lord Delaware was appointed governor of New York, he was given the commission of New Jersey also. Delaware subsequently resigned, however, and upon the appointment of Admiral George Clinton as governor of New York, the home authorities decided to grant New Jersey's prayer for a separate governor, appointing Lewis Morris to that ofifice. Duly grateful for this concession, the council and representatives of the province sent an address to the king, acknowledging the granting of their petition, expressing the hope that trade and commerce would now flourish, justice be speedily administered, and with the blessing of happiness an increased population result. Entire confidence was expressed in the person whom the king had appointed.^

Upon his appointment as chief executive of a royal province, a governor was given a commission and instructions, the former of which was published upon his arrival in the colony, while the latter were regarded as secret. The commission defined in general the powers of the governor and remained essentially unchanged as issued to the different governors of the province. Morris's commission in 1738 was practically the same as Cornbury's of 1702.3 "To execute all things in due manner that shall belong unto your said command " is the general executive power granted to the governor.

The governor's powers in his relations to the council

^ New Jersey Archives, vol. v, p. 451. 'Ibid., vol. vi, p. 58.

^ Ibid., p. I, Morris's commission was doubtless copied from Gov. Montgomerie's, because the latter's name appears in it about a dozen times.

i^J THE GOVERNOR

-D and assembly were stated, and then in turn his judicial, ecclesiastical and military duties considered.' As with the commission, the instructions which were given to successive governors also remained in most particulars the same. What changes did occur were usually in the form of additional instructions issued to meet particular circumstances arising in the colony, rather than changes in the long list of instructions given to each governor at his appointment. The instructions supplemented the commission and furnished the governor with more detailed rules for the conduct of his of^ce.^

Although Morris had been recently engaged in an unfortunate quarrel with John Hamilton, the president of the council, his past services to the province rendered his choice a most welcome one to the people of New Jersey. For a just estimate of his career it is necessary to review the earlier period of his public activity. A man of bold and decided principles, he was a prominent figure in the affairs of New York and New Jersey for many years. Although a shrewd politician, Morris was no less a statesman. His fearless stand against arbitrary officials upon more than one occasion during the early part of his public life commands admiration. ^

In 1692, he was appointed a judge of the court of common right in New Jersey. Six years later, while Morris was a member of Governor Hamilton's Council, Jeremiah Basse arrived in the province, and claimed the governorship, although elected by an insufficient number of proprietaries. For resisting the arbitrary conduct of Basse, Morris was expelled from the council. With the over-

' Tanner, p. 148 et seq.

^For an analysis of Cornbury's instructions, see Tanner, p. 150 et seq. *See Morris Papers, "Introductory Memoir," and "The Morris Family of Morrisonia," Am. Hist. Magazine, vol. i, p. 33.

throw of Basse, and the return of Hamilton, however, he was returned to the counciL His probity and uncompromising conduct won him the hatred of Lord Cornbury, the first royal governor of New Jersey. Morris opposed the tyranny of Cornbury, only to find himself suspended from the council by that unworthy ofificial in 1704. Queen Anne reinstated him, but a second suspension at the hands of Cornbury almost immediately followed. Excluded from the upper house, Morris was elected to the popular branch of the legislature, where his influence was largely instrumental in securing the removal of the corrupt and unscrupulous governor. He was again restored to his seat in the council under the next executive. Except for a brief period, when Lieutenant Governor Ingoldsby attempted to drive him from the council, Morris continued in the upper house of New Jersey for many years.

With the appointment of Hunter, as governor of New York and New Jersey, the scene of Morris's activity was transferred to the former province. Hunter and his successor Burnet were able and respected executives, whose administrations Morris supported with dignity and ability. In 1715, he was appointed chief justice of New York under Governor Hunter. He continued to support the administrations, until the arrival of the arbitrary Cosby, as governor. Cosby and Rip Van Dam, the president of the New York council, became involved in a quarrel over salary, for the determination of which, the governor insisted on proceeding before the equity side of the Court of Exchequer. Chief Justice Morris refused to be a partner to Cosby's scheme, and opposed the action by delivering an opinion that the court was not regularly created and hence was illegal. Morris's suspension resulted from this bold defiance of the executive.

Thereupon the colony was divided between two bitterly hostile factions. Deprived of his judicial position, Morris, now a popular idol, carried his case on appeal to England, while his son was sent to the assembly, where he led the opposition against Cosby. Before the crown officials, the ex-chief justice vindicated himself, and was still urging the necessity of Cosby's removal, when, in 1736, that worthy died. Morris then returned to America, where, in New York, he was received with great acclaim. Upon his return to New Jersey, he laid claim to the presidency of the council, by virtue of the royal instructions to the late governor, in which Morris was named as eldest councillor.' The council sustained Hamilton's contention, inasmuch as Morris was not residing in the colony when Cosby died, nor at the demise of Anderson, the president of the council who became acting governor at Cosby's death. The government properly devolved upon Hamilton, whom only an express order of the king could divest of the presidency.^

Morris's main argument was that he had received certain instructions addressed to him as president of the council. This discrepancy was readily accounted for from the fact that the home authorities had had notice of Cosby's death, but not of the swearing in of Anderson and Hamilton. The official documents were on that account addressed to Morris, whose name still headed the list, because of a lack of information on the part of the home authorities. 3 Morris made some lengthy "' Observations on the Reasons given by Hamilton's advisers," but hardly substantiated his position against the clear reading of the royal instruction.'' President Hamilton

issued a proclamation against Morris, which at least led the testy councillor to desist from making good his threat to resort to force in support of his claims.' The report of the lords of trade, January, 1737, was against Morris.^ This decision was based chiefly upon his violation of a ro3'al instruction, which forbade a councillor absenting himself from the province for one year without the permission of the governor. His conduct was declared improper and such as to warrant the forfeiture of his seat in the council.

Morris had doubtless made many influential friends during his long visit to England, and consequently, notwithstanding the unfavorable report of the lords of trade in the above dispute, received the appointment as governor of New Jersey. It was a position which he had some years before declared himself in favor of having.^ The people expressed real and evident satisfaction at this appointment, for during the recent contests with Cosby, Morris had become very popular.

But the administration was still young, when the people learned by experience that the new governor assumed a different attitude upon public questions from that which he had previously taken. With the governorship in his own hands, no one was more insistent upon and careful of prerogative than he was. "Tandem Vincitur " the Morris family motto is said to have read, and in Lewis it had an able exponent. With a strong will and a restless disposition, power having come into his hands, he was intolerant of the views of others when in opposition to his own, and insisted upon the execution of his own plans. The governor became involved in violent and

^ N. J. Archives, vol. v, p. 469.

unseemly quarrels with the assembly, sending to the legislature long messages, well calculated to induce fruitless wordy warfare. With advancing age his egotism led him to believe that his worth was not appreciated, and his administration, instead of being a popular one, was a disappointment to the people. Although his administration was a struggle with unwilling assemblies, it w^as a beneficial period for the province. This man, who had waged so many contests against unpopular executives, himself became one of the most unpopular. But it was neither corruption nor questionable political deals that caused his popularity to wane. The constant quarrels with the lower branch of the legislature were in large part aggravated by the eccentric and harsh temperament of the governor.

That Morris was actuated by only the best motives cannot be doubted. In the exercise of his powers he adhered scrupulously to what he regarded as his duty to the king and compromised with none. A man of undoubted ability, had he infused some tact into the exercise of his authority, his administration would have been far more successful. In religion, he was early in his career a strict conformist, but later his conformity waned. He disliked the Quakers, and was continually making assertions to the authorities in England against them, urging that none should be allowed to hold office. He died at Kingsbury, his estate near Trenton, on May 21, 1746. The Morris administration was so unpopular that in the succeeding administration, an attempt on the part of the Morris family to obtain the governor's back pay was successfully frustrated by the assembly.

The commission and instructions under which Morris governed New Jersey followed closely those of the former executives.' In the commission there were only the necessary verbal changes, while the instructions show a few minor changes, in part caused by the institution of a separate governor for the province. A former instruction providing that all goods imported or exported from New Jersey should pay as high duties as those from New York was withdrawn, as contrary to the royal instructions to other governors. The instruction relating to the affirmation of Quakers was omitted, inasmuch as that was provided for by an act of the province. Morris's instructions consisted of ninety-three articles.

After the death of Governor Morris, John Hamilton, president of the council, took the oath, June 4, 1746, to act as governor until the appointment of a successor to Morris.^ A year later he died, and no governor having as yet arrived in the province, John Reading as eldest councillor assumed office, assuring the crown that it would be administered as faithfully as possible.^ The authorities in England had decided on the new governor as early as July, 1746, when the lords of trade were directed to prepare the commission and instructions for Jonathan Belcher.* For some reason Belcher had neglected the payment of certain fees in connection with their issuance, and the proceedings were delayed for almost half a year.s Upon payment of the fees, the documents were signed and approved early in 1747, and New Jersey's new royal governor set sail for his new field of activity.