The publication of The McDonald Papers by the Westchester County Historical Society has been made possible by the aid, consent and cooperation of the New York Historical Society, in whose archives the manuscripts are deposited. To that Society, and to its Librarian, Alexander J. Wall, who has given every possible assistance, acknowledgments are hereby rendered for these courtesies. The data in the biography of John M. Macdonald have been largely secured from James A. Macdonald of Flushing, L. I., a worthy representative of a distinguished family. He remembers his uncle very clearly and his memory is fortified by family records and diaries. Into the thread of the story as related by him has been woven a mass of detail secured from other sources and he is in no wise responsible for the form in which the biography is presented. The paragraph that expressed appreciation of Mr. Macdonald's aid has been deleted in accordance with his request. It is the simple truth, however, to record that without his cooperation the biography of his uncle would have been less complete. His knowledge of the facts served a similar purpose to the mortar that binds dissimilar materials together in a building. The Resolutions spread upon the Minutes of the New York Historical Society by George H. Moore, LL.D. were discov-ered after Chapter IX was written. Moore's information undoubtedly came from John M. Macdonald himself, during a long period of association. It will be noted that there is substantial agreement as to material information in each instance. The pamphlets describing the careers of Dr. Archibald