Upon the full organization of the State government the city of Albany became the capital, and the Colonial and Provincial records -- other than those the relating to

municipality of the metropolis -- which had formerly been kept New-York, were in

removed thither. The pressing concerns of a new and impoverished Commonwealth for a long time prevented much thought being given to those silent and fading memorials which recorded the events of the earlier days of the State. Yet, there were many who looked upon historical inquiry in its true light, as an

incentive to progress and an aid to patriotism. They felt that too little was known of the olden times of New -York, and that especially the half century during which it

was a distant dependency of Holland was the " dark period " in its history. A few prominent citizens accordingly assembled, on the 20th of November, 1804, in the city of New -York, and agreed to form themselves into a Society, " the principal design of which should be to collect and preserve whatever may relate to the natural, civil, or ecclesiastical history of the United States, in general, and of this State in

particular." This was the origin of the New -York Historical Society, which, on the 10th day of February, 1809, received a special Act of Incorporation from the Legislature. The members of the Society immediately took steps to accomplish the high purposes of their association, and soon collected a valuable library of printed books and manuscripts. At length the time came when it was thought that the attention of the State authorities might judiciously be drawn to the importance of the