There was no dissident element in the convention, and by unanimous consent the live men previously elected by the people of New York City as delegates to the general congress were accepted as delegates for the County of Westchester likewise. The general congress of the colonies, the first held since the Stamp Act congress of 1765, assembled in Philadelphia on the 5th of September, 1774, and continued in session until October 20. It proved in every way worthy of the great occasion which called it into being, and the result of its deliberations was to immensely stimulate dis-

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

cussion throughout the colonies and to strengthen the resolution and hope of the people. It prepared and issued a declaration of rights, advised the adoption of a third Non-Importation Agreement, and made provision for the election in each colony of delegates to another congress, which was appointed to meet on the 10th of May, 1775. The citizens of Westchester County, having made a beginning in the matter of public action on the rising questions of the day, soon commenced to display a lively interest in their narrower consideration. This interest found expression in all the varying degrees of radicalism, moderation, timidity, and protest. The public prints of the times contain a number of communications from Westchester County, some of them iu the form of avowals or disavowals, formally signed, and some in that of anonymous newspaper articles advocating one set of opinions or another with more or less zeal and dexterity. One of the earliest and most notable of these documents is a communication from Eye, dated September 21, 1771, and published October 13 in Rivington's New York G-azetteer. It is an emphatic protest against the agitation of the period, as follows: We, the subscribers, Freeholders and Inhabitants of the Town of Rye, in the Comity of Westchester, being much concerned with the unhappy situation of public affairs, think it onr Duty to our King and Country, to Declare that we have not been concerned in any Resolutions entered into or measures taken, with regard to the Disputes at present subsisting with the Mother Country ; we also testify our dislike to many hot and furious Proceedings, in consequence of said Disputes, which we think are more likely to ruin this once happy Country, than remove Grievances, if any there are.