42 



love of freedom; the triumph over oppression; the esta- 

 blishment of a republican Government, and the subse- 

 quent 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 en- 

 lightened liberality of Congress, has been collected by 

 Mr. Force, of this city, through whose zeal and un- 

 tiring industry every document of a publick nature has 

 been collected which tended to prepare and carry on 

 that revolution, and he is gathering together every inte- 

 resting material calculated to illustrate this great event ; 

 while the luminous pages of Mr. Bancroft contain al- 

 ready 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 appeared, in pro- 

 found research, in brilliancy and beauty of style, and 

 in every quality which can interest and gratify the his- 

 torian, and secure his confidence in its truth and faith- 

 fulness. Both of these gentlemen, I 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 dis- 

 posessed. We are only the settlers of this continent. 

 Who are, and whence came its aborigines ? The In- 

 dian race, now fading from the earth ; their mounds 

 and pyramids, and temples and ruined cities; their 



