A better opportunity was thus affi)rded to ascertain the character and extent of the historical archives which had remained so long in great disorder, and almost inaccessible. Measures were afterwards taken by Mr. Secretary Morgan to have these old papers properly arranged and bound ; and more than two hundred large folio volumes of original documents were accordingly prepared and placed in a condition for easy reference. For the first time, the State archives were thus reduced to comparative order, and a necessary work was accomplished, the want of which had caused many of

the embarrassments already referred to. A general catalogue or calendar of all the records in the Secretary's office, which shall indicate the date, character and contents of

each document, is still greatly needed ; and it is hoped that it will soon be prepared and printed. The attention of the Legislature having been again directed to the subject, an appropriation was made, in the session of 1848, for collecting and translating some of the documents belonging to the State, connected with its history. In pursuance of this action, certain papers were compiled, under the direction of Mr. Secretary Morgan, by Dr. E. B. O'Callaqhan, which, on the 5th of January, 1849, the Legislature ordered to be printed. In the following April, the Legislature directed the Secretary of State to cause to be printed a second volume of what was styled the " Documentary History"

of New -York. Of this work, four volumes, in all, have been published. They contain a miscellaneous compilation, among which are some of the manuscripts procured by the Historical Agent in Europe.