154 DUTCH AND ENGLISH ON THE HUDSON

Leisler's part to fear their influence. Unfortunately
for the Leislerians "the gentry" made common
cause with the Catholics against the new Govern-
ment. Albany, which was preeminently Dutch
and held the Reformed Church in reverence, was
also aristocratic in sympathy and resented the
rule of Leisler as the representative of the common
people. Even so, had Leisler shown more tact and
less obstinacy there might still have been a chance
to placate the opposing factions; but by his fanat-
ical attacks on all Catholics and his open defiance
of such prominent citizens as Nicholas Bayard,
Stephanus Van Cortlandt, Frederick Philipse, Peter
Schuyler, and Robert Livingston, he fomented the
strife until conciliation became impossible.

In the beginning of January, 1689, Leisler com-
mitted a grievous strategical error in permitting
Nicholson to leave for England to render an
account of the state of affairs, while the Leislerians
depended upon communications written in dubious
English and carried by a bearer who was of inferior
social standing.

Meanwhile Leisler won a temporary victory over
his opponents. In December dispatches arrived
from the Privy Council and the King and Queen of
England, addressed to "Our Lieutenant-Governor