The provincial assembly of New York was always entirely loyal to the king in its professions, and also in its true spirit; and even to the last days of its last session, when the clouds of war were about to spread over the land, was averse from being otherwise regarded. It was a relatively small legislative body, never having more than thirty members; and it uniformly contained a large proportionate element of gentlemen of wealth, culture, and select social connections, who, while differing on public questions, and especially on the great question of colonial rights, had an abiding respect for the forms of attachment to the crown so long as those forms were not abrogated. Indeed, despite the characteristic stubbornness of the assembly toward the governors, it was not wholly unamenable to executive1 persuasion, even upon critical occasions of popular feeling. Concerning the binning issue of supplies for the troops, which was coincident with the Stamp Act agitation, it hrst assumed a, position of uncompromising resistance, refusing to furnish not only beer and cider, but such absolutely necessary articles as fuel, lights, bedding, cooking utensils, and salt as well. Yet from this radical stand it gradually receded, granting first one item and then another. The measure of parliament practically extinguishing the New York assembly --

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which was an act of diabolical tyranny if ever there was one -- was met not with scornful defiance, but with submission! It is true that the assembly continued to give sufficient trouble to the governor, but it caused quite as much dissatisfaction to the revolutionary spirits among the citizens, who could not brook the thought that the representative body of the people should be in the least subservient to their assumed masters. In the vacillating record of the assembly i> certainly to be found the explanation of the general impression which has always existed and probably never will be quite removed, that New York was comparatively a conservative and reluctant factor in the movement of the thirteen colonies for independence-- an impression which is most unjust, not to be encouraged for a moment by any historical student who impartially examines the evidences of the true disposition of the people of New York Province throughout colonial times.