Francis's Long-room ; - and that the published purpose was only "to consult on measures proper to " be pursued on the present critical and important "occasion," in neither of which features of the " Ad- " vertisement," prima facie, can it be reasonably said that any stretch of authority had been attempted by those who had called the proposed Caucus -- surely, it will not be said there might not be consultations, among Merchants as well as among other classes of the citizens, on any subject whatever, especially on subjects in which they were especially interested, without interference from any other class ; and it will hardly be pretended by any one, that, in the instance now under consideration, the Merchants of the City were not peculiarly interested in the subjects of " the " late extraordinary and very alarming advices from "' England ; " that they might not properly " consult," among themselves, " on measures proper to be pur- "sued on the present critical and important occa- " sion ; " that, for the purpose of such a " consulta- "tion," they might not invite whomsoever they pleased, to meet at a place and time designated, without consulting with any other persons or asking permission from any others; and that such a Caucus, thus invited, might not be had, without any interfe-

^ Minutesof the Netv York Committee of Correspondence. IMonday, 5Iay 19, 1774 ; Lieutenant-governor Colden to Gorernor Tryon, " Sprino Hill, "31st May, 1774 ; " the same lo the Earl of Dartmouth, " New York, 1st "June, 1774;" Gonveni'-vr Morris to Mr. Penn, " New York, May 20, " 1774;" Joneses Histori/ of Xew York dtirimj the lierolutionart/ War, i., 34 ; etc.