S^ INTRODUCTION. 



The press was brought into poUtical action, and prepared the pubUc mind for 

 a conflict of arms. The royal cause was sustained by Dr. Miles Cooper, the pre- 

 sident of the college, and other clergymen of the Episcopal church. William 

 Livin<^ston, afterwards governor of New-Jersey, Gouvemeur Morris, and others, 

 defended the rights of the colonies. John Jay, having received an accomplished 

 education, and already acquired high rank at the bar, engaged on the same side ; 

 and at the same time, John Morin Scott and Alexander Hamilton, who then 

 was only seventeen years of age, entered the controversy. On the 25th of July,^ 

 1774, Philip Livingston, John Alsop, Isaac Low, James Duane and John Jay, 

 were appointed delegates to the first congress at Philadelphia. That body, in 

 adopting a declaration of the rights of the people of the colonies, laid the founda- 

 tions of independence and unicm. The committee who reported that paper, 

 were Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, and Messrs. Jay and Livingston of New- 

 York. An address was also made to the people of Great Britain. This state 

 paper, which was prepared by Mr. Jay, was distinguished alike for its elevated 

 tone and glowing language. 



The general assembly of New- York was convened in 1775. Being in the 

 interest of the crowTi, that body refused a vote of thanks to the representatives 

 of the colony in the general congress, and by this, and other manifestations of 

 pusillanimity, so effectually forfeited all claims to the public confidence, that the 

 New- York committee of safety recommended that a provincial congress should 

 be elected by the people. Mr. Jay, being a member of this committee, and now 

 a third time elected a delegate to the general congress, surrendered himself to 

 the public service. He distinguished himself, and aided the popular cause, by 

 preparing an address to the people of Canada, invoking their neutrality ; and 

 afterwards by a similar address, which was made by congress to their fellow 

 subjects in Jamaica and Ireland. These papers were among the most effective 

 of those issued by congress ; and which at once inspired the people of the colo- 

 nies vnth confidence and zeal in their cause, and secured the respect of a large 

 portion of the people of the mother country. 



