USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume II > Part 62
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I, on my part, think that I have not less properly acquitted my- self of my duty. I went even so far that I offered them my influ- ence if they desired it. When they were arrested, sentenced, and executed, I was not at New York. I stayed with my family at Boston in New England for some months, intending to return to the Fatherland. All arrangements for my passage were made, but before the ship sailed from there, Col. Sloughter arrived as Gov- ernor of New York. Then by a petition, signed by more than a hundred persons, he was asked to persuade me to return not only to continue my service in the church at Albany, but also for the conversion of the heathen, labors among whom I had already under- taken. Being requested thereto by an express messenger, I re- turned to New York, and allowed myself to be persuaded to accept again my former duties. At this time Leisler and Milborne were prisoners, but instead of complaining against them, I offered my intercessions in their behalf. I did not know of their execution, until, to the best of my recollection, three or four weeks after my return to Albany. How then can Lord Bellomont say that I showed my malice and rage against the lives of Leisler and Milborne, above others.
Dellius tried to save them; but was far away at time of their exe- cution ready to sail for Holland; urged to return to Albany.
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[II. As to some other charges of Bellomont against Dellius. ]
The second paragraph of Bellomont's letter exceeds in lies, and in foul and blasphemous words even the number of its lines, and I consider it beneath my dignity to answer it. The most material thing he mentions, and that which he lays the most stress on, is the imaginary fraud (on my part) concerning the savages. This he exeggerates in his manner of expression as well as in his state- ment of facts and their consequences.
He says that seven men were misled by me concerning this mat-1. The ter, by twos and threes, so that one could not consult with the other : that the savages received no consideration, and that no satisfac- 2. tion or payment was given them: that I had obtained an absolute 3. grant, that is, a patent or open letter, for the whole district, from Col. Fletcher, the Governor of New York: that the Makvas 4. (Mohawk) savages and the four nations had been so disturbed by it, that they almost rebelled against the Crown of England : that upon order of the King, the Assembly of New York had 5. passed an Act to vacate several extravagant grants, and among others two such grants to Dellius: that the majority of the House 6. of Representatives were honest Dutchmen, who, knowing of the immoralities of Dellius, had added to the bill a clause to deprive him of his benefice (or charge) ; and that it had not been in his power to prevent this, without disobeying the will of the King and defeating the bill.
[Reply of Dellius to these charges.]
Now Lord Bellomont wants people especially to believe the fraud of Dellius towards those Makvas (Mohawks), according to testimony taken against him, before [Bellomont] himself and all the Magistrates of Albany, with several other gentlemen, who Bello- accompanied Lord Bellomont from New York. It may serve as a preliminary remark, that Bellomont ought to have said that Del- lius had only a fifth share in the grant of the Makvassen (Mohawk)
General prelimi- nary re- mark as to the un- fairness of mont's language.
1
charges.
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ularity of all the proceed- ings in ob- taining the land.
land, and not have expressed himself as if all the tract belonged 1. The reg- to Dellius alone. But in order to disprove this contemptible trick and his usual mendacity, I will only say, that in place of defraud- ing the savages, more regular formalities about the transfer of land, than this, have never been used. Col. Schuyler, of his Majesty's Council, in the Province, Major Wessels, Mr. Bancker and Mr. Dellius, requested, as usual, from the Governor, permis- sion to purchase a certain piece of land, definitely bounded in length and width, and which the savages were inclined to sell. With the advice of the King's Council their request was granted, but upon condition that Mr. Pinhorne, also of the Council, should be a participant. Then the chiefs of the Makvassen (Mohawk) nation transferred a district, as mentioned in the license, to the parties aforesaid, but with the reservation, that they and their descendants, forever, should have the right to take as many parcels of land out of it, as they might require. This conveyance was made, signed and sealed in the presence of Mr. ten Broeck and Mr. Robert Livingston, junior, as witnesses; the first being one of the Magistrates of Albany; the other, substitute-Clerk or Under Secretary of the City ; not at all, by Dellius, but by Col. Schuyler ; and the subscribers were not seven, but at least ten or twelve. Only this is to be said about it, that Col. Schuyler being absent from home on a certain occasion, Major Wessels came to my house with one or two Makvas (Mohawks), the public interpreter of the Province and thé previously mentioned two witnesses, bringing the conveyance, which they had signed, with them. That is the foundation for his false remarks. For it is an absolute falsehood to say that they signed by twos or threes; just as, on the other hand, that the Makvasse pretend not to have received any consid- eration for it; for Major Wessels satisfied them, as can be proved by his book of accounts.
2 The In- dians were compen- sated.
3 The deeds prove that I was not absolute owner of the land.
That I claimed title to the land belonging to the whole nation of the Makvasse, (Mohawks) by virtue of said conveyance, and had obtained an absolute grant for their whole country from Colonel Fletcher, the late Governor of New York, is disproved by
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the conveyance of the Makvassen, and by the patent, which the Governor gave with the advice and consent of the Kings Council, and which the Attorney-General of the King usually draws up. Bellomont ought to know this ; and he is aware, that it is recorded in the Council Minutes of the Province. But this must be said about it : Col. Schuyler and Mr. Banker asked the Governor, after the conveyance had been executed, for his Majestys letters-patent, for all must be done in the Kings name. The Governor, according Cause of a modifica- tion in the deed. to custom, took the advice of the Council and his Majesty's Attor- ney-General. The latter drew up the patent, granted and delivered it, without the mentioned reservation of the parcels of land (to the Mohawks) notwithstanding Col. Schuyler and Mr. Banker insisted on it; but his Majesty's Attorney-General judged it was against the King's dignity to grant a conditional patent. That is what makes him speak of fraud in obtaining an absolute grant ; but I am unable to understand how it can concern me, as I did not petition for it, and I was about thirty six [Dutch] miles from there.
Bellomont continues : That the Makvasse savages and the other 4. Dis- four nations were so disturbed thereby, that they almost deserted the pre- the Crown of England and threatened to place themselves under the government of the French King.
But his own disturbed brains cause all this disturbance. For after all what has been said above concerning the Conveyance, and the Patent issued, the Makvassen and the other four nations asked Bellomont himself in a public talk, which has been printed at New York, that on all future occasions they might consult with Col. Schuyler, Major Wessels and Dellius, the best friends of their well-being etc., and transact their business only with them, in his absence.
proof of
tended re- bellion of the In- dians.
1
The reason, that he speaks of the Kings order to vacate certain grants, and among them two of Dellius is as follows: Bellomont charge of has drawn up more than one hundred articles against Col. Fletcher and sent them to England; but they have all been rejected by the
5. Answer to his
the King's desiring the grants to be va- cated.
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Court as frivolous and malicious. Among them was one, that he had not taken good care of his Majesty's interests in giving extrava- gant patents and exacting only a low quitrent. The Lords-Rulers made answer that if this were so, he should try to remedy it either by legal means, or else definitely inform their Lordships about it. This was only an echo of his own letter, or, at the most, advice given by their Lordships, but not an order of the King. And if it had been the King's order, how comes it, that his Majesty has not yet approved the vacating of the Patents by him (Bellomont) and the Assembly and others ? nor their exorbitant proceedings ? And it is believed that he will never do it, but will veto it. Thereby his malicious intrigues* are partly discovered, and remain to be further exhibited to his Majesty, or to the next Parliament. It is a wonder that he dares to place here, upon the forehead of his lie, the illustrious name of the King, since he has credited it always to the name of the Lords Supreme Regents, oportet mendacem esse memorem.
[The Deposition of Dellius. ]
6. Answer to the charge of the House deposing him from the Minis- try.
He Bellomont further insinuates, that the House of Representa- tives made that bill for evacuating the patents; and that the greater part of them, being honest Dutchmen, and well aware of the immoralities of Dellius, they had added a clause depriving him of his benefice (charge) at Albany; and that he could not prevent this, etc.
(1) The House it- self irreg- ular. (2) Memo- rial against the action (3) Char- acter of the mem- bers of that House.
To refute this a simple recital will be sufficient. I pass over the irregular proceedings in the election of this Assembly. The complaints of more than five hundred of the principal denizens of the Province of New York have been presented before the Lords of the Plantations in England. I will only say that this consti- tuted (packed ?) Assembly, or these Representatives, consisted of twenty one persons, including the speaker. Many of them were
* The document, as brought over by Brodhead, ended here.
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from among the meanest of the populace; ignorant as to the gov- ernment of the country or the church. They were also his creatures and of Leisler's party and faction, which Bellomont had espoused to obtain his ends. When, first of all, he proposed the vacating of (4) The the patents, he found there were eleven in the negative, against ular. ten. Making the effort a second time, and managing that a certain member, Col. Pearson, and one of the eleven should be absent, the votes stuck fast at ten against ten. The speaker was against the breaking of the patents, and claimed the right to give the casting vote on a tie-vote. But this was not only denied him, but as speaker, he was allowed no vote at all. But such right had always been customary (for the speaker) ; and even at this same session when a grant of sixteen hundred pounds was made to him (Bellomont), Bello- it was done in such a manner that the ten prevailed against the same vote nine ; and so a bill was drawn up whereby. the patents of Col. Bay- vacating ard, Col. Heathcote, Capt. Evans, the English Church, as well as those of Dellius and his partners, were vacated; and in order to add a public affront to the preceding injustice, as it were inci- dentally and in passing, a clause was inserted depriving him Incident- ally, Dellius deposed. (Dellius) of his benefice (charge) in Albany.
vote irreg-
Illegal grant of money to mont by and illegal of certain grants.
[The vote in the Council. ]
This bill having been passed in such a way by the Assembly, was really no bill at all, or at least not of any value unless approved by the government. Bellomont seemed to have won his game, however, for he had thrown out nearly all of the Royal Councilors by fours and by fives at once, and inducted others of his own crea- tures and of Leisler's faction. At that time the Council consisted of six persons, besides himself; but contrary to his expectation, the vote stood three against three. Col. (Van) Cortlandt, Col. Smith, and Mr. Livingston were opposed to the breaking of the Council patents and to the appended clause, being in violation of the rights ly irreg- ular. of the Church. On the affirmative side were Mr. Staats, Mr. Wal-
$
The vote in the
also equal-
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The bill was forced through by Bello- mont va- cating the grantsand deposing Dellius.
Why Bellomont called the House " honest Dutch- men ".
ters, and Mr. de Peyster, all three of them being his newly made Councilors. The first had been one of Leisler's Council, chosen from the populace; the second was Leisler's son-in-law; and the third was one of Bellomont's creatures. (de Peyster had with- drawn his support from Leisler, but was not hostile to him). This tie-vote made him raging mad. For he, as Governor, and accord- ing to the Constitution of England, representing, in such a situa- tion, the person of the King, in case of a tie has no other vote than a negative. Nevertheless in order to carry into effect his arbitra- riness and the threats which he had made some months before, he exclaimed in a passion, But it shall pass, anyhow. And so, whether crooked or straight, it passed. How, then, can Bellomont say, that it was not within his power to prevent it, etc. ? In fact he worked it through the Assembly himself, and by his own crea- tures; and what is more, he wrote a letter to them against me, on this matter. At last he pushed through the whole business him- self, although it was done illegally and unjustly, and at least in America, without precedent. But where the judge is at one and the same time, plaintiff, witness, and accuser, the result is a fore- gone conclusion, rather than the effect of argument.
He calls his own creatures in the Assembly, " Honest Dutch- men ". I will not enter into personalties here. I doubt whether that character would be generally attributed to them throughout this Province. However, in courtesy, Bellomont does owe them some sort of compliment for those sixteen hundred pounds which they gave him as an honorarium. It is easy cutting good straps out of somebody else's leather ; for many of them being plebeian, poor and needy, they contribute little or nothing towards this gift. But without that donation, they would not have been "Honest Dutchmen ", but rather " Jacobites ", " ill-affected towards the King and his government." Thus he styled the preceding Assembly, which was, however, composed largely of the most distinguished people of the Province. But since it would not work out his pur- poses, he at once dissolved it, and issued writs for another Assem-
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bly, and managed to bring this around to devotion to himself. It is with Bellomont, quietas, pietas, justitia privata bena sunt, ad quid juvant gubernatores cant.
He says, finally, that the fraud perpetrated upon the Makvassen The ille- (Mohawk) Indians, was proved before him and before all the Mag- istrates of Albany etc., against me, under oath. If anything was testified against me, under oath, according to the English laws, it Dellius. should have been done in my presence ; especially since I was then present (in Albany). Consequently I ought to have known some- thing about this. I cannot indeed believe that anybody in Albany (swore ?) falsely against me; although it is said that this was done against Rev. Selyns, namely, that he furnished a ladder at Leisler's execution. And although he called God as a witness to his soul as to the contrary, nevertheless this benighted people will not be- lieve it. So Bellomont made the Indians secretly to take an oath, when they know nothing about the nature of an oath. This was a circumstance without precedent in America. Nevertheless it is one of his practices to use oaths to suit his own purposes, (lit. to jump about with the oath as he pleases) ; and after the oath has been taken to deduct from it or add to it. This appeared in the case of a soldier swearing against Capt. Matties, of New York, as this Captain told me himself. And how can any fraud as to the Makvassen (Mohawks) be proved against me ? since not one of that whole nation can say with truth that I ever approached any of them, or caused them to be approached, about the purchase of their land. This appears also from the recantation of those Makvassen, (Mohawks), who came to me at the moment of my leav- ing Albany. These openly declared, in the presence of certainly a cantation The re- of the In- hundred people, and among these were four or five of the Magis- dians. trates of Albany, their regret that they had complained of the purchase and conveyance of their land. They said that they had been secretly incited thereto, and begged with tears that I would forgive them. This was attested to by four or five of the Magis-
gality of the testi- mony ob- tained by Belomont against
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trates, but it so greatly angered Bellomont that he removed them from their cffice. Now how these last circumstances can be recon- ciled with his statement "that all the Magistrates took oath against me ", I leave everyone to judge for himself.
[III. As to Moral Charges.]
[Charge of Drunkenness. ]
Answer to charge of drunken- ness.
From the foregoing slander, Bellomont passes on to another charge, namely, that of drunkenness. First of all, as a witness, Dr. Staats, or to speak more correctly, Surgeon Staats: and as a further recommendation he describes him as " An Honest Intelli- gent Man " :- herein is intended no comparison between his Lord- ship, (Bellomont), and a barber, (Staats) ; but nevertheless under this third " qualification ", there has been a mutual seeking and finding of each other. Of his honesty almost enough has been said already. In the Province of New York at least, he does not stand out remarkably as such, in the estimation of the principal inhabit- ants. But be this as it may, allowing his honesty to be attested by Bellomont, never will Staats be able to testify and prove that he knows of my ever having been in company with him on horseback. Therefore his statement about my falling from my horse, etc., comes to naught, (lit. falls.)
[Charge of Immorality.]
One can put anything on paper. Therefore Bellomont's malice further gossips about some French woman from Canada sending a letter to me after I had left those parts and had come to England. This letter fell into the hands of Rev. Nucella (of Kingston) and in it she asserts that she was with child by me.
Now Bellomont must not only have shaken off all shame, honor and virtue, but must have devoted himself to all evil, in that he dares to write such stuff. He acknowledges that he had only heard about such a letter coming from a Canadian woman. And without any knowledge of her "quality ", says he, I surmise, that the
Answer to the charge of immo- rality.
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woman who wrote this letter was one of those who were brought as captives to Albany ; or else is one of our savages of the Five Na- tions, which were released at the " Peace ", and sent to Canada.
People often lie when repeating from hearsay, even as he does here, and also usually. Evidently he is reckless. Without seeing the letter, (for he complains that Rev. Nucella was not willing to deliver it over to him) ; without the slightest examination of its contents, he calumniates a person, and lies about him thus scan- dalously. This sufficiently shows the kind of disposition he is of, and by what spirit he is driven. But to the point: That a letter from a French woman, and this indeed one of " quality ' in Canada, was addressed to me after my departure for England; and that this fell into the hands of Rev. Nucella and was opened; and that this letter was sent by the wife of Rev. Nucella to her mother, Mrs. Duset, in London, and was by her handed to me,- this is a fact. But there is nothing at all in it which gives the least ground for this vile and wicked slander. There is no better defense than the letter itself, and here is a copy :
Monsieur :
La paine dans la quelle j'ai été
The grief in which I have been since depuis votre depart de Canada M' a your departure from Canada has pre- empêché de vous tenir la parolle que vented me from keeping the promise je vous donnais en partant. Cette (about pickled salmon) which I gave paine a été causée par la mort de mon you on leaving. This grief has been mary (mari). Cette parte non seule- caused by the death of my husband. This bereavement not only has made ment me fut onblier mes amis; mais je m'effois onblie moimême. Je suis me forget my friends, but I have tried ravie de trouver l' occation des Fran- to forget myself. I am delighted to çois qui vont en Albanie pour vous find an opportunity, through the assurer que pour le peu que l'on fait de retour sur moi même, que je me suis resouvenue du voyage que nous avous fait ensemble; je doute fort que vous y ayez pensé car je crois Mon- sieur Dellius trop gallant pour n'avoir pas fait pour moy ce que je fait an- jourd' hiu pour lui, avec tant d' agré- ment. C' assurant que je suis et serais tonte ma vie.
La tres humble et tres obte servante
Isacheran Pachot.
Sir :-
Frenchmen who are going to Albany, to assure you that however little is done for me, in return, I have remem- bered the journey which we took to- gether. I greatly doubt whether you have thought of it, for I believe that Mr. Dellius is too gallant not to have · done for me what I do this day for him, with so much pleasure. I assure him that I am,
His very humble and very obedient servant,
Isacheran Pachot.
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Du Mont Royal,
At Montreal,
le 26 Juin, 1699.
June 26, 1699.
Si j'avais l'honneur d être comme (P. S.) If I had the honor of being de Madame Votre Epouse, je l' assur- known to Madam your wife, I would erais de mes respects. Je vous prie assure her of my regard. I beg you de servir le porteur de ma lettre, en to be of service to the bearer of my ce qu' il pourroit avoir besoin. Je letter, in whatever he stand in need of. vous prie de me dire des nouvelles de I beg you to tell me news of Roland. Rolan, si par votre moien je pouvais If by your means I could see him le revoir, je vous en serois très obligée: again I would be greatly obliged to il y a maintenant bien des occasions you. There are at present plenty of de le faire, je l'aime tousjours. Si opportunities to realize it: I love him vous trouvez quelqu'un qui voulait ever.
lier commerce avec. moy j'ay gey Ie If you find any one who wishes to Sr De Laissaigne D'Esperon, qui fait establish business relations with me, mes affaires et qui en mon absence I have appointed Mr. De Laisseigne poura faire des retours de ce qu'on D'Esperon, who attends to my affairs luy envoyerait, en ce que vous jugeries and who in my absence can make re- à propos. turns for what may be sent him, as to whatsoever you may deem apropos.
To comprehend clearly the contents of this letter it is to be re- marked, that in the year 1698 Mr. Dellius set out to Canada with Col. Schuyler, after peace had been made (The Peace of Ryswyck, 1697), between the Crown of England and France, on the public affairs of the Province of New York. This was upon a Commis- sion from Bellomont. Arriving at Montreal on the 19th, Mons. Caillere, the Governor there, requested Mrs. Pachot and Mons. Asur, both of Kobec (Quebec) and who were about to proceed on the journey, to wait one or two days, and then set out in the com- pany of Col. Schuyler and Mr. Dellius. This the said lady, though put to great inconvenience thereby, as she was in the last stages of pregnancy, granted the Governor; and so we set out with four canoes, and arrived at Quebec, the capital of Canada, on the 25th of the same month. This is what she means when she speaks of that "voyage que nous avous fait ensemble". Arrived at Quebec, she invited us to lodge at her house, as did also Mons. Asur ; but thanking them both for their polite offer, Col. Schuyler and Dellius went to lodge at an inn. During our stay at Quebec. which lasted eight or ten days, we were entertained daily in a splendid fashion, and among others, by this Mrs. or rather Mr
Explana- tion of this letter.
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Pachot. Now fresh salmon was served there. This is a great rarity in New York, and being much praised by us, Mrs. Pachot promised that she would send us some pickled salmon. This ex- plains how " la paine dans la quelle j ay ete depuis votre de part de Canada m' a empeche de vous tenir la parole que ji vous donnais en partant de Canada ". At the same time Col. Schuyler and Mr. Dellius boasted, in turn, of the oysters which are found at New York, but not in Canada ; also of the great number of lemons, oranges, cocoanuts, and such like fruits, which are sent thither from Barbadoes, Curacoa, and other places. Of these we had taken some along with us to Canada, and had sent some presents of them to several persons, and promised to send her some at the first opportunity. This, however, neither Col. Schuyler nor Del- lius had done: to this circumstance these words seem to refer; " je donte fort, que vous y ayez pense ".
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