The mayor honored it by sending it to the common council with a special message; and the latter sjjread not only the message, but the entire financial and historical statement made by Mr. Dawson on its Minutes, made a liberal ajjpropriation for his compensation ; gave to him an official vote of thanks, a copy of which elegantly engrossed and framed ornaments his dining-room ; and gave to him, also,* the unusual privilege of copying and jiublishing any of its ancient records and files which he should, at any time, desire to employ.

Mr. Dawson's edition of the " Fanleralist" was the first of a projected series of historical works upon the Constitution of the United States, to be completed in seven octavo volumes, namely, " the F(ederalist," two volumes; "the Anti-Fcederalist, two volumes, which were to consist of contemporary articles written against the adoption of the Constitution; and a " History of the Constitution," an original work, written by Mr. Dawson, three volumes. Other engagements, however, prevented him from completing a work which would doubtless have proved a mo.st important contribution to the political literature of the United States.

In 1863 the first volume of Mr. Dawson's edition of "The Fcederalist" appeared. The distinguishing feature of this edition was the restoration of the original text and the rejection of unauthorized mutilations. Prefixed was an historical and bibliographical introduction, giving a careful review of the political condition of the State of New York in 1787; an account of the causes which led its authors to write the series of articles of which the work is composed ; the names of the writers of the several articles ; a list of the different editions which Mr. Dawson had found ; and a very elaborate analysis of " The Fiederali.st" itself The peculiar merit of that edition of this celebrated work was recognized by Harvard University, Williams College and several others, as well as by the Board of Education in the city of New York, all of whom added it to their respective lists of text-books ; by the leading scholars of that j)eriod, led by the venerable Joshua Quincy, and by the Attorney General and the Secretary of State of the United States, each of whom adopted it as the edition of "The Fcederalist," which should, thenceforth, be used in their respective offices.