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New York Historical Society.
[Dec., 1843

transmit them to the New York Historical Puritans. Society, they will honor themselves by so doing, and will assist the work of prepar ing a complete map of the State in ith the nomenclature of the aborigines. “Each passing year calls away some grey-haired settler of the forest, in whose memory alone live the beautifully eupho nious or harshly guttural sounds, by which the red men called the spots for which most inappropriate names have since been stolen from the cities of the ancient world, or by which they designated the silvery lakes and gentle rivulets, now known by titles so classic as ‘ yellow creek,’ or ‘ big muddy.’ It was suggested that a circular addressed to the corres

ponding members in thedifl'erent counties, and to the Postmasters in every village, re questing prompt replies to interrogatories on the subject, would probably be an easy and effectual method of securing the ob jects of the committee.” On motion of Mr. Jay, Mr. Stone was added to their number. On motion of the same gentleman, a committee was appointed to consider and report to the Society at their next meeting upon the expediency of addressing a cir~ cular letter to the corresponding members already elected and to be hereafter elected within this State, requesting them to or ganize in their respective counties branch associations auxiliary to the New-York Historical Society. Messrs. Jay, Stone, and Bartlett were appointed such com

mittee. On motion of Mr. Stone, a committee was appointed in reference to the papers of Governor George Clinton, consisting of Messrs. Wetmore, De Peyster, and

Beekman. On motion of Mr. Jay, it was resolved that Mr. Charles F. Hoffman he request ed to furnish the secretary, for publication, with a copy of the lecture entitled “ Leisler, or the Man of the People,” de

And many intelligent persons at the present day labor under this same mistake. Mr. Hoffman, without the slightest detraction from the fame of the Pilgrim Fathers, vindicates thejust claims of our owa ancestors. He shows that Holland was the parent ofNew-Y ork ; and that that country had been successively the asylum of those who tied for religion’s sake from England, Scotland, France, and Germany—that the free interchange of opinion among the refugees bad awaken ed a love of freedom and spirit of resist ance to oppression unknown in the neigh boring states of Europe—that the emi grants to New York were chiefly from the ports 0 Holland—that they spoke her language, interniarried with her children, and brought with them associations of Dutch valor and Dutch honesty. Mr. Stone seconded the n otion for other reasons than those mentioned by the mover, although he, too, was in favor of giving to the “ Niew Nederlandters,” and the Huguenot settlers at Paltz and New Rochelle their due meed of honorable re membrance for the excellent traits trans mitted to their descendants. But the lee ture of Mr. Hoffman was particularly valuable for the portraiture of Leisler, who acted a worthy part, and whose mur der was most unjustifiable. The Executive Committee recommended an order, which was accordingly made, that the library be open for visitors till further order, from 10 to 2 o’clock, every day, and from 7 to 9 o‘clock in the evening. The chairman announced that, owing to some mistake, the Winter arrange ments had not yet been completed; but that at the subsequent meetings the usual refreshments would await the members at the conclusion of the evening—and the Society then adjourned)

The Executive Committee have made

arrangements for a continuous series of livered before the New-York Historical interesting historical papers. Among the Society, February, 1843 gentlemen who will thus favor the Society, The mover said that it had been thought are Mr. Gulian C Verplanck, Mr. Stone, that the publication of this eloquent and Mr. Benjamin F. Butler, and Mr. John interesting paper might be useful in cor Duer. ' recting some opinions, entirely erroneous, At the December meeting to be held on which have unfortunately gained ground Tuesday evening, the 4th instant, Dr. among us during the last few years, in re Bacon will conclude a sketch of the lation to the sources whence the New African Tribes—and Mr. HOFFMAN will Yorkers derived those prominent traits of read his promised paper on the Customs, energy, resolution and honesty of purpose Manners and Costume of the Anglo which were so conspicuously displayed American Colonists previous to the Revo during the Revolution. Mr. Bancroft, lution. Reports also may be expected the eloquent and ingenious historian, has from the several committees on “ Indian been prejudiced with the idea that our Names”—-the new volume of Historical Fathers obtained all the virtues they pos Collections—the proposed organization of' sessed from New-England, and that their Branch Associations—and the recovery very excellence could be traced to the of the Clinton Papers.