THE TOWN OF EAST CHESTER. 



217 



fusing the said Quaker to vote, and in like manner did refuse seven and thirty 

 Quakers more — men of known and visible estates. This Cooper, now high sheriff 

 of the said county, is said not only to be a stranger in that county, but not hav- 

 ing a foot of land, or other visible estate in it, unless very lately granted, and it 

 is believed he has not where withall to purchase any. The polling had not 

 been long continued before Mr. Edward Stephens, a man of a very considerable 

 estate in the said county, did openly, in the hearing of all the freeholders there 

 assembled, charge William Forster, Esq., the candidate on the other side, with 

 being a Jacobite, and in the interest of the Pretender, and that he should say to 

 Mr. William Willett (a person of good estate and known integrity, who was at 

 that time present and ready to make oath to the truth of what was said) that true 

 it was he had taken the oaths to his Majesty, King George, and enjoyed a place 

 in the government under him, which gave him bread ; yet notwithstanding that, 



should James come into England, he should think himself obliged to go there 



and fight for him. This was loudly and strongly urged to Forster's face, who denied 

 it to be true ; and no more was said of it at that time. About eleven o'clock 

 that night the poll was closed, and it stood thus : — 



For the late Chief Justice, - - - 231 

 " Quakers, . ... 38 



269 



For William Forster, Esq., ... 151 

 For difference, .... us 



269 



So that the late chief justice carried it by a great majority, without the Qua- 

 kers. Upon closing the poll the other candidate, Forster, and the sheriff wished 

 the late chief justice much joy, Forster said he hoped the late judge would not 

 think the worse of him for setting up against him, to which the judge replied 

 he believed he was put upon it against his inclinations, but that he was highly 

 blameable, and who did or should know better for putting the sheriff, who was 

 a stranger, and ignorant in such matters, upon making so violent an attempt up- 

 on the liberty of the people, which would expose him to ruin if he were worth 

 £10,000, if the people aggrieved should commence suit against him. The people 

 made a loud huzza, which the late chief judge blamed very much, as what he 

 thought not right. Forster replied, he took no notice of what the common peo- 

 ple did, since Mr. Morris did not put them upon the doing of it. 



The indentures being sealed, the whole body of electors waited on their new 

 representative to his lodgings with trumpets sounding, and violins playing, and 

 in a little time took their leave of him. Thus ended the Westchester election to 

 the general satisfaction. 



New York, November 5th. On Wednesday, 31st October, the late chief jus- 

 tice, but now representative, for the county of Westchester, landed in this city 

 about five o'clock in the evening, at the ferry stairs. On his landing he was sa- 

 luted by a general fire of the guns from the merchant vessels lying in the road, 

 and was received by great numbers of the most considerable merchants and in- 



