History of the state of New-York : including its aboriginal and colonial annals, vol. pt 1, Part 28

Author: Moulton, Joseph W. (Joseph White), 1789-1875. 4n; Yates, John V. N. (John Van Ness), 1777-1839. 4n
Publication date: 1824
Publisher: New-York : A.T. Goodrich
Number of Pages: 892


USA > New York > History of the state of New-York : including its aboriginal and colonial annals, vol. pt 1 > Part 28


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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37


(28 & 30.) 1. Hist. of Wales by Caradoc of Llancarvan, Glamorgan. shire, in the British language, translated into English by Humphry Llwyd and published by Dr. David Powel, 1584.


2. Hakluyt's Coll. of Voyages in 1589, deriving his account of MMadog from Gutton Owen, As to his authenticity, sce Forster's Northern Voya. ges, p. 189, note. Belknap, Amer. Biog. Vol. I. p. 408 & 65.


3. A brief descrip. of the whole world, fifth edit. Lond. printed for John. Marriott, 1620.


4. Sir Thomas Herbert's Travels into Africa and Asia, &c. London, 1638.


5. Hornibus De Originius Americanis.


6. Enquiry into the truth of the traditions &c. by John Williams, LL. D. Lond. 1791. Further observations by do. Lond. 1792.


(31.) See Pinkerton's Coll. of Voyages, Vol. XII. p. 157.


(32.) Dr. Campbell in his Naval History of Great Britain, Vol. I. p. 257, 2d ed. as cited by Dr. Williams, who also refers to Hist. & Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Paris for 1784. Month. Review, Vol. LXXVIII. p. 616. Warrington's Hist. of Wales. Broughton, Purchas, and Davy? zevived the story.


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Ív


NOTES.


(33.) For the narrative of Madoc's Expedition, see authorities cited in the above from note 27 inclusive.


(34.) Hakluyt Collec.


(35.) Hornius De Originibus, &c .-


(36.) IIerbert.


(37.) See Williams.


(38.) 1b.


(39.) Ib. Enquiry, p. 32, 39.


(40.) Ib.


(41.) Sce Memoirs, &c. by Mr. Clinton . Atwater in Vol. 1. Archa. Amer.


(42 ) See Atwater ib. and II. Williamson's Hist. N. Caro. Vol. I. p. 6, 7, 8, 213, 216.


(43.) In Enquiry touching the Diversity of Language and Religion, &c. Lond. 1674.


(44.) Johannis De Lact Antwerpiani Note ad Dissertationem Hagonis Grotii de Origine gentium Americanarum et observationis, etc.


(45.) On the Origin of the Americans, published Palentia, 1607, repub- lished Madrid, 1720.


(46.) Naturall and Morall Ilistorie of the East and West Indies, &c. English transl. Lond. 1604.


(47.) De Origine gentium Americanarum.


(48.) Sec Originibus Americanis, Lib. 1. chap. 2.


(49.) We learn from Charlevoix that the Eries (or Cat Indians) an in- digenous nation of the Malay race, formerly inhabited the lands south of Lake Erie, The Iroquois of the Tartar stock (says Dr. Mitchill) extermi- nated them, and appropriated their country to a hunting ground.


(50.) Dr. Mitchill.


(51.) Dissertation sur l'origine des Ameriquaius. Journal d'un voyage fait par ordre du Roi dans L' Amerique septentrionale, &c. A Paris 1744. Parle Pere Charlevoix.


(52.) See bis Histoire et description Generale de la Nouvelle France, &c. Tomes 1 -- 4. A Paris, 1744. Tom. III. He was also known as the author of the History of Japan and St. Domingo.


(53.) It is added in the above report, that it has been related of them by an elderly gentleman of Natchitoches, who some years ago traded with them, that about thirty years previous, (to 1806,) a part of them crossed the river Grand to Chewawa, the residence of the (Spanish) Governor General of what is called the five internal provinces, there lay in ambush for an op- portunity, and inade prisoner of the Governor's daughter, a young lady, going in her coach to mass, and carried her off. The Governor caused a messenger to go among them, with a proffered ransom of 1000 dollars. But the young lady refused to return with him to her father, and sent the follow - ing message : that the Indians had disfigured her face by tattooing it accor-


V


NOTES.


ding to their fancy and ideas of beauty, and a young man of them had taken her for his wife, by whom she believed herself pregnant; that she had become reconciled to her mode of life, was well treated by her husband, and should under all these circumstances be more unhappy by returning than by re- maining where she was. She is still living in the Indian nation with her husband, by whom she has three children.


10(*) Omitted in the text. P. 67. Charlevoix's Journal, &c. Edwards's West Indies, B. 1, c. 2. & appex. Forster's Northern Voyages. Intro. Forster's Observations made during a voyage round the World. Bel -. knap's Amer. Biog. in Preliminary Dissert.


(51.) Intro. to Descrip. of Monumens in Amer.


(55.) Hist. of Mexico. Abbe C. was a native of Vera Cruz, thirty ycars resident of New-Spain, and master of the Mexican language.


(56.) Ib.


(57.) 1b.


(58.) They are the authors of " Le Philosophe Douceur," a miserable Ettle performance, as is observed in a note in Clavigcro's ITist of Amer. in Dissertation. Bernard Romain's concise Hist. of East & West Florida, &c. N. Y. 1776. 12mo. Voltaire's Ouvres, tom. XVI.


(59.) Analectic Magazine.


(60.) Mithridates, order Allgemeine Sprachenkunde, &c. or the General Science of Languages, with the Lord's prayer in nearly 500. 4 vols. bound in 6 vols. octavo, Berlin, 1806-1817.


(61.) M. Portalis, Commissary of France, representing that govern- ment, (on the accession of Napoleon to the Consulate) in the Council of Prizes at Paris. Code des Prises, Tome II. cited in Wheaton on Cap- tures.


(62.) Abbe Raynal and Voltaire, in some of their works predict, that


as Rome was swallowed up in Europe, so Europe will be in America.


(63.) Pliny in Nat. Ilist. Lib. VI. Anacharsis, Vol. II.


(64.) ÆEn. Lib. VI. 735. " Jacet extra," etc.


(65.) See Herbert's Travels.


(66.) Sce Jer. Belknap's tract. Belk. Amer. Biog. Vol. I. Prel. Die. Robertson's Amer. Vol. 1. Irving's Knickerbocker, Vol. I.


(67.) 1b.


(63.) Ib. and Jenk's Antiquarian Address.


[69.) Sce Robertson's Amcr. B. I.


(70.) Voltaire's Letters on the English nation, Williams's new Obser- vations.


(71.) Ib.


(72.) Rob. Amer. B. II.


(73.) Herbert.


(74.) Dr. Mitchill.


(75.) Professor Ebeling Iist. Amer. (in German.)


(76.) Am. Biog. Vol. I. p. 56.


(77.) Ib.


(78.) And the birth of the British navy, "The Great Henry' having


NOTES,


been the first war ship built at the public expense. Soc Hume, Vol III. p. 428.


(79.) Third vol. Hume's Eng. p. 427. Some assert that Henry accept- ed the offer, and that Columbus' brother was detained on his return with an invitation for Columbus. ib. Hence England was fairly entitled, in pre- ference to Spain, to the advantages of the discovery. (Pinkerton's Collec- tions, Vol. XII. p. 158.) But Bacon says Columbus sailed before his bro- ther laid the propositions before Henry, having, on his way to England. been detained by pirates. Hist. of the reign of Henry VII. p. 18 9, Lon. 1629, by Right. Hon. Francis Lo. Verulam, Viscount of St. Albans.


(80.) Hakluyt.


(81.) Salmon in Modern Iist.


(82.) Salmon Mod. Hist. Vol. XXX. p. 392, and sec Mackluyt, Vol. III. p. 173.


(83.) Hakluyt Coll. of Voyages, &c. printed 1600, Vol. III. p. 60. Sce the biographical sketch of Hakluyt and the character of his Collections in Belknap's Amer. Biog. Vol. I. p. 403. " Hakluyt was a man of indefat- igable diligence and great integrity, much in favour of Queen Elizabeth's ministry, and largely conversant with seamen. Ile published the 1st vol. in 1589, and afterwards added two others, and reprinted the first in 1599 & 1600. He was born in Herefordshire, 1553, and died 1616, and his manu- scripts fell into the hands of Mr. Purchas. He had been Prebendary of Westminster, and lectured on Geog. in Oxford College.


(8.4.) IIakluyt, Vol. III. p. 5.


(85.) Ib.


(86.) Ilackluyt, Vol. III. p. 10.


(87.) Smith, from Entic. See Smith's New-Jersey, p. 7.


(88.) Prince, cited in Benjamin Trumbull's Plea of Connecticut, title. p. 68.


(89.) Hakluyt.


(90.) See Professor Ebeling's Hist. Amer.


(91.) The Pope's Bull is preserved by Purchas and Harris.


(92.) Account of European settlements in America, Vol. II. London. 1760.


(93. Ib.


(94.) J. Long's Voy. and Trav. p. 2. See VI. N. Amer. Review, (1. 3.) p. 49, 50.


(95.) In 1502 or 1512.


(96.) Acct. of European Sett. in Amer.


(97.) Sullivan's Hist. of the Dist. of Maine, p. 47, 48.


(98.) Abbe Raynal's Hist. of East and West Indies.


(99.) Charlevoix:, Forster, Belknap.


(100.) Hakluyt, X. N. Amer, Review, (n. s.) p. 139. Vol. 1. Belknap' Amer. Biog. 160-3.


vii


NOTES.


(101.) See Campbell's Pleasures of Hope. Robert Emmet's last, speech.


(1 02.) Herrera. Purchas. See Hugh Williamson's North Caro. p. 12, 14. Trumbull's Plea of Connecticut, title, p. 68. North Amer. Rev. p. 220.


(103.) Acct. of Europ. sett. in Amer. Vol. II.


(104.) See ib.


(105.) Coligna, according to Mezeray, but Chastillon in Acct. of Eu- rop. Sett. in Amer. See Williamson's N. Caro,


(106.) Or Gorgeus in Acct. of Europ. Sett.


(107.) Task, B. II. line 206.


(103.) Walter Scott.


(109.) B. attic's Minstrel.


(110.) Sce the Lady of the Lake, Lay of the Last Minstrel :


"Breathes then the man with soul so dead,


" Who never to himself hath said, " This is my own my native land ?" &c.


(111.) Emerald Isle, by Ch. Phillips, Esq. Sce p. 52, 59, 03. "Erin, dear by every tie," &c.


(112.) Hakluyt. Stith's Hist. Virginia.


(115.) Acct. of Europ. Sett. in Amer. Abbe Raynal's Brit. Sott. in Amer.


(114 ) Sce ib. and the Virginia Historians.


(115.) See Examination of Connecticut Claim, Phila. 1774.


(116.) Prince in Chronology, p. 4.


(117.) Hutchinson. Bloame.


(118.) Sec Abbe Raynal's Brit. Sett. in Amer. A. Holmes' Address be- fore Antiquarian Society, 1814. Trumbull's Plea, &c. p. 69. Belk. Amer. Biog. Smith's Virginia.


(118.) The right of the Governor & Co. of Connecticut to lands within their charter west of N. Y. anon, Hartford, 1773. Plea in vindication of Connecticut, title by Benj. Trumble, New Haven, 1771, p. 4. Douglass' Summary, Vol. I. p. 115. See Neil, Vol. I. Hutchinson, Vol. I.


(120.) Acct. of Europ. Sett. in Amer. Vol. II. Card. Richelieu was made prime minister 1629, Rees' Cyclo. Gen. Biog. Ilist. of France.


(121.) Ib.


(122.) Collec. of Dutch F. India Co. translated from the Dutch, Lon- don, 1703.


(123.) Receuil des Voyages, &c. Tom. I. p. 55. trans. Pink. Collec Vol. I. p. 81.


(124.) Ib. and Anquetil's Univ. Ilist. Vol. VIII. Acct. of Europ. Sett. in Amer.


(125.) Acct: of Europ. Sett. in Amer. Pinkerton in Collect. Vol. I. : p. 538, says the idea of a northern passage was suggested in England (Bris. tol) as early as 1527. We have seen that it arose in the days of the Cahot thirty years previously.


viii .


NOTES.


(126.) Purchas, Vol. IV. p. 567. I. Belk. Am. Biog. 391.


(127.) Purchas in " Parches his Pilgrimage," &c. (B. 8, c. 3, 2 6.) sar- that on this voyage " they met, as both Hudson and Ivet have testified, a mermaid in the sea, seen by Thomas Hils and Robert Rainer." In " Pur- chas his Pilgrims," (Part IV. 575, and see I. N. Y. Ilist. Coll. p. 86,) con- taining the journal of the voyage written by Hudson, is this memorandum -- "June 15, lat. 75° 2', this morning one of our company looking overboard, saw a mermaid, and calling up some of the company to see her, one more came up, and by that time she was come close to the ship side, looking carnestly on the men. A little after a sea came and overturned her. From the naval upward her back and breasts were like a woman; (as they say that saw her;) her body as big as one of us; her skin very white ; and long hair hanging down behind, of colour black. In her going down they saw her tail, which was like the tail of a porpoise, and speckled like a mackerel. Their names that saw her were Thomas Hilles and Robert Rayner."


Whether the superstition of seamen in those days might not tranform in fancy a sea otter into a mermaid, may be a question.


But it is singular that two years after in the island of St. Johns a simi- Jar creature was said to have been seen. The account of her was circum- stautially minute, and is given in a very old and scarce book in the N. Y. Ilist. Library. It is in the conclusion of " A Discourse and Discovery of Newfoundland," by Captain Richard Whitbowne, London, 1622. See also Voyages to New England, London, 1674, and Holley & Bigelow's Amer. Month. Magazine. Vol. II. p. 48.


(128.) That Hudson was in the Dutch East India service, and discover- ed in 1609, see Prince in Chronology, P. I. p. 23, who cites Harris. Pro- fessor Ebeling in Hist, of Amer. (viz. N. Y.) in ch. I. speaks of writers who were almost contemporancous, who declare this. Chalmers in Polit. Annals (p. 595,) says historians have disregarded the only satisfactory evidence -- but though the discovery was under the Dutch, he doubts whether the states were admitted into the community of nations, or so far recognised as inde- pendent, as to derive title by the discovery. See Post. See Belk. Amer. Biog. Vol. I. p. 396-7. Bosman's Maryland, so Biog Brit. art. Hudson. Charlevoix, Forster, and others affirm he was in employ of Dutch. I. Holmes' Amer. Annals, 137 n. Vol. V, Aikin's, Morgan's and Johnson's Gen. Biog.


(120.) Oldmixon, (author of British Empire in America,) one whome Smith cites, was the the weakest, most idle, and erroneous of historians. See his gross and palpable blunders pointed out in Stith's Virginia, p. 33, 112. Col. Beverly's Hist of Virg. (Lond. 1722,) in preface. Belk. Am. Biog. art. Hudson.


(130.) De Laet. Nieuw Wereldt. In the translation of portions of De Lact's work we have been assisted by the Rev. John B. Romeyn of N. Y, and those of Vander Donk's by Mr. Peter D. Vroom, of Raritan.


.


.. ..


... ...


ix


NOTES.


1


(131.) Thomson's Seasons.


Yagesho. Indian tradition. The following are the Indian accounts of a remarkable, strange, and ferocious animal (or beast) which the natives say existed in the northern parts of New-York about two centuries ago; and the manner in which it was conquered and killed .* The Jagisho (the Indian name of the animal as it is pronounced in German) or Yagesho, (as it would sound after the English pronunciation,) was an animal much superior to the largest bear, remarkably long-bodied, broad down by its shoulders, but thin or narrow just at its hind legs, (or where the body terminated.) It had a large head and fearful look. Its legs were short and thick. Its paws (to the toes of which were nails or claws, nearly as long as an Indian's finger) spread very wide. It was almost bare of hair, except the head and on the hinder parts of its legs, in which places the hair was very long. For this reason the Indians gave it the name of " Naked Bear." Several of these animals had been destroyed by the Indians, but the one of which the follow- ing account is given, had escaped them, and for years had from time to time destroyed many Indians, particularly women and children when they were out in the woods gathering nuts, digging roots, or at work in the fields. Hunters, when overtaken by this animal. had no way of escaping, except where a river or lake was at hand, by plunging into the same, and swim- ming out or down the stream to a great distance. When this was the case, and the beast was not able to pursue further, then he would set up such a roaring noise, that every Indian hearing it would tremble. This animal preyed on every beast it could lay hold of. It would catch and kill the lar- gest bears, and devour them. While bears were plenty, the Indians had not so much to dread from him, but that when this was not the case, it would run about the woods, searching for the track or scent of hunters, and follow them up. The women were so afraid of going out to work, that the men assembled to deliberate on the manner (or plan) of killing him. At or near a lake* whence the water flowed two ways (or has two different outlets,) one on the northerly and the other on the southerly end,f this beast had its residence, of which the Indians were well informed. A reso- lute party, well provided with bows, arrows, and spears, made toward the lake. On a high perpendicular rock they stationed themselves, climbing up this rock by means of Indian ladders, and then drawing these after them. After being well fixed, and having taken up a number of stones, they began to imitate the voices and cries of the various beasts of the woods, and even that of children, in order to decoy him thither. Having spent some days without success, a detached party took a stroll to some distance from the rock. Before they had reached the rock again this beast had got the scent. of them, and was in full pursuit of them, yet they reached the rock before he arrived. When he came to the rock he was in great anger, sprung


* S. of Mr. Heckewelder. dated 1801.


i This lake they called ." Hcossink." ( Hoss is a kettle ; Hoossink, at the ke !!!!. ). VOL. I. B


1.


NOTES.


against the same with his mouth wide open, grimming and seizing the same as if he would tear it to pieces. He had several times sprung nearly up. During all this time numbers of arrows and stones were discharged at hin . and until he dropped down and expired. His head being cut off, it was car- ried in triumph to their village (or settlement) on the North River, and there set up on a pole for view ; and the report spreading among the neigh- bouring tribes, numbers came to view the same, and to exalt the victoriou . for this warlike deed. The Mahicanni claim the honour of this act.


(132.) The authorities upon which this story rests, and upon which we rely, are Purchas, Forster, Pinkerton, (in Collec.,) Belknap, (in Biog.) Hudson himself, (so far as his abstract goes,) Abacuck Pricket's narrative. (one of the survivers,) and Thomas Wydouze, (one of those that shared Hudson's fate, but whose brief account was found in his desk,) and some other authorities. The last three are reprinted in Vol. I. of N. Y. Ilist. Coll. p. 146 to 169. Purchas derived part of his account from the MISS. of Hakluyt from the information of Diggs, one of the company who engaged Hudson, Forster, in part from Pricket, partly from Fox, a contemporary of the latter, &c. All the accounts are compared and arranged in a man- ner which aims to preserve the verity; connexion, and interest of the story. (133.) Purchas his Pilgrimage, &c. B. VIII. c. 3, 96. Aikin's, Mor- gan's, and Johnson's Gen. Biog. Vol. V.


(134.) Hudson's Journal.


(135.) Purchas' ib.


(136.) Wydouse's note dated at Iceland, May 30, 1610. He was the mathematician who accompanied Hudson and shared his fate.


(137.) Sceib.


(138.) Pricket. Purchas. Wydouse


(139.) Wydouse.


(140.) Pricket. Hudson's Journal.


(141.) Says Pricket. an eye-witness.


(142.) Some were of one mind, some of another. Some " wished theni- selves at home," others not caring where, so that they were out of the ice." There was one who told the master that "if hee had an hundred pounds, her would give four-score and ten to be at home ; " but the carpenter made an- swer that " if he had an hundred, he would not give ten upon any such con- dition, but would thinke it to be as good money as ever he had any, and to bring it as well home, by the leave of God." ---- Pricket.


(143.) According to his journal, but " Nova Britannia" was the name which Aikin, Morgan, and Johnson, (in Gen. Biog. Vol. V.) say was given to the coast of Labrador.


(144.) Pricket.


(145.) Ib.


(146.) Viz. Thomas Wydhouse.


(147.) Dr. Forster says the young shoots, called in America tro bude of the spruce fir, ( Pimus Mariana and Pinus Canadensis) are also med:


xi


NOTES.


for the seurvy. Purchas, speaking of the supposed Tacamahaca tree, says, " the tree blossomed in December, with leaves greene and yellow of an aro- maticall savour, and being boy led, yeelded an oyly substance, which proved an excellent salve, and the decoction being drunke, proved a wholesome potion, whereby they were cured of scorbute, sciaticas, cramps, convulsions, and other diseases, which the coldnesse of the clymates bred in them."


(143.) This man's name was Colburn.


(149.) If we are to give credit to Pricket, " for the devil (says he) out of this so wrought with Green, that hee did the master what mischiefe hec could in seeking to discredit him, and to thrust him and many other honest men out of the ship in the end."


(150.) Which Forster thinks was a kind of tang, or rock-weed, perhaps the Fucus Saccharinus.


(151.) One .Abacuck Pricket (a servant of Sir Dudley Diggs, whom the mutineers had saved, in hope to procure his master to worke their pardon,) was left to keepe the shallop, where he sate in a gowne, sicke and lame, at the sterne, upon whom, at the instant of the ambush, the leader of all the savages leapt from a rocke, and with a strange kinde of weapon, (such as they use in Java) indented, broad, and sharpe, of bright steele, riv- eted into a handle of moose tooth, gave him divers cruell wounds, before he could from under his gowne draw a small Scottish dagger, wherewith at one thrust into his side, hee killed this savage, and brought him off with the boate." --- Purchas.


(152.) Purchas.


(153.) John Weymouth.


(154.) Capt. Taylor.


(155.) The statement of Habakuk Pricket that Hudson's ship had been heaved off Digg's Island by a high tide from the westward, induced a belief that in the western coast of Hudson's Bay there was a strait through which the tide came. Humanity demandd that if the unfortunate Hudson and his companions were alive, they should be rescued from the dreadful state of misery into which they had been plunged by the most hardened of vil- lains. The society, therefore, fitted two ships, named the Resolution and the Discovery,* (the latter being the one Hudson commanded. Habakuk Pricket was in this expedition. . They reached Diggs's Island, staid eight days, wintered in the Bay, made discoveries, and gave names to several islands, and returned to England in the Autumn of 1613, without effecting either object of their search. (Forster, 344-7.


The Discovery performed five voyages to the north, the two last in 1615 and 1616, were under the command of Robert Bylot, who was one of the survivers of Hudson, and were all under the same society, composed of Smith, Diggs, Wolstenhome, Alderman Jones, and others. The ill succes; of these voyages discouraged this enterprising society, and for a long tins extinguished the British spirit of northern adventure.


* The very games also of Cook" ships in his last unfortunate voyage.


Nieuw Nederlandt.


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"This View of War Lauter'nin on the Hackation as agasit fern a mover " covered war elitiment the Bort as evoted en Hits , but finished nije the wire cours


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( Redword from the ancient Parchment Map of that Citany . )


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-


18-


4


HISTORY


OF THE


STATE OF NEW-YORK.


BY JOSEPHI W. MOULTON.


PART II.


NOVUM BELGIUM.


NEW-YORK :


PUBLISHED BY E. BLISS & E. WHITE. 1896.


J. Seymour, Printer, 49 John-street, New York.


-


Southern District of New-York, ss.


E IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-seventh day of May, 1826, in the fiftieth B year of the Independence of the United States of America, Joseph W. Moulton, of the said District, has deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as author and proprietor, in the words following, to nit :


" History of the State of New-York. By Joseph W. Moulton. Part II. Novum Bel- gium."


In conformity to the Act of Congress of the United States, entitled, "An Act for the en- couragement 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 Leara- ing, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies. during the times thereio mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."


JAMES DILL, Clerk of the Southern District of Nem Forb.


ADVERTISEMENT TO PART II.


Tmis part is presented as a sample, and as strictly the commencement of the historical work. It must not, however, be expected to contain that intimate view of society, nor to excite that intense interest in its progress, which will characterise some future numbers. The period to which this refers, was anterior to the recorded transactions of the Dutch. The first thirty years of the colony, or from the discovery in 1609 to the close of Van Twiller's Administration in 1638, is emphatically the dark era of our his- tory. But the author has ventured to explore this terra incognita ; and the intelligent reader will probably not be surprised, that so little has been brought to light, but that by any process of unwearied and elaborate in- vestigation, it was possible to present a connected and consistent narrative of the rise and progress of the colony in its infancy. This, however, has been done, or at least attempted.


The embryo speck of the city of New-York and its first regulated com- merce, are here exhibited. The contrast between the amount of exports and imports one hundred and ninety-three years ago, and those of the pre- sent day, will afford pleasure, as a subject of curiosity. But the enlight- ened merchant will look a little further. He will see commerce as it then was, fettered by an armed monopoly. He will now behold it in all its might and energy, sweeping over the globe, and returning its treasures to reward unrestricted enterprise and adventure. He will reflect upon the incalculable advantages of a free trade; and will perceive that hence has arisen an example of improvement, perhaps, unrivalled in the history of the world -- that of the little Dorp or village of New Amster- dam, becoming the commercial mistress of the ascendant on the continent of America, and as such, the pride of twenty-four free, populous, and flou- risbing republican states !




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