Conduct of the persons

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The Committee taking into their serious consideration the subject matter of the said Address, and being desirous of giving to our fellow-citizens every satisfaction in our power, in the important capacity they did us the honour to appoint us to, we give this public notice, that, agreeable to their desire, we shall attend at the City Hall at one o' clock this day, and we earnestly request all the inhabitants of this city to meet us, and assist our deliberations with their counsel and support.

Signed by order of the Committee,

HENRY REMSEN, Chairman.

In consequence of the above Notice, the Committee, at the time appointed, repaired in a body to the City Hall, when Mr˙ Henry Remsen, their Chairman, was proceeding to open and explain the business of the meeting to a very respectable body of his fellow-citizens, but being interrupted by the noise and clamour of sundry persons, it was agreed to adjourn to the Coffee House; and, notwithstanding the attempts which were then again made use of to prevent his being heard, the Chairman addressed himself to the people as follows:

"GENTLEMEN: In consequence of an application from a number of respectable citizens, communicated by Mr˙ Joseph Totten, their Chairman, which has been published in handbills, it was thought proper to summon a special meeting of the Committee of Correspondence, at which meeting it has been resolved, that the inhabitants of this city should be called together, and that the following questions should be proposed for their consideration:

Whether those persons who style themselves a Committee, and have called upon several of our fellow-citizens to inquire into their private business, were authorized by you? And whether you approve of their conduct in so doing?"

Which questions being severally and distinctly put, passed in the negative by a very great majority, who declared that the said persons, styling themselves a Committee, had acted without authority from the public; that their conduct was highly disapproved of, and that such their sentiments, should be published.

Therefore, in conformity to the sentiments of a very great majority of our constituents, and being ourselves fully persuaded that all such irregular proceedings have a direct tendency to promote a disunion amongst ourselves, we thus publicly declare our disapprobation of all such measures. By order of the Committee,

HENRY REMSEN, Chairman.

The Committee adjourned to Monday, October 10, 1774.