As the "oligarchy" which constituted that Congress had resorted to the extraordinary precaution of requiring the proposed Address to be delivered to it, for its "inspection," in order that that aristocratic body should " discover whether it is proper for this "Congress to receive the same" -- the bearers of it, meanwhile, dancing an attendance, outside, before a

1 Journal of the Provincial Congress, "Die Martis, 9 ho., A.M., June 4, "1776."

closed door -- before it would permit the Mechanics to enter the Chamber in which it was sitting, to present their Address and to read it, there had been ample time to prepare the Answer, in season for the oral delivery of it, from the Chair; and there was one Deputy present, and only one, who was capable of writing that Answer, in the terms in which it was constituted. 2 That Answer was in these remarkable words:

" In Provincial Congress, June 4, 1776. "Sir:

" We consider the Mechanics in Union as a voluntary Association of a number of the inhabitants of "this City, who are warmly attached to the cause of "Liberty. We flatter ourselves, however, that neither "that Association nor their Committee will claim any "authority, whatsoever, in the public transactions of " the present times ; but that, on the contrary, they "will ever be ready to submit to that constitutional "authority which, by a free election, has been vested "in Congress and Committees.

"This Congress is, at all times, ready and willing "to attend to every request of their constituents, or "of any part of them: we are of opinion that the "Continental Congress, alone, have that enlarged "view of our political circumstances which will ena- "ble them to decide upon those measures which are "necessary for the general welfare: we cannot pre- "sume, by any instructions, to make or declare any "Resolutions or Declarations, upon a so general and "momentous concern; but are determined patiently " to await and firmly to abide by whatever a majority '• of that august body shall think needful.