The New York herald., 1851-12-04

Lords Hslfax, Summers, Belmont, Or.ord, &,.,
should bs implicated With him; and tbsy whose po-
.oo him 20 bis
The learned judge concluded Wy stating he had
intended to have given some o. the theories of the
final disposition Of the CuidaH Merchant, which has
ever since remained in obscurity, Kidd certainly not
having stated it fairly in saying she was at Hispa-
niolA. But he had already occupied considerable
time, and, ss he thought, shown sufficiently the
reasons that had made Kidds name SO famous on
both sides of the Atlantic.
Mr.. LUTHER X. MARSH, in moving vote ofthanks,
and that the gentleman be requested to farnsh
copy to be preserved in the archives of the society,"
expressed IN most eloquent terms his surprise ss the
apparent result. He had always himself classed
Kidd in the first rank Of pirates and Buccaneers and
among the most perverted Of the human race (; and
he would as soon have doubted The exploits of Ma
poleon or Alexander the Great. The reaction that
only rescue his name from obkquy, but elevate him
to the fame of q hero and was q striking exam
pie Of the justice generally rendered by posterity
AN ESSAY, BY EDWIN WILLIAMS, OF NEW YORK, ON
THR IMPORTANCE OF GENERAL INDEX TO AMERI-
CAN NEWSPAPERS
Mr. EDWIN WILLIAMS, being called On by the
President, read to tbs meeting the following COM
munication to the Ssciety; being bis original sug-
ges:iOns and plan i,r general index Of American can
sufficient to form key to the history Of the country
for the last one bandred and twenty five years.
To the Presideyt and Members Of the New York
lu5LOrlc6l SClety.-
GENTLEMEN
The nature of my pursuits, and my researches
into the records Of the past, have given me some
experience, and enabled me to estimate the impor-
tance of piblie journals and newspapers,
of American history. The histories of our country
which have appeared from time to time, since the
revolution, are mainly made up from abstracts the
proceedings Of Congress, Of our State Legislatures.
and other public bodies, the personal histories of
our public men. The newspapers may be said to
present the only picture Of the times in which they
were prnted-less complete, it is true, in the early
bu; still picture from which Daguerreotypss. SO to
spsak, may be taken, by an ingenious writer, in
tie shape Of facts and nferences the vivid presen
taton of which renders the historical sketches Of
Mr.. Macauley so vivid impressive, and delightful.
Doctor johnson classes the writer's of dictionaries.
among those unhappy mortals whom mankind have
considered not as the pupils, but the slaves OF
science, the pioneers Of literature, doomed only to
remeve rubbish, and clear distractions from the
paths through which learning and genius press for
ward to conquest and glory. The maker of
indexes undoubtedly belongs to the same category
Of labor saving mortals, or rather those who are
the means of saving the labor and time of their fell
low creatures. A book without an index, if on an
historical subject, may be said to be nearly useless,
and should not be patronised by the public. yet,
perhaps, majority Of historical and biographical
works are published without them. Few authors
are found who are willing to index their own works;
partaking, probably Of the feeling against statistics
lit indexes can be called satistics), as sneeringly
oXpfokscu learneu lecturer, IN course OF MS
remarks on the genius and works of Cervantes. /
am sure that the members OF this society, however
require no argument to convince them of the i'm
portance OF indexes to the volumino works which
have accumulated in our archives. The catalogue
prepared by the Librarian, when published, will
supply the means of ready reference to the books
and manuscripts preserved by the society. An in.
dex to the newspaper or such Of them as are re-
quired to fill up the cbasms Of history, is the dede
ratum which, 1t appears to me, would be Of the
most useful services the society could perform to
the public and be certain to extend its benefits to
The present and future generations.
A little reflection will satisy all Of the vast i'm
rortance of this subject The lawyer who searches
after facts and dates to prove strengthen bis
in court the agent for revolutionary other pension
ers, the inquirer after his rights to legacy, and
the seeker after the periods when a marriage or
death took place, are frequently at loss for some
clue which would lead to the point of in JURY. The
proposed index would be an answer to these aad
many more important queries, which it is imposs-
BILE now TO foresee or anticipate Let such an index
be printed, and am satisfied its circulation would
be extensive, and even, perhaps, remunerative to
the society, the expense of mourning and print
ing it assumed by them. But this is minor subjec:
OF Consideration Surely, among the publicsplrted
citizens Of New York, and indeed, of other places,
for all intelligent Americans interested in the
matter, sufficient amount may be easily raised to
provide Tor the expense OF the proposed index, let
that expense be what IL may.
But it may be expected that should point out Q
mode by whi,h the object proposed may be brought
about, and not left, as come of our statesmen pro-
pose to Leave eur public works, such canals and
railroads, TO be completed by posterity. Let a
fund be raised by subscription among members, |
and other friends Of history, sufficient to com.
nebce the work, under the supervision Of the |
Librarian OF committee of the society, composed |
of individuals familiar with such labors, or who |
have the ingenuity to direct the manner in which
The Work should be performed. Let four or five |
young men Of education aud tact be constantly en-
ployed On the work, and let them be required to
abor at the task from the rising to the setting Of
the sun, leaving the evenings only for recreation
and amusement. salary OF Ave hundred dollars
each, would be sufficient to secure the services of
competent young men; and probably two years
would be time enough to enable them to complete
the task. The expenses incurred would then have
been about five thousand dollars, and similar sum
would probably enable the society to print and
publuh the work. Thus, for ten thousad dollars
would the task be accomplished and q service per-
formed to the public quito & useful, perhaps, as
some Of the schemes tor which we see constant ap-
peals made to public liberalty.
But few Of the members fthe society are aware,
perhaps, the vast Of historical events
I'd in the files Of the newspapers in library, but
Y Thieh are now sealed book, except to an extreme
y limited number Of inqurers and seekers after
historical knowledge. The files of New York
'esspapers in the possession Of the society extend
'ver period Of one hundred and twenty Eve years.
IND there are many valuable files Of papers printed
q other states in the library which would msteri- |
aly aid IN the work Of making the proposed index,
and enrich its pages by the ootemporary history Of |
or distant States.
An enumeration Of some OF the newspapers in the \
library, which were printed In this city, may give /
IN idea of the journals which constitute con,nu-
Gus chain, reaching through the years required to
make up century and quarter.
he hrst newspaper on our files, published in the
city Of New Ork, was prin ed by VIM Bradford 1t
made ts appearance Oct. IL, l725, and entitled
he Nor York Ga-dfe, from Monday, Oct. Ii, to !
Oct. 23, l125. With this weekly sheet our index
hould commence. Bradford was near seventy
o. ~ hal he rzukI rs IL
I0=oitc- lesson to that il is never too late to
'ommenoe good work, destined for historic use
From the Ga-att, We pass on to the Neg York |
H0kzy Joun0i; the second paper established in the
'rovinoe Ct New York IL made it's appearance
November ., 1913. IL was established for politi-
al purpose, and for three years il in state Of
FaIssro with the administration of Governor Cos /
y, and bis successor Lieutenant Governor Clarke.
was supposed TO be Published uneer the patron
Sc OF the honorable Rip Van Dam, who had been
resident Of the Ceoncil, ard opposed the Governor
I'd bis successor. The EeU York Gssele, printed
y Bradford, was then under the centrol Of the