THE TOWN OF MAMARONECK. 4S3 



him in 1747 by George II. and had been kept back by Clinton until 

 this time. The oath of office was administered October 10th, 1753. 

 The tragical death of Sir Danvers Osborn by suicide two days afterwards, 

 occasioned the elevation of Mr. de Lancey to the Gubernatorial chair, 

 which he occupied till the 2d of September, 1755, when the new Gover- 

 nor, Admiral Sir Charles Hardy arrived, who administered the goverment 

 till the 2d of July, 1757. Preferring a naval command Hardy resigned, 

 and sailed in the expedition to Louisburgh, and Mr. De Lancey again 

 took the reins of Government. 



The ministry of England wished to keep the command of New York 

 in the hands of Mr. de Lancey but it was then, as it is to this day, a 

 rule of the English Government never to appoint a native colonist to the 

 supreme command over his own colony. To effect their object in this 

 case without violating their rule, they decided not to appoint any new 

 Governor as long as Mr. de Lancey lived ; he therefore remained the 

 Governor of New York until his death, some three years afterwards, on 

 the 30th of July, 1760.* 



"On the 19th of June, 1754, Governor de Lancey convened and pre- 

 sided over celebrated Congress of Albany, the first Congress ever held 

 in America, over which he presided. This was a Congress of delegates 

 from all the colonies, which the home government directed the Gover- 

 nor of New York to hold, for the purpose of conciliating the Indian 

 nations who were iuvited to attend it ; of renewing the covenant chain 

 and attaching them more closely to the British interest, and comprising 

 all the provinces in one general treaty to be made with them in the 

 King's name, and for no other purpose. 6 Speeches and presents were 

 made to the Indians who promised to do all that was asked of them, 

 but no formal treaty whatever was concluded. The Congress voted in- 

 stead, that the delegation from each colony except New York, should 

 appoint one of their number, who together should be a committee to 

 digest a plan for a general union of all the colonies. 



The choice of the New York committee-man was left to Governor 

 de Lancey, who, acting most impartially, appointed his political oppo- 

 nent, William Smith, Esq., the elder." This movement, which was not 

 within the objects of the Congress as defined in the letter of the Board 

 of Trade above mentioned, resulted in the adopting of a plan of a union 

 to be made by an act of Parliament, which, after the provisions were re- 



ft For a full biographical sketch of Governor de Lancey, see Documentary History of New 

 York, vol. IV, p. 103T. 



b Virginia and Carolina did not send delegates, but desired to be considered a3 present. 

 Doc. Hist. N. Y., II, 56T. 



c See Letter of Lords of Trade, directing the holding of the Congress, and the minutes of 

 its proceedings in full, in Doc. Hist. N. Y., II, 555, and N. Y. Col. Hist., vi. p. 853. 



