MEMOIR OF THE HON. JAMES DE LANCEY.
637
The Assembly adjourned in the summer of 1760, and shortly after the colony was startled by thevery sudden and unexpected death of Lieut . Governor Be Lancey, which happened on the morningof Wednesday, the 30 th of July, in that year. 1 He was discovered by one of his children in adying condition in his library, too far gone for medical aid to be of the least service: his dissolutionhaving been caused by an affection of the heart. The next evening the funeral took place withgreat pomp; tire Rev. Mr. Barclay performed the solemn services in Trinity church, which wasilluminated for the occasion, after which the body was deposited in the family vault beneath thecentre aisle of that edifice. 2
The death of Lieut. Governor De Lancey was deeply felt and lamented by the people of the colonyas he was universally beloved and highly esteemed. “ To do ample justice,” says one of the news-papers of the day, “ to this eminent character, so suddenly' taken from us, is what the world willhardly expect, or his distinguished accomplishments, indeed, permit. lie enjoyed a quick concep-tion, a deep penetration, a clear judgment and a retentive memory. His natural talents, heightenedand improved by his attainments in literature, and an intimate acquaintance witli mankind, madehim an agreeable and instructive companion to those who were honored with his conversation ; andqualified him to fill the most important offices with uncommon dignity and lustre. His genius,provident, active, fertile in expedients, and capable of averting or improving the most unexpectedoccurrences, joined to a perfect knowledge and esteem of our happy constitution, and a zealousattachment to his Majesty’s illustrious House, rendered him a most able and faithful counsellor of theCrown ; and, to the rights and liberties of the people, a cordial and unshaken friend. On thechief seat of justice, he was, for capacity and integrity, equalled by fewq exceeded by none. Patient inhearing, ready in distinguishing, and, in his decisions sound and impartial—he gave such universalsatisfaction that even the vanquished confessed the justice of the sentence. His promotion to theGovernment, at a season the most momentous to the colony, was signally advancive of his Majesty’sservice, and the public emolument. And by the confidence of the people, reposed in his superiorabilities, they were, induced to exert themselves in the common cause with the greatest alacrity.” 2
To this evidence of the estimation in which he w T as held at the time of his decease, may be addedthe testimony of one who knew him very intimately, both officially, and in private, the Hon. JohnWatts, an eminent citizen of New York , and a member of the council during, and long after, Lt.Governor De Laucey’s time, who was the author of the following sketch of his character and death,written in 1787, nearly thirty years after that event : 4
“James De Lancey was a man of uncommon abilities and in every view, from the law toagriculture, and an elegant, pleasant companion—what rarely unites in one person ; it seemeddoubtful which excelled, his quick penetration or his sound judgment: the first seemed an instantguide to the last.” “ No man in either office, (Chief Justice or Lieut . Governor,) had more the loveand confidence of the people, nor any man, before or since, half the influence. Ho was unfortun-ately taken from us in July, 1760, so suddenly that his very family suspected no danger. We hadspent, very agreeably, the day before on Staten Island ; after ten at night lie left my house perfectlyw'ell, in the morning he was as usual, but about nine a servant w r as dispatched to tell me his master
1 Some doubt has been thrown around the precise date of his death. Dunlap places it in 1759, and some other writershave followed him. But the council minutes, (XXV., 316,) and the newspapers of the day, agreeing with family tradition,fix it, beyond cavil, as stated in the text.
2 See long accounts of this funeral in New York Mercury and Parkers Post Boy, and other papers of the day.
3 Editorial from the “ New York Mercury” for Aug. 4th 1700.
4 The original, in Mr. Watt’s handwriting, was found among the papers of his daughter, Mrs. Leake,,and is now in the ,possession of her niece, Mrs. Henry Laight of New York , Mr. Watts’ grand daughter.