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 X. 
 
 REASONS 
 
 IN SUPPORT OF 
 
 TRIENNIAL ELECTIONS 
 
 IN THE 
 
 PROVINCE OF NEW YORK; 
 
 WITH THF 
 
 KING'S VETO ON THE TRIENNIAL ACT. 
 
 1738. 
 

 •,* Previous to the year 1743 there was no limit prescribed by Statute to the 
 continuance in office of Members of Assembly in the Province of New York. It 
 was held to belong to the Royal Prerogative to dissolve the Legislature and to 
 order a new election. Tlie consequence was, that the existence of the Assembly 
 generally dci^euded on its subserviency to the local Governor and a new appeal to 
 the People was made, for the most part, only when the popular branch quarj-elled 
 with the Executive. Sometimes only a few months intervened between general 
 elections; sometimes a year, but usually a general election came about biennially, 
 until the administration of Gov. Hunter, when the Assemblj^ elected in 1716 con- 
 tinued its functions until 1726 — a period of ten years and two months. The elec- 
 tions for representatives after this happened, from divers disturbing causes, to be 
 annual until Gov. Cosby's administration, when the Assemb'.^ again assumed a 
 protracted existence of nine years, vizt: from 1728 to 1737. The leaders in the 
 popular branch seeing this tendency to abuse, by the removal of the representa- 
 tives from all responsibility to their constituents, determined to remedy the evil, 
 and passed a bill in the session of 1784, declaring that no Assembly should con- 
 tinue more than Three Years. The Council, however, did not act upon it, and 
 when the Legislature again met in October of the same year, the Assembly sent 
 to enquire what had been done with their Bill of the spring. It was, thereupon, 
 ■ taken up and amended by the Council, but as the Assembly refused to concur in 
 these amendments, it was lost, for the Council refused to recede from their posi- 
 tion. The Assembly, now (Nov. 28), sent an address to the Governor request- 
 ing that they may be dissolved, to which Cosby replied, that as it was a part of 
 the prerogative to convene and dissolve them at pleasure, he was determined to 
 act in the premises as he thought proper, and not as they desired, and in this 
 state of things the session was prorogued. , Shortly after the meeting of the Le- 
 gislature in the following year, a petition was presented (Nov. 4, 1735) to the 
 House from the citizens of New York, complaining of the long continuance of 
 the same set of representatives, and praying a dissolution. This petition was 
 sent to Gov. Cosby, who again refused compliance, and he died, in March, 1730, 
 "almost universally detested," says Smith. In April, 1737, the Triennial Bill 
 was again introduced, but it did not reach a third reading, as the House was dis- 
 solved, to the great gratification of the people, on the 3d May, 1737, after its nine 
 years' existence. One of the first measures introduced in the new House (June 
 16) , was the Bill for the frequent election of Representatives. It was soon passed, 
 together with an address to Lt. Gov. Clarke (to be found at length on the Jour- 
 nals), urging on him by strong and unanswerable arguments, the necessity of such 
 a reform. His Honor returned a fovorable answer, and in compliance, as it were, 
 with his disposition, the Council concurred, and the Bill received the Lieutenant 
 Governor's sanction on the 16th Dee. 1737. Before the Assembly adjourned, 
 they requested Clarke to u.se his utmost endeavors to obtain his Majesty's assent 
 to the Bill. It was sent to England early in the following year, when the Lieu- 
 tenant Governor strongly recommended it to the favor of the King's Ministers. 
 Some of the arguments in favor of the measure and its ultimate fate, are recorded 
 in the follawing Documents. Ed. 
 
TRIENNIAL ELECTIONS, 1738. 
 
 Memorandum 6f some Grounds and Reasons to hope 
 that his Majesty wiU be graciously pleased to grant 
 his Royal Assent to the Act for ffrequent Election 
 of Representatives lately passed in the General 
 Assembly of the Colony of New York. 
 
 That happy Union that is Established between the King and 
 his People under the British Constitution, has so closely connected 
 their Mutual Interests, that whatever tends to tlie advancement 
 of the peace and prosperity of the People, it may be Humbly 
 presumed will be a Good reason why it should meet with his 
 Majestyes approbation and Encouragement, but it is Conceived 
 that the passing tliat Law, will tend as much to Advance the 
 Interest of his Majestyes Crown, as the welfare of His people if 
 it be Considered that tlie Scituation of tliis Colony is in the very 
 Heart of the British Dominions in America, that it Contains a 
 passage from tlie Ocean almost all the way by water, to the most 
 distant Nations of Indians, which lye Northward of tlie Bay of 
 Mexico. It is near to Canada once tlie scat of a dangerous 
 Enemy, and now its rival in the flfur trade, which is of so much 
 Importance to Great Brittain that I'ts in tlie neighborhood of a 
 People Extremly Jealous of its Interests, and ever watchfull to 
 seize on every Advantage for the Extension of their settlements 
 upon the Lands undoubtedly belonging to the British Crown 
 (witness the late Settlements, of the flfiench at Crown Point, and 
 Niagara, and their late attemps to get a ifooting in the Cinekes 
 Country). That a fatal blow will be given to this British Interest 
 both in Europe and America, if thjs Country should ever fall 
 into the hands of the ffrench, these and many other weighty 
 considerations, makes the welfare & prosperity of this Colony, of 
 the last Consequence to the Crown of Great Brittain, it is gener- 
 ally Acknowledged, that not one Plantation in America lias 
 greater Advantages tlian this with respect to the fertility of its 
 
246 TRIENNIAL ELECTIONS IN 
 
 Soil, healtlifullness of its air and Commodiousness of its Scitu 
 ation for an Inland and foreign Trade and Navigation. Yet 
 under these many Natural advantages, it is a sad truth universally 
 attested, That it has been for many years visibly Declining in its 
 Husbandry, Navigation, Trade, Ship Building and otlier 
 Manufiictures, Advantagious to Great Brittain. It has been 
 deserted by great numbers of its Sea m^n and other Inhabitants, 
 who have been obliged to Seek their Bread in the neiglibouring 
 Colonies, while the Lands in the Country and tlie Houses in the 
 City, have been seen to sink to near lialf tlieir fformer Value, 
 and its Navigation Almost wholy fallen into the hands of 
 Strangers, and at the same time, universal Discontent ready to 
 break out into publick Tumult and Disorder, and Extream 
 poverty, have overspread the Country and threatened its utter 
 ruin. 
 
 This is, or very lately was, the Miserable Estate of this Colony, 
 which rendered the Disolution of the last Assembly Necessary 
 both for his Majesty's Honour and the Interest of the Country. 
 And the present Assembly Avhen chosen, being of Opinion that 
 the present and past Miseries of this Country, were greatly 
 owing to the want of the frequent election of Assemblys, they 
 past the Law in Question, presuming that upon the weighty 
 Reasons upon vvliich it is founded, it would not fail of tlie Royal 
 Assent. The Assembly observed, that the Great Declension of 
 this Country in all its valuable Interests, had hapened during the 
 Continuance of the Two last long Assemblies, while at the same 
 time no visible Cause could be assigned for it but what it was in 
 the power of a ffree and flfrequent Representation of the People 
 to prevent, Especially when at the same time, the neighbouring 
 Colonies of the Masachusets Bay Connecticut and R]iode Island 
 on the one hand, and Pensilvania on the other, were Increasing 
 in People, flourishing in Trade, and abounding with Wealth and 
 Contentment. 
 
 The Asseml^ly Observed that those Colonies have tlie Annual 
 Choice of their Representatives, by which General Grievances 
 are either happily Prevented, or always Speedily redressed while 
 by Experience they have found, that the long Continuance of 
 Assemblies in this Colony, had an unhappy Tendency to Intro- 
 
THE PROVINCE OF NEW YORK. 241 
 
 diice Grievances, and Establish them as an Insupportable Burthen 
 upon the People. Tliey observed that the long Continuance of 
 power in tlie same hands, had always grown up into an oppres- 
 sive Domination of a few men, which they found to have been 
 the fruitfull Parent of all tliose Evils, under which this Country 
 had Visibly Declined ; and wiiich had in some late Instances 
 Proved Exceeding Dangerous to the Peace of His Majesty's 
 Government within this Colony. 
 
 These are the Reasons that Induced the Assembly with great 
 Zeal and Unanimity to propose and pass that Law, as a most 
 necessary Expedient, to retrieve the Peace and Promote the 
 prosperity of this Miserable and Distressed Colony, 
 
 The Just representation of this matter to His Majisty, It's 
 believed cannot fail of procuring his assent to this Law, wdiich 
 his People here have so much at heart, Tis not doubted but 
 His Majisty will think it necessary for His Honor, that His 
 Subjects here, should live as easy and as happy under His imme- 
 diate Government as His Subjects are in tlie Neighbouring Colo- 
 nies, under the Charters Granted by His Royal Predecessors, 
 Tis verily believed, that nothing can have a more happy Ten- 
 dency to AccomplFsh this, than the passing tliis law. 
 
 Tis Evident, that the Liberty Ease and Safety of the People 
 in the Neighbouring Colonies, wlio Enjoy the Priviledge of 
 Choosing their Assemblies yearly, is Attended with the most 
 happy Consequences; this causes them to multiply Exceedingly, 
 by tlieir Natural Growth, and vast Additions from Protestant 
 Countrys abroad, Whereas this Colony is but thinly Peopled, and 
 more persons have Deserted it than have come to it for several 
 years past. Those Colonies have been fflourishing in Trade, and 
 Extending it abundantly wdiile it has been miserably declining 
 among us. Twill hardly J^e believed in England that those 
 Goverments, liave so much the Advantage of us, in the Value 
 of tlieir Lands, as they have, It being a truth Capable of the 
 fullest proof, that the Lands in Connecticut, will sell for three times 
 the price of the Lands in New York, tho the Lands are Conti- 
 guous, and there is no Dilference in the Soil, but what proceeds 
 meerly from the Partition line that Divides it. This Country 
 has an Advantage for Ship Building, raising of Hemp, making, 
 
248 TRIENNIAL ELECTIONS IN 
 
 of Iron and other Naval Stores, beyond any of the Plantations 
 in America. Yet it is evident, that under the Ease and Safety 
 of the Charter Goverments, Secured Chiefly by their Annual 
 Assemblys These Colonies have flourislied to a great Degree in 
 those usefull Manufactures, so Advantagious to the Trade and 
 Safety of Great Britain, while this Colony has been under such 
 Discouragements, as to have done little or nothing in these Man- 
 ufactures, but has seen the Iron Ore carried from lience, to be 
 worked up at about 200 miles Distance in New England, tho with 
 Respect to Wood and Water, this Country has as good or better 
 Conveniences than that, the vast Number of People InhalDit- 
 ing the New England Colonies, the sudden and prodigious growth 
 of Pensilvania, with tlieir Annual Assemblies while the linist 
 Colony lying between them, under the Kings Immediate Gover- 
 ment, that has been as long Settled as either of them, is Empty 
 of People poor and Starving, is generally believed to be cliiefly 
 owing to those Mischiefs, which have arose from tlie Avant of a 
 frequent Election of Assemblies, and the passing of this Law, 
 will Doubtless Tend to the Multiplying of our People, the Ex- 
 tension of our fifrontiers, the promoting of the fur Trade, and 
 making this Colony a strong Barrier against" the Ifrench, and 
 Consequently the Bulwark and Safety of British Interests in 
 America. It will make this Colony of more Service to Great 
 Britain, by a larger Consumption of its Commodities, by raising 
 of Hemp and making of Iron, and other Naval Stores. It will 
 raise a spirit of Industry among the People, and Extend our 
 Trade, restore our Seamen and Navigation, and remove that 
 Discontent, which has always Increased in proportion to the Age 
 of Past Assemblies. It will raise the Honour of His Majestys 
 immediate Government, as it will greatly advance the happiness 
 of His people, that live under it, and will make the Neighboring 
 Colonies to set a less value upon their Charters. It is a Privi- 
 lege Enjoyed by the Provinces of New Hampshire and South 
 Carolina Barbadoes Antigua and the Leward Islands under His 
 Majesty es Immediate Government to have an Annual Election 
 of Assemblies, and North Carolina Enjoys a Biennial Assembly, 
 and it may be hoped that his Majesty will not deny to his Loyal 
 Subjects in New York, what not only their welfare and prosper- 
 
THE PROVINCE OF NEW YORK 24^ 
 
 ity, but also the peace and Honour of His Goverment, the 
 Interests of His Crown, and the Trade of Great Britain, and the 
 Safety of the Neighbouring Colonies seems to render absolutely 
 necessary. 
 
 Memorandum of Some of tlie Reasons that may be 
 offered for obtaining his Majesties Royall Assent 
 to the Act for frequent Election of Representa- 
 tives. 
 First, For that its tlie Universal Opinion of the Inhabitants 
 of this Colony that the Long Continuance of Assemblys lias been 
 one of the greatest Causes of the present Declining State of this 
 Colony, which is such that while our Neighbours of Pensilvania 
 on the one liand and of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massa- 
 cliusets Bay and New Hampshire on the other Hand Do yearly 
 greatly Encrease in numbers of People and tlie value of their 
 Lands rise and their Trade flourishes. Yet this Colony which 
 has much greater Natural advantages than any of tliem has for 
 several years past decreased in numbers of People, Rents in the 
 City of New York have generally fallen near one half, and the 
 Lands of this Colofty about one third part of the value which 
 they have heretofore been at, Our seamen and Shiip Carpenters 
 have almost wholly deserted us, and our Navigation is almost 
 got into the Hands of Strangers to this Colony. Long Assem- 
 blys are supposed to be one of the greatest Causes of this Bad 
 State, by their not finding Remedies to prevent or put a stop to 
 this declining State, by their Suffering tlie People long to Labour 
 under Grievances, without obtaining or Endeavouring to 
 obtain relief against them. In some Counties. even their very 
 Representatives have become themselves their greatest Grie- 
 vance For while they have Suffered and Abetted a Governour 
 in Tyrannizing over all they have become Deputy Tyrants in 
 their Counties. They have often got into their Hands the Sole 
 Recommendation of all Judges, Justices, Officers of the Militia, 
 and otlier Officers in their Counties, those so recommended by 
 them they Supported in tliose Offices tho' often unworthy of 
 them, The hopes of being supported encouraged those officers 
 to Despise and Oppress the People And thus a Gradation of 
 
250 TRIENNIAL ELECTIONS IN 
 
 Tyrants has been often Established and Supported and the Peo- 
 ple left Destitute of Relief against their Daily Insults and Inju- 
 ries — Which with many other things too many to repeat with 
 too much reason has induced many of the Inhabitants to tliink 
 tliey had no Liberty at all nor property certain in tliis Colony, 
 and that they had better to remove to the neighbouring Colonies 
 of Either Side where such Tyrannizing was fully prevented by 
 a yearly Election of Representatives and where the Liberties 
 and Properties of tlie People are well preserved — And its uni- 
 versally believed tliat a frequent Election of Representatives 
 would have tlie like effect here, And that tlie Short duration of 
 Assemblys will not only prevent the Representatives themselves 
 from Domineering in their Counties by Laying them under a 
 necessity to preserve the Affections of the People in order to 
 preserve their power But will also give the People an Opportu- 
 nity from time to time to Clmse such men as are Sensible of 
 what Grievances they Labour under and as are Capable to obtain 
 a Redress of them, and of what has Rendered or is like to render 
 the Liberties and properties of the People precarious. 
 
 Secondly — The great Natural advantages which this Colony 
 has beyond the neighbouring Colonies by its Furr Trade, Excel- 
 lent Harbours, tlieir nearness to the Sea, its Inland Navigation 
 to & through every one of the Counties of this Colony and to 
 and amongst the Indian Nations as far as the Banks of St Law- 
 rence River and its Lakes and the fertile soil of this Colony, with 
 the hopes tliat tliis Law often by the people and Assemblies in 
 vain endeavoured for miglit at last be obtained, Tho' they have 
 not been able to liinder this Colony from greatly Declining while 
 its Neighbours with much less Natural Advantages are growing 
 and flourishing Yet they have hitlierto in great measure hindered 
 its being intirely deserted But should his Majestic deny his 
 Royal Assent to this Law its to be feared That great numbers 
 of tlie Inhabitants would forthwith provide to remove to the 
 Neighbouring Colonies where tliey believe tliey are more Sure 
 of protection for their Liberties and Properties This Colony 
 wliich is tlie Barrier against the French for the other Colonies 
 may tlieroby in time be Deserted, The French our Rivals in 
 the ffur Trade will then get it intirely from us into their Hands 
 
THE PROVINCE OF NEW YORK. 251 
 
 Great Britain will thereby lose the Exportation of Great Quan- 
 tities of Strouds, Elankets and other Woollen Goods Avhich the 
 Indians now take in Exchange for their ffurs, and flrance will 
 acquire tlie furnisliing of them Avith the Same, And also the 
 manufacturing of the flfur and Skins got from the Indians in 
 Excliange, and possibly tliis Colony may at last become possess- 
 ed by tlie French as a Derelict (as parts of it on the Banks of 
 S' Lawrence and its Lakes already [are] Crown point and Neagara 
 are Examples of this) and the other Colonies will by this means 
 be exposed to their Insults & Even to l^e Conquered by them 
 And unless the Liberties and Properties of the People of this 
 Colony are Secured by this Law its Conceived not only impossi- 
 ble for it to grow as Other the neighbouring Colonies but even 
 to hinder the Inhabitants from greatly deserting it 
 
 Thirdly — The neighbouring Colonies of Pensilvania on the one 
 hand and of Connecticut, Rhode Island Massachusets Bay & 
 New Hampsliire on the other hand have the Priviledge of 
 Annual Assemblies secured to tliem, By means of whicli any 
 Grievance that Affects the People is their quickly removed 
 Their Liberties and properties are by reasonable Laws protected 
 and Enjoyed This Encourages their people to Industry and to 
 the Extending their Trade This invites not only the people of 
 this Colony to them but also great numbers from all Protestant 
 Countries in Europe Whereas in this Colony for want of a 
 speedy redress of Grievances and the Security of the Liberties 
 and Properties of the People foreigners are discouraged to Come 
 and Settle with us, and Discontents Do Sometimes arise amongst 
 us to a very great Heiglith, Insomuch that Insurrections liave 
 been often not without reason feared The precariousness of the 
 Liberties and Properties of the People Curbs their Industry 
 This Colony abounds with Iron Oar and with streams of Water 
 and timber fitt for melting it and bringing it into Barrs, which 
 are intirely neglected while our neighbours with less Conveni- 
 ence have got to a great heiglith in tliat manufacture This 
 Colony has plenty of Lands fitt for Hemp which lies neglected 
 while our neighbours have much improved in it That precari- 
 ousness Cramps the minds of the People from thinking to 
 Launch out into trade which has given other Colonies the oppor- 
 
252 TRIENNIAL ELECTIONS IN 
 
 tunity to become almost our Sole Carriers, and should we 
 Decrease in our Shipping? as for some years past, they will soon 
 be entirely so — 
 
 Fourthly,— If his Majestic will be graciously pleased to give 
 his Assent to this Act its hoped and believed, that by means of 
 it no great Grievance will remain long unredressed. That reason- 
 able Laws will from time to time be made to secure the Liber- 
 ties and Properties of the People. This will its hoped, soon 
 invite Back our people that have deserted us — This will induce our 
 neighbors to believe they can be as safe in their Liberties and 
 properties and that they can live as happily under his Majesties 
 immediate Government as under any of their Charter Govern- 
 ments, And wlien they are so Convinced Its not Doubted but 
 that t1ie Natural Advantages which this has Beyond those Colo- 
 nies will soon invite many of them to settle liere and Encourage 
 otlier Foreign Protestants to follow their example, By which our 
 Indian Trade and the Settlement of this Colony may soon be 
 greatly extended; Its probable the want of bringing this Colony 
 into tliose Circumstances that has obstructed its being settled 
 quite to and along the Banks of S* Lawrence & its Lakes, and 
 which has given the Opportunity to the Frencli to make Sundry 
 Settlements tliere which this Colony might have done, so that 
 this Colony has but one single Settlement upon the Lakes of 
 S' Lawrence, to witt, Oswego & no Settlement within one liun- 
 dred & fifty miles tliereof to support it. 
 
 But its lioped that this may still be in great measure retrieved 
 if this Colony be brought into the Circumstances aforesaid For 
 this Colony by its safe and short navigation to Brittain and its 
 safe, short and speedy Inland Navigatioh to the Indian Nations 
 and Lakes of S^ Lawrence may be Enabled far to undersel the 
 Frencli amongst the Indians, and thereby Can in time cut them 
 out of all tliat Trade, which now they will probably cut us out 
 of, if this act should be Damned. 
 
 Fifthly — Should it be objected by Enemies to the being of 
 this Colony, That tlio' our Neighboring Colonies of both Sides 
 have Annual Elections, yet they are Charter Governments and 
 why should the Kings Government follow their Example. 
 Answer, Its Derogatory to hisMajisties goodness and Honour to 
 
THE PROVINCE OF NEW YORK. 253 
 
 suppose that he would Deny any thing to the Colonies under 
 his immediate Government that will tend to their well being 
 and prosperity wliich this Act plainly will, and Does in those 
 Colonies wliich Enjoy the Benefit of it. On the Contrary it 
 would Greatly tejid to his Majesties Honour and Interest that 
 the Colonies under his Immediate Government had their Liber- 
 ties and Properties Even better Secured by Good Laws than in 
 those Charter Governments. The Certain Consequence whereof 
 would be That such Colonics under his Majisties immediate 
 Government would flourish more than the Charter Colonies now 
 do. That would tend to make those Colonies indilferent as to 
 their Charters and in time to give them up and to Chuse his 
 Majesties immediate Government in the place thereof. Whereas 
 while this Colony remains in its past uncertain State as to the 
 Liljerties and Properties of the People, Those neighboring Colo- 
 nies get our people from us, and are taught by our Sufferings 
 highly to value their Charters and to pity our Misfortunes. 
 
 Sixthly — Its not Charter Governments only that have the 
 priviledge of frequent Election of Representatives for their 
 General Assembly, — For we are well assured that South Caro- 
 lina and North Carolina have likewise that priviledge tlie first 
 an Annual Election and the last a biennial. But as to them it 
 may be said, they had those Priviledges while they were Charter 
 Governments, But as to that we are informed that Barbadoes-Anti- 
 gua k the other Leward Islands never were Charter Governments 
 and yet they have the Priviledge of an Annual Election Whether 
 any and which of the other Colonies have such priviledges we 
 are unacquainted, But whither they have or not we Conceive is 
 very Little to the Question, which we think is, 
 
 Whether as this Colony is Scituated betwixt Colonies on both 
 Sides which have it. And as this Colony has greatly Suffered 
 and now suffers thro' the want of it, It be possible for this 
 Colony to preserve its inhabitants and to prosper, and to keep 
 on a footing with the neighbouring Colonies without that privi- 
 ledge which they enjoy so much tending to their happyness, 
 advantage and prosperity. 
 
 And whether the Declining State of tliis Colony thro' the 
 want of that Law does not tend to the Loss of the Indian Trade, 
 
25-i TRIENNIAL ELECTIONS IN 
 
 to the Dispeopling of this Colony, to the Possessing of it by the 
 French, and to the Loss of all the other Colonies in Consequence 
 of it. 
 
 REPRESENTATION TO THE KING. 
 
 Augt lot'" 1738. 
 To the kings most Excellent Majesty 
 May it please your Majesty 
 
 We have had under our consideration an act passed in your 
 Majestys Province of New York in December 1737 intitled "An 
 Act for the frequent elections of Representatives to serve in 
 Gen' Assembly and for the frequent calling and meeting of the 
 General Assembly so Elected." 
 
 We have likewise had the opinion ol M' Fane one of your 
 Majesty's Council at Law, and are of opinion with him that it is 
 an Infringment of Your Majesty's Prerogative by taking away 
 the undoubted Right which the Crown has always exercised by 
 calling and continuing tlie assembly of this Colony at such times 
 and as long as it was thought necessary for the publick service, 
 and as no reason has appeared to us to require such an Innovation, 
 we humbly lay the same before Your Majesty for your Royal 
 Disapprobation, 
 Which is most humbly submitted 
 
 R. Pllimer 
 s M. Bladen 
 
 MONSON 
 
 Ja. Brndenell 
 Whitehall 
 August 10th 1738 
 
THE PROVINCE OF NEW-YORK. 
 
 VETO OF THE TRIENNIAL ACT. 
 
 [Council Min. XVII.] 
 At the Court of St. James's the SO^^ NoV 1738. 
 Present 
 The Kings most Excellent Majesty. 
 Arch Bishop of Canterbury Earl of Abercorne. 
 Lord Chancellor. Earl of Selkirk 
 
 Lord President. Lord Harvey. 
 
 Duke of Montagu. Lord Harrington 
 
 Earl of Pembrooke. M"" Speaker 
 
 Earl of Graintliam. S'' Paul Methuen. 
 
 Earl of Cholmondley Horatio Walpole Esq"". 
 
 Whereas by Commission under the Great Seal of Great 
 Britain, the Governour Council and Assembly of His Majesty's 
 Province of New- York, are Autliorized and Impowered to make, 
 Constitute and Ordain Laws, Statutes and Ordinances, fur the 
 Publick Peace, Welfare and Good Government of tlie said 
 Pro\ince ; which Laws, Statutes and Ordinances are to be, as 
 near as conveniently may be, agreeable to the Laws and Statutes 
 of this Kingdom, and to be transmitted for His Majesty's Royal 
 Approbation or Disallowance ; And Whereas in Pursuance of 
 the said Powers, An Act was past in the said Province in Dec'". 
 1737. Entitled 
 
 " An Act for the frequent Election of Representatives 
 
 " to serve in General Assembly and for the 
 
 " frequent calling and meeting of the General 
 
 " Assembly so Elected." 
 
 Which act togetlier with a Representation from the Lords 
 
 Commissioners for Trade and Plantations proposing the Repeal 
 
 thereof, having been referred to tlie Consideration of a Committee 
 
 of the Lords of His Majesty's most Honi^'e Privy Council 
 
 for Plantation Affairs, Tlie said Lords of the Committee did this 
 
 day Report to His Majesty as their opinion, that the said Act 
 
 ought to be repealed : — His Majesty taking the same into his 
 
 Ployal Consideration, was pleased, with tlie advice of his Privy 
 
 Council, to Declare his Disallo\Aance of the said Act, and 
 
256 TRIENNIAL ELECTIONS IN THE PKOVINCE OF NEW YORK. 
 
 pursuant to His Majesty's Royal Pleasure thereupon! Exprest, 
 the said act is hereby repealed, Declared void, and of none 
 effect : Whereof the Governor or Commander in Chief of His 
 Majesty's Province of New York for tlie time being, and all 
 others whom it may concern, are to take Notice and Govern 
 themselves accordingly 
 
 Ja : Vernon. 
 Albany Octr 7th 1758. 
 
 Note. — A Law, commonly called the Septennial act, was passed in 1743, by 
 which the continuance of the Provincial Assembly was limited to seven years. 
 This Act remained in force down to the Revolution — Ed. 
 
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