Concludes with praying y^ Pet^ may be dismist

Then M'' Vernon open'd himself with desiring that the prayer of the Petion might be read vf^^ was Then he observ'd as ye F: C: was not a National Church and yt theirfore that no Court in the Civil or Ec. had any Jurisdiction of it and pray'd y® Petion"" may be dismist.

After all partys were withdrawn M' Harrison observ'd to the Board. [M"" Harrison's observations not found. ]

At a Committee of the Council held at the Council Chamber in New York Febrr y^ IS^h 1724 | 5 Present Captn Walter ^ Doctor Golden )

M"" Van Dam > M"" Abr. Van horn >

Mr Harrison ) M^ P"" Provoost )

May it please yo^ Excellency

In Obedience to your Excellencys Commands in Council referring to us the Petition of several members of the French congregation praying relief against a Power or authority wliich they say the present Consistory of the said Congregation have Illegally and unwarrantablie usurped over them and exercised against aU Equity and Justice in depriving them of tlieir Minister, As likewise the answer of the said Consistory to the said Petition.

476 PAPERS RELATING TO THE CITY OF NEW-YORK.

We have considered of the same that Whereas the Respondents do not in their answer deny the Facts complain'd of but justifie them by their being done by the Authority of their Consistory and dechne the Jurisdiction of any Civil Power over them and the Council fc>r the said Respondents did in their pleadings before us call the said Consistory a Court who's Jurisdiction is n(3t Subject to any Power either Civil or Eclesiastick within this Province. And Whereas all Courts within this Province that we know derive their Authority from his Majesty and are jmmediately under the Inspection of your Excellency and tliis his Majestys Council of this Province.