This being my real situation, I must request " the favour of you to excuse my attendance, to- " morrow; but you may rest assured, Gentlemen, that " I shall punctually attend, as soon as I can, con- " sistent with my health; flattering myself, in the " meantime, that, upon further consideration, you " will think that my being a friend to the rights " and interests of my native country is a fact so " strongly implied as to require no evidence on my " part to prove it, until something more substantial " than mere suspicion or vague surmises are proved " to the contrary.

" I am. Gentlemen, your most obedient, humble " servant Frederick Philipse.

"To Lkoxahd Gaxsevoort, Philip LrvxNGSxox, "Thomas Tredwell, Lewis Graham, Gouv- "ernedr Morris, Thomas Raxdall, Es- " quires." '

As the Provincial Congress, as well as its Committee to Detect Conspiracies, had hurriedly left the City of New York before the day appointed for the hearing of Frederic Philipse and Samuel Merritt ; ^ and as only one of the members of the Committee had lingered, after the Congress and the Committee had retired ; ' the proceedings against them, at that time, were evidently suspended -- the suspension of the persecution of Mr. Philipse, however, was speedily followed by a similar proceeding, of which mention will be made, hereafter.

The fourth Provincial Congress was directed to meet at the Court-house, in the White Plains, on

• Force's American Archiref, Fuurtli Series, vi., 1215, 1216. ' Vide pages 'MO .347, ante.