LEISLEE 153

of an invasion from Canada with all the horrors of
an Indian war haunted the minds of every frontier
family.

Leisler invited the people of the towns and coun-
ties of New York to choose delegates to a conven-
tion to be held at Fort James on June 25, 1689, to
consider what was best to be done under existing
conditions. Ulster, Albany, and most of the towns
in Queens County refused to send delegates. The
others responded, however, and the delegates
formed themselves into a committee of safety.
They appointed Leisler "Captain of the fort at
New York until orders shall be received from their
Majesties," and Leisler accepted the responsibili-
ties of government.

Massachusetts and Connecticut congratulated
him on his conduct, and in the province of New
York he was generally approved; but he had the
misfortune to be opposed by the Roman Catholics
and the landed gentry. The former were few in
number and, after the establishment of the Prot-
estant succession, a negligible danger, though in
view of the assertion made by James to the Pope
that "it was his full purpose to have set up Ro-
man Catholic Religion in the English Plantations
of America," we can scarcely call it bigotry on