The Council met on the 4 Decr ー

The Business first broke respected the public Records. The Governor had already caused such as affected the Crown to be brought on Board Ship from the Secretary's Office as he said upon Intimation that Captain Sears had formed a Design of carrying them into New England as a Pledge for or to compel the Fidelity of this Province in the great [Continental] Association and he put the Question concerning the Removal of the Rest with strong Assurances, that all should remain sealed be accessible only to the Secretary & when the Danger was over be safely restored to the Colony. I was struck at this Information and instantly remonstrated against the Removal of any more of the Papers, declaring it was my Opinion that if any Man was hurt by the Loss of the Records the Authors of the Removal would be answerable in Damages and might be ruined. The Council adopted my opinion but would not concur with another Part of my Advice which was that the Mayor should be apprized of Sears's Design that Care might be taken of the Records in Time by the Magistrates if they should think fit to interpose . . .

Mr. Tryon now informed us that he intended to acquaint the Public with his Design to return to England and that he had prepared a Paper for that Purpose giving Leave to propose Alterations. The Clerk read it. De Lancey said it would neither serve King nor Country  [John Harris] Cruger wondered any Good could be expected from it ー The Govr. said it would do no Harm as the old Dutchess of Marlborough used to tell her Groom on his Neglect to put her old Mares to cover on his objecting their Age. Oliver [Delancey] grew testy as over-ruled ー I promised nothing certainly from it disliking the Alterations he had made² ー It was copied and brought on Shore by the Clerk of the Council in a Letter to the Mayor and by him printed³ . . .