The time is very short, since ii is the twenty stn enth inst;uil they must lie at W'chester, but they look forsiime foi'bearance and delay from your goodness, in case, notwithstanding their diligence, they may not be able }Mnirtnally to answiM-. It is not through any unwillingness to exert themselves to meet it, but you know theirstienglh as well as I. Notwithstanding, despite their ixiverty and misery, they will never lack in submission to the orders of his iMujesty, both for the public good and interest. This they protest to me, anil 1 pi"ay you to be pei*suaded thereof. 1 am with resjiect, and pray Uod for your i)rosiK;rity,

•' Sir,

" Your very huuibtu and very Obedient Servant, V. lioxREr.vs,

"Address: a Monsieur de Leistar, Lieut (louveruenr pour le Roy D'Angleterre, du Fort William, a La Noie York."

Governor Fletcher arrived in New York on the 2'Jth of August, l()!t2. To him, .soon afterwards, probably iu IG'JH, the inhabitants of New Rochelle addressed the following humble petition: -

"ToIIis Excellency, Col. Benjamin Fletcher, Governor in Chief, and Captain General of ye Province of New York and dependencies &c. " The humble petition of ye inhabitants of New Rochelle, Humbly Sheweth.

"That your petitioners having been forced by the late pereecutions in France to f'li-sake their country and estates, and flye to ye Protestant Princes. Their iMiyestyes, l)y their proclannitiou of ye 25th of April, lliS'.i, ilid grant them an a/.ile in all their dominions, with their Royall prittection ; Wherefore they were invited to come ami buy lands in this province, to the end that they might by their labour help the uecessityes of their families, and did spend therein all their small store, with the help of their friends, whereof they did borrow great sums of money, having been contpelled to sell for that purpose the things which are nuist necessary for their use.