New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-08
New-York Historical Society.

Ncw-YOrk Historical Society.
The usual monthly meeting of the New-lork
Historical Society was held last evening in the Uniycr
.iiy Buildings, Washingtonsqusre
Hon Luther Bradish President of the Society. occu
pied the Char, supported by Rev. Or. De- Wit; AM
Fred De Peyster ESQ vice-Presidcnts.
The minutes OF the last meeting were read and ap
proved
Mr. Moore, Librarian. reported The names Of the
donors who had presented to the Society various
valuable WORKS since the las; meeting Of the body
Tie Executive Committee reported the names On
cludns that OF Hon Rufus Choate OF Boston, Of sew
crsl gentlemen tor election as members.
There being 10 opposition the several gentlemen.
whose names were reported were then declared duly
elected
The names Of several other gentlemen were then pro
posed for membership
NJ Strong proposed Gen. Franklin Pierce Of New
Hampshire as a member Of the Society.
The several propositions were referred in the usual
manner.
Senator Bcekmau Domestic Secretary presented
from James Castle Esq OF the Pennsylvania IIistor
ical Society. several maps including a map of New
York published under the patronage Of Lord Stirling
maps representing the postrou between New York
ana tLtaht4 u4a atro hlie "a "a" ho'A'oA ANAN
All these m.ps together with several other military
maps also presented were used by Washington
throughout the Revolutionary campaign
The donation also included the original documents
relating TO the proposition made to Patrick Henry by
an influential citizen Of Philadelphia, to betray the
cause Of the Colonists.
The thanks Of the Society were motion, rendered
70 James Castle ESQ., Of Philadelphia, Tor his valuable
To-. II -.
for tie courteous manner in which that body received
the Delegate of the New.York Historical Society.
Tho President then introduced Rev. Dr. Robinson,
Foreign Corresponding Secretary OF ,he Society, who
proceeded to read paper entitled Outlines OF re.
cent Tour ia Palestine" pr R. remarked that ever
since the publication OF MS work on the Holy Land he
had been possessed with anxious desircto complete
Investigations at that time but to slight desreeopenei,
and 70 satisfy himself upon several points relative TO
the topography of Palestine Last March he arrived
1t Beyrout for the purpose of putting his plan
INTO execution On the 9TH Of April ne len
Beyrout fer Jerusalem accompanied by Rev.
DR. Smith who had been bis companion upon
the same route fourteen years before The speaker,
then at considerable length read the Itinerary Of his
Journey from Beyrouf 20 jerusalem, which entered
with miuutencss INTO detail OF the general appearance
of the country the villages passed through together
with the various ruins Of castles temples and sarcophagi
noticed along the way. It did not appear however.
that my important discoveries attended the explorations
of the traveller II should DO remarked that the
route taken by DR. r. and bis companion was not the
most direct one 10 Jerusalem The route pursued was
through districts heretofore almost plored by Frank
travellers They reached Jerusalem the 18th OF
Atrl ard remained in the Holy City for twelve days,
aud were engaged the greater part Of that time IN an
investigation OF the topography Of the City. They dis
covered material error in the map OF Jerusalem pub
nshcd by Coils Aldridge and Simmons, English Engi-
necrs Ia that map the west wall of the Harem,
Great Mosque was represented with considerable in
dentation while in reality the entire wall was COM
pletely straight. This alluded 20 for the purpose
OF showing how eminent engineers made
mistakes in reference 10 the topography Of the
HOLY City The cisterns nj the gate Of Jana
were al-o closely examined by DR. r.. and found q
contain impure ran-water, and not living water
many supposed This discovery set at re-t Rulers
theory in regard TO those cterus On the 10Th Of May
Dr. r. and his companion took their last look AZ the
Holy City and pursued their course to the north up
through the valley OF the Jordan toward Mount Ia
Dor sitting what Josephus called the sources Of the
Jordan on the way, until they at last reached Damas
Gus Here DR. K parted company with his old fellow
+
with Mr. Robinson, q the Irish mission At that place
he took the route Of the Anti Lebanon passing several
magnificent ruins on the road until he reached Balbec
and thence struck obhquely to the sources OF the
Orontes then taking the castle OF I'll Houssan on the
way he turned his steps toward the coast and reached
Beyrout on the 10Th Of June and the 22d OF that
month embarked for Trieste by way Of smyrna. He
could not say that anything Of very peculiar interest
was ELECTED from Investigations Of his tour The
journey was undertaken with reference u single
oil jet the typographical history OF the Holy Land, aud
the statements OF JOsephus relative thereto.
On motion Of Rev DR.. Adams the thanks Of the 20
ccty were rendered 10 Dr. Robinson for the reading Of
his valuable paper The President announced the re-
ceipt Of one hundred tickets from he Geographical So
cety for the lecture about be delivered before tina,
body upon the Expedition in search of Sir John
Frunkln." The tickets were distributed among the
members after which the sociefy adjourned