2 It is proper for us to say that that opposition to the Colonial policy of the Home Government, as it was developed within the City of New York, overpowered every difference of family or of sect or of party which had been previously known ; and that the De Lanceys and the Livingstons, the Churchman and the Dissenter, the Jacobin and the Georgian, for the purposes of that opposition and of whatever might be necessary to establish its power, became as one man -- one in purpose, one in determination, one in action, one in everything.

8 Inasmuch as frequent mention will be made, in this narrative, of these unfranchised Mechanics and Working-men, it is proper that, in this place, we should explain our meaning of the phrase, in order that the reader may not be misled, concerning it.

By the Act of May 8, 1699, it was provided that Representatives to the General Assembly "shall be chosen in every City, and County, and "Manor of this Province, who have Right to chuse, by People dwelling "and resident in the same Cities, Counties, and Manors; whereof, "every one of them shall have Land or Tenements improved to the "value of Forty Pounds in Free-hold, free from all Incumbrances, and "have possessed the same Three Months before the Test of the said " Writ'* [for an Election;} "and they which shall be chosen, Bhall be "dwelling and resident within the same Cities, Counties, and Manors ; "and such as have the greatest Number of them, who shall have Lands "or Tenements improved, to the Value of Forty Pounds in Free-hold, "free from all Incumbrances, as aforesaid, shall be returned by the "Sheriffs of every City, Counties, and Manors, Representatives for " the Assembly, by Indentures sealed betwixt the said Sheriffs and the "said Chusers, so to be made."-- (Lamt of New York, Chapter LXXIV., Section I., Livingston and Smith's edition, New- York : 1752, 29, 30 • the same, Chapter LXXIV., Section I., Van Schaack's edition, New- York. 1774, 28.)