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STATE OF THE PROVINCE OF NEW YORK.

MR. CLARKE’S ANSWERS TO QUERIES OF BOARD OF TRADE 2 JUNE 1738

3. The constitution of the Government is such as his Majesty by his commission to his Governordirects, whereby the Governour with the Council and Assembly are impowered to pass laws notrepugnant to the laws of England.

13. In the town of New York is an old fort of very little defence, cannon we have but thecarriages are good for little, we have ball but no powder, nor will the board of ordinance sendany on pretence that a larg quantity was sent in 1711 for the Canada expedition which is 27 yearagoe, much of it has for many years been trodden under foot in the magazine, the barrells havingbeen rotten.

There is a battery which commands the mouth of the harbour whereon may be mounted 50cannon this is new having been built but three years but it wants finishing.

At Albany there is a new stone fort built the same year with the Battery at New York .

And at Schanectady a new fort built at the same time and both are sufficient for those places.

In the Mohocks Country there is an old stockado’d fort of little use now the country there wasabout being pretty well settled and nigh Schanectady.

I have been trying to prevail with the Seneca’s to let us build a fort at Tierandequat in theircountry which will more effectually secure the fidelity of the six Nations and better preserve thefur Trade, and I hope at last to prevail.

18. We have no revenue established at present.

19. The ordinary and extraordinary expences of the Government are about ,£4000 a year.

20. We have a Militia in every county for the regulating whereof there is annually past an actof Assembly.

The people are generally expert in the use of fire arms. All the officers are commissioned bythe Governour.

The Mayors and Recorders of the cities of New York and Albany hold their places by com-missions under the seal of the province so do the Sherriffs Corroners and Clerks of the peace.

The Chief Justice is usually appointed at home and by the King’s warrant to the Governourhe gives him a commission under the seal of the province the second and third Judges have nowarrant the Governour appointing them himself under the seal of the province the AttorneyGeneral the Surveyor General of the lands and the Secretary or Agent for Indian affairs areappointed as the Chief Justice is by the King’s warrant &c.

The Secretary and receiver General have their Commission under the great seal of England.