484 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



solved on, was put into form by Benjamin Franklin, who was a delegate 

 from Pennsylvania, and which was not decided upon, but merely sent to 

 the different provinces for consideration. 



Before the motion for the appointment of this committee was made, 

 Governor de Lancey, being in favor of the colonies uniting for their own 

 defence, proposed the building and maintaining, at the joint expense of 

 the colonies, of a chain of forts covering their whole exposed frontier, 

 and some in the Indian country itself. But this plan, like the other, 

 was without effect upon the Congress ; for, as he tells us himself, " they 

 seemed so fully persuaded of the backwardness of the several assemblies 

 to come into joint and vigorous measures that they were unwilling to 

 enter upon the consideration of the matters. " a His idea seem to have 

 been for a practical union of the colonies for their own defence to be 

 made by themselves ; whilst that of the committees, who despaired of a 

 voluntary union, was for a consolidation of the colonies to be enforced 

 by act of Parliament. Neither plan, however, met with favor in any 

 quarter, and the Congress affected little but the conciliation of the In- 

 dians. 6 



In the antumn of 1754, the Governor suggested to the Assembly the 

 system of settling lands in townships instead of patents, a measure which, 

 being passed by them, rapidly increased the population and prosperity 

 of the colony. * 



On the 31st of October, 1754, Governor de Lancey signed and passed 

 the charter of King's (now Columbia) college, in spite of the long and 

 bitter opposition of the Presbyterians, led by Mr. William Livingston. 

 So decided were they against the Episcopalians at this time, and so de- 

 termined were the efforts of Mr. Livingston to break down the college, 

 that, though signed and sealed, the charter was not delivered in conse- 

 quence of the clamor, till May 7th, 1755, when, after an address, Gov- 

 ernor de Lancey presented it to the trustees in form. a 



" No American had greater influence in the colonies than James de 

 Lancey. Circumstances, it is true, aided in raising him to this elevation 

 — such as education, connections, wealth, and his high conservative prin- 

 ciples; but he owed as much to personal qualities, perhaps, as to all 

 other causes united. Gay, witty, easy of access, and frank, he was, per- 

 sonally, the most popular ruler the Province ever possessed, even when 

 drawing tightest the reins of Government."" 



The death of Governor James de Lancey, which took place on the 



a See his speech to the Assembly of August 20th, 1754. Ass. Jour., TI, 386, 387. 

 b See the proceedings of the Congress. Doc. Hist. N. Y., II, 38G, 387. 

 c Assembly Journal, II, for September, 1754. 

 d Doc. Hist. N. Y. IV, 1051. 

 e Doc. Hist. N. Y., p. 1057. 



