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NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

THE stated meeting of the New York Historical Society, for the month of January, 1846, was held on the first Tuesday of the month, at their Rooms in the New York University.

In the absence of the President, the Hon. L. Bradish, 1st Vice President, presided, assisted by the Rev. Thos. De Witt, 2d Vice President.

After the Society was called to order, a communication was read from Mr. Bige low, the Recording Secretary, tendering his resignation of that office, which was accepted. Mr. A. Schell was appointed Secretary, pro tem., and the minutes of the last meeting were read, corrected and approved.

This being the meeting at which the annual reports are presented to the Socie ty, each came up in its order.

The reports of the Domestic and Foreign Corresponding Secretaries showed that the transactions of the Society were attracting attention both at home and abroad. They were approved and accepted; as was also the report of the Treasurer, which represented the finances of the Society to be in a prosperous condition.

The report of the Librarian gave a full and elaborate statement of the present con dition of the Library, and the additions which have been made to it during the past year. The principal object of attention connected with the Library, during the year, has been the preparation of the Alphabetical Descriptive Catalogue, which is now completed according to the plan adopted; yet, as it embraces merely the books in actual use, it is recommended to defer printing it for the present, and during the ensuing year, to extend it to all the objects in the possession of the Society-manuscripts, maps, coins, pictures, and the cabinet generally.

Numerous additions have been made to the Library, both by donation and purchase. The purchases have been directed principally to the completion of the department of public and State papers, and the collection has now become one of the most perfect existing. The Legislatures of several of the States have appropriated to this Society documents published, or to be published by them, and it is suggested that the good offices of the corresponding members, residing at their several seats of government, be solicited to obtain and transmit them regularly to the Society. Documents have been received from Congress and the States of New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and North Carolina, and from the City of New York, and

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sundry publications from Societies with which this Society is in correspondence.

Among the most valuable donations is the " Biographie Universelle," presented by Mr. H. Onderdonk, Jr., of Jamaica, L. I., making, with the supplement, 61 vols. Other donations are, a file of the Long Islland Telegraph, and the Hempstead Inquirer, into which it was merged, presented by Mr. Thompson, of Long Island; a file of the New York Courier, for 1844, by Mr. T. D. Lowther; of the Evening Mirror, from its commencement, by the publishers; a complete file of the New York American, from its commencement to its discontinuance, by C. King, Esq.

There have been purchased various other newspapers-a file of the New York Gazette, from 1811 to 1835, which nearly completes the file from its commencement in 1725 to the date of its discontinuance; the Index to the "Moniteur Universel," in 2 vols. folio; and several rare documents to complete sets before imperfect.

Nearly 200 vols. of papers are now lying useless in the store room, for want of funds to bind them.

In the department of Maps and Charts, the Library has received an accession of unusual value. The collection of the De Witt maps was presented in the early part of the summer, but is now for the first time laid upon the table of the Society. The collection is entitled "Rough Drafts of Surveys, by Robt. Erskine, F. R. S., Geographer, U. S. A., and assistants, begun, A. D., 1778." It consists of one hundred surveys, most of them being in numerous parts, and fills 4 vols., atlas folio. The surveys cover a great portion of New York, western New England, New Jersey, and a part of Pennsylvania. Their Historical value may be imagined from their minuteness and accuracy-not only topography and measurements, but even the names of the residents on the various routes, being given. The donor is Mr. Richard Varick De Witt, the son of Simeon De Witt, and Mr. Erskine's successor as Geographer to the Continental Army, and afterwards Surveyor General of this State.

The other maps presented are, one by Mr. Gordon of N. J., which was also drawn by Mr. Erskine, and is, apparently, a compilation from the above surveys; one of the New York and New Hampshire grants, by Mr. F. De Peyster; two original surveys in this State in 1685, and a map entitled "copy of Lord Baltimore's own map, annexed to his agreement with the Penns, in 1732, with additions, showing a survey by Pennsylvania, in 1722," by Mr. G. W.

E.

members of the Society:

Corresponding Members: Right Reverend J. H. Hopkins, Burlington, Vt., Richard Bell, Esq.

cancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Bigelow. Adjourned to the first Tuesday in Feb

ruary.

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E.

members of the Society:

Corresponding Members: Right Reverend J. H. Hopkins, Burlington, Vt., Richard Bell, Esq.

cancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Bigelow. Adjourned to the first Tuesday in Feb

ruary.

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