DURING the administration of the five colonial governors, immediately succeeding Lord Bellamont, and reaching down to 1731, but little of general interest toposterity occurred, save their occasional mercenary usurpations, and an unsuccessful expedition fitted out at great expense against the French in Canada. Upon the death of Governor Montgomerie, which occurred July 1, 1731, the chief functions of government devolved upon Rip Van Darn, the oldest member of the council, and ex officio, the second officer in the government. Van Dam was a genuine Holland Dutchman, his father having settled in the city during the reign of Governor Stuyvesant. He had acquired a considerable fortune in mercantile pursuits, and was at this time conducting an extensive foreign trade. He had long taken an active interest in public affairs, was familiar with all the machinery of the government, and as he sought the good of the people, being one of them, they were greatly pleased with his administration, and nothing exciting occurred during the thirteen months of his continuance in office. On the 1st day of August, 1732, he delivered the seals of government to his successor, Colonel William Cosby, former Governor of Minorca, who had just arrived with his royal commission. Cosby was despotic and avaricious, and had not sustained an unblemished character in his former administration. While in England he had, however, opposed an obnoxious sugar bill, likely to seriously affect the colonists, which gave him a transient popularity on his arrival. The assembly then in session granted him a revenue for six years, and a present of five hundred and fifty pounds for the service he had rendered them in parliament. Van Dam, during his administration, had performed the whole service of government, and had accordingly drawn from the treasury the customary salary, amounting to about two thousand pounds. The English crown, at the request of Cosby, had, however, furnished him with an order requiring Van Dam to refund half of the money to his superior. One of Cosby's first acts was to produce this order, and demand immediate payment of the money, but soon found that, in the plucky Dutchman, he had really caught a tartar. Van Dam expressed his perfect willingness to divide the salary of two thousand pounds, on condition that Cosby should also divide the six thousand pounds he had received as perquisites, since his appointment, and previous to entering upon the duties of his office. Cosby soon brought a suit against Van Dam, before the judges of the Supreme Court, as barons of the Exchequer, functions which their commissions allowed them to exercise. This was literally taking the adjudication in his own hands, as the governor was ex officio Chancellor of the Exchequer, and two of the judges were among his most intimate friends. Van Dam's counsel excepted to the jurisdiction of the court in the case, and demanded that the case be tried in a suit at common law. The validity of this exception was supported by one of thejudges, but overruled by the other two. Van Dam's cause was thus declared lost, and he was compelled to refund the money.

But the people declared that the cause should not rest here. This continued contempt, with which everything of colonial origin was viewed and treated by the English crown and ministry, could no longer be silently tolerated. They were already growing weary of rapacious, tyrannical Governors, whose sole object was to repair their broken-down fortunes from the unrequited industry of their subjects. The judge who had sustained the exceptions of Van Dam's counsel was hastily re moved from office, and Van Dam suspended from the council. This arbitrary procedure, against one of their own long-trusted and honored citizens, aroused the indignation of the populace, whose loud murmurs were heard in all parts of the town.