158 Mr. Butler's Discourse. 



is not to be expected from the continuation of Mr. Moulton's 

 labors, even if he should be encouraged to renew them. His 

 plan, to be completely executed by one man, would require 

 the labor of a life-time ; and so far as it has been presented to 

 the public, it does not appear to have secured their approba- 

 tion. The minuteness of his details, although in many res- 

 pects highly interesting, are tedious to general readers ; whilst 

 his frequent digressions — his desire to communicate informa- 

 tion on every kindred topic, though its connexion with his 

 subject be ever so remote — his numerous reflections, retros- 

 pects and anticipations, interrupt the thread of his narrative, 

 fatigue the attention, and offend the taste. But in express- 

 ing with frankness this opinion of his work, I cannot withhold 

 the tribute of admiration so eminently due him, for the zeal, 

 disinterestedness and courage, which have characterized his 

 labors. He informs us in his preface to the second part, that 

 he had devoted two years to the portions of the work then 

 published ; " that he had spared no expense or exertion, in 

 personally collecting original materials from the societies of 

 several cities — from individuals, and through a friend in Eu- 

 rope, from the manuscripts of the royal library of Paris." 

 And though he adds that he " had not realized a public pa- 

 tronage sufficient to remunerate the cost of printing," a result 

 " which might have dismayed the timid, and which certainly 

 would have alarmed the selfish," he assures us, " that as no 

 mercenary motives had prompted the undertaking, so no mo- 

 derate sacrifices shall prevent its accomplishment." A spirit 

 like this, though it may fail of success, is yet entitled to hom- 

 age and esteem. (2) 



During the last year, Mr. James Macauley of Herkimer 

 county, has presented to the public the " Natural, statistical 

 and civil history of the state of New- York," in three octavo 

 volumes. It was published by subscription, and as the au- 

 thor's proposals were accompanied with letters of commenda- 

 tion from several distinguished and scientific gentlemen, he 

 obtained a liberal patronage. The first volume treats, at 

 length, of the extent of the state ; its physical geography, and 

 more especially its waters and canals ; its geology, climate 



