May it please your Excellency. -- By the Last Vessel from hence I acquainted your Excellency of my Arrivall Here, & y« danger that I found the Country in by y« late Management of one Capt Leisler who took upon himself without any Direction from y Majostyes to rule, «& as it now appears, to oppress tids province to a Very great Degree, & upon my arrivall refused me Entrance in y^ fort & Garrison of this Province, but by seizing of his principall Instruments & by y« Deserting of his own Soldiers which were About 300 he was at length forced to render himself prisoner & upon him & his, accomplices a Grand Court of Oyer & Terminer haue passed & given Judgm* of Death to which nevertheless I am not willing to proceed but upon extreamest Necessity untill his Majesty shall have advice & his pleasure known therein, Yr is a great ferm* in this prouince heightened by y® Neighbour Colonys of N: Engl^ & therefore I am desirous to proceed with all patience & Moderation that his Majesty may be sensible of y^ Necessity of

1 The papers here referred to were Petitions in favor of the State Prisoners; which the people were signing. For this offence several were arrested, fined and otherwise harassed. See post, Petition of Van Pelt, Veghten and others to Gov. Fletcher, p. 415.

LIEUT. GOV. LEISLER. 373

a good & perfect settlem' of y^ other Colonyes on the Coast which I am Labouring to represent & -if your excellency can by your Information from myself or othei's put it forward it will be a true seruice to y^ Crown of Engl^ Your excellency hath every day reports from y^ severall parts here coming to you that may Inform of y ' troubles, disapoyn*, mines & danger y* y ' severall Governm*^ by yc french & Indian & by themselves labour onder that I need not prticularly enforme you, I ask to be accounted your Excellency's Correspondent in euery thing that may Import y"^ Majesty's service & am perticularly S"" Your.