" It has been made a subject of reproach to this country, by the enemies of republican institutions, thatno care is taken among us to preserve our ancient records a charge -- implying a semi-barbarous condition of society, and far from complimentary to our national character. But admitting its truth, to a considerable extent, there is good reason to believe it will not be long deserved ; for public attention is beginning to be more and more directed to the importance of rescuing from destruction whatever may tend to illustrate the rise and progress of our institutions, and exhibit, in bolder relief, the character and labors of the pioneers of civilization upon the shores of the New World. " It is the misfortune of this State that its early founders have been held up to the ridicule of the world by one of its most gifted sons, who has exhausted the resources of his wit and satire in exposing imaginary traits in their characters, while the most polished efforts of his graver style have been reserved to adorn the Corinthian columns of the more aristocratic institutions of foreign countries. A late excellent writer, the author of a valuable History of the United States, although a stranger to our country, has spoken in proper terms on this subject; he remarks as follows Founders of ancient colonies have sometimes been deified : '

by their successors. New-York is perhaps the only commonwealth whose founders 'have been covered with ridicule from the same quarter. It is impossible to read the ingenious and diverting romance entitled Knickerbocker's History of New-York, without wishing that the author had put a little more or a little less truth in it and that his talent for ;