Mr. Butlers Discourse. 



of learning in general, are deeply indebted. Whatever im- 

 perfections may be discovered in bis works, they embrace a 

 body of authentic information not elsewhere to be found, and 

 furnish incontestible evidence of a literary zeal greatly in ad- 

 vance of the times in which he lived. To his historical nar- 

 rative, he annexed, " a description of the country, with a 

 short account of the inhabitants, their religious and political 

 state, and the constitution of the courts of justice." This 

 summary, which is perhaps the most valuable part of his ori- 

 ginal work, furnishes a succinct but interesting view of the 

 state of the colony, as it existed at the date of his publication. (1) 

 In 1814, an edition of Smith's history was published in 

 this city, with a continuation from 1732 to 1747, published 

 anonymously, but generally understood to have been written 

 by Mr. J. V. N. Yates. This was evidently a hasty perform- 

 ance ; but it appears to have been compiled from authentic 

 sources, and is written in a style so lively and agreeable, that 

 we cannot but regret its abrupt termination. 



Much labor has recently been bestowed on our early colo- 

 nial history, by a gentleman whose efforts are entitled to the 

 highest praise, and whose industry and zeal may properly be 

 held up as models for imitation. I allude to that portion of 

 the " History of New- York, including its aboriginal and co- 

 lonial annals," by Mr. Joseph W. Moulton, which has been 

 given to the public. 



Mr. Moulton's plan was at once comprehensive and mi- 

 nute. He proposed, after a full examination of our aborigi- 

 nal annals, " to mark the migration, first settlement, gradual 

 increase in population and resources of our people ; to delin- 

 eate their manners, customs, habits and employments ; to de- 

 velope' their genius, and embody the spirit of the times ; to 

 trace the progress of arts, manufactures, commerce, agricul- 

 ture, literature, science, and the legal code, during their se- 

 parate stages of advancement and improvement ; to hold up 

 for emulation all that has been illustrious in character and pol- 

 icy, and for censure, all that shall have appeared deserving 

 public reprobation ; to follow the vicissitudes and revolutions 

 of the state, signalizing those which have had a permanent 

 influence upon its prosperity, and examining particularly the 



