a summons was issued to "the several towns," inviting them to send their
"principal persons" to Newport "before the day of usual election by
Charter, ... there to consult of some suitable way in this present
juncture." Accordingly, at a meeting held on the day appointed by the
ancient Charter for annual elections, it was determined "to reassume the
government according to the Charter," and "that the former Governor,
Deputy-Governor, and Assistants that were in place ... before the coming
over of Sir Edmund Andros, the late Governor, should be established in
their respective places for the year ensuing, or further order from
England." Walter Clarke was the Governor who had been superseded by
Andros. But he had no mind for the hazardous honor which was now thrust
upon him, and Rhode Island remained without a Governor.

On the arrival in Connecticut of the news of the deposition of Andros,
the plan of resuming the Charter of that Colony, and reëstablishing the
government under it, was immediately canvassed in all the settlements.
Agreeably to some general understanding, a number of principal men, most
of them elected as Deputies by their respective towns, assembled, on the
eighth of May, at Hartford, to consult together on the expediency of
taking that step. They determined to submit, the next day, to the
decision of the assembled freemen three questions, namely: 1. "Whether
they would that those in place and power when Sir Edmund Andros took the
government should resume their place and power as they were then; or, 2.
Whether they would continue the present government; or, 3. Whether they
would choose a Committee of Safety."

The adoption of any one of these proposals disposed of the others. The
first of them was first submitted to a vote, and prevailed. A General
Court after the ancient pattern was constituted accordingly. The persons
just deputed from the towns made the Lower House. Governor Treat and