George Folsom, a memorial was prepared and presented to the Legislature, urging the importance of an investigation of European archives, for the purpose of procuring those materials for the illustration of our history which our own State records could not furnish ; and praying the State to undertake, for the benefit of the people, an enterprise the society of their own means were unable to carry into execution. This memorial, however, was presented so near to the close of the session as to render it expedient to postpone further efforts till the next

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year; when, the subject having been clearly and forcibly introduced by a message from the Governor, and its importance urged upon the members of the Legislature by the zealous and unwearied attention of Mr. John L. Stephens, the late Mr. William L. Stone, and others, an act was passed, with great unanimity on the 2d May, 1839, authorizing the appointment of an Agent " to visit England, Holland and France, for the purpose of procuring, if possible, the originals, and if not, copies, of all such documents and papers in the ai-chives and offices of those governments, relating to or in any way affecting the Colonial or other history of this State, as he may deem important to illustrate that history," and directing that the documents, when procured, be deposited in the office of the Secretary of State, at Albany, subject to the use of the State Historical Society. " Under this act I had the honor to receive a commission as Agent, on the 20th of January, '