was destined to be the last session of the general assembly of the Province of New York convened on the 10th of January, 1775, in New York City. Although the general aspect of affairs had undergone no improvement siuce the adjournment of the Philadelphia congress-- and, indeed, the tendency had been toward a further estrangement from Great Britain, especially through the operation of the "Association" recommended by the congress, -- the state of the public mind was rather that of expectancy than of active revolt. Lexington had not yet been fought, and there had been no new overt act of any very sensational nature on the part of the British ministry. It was still the devout hope of good men that a reconciliation might eventually be accomplished. In these circumstances the conservative leaders of the New York assembly -- among whom James de Lancey, Frederick Philipse, and Isaac Wilkins were conspicuous -- had every advantage throughout the session, uniformly commanding a majority against the proposals of the radicals. Resolutions extending thanks to the New York delegates to the Philadelphia congress, commending the New York merchants for their self-sacrificing observance of the "Association, " and favoring the election of delegates from New York to the next general congress, were voted down. On questions involving a division the vote was usually fifteen to ten, Pierre Van Cortlandt and John Thomas being invariably among the minority. But the house framed and passed a state of grievances, petition to the king, memorial to the lords, and representation or remonstrance to the commons, to which little or no exception could reasonably be taken. These papers were respectful, but comprehensive and firm, and did honor to the leaders of the majority. The complaint made against the assembly of 1775 was not on the score of its positive transactions, but of what it refused to do.