1072 MEMOIR OF THE

secrecy being imposed on the members, much that transpired within the Congress is unknown. Among Mr. Duane's papers is found a copy of Dr. Franklin's plan of a union of the colonies proposed in 1754, with an indorsement that it was offered to the Congress on the 28th September, by Mr. Galloway, seconded and. supported by the New-York members, but: finally rejected and ordered to be left out of the minutes.

Mr. Duane was opposed to the non-importation agreement on the grounds that our importations would not materially affect the trade of Great Britain; that it would increase the irritation between the two countries and render reconciliation more difficult, and that, in case of war, the possibility of which was even then contemplated, we should be in want of the articles we would thus exclude. He, however, signed the association. and was sincere in his efforts to enforce its observance. Congress adjourned the 26th of October, recommending the meeting of another on the 10th May then next ensuing. :

The expenses of the delegates from New York to the first Congress seem to have heen paid by themselves, and Mr. Duane's, as entered in his memorandum book, were £87 and upwards, exclusive of his two months' board. The expences of the Committee of Correspondence in New-York-were of course defrayed by subscription, and it appears by the receipts of Thomas Petit, the collector, that Mr. Duane paid' for this purpose £5, November 12th, 1774, and a like sum, May 6th, 1775. He was also a subscriber to the fund for the relief of the Bostonians and to all the public entertainments and celebrations given by the American patriots in New-York in 1774 and beginning of 1775, and: in addition to this he lost, by reason of his absence in Congress, the October term of the Supreme Court of the former of these years which, to a professional man of his eminence at the time, was a considerable sacrifice.