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A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

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1745-1747.] SARATOGA. 209Once, when the frontier was seriously threatened,Cl<strong>in</strong>ton, as comm<strong>and</strong>er-<strong>in</strong>-chief, called out the militiato defend it;but they refused to obey, on the groundthat no Act <strong>of</strong> the Assembly required them todo so.^Cl<strong>in</strong>ton sent home bitter<strong>and</strong> the Lords <strong>of</strong> Trade.compla<strong>in</strong>ts to Newcastle" They [the Assembly] areselfish, jealous <strong>of</strong> the power <strong>of</strong> the Crown, <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>such levell<strong>in</strong>g pr<strong>in</strong>ciples that they are constantlyattack<strong>in</strong>g its prerogative. ... I f<strong>in</strong>d that neitherdissolutions nor fair means can produce from themsuch Effects as wdll tend to a publick good or theirown preservation. They will neither act for themselvesnor assist their neighbors. . . . Few but hirel<strong>in</strong>gshave a seat <strong>in</strong> the Assembly, who protract timefor the sake <strong>of</strong> their wages, at a great expence to theProv<strong>in</strong>ce, without contribut<strong>in</strong>g anyth<strong>in</strong>g material forits welfare, credit, or safety." And he declares thatunless Parliament takes them <strong>in</strong> h<strong>and</strong> he can do noth<strong>in</strong>gfor the service <strong>of</strong> the K<strong>in</strong>g or the good <strong>of</strong> theboth civil <strong>and</strong> military. ^At Saratoga there was a small settlement <strong>of</strong> Dutchprov<strong>in</strong>ce, 2 for they want to usurp the whole adm<strong>in</strong>istration,farmers, with a stockade fort for their protection.1 Cl<strong>in</strong>ton to the Lords <strong>of</strong> Trade, 10 November, 1747.2 Ibid., 30 November, 1745.8 Remarks on the Representation <strong>of</strong> the Assembly <strong>of</strong> New York, May,1747, <strong>in</strong> N. Y. Col. Docs., vi. 365. On the disputes <strong>of</strong> the governor<strong>and</strong> Assembly see also Smith, History <strong>of</strong> New York, ii. (1830), <strong>and</strong>Stone, Life <strong>and</strong> Times <strong>of</strong> Sir William Johnson, i. N. Y. ColonialDocuments, vi., conta<strong>in</strong>s many papers on the subject, chiefly on thegovernor's side.VOL. II. — 14

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