US 2002.9 534449 A HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. PREFACE. THE Compiler of this work, having been engaged for a num ber of years, in compilations relating to the History and Anti quities of several of the northern States, has come in contact with a variety of historical information, which may be considered as out of print. Many of these items of history, though valuable and interesting, may be thought by some as too trivial, or too much beneath what is called the "dignity of history," to be in serted in a historical work. It may be here observed, that it may be a fact, that we are not entirely competent judges of what may be valuable, or interesting, to those who come after us. Much valuable information has undoubtedly been lost to the world by fastidious views on this subject. In some instances, writers on history have made elegance of composition a primary object, and have selected their materials with reference to it. Instead of polished sentences, or well turned periods, truth in its simpli city should be the aim of the historian. To attain this object, we should, as far as practicable, go back to the original sources of information. In accordance with this practice, many parts of this work are copied from the original accounts, from which later historians have drawn their information. Though many of these accounts, in point of elegance of expression, &c., may be far below those more recently written, yet in every point of real utility, as historical documents, they are much inferior. There are many valuable items of history which lie scattered about in publications of various kinds, rarely accessible to most readers, and which could not with propriety be introduced into any one history, written in the modern style. This work may be considered as a collection of historical facts, items, and antiquities, relating to the history of the northern States. It may, perhaps, be the opinion of many, that if a work has been printed and circulated, there is but little or no danger of its becoming totally lost. It is a well known fact, however, that there have been works printed in this country, of which a copy cannot now be found. In some instances, even the publishers of books have been unable to procure a single copy of some of their publications, which had been issued but a few years. The compiler has endeavored to make an interesting collection, and trusts his readers will find entertainment, as well as valuable information, respecting the history of the several States. The study of history, is believed to be one every way worthy of attention. By the contemplation of the past, we feel our span of existence extended, and in a measure enter into the feelings of those who have gone before us. By tracing the history of man, in the va ried situations in which he has been placed, and by observing the effect of principles by which he has been actuated, we feel interested and instructed. CONTENTS. Notices of distinguished persons are found under the head of BIOGRAPHICAL 458 Colburn, Zerah 510 Brainerd's mission among the Indians of New Jersey 371 Dartmouth College 399 Davenport, the enthusiast 225 Deerfield burnt Delaware Indians 12 Dermer's, Capt., Voyage Canada, invasion of . 402 Dixwell, Col., the Regicide 327 Canker worms 485 Drinking of healths abolished 194 Catholic Priests, expulsion of 319 Duke's Laws, N. Y. . |
