province of New-York unwilling to make any contributions to the support of the professorate—that £4,000 had been subscribed for it-that a majority of its friends wished to have it connected with Queen's College, and that that institution was provided with an ample charter; they request that the Classis would select and endeavour to obtain for them, a person well qualified to discharge the duties of a professor of theology. In August, 1774, the Trustees of the College addressed a letter to the Convention, in which they gently notice, in the first place, the anxiety of this body to have the funds raised in the province of New-York properly secured, but ascribing it to "a commendable forecast of future vicissitudes," declare "their readiness to enter into the proposed engagements."— They then add-"As the College funds, amounting to about £4,000, fall far short of what is necessary for engaging to a professor from Holland, a competent salary, * * and the recommendation of such a professor is daily expected from thence; the augmenting of said funds demands our immediate and most serious attention, in order to enable the trustees to make out a call for the person recommended. And as it is reasonable to suppose, that the professor of divinity is the more immediate object of your concern, we declare it as our opinion, that whenever the Trustees of Queen's Col

lege shall remember the chief end of their incorporation, and regard the increase of students in this seminary, they will esteem it their duty and privilege to call the professor of divinity, on the recommendation of the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, and the communication thereof to your reverend assembly nor will they have any objection to the making him, at the same time, President of the College, provided it can be done without detriment to the collegiate community or theological faculty."

The Classis, it seems, to execute, in the best manner possible, the important business which had been confided to them, had determined to solicit advice of the theological faculty of Utrecht, and not being able, as it is presumed, conveniently to obtain the desired advice, till after the opening of the university in the autumn of 1774, postponed, of course, their answer to the assembly.

A letter from them was received, however, in or near the following spring, and being opened by a Committee that had been appointed to inspect its contents immediately upon its arrival, with power to call, if it should be judged expedient to do so, an extra meeting of the assembly,-it was found that they had unanimously recommended the election of Doctor Livingston as the professor. The letter of professor Bonnet was enclosed in that of the

Classis, and both extolled him as a person well qualified for the office, and to be preferred to any one that could be sent from Holland; but in case he should decline the office, the assembly was requested to state particularly the salary that would be attached to it, in order that the Classis, in looking out a Holland divine to fill it, might feel themselves authorized to make a definite offer in that respect.

The Classical letter was dated Jan. 14, 1775; and the Committee having read it, pursuant to the power vested in them, issued circular letters, calling the assembly to meet in New-York in the month of May of the same year. The call was obeyed; but as the battle which constituted the first scene to the great drama of the revolutionary contest had been fought only a few days before at Lexington, Mass., such was the state of feeling prevailing in consequence at the time, that the members hastily terminated their session, after recommending the observance, throughout all their Churches, of a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. The particular business for which they had assembled, was necessarily deferred.

Hostilities with Great Britain had now commen ced in earnest; and it being supposed that the enemy would early seek the occupation of New

York, which was in a defenceless situation, many of the citizens deemed it a prudent step to remove their families into the country, and accordingly did remove them in the fall of 1775; but a much greater number left the city in the spring and summer of the following year.

Philip Livingston, Esq., a distinguished patriot and a member of Congress,* was among the first to

*This gentleman was the fourth son of Philip, who was the eldest son of Robert, and a grandson of the celebrated John Livingston, that died at Rotterdam. The following notice of him is extracted from a Biography of distinguished persons in America::

"Philip Livingston, one of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, was a member of the family which has long been distinguished in the state of New-York, and was born at Albany, January 15th, 17:6. He was graduated at Yale College in 1737. With the superior advantages of an excellent education, he embarked in mercantile pursuits, and was soon engaged in extensive operations; and his inflexible integrity, and enlarged and comprehensive views, laid the foundation, and erected the structure of extraordinary prosperity. His first appearance in public life was in September, 1754, when he was elected an alderman of the city of New-York. From this period, he continued to fill various and important trusts under the Colonial Government, till he took a decided and energetic stand against the usurpations of Great Britain.

take this step, and in the month of Oct. conveyed his little household to Kingston, a town some dis

In

"Mr. Livingston was chosen a member of the first Congress, which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of September, 1774. this assembly, he took a distinguished part, and was appointed on the Committee to prepare an address to the people of Great Britain.

"He was re-elected a delegate in 1775, with full power to concert with delegates of other colonies, upon such measures as should be judged most effectual for the preservation and re-establishment of American rights and privileges.

"On the fourth of July, 1766, he affixed his signature to the Declaration of Independence.

"On the 15th July, 1766, he was chosen by Congress a member of the Board of Treasury, and on the 29th of April following, a member of the Marine Committee; two important trusts, in which the safety and well-being of America were essentially involved.

"On the 13th of May, 1777, the State Convention re-elected him to Congress, and at the same time thanked him and his colleagues for their long and faithful services rendered to the colony and state of New-York.

"Mr. Livingston's attendance in Congress did not, however, preclude his employment at home, in affairs of importance. He served in every capacity in which he could be useful in the coun