to public patronage. But it may be observed, that, in this State, if we except the Agricultural Society, there is no association for the purposes of general knowledge; and the want of a regular, minute, and authentic History of New-York, renders the combined efforts of individuals for that object more peculiarly necessary.

It is well known that many valuable manuscripts and papers relative to the history of our country, remain in the possession of those, who, though unwilling to entrust them to a single person, yet would cheerfully confide them to a public institution, in whose custody they would be preserved for the general benefit of society. To rescue from the dust and obscurity of private repositories such important documents, as are liable to be lost or destroyed by the indifference or neglect of those into whose hands they may have fallen, will be a primary object of our attention.

The paucity of materials, and the extreme difficulty of procuring such as relate to the first settlement and colonial transactions of this State, can be fully perceived by those only who have meditated on the design of erecting an historical monument of those events, and have calculated the nature and amount of their resources; for without the aid of original records and authentic documents, history will be nothing more than a well-combined series of ingenious conjectures and amusing fables. The cause of truth is interesting to all men, and those who possess the means, however small, of preventing error, or of elucidating obscure facts, will confer a benefit on mankind by communicating them to the world.

Not aspiring to the higher walks of general science, we shall confine the range of our exertions to the humble task of collecting and preserving whatever may be useful to others in the different branches of historical inquiry. We feel encouraged to follow this path by the honourable example of the Massachusetts

Society, whose labours will abridge those of the fature historian, and furnish a thousand lights to guide him through the dubious track of unrecorded time. Without aiming to be rivals, we shall be happy to cooperate with that laudable institution in pursuing the objects of our common researches; satisfied if, in the end, our efforts shall be attended with equal

success.

Our inquiries are not limited to a single State or district, but extend to the whole Continent; and it will be our business to diffuse the information we may collect in such manner as will best conduce to general instruction. As soon as our collection shall be sufficient to form a volume, and the funds of the Society will admit, we shall commence publication, that we may better secure our treasures by means of the press, from the corrosions of time and the power

of accident.

That this object may be sooner and more effectually attained, we request that all who feel disposed to encourage our design, will transmit, as soon as convenient, to the Society,

Manuscripts, Records, Pamphlets, and Books relative to the History of this Country, and particularly to the points of inquiry subjoined;

Orations, Sermons, Essays, Discourses, Poems, and Tracts; delivered, written, or published on any public occasion, or which concern any public transaction or remarkable character or event;

Laws, Journals, Copies of Records, and Proceedings of Congresses, Legislatures, General Assemblies, Conventions, Committees of Safety, Secret Committees for General Objects, Treaties and Negotiations with any Indian Tribes, or with any State or Nation;

Proceedings of Ecclesiastical Conventions, Synods, General Assemblies, Presbyteries, and Societies of all denominations of Christians;

Narratives of Missionaries, and Proceedings of Missionary Societies;

Narratives of Indian Wars, Battles and Exploits; of the Adventures and Sufferings of Captives, Voyagers, and Travellers;

Minutes and Proceedings of Societies for the Abolition of Slavery, and the Transactions of Societies for Political, Literary, and Scientific Purposes;

Accounts of Universities, Colleges, Academies and Schools; their origin, progress and present state;

Topographical descriptions of Cities, Towns, Counties, and Districts, at various periods, with Maps and whatever relates to the progressive Geography of the Country;

Statistical Tables; Tables of Diseases, Births and Deaths, and of Population; of Meteorological Observations, and Facts relating to Climate;

Accounts of Exports and Imports at various periods, and of the progress of Manufactures and Com

merce;

Magazines, Reviews, Newspapers, and other Periodical Publications, particularly such as appeared antecedent to the year 1783;

Biographical Memoirs and Anecdotes of eminent and remarkable Persons in America, or who have been connected with its settlement or history;

Original Essays and Disquisitions on the Natural, Civil, Literary or Ecclesiastical History of any State, City, Town or District.

As the Society intend to form a Library and Cabinet, they will gratefully receive specimens of the various productions of the American Continent, and of the adjacent Islands, and such animal, vegetable, and mineral subjects as may be deemed worthy of preservation. Donations also of rare and useful books and pamphlets, relative to the above objects, will be thankfully accepted, and all communications duly noticed in the publications of the Society.

B

QUERIES

As to those points on which the Society request particular information.

1. Can you give any information concerning the first settlement of your Town or District by white people, and the number and condition of the first settlers; the names of the principal persons; the circumstances attending the settlement, and the motives which led to it?

2. Do you know any thing, more particularly, respecting the first settlement of New-York by the Dutch; the number of the settlers; the time of their arrival; their general character; their condition with respect to property; the authority and encouragements under which they came; or any other circumstances attending the first attempt at colonization?

3. Can you communicate any documents which will throw light on the first organization of civil government in any part of the United States; or which will give authentic information concerning the names, general character, powers, salaries, &c. of the principal civil officers appointed at different periods? Especially, when did the first regular organization of a colony in New-Netherlands take place? What was the nature of the government established? Who was the first Chief Magistrate, his title, powers, and character?

4. Is there any thing known concerning Wouter Van Twiller, or William Kieft, who preceded Governor Stuyvesant in the Chief Magistracy of NewNetherlands? How long did each remain in office? What stations or offices did they fill prior to their appointment here? Were they removed by death or

resignation, or for ill behaviour? If in either of the latter ways, how were they disposed of afterwards?

5. In what years were the first Forts built at Albany, (then called Fort Orange,) and at New-York, (then called New-Amsterdam?) Of what numbers did the respective garrisons consist, as well at first as at different periods afterwards? And who were the commanding officers in each, previous to the arrival of the first Governor or Director General ?

6. What proportion of the first settlers in NewNetherlands appear to have attached themselves to agriculture, and what proportion to trade? In what districts did these two classes chiefly reside? To what objects of cultivation did the former chiefly devote themselves? And what were the principal objects of the trade in which the latter engaged?

7. Can you communicate any facts which will throw light on the state of Commerce in any particular portion of our country, at different times, and especially at early periods; the number of ships belonging to particular ports; the amount of exports and imports for a series of years; the principal articles exported and imported, and from whence brought?

8. At what period do the most common and simple Manufactures appear to have been commenced in your district? And what facts can you furnish respecting the progress of manufactures since that period?

9. Can you give any information concerning the number of houses and inhabitants in your town, at different periods, since the first settlement?

10. What information do you possess respecting the state of the Militia in your district, especially at the early periods of its history, particularly their numbers, organization, mode of equipment, &c.?

11. Can you communicate any books, or other documents which will give authentic information concerning any of the numerous territorial disputes which have taken place between different portions of the