The choice of the New York committee-man was left to Governor de Lancey, who, acting most impartially, appointed his political opponent, William Smith, Esq , the elder.c This movement, which was not within the objects of the Congress as defined in the letter of the Board of Trade above mentioned, resulted in the adopting of a plan of a union to be made by an act of Parliament, which, after the provisions were reel For a full biographical sketch of Governor de Lancey, see Documentary nistonr of New York, voL IV, p. 1037.

b Virginia anil Carolina did not send delegates, bnt desired to be considered as present. Doc. Hist. X. Y., II. 567.

e See Letter of Lords of Trade, directing the holding of the Cougress, anil the minutes of Its proceedings lu f ulJ, In Doc. iilst. X. Y., II, 555, and X. Y. CoL UUt., vi. p. 853.

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

solved on, was put into form by Benjamin Franklin, who was a delegate from Pennsylvania, and which was not decided upon, but merely sent to the different provinces for consideration.

Before the motion for the appointment of this committee was made, Governor de Lancey, being in favor of the colonies uniting for their own defence, proposed the building and maintaining, at the joint expense of the colonies, of a chain of forts covering their whole exposed frontier, and some in the Indian country itself. But this plan, like the other, was without effect upon the Congress; for, as he tells us himself, "they seemed so fully persuaded of the backwardness of the several assemblies to come into joint and vigorous measures that they were unwilling to enter upon the consideration of the matters."" His idea seem to have been for a practical union of the colonies for their own defence to be made by themselves; whilst that of the committees, who despaired of a voluntary union, was for a consolidation of the colonies to be enforced by act of Parliament.