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Several volumes and tracts have been added to the library since this catalogue was compiled by Rev. Timothy Alden. These will be added in a supplementary catalogue; in which any omissions or mistakes which may be discovered in this, will be noticed. Meanwhile the candour of those who consult it will excuse

such errours as may have escaped correction.

In the year 1792, a number of gentlemen, inhabitants
of Boston, having many valuable manuscripts in their pos-
session, and several rare books containing correct informa
tion of the early settlement of New England, formed them-
selves into a Society for the express purpose of preserving
such precious documents; and of multiplying copies for pub-
lick benefit. An act of the General Court was soon obtained
for their incorporation, by the title of the Massachusetts His-
torical Society. The object of the Institution has been
pursued with assiduity, much historical information has
been diffused, and the Society still proceed in collecting
materials which may serve to give more accurate and
minute accounts of the rise, progress, and present state of
our country.

The Collections already published are comprised in ten
volumes, 8vo. They are rendered more valuable by the
addition of a copious Index, which not only gives a just
view of the Contents, but is, in itself, a neat and explicit
abridgment of the work.

The manuscripts yet remaining in the cabinet of the
Society will occsionally be published in future volumes;
and are open to the inspection of literary men who desire
to be acquainted with our early history.

The papers presented to the Society by the late Gov.
Trumbull, which his father had been collecting for more
than half a century, are bound in many large volumes, by

which method of preserving them, they are rendered more easy for inspection. They exhibit a correspondence with gentlemen of the first character and station: also, political remarks; observations and memoranda to supply dates; and minute accounts of events, very important during the American revolution. From the papers given to the publick, some opinion may be formed of the worth of those which remain.

The papers relating to the expedition against Cape Breton in 1745, a large part of which was published in the first volumes of the Collections, had been preserved in the family of Sir William Pepperell, and were presented to the Society by his son-in-law, the late Hon. Col. Sparhawk. This account is very correct, and more favourable to the provincial troops than what we gather from European narratives. The private letters of the commander in chief, compared with the communications of agents at the court of Great Britain, exhibit a just and interesting view of the proceedings of the General Court, as well as the military transactions. No event of the war between Great Britain and France, which ended by the peace of Aix la Chapelle, 1748, was equally advantageous in its consequences, or more glorious by its success. This is allowed by all the English writers, although they say, that the success of the expedition was more owing to admiral Warren's fleet, than to the arms of New England.

It is highly gratifying to the members of the Massachusetts Historical Society, that their Collections are so often quoted by learned men, both at home and abroad. They have good reason to think their labours are not in vain. Beside the references made to their work by authors, they are stimulated to further exertions by the sentiments of their corresponding members, who express more than common approbation of the publications; and whose opinion upon any subject, will be highly estimated by all who know their characters, and the conspicuous figure some of them make in the republick of letters.

Another consideration to excite their endeavours is, that gentlemen in other States, are, following their example, and establishing similar Institutions.

They acknowledge the favours of those who have supplied them with files of papers relative to the families of Winslow and Bradford, of Winthrop, Belcher and Mather, names of renown, friends of learning and religion, who adorned and enriched the era in which they lived.

Next to manuscripts it has been an object of the Institution to preserve newspapers from their first emission in Boston, April, 1704, to the present times. Particular narratives have been published in their Collections, and this printed Catalogue will show some curious and scarce ones of early date, no where else to be found. Of the Boston News Letter and Gazette, the New England Courant and Journal, they have the first numbers, and almost complete volumes.

It will appear from this Catalogue of books, maps, &c. that the library of the Historical Society, contains a great variety of curious, rare, ancient publications, as well as many valuable books of modern date. If a book acquires a value from its being scarce, they have a claim to some consideration for this portion of the Catalogue. They are sensible, however, that books are not generally estimated by this mark of their value. The antiquarians of any country are few in proportion to others of a different taste. A list of books was published a few years after the act of incorporation. This ascertained the progress of improvement they were making; but the great additions since that time, and the desire of many gentlemen to know the state of the library, and to learn in what way they could assist, without accumulating duplicates, by their literary presentations, have made it necessary to give a large, complete, and more accurate list of books.

One of their associates gave one hundred dollars to purchase certain rare and excellent works from a library offered for sale; from another they received fifty; and a still larger donation was made by an unknown hand for the purpose of binding books and newspapers. A considerable proportion of books was likewise given by honorary members. Among the most liberal of their benefactors they reckon the Rey. Thomas Hall, Chaplain of the British