A

DISCOURSE,

DESIGNED TO COMMEMORATE THE DISCOVERY OF

NEW-YORK

BY HENRY HUDSON;

DELIVERED BEFORE THE

NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY,

SEPTEMBER 4th, 1809;

BEING THE COMPLETION OF THE SECOND CENTURY SINCE THAT EVENT.

BY SAMUEL MILLER, D. D.

One of the Pastors of the First Presbyterian Church in the City of New-York, and Member of the Historical Society.

6. De C.C.

NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

SEPTEMBER 4th, 1809.

RESOLVED, that the thanks of this Society be presented to the Reverend Doctor MILLER, for his Discourse delivered this day, commemorative of the discovery of this part of America by HUDSON, on the 4th of September, 1609; and that he be requested to furnish a copy for publication.

Extract from the minutes,

JOHN PINTARD,

Recording Secretary.

A DISCOURSE, &c.

Gentlemen of the Historical Society,

TO trace the progress of discovery and migration, is one of the most curious researches in the history of the human mind. When the successive steps of this progress are contemplated in general views, and at distant periods, they afford high gratification both to the philanthropist and the philosopher. But when they are considered in connection with memorable times, places, or persons; when we are enabled to say, on this day, or, on this spot, some great discovery, or some signal achievement, was accomplished, we experience a new and more impressive emotion. And above all, when events, in their own nature important, stand in close connection with persons or places particularly related or endeared to ourselves, they acquire an interest of the highest

kind.

The event which we are assembled to commemorate is of this character. It is, in itself, one of the most important that occur in the early history of our country. But it is peculiarly interesting to AMERICANS; and especially so to every citizen of our OUR OWN STATE. The SECOND CENTURY is THIS DAY completed, since the date of what deserves to be styled the DISCOVERY OF NEW-YORK. When we recollect this; when we look back upon the scenes which have since been exhibited upon this territory; and when we look around us, and contemplate the situa

tion and prospects which, under the smiles of a benignant Providence, we have attained ;-the occasion is surely calculated to swell the mind with various and deep emotions.

In resolving to celebrate this day, the HISTORICAL SOCIETY has adopted a measure which was due to the Occasion and to itself. And happy shall I be, if, in discharging that part of the duty which devolves on me, I shall be able to contribute, in the smallest degree, either to the suitable celebration of the Anniversary, or to the entertainment of this audience.

In undertaking the task, Gentlemen, with which you have been pleased to honour me, I have supposed that the plan of discourse most likely to fulfil your wishes, most conformable with the design of our institution, and certainly most commensurate with my own powers, and most agreeable to my own taste, would be that of a plain historical memoir. Instead, therefore, of attempting to entertain you with philosophical disquisition, or with rhetorical addresses to the imagination, I shall confine myself to a simple account of the DISCOVERY which we celebrate, together with some of the circumstances which preceded and followed that event. And if the plainness of unadorned narrative should exercise your patience, I trust the recollection, that you are listening to a recital of well authenticated facts, which took place two centuries ago, and some of them at a still more remote period, near the spot where we now stand, will guard you against excessive weariness.

One of the most signal proofs of the low state of the art of navigation, and of the extremely narrow limits of human intercourse, in the sixteenth century, is to be found in the fact, that, for more than a hundred years after the discovery of the American continent, scarcely any thing was known of North America, even by the most enlightened and enterprising nations of the earth. But these are not the only reasons to be

assigned for the slow progress of discovery and of settlement, in this portion of the new world. The circumstances in which the principal nations of Europe were placed, during the greater part of the century in question, were peculiarly unfavourable both to the formation and execution of great plans, for the advancement of human knowledge, and the promotion of human happiness. England,* through the whole of this period, was either agitated and weakened by intestine broils, or exhausted by an unwise interference in foreign wars. And that immense navy, which has since enabled her to give law to the ocean, and which forms a new wonder of the world, had, then, scarcely reached even the infancy of its existence. During the same period, the strength and resources of France were so much wasted by the fruitless expeditions of her monarchs into Italy, by an unequal contest with the power and policy of Charles V. and by the civil wars by which she was desolated for near half the century, that she could neither bestow much attention upon objects of commercial enterprise, nor engage with spirit in plans of distant discovery. Spain, although then in possession of a navy which was the terror of Europe, was either so much occupied with European wars, or so intent on prosecuting her discoveries and conquests in South America, that she had neither leisure nor inducement to think of directing her attention to this part of our continent. The precious metals have ever formed one of the most attractive objects of human

* See Robertson's Historical Disquisition concerning Ancient India, sect. 4. p. 154. &c.

"Henry VII. expended 14,000l. sterling in building one ship, called the Great Harry. This was, properly speaking, the first ship in the English navy. Before this period, when the prince wanted a fleet, he had no other expedient than hiring or pressing ships from the merchants." Hume, vol. 3. chap. 26.