3 In view of the fact that the body of which that Committee was a part and b) whom it had been aiipoihted and to wtiom it was to report, was, specifically, "a Provincial Congress for the Province of New " York ; " and because, at that time, there had betin no change in the status of the Deputations composing the Congre^^s, wlio represented nothing else than certain specified Counties, each Deimlation representing only a single County ; and because, at that time, the Colony of New Y'ork, could not be possibly reganled as a "State," the caption of that Kei;ort displayed nothing of historical or legal precision, notliing of accuracy of statement, and nothing of good taste.
The hand which wrote it cotiid not be concealed ; and if the form of the writing answered the present purpose of the writer of it, in certifying his new-born zeal for Independence to his astonished constituents, it would probably answer an equally good purpose in invalidating the instrument of which it was the head, in case that " Reconciliation " for which the writer of the Report did not cease to hope and to [U'ay and to labor, should be effected.
" Resolved, That the Delegates of this State, in " Continental Congress, be and they are hereby "authorized to consent to and adopt all such mea- " sures as they may deem conducive to the happiness "and welfare of the United States of America.'!
It is said that the Report which was thus made by the Committee was unanimously adopted by the Congress ; and, further, that an Order was made by the Congress directing that copies of the Resolutions which constituted the Report should be transmitted to the Continental Congress.*