ART. XX. Discourse delivered before the ALbany Institute, at its first Anniversary after its Incorporation by the Legislature, April 23d, 1830. By BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, one of the Members of the Third Department.*

In addressing you on this first anniversary of our complete organization as an incorporated Society, it certainly is natural, and it seems to be appropriate, to invite your attention to a general survey of the objects of our association, the means by which they are to be accomplished, and the motives which should prompt us to vigorous and permanent exertion.

Established at the center of an extensive and most interesting territory, with all parts of which it enjoys great facilities of communication, and including within the range of its enquiries every useful art, and the whole circle of the sciences, it is the high purpose of the ALBANY INSTITUTE, to promote useful improvements—to diffuse the blessings of science and general knowledge-to foster sound learning and a correct literary taste-to develope the resources, to increase the wealth, and to elevate the character of the state. The dignity and importance of the labors to which we are thus pledged, are doubtless fully appreciated by those whom I address; but it is obvious that the subjects to which those labors are to be applied, cannot too frequently be presented to our contemplation-for it is only in this way, that men laboriously employed in their respective callings, can be stimulated to those exertions, which, in enterprises like ours, are indispensable to

success.

In noticing the various topics connected with the duties of our several departments, my position in the Institute will justify me in commencing with those which belong to History and General Literature, and in making them the principal theme of my remarks; though the other branches of knowl

This discourse having been pronounced in the presence of a numerous assemblage of ladies and gentlemen who honored the Institute by their attendance, several passages were omitted in its delivery, for the purpose of reducing it within the limits usually assigned to such occasions. This course, however, has not been adhered to in the present publication. In addition also to occasional emendations, the discourse has been somewhat extended in a few instances, in which it was supposed that a particular topic could receive further elucidation by a slight enlargement; and with the like view, several notes have been added, which it is hoped will not be unacceptable to the reader.

edge within the sphere of our pursuits, will not be entirely overlooked.

In establishing a department, which, in connexion with general history and literature, is specially devoted to the collection and preservation of materials calculated to elucidate the history of our own state, we have but followed the promptings of a feeling natural to our race, and when properly directed, innocent in its character and useful in its results. Institutions of this sort are common in our country; and one has long been in existence in this state, whose efforts it will be our highest honor to imitate and to second. It will readily occur to you, that I allude to the New-York historical society. This valuable association dates as far back as 1804; since which it has twice received, and more than twice deserved, the liberal patronage of the legislature. The anniversary discourses of its presidents and other officers, are among the most creditable specimens of American literature ; its library, which consists of eight thousand volumes, is exceedingly rich in works relating to this country; and it has collected a great number of newspapers, manuscripts and other documents, illustrative of the colonial and revolutionary history of the state and union. In addition to the valuable collections of this spirited society, we have in the secretary's office, besides the minutes of the colonial council and other ordinary matters, twenty-four yolumes of Dutch records, recently translated pursuant to an act of the legislature, by the learned Vanderkemp, and furnishing authentic materials for the history of the internal affairs of the colony of New Netherlands from 1638, (the date at which they commence,) until its surrender to the English; and also, forty-five volumes of original documents, connected with the revolutionary war, which not only shed much light on the share borne by NewYork in that memorable contest, but are, in other respects, deeply interesting.

But though we have abundant materials for the purpose, it is yet to be regretted that they have not been applied to the composition of any work, which possesses the requisites, or deserves the name, of a complete history of New-York.

The original work of our provincial historian, William Smith, gives us a clear and unostentatious account of the his

tory and progress of the colony, from its acquisition by the English to the year 1732; and his supplementary volume, recently published by the New-York historical society, brings down the narrative to the year 1762. But neither the original nor the posthumous work of Mr. Smith, is calculated to satisfy the enlightened curiosity of the present age. The Dutch records in the secretary's office, as has already been remarked, commence with the year 1638; and as Mr. Smith had no other means of information than such as were to be found in the colony, he was compelled to pass over the period prior to that date, in less than three pages; and his notices of the succeeding thirty years are not much more extended or satisfactory. It is evident from his work, that he did not understand the language in which the ancient records were written, and he was probably unwilling to incur the expense of procuring translations.

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Smith's history, as published by himself, is dated in 1756, but it closes with the commencement of Governor Cosby's administration in 1732. The author candidly informs us, that a very near relative had so great a concern in the public controversies with Col. Cosby, that the history of those times will be better received from a more disinterested pen." " After expressing his apprehension, that it would perhaps be difficult for him to avoid the extremes of suppressing truth, on the one hand, or exaggerating it on the other, he adds, as a further reason for his silence, that " a writer who exposes the conduct of the living, will inevitably meet with their fury and resentment ;" and that "the prudent historian of his own times, will always be a coward, and never give fire, till death pro tects him from the malice and stroke of his enemy."* As might be anticipated from this annunciation, the posthumous work of Mr. Smith is written in the spirit of a partisan, and is therefore to be received with some degree of caution, if not of distrust. It also treats, too exclusively, of the political parties which existed in the province, and of the intrigues and conflicts of their leaders, to become, at the present day, a work of general or permanent interest. To William Smith, however, the people of this state in particular, and the friends

* Smith's History, (Albany edition of 1814) p. 282.

of learning in general, are deeply indebted. Whatever imperfections may be discovered in his works, they embrace a body of authentic information not elsewhere to be found, and furnish incontestible evidence of a literary zeal greatly in advance of the times in which he lived. To his historical narrative, he annexed, "a description of the country, with a short account of the inhabitants, their religious and political state, and the constitution of the courts of justice." summary, which is perhaps the most valuable part of his original work, furnishes a succinct but interesting view of the state of the colony, as it existed at the date of his publication.(1)

This

In 1814, an edition of Smith's history was published in this city, with a continuation from 1732 to 1747, published anonymously, but 'generally understood to have been written by Mr. J. V. N. Yates. This was evidently a hasty performance; but it appears to have been compiled from authentic sources, and is written in a style so lively and agreeable, that we cannot but regret its abrupt termination.

Much labor has recently been bestowed on our early colonial history, by a gentleman whose efforts are entitled to the highest praise, and whose industry and zeal may properly be held up as models for imitation. I allude to that portion of the "History of New-York, including its aboriginal and colonial annals," by Mr. Joseph W. Moulton, which has been given to the public.

Mr. Moulton's plan was at once comprehensive and minute. He proposed, after a full examination of our aboriginal annals, "to mark the migration, first settlement, gradual increase in population and resources of our people; to delineate their manners, customs, habits and employments; to develope their genius, and embody the spirit of the times; to trace the progress of arts, manufactures, commerce, agriculture, literature, science, and the legal code, during their separate stages of advancement and improvement; to hold up for emulation all that has been illustrious in character and policy, and for censure, all that shall have appeared deserving public reprobation; to follow the vicissitudes and revolutions of the state, signalizing those which have had a permanent influence upon its prosperity, and examining particularly the (1) See Note 1.

causes of that memorable revolution, which was the foundation of its past and future greatness; and to deduce from the whole, an impressive moral and political lesson, salutary to the future destination of the people."* He has published the first and second parts of his work, (the former in 1824 and the latter in 1826) containing in the whole, 428 pages, but only bringing down the history to the close of the year 1632a date but little more than twenty years after the discovery of Hudson's river. He had free access to the documents in the office of the secretary of state and in the library of the NewYork historical society. He appears also to have pursued, with commendable anxiety, every other accessible source of information; and whoever reads his work, will find in every page, proofs of extensive research and unwearied labor. He has also, when he confines himself to the books and documents before him, the rare merit of minute accuracy in his details; and he always gives us the authorities on which his statements are founded. His investigations in respect to the settlement of the colony and its progress to 1632, comprising a part of what he justly terms "the dark era of our history," are particularly satisfactory; especially when we consider that no records of the transactions of this period are to be found in our archives. On comparing this part of Mr. Moulton's work with any other publication relating to the same era, we are struck with the superior extent and value of his researches; and the intelligent reader, as predicted in the advertisement of the author, is surprised, "not that so little has been brought to light, but that by any process of unwearied and elaborate investigation, it was possible, to present a connected and consistent narrative of the rise and progress of the colony in its infancy."+

But though the work of Mr. Moulton, so far as he has proceeded, is an invaluable repository of facts to which antiquaries and historians may resort with profit ; truth and justice require us to say, that the great desideratum in our national literature-a compendious, entertaining and standard history of New-York, from its discovery to the present day,

* Moulton's History, Part. I. p. 325.

Ibid. advertisement to Part 11.