260 



THE FRENCH BLOOD IN AJMERICA 



City Charter 



Chief Justice 



Practically 

 Governor 



he gave evidence of powers far above the ordinary, and 

 everything was done for him which might foster the de- 

 velopment of his talents. England was then the Mecca 

 of the American educational world, and to England ac- 

 cordingly young De Lancey was sent by his devoted 

 father. After graduating at the University of Cambridge 

 he completed his training by a course of legal study at 

 the Inner Temple, London, and returned to New York in 

 1725. He soon became prominent in the public life of 

 the province, and his legal talents received an early 

 recognition. In 1729 he was elected to the council. The 

 following year he was appointed as the head of a com- 

 mission to frame a charter for the city of New York. 

 The "Montgomery Charter," as this instrument was 

 known, was mainly the result of De Lancey' s labours ; 

 and for this distinguished service he was rewarded by 

 being presented with the freedom of the city, an honour 

 which he was the first person to receive. In 1731 he was 

 appointed to the highest tribunal in the province as sec- 

 ond judge of the Supreme Court, and two years later was 

 made Chief Justice, a position which he retained with 

 honour until the close of his life. During the next 

 twenty years he was occupied with his judicial duties, 

 with the care of the immense estate left to him by his 

 father, and with many important public commissions. 



During these years his influence and reputation grew 

 among the citizens of New York and spread to England, 

 so that in 1753 he was api)oiuted by the Crown Lieuten- 

 ant-Governor of the province. For several yeare, in the 

 absence of an English governor, he was the real ruler of 

 New York. Shortly after taking his oath of office he 

 convened and presided over the first congress ever held 

 in America, which met at Albany on the 19th of June, 

 1754. Delegates from all the colonies were present to 

 take measures for the common defense and to devise 

 means of conciliating the Indians. The congress is chiefly 

 remembered, however, from the fact that Benjamin 



