It should be remembered, finally, that he labored under the disadvantage of being here at the time of a transition in affairs. He was fast building up a party here of those who wished to assimilate Massachusetts to other portions of the British empire. There were many, and those not the poorest or least educated, who were sorry when the reaction succeeded for a time and the old rule was re-established. And yet the triumph was but nominal, for the old Charter and the old system were never restored. The Colony was destined to enter upon a new career which was to reach to the Revolution, and undoubtedly a potent influence at the outset was the breaking up of old associations effected by Andros. The only injustice we need to repair, is the mistaken idea that he was the ruling cause of the change--it was something far more powerful. Unless, therefore, we are disposed to quarrel with the progress of events, and to wish to restore our State to the primitive rule of the Puritan church, we should cease to make a bugbear of the instrument of its overthrow. We may class Andros rather among those statesmen, unwelcome but necessary, whose very virtues and abilities are detested in their lifetime, because they do so thoroughly their appointed work and initiate new periods in national history. WILL OF SIR EDMUND ANDROS. [Extracted from the Principal Registry of Her Majesty's Court of Probate, in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.] In the Name of God, Amen. I Sr. Edmund Andros of Guernsey and now residing in the parish of St Anne in the Liberty of Westminster in the County of Middlesex Knight being in health of body and of good and perfect memory praised be God do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say First and principally I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator trusting and assuredly hoping through the merits and mediation of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to inherit eternal life my body to be decently buried but without ostentation and as to the worldly estate it hath pleased God to bless me with I dispose thereof as followeth viz Imprs: I order and direct that all the just debts which I may happen to owe at my decease be forthwith paid----Item I give the sum of one hundred pounds for the placing of ten poor children to be apprentices to some trades or otherwise preferred according to the discretion of my Executor that is to say ten pounds for each child----Item Whereas I am entitled to two several annuities of fifty pounds p. annum each payable out of the Exchequer by virtue of an Act of Parliament whereof the order for payment for one is number one thousand and ninety four and therefore payment of the other is number four thousand three hundred seventy seven now for a further and better provision for Dame Elizabeth my wife I do give unto her the said two several annuities of fifty pounds p: ann: a piece together with the