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volve upon the department of American History and Antiquities are essentially 

 different from those required in any other quarter of the globe. While in the 

 early history of those nations, the historian, compelled to grope his way through a 

 labyrinth of barbarism, ignorance, and ficlion, is bewildered in his search after 

 truth, the light of science, dawning upon the whole course of American History, 

 points out to the careful investigator a safe and illumined path from the great new 

 continent in the South, back to the island of St. Salvador. 



" The discovery of our continent ; its first settlements ; the growth of the colo- 

 nists in intelligence, wealth, and love of freedom; the triumph over oppression; 

 the establishment of a republican Government, and the subsequent proof of its 

 happy adaptation to the wants of man, are all subjects peculiar to the history of 

 our own, nation, and are now being illustrated and treated with equal industry 

 and ability, and by master hands. The documentary history of that Revolution 

 which secured to us and to our posterity the blessings of civil and religious liberty, 

 now being published through the enlightened liberality of Congress, has been col. 

 lected by Mr. Fghcb, of this city, through whose zeal and untiring industry every 

 document of a public nature has been collected which tended to prepare and carry 

 on that Revolution, and he is gathering together every interesting material calcu- 

 lated to illustrate this great event; while the luminous pages of Mr. Bancroft con- 

 tain already an admirable account of the early settlement and colonial history of 

 our country, and give promise of a work far surpassing any other that has appear- 

 ed, in profound research, in brilliancy and beauty of style, and in every quality 

 which can interest and gratify the historian, and secure liis confidence in its truth 

 and faithfulness. Both of these gentlemen, 1 am happy to say, are members of 

 our Institution. 



»« It will be our province to aid the Societies already formed in the United States 

 in collecting and preserving such materials as may develop and substantiate the 

 truth of the events of our history ; and especially will it be our duty to inquire into 

 that of the people we have dispossessed. We are only the settlers of this conti- 

 nent. Who are, and whence came its aborigines 1 The Indian race, now fading 

 from the earth ; their mounds and pyramids, and temples and ruined cities; their 

 various revolutions and states of society, have long been subjects of investigation, 

 and to assist in tracing thi.s mysterious people from their present degraded condi- 

 tion up, through days of glory, to their origin, is a duly that belongs to the de- 

 partment of American History and Antiquities. Fortunately for our infant Insti- 

 tution this department is well composed and well organized. An association of 

 individuals devoted to historical researches, with enlightened liberality, joined the 

 Institution upon its formation, and transferred to it their books, and the valuable 

 records of their transactions. They have since continued their labors under the 

 auspices of this association, and from the industry and intelligence which have hith 

 erto marked their investigations, there is reason to calculate upon results eminent- 

 ly useful to the public and honorable to the institution. These investigations will 

 be essentially aided by the historical researches now making by a very able and 

 distinguished American writer, (if I am rightly informed,) into the records of our 

 ei«ter repuMic of Mexico." 



