* It will be seen that eight of the nine Delegates thus elected carried titles with their names-- the terms "Esq." and "Mr." at that time, having recognized places in the order of rank-- and that only one of the nine, William Paulding, was low enough, in the social rank, to be a plain, untitled man.

s These words, taken from the letter sent to the Delegates-elect of Kings-county, on the twenty-second of November, represent the substance of those sent to (he Committee of Orange-county, on the following day : to the Delegates from Richmond-county in the preceding Congress, on the twenty-fourth of November ; and to the Delegates-elect and to the Committees in the several Counties of Tryon, Charlotte, Cumberland, Orange, Kings, and Duchess on the first of December. {Minutes of the Proceedings during the Hecess of the Provincial Congress, by their Adjournment on the fourth of November, 1775.)

6 These were sent, on the first of December, to the Committees of Tryon, Charlotte, and Cumberland-counties, respectively.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 1774-1783.

" a Convention of the Deputies is absolutely necessary, " with the utmost despatch."' To these pressing words, the following threat was appended: "But if, after " such repeated applications to your County, to be in " Congress, by their Deputies, if you continue to ne- " gleet a meiisure so necessary for your reputation and "safety, you must not complain if the Congress de- " termine upon matters relative to your County, in " common with others, although yours should, by " your inattention, be unrepresented."' Richmondcounty was not inclined to send a Delegation ; and was, first, coaxed to elect a Delegation, and, finally, threatened.' How much more, which was not recorded, that handful of the leaders of the Rebellion, in Colonial New York, said and did, for the intimidation of those who were less zealous, in that cause, is not now known ; but the careful reader will not fail to inquire, without obtaining an answer, why the Home Government failed, during that long interval of hesitation and of doubt among the greater number of the Colonists, to strengthen the Colonial Government in the maintenance of order and obedience to the Laws ; why those who were not inclined to rebellion were not protected in the quiet possession of their properties and in the peaceful pursuit of their respective vocations ; and why the price which would have obtained the marketable leaders of the Rebellion, for the use of the Home Government, wiis not paid, as the smaller and more effective investment,* or, if