perquisite or fee for every patent he should pass for
land, the assembly voted his demand illegal, arbitrary, and oppressive.
They declared that every man who paid it should be deemed an enemy to
his country, and sent over an agent to London to solicit the suppression
of this imposition. The representatives of the people in Pennsylvania
wasted the time in vain deliberations and violent disputes with their
proprietors, while the enemy infested their frontiers. The colony of New
York was filled with discontent and animosity. Sir Danvers Osborn, who
had been appointed governor of this province, died immediately after his
arrival at New York, and the instructions he had received were exposed
to public censure. The preamble inveighed severely against the want of
duty, allegiance, loyalty, and unanimity, which had lately appeared so
notorious in the assembly of that province, who had violated the royal
commission and instructions, by assuming to themselves the power to
dispose of public money in the laws which they had occasionally passed.
This gentleman was, therefore, directed to insist upon the reformation
of all those public abuses, and upon the establishment of a certain
supply for the service of the government, as well as upon the settlement
of a salary for himself. Moreover, his majesty, in these instructions,
signified his will and pleasure, that all money raised for the supply
and support of government, or upon any emergency for immediate service,
should be disposed of and applied properly to the use for which it might
be granted, by warrant from the governor, by and with the advice
and consent of the council of the province, and no otherwise; that,
nevertheless, the assembly should be permitted, from time to time, to
view and examine the accounts of money disposed of, by virtue of laws
which they had enacted; that if any member of the council, or officer
holding place of trust or profit within the government, should, in any
manner whatever, give his assent to, or in anywise advise or concur with
the assembly in passing any act or vote, whereby the royal prerogative
might be lessened or impaired, or any money be raised or disposed of
for the public service, contrary to, or inconsistent with, the method
prescribed by these instructions, the governor should forthwith
remove or suspend such counsellor or officer so offending, and give an
immediate account of his proceedings to the commissioners of trade and
plantations. T