They were pur sued by the Mohawks, who fell upon their rear and harassed them until they reached Montreal. The second expedition reached Salmon Falls, in New Hampshire, which place was burned ; but the attack on New York was abandoned.

The people of New York were divided in sentiment in regard to the

claims of William and James.

Immediately following

OF HUDSON'S RIVER.

*

the announcement of the accession of William, Jacob Leisler, a captain of the militia, at the instigation of the friends of the Protestant king,

took forcible possession of Fort James, in the

name of William and Mary, while Nicholson, who had been It was in the midst of appointed governor, fled to Europe. these civil commotions that the atrocities at terri

Schenectady

fied the

people and calmed the domestic factions.

New York,

Massachusetts, and Connecticut united for the reduction of Montreal and Quebec. An expedition by land and water

was agreed upon. Sir William Phipps was placed in command of the fleet, and the land forces assigned to the command of

General Winthrop of

before

Quebec about

the

Connecticut.

The

fleet

arrived

middle of October, 1690, but the

land forces only penetrated as far as Wood creek, in the pre sent county of Washington, when sickness, want of provisions

and dissensions among the

officers,

compelled a return.

In

the meantime, Quebec had been strengthened by the French, and bade defiance to the English fleet, which soon returned to Boston.

In 1691, Colonel Sloughter was appointed governor of the province, and, immediately on his arrival, Governor Leisler and his son-in-law Milborne, were arrested and executed for treason. This, with the renewing of the covenant chain with the Iroquois^ was the only act of his administration, death having sud denly ended his career.