The presence of these educated men in the community as levers of usefulness was not a little aided by the circulation among the people of books of sterling merit on theology and practical religion and smaller essays treating on subjects of passing interest.' Some of these treatises were controversial, which characteristic in those days was not at all incongenial; many of them would be regarded in our times as very dryly written, but not so by those early settlers. Among the volumes known to be furnished by the Society, were Beveridge's several works, Lewis' Catechisms, Taylor's Holy Living and Dying, The Whole Duty of Man,* Leslie's Discourses, Bishop Potter on Church Government, Dr. Bray's books. Hooker's Eccles. Polity, Hoadly vs. Calamy.

Of course there were other books which were reaching the people, some of lowering tendency, some with teachings that the books spoken of were to antidote ; but it must be evident, that all this reading, limited as compared with that of our day, both as to range and extent, must have quickened the intellectual and elevated the moral tone. The clergy here were giving the same direction to the thought of the people, towards the true, the good and the useful, that they were pursuing and urging in their discourses.

Relations of the County to the Colony.-- It will be quite evident from what has been presented that the county of Westchester occupied no passive position in the progress of the colony of New York, but largely assisted in the development of the city and the regions upon which it was continually advancing. What must be said of the influence of the towns upon each other is true also of their bearings upon the intellectual, social and religious condition of the whole Province. The energy, sturdiness, promptness and firmness of the inhabitants were everywhere appreciated, and while much was received, much was communicated.