That the said Tract of Land was always held and esteemed to lye within this Province, and that accordingly your Petitioners, and his said Ancestors, have constantly paid the Quit rent for the same unto his Majesty's Receivers General of this Province, and also have been at great charge and expence to encourage the • settlement and improvement of the said Manor, the Tenants whereof as well as your petitioner and his said Ancestors have always readily paid their proportionable part of the Taxes and other rates for supporting the Government, as they deemed and esteemed themselves to be within the same, and imder the protection thereof. And that your Petitioner so

own Manor the privilege of being speciaUy represented in the Assembly. This being accomplished, he took his seat as its representative in 1716. He was chosen Speaker of the Assembly in 1718, and resigned all the offices he held in Albany in favor of his eldest son Philip, in 1721. He served as Speaker until 1725, but continued member of the Assembly until 1726, when he finally retired from public life. During his service in the legislature his knowledge of Indian affairs must have been of incalculable benefit to Gov. Burnet who was then (^xerting his every energy to secure the Fur Trade for New York. Mr. L. died about the year 1728, having been, with but a few intermissions, Uie recipient of public favor and patronage from his first arrival in America until the close of his career. He was a man of unquestionable shrewdness, perseverance, and of large acquisitiveness. His main efforts whether in or out of the legislature, seem to hive been directed principally to securing for himself office, wealth and special privileges, and every opportunity was seized by him to get the government and the legislatm-e to recognize his Manor of Livingston.