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District of New-York, ss.

L. S.

BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the twenty-seventh day of May, in the thirtyeighth year of the independence of the United States of America, David Hosack, John Pintard, and John W. Francis, of the said District, have deposited in this Office the title of a Book, the right whereof they claim as Proprietors, in the words and figures following, to wit;

Collections of the New-York Historical Society, for the year 1814. Volume II. Hæc "olim meminisse juvabit."

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books to the Authors and proprietors, of such copies during the times therein mentioned." And also to an Act, entitled, An Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled. An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books to the Authors and Proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other Prints." THERON RUDD,

Clerk of the District Court for the District of New-York.

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PREFACE.

CIRCUMSTANCES, not within control, have retarded the appearance of this second volume of the Collections of the New-York Historical Society. The publication of the Anniversary Discourses, which have been regularly delivered before the Society, renders the present volume less miscellaneous than what the future will be. The Society possesses ample resources, as well in manuscript as print, extremely rare and interesting, the publication of which must depend on that patronage which these Collections may receive. With the growing taste for literature and science, so rapidly advancing in the United States, it is reasonably expected that a laudable curiosity will be directed towards the study of our national history, and that liberal encouragement will be extended to invigorate the efforts of the Society in rescuing from oblivion documents, which must constitute the materials for the use of the future historian. Of such is the narrative of De La Salle's expedition and discoveries, by the Chevalier Tonti, translated and published in London in 1698: A very scarce work, and which furnishes the best account extant of the fate of this enterprising but unfortunate discoverer. De La Salle was the first European who, towards the close of the seventeenth century, by pursuing the course of the St. Lawrence and the lakes, descended the waters of the Mississippi to their discharge into the gulf of Mexico, where he arrived on the seventh of April, 1683. The particulars of this voyage, though partaking of the narrator's embellish

ments, appear to be accurately described. The catastrophe that befel this bold adventurer has always excited peculiar interest. The extract of a manuscript "translation of the History of New Sweed Land, in America, written in Sweed by Thomas Campanius Holm, and printed at Stockholm in 1702," was communicated to the Society by James Mease, of Philadelphia, M. D. F. A. P. S. an honorary member. The greatest fidelity has been observed in preserving the orthography and proper names of the MS. the contents of which impart considerable information respecting this shortlived colony and its reduction by our Dutch forefathers under Governor Stuyvesant.

The Catalogue of our Library has been annexed to this volume in order to defray, at the smallest possible expense, the charges of its publication. To the Rev. Mr. Timothy Alden, a worthy honorary member, but a transient visitor to this city, the Society is essentially indebted for his laborious services and assiduity in preparing this important work, which may be recommended as a model for all similar com. pilations. Since its publication considerable additions and liberal contributions have been made to the Library, of which a supplementary catalogue shall hereafter be given.

The perpetuity of this Society has been secured by the generous patronage of the Legislature of this State, who have endowed it with a grant of twelve thousand dollars. The munificent appropriations towards the encouragement and support of science and literature made by this enlightened body, during its last session, redound as much to the honour, as it must promote the best interests of this state. These beneficent grants merit particular enumeration.

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