A committee of thirteen, of which John Jay was chairman and Gouverneur Morris was a member, was appointed on the 1st of August to take into consideration and report a plan for instituting a form of government. Out of this action resulted the first constitution of the State, which was reported on March 12 and adopted on April 20. 1777. Meantime, and until the new governmental machinery was started, New York remained under exclusive legislative and committee government. The State convention, after leaving tlarlem, met successively at Fishkill and Kingston, being dissolved on the loth of May, 1777. Throughout the critical period which included the successive British occupations of Staten Island. Long Island, and Manhattan Island, and the Westchester County campaign, the convention was indefatigable in performing the manifold onerous duties that belonged to its sphere. An interesting and significant resolution adopted by the convention while in session at our county-seat (July 15) was the following: Resolved, unanimously, That it is the opinion of this [convention that if bis Excellency, General Washington, should think it expedient for the preservation of this State and the general interest of America to abandon the City of New York and withdraw the troops to the north side of Kingsbridge, this convention will cheerfully co-operate with him in every measure that may be necessary -- etc.

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

The proclamation of Independence was of necessity submitted to quietly, though with varied murmurings, by the Tory faction of Westchester County. The local committees every where were supreme, and manifestations of an unfriendly nature, even in the form of disfavoring remark, were pretty certain to involve the culprits in difficulty. The name of one bold spirit, who for three weeks persevered in a public attitude of defiance, has come down to us; and before proceeding with the narrative of the momentous events which now crowd thick upon us, this interesting local episode should be recorded. a clergyIt is not surprising that the aggressive individual was by name, man of the Church of England, the Rev.