Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-04
s SATURDAY. NOVEMBER =, 1926.
From the last nuber of The North 4nericon Rerieac.
NAIERIAIS EQR AAlERIC AN HISTORY.


sWe are tempted to say word on the utility o
Historical Societies The importance OF speed.
exer,ions,i in collecting the remnants OF such sea
tered materials as we possess,& OF securing them
in safe and accessible repositories, needs not e
be urged, Every day adds to the chance
their being DESTROYED or lost. Time besleges
them with its wasting power or the tide oil OBJ
hvion rolls over them. Let them be brought
,ogethe-, arranged and preserved according to
their purpose and value, and be made fruitful
sources of knowledge TO future historians, anG
-he efficient means of abridging their labors.-
The deeds of our forefathers, their early strug-
giles and protracted sufferings, are themes wor-
thy 10 be had in remembrance and deep rever-
ence by those who are enjoying the fruits oil
The vineyard, which they planted in perilous
times, with such sacrifices Of blood and happi-
ness. To lay these up in the chambers OF our
memory, and transmit them as choice inheri-
lance to our children is no more than dictate
Of nature, confirmed by the example Of all ages,
aud the first impulses of the heart. The patri-
OTIS and heroes, who achieved our liberties, are
equally to be held in honor, and the records OF
their great actions engraven on tablets which
time shall not destroy, nor accident mar BY
a good history Of the country only can this be
till the materials, of which it must be compos-
ed, shall be collected and made easy of access.
( 1t should be the object of each society to
search out every printed volume, pamphlet and
document relating to the history of America,
and such manuscripts particularly as come
within the professional compass Gifts inquiries
A person, who has not examined this subject,
would be surprised at the exceedingly small
number Of books in our public libraries, OH the
history of this country. Nothing is more rare
in these collections, than copy of many of the
colonial histories. After we have mentioned
the library Of Harvard College, Of the Athane-
um aud Historical Society in Boston, Of the
Historical Society in New-York, OF the Philo-
sophcal Society and the city library Of Phila-
dephia, and the library Of Congress, we know
not another, In which The whole stock of books
relating 10 America may not be ranged in the
Corner of single case. The collection at Cam
bridge is by far the most ample, and il is poor
compliment 10 our native zeal, that this was
made principally by foreigners, and has been
transferred from Hamburger and Paris to It's
present station,by the munihcence of'wo OF cur
wealthy citizens The library ofCongress is re-
markabiy deficient in this department, having
gained no acquisition since the purchase from
MIR Jefferson, except of the new current books.
If there be a library in the Union, which ought
10 be more rich than ANY other in works OF this
description, it is that belonging TO the nation.
The CITY libraries Of Charleston ald Baltimore
are iudiciously selected for general purposes,
bul as TO American history they are meagre.--
In ne,ther of them can be found full set OF the
nrpted books. journals, and documents relating
- ,he state of which il is the metropolis. You
ran learn more of the fabulous ages of Greece
AMI Rome. or Of the Saxon Heptarchy, than of
America, in the greater portion OF the public Ii
bra, les in the United States. A few private IL
braries are we'll supplied with works on Ame-
rican history, one of the most copious of which
10 understood 10 be that of an eminent lurist in
New Hampshire.
S,a,e hersries are established in some parts
of the Union, under the patronage Of the legi
latrrps, as in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and
New Jersey. This example is worthy to be
initiated by all the States. If the representa-
tives will cherish proper interest in the sub
iect, every important historical record and pa
per In the states may soon be collected into these
centres The state library OF North Carolina
exhibits The rarsst instance OF 6i6tom0aia, pro-
badly, which has occurred on The western con-
tinent. Lawson's History Of Carolina, thin
Quarto volume, OF small size and good deal
worn, was recently purchased by the library
committee, at The sale OF private gentleman's
books IN that state, for The round sum OF sixty
dollars. The book was printed in London,
l7iS, and at the bottom ofthe title page we read
price FIVE shillings" The state library at Har-
risburgh, in Pennsylvania, contains many port
~ folios, in antique garb, presented by William
Penn, among which are the best of the old En-
glish authors. To these have been added the
standard works on politics, history and legisia-
ton.
Printed journals, pamphlets, and documents
relating 10 the revolution, constitute another
kind Of historical matter, which should be spec
Oily collected II is an extraordinary fact, that
in hardly single state can be found, in any one
place, full copy of the journals and records OF
that state, during the period OF the Revolution.
In some cases the same may be affirmed Of the
proceedings OF the first conventions, when the
colonies began to take upon themselves the
powers and the acts OF self-gosernment, and
when new constitutions were framed.-The
negligence III THIS respect IS unaccountable.-
No doubt few perfect copies might be obtain
Cd, by proper exertions, for although no indl-
3 viouai may possess the whole, YET all the parts
may DC IN the hands of several. 1t would be a