Another and very striking peculiarity in the composition of the colonial parties; was the remarkable preponderance of the wealth and social position of the Province on the side of the conservatives. In their ranks were found the Philipses, Van Cortlandts, De Lanceys, Bayards, Crugers, Wattses, Waltons, Van Rensselaers, Beekmans, Bleeckers, Barclays, Joneses of Long Island, Jays, Verplancks, Harrisons, and other substantial families, while in those of the opposition, the Livingstons, Morrises, Alexanders and perhaps the Smiths and one or two more were probably all that belonged to the same class.

The political contests were consequently warm and _ spirited, but always in the end terminated in-favor of the conservatives, : one of whose chief leaders was James De Lancey. The enforcement of Cosby's claim against Van Dam, and the prosecution and trial of Zenger, were, however, though both in strict accordance with the principles of Justice and the law of the land, against the popular feelings, which had been exerted by the cry that the people's rights were perilled by the establishment of Equity Courts, and that the liberty of the press was in danger. This feeling increased largely by the unprincipled attempts of Gov. Cosby, just before his death in 1786, to invalidate certain land patents on Long Island and in the Mohawk Valley, was so intense that upon the dissolution of the old Assembly, in 1737, by Lt. Gov. Clark who succeeded him, the radical party carried the election which immediately followed.

_-But the triumph of the opposition was of very short dldesitioh Lt. Gov: Clark, aware that the Council was strongly conser vative, » attempted to take a middle course, which lost him the confidence