1779, the senate said: "We participate in your Excellency's Pleasure, on the Suppression of Robberies and other atrocious Offences, by the regular and assiduous Administration of Justice; in

which we find additional Reasons for admiring that happy Constitution, under which we enjoy domestic Peace amidst the Horrors of War; notwithstanding the Patronage that Robbers and Assassins have so frequently received from degenerate Britons."- The concordant opinion of the governor and senate in favor of a more judicial and constitutional procedure in

dealing with robberies and other felonious acts, bore fruitage in a series of enactments, as we shall see.

On October 15, 1779, an act to prevent robberies was passed by the legislature, and stated the nature and disposition of robberies and of the seizure of stolen goods. 3 When this act was revived, on July r, 1780, it included a new section relative to stolen horses. 4 The frequency of robberies, particularly in the east district of the Manor of Rensselaerwyck, gave birth to another act, which provided for the employment of rangers and made an appropriation of

£1,500 for that service. Payment of the rangers was made by a supervisor, with the approbation of any two resident justices of the peace, and an accounting was rendered to the next meeting of the county supervisors. 5 This act was re- April at, 1779. ' Senate Votes. Fish-Kill: Samuel Loudon, 1779, p. 9. • Lav> of Sew York. Poughkeepsie: John Holt, 1782, pp. 81-82. • find, p. 144. • Ibid, pp. 125-126.