I, opposite p. 94 Gansevoort's Oath as Secretary, entirely in his own handwriting Vol. I, opposite p. 292 First page of rough draft (an insert) in the second manuscript volume, with emendations by Leonard Gansevoort,

Jr Frontispiece to Vol. II.

Page of the clean copy of the second volume, showing Gansevoort's reappointment as Secretary. Vol. II, opposite p. 440 Gansevoort's full Bill for Services as Secretary to the Albany Board Vol. II, opposite p. 803

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INTRODUCTION.

Inquisitorial Bodies of New York during the American -- Revolution Origin of the Commissioners for De- -- tecting and Defeating Conspiracies Their legal -- Status Development of their Authority and -- Powers Complaints against their Jurisdiction Repealed and vested in Courts.

It is not the design of this introduction to hold a brief for the defense of the laws of the State of New York and

their operation against toryism, nor to analyze the virtues or vices of the loyalist contingent during the American Revolution. An attempt is made here to analyze the laws passed for the repression of disaffection in the State, particularly as related to the Commissioners for detecting and defeating conspiracies, whose Albany minutes form these volumes, and to digest some of the main features of the proceedings of these

commissioners, as operated under the laws by which they were to be governed. The spectacular and dramatic conflict between whigs and tories; the philosophical speculation as to the probable economic and political gain or loss to the State by this conflict and its determination, and an impassionate estimate of loyalism as a principle, have been presented ably