the day when that event occurred he was escorted by his Council, the Mayor of the town and other civic authorities to the City Hall, where he proclaimed his appointment as Governor and his commission was read aloud in the presence of the people. The principal inhabitants and other persons of distinction were then presented, and these ceremonies were followed in the evening by various demonstrations of the citizens. The Mayor and city authorities waited upon the Governor the next day and made him an address, to which he replied in appropriate terms and assured them, "that he would embrace every opportunity to show his regard for the city of Perth Amboy."

Bernard had fine literary taste and great attainments, was fond of books and of study, especially of belles lettres. His memory was very retentive and it was one of his boasts that he could repeat all of Shakespeare's plays. These characteristics were fully shown by the patronage he gave to institutions of learning, especially Harvard College, to which when "Harvard Hall" was burnt, he made a handsome donation of volumes from his own library. When that edifice was rebuilt, his taste and judgment were consulted and it long remained an illustration of his idea of architectural beauty. As evidence of his acquirements in the dead languages, it is said that on his journey from Elizabeth Town to Burlington, he made a visit to Princeton College, where, among other demonstrations in his honor, he was greeted by one of the students with an address in Latin, to which "his Excellency returned an elegant and polite Latin answer, extempore."

Governor Bernard gave full credence to the revealed truths of Christianity and acknowledged its claims upon his heart and conscience. Although a member of the Church of England and strongly attached to its mode of worship, he never exhibited any prejudice against other denominations but was frequently a devout worshipper at their churches when circumstances prevented his attendance at the services of his

own.

One important event, occurring during his administration in New Jersey, demonstrates the strength of his resources for government and his adaptability to meet the exigencies of a new and untried position. The Indian tribes in and near New Jersey were in a ferment and it was necessary that measures should be taken to quiet the restless savages. War was still existing between France and England and the alliance of the Indians was eagerly sought by both belligerents. Efforts were made to secure a conference with the aborigines near New Jersey, with

in the reach of French influence, which were successful mainly through the activity of Bernard and a general conference was held at Easton, Pennsylvania, October 8, 1758, when the claims of the Indians were heard and discussed, attention was given to their complaints and grievances and an amicable adjustment of all differences was made. The result of all this was exceedingly advantageous to New Jersey. Bernard was prominent throughout the whole transaction and its success was undoubtedly due to his exertions.

In this most important affair Bernard manifested great aptitude for business, an alert shrewdness and an apparently intuitive knowledge of Indian character, which, under the circumstances, was wonderful in one who had had no practical acquaintance derived from actual contact. with the savages.

The ceremonies accompanying the Council were exceedingly unique and interesting. There had been two or three conferences between commissioners appointed by the Legislature and representatives of the Indians, who first presented their claims and grievances at a meeting held in 1752, at Crosswicks. Another conference was held in the winter of 1757, at the same place. The Commissioners, on the part of the Legislature, consisted of six gentlemen, two from the Council and four from their own body; on the part of the Aborigines, thirty appeared representing eight different tribes. Another conference between the commissioners and the Indians was called by a proclamation issued by Governor Bernard, to be held at Burlington, August 7, 1758, at which, besides the Governor, there were present six members of the Council and three Commissioners, but only five Indians, representing as many tribes, attended. At this conference the Governor sitting, spoke as follows: "Brethren, as you are come from a long journey, through a wood full of briars; with this string I anoint your feet, and take away their soreness; with this string, I wipe the sweat from your bodies; with this string, I cleanse your eyes, ears and mouth that you may see, hear and speak clearly; and I particularly anoint your throat that every word you say may have a free passage from your heart; and with this string I bid you heartily welcome."

He then informed them that he would be glad to hear what they had to say; to which they replied that they would be ready in the afternoon, and then they thanked him for greeting them according to the customs. of the fathers. In the afternoon the conference was resumed and then, the representative of the Munseys sitting, not being permitted to

stand until the Mingoian had spoken, first addressed the Governor. His address was short; he held a belt in his hand and committed his people to no course of conduct, but spoke in a conciliatory manner. Then a man of the Cayugas spoke, standing, for he was a Mingoian, one of the tribes which had conquered the Munseys. His address was longer than the first one; but, at the outset, he took care to inform the Governor that the Munseys were women and could not make treaties for themselves. He proposed a general Council to be held at the forks of the Delaware; and, like the Munsey, committed himself and his people to no particular line of conduct. At the end of his speech he delivered the belt he held in his hand to the Governor. This was of peculiar workmanship; on one side were the figures of three men in black wampum; on the other side there were four figures. The three represented three tribes, the Shawanese, Delawares and the Mingoians, and the four, the invited Councils of the Six Nations, which the speaker explained as meaning that the three tribes and the Six Nations were now united. On the next day they reassembled, when the Governor agreed to the proposition to meet at the forks of the Delaware, and again, at the close of his address, presented the representatives of the tribes with two belts.

In pursuance of their negotiations, a grand Council was held at Easton, October 8, 1758, at which were present the Governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey with members of the Council of the respective legislatures of the two States. Nothing of importance was done until the 11th of the same month, when all the parties came together, fourteen different tribes of Indians being represented, with their women and children, five hundred and seven in all. There seems to have been some little discord at this interview, as the Seneca Chief arranged the belts and strings on the table intending to speak first, but, as soon as the company was in order, the Chief of the Delawares arose and desired that he might speak first. Governor Bernard then interfered. and said that he desired to bid his brethren welcome, and he asked. that he might speak first, for that purpose. The conferences were prolonged for several days, speeches were made on both sides, belts and wampum were freely exchanged and, at length, on the 20th of October, 1758, a treaty was concluded to the satisfaction of all parties, some punch and wine were drank and the grand council adjourned.

The new Governor called the Assembly together on the 25th of July, 1758, and on the next day, made his address, which was short, pointed

and patriotic. It was remarkable for what it did not contain. It must have been very refreshing for the members of the Assembly who had attended sessions prior to this, to listen to a speech from a new Governor which said not a word about raising money for his salary. This address did not even hint at that subject, but it did strongly and emphatically call upon the deputies to prepare for what seemed an impending attack upon the western frontier of New Jersey by the French and their savage allies, who had been ravaging Pennsylvania, burning, pillaging and destroying hamlets and villages, farm houses and improvements made by innocent settlers, and to these had added more dastardly outrages, in the murder of women and children The answer to this address was delivered on the 27th of July.

Bernard's rule was received with cordial approbation by all classes and universal regret was shown for its early termination. In 1760, he was transferred to Massachusetts and his last address to the Legisla ture was made in March of that year, when he announced to them his approaching departure, expressed his regret at leaving the Colony and his thanks for their undivided support. The Assembly, in their reply, fully expressed their own sentiments and those of their constituents when they said: "Your Excellency's leaving this Government we esteem a public loss. Your general conduct will remain gratefully impressed on the minds of the people, who will ever consider themselves in a manner interested in your future ease and happiness.”

There was no such unanimity between him and the authorities of Massachusetts as had characterized his intercourse with those of New Jersey. There were two political parties in Massachusetts; one aimed at curtailing the powers of the crown in the province, which they endeavored to accomplish by attacking the royal Governor and the officers appointed by him. The other party was loyal to the English throne striving to strengthen its authority, by affording all the support required to sustain the officers in the province acting under authority from England. Bernard, of course, affiliated with the latter and this led to antagonism between him and the opponents of royalty, composing the majority of the people of his new province. His cordial and efficient aid was undoubtedly given to all the measures of the English ministry, in their contests with the colonists, and this action was appreciated by the King who made him a Baronet, refusing to remove him, although urged to do so by a strong petition from the people. But Bernard, himself, relieved the colonists by requesting and

receiving removal from his position, and left his office and America at as early a moment as possible.

Some doggerel written in New Jersey in 1759, while he was Governor, and some published in Massachusetts, after his removal thither, will afford an idea of the different estimates made of him and also give specimens of the poetic ability and taste of the time. The Princeton students sang this in his praise:

We sing great George upon the throne,
And Amherst, great in arms;

While Bernard, in their milder forms,
Makes the royal virtues known.

Thus sings the New England poet of Bernard:

And if such men are by God appointed,

The Devil might be the Lord's anointed.

His oldest son remained in New England, espoused the colonial cause and died in 1809, in the West Indies. He was an eccentric character and lived for many years a hermit in a rude hut with his dog for his only companion. Governor Bernard left evidence of his ability as an author, in the shape of some Latin and Greek elegies which were printed in 1761, and, after his retirement from America, he wrote a few pamphlets on American subjects.

Thomas Boone, the successor of Bernard, came to Amboy from New York, reaching New Jersey, July 3, 1760. He was received with the same formal ceremonies which had greeted his immediate predecessor. Like Bernard, while at Princeton, on his way to Burlington, he was addressed in Latin by a college student. There is no record of his reply.

Little is known of this gentleman; his parentage and even the place of his birth cannot be stated with definiteness. It is supposed that he had been a resident of New Jersey prior to his appointment.

He met the Assembly for the first time, October 30, 1760. His speech, on that occasion, contained nothing of consequence, but he did not follow the example set by Governor Bernard. The Governor called the attention of the Assembly to the fact that the fund raised for the expenses of the government was exhausted. A laudatory reference to the virtues of Governor Bernard was made in this speech, which must have gratified the numerous friends of that gentleman.

His term of office was very short; news were received in New York