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edge within the sphere of our pursuits, will not be entirely 

 overlooked. 



In establishing a department, which, in connexion with 

 general history and literature, is specially devoted to the 

 collection and preservation of materials calculated to eluci- 

 date the history of our own state, we have but followed the 

 promptings of a feeling natural to our race, and when proper- 

 ly directed, innocent in its character and useful in its results. 

 Institutions of this sort are common in our country ; and one 

 has long been in existence in this state, whose efforts it will 

 be our highest honor to imitate and to second. It will readi- 

 ly occur to you, that I allude to the New- York historical so- 

 ciety. This valuable association dates as far back as 1804 ; 

 since which it has twice received, and more than twice de- 

 served, the liberal patronage of the legislature. The anni- 

 versary discourses of its presidents and other officers, are 

 among the most creditable specimens of American literature ; 

 its library, which consists of eight thousand volumes, is ex- 

 ceedingly rich in w r orks relating to this country ; and it has 

 collected a great number of newspapers, manuscripts and oth- 

 er documents, illustrative of the colonial and revolutionary 

 history of the state and union. In addition to the valuable 

 collections of this spirited society, we have in the secretary's 

 office, besides the minutes of the colonial council and other or- 

 dinary matters, twenty-four volumes of Dutch records, recently 

 translated pursuant to an act of the legislature, by the learn- 

 ed Vanderkemp, and furnishing authentic materials for the 

 history of the internal affairs of the colony of New Nether- 

 lands from 1638, (the date at which they commence,) until 

 its surrender to the English ; and also, forty-five volumes of 

 original documents, connected with the revolutionary war, 

 which not only shed much light on the share borne by New- 

 York in that memorable contest, but are, in other respects, 

 deeply interesting. 



But though we have abundant materials for the purpose, 

 it is yet to be regretted that they have not been applied to the 

 composition of any work, w T hich possesses the requisites, or 

 deserves the name, of a complete history of New- York. 



The original work of our provincial historian, William 

 Smith, gives us a clear and unostentatious account of the his- 



