have been unwittingly, to establish as the formal enactments of that revolutionary body.^

As we have said, the letter which Ezekiel Hawley, in behalf of the Committee of the Town of Salem, wrote to the Provincial Congress, was laid before that body, on Saturday evening, the eighth of June; when it was read and filed.'' On the following morning, \_Handaij, June 9, 1775,] the Congress directed the following answer to be made to that remarkable letter :

"In Provincial Congress, " New-York, June i), 177G.

" Sir :

" Your letter by Mr. Chapman, of the 5th inst., was " laid before the Congress, who are of opinion that " the contents require the most serious consideration, " and have directed me to acquaint you that whenever " several matters of importance for the general defense " and preservation of the Colony, now under consider- " ation, are despatched, the Committee of Salem may " be assured a proper attention will be made on their " application, the Congress not doubting that Commit- "tee will still persevere, with zeal in the cause o( "their country.

" By order, " Nathaniel Woodhull, President. "To Ezekiel Hawley, E.sqk., Chairman " of the Committee of Salem, Weslchedcr." ^

Had Gouverneur Morris or John Jay been present, when the Provincial Congress received or when it answered that letter, the answer would probably have

1 Tlio imcstion of tlie extent to wlikli the several Provincial CoiigresseB, iininthieiiceil by the outsiile iiressuiu of lionieinnde pitrtisan demonstrations or by t lie inside domination of thofse who assnined to social or intellei tnal snperiority, wonld have pven their authority for the enactiiient and execution of such violent nieaKures, against those of their fellow Colonists who did not concur in all which Wiw done by the Conti nental Congress of 1774, as we have noticed, is worthy of the examination which it will some day receive at the hands of an intelligent, industrious, and fearless student.