During the Revolution, when' _the dispute relative to "the grants" was agitated before Congress, as it was for several years, he was the main reliance of New York, and, although at. times a most difficult task, he sueceeded in preventing that body from yielding to the powerful influence of the ,Eastern States, all of whom took part with "the Green Mountain boys;" and New York from vindicating -her rights by force when irritated by some supposed concession

1066 MEMOIR OF THE

made to "the revolters," or at some delayed decision which her authorities insisted ought to have been made at once in her favor.

The standing Mr. Duane had acquired in his profession before the Revolution, caused him. to be retained in most of the suits which, on account of the principle involved in them, interested large masses of the people both in New York and New Jersey. Among these may be mentioned in the latter colony, that against the proprietors of East Jersey, and that between the partners in the Copper mine Company ; in our own colony, Trinity Church (New Rochell) against Flandreau and others; Sir James Jay against King's College; Schermerhorn against the Trustees of Schenectady Patent; the King, on the information of the Attorney General, against Lt. Governor Colden. In this last suit he was employed for the defendant, and the Lt. Governor expressed much obligation to him for undertaking his cause after other counsel had declined, through fear of Governor Monckton's displeasure, for the latter was in reality the plaintiff as well as the Judge, the suit being for fees and before the Governor as Chancellor. He was also the attorney and counsel of Trinity Church, New York, in the suits against the intruders on that part of their' property called the King's Farm, so noted in the revived claims of the numerous descendants of Aneke Janse.