When it is remembered that it was at this very time that the French settlers of New Rochelle obtained through Leisler their lands in that town from John Pell, and when also the rumors industriously circulated are presented, which pictured the French as having, among other designs in taking New York, one to seize their countrymen, the Huguenots, and torture them or ship them back to France,^ it will be obvious how easy it was for Leislei' to involve them, in his designs, as subserving thereby their own safety. The interest of Westchester in these proceedings also appears in the fact that when, after the destruction of Schnectady, Leisler sent an expedition against the French and the Indians, there is no doubt that there was, for its size, a large representation of the County in these troops.^

2 Vide Smith's New York, 2d Ed., 1792, p. 74.

s Instructions to Count de Frontenac. N. Y. Doc. Hist. vol. 1., p. 29.5. * N. Y. Doc. Hist. vol. ii. pp. 12-15. Baird's Rye, p. 48 and 198. N. Y. Col. Mans.

THE COLONIAL PERIOD.

When Leisler took possession of the fort at New York, Lieutenant-Governor Nicholson without dehij' set sail for England, leaving the government in charge of the Council, the membeis of which were, Philii)se, Van Cortland and Bayard. Of course, the public confidence was still more diminished. Leisler, taking advantage of this state of things, invited from each of the counties a delegation of two to meet in convention, and also two men from each to guard the fort.