Heathcote, in his military capacity, had command of the West Riding, on Long Island, and in one of his letters, gives this account of his method of " converting," as my friend Doctor De Kay, from whom I have the extract, says, " military into religious exercises."

The colonel came to America in 1692, as I gather from this letter, which is dated in 1704. and he must have had both influence and fortune to have attained a seat in the council, the first year of his arrival.

He writes thus:-- " I shall begin the history of the church from the time I first came among them, which was about twelve

» Smith was so called, from having been governor of Tangier, and to distinguish him from " Bull Smith," and all other Smiths.

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years ago. I found it the most rude and heathenish country I ever saw in my whole life, which called themselves Christian?, there not being so much as the least marks or footsteps of religion of any sort. Sundays were the only times set apart by them for all manner of vain sports and lewd diversion, and they were grown to such a degree of rudeness, that it was intolerable. I having then command of the militia, sent an order to a' I the captains, requiring them to call their men under arms, and to acquaint them, that in case they would not in every town agree among themselves to appoint readers, and to pass the Sabbath in the best manner they could, till such times as they should be better provided, that the captains should, every Sunday, call theif companies under arms, and spend the day in exercise.