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MEMOIR OF THE HON. JAMES DUANE.

colonists of New York . We find him, however, taking an active part on the side of the churchin the effort to obtain bishops to be sent to America , and in the disputes about taxation by authorityof parliament alone, when such authority w r as first exercised. He was a decided churchman, but,like his friends Jay and Chancellor Livingston, he was a strenuous advocate both for civil andreligious liberty.

When faithful and skilful agents were sought for in 1774, to devise means to regain those rightswhich England had grossly infringed, and to secure them from future violation, Mr. Duane wasnaturally one of the earliest selected. He was a member of most of the committees in the cityof New York , raised to devise plans of opposing the British encroachments, and when the generalCongress of 1774, was determined upon, and the Colonial Assembly had refused to appoint anydelegates 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 hadembarked in the American cause, with at least the same curiosity and interest as is felt by thepoliticians 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-Yorlc before Mr. Duane and his colleagues had set out. We have, therefore, some notices of thesubject of this sketch in the journal of John Adams , recently published from which it is apparent thatMr. Duane was the most prominent man in the New-York delegation ; that Mr. Adams ’ attentionwas especially directed to him and that he was viewed with some distrust. To those who knowhis previous history, his constant employment in the suits and controversies against our easternneighbors, and that the Massachusetts delegates fell at once into the hands of Mr. Scott, cooledtowards Mr. Duane by the election contest above noted, the early observations made by Mr.Adams are no matter of wonder. It is pleasing, however, to find that the mutual services of thesepatriots in the cause of their country, wore off the prejudices of Mr. Adams from whatever sourcederived.

Mr. Duane set out for the Congress of 1771 on the 31st of August, accompanied from his houseto the foot of Broad street, (whence he took the ferry boat) by a great procession, with musicplaying and colors flying. On arriving at the Exchange, then in that street, the procession haltedand he addressed the citizens. He was present on the 5th September, the very day appointed forthe meeting of the Congress . The members assembled at Smith’s Tavern, and as the Speaker of thePennsylvania Assembly had offered the use of the State House, and the Carpenters their Hall, itrvas agreed to view both. Carpenters’ Hall was the first visited, and Mr. Lynch moved that itshould be fixed on as their place of meeting without further inquiry. Mr. Duane objected toadopting this resolution until they had at least viewed the State House ; as it had been offered bythe Speaker, it was but respectful to him to inquire whether it was not equally convenient as theHall, and if it were, it ought to be preferred as it was a Provincial, instead of a private, house.The resolution, however, was carried to hold their meetings in Carpenters’ Hall. This little incidentdisplays the superiority, both in sagacity and habitual propriety of perception of the New-York gentleman of that day over the impulsive southerner, and even over a well bred Bostonian ; foralthough Mr. Adams notices the debate, he seems insensible to the influence which dictated oppo-sition to the resolution of Mr. Lynch.

The members organized at once, voted that their body should be styled “ the Congresstheirpresiding officer “ the Presidentand their clerk “ the Secretary of the Congress and after somedebate as to rules, adjourned to the next day. On the 6th September arose the debate as to themanner of voting and what weight each Colony should have in the determination. Patrick Henry