He was, also, at the same time that he was thus masquerading as a confidante and an adviser of those who were leading the Rebellion and as a sympathiser with and promoter of the Rcbeiyon itself, a Member of the Colonial Council of the King; an intimate friend and confidential adviser of the Governor of the Colony, William Tryou -- whose leanings toward the pretensions of the Livingston family were as distinctly seen as were those of the venerable Lieutenant-governor, Cadwallader Colden, toward the pretensions of the more influential Dc Lancey family -- and a secret schemer, aiming to promote the interest of his own family by disarming the Rebellion of its strength'^ and, thereby, effecting a reconciliation with the Home Government.

******** As far back as the eighth of June or eighth of July, a Report had been made by a Committee which had been previously appointed to consider the subject, provid-

2 The strength of the Rebellion was in the union of all the disaffected Colonies ; and, had he succeeded in withdrawing JJew York from the existing confederation, which he and all the Smiths endeavored to do, that strength would have been impaired, and, possibly, the confederation of tlie Colonies effectually broken.

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

ing " for the dissolution of this Congress and election "of a new Provincial Congress for this Colony;"^ but, very probably, nothing w^S really done and determined on, concerning the subjects referred to. There was some action, in the Provincial Congress, on collateral subjects; but it was not until a much later period that that body was dissolved -- on the fourth of November, either because of the absence of a quorum or for some other reason, no record of a formal adjournment having been made, the Provincial Congress ceased to exist; and the works which it had done as well as its own existence, became matters of history.