might be deemed best for the interest of the Society and the insuring an extensive circulation. In accordance with these instructions, the Executive Committee caused the first part of the present volume to be published in 1848, which is now completed by he publication of the second. It is believed that there is no State in the Union, for the illustration of whose history, richer materials have been gathered, than the State of New York-indeed, it is a matter of no slight difficulty to select, from so much that is interesting and important. It will be observed that the principal portion of the present volume, like the preceding, is devoted to the history of New Netherland; and we may congratulate ourselves that this period so long regarded as obscure, dry and uninteresting, is likely to prove, in our present lights, one of the most interesting and instructive. The influences which can be traced, as flowing from these primitive fountains, through the subsequent periods of our history, modifying institutions, character and manners, have a value in the eyes of the historical student, which is not lessened by the obscurity in which they are generally involved: and the committee congratulate themselves and the Society, that, while they are not forgetful of the general objects of their association, they are enabled to point with becoming pride to their successful endeavors to rescue the fast perishing memorials of the earliest history of the commonwealth, whose position, character and influence, have alike contributed to make her the EMPIRE STATE. JUNE: 1849. CONTENTS. I. Outline of the Constitutional History of New York, (Anniversary Address, 1847.) By BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BUTLER, II. Memoir, on Names, read before the Society, December 31, 1816. III. Narrative of the Expedition of the Marquis de Nonville against the Senecas, in 1687, translated from the French, with an introductory notice and notes. By ORSAMUS H. Marshall, IV. Correspondence between Lieut. Gov. Cadwallader Colden and William Smith, Jr., the Historian, respecting certain alleged errors, and misstatements in the History of New York, &c. V. Letter from EDMUND BURKE, respecting the effect of the Quebec Bill upon the Boundary of New York, VI. Remarks upon the British Expedition to Danbury, in 1777, as narrated in chap. ii. vol. iii. of Marshall's Life of Washing- ton. By ELISHA D. WHITTLESEY, . VII. New York in 1692. By CHARLES LODWICK, VIII. The Representation of New Netherland, concerning its Loca- tion, Productiveness and Poor Condition. Translated from the Dutch, with Explanatory Notes, by HENRY C. MURPHY, IX. New Netherland in 1627 Letter from Isaack de Rasieres to Samuel Blommaert, found in the Royal Library at the Hague, and transmitted by Dr. M. F. A. G. CAMPBELL to the N. Y. XI. Hudson's Voyage in 1609. Extract from "Verhael van de eerste Schip-vaert der Hollandsche ende Zeenshe Schepen door't Way-Gat by Noorden Noorwegen, Moscovien, ende Tartarien om, na de Coninckrychen Cathay ende China: &c. &c. 't Amsterdam, voor Joost Hartgers, &c., 1648, in 40" Transmitted to the New York Historical Society, by Dr. M. XII. Extracts from De Laet and Aitzema, relating to New Nether- land. Translated by J. ROMEYN BRODHEAD and THOMAS DE XIII. History of the Chamber of Commerce, with Notices of some of OF THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ELECTED JANUARY, 1849. PRESIDENT, ALBERT GALLATIN, LL. D. FIRST VICE PRESIDENT, SECOND VICE PRESIDENT, THOMAS DE WITT, D. D. FOREIGN CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, JOHN RUSSELL BARTLETT. DOMESTIC CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, JAMES WILLIAM BEEKMAN. RECORDING SECRETARY, TREASURER, WILLIAM CHAUNCEY. LIBRARIAN, JACOB BAILEY MOORE. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. WILLIAM W. CAMPBELL, CHAIRMAN. EDWARD ROBINSON, D. D. FREDERIC DE PEYSTER, AUGUSTUS SCHELL, MARSHALL S. BIDWELL, BENJAMIN H. FIELD, GEORGE H. MOORE, SECRETARY. The officers of the Society are members, ex officio, of the Executive Committee. The Rooms of the NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY are in the University Building, and are open daily, exclusively to members, and strangers who may be introduced by members. Stated meetings of the Society are held on the first Tuesday evening of every month, excepting July, August, and September. The Library now contains about 12,000 printed volumes, several thousand pamphlets, 1500 volumes of Newspapers, 2000 Maps and Charts, nearly 15,000 Manuscripts, and a valuable cabinet of coins, medals, busts, portraits and curiosities. The Society has published seven volumes of Collections, and six volumes of its Proceedings, for the years 1843, '44, '45, '46, '47 and '48. |