New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-11-21
HISTORICAL SOCIET

The New foik Hlstcricai so,ie'y Ce@Ofateu las
fifty frst anniversary last evening The members Of
the society met in their rooms in the University at
II D. M, and after Spending some time in converse.
ton. were called to order by The president, Mr.
Luther r. Bradish, and proceeded to the chapel of
the University, where large number OF ladies' and
gentlemen were already assembled.
PRAYER was offered by the Rev. DR.. Mathews
TIE Rev DR.. DE WITT delivered the address. lie
commenced by abiding to Mr.. Banerotts address last
wear on progress He ssid that in 500 the Rev. Mr.
Miller delivered lecture retracng the progress Of the
eighteenth century. Mr.. Miller ole Of the founders
the Last survi, ing founder-o the society Little did
he think when be delivered thst lecture OF the won
defu &C val ce which to be mace In another half
century-of how the Hudson AID the lakes were TO be
pnited hys work which should be toCnton mOnUrleH
turn are perenniur and what marvellous scceleraton
stesm was TO give to civilization. he dr. DE Witt
said be would go back century to 1855 and then to
1855 He st pictured the state OF the country at the
date Of Braocorks defeat and ted the usual story of
Wasbpptons bravery and miraculous escape from the
never before errng bullets of that wonc etfuy vera
cious Indian. He proceeded TO quote from ser mon
re,ched about that time at Hanover, in Virgins the
early home of Henry Clay, where he saw Patrick
Henry, whose style of eloquence be followed DR..
DE Witt proceeded TO pronounce very considerable
rapeeyric upon the Union, much after the manner OF
Castle Garcen and Constitution hall. He hoped not
onIv that no star should b, lost from the eoastel.
la,ion, bat that none should even !ese point
Of its brliancy. He went on to speak OF the
war along the northern frontier CT New-fors,
which eliminated on the flights of Abrshs n. At
that time the tlan of cOnfscereoy OF the colonies bad
already been proposed by DR.. Franklin The Colohiai
congress met in June, and on the tenta day OF July
this plan was adopted. THIS congress was the precur
sor OF tbose when were held from l765 TO the regou
ton We should never forget that congress at Albany.
Dr. Franklin was met in New-iork on his way home
BY the congratulations and ire thanks OF the people
He founded that society which the foundation of
the Philosoobical society library which wa, the be-
ginning of the societys library, and school which
grew Into the University. DIR. De Wit forgot to say
that be was the founder also Of the Philadelphia A9t-
Slavery society but he noticed his literary ana PM
osophc abors and stated that ne used the old church.
now the post.office, for some Of his philo.
sophie experiments. He sketched bus diplomatic
carer, and said that his life was striking
gather what in the mere routine of study could
never have been gaDedo l; haa teen regretted thst
there no direct testimony Of his belief IN the Chris
tar rels ion But during the forma ion OF the consti
tuition and when there was grea difficulty ia reducing
differ. NJ tecons TO harmony he was said to have
nTsen ore morning and said Dir. President Is II true
hat not sparrow falleh to the ground but tbs ii
OH sten by God ard if 60 can nations rise and fall
without Lis will and without his blessing! move
you cir, that our meetings begin with prayer. Dr.
d. Witt cortras ed the strength and tsm.er OF our
revolution with those Of France and South America,
He reviewed the earnestness OF purpose which was
bern of the Puritans of Roger Williams, Of William
Penn Of Lord Baltimore, of the Haguenots and the
reet and attributed to that the sodity snd perma'
ntuce which characterized our revolution. But TO go
back century further, we found the venerable
Governor Stuyvesapt whose exploits had been 30
rarely chropioled by Diedrich Knickerbocker,
conqueinq the Swedes in America. If in the char.
acter cf Stuyyesan there stains which we could
rot wipe cut siill Chancellor Kent had given him
credit for his skill in diplomacy ia Connecticut and 10
the International law thereafter. Much WAS to be said
in favor of bis administration. Hs course with the
Indians was firm kind and consistent. In all csses he
himself took the lead. In 1856 he Aid out New Am
serdam into streets and established police. IL was
said thathe was arbitrary bat there were many mti'
eating circumstances. The coup d etat OF from
well could not in itself be justified; still Crom-
well sustained the glory OF England and was
the champion of Protestant arms. De traced
Gov. Stuyvesants career to his death in 1912: Two
Centuries ago the perecaton sgalnst the Waidehses
was az it's heis hit. The Dutch gave them an asylum
in New.Amsterdsm, and many OF them settled on
Staten Island. Chancellor Kent said that the first
settlers of Nsw-Amsterdsm were grave, tenn
1 e s.p ' sso bringing s the wG ss ss% ns the vRfi
law and the purity Of the Protestant faith. There
might have been no than 5000 In the city and
thrice that number in the coun ~ but their descend
ants could hardly be estimated And though there
might be an activity and buoy ancy in the character
OF our New England father il would not be hur by al
uixur. with the slownees and teadness OF the Dutch
He would dre 4 the attention OF the audisnce 70
the society ITSELF Its object only 10 collect ate
ras but 10 excite tropef per TO work them up ino
history Massachusetts had taken the lead 10 the mat
ter of historical societies. Her example was followed
by New.York in 1904 DIR. Francis had given them
sisphe sketches Of the founders of the society He
gave the list Of the departed presidents, paid his
tribute Of reepect them, wished that the p-eeent
incumbent might long I'LL The presidential ehsr. ne
works, aud sad that Washington lryings modesty
wac only increased by the weight OF public commend
alton. Was il not well that now in the evening tine
irstcl ILosd cheers. He spoke also Of Dr.: Fran.
cis. Judge Duer aud President King. He con-
gratu ated the society on the state OF the library
In 1899 George Fulsom, man Of classic taste,
YVES librarian He introduced order amid CABS and
complied the first volume Of the new series OF the So
ciey's hsnsse ions.
Mr. Gro GIBBS followed. He had never gone 70
the Pacific eide Of the country. NJ. Jacob b. Moore
vbose previous puT' uits had emnenty prepared nun
for the BUSH ess, was the next The pre'ent horaran
was his fstterly con- and he took such care OF the
library that they thought il would be IN god order 10
90 into the new building. OF the library itself the
thousand books and pamphlets and two thousand
volumes of newspapers. In this lsst there was
scarcely anything TO desire. There were twen
" thousand ma1dscrpts. papers and Letters; Ia
this eepsrtn eni this library wG far neher than
that at Havsrd. There were besides some too
thou, AID Eve hundred maps aud hsrts. The library
would be worthy Of the new building. He made
strong appeal for money to fnisa the new building,
which must in want Of it, be left for time unfinished
When the building was opened be hoped we s7ould
have Mr.. MGe's catalogue. In those two octave
volumes be hsd cataloaaed every book and every
pamphle and be hoped that when they go' INTO Inc
new building they shoald have the catalogue.
M. BlycHorr, In rising to move Q vots OF thanks
TO their vene ated friend who had addressed them on
this occasion, wAs sure be should meet with hearty
response from every o, vino hsd had the privilege Of
listening 10 him. spirit Of earnest and snecsienste
patriotism, Q spirit of pkty, and that firm conviction
Of religious truth which led to the nobiest the fuls.