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

1 Smith's Hist. N. Y. I1., 145, 146. 2 Smith's Hist. N. Y. II., 152.

1050 MEMOIR OF THE

» longer and demanded a revenue for five years, which caused the rupture between himself and Chief Justice De Lancey and the conservative party, who were warmly in favor of the annual . mode of support. A long and severe contest followed in which the nearly general voice of the province was with the conservatives, while curiously enough the supporters of the Governor were Mr. Smith, Mr. Alexander and their friends, who were the original proposers of the annual mode in 1737.

In the midst of this contest of the people against the prerogative, with his feelings, opinions and political sentiments altogether on the popular side, the Lt. Governor found himself unexpectedly called to the supreme command. The thirty-ninth of the new "instructions," which Sir Danvers Osborn had brought out, and which his office compelled him to obey, enjoined in the strongest terms upon the Commander-in-chief to insist upon "a permanent revenue solid, indefinite, and without limitation." 2 .