266 C. Becker cratic method of making nominations can readily and most fitly be illustrated by extracts taken from the manuscript letters and papers of Sir William Johnson.' In May, 1745, the Assembly was dissolved for lack of respect to the governor,' and in the election which followed the services of Sir William were enlisted by the governor, who wished a certain Mr. Holland returned for Schenectady.^ Not long after we find Mr. Holland himself soliciting the aid of his patron thus :* "there is a barrell of the flour wanting, which I suppose Peter left behind him. Your interest in the [ensu] ing election at Schenectady for a representative is desired for your [frie]nd and servt. . . E. H." Three years later another election occurred. In such a county as Albany the centre of political activity was naturally at the city of Albany, and most of the candidates came from there. That this was often a ground of complaint by outlying districts we may well believe. In this election of 1748 indeed the farmers of Canajoharie were up in arms, threatening to set up a candidate of their own. The ollowing document will explain how the matter was settled through the influence of Johnson." " Messers. " Considering how troublesome and inconvenient it would be to all the farmers to have an election at this time of the year, I went immedi- ately to Albany to see to make it up easy now without any trouble. Philip Schuyler and Hans Hansen were sett up by the people of Albany, so I sent for them, and told them if they would do their best for the government of the country we would not sett up anybody against them now, but if they would not do good now for the country we would set up others next time, whereupon they promised me they would do what they could. . . . Now gentlemen and friends I thank you all heartily for your good will for me, as well as if you had voted every bit. I hope when there is another election you will be all as one body to stand by me and put in other good men if these wont do good for us now. For my part I am resolved as I live here to stand by you all for the good of the whole 1 Sir William Johnson was one of the most influential members of the New York aristocracy. His influence in the northern counties was especially great. On this point see a letter from the Revolutionary committee of the Palatine District of Tryon County, May 18, 1775, American Archives, fourth series, II. 637; and Campbell's Tryon County, 29. The letters and papers of Sir William Johnson in twenty-six volumes are in the State Library at Albany. They have been calendared and indexed. Vols. I.— XXII. contain letters and papers arranged chronologically from 1738 to 1774. Vols. XXIII.- XXV. contain letters and papers arranged chronologically from 1733 to 1775. Vol. XXVI. contains private business papers. I am indebted to the courtesy of the head of the Manuscript Department of the State Library for the use of these papers. 2 Stone, Life 0/ Sir William Johnson, I. 157. 3/^/a'., 188.
- E. H. to Sir William Johnson, June 7, 1745. Johnson MSS., XXIII. II.
= Johnson MSS., XXIII. 78. This document is in the handwriting of Johnson.
