The subject continued to be played with, both by the Committee and the Convention, by both of whom nothing was done, until the Royal Army occupied the City of New York and prepared to extend its operations into Westchester-county, when other subjects occupied the attention of both ; and thus were the best interests and the safety of the inhabitants of the State endangered -- thus were their properties and their families and everything which was dear to them, subjected to the hazard of a revolutionary uprising, of anarchy, and of entire destruction -- only because James Duane and John Jay and the Livingstons and the Morrisses and their friends preferred a reconciliation and a reconstruction of the former system of Government, with themselves in the offices ; and, for the promotion of those selfish purposes, withheld every form of Government from the young State, and exposed every one and everything, within the State, to lawless anarchy and entire ruin.

There was scarcely a matter, in either the Judicial or the Legislative or the Executive departments of Government, with which that Congress did not interfere ; 3 and it ventured to ask the Continental Congress, only because it lacked courage enough to do so, to revise the Book of Common Prayer and to exercise an official censorship over the prayers of those who did not use Rituals. 4

1 Journal of the Contention, "Die Jovis, 8 ho., A.M., August 1, 1776."

2 Ibid.

'Without entering into details, the Convention provided for the refugee Poor, from the City of New York; protected the Cattle of the farmers, from the enemy's foraging parties, as far as it could do so ; guarded the Military-stores of the State ; built Vessels-of-War ; obstructed the navigation of the Hudson- river ; arbitrarily set aside the Elections of Officers who were distasteful to it ; borrowed Money, whenever they could find lenders ; treated with the Indians ; issued Paper-currency ; gave employment to grumbling Mechanics ; watched the "disaffected," in New Jersey; lent Money to impecunious County Committees; guarded the official Records ; ordered Fasts; gave Passes to those making journeys ; seized the Royal Quitrents; removed those who were exposed to the enemy ; provided postal facilities ; gave Licenses to Innkeepers ; gave relief to insolvent Debtors ; provided for the care of Orphans ; relieved distressed Soldiers; etc., etc.