In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of our province of New York to be hereunto affixed. Witne-is Benjamin Fletcher our captain-general and governor-in-chief of our province of New York aforesaid, province of Pennsylvania and countj' of New Castle, and the territory and tracts of land depending thereon in America, at Fort William Heary, the 12th day of June, in the fifth year of our reign, and in the year of our Lord, 1693.'

' Lib. vii. Sec. of State's off', Albany.

THE COLONIAL PERIOD.

THE COLOXIAL PERIOD.

UY KEV. WILLIAM S. COFFEY, M.A.

Geneial History from 1(1X3 to the Revolution -- Chief Families -- Trade -- Mails -- Xewspapers -- Modes of Travel -- Kise of Churches -- Inllwenco of tlic Clersy -- Belatious of the County to the Colony -- Early Census.

In 1683, nine years after the surrender by the Dutch Government to the English of its Province of New Netherlands, the Duke of York (afterwards James the Second) sent over Colonel Thomas Dongan, brother of the Baron of that name in the Irish peerage, and himself afterwards Earl of Limerick, to be Governor of the colony, henceforward to be styled " New York."

In the instructions to Dongan are to be noted, first, the naming of Frederick Philipse and Stephen Van Cortlandt, large landed proprietors in Westchester County, as members of his Council, and, second, the order to assemble eighteen representatives of the freeholders of the colony to consult with the Governor and his Council. Dongan arrived in August, and, in less than a month, summoned the people to elect representatives to the first Assembly, which he ordered to meet on the 17th of October, in the city of New York. Westchester County, being one of the three Ridings of Long Island, returned two members to this body, whose names, unfortunately, are not known, the acts of the old New York Assembly being, " for the most part, rotten, defaced or lost." ' An important law passed by this Assembly was the division of the province into twelve counties.