In December, 1689, a messenger from the English Government arrived at Boston with a communication addressed "To Francis Nicholson, or, in his absence, to such as for the time being takes care for preserving the peace and administering the laws in his Majesty''s province of New York" Anxious to obtain possession of the letter and what authority it might confer, Bayard and one or two of his adherents secretly entered New York, and on the arrival of the messenger asserted their pretensions and demanded the missive. After some deliberation, however, the messenger delivered the package to those actually in power. The document authorized the person in power to take the chief command as Lieutenant-Governor, and to appoint a council to assist him in conducting the government. Leisler carried out these instructions. A riot ensued, in which an attempt was made to seize Leislor, after which he issued a warrant for the arrest of Bayard and others, on the charge of high misdemeanor against his Majesty''s authority. Bayard was arrested and thrown into prison, and on the following day a court was called to try him for treason. Finding his affairs suddenly brought to extremities, Bayard confessed his faults, and supplicated for mercy, which was granted, though he was retained a prisoner for fourteen months. Early in his administration, Leisler had sent a report of his doings to the English throne. It was, however, written in broken English, a language he had never mastered; and as every disappointed English Governor stood ready to malign his motives and decry his usurpations, a violent prejudice was probably excited against him. Late In the year 1690, the Prince of Orange appointed Henry Sloughter Governor of New York, and Major Richard Ingoldsby Lieutenant-Governor, who set sail for America with several ships and a small body of troops. A storm separated the vessels at sea, and Ingoldsby landed two months previous to the arrival of his superior. On landing, Ingoldsby announced the appointment of Sloughter, and demanded the fort for the accommodation of his troops. Leisler expressed his willingness to surrender the fort and his entire authority, but very properly demanded that previous to it the newcomer should produce his royal commission. The papers were, however, in the possession of Sloughter, and no sort of credentials could be produced. Leisler then offered the City Hall for the accommodation of the English troops, declining to surrender the fort until an officer duly commissioned arrived. Ingoldsby, with a haughty dignity, such as no wise officer sensible of the proper forms of authority would exhibit, issued a proclamation calling on the people to assist him, in overcoming all opposition to his Majesty''s command. This was bravely replied to by Leisler on the following day, charging whatever of bloodshed should ensue to his opponent, and forbidding him to commit any hostile acts against city, fort, or province, at his utmost peril. A cloud of wild agitation and uncertainty hung over the city for seven long weeks, until on the 19th of March the missing vessel, with the storm-tossed Governor, entered the harbor. Sloughter immediately landed, selected his council from among the enemies of Leisler, and proceeded to the City Hall, where he published his commission. Having sworn in the members of his council, he directed Ingoldsby to demand possession of the fort, though it was now eleven o''clock at night. Leisler, to avoid any deception, dispatched Ensign Stoll, who had seen Sloughter in England, with a message to the Governor, charging him to eye him closely. A second demand was made for the fort, and Leisler dispatched the Mayor and another prominent officer to make to the Governor all necessary explanations, and to transfer the fort. On entering his presence they were, however, handed over instantly to the guards, without being allowed to speak. Another ineffectual demand for the fort was made, after which the matter was allowed to rest until the next day.

On the following morning, Leisler addressed a polite and congratulatory letter to the Governor, asking to be released from duty, and offering the fort with all its arms and stores, expressing also his willingness to give an exact account of all his doings. An officer dispatched to receive the fort was ordered to release Bayard and Nichols, who were still in confinement, and to arrest Leisler and his principal adherents. Bayard and Nichols were at once admitted and sworn into the council, and Leisler and eleven of his friends arrested. Two weeks later they were arraigned for trial. Leisler set up no defence, alleging that the court had no authority in the case — that the king of England only could decide whether he had acted without his authority or not. Leisler and his son-in-law, Milborne, who had acted as Secretary, were pronounced usurpers and traitors, and condemned to death. On the 16th of May, 1691, amid a storm of rain, while the dissipated Governor and his satellites were revelling at a drunken feast, they were brought out for execution. The scaffold was erected on the ground now covered by the New York post office, and in full view of Leisler''s fine residence. Milborne offered a prayer for the king, queen, and the officers of the province. Leisler delivered a long address, which displayed the workings of a fine mind, and a good heart, after which he died without a murmur, amid the tears and lamentations of the populace.

Thus closed the career of the first New York Governor elected by the people. Leisler does not appear to have been unduly ambitious for political honors. He was a patriotic, honest, high-minded Dutchman; wholly destitute of the arts and intrigues of the modern politician. Chosen by his countrymen, like Washington at a later period, he devoted himself with all his energies for the advancement of the common weal, and died a martyr to the cause he served. Possessed of great influence, he incited no insurrection to prevent his execution; and wasted none of his vast estate in purchasing a pardon. He did not cringe and beg for life as his enemies had meanly done; but asserting his sincerity, like an honest, brave man he expired, trusting in God, and praying for his enemies. His execution, ordered'' over the signature of a drunken Governor, was the first ripe fruit of that spirit of English usurpation which culminated at length in the numerous gory fields of the American Revolution. Four years after his death, his worthy son, after a series of well-timed efforts, secured from the English Parliament the triumphant reversal of the attainder, and the complete exoneration of his father from the charge of usurpation.