made and recorded for the purpose of comparison and investigation. There is no method of accomplishing this object so effectually as by directions from the Board of Regents to whom returns should be regularly made, somewhat similar to those prescribed for the Academies in relation to meteorology." This communication was referred to the Chancellor, Mr. Dix and Mr. Bleecker, who reported on the 28th of March "That it is very desirable that observations should be annually made on the variation of the needle, inasmuch as the boundaries of lands are usually described according to the courses indicated by the needle, and there are no rules by which its variation can be ascertained, for any interval of time, according to which such bounds may be retraced where the land-marks have been obliterated. But as the Regents are not invested with the power of enjoining the making of such observations on the Colleges and Academies placed under their supervision, the committee are of opinion that it ought to be recommended to them to institute courses of such observations and make annual reports thereof to the Regents, and that a committee be appointed to address the trustees of the Colleges and Academies in this State on this subject, stating their opinion of the manner in which, for the sake of accuracy and uniformity, the observations ought to be made." To facilitate these observations, and secure uniformity of methods, the Regents issued a circular with plain instructions for determining the true meridian by observing the pole star at time of greatest azimuth, and with the aid of a surveyor's compass. As a part of the work intended to be effected in the determination of the true meridian, and observations upon magnetic variation, it was proposed to establish with the greatest possible accuracy, in connection with every College and Academy, a permanent meridian line for the more easy determination of the variation of the compass by a simple reading of the instrument from time to time. As the surveys of the country were almost without exception recorded from magnetic observations only, such a work would be beneficial in settling controversies about land-marks, but would also serve a valuable purpose in science. This, however, was never done, excepting perhaps in few exceptional cases, of which no permanent record is made. DETERMINATIONS OF LONGItude. In 1857 and 1858, sums of $2,000 each were appropriated for the purpose of determining the true meridian of important points in the State, under the direction of the Regents of the University. The duty was assigned to Professor C. H. F. Peters, of Hamilton College, who reported with respect to certain points in Buffalo, Elmira, Ogdensburg and Syracuse, and of the western boundary of the State in the years 1862, 1864, 1865 and 1866. CHAPTER XXXII. HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS AND RECORDS INDIAN HISTORY; COмMEMORATIVE PROCEEDINGS. In order to present a connected account of the charge intrusted to the Regents of the University in respect to the custody of Historical Records, and the publication of certain portions, it will be necessary to notice the origin of measures for the collection of our Colonial History, and the proceedings had in their publication before they were transferred to their present charge. In 1839 the New York Historical Society addressed to the Legislature a memorial, recommending measures for procuring copies of records and papers relating to the history of New York while a colony. On the 5th of February of that year, this was communicated by Governor Seward to the Legislature, with his approval, and on the 2d of May an act was passed authorizing him to appoint, with the consent of the Senate, an agent to visit England, Holland and France, for the purpose of procuring, if possible, the originals, if not copies of all such documents and papers in the archives and offices of those governments, as related to or in any way affected the colonial or other history of this State, as he might deem important to illustrate that history. The sum of $4,000 was appropriated for expenses, and Mr. John Romeyn Brodhead was appointed as agent. The appropriation was increased $3,000 in 1842, and $5,000 in 1843. Several communications were received from Mr. Brodhead, informing as to the progress of his researches, and a final report in 1 Assembly Doc. 153, 1839. 2 Doc. " C," accompanying the Governor's Message, second meeting of Legislature, 1842. Senate Doc. 106, 1842. Also Doc. "A," with annual message of 1843. Senate Doc. 2; Assembly Doc. 3, 1843. A highly censorious report was made by a select committee of the Senate upon this subject in 1844. Senate Doc. 42, 1844. February, 1845. No original records were returned, but sixteen volumes of copies from originals were obtained in Holland, fortyseven in London, and seventeen in Paris. They were neatly bound and placed in the office of the Secretary of State. The "Supply Bill" of 1848,2 appropriated $600 to the Secretary of State to pay for extra clerk hire in collecting documents and papers belonging to the State, connected with its history, and translating the same. Under this authority, Dr. Edmund B. O'Callaghan was appointed, and on the 4th of January, 1849, the Secretary transmitted a report.3 By Legislative resolutions subsequently passed, a series of four volumes known as the "Documentary History of New York," with sundry maps and illustrations, was issued in octavo, and in quarto, from 1849 to 1851, in very large editions, and portions of the material collected by Mr. Brodhead were included, the remainder being from unpublished State records and other sources. In 1849 an act was passed' providing for the publication of the papers collected by Mr. Brodhead entire, under the direction of the Governor, Secretary of State and Comptroller, who were authorized to employ some suitable person to translate such portions as were in foreign languages, and to contract for the printing. Under this authority the series of ten quarto volumes entitled "Documents relating to the Colonial History of New York," and commonly cited as "Colonial History of New York," was published. Of these, volumes 1 and 2, containing translations of the Holland Documents, were published in 1856-8. Volumes 3 to 8, containing the London Documents, were published in 1853-7; and volumes 9 and 10, being translations from the Paris Documents, were published in 1855-8. The editorial labors were performed by Dr. O'Callaghan, who prepared a general index to the whole series, published in 1861 as a separate volume, known as "Volume II." During the publication of this work an act was passed April 12, 1856, transferring the supervision of its completion to the Regents of the University, and providing for its distribution; partly as literary exchanges, and the remainder for sale. At the end of six months, the volumes remaining were to be kept in the custody of the Regents, subject to the future action of the Legislature. 'Senate Doc. 47, 1845, p. 376. Chap. 260, Laws of 1848 (§ 6). 3 Assembly Journal, 1849, p. 52. Chap. 175, p. 236, Laws of 1849, passed March 30th. In 1877,' an appropriation was made for printing a twelfth volume of the series which was edited by Mr. Berthold Fernow, under the direction of the Secretary of State, and was printed in that year.2 In 1881, a second volume of this series (Vol. XIII) was printed under the direction of the Secretary of State.3 In 1883 a third volume of the new series (Vol. XIV) was printed under the same direction.* By an act passed April 19, 1881,5 the following records were transferred from the office of the Secretary of State to the care of the Regents, as Trustees of the State Library: Dongan's Laws. 1 volume. Bills which failed to become laws, from 1685 to 1732. 2 volumes. Colonial Manuscripts, Dutch, English, etc. 103 volumes. Historical Documents procured by State agent in Europe. 80 volumes. Various Colonial Orders in Council, Letters, Council Minutes and Treasury Warrants. 50 volumes. Marriage Bonds. 40 volumes. Indentures of Palatine Children. 1 volume. Indian Traders' Bonds. 2 volumes. Original Dutch Patents. 2 volumes. Minutes of the Commissioners to settle the boundaries between Massachusetts and Rhode Island in 1741. 1 volume. I Chap. 128, p. 138, Laws of 1877. 2 This volume is entitled "Documents relating to the History of the Dutch and Swedish Settlements on the Delaware River." Translated and Compiled from Original Manuscripts in the Office of the Secretary of State, and in the Royal Archives at Stockholm, By B. Fernow, Keeper of the Historical Records." Albany, 1877. 4to. pp. 669. 'Documents relating to the History and Settlements of the Towns along the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers (with the exception of Albany), from 1630 to 1684; and also illustrating the Relations of the Settlers with the Indians. Translated, Compiled and Edited from the Original Records in the Office of the Secretary of State, at Albany, and other sources, under the direction of the Honble Joseph B. Carr, Secretary of State. By B. Fernow, Keeper of the Historical Records, Hon. Member Penn Historical Society." Albany, 1881. 4to. pp. 617. 4 “Documents relating to the History of the Early Colonial Settlements, principally on Long Island, with a map of its Western Part, made in 1666. Translated, Compiled and Edited from the Original Records in the Office of the Secretary of State, and the State Library, under the direction of the Honble Joseph B. Carr, Secretary of State. By B. Fernow, Keeper of the Historical Records, Cor. and Hon. Member of the Penn", New York, Virginia and Buffalo Historical Societies. Albany, 1883. 4to. pp. 799. 5 Chap. 120, Laws of 1881. Minutes of the Commissioners to re-examine the controversy between Connecticut and the Mohegan Indians in 1743. 1 volume. Evidence in vindication of the territorial rights of New York against the claims of the New England Colonies in 1750. 1 volume. Papers relating to the Vermont Controversy (1777 to 1795). 2 volumes. Revolutionary Papers. 45 volumes. Minutes of the Council of Appointment (1777 to 1821). 14 vol umes. Files relating to the Proceedings of the Council of Appointment (unbound). Minutes of the Council of Revision (1777 to 1824). 5 volumes. Assembly Papers (1777 to 1831). 43 volumes. Miscellaneous Papers relating to the Frontiers, Neversink Navigation Company, Onondaga Salt Works, Canadian Sympathizers, Anti-Rent War, Dowen Fonda Claim, Boundaries, Holland Land Company, etc. 4 volumes. Onondaga Claims. 1 volume. Onondaga Salt Springs (1810 to 1812.) 4 volumes. Such other manuscripts as the Secretary of State might deem as of only historical interest, and desirable to be thus transferred to the care of the Trustees of the State Library. Also the following records from the Comptroller's office: Accounts of Certificates Issued by the State Treasurer in the Time of the Revolution, 10 volumes. Quarter-Masters' Accounts During the Revolutionary War, 3 volumes. Pay-rolls of Revolutionary Prisoners and State Agent's Certificates, 1 volume. Pay-rolls of the New York Line in 1781, 1 volume. Manifest Books, New York Custom House, 1737 to 1774, 33 volumes. Entry Books, 1728 to 1769, 10 volumes. Ship-Master's Bonds, 1750 to 1764, 7 volumes. Sales of Property Belonging to Beverly Robinson and other Tories 1777 to 1779, 1 volume. Accounts of forfeited Property Taken in Westchester County, 1782, 1 volume. Such other records as the Comptroller might deem advisable. Copies of any of the above records certified under the hand of the Secretary of the Board of Regents and under their seal, may be used in evidence in all courts within the State with the same force and effect as the original. The Regents are to appoint a person to |