As a Royal Province. 1685-1776 69 



was the basis of all amendments and changes in the city 

 government from that time until the Greater New York was 

 formed. When the western part of the Borough became a 

 part of the city in 1874, it became subject to the Dongan char- 

 ter as then existing ; the same is true of the eastern part of the 

 Borough annexed in 1895, though the greater city with its 

 new charter was even then in view. 



Dongan was a Roman Catholic, but refused to carry out 

 the instructions of the King to introduce French priests as 

 missionaries among the Five Nations, on the ground that the 

 measure was dangerous to the English power in America. 

 This rendered him obnoxious to the King, and he forestalled 

 his supersession as Governor by resigning. 



Nicholson was Lieutenant-Governor but a short time; but 

 during this time he rendered himself so unpopular with the 

 great mass of the people that, when the news of the accession 

 of William and Mary reached the Province in June, 1689, 

 the people rose against him and, backed by the militia, com- 

 pelled his return to England. The Province was thus left 

 without a head. Jacob Leisler, a wealthy German merchant 

 and leading train-band captain, was elected to the military 

 command of the Province by the Committee of Public Safety, 

 and Stephanus Van Cortlandt to the mayoralty of the city. 

 Finally, at the request of the committee, Leisler assumed the 

 position of lieutenant-governor until such time as a regularly 

 appointed one should arrive from England. The movement 

 was entirely a popular one, and thus antagonized the wealthy 

 landowners and merchants who formed the aristocracy of the 

 province. Even the council was against Leisler; and Bayard 

 and Livingston pursued him with so much rancor that it 

 finally led to his unjust execution for high treason. 



In 1690, Colonel Henry Sloughter was appointed Governor by 



