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COLLECTIONS

OF THE

NEW-YORK

HISTORICAL SOCIETY,

FOR THE YEAR 1809.

VOLUME I.

Esti non prosunt singula, juncta juvent.

NEW-YORK:

Printed and published by I. Riley.

1811.

G.De..

INDEXED.

DISTRICT OF NEW-YORK, 55.

Bthe Independence

E IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-third day of March, in

rica, ISAAC RILEY, of the said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words and figures following, to wit:

"Collections of the New-York Historical Society. For the year 1809. Volume I. Esti non prosunt singula, juncta juvent."

66

IN CONFORMITY to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies "of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, "during the times therein mentioned;" and also to an act, entitled, "An act, supplementary to an act, entitled, an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors "and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and 66 extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and "etching historical and other prints."

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PREFACE.

CONFORMABLY to one of the profest objects of their institution, the New-York Historical Society have compiled the present volume, consisting of several journals connected with the discovery of NewYork, and a few documents relating to its civil and political transactions in the early stages of its settlement.

Events of this nature, so curious and interesting in the annals of every nation, can be traced with less difficulty, and ascertained with more precision, in the history of our country, than in that of almost any other. The first navigators who directed their course across the atlantic, were incited by curiosity to remark, and by the hope of renown to record, every circumstance and incident attending their first visit to the unknown coasts, and unexplored bays and rivers of America.

On their return to the countries from which they had sailed, their journals were sought for with eagerness, and the press was employed to preserve and diffuse the account of their discoveries. The journal of Henry Hudson, "who in the first ship, broke the unknown wave" of our wide circling bay and majestic river, has in this manner been fortunately preserved; and although not so minutely descriptive as our curiosity leads us to expect, yet is nevertheless sufficiently interesting to attract our attention, and certainly deserves to be perpetuated. The collection of

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voyages by Purchas, published in the year 1625, and which is still extant, contains this journal; but as these volumes are very rare, and as the surest way to preserve a record is to multiply copies, the present opportunity is taken to exhibit it to the public in a new form, more covenient than the original edition.

As nothing appears to be known of the life and character of Hudson, but what is to be found in the history of his voyages, it cannot prove uninteresting to those who inhabit the borders of the noble river which bears his name, to read the brief memorials which remain of the enterprising spirit of this distinguished navigator, and of the calamities which terminated his adventurous career. With this view, the journals of his two last voyages, previous to his discovery of New-York, and of his last expedition, in which he fell a victim to the disaffection and barbarity of his crew, are allotted a conspicuous place in the present collection.

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The commemorative discourse, prefixed to this volume, by referring to the voyage of Verrazzano, renders the publication of his journal also peculiarly proper, in order that every reader may judge for himself, whether his discovery applies to the harbour of New-York, or to some other place.

The circumstances attending the first settlement of* the United States, are, with some exceptions, as correctly to be ascertained as those of the original discovery.

The leaders of the first adventurers who emigrated to these shores, being men of intelligence and foresight, and contemplating not merely a temporary refuge, but the establishment of permanent colonies or states; were desirous of transmitting to their suc

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