When faithful and skilful agents were sought for in 1774, to devise means to regain those rights which England had grossly infringed, and to secure them from future violation, Mr. Duane was naturally one of the earliest selected. He was a member of most of the committees in the city of New York, raised to devise plans of opposing the British encroachments, and when the general Congress of 1774, was determined upon, and the Colonial Assembly had refused to appoint any delegates to act, Mr. D. was elected by the people not only of that city, but of several counties. The Congress was to-'meet in Philadelphia on the 5th of September; the election in New York had taken place some time before, and the members elected were inquired after by others, who had embarked in the American cause, with at least the same curiosity and interest as is felt by the politicians
HON. JAMES DUANE. 1069
of the present day, in regard to the members of a presidential convention,
The Massachusetts members of Congress started early from their homes and arrived at New-York before Mr. Duane and his colleagues had set out. We have, therefore, some notices of the subject of this sketch in the journal of John Adams, recently published from which it is apparent that Mr. Duane was the most prominent man in the New-York delegation ; that Mr. Adams' attention was especially directed to him and that he was viewed' with some distrust. To those who know his previous history, his constant employment in the suits and controversies against our eastern neighbors, and that the Massachusetts delegates fell at once into the hands of Mr. Scott, cooled towards Mr. Duane by the election contest above Slade the early observations made by Mr. Adams are no matter of wonder.