A DISCOURSE, DESIGNED TO COMMEMORATE THE DISCOVERY OF NEW-YORK BY HENRY HUDSON; DELIVERED BEFORE THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, SEPTEMBER 4th, 1809; BEING THE COMPLETION OF THE SECOND CENTURY SINCE THAT EVENT. BY SAMUEL MILLER, D. D. One of the Pastors of the First Presbyterian Church in the City of ration, shall not be rep laws of the United State 3. And be it further. the said Society, until said corporation, shall co Vice-Presidents, a Corre cording Secretary, a Tro Standing Committee of s until the next annual mee and until others shall be cl present officers and committ said Society shall be and c officers of the said corporation 4. And be it further enact be and is hereby declared to shall be construed most favou promote such the purpose and c ciety, and that no misnomer of in any deed, will, testament, gi other instrument of contract or c tiate or defeat the same: Provide tion shall be sufficiently described tion of the parties. 5. And be it further enacted, be and remain in full force for t years: Provided nevertheless, That said Society shall at any time approp part of their funds to any purpose o than those contemplated by this act thereof convicted by due course of forth the said corporation shall ce mine, and the estate real and pers may be seised and possessed shall ves of this state. NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. SEPTEMBER 4th, 1809. RESOLVED, that the thanks of this Society be presented to the Reverend Doctor MILLER, for his Discourse delivered this day, commemorative of the discovery of this part of America by HUDSON, on the 4th of September, 1609; and that he be requested to furnish a copy for publication. Extract from the minutes, JOHN PINTARD, Recording Secretary. A DISCOURSE, &c. Gentlemen of the Historical Society, TO trace the progress of discovery and migration, is one of the most curious researches in the history of the human mind. When the successive steps of this progress are contemplated in general views, and at distant periods, they afford high gratification both to the philanthropist and the philosopher. But when they are considered in connection with memorable times, places, or persons; when we are enabled to say, on this day, or, on this spot, some great discovery, or some signal achievement, was accomplished, we experience a new and more impres sive emotion. And above all, when events, in their own nature important, stand in close connection with persons or places particularly related or endeared to ourselves, they acquire an interest of the highest kind. The event which we are assembled to commemorate is of this character. It is, in itself, one of the most important that occur in the early history of our country. But it is peculiarly interesting to AMERICANS; and especially so to every citizen of our OUR OWN STATE. The SECOND CENTURY is THIS DAY completed, since the date of what deserves to be styled the DISCOVERY OF NEW-YORK. When we recollect this; when we look back upon the scenes which have since been exhibited upon this territory; and when we look around us, and contemplate the situa |