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THE GOOD EARL OF BELLOMONT

But Usher sought redress from England, by sending over a special agent to lay his complaints before the Lords of Trade; receiving from them directions to continue in office till Partridge should qualify himself, or till Richard, Earl of Bellomont, the newly appointed governor of New York, Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, should arrive. Usher then came immediately to New Hampshire, in full confidence of triumphing over his opponents. But a bitter disappointment awaited him, for the next day, the 14th of December, 1697, Partridge published his commission, took the oaths and assumed the government.

This transaction must have been very disheartening to Mr. Usher, who, on his way to Portsmouth, had been so elated with his prospects, that, as he passed through Hampton, he had forbidden the people to observe a day of thanksgiving that had been appointed. This led the lieutenant-governor and the council, on the day that he entered upon the duties of his office, to order, "that the selectmen of Hampton do notify the inhabitants thereof, that the Thanks-giving day appointed by the President and Council, on Thurs-day next, be observed as has been usual in such cases." They also specially ordered that notice should be given to Mr. John Cotton, minister of the town, to "observe & keep" the day.

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