As a Royal Province. 1685-1776 77 



that the Original was addressed to the present Governor of 

 New York, on occasion of a dispute that arose between his 

 Excellency and the Chief Judge of the province concerning 

 vhe establishment of a new Court of Equity. . . . The 

 governor, however, was offended at what was spoken, and 

 demanded a cop}', which the judge sent to him, in print, 

 with the letter now mentioned. 



"I confess I had some curiosity to know the particular 

 character of this extraordinary personage, who would seem to 

 act and speak like an inhabitant from some other world. 

 They tell me he is nothing but a man, and a plain one, too; 

 exactly like one of us — eats beef and mutton, drinks Madeira 

 wine, and sometimes rum punch, as we do. His education 

 was narrow, nor does he pretend to inspiration nor super- 

 natural aid. His knowledge is derived merely from reading 

 and observation, and his fortitude grounded on the Christian 

 religion and the laws of his country, which he fancies are com- 

 monly on the side of honesty and a good conscience. ..." 



Judge Morris was summarily removed from his position, 

 and James De Lancey, the second judge, was appointed to his 

 place. Morris immediately carried out his "dare" in the last 

 sentence of his letter to Cosby, by appealing to the people 

 for his vindication, and offered himself as a candidate for the 

 Assembly from the county of Westchester, the incumbent of 

 the office, William Willett, a close friend and fellow-townsman, 

 resigning from the position in order to leave a vacancy. 



A full account of the election, which took place upon the 

 green at Eastchester, is given by John Peter Zenger in the 

 first number of the New York Weekly Journal, under date of 

 October 29, 1733. The opponent of Judge Morris was William 

 Forster, the schoolmaster at Westchester, who was defeated, 

 notwithstanding that he had the support of Governor Cosby, 

 James De Lancey, Colonel Frederick Philipse, and other lead- 

 ing supporters of the Governor. Political methods were used 



