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rsey seems to have been set by the Scotch Presbyterians and the New England Congregationalists。 The College of New Jersey； afterward known as Princeton； established in 1747； was the result of a movement among the Presbyterians of East Jersey and New York。
All these elements of East Jersey； Scotch Covenanters； Connecticut Puritans； Huguenots； and Dutch of the Dutch Reformed Church； were in a sense different but in reality very much in accord and congenial in their ideas of religion and politics。 They were all sturdy； freedom…loving Protestants； and they set the tone that prevails in East Jersey to this day。 Their strict discipline and their uncompromising thrift may now seem narrow and harsh； but it made them what they were； and it has left a legacy of order and prosperity under which alien religions and races are eager to seek protection。 In its foundation the Quakers may claim a share。
The new King； James II； was inclined to reassume jurisdiction and extend the power of the Governor of New York over East Jersey in spite of his grant to Sir George Carteret。 In fact； he desired to put New England； New York； and New Jersey under one strong government centered at New York； to abolish their charters； to extinguish popular government； and to make them all mere royal dependencies in pursuance of his general policy of establishing an absolute monarchy and a papal church in England。
The curse of East Jersey's existence was to be always an appendage of New York； or to be threatened with that condition。 The inhabitants now had to enter their vessels and pay duties at New York。 Writs were issued by order of the King putting both the Jerseys and all New England under the New York Governor。 Step by step the plans for amalgamation and despotism moved on successfully； when suddenly the English Revolution of 1688 put an end to the whole magnificent scheme； drove the King into exile； and placed William of Orange on the throne。
The proprietaries of both Jerseys reassumed their former authority。 But the New York Assembly attempted to exercise control over East Jersey and to levy duties on its exports。 The two provinces were soon on the eve of a little war。 For twelve or fifteen years East Jersey was in disorder； with seditious meetings； mob rule； judges and sheriffs attacked while performing their duty； the proprietors claiming quitrents from the people； the people resisting； and the British Privy Council threatening a suit to take the province from the proprietors and make a Crown colony of it。 The period is known in the history of this colony as 〃The Revolution。〃 Under the threat of the Privy Council to take over the province； the proprietors of both East and West Jersey surrendered their rights of political government； retaining their ownership of land and quitrents； and the two Jerseys were united under one government in 1702。 Its subsequent history demands another chapter。
Chapter XI。 The United Jerseys
The Quaker colonists grouped round Burlington and Salem； on the Delaware； and the Scotch Covenanters and New England colonists grouped around Perth Amboy and Newark； near the mouth of the Hudson； made up the two Jerseys。 Neither colony had a numerous population； and the stretch of country lying between them was during most of the colonial period a wilderness。 It is now crossed by the railway from Trenton to New York。 It has always been a line of travel from the Delaware to the Hudson。 At first there was only an Indian trail across it； but after 1695 there was a road； and after 1738 a stage route。
In 1702； while still separated by this wilderness； the two Jerseys were united politically by the proprietors voluntarily surrendering all their political rights to the Crown。 The political distinction between East Jersey and West Jersey was thus abolished； their excellent free constitutions were rendered of doubtful authority； and from that time to the Revolution they constituted one colony under the control of a royal governor appointed by the Crown。
The change was due to the uncertainty and annoyance caused for their separate governments when their right to govern was in doubt owing to interference on the part of New York and the desire of the King to make them a Crown colony。 The original grant of the Duke of York to the proprietors Berkeley and Carteret had given title to the soil but had been silent as to the right to govern。 The first proprietors and their successors had always assumed that the right to govern necessarily accompanied this gift of the land。 Such a privilege； however； the Crown was inclined to doubt。 William Penn was careful to avoid this uncertainty when he received his charter for Pennsylvania。 Profiting by the sad example of the Jerseys； he made sure that he was given both the title to the soil and the right to govern。
The proprietors； however； now surrendered only their right to govern the Jerseys and retained their ownership of the land； and the people always maintained that they； on their part； retained all the political rights and privileges which had been granted them by the proprietors。 And these rights were important； for the concessions or constitutions granted by the proprietors under the advanced Quaker influence of the time were decidedly liberal。 The assemblies； as the legislatures were called； had the right to meet and adjourn as they pleased； instead of having their meetings and adjournments dictated by the governor。 This was an important right and one which the Crown and royal governors were always trying to restrict or destroy； because it made an assembly very independent。 This contest for colonial rights was exactly similar to the struggle of the English Parliament for liberty against the supposed right of the Stuart kings to call and adjourn Parliament as they chose。 If the governor could adjourn the assembly when he pleased； he could force it to pass any laws he wanted or prevent its passing any laws at all。 The two Jersey assemblies under their Quaker constitutions also had the privilege of making their own rules of procedure； and they had jurisdiction over taxes； roads； towns； militia； and all details of government。 These rights of a legislature are familiar enough now to all。 Very few people realize； however； what a struggle and what sacrifices were required to attain them。
The rest of New Jersey colonial history is made up chiefly of struggles over these two questionsthe rights of the proprietors and their quitrents as against the people； and the rights of the new assembly as against the Crown。 There were thus three parties； the governor and his adherents； the proprietors and their friends； and the assembly and the people。 The proprietors had the best of the change； for they lost only their troublesome political power and retained their property。 They never； however； received such financial returns from the property as the sons of William Penn enjoyed from Pennsylvania。 But the union of the Jerseys seriously curtailed the rights enjoyed by the people under the old government； and all possibility of a Quaker government in West Jersey was ended。 It was this experience in the Jerseys； no doubt； that caused William Penn to require so many safeguards in selling his political ri