The Documentary history of the state of New-York; arranged under direction of the Hon. Christopher Morgan, secretary of State. By E. B. O'Callaghan ...

HON. JAMES DE LANCEY. 1051
instruction to the Assembly, which he did on the 24th of the
following September.1 This was a great triumph for the
colony, and for which it was'indebted solely to the policy of
Lt. Governor De Lancey, and the tact and statesmanship he
shewed in carrying it out. A fact so manifest as to compel the
reluctant praise of the partial author of the History of New
York.2
On the 19th of June, 1754, Lieut. Governor De Lancey convened and opened the celebrated Congress of Albany, over which
he presided. This was a Congress of delegates from all the
colonies3 which the home government directed the Lt. Governor
of New York to hold, for the purpose of conciliating the Indian
nations who were invited to attend it; of renewing the covenant
chain and attaching them more closely to the British interest,
and for comprising all the provinces in one general treaty to be
made with them in the King's name, and for no other purpose.4
Speeches and presents were made to the Indians who promised
to do all that was asked of them, but no formal treaty whatever
was concluded. The Congress voted instead, that the delegation
from each colony except New York, should appoint one of their
number, who together should be a committee to digest a plan
for a general union of all the colonies
The choice of the New York committee-man was left to Lt.
Governor De Lancy, who, acting most impartially, appointed his
political opponent, William Smith, Esqr., the elder.5 This
movement, which was not within the objects of the Congress as
defined in the letter of the Board of Trade above mentioned,
resulted in the adopting of a plan of a union to be made by act
of Parliament, which, after its provisions were resolved on, was
put into form by Benjamin Franklin, who was a delegate from
Pennsylvania, and which was not decided upon, but merely sent
to the different provinces for consideration.
1 Assembly Journals; II., 500.
2 Smith's Hist. N. Y.; II., 232.
3 Virginia and Carolina did not send delegates, but desired to be considered as present.
Doc. Hist. N..Y.; II., 567.
4 See Letter of Lords of Trade, directing the holding of the Congress, and the minutes
of its proceedings in full, in Doe. Hist. N. Y.; II., 555.
5 Doo. Hist. N. Y.; II., 565.