De Lancey " (Etienne or Stephen De Lancey, the first of that family in America, then the first named of the four members for the City of New York, a ^on-in-law and one of the heirs of Stephanus van Cortlandt) " according to leave presented to this House a bill entitled, An Act for regulating the choice of a Representative for the Manor of Cortlandt in the County of Westchester ; which was read the first time and ordered to be read the second time. Two days later, on the 17th, in the morning session, the bill was read a second time and referred to the Committee of the Whole. In the afternoon session of the same day '' Col. Lewis Morris, Jr., ' from the Committee of the whole House reported the bill with an amendment, " which were read and agreed unto by the House," and the same ordered to be engrossed. Five days later the Governor (Cosby) gave his assent to the bill and it was, with nine others, " published at the City Hall." After which and on the same day, on motion, Mr. Verplanck was admitted as the Representative for the Manor of Cortlandt. He was then called into the House, and Messrs. Le Count and Van Kleck were directed to go with Mr. Verplanck before the Governor, and see him take the oaths and subscribe the Declaration according to Law. This was done, and on their return Mr. Le Count reported that the duty had been performed, whereupon it was, Ordered, that the said Mr. Philip Verplanck take his place as a Member of this House accordingly." ^ It is easy to see from these proceedings that the Assembly was very jealous of its own privileges, and careful to see that the admission was strictly according to law.