a people, at such a time, and under such circumstances as then existed, and which would probably continue to exist, might, also, sensibly or insensibly, weaken if where existed, that such an organization, among such it should not destroy all those bonds of recognized dependence, and loyalty, and love, which, hitherto, had so firmly bound the Colony to the Mother Country. But, notwithstanding the evident intentions of those among whom the thought of creating such a Committee had originated ; notwithstanding the purposes for which it had been created included no such purpose ; and notwithstanding a separation of the Colonies from the Mother Country had not yet become one of the questions of the day, that Committee of Correspondence in the City of New York, created and

"Chickens, not only before any of them were hatched, but before above " one half of the Eggs were laid. In short, they fairly contended about "the future forms of our Government, whether it should be founded "upon aristocratic or democratic principles.

" I stood in the Balcony ; and, on my right hand were ranged all the "people of property, with some few poor dependants ; and, on the other, "all the Tradesmen, etc., who thought it worth their while to leave "their daily labour for the good of the Country. The spirit of the " English Constitution has yet a little influence left, and but a little. "The remains of it, however, will give the wealthy people a superiority, " this time ; but, would they secure it, they must banish all Schoolmas- " ters and confine all Knowledge to themselves. This cannot be. The "Mob begin to think and to reason. Poor Reptiles ! it is, with them, a " vernal Morning ; they are struggling to cast off their Winter's Slough ; " they bask in the Sunshine ; and, ere Noon, they will bite, depend "upon it.