This book is a detailed study of the political and social history of New York City during the colonial period, from its establishment as a municipality in 1731 to the outbreak of the American Revolution in 1776. Edwards provides a comprehensive analysis of the city's government, institutions, and social customs, as well as the economic and cultural forces that shaped its development. Drawing on a wide range of historical sources, including newspapers, legal records, and personal diaries, he paints a vivid and informative picture of life in colonial New York. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.