anch^d in Torpand [Tappan] Bay 28 miles above the Town with the B^t B^r [best bower anchor] in 6½ f^m low water soft bottom Veerd to ½ a Cable Carried out the Stream Anchor to N W to Steady the Ship Terry town E ½ N The high Bluff head on the Western shore S W b W ½ d^o anchr^d the _Phenix_, _Tryal_ Schooner & 2 Tenders. A M Sailmakers Employed repair^g Sails damaged by the Shot. Emp^d repairing, Carpenters fishing the Foremast. The journal of the Captain, Sir James Wallace, is nearly identical in the main features recorded; repeating that “the Rebels began to fire upon us and the _Phenix_,” and confirming the material damage done to the ship. As to this it may be remembered that Anthony Glean, who fired the first gun at the squadron from the guns at the Battery, claimed that his shot took effect on the hull of the _Rose_, and the good gunnery of the Americans is evident from the general damage inflicted. REGINALD PELHAM BOLTON. NEW YORK CITY. [Illustration: [Fleuron]] THE LIBERTY OF THE PRESS IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES BEFORE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO CONDITIONS IN THE ROYAL COLONY OF NEW YORK. CHAPTER IV (_Concluded_) THE LIBERTY OF THE PRESS IN NEW YORK In the fall of 1767 a pamphlet of which a few copies were reprinted from a London edition, appeared in New York and created considerable excitement. It was entitled “The Conduct of Cadwallader Colden, Esq. Lieutenant-Governor of New York, relating to the judges’ commissions:—Appeals to the King; and Stamp Duty.” It had been presented by the grand jury in October as a libellous reflection on the Council, the Assembly and the Courts of Justice in the province of New York, and, as its sub-title would indicate, was a defense of Colden’s conduct, when acting as Governor. In the course of the argument reference was made to the action of the two branches of the Assembly in these matters, and both bodies took umbrage and appointed a joint committee to investigate, and if possible discover, the author and the person responsible for the republication in New York.[3] The committee carried on its work with vigor, summoning among others the printers of the province and also Colden’s son and son-in-law,[4] and the matter finally ended in a report by the committee to the General Assembly and the adoption of the following resolutions.[5] “Resolved, ... That the said pamphlet highly reflects upon the honor, justice and dignity of his Majesty’s Council, the General Assembly, and the Judges of the Supreme Court; and contains the most malignant aspersions, upon the inhabitants of this colony in general.