De Lancey his commission, but to undergo the further mortification of witnessing the manifestations of popular pleasure which the announcement of the fact produced.?_ Two days afterwards, on the 12 October, 1753, occurred the tragical death of Sir Danvers Osborne, who committed suicide in a fit of insanity, and the command of the province immediately devolved upon Mr. De Lancey. His accession was hailed with general delight, for his long service as Chief Justice, having traveled the circuits upwards of twenty years, had made the people of the Province thoroughly acquainted with him; and the approval of his elevation, which they now manifested, showed how highly they esteemed his character and capacity.

At this time the 'agitation of the great question of the day, regarding the support of Government, was at its height. The "instruetions,' which accompanied the commissions of the Colonial Governors, provided that acts giving a permanent support for five years, should be passed by the Assembly as often as was necessary. This had always been done previous to 1737 ; but finding that the certainty of a support for so long a period rendered the Governors very independent, and gave rise to prodigality of different kinds, the Assembly of that year determined that the support acts should be annual for the future in spite of the "instructions." This was considered an encroachment tpon the royal prerogative and as such was strongly resisted.

From that time this subject caused great struggles between the Assembly and the Governors; but the former would only pass annual bills, though the latter always asked those for five years. Goy. Clinton, during the first three years of his administration, signed annual bills--then he refused to do it any