viii                   Preface.

      When the news of the Revolution of 1688 had reached America,

    Andros, who was supposed to be a partisan of James, and whose

    ideas of popular freedom and the sanctity of charters were James's

    own, was deposed by a popular uprising and thrown into prison in

    Boston. Nicholson, who represented him in New York, also fell

    under suspicion. Though he was well known to be a Protestant, his

    commission from a Catholic monarch was little less than the mark of

    the beast; and a rumor arising that he was plotting to surrender the

    province to the French, a revolt broke out, headed by a German

    named Jacob Leisler, who seized the fort and usurped the govern

    ment. Nicholson, finding himself powerless to resist, sailed for

    England.

      In 1690 he was sent out to Virginia as Lieut--Governor—that is,

    really as Governor, as Lord Howard of Effingham, fortunately for the

    province, determined to reside for the future in England, and limit

    his activities to drawing his salary. Nicholson showed himself to be

    a governor of a different kind from his narrow-minded and rapacious

    chief. He had paid much attention to colonial affairs, and sent impor

    tant information and valuable advice to the Privy Council. His resi

    dence in New York had opened his eyes to the far-reaching designs

    of the French, and the perils threatening British rule in America, and

    he strongly urged a union of all the colonies on the mainland in

    defence against Canada.

      Nor was he concerned with foreign policy alone. He saw in Vir

    ginia the great need of popular education. There were practically no

    schools in the Province, and while wealthy planters could import pri

    vate tutors for their sons, and then send them to England or the con

    tinent to finish their education, the less prosperous had to see their

    children grow up in ignorance. Nicholson set zealously to work to

    improve this state of things, both by exhortation and example. For

    one thing, he gave his houses and lots in Yorktown for the establish

    ment of a free school.

      More important was his cooperation with the excellent Dr. James

    Blair in founding William and Mary College, which was chartered in

    1693, with Blair as the President, and Nicholson as the head of the

    Board of Trustees. Its objects were three-fold: to provide a seminary

    of ministers of the Gospel, to educate youth in good letters and man

    ners, and to propagate Christianity among the Indians. Nicholson

    lent this noble foundation his heartiest support until his recall to

    England and subsequent assignment to another field of duty in

    Maryland.