1 62 



These are small things, but thev enter into the elements of 

 history, and might easily have been stated with perfect accu- 

 racy. (3) 



I might point out many other errors equally unpardonable : 

 but I am persuaded that the topic would soon become tire- 

 some. My apology for dwelling upon it at all, must be found 

 in the fact, that this work has gone abroad, throughout the 

 union and to foreign nations ; and that as the ill-judged letters 

 of commendation which accompanied the proposals, are pre- 

 fixed to it, there is reason to apprehend, that it may be re- 

 ceived by many of its readers, as an authentic record of un- 

 doubted facts. As such it has been quoted abroad, and in some 

 of our sister states. In the last number of Silliman's journal 

 of science and arts, it is said by a correspondent, to be u a val- 

 uable, though not a very agreeable book ;" and we are told 

 that " whoever will persevere in the labor of reading it, will 

 obtain a thorough knowledge of the origin and settlement of 

 the state, of its progress in population and government, and 

 of its aspects and resources." It is sufficiently mortifying to 

 the pride of a New-Yorker, that a work so erroneous and im- 

 perfect, should be circulated among those, whose every-day 

 knowledge enables them to discover most of its defects, and 

 to avoid being misled by them ; still more so, that it should 

 be read and quoted by strangers, as an accurate exhibition of 

 the progress and condition of our state. 



I turn with pleasure from the errors of Mr. Macauley to 

 the unpretending summary prepared by Mr. F. J. Eastman, 

 for Hie nse of scbools. This little volume is invgerieral well 

 adapted to the purpose for which it was intended, and de- 

 serves a more extensive patronage than it appears to have re- 

 ceived. 



It must be admitted, that the results to which we are led 

 hy this brief review of the several works devoted to the gen- 

 eral history of our state, are neither satisfactory nor encourage 

 ing. There seems to have been, on the part of our best wri- 

 ters, f ft decided reluctance to encounter this task ; arising, 

 pKobably, from an apprehension that its execution would im- 

 pose on those who should undertake it, a degree of labor and 



(3) See Note 3. 



