New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-08
AspNork daily Gribnare
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

COLLECTIONS OF TIE NETWORK HISTORICAL
80. Appleton Co.
This is very valuable accession TO the fast
secumulatiug mass Of materials bearing upon our
Colonial history, subject in which, with the rise
Of the country to strength and geatness, daily in
ereasIng interest is felt.
The Grst article in this afvolume-embracing
nearly half its contents-is a translation by Mr..
Henry C.. Murphy of those parts of the Toy
ages Of Dduid Pietersz de Iries, which contain
bis adventures and observations 10 America. De
vries was one Of the earliest and most intelligent of
tie Dutch adyenturers to NeW-Netherands. He
also visited Newfoundland, the West Indies, the
Wild Coast, as the Dutch called it, known to as as
Guiana, the colony Of Virginia, and the Puritan
settlements in Connecticut; and his observations
in all those places are graphic and striking. For
some parts Of the history Of Netherlands, par
Gcuarly Of Gov. Kief's Indian war, he is valuable
historical authority, supplying some details not to
be found elsewhere. His bOok-in the original
Dutch, a small black letter qusrto of some 200
pages. printed at Hocrn, in Holland I655-is exceed
ingly rare, the only copy known to be extant in
this country being the one from which Mr. Mur-
phys translation was made A part of the book "a
copy in manuscript is in the Philadelphia Library,
and it was from that manuscript that the extracts
were translated (hitherto the only part of the book
accessible 10 American students) which are found
in the fret volume Of the present series of the
New-York Historical Society publications. Those
extracts, however, were meager compared with
those now before us, which embrace large part Of
the book and all that has the least bearing Amer
ican history De Vries's observations are given in
journal form, and were apparently copied from jour
nal noted at the time. Many Of them are very en-
tertaining and even mere readers for amusement,
totally destitute Of antiquarian or historical ardOr,
may find in this translation agreeable Summer read
ing. There is simplicity and outspoken sailor
frankness, which mpresses one very favorably; and
yet. after all, tie good captains statements, or
some Of them at least, must be received with a
certain degree Of caution, for he was evidently
man Of warm feelings and strong prejudlces, and
very violent beter Of the Dutch West Indian
Company Appended TO this translation is
an elaborate note III which Mr.. Murphy de-
tends the position first taken in Brodhesd's History
of Ne,o- York, that the alleged visit of Argall Of
Virginia to Manhattan in 1913, and his compelling
the Dutch traders there TO pull down their flag,
is fictitious II is not without spice of State
pride that Messrs. Brodhead and Murphy contend
that no historical evidence exists that 80 early as
that Eew-York began 20 knock under to Virginia.
submitting to vassalage as It were almost in the
act of being borH-though Of course in the case of
a. e
history and antiquities, their political associations
not being such to intermingle with it anything of
current political feeling. To make sure of his point
Mr.. Murphy goes go far as TO maintain that no evil
deIce exists Of any permanent settlement on Man
haitian Island so early az 1913, or in fact for ten
years after. Tie point is well argued, and is very
nearly if not indeed fully made out.
The second article is new translation by Mr.
Brcdhesd Of Dominic Megapolensiss Description
Of the M0hapk indians The Dominic was
minister Of the Dutch Reformed Chu-ch TT
Beverwyck (ncw Albany from 1642 to l649
when ne became pastor of the church OF
Ne~-Ansterdam, Of which he continued in charge
down TO and after tie English conquest, dying III
1869. During his residence at Beverwyck, be was
in constant Intercourse with the Indians, 10 whom
be occasionally acted as missionary, being at the
pains &c learn their language which he describes,
however, as livery heavy" and very difficult 10
acquire SO as TO speak and 70 preach in it duently
Tie difficulty Was greater as be had nobody TO give
hlm auy eficcual assistance. none Of The colousts
understanding The diom Of Tie language, and being
only able 70 held kind If conversation jus. suff-
Gent for the purposes Of trade. This however,
was after he had resided at Bever~yck only
two years, LIS tract having been written in 1914
in the fern Of letter 10 his friends in Holland by
whom it wac published, without asking his consent,
IS an appendix 20 "A Description of New-NetheT-
lands, Virginia, New-England, &c, which ap-
reared IN 1861. An imperfect Translation Of il wss
published IL The trst volume Of Hazards Colec-
tions II Is plain, uuyarnished tale, with good
deal 700 much ruth 10 I 20 Suit TIE taste Of those
numerous myth-loying gentry who, cut Of tie
strong propensity Of large class If minds I" paint
things as they ought 70 be or as they would hke to
have them be- aud not 80 they are have done 80
much to dress out il fanciful traPpnes, not mercy
the early colonsts of America but the Indians @1o
Mr.. Brodhead bas prefJed to his iraL slatuu 40
Introductory note 90 the biography ci Tie a0ttor