The County of Westchester was ably represented on the floor of the Assembly, in the persons of Colonel Frederic Philipse and Judge John Thomas, who represented the body of the County; Pierre Van Cortlandt, who represented the Manor of Cortlandt ; and Isaac Wilkins, who represented the Borough of Westchester. Of these, Thomas and Van Cortlandt were of the minority of the Assembly, of which mention has been made ; and Philipse and Wilkins

2 There is no subject connected with the history of the United Stateswhich, from the beginning until now, has been more systematically and recklessly falsified than the political character of the members of that Assembly, the influences which controlled that body, and the action which it took, on the great political questions of the day.

Notwithstanding there was not a member of the party of the Government in the Assembly, Murray (Impartial History, i., 434) Lossing (Field Book, ii., 793) and, with his characteristic indirectness and malignity Bancroft (Histonj of the United States,' original edition, iv., 208. 209, 210, 211, 212, etc. ; the same, centenary edition, iv., 455, 456, 457, etc.) stated or insinuated that the "friends of the Government," or "the Tories," were in the ascendency and controlled it.

Notwithstanding the Despatches of Lieutenant-governor Colden to the Home Government, which are (and have been, since 1775) accessible to everybody, abundantly prove that the Colonial Government possessed no more influence, which it could exerciBe over the Assembly, than was possessed by any other political opponent, -- that, in fact, that body waB not in harmony with the Government, and acted adversely to the hopes of the, Government-- Murray, (Impartial History, i., 434) History of Civil War in America, Dublin : 1779, i., 68 ; Soule, (Histoire des Trouhlee, i., 129 j) etc., assert that whatever action was taken by the House, was under the influence of the Lieutenant-governor of the Colony.