of Berkley and Carteret. On an examination of the document it was found to want several requisites-the signatures were unlike those of the Lords Proprietors, it was without seals or witnesses, contained blanks unfilled, and the parchment upon whien it was written was not in the form usually preserved for such documents at that day-and no doubt could be entertained of its being merely a copy. In addition also to these inherent objections to its originality, he had met with an entry in the Record of the Proceedings of the Governor and Council of East Jersey under date of April 12th, 1686, proving that the original document had been destroyed.

A copy of this entry had been politely furnished him by Dr. McChesney, the Secretary of State, and was as follows:

"Att a Counsill held att Amboy Perth in East New Jersey the twelfth day of Aprill 1686.

The Secretary gave this Board an accompt that in the dreadfull fire wch hapned in his house upon Satterday last the originall concessions of Lord Barcley and Sr George Carterett amongst severall other writings and books and papers were there burnt and consumed."

The copy in the possession of the Society, however, was interesting to the antiquarian, as it was doubtless made for the use of John Fenwick and brought by him when he first came to West Jersey. The Society received it from Col. Robert G. Johnson, one of the Vice Presidents.

A paper was then read by Wm. B. KINNEY, Esq., of Newark, before the Society and a large audience,-comprising members of the Legislature-the Governor of the State, Judges of the Court of Errors, and other eminent individuals-" on the Origin and Progress of Printing and Periodical Literature in New Jersey,"-on the conclusion of which, on motion of Dr. MURRAY, it was

Resolved, 'I hat the thanks of the Society be presented to Mr. KINNEY for his highly valuable and interesting paper, and that he be requested to furnish a copy for publication.

The Committee appointed to apply to the Legislature for the adoption of measures to procure the Colonial Documents of the State from abroad, having been called on for a report—

Mr. FIELD, in the absence of the Chairman, made a statement as to the action of the Committee,-which had as yet been ineffectual, but he hoped that the present Legislature would not adjourn before a favorable issue should be gained. The fact that the Minutes of the Assembly prior to the Revolution were quite imperfect and the Minutes of the Council were entirely wanting, should alone prompt to immediate measures. The official records of the State should assuredly be made perfect, whatever the expense. might be, and the documents required to make them so were known to exist in the English Archives. Mr. F. offered this resolution:

Resolved, That the Committee on the application to the Legislature respecting the Colonial Documents be discharged, and that a Committee of three be now appointed to urge the Legislature to the adoption of measures, at the present session, for perfecting the public records, by obtaining copies of such official papers as they may deem necessary; and also for procuring definite information as to the character and extent of all the documents referring to the Colonial History of New Jersey which are now in the State Paper Department of England.

Mr. WHITEHEAD seconded the resolution-as the subject had been before the Legislature for several years, and been reported on favorably by different Committees,-had passed the Senate once or twice and failed in the House by only one vote of a majority of two-thirds, it was to be hoped that no longer delay would be experienced. He spoke of the value of the papers, and the propriety of moving in the matter at the present time when the presence in London of Mr. Brodhead, Secretary of Legation, and Mr. Stevens-the Bibliographerboth of them honorary members of the Society and interested in its success, offered peculiar facilities. Mr. Brodhead was perfectly acquainted with the subject, having acted as agent for New York in procuring the papers for that State, and Mr. Stevens was engaged in a similar undertaking for various literary institutions.

Hon. Mr. KING, from the Chair-remarked upon the dangers of delay. Great difficulty had been experienced by some in procuring access to the English Archives, and such might again arise. Mr. Stevens's position abroad gave him peculiar advantages which the State should endeavor to make available.

The resolution was adopted, and the Chair appointed as the Committee Messrs. Field, Whitehead and Murray.

The Society then adjourned to meet in Newark on the third Thursday of May.

SELECTIONS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE AND PAPERS Laid before the Society, January 18th, 1849.

FROM ISAAC S. MULFORD, M. D.

CAMDEN, N. J., 10th month. 10th, 1848. I have this day received thy note informing me of my election as a resident member of the N. J. Historical Society. Accept my acknowl edgments for thy attention and kindness. I shall value a connection with the Society, both on account of the associations to which it will give an introduction, and also on account of the general object in view. I am strongly imbibed with state feelings. Born and educated in New Jersey, I have made it the place of my constant residence, and the impressions arising from these circumstances have been further strengthened by observation and reflection. I have come to believe there is no portion of country in which there are more abundant sources of satisfaction and pride. Settled at first, in great part, by people of much advancement in regard to their social, moral, and intellectual character, the history of the state becomes, even from the earliest period, of the highest importance and interest. It exhibits, not merely the struggles which were to be made in subduing a wilderness, but also the cultivation that was required in the establishment and maintenance of liberal institutions of government. Hence, in their advancement, the people of New Jersey were prepared to take a high place when called upon to act in concert with others, a place which they have ever retained, and which there is no doubt they will ever continue to hold. In dwelling upon these circumstances, I cannot but regard with much satisfaction every movement designed for the fuller illustration of our annals, and amongst these movements the organization and action of our Historical Society, are certainly to be considered as of the highest importance. I shall endeavor, as far as may be in my power, to uphold the Society, and to extend and strengthen its influence.

*

Respectfully,

ISAAC S. MULFORD.

WM. A. WHITEHEAD, Esq., Corresponding Secretary, &c.

LETTER FROM GOVERNOR FRANKLIN TO HIS FATHER.

READ TO THE SOCIETY BY MR. W. A. WHITEHEAD.

PHILADA, Dec. 24, 1774.

HONRD FATHER,-I came here on Thursday last to attend the Funeral of my poor old Mother,* who died the Monday noon preceding. Mr. Bache sent his Clerk Express to me on the occasion, who reached Amboy on Tuesday evening, and I set out early the next morning, but the weather being very severe, and snowing hard, I was not able to reach here till about 4 o'clock on Thursday afternoon, about half an hour before the Corpse was to be moved for Interment. Mr. Bache and I followed as Chief Mourners, your old Friend H. Roberts and several other of your Friends were Carriers, and a very respectable number of the Inhabitants were at the Funeral. I don't mention the particulars of her illness as you will have a much fuller account from Mr. Bache than I am able to give. Her death is no more than might be reasonably expected after the paralytic stroke she received some time ago, which greatly affected her memory and understanding. She told me, when I took leave of her on my removal to Amboy, that she never expected to see you unless you returned this winter, for that she was sure she should not live till next Summer. I heartily wish you had happened to have come over in the fall, as I think her disappointment in that respect preyed a good deal on her spirits.

I received by Mr. Bingham your two favors of the 13th and 15th of October, also one dated Novr 1st, enclosed to Mr. Bache by the Packet.

It gives me great pleasure to find that you have so perfect an enjoy. ment of that greatest of blessings, health. But I cannot help being concerned to find that notwithstanding you are so sensible that you "cannot in the course of nature long expect the continuance of it," yet you postpone your return to your family. If there was any prospect of your being able to bring the people in power to your way of thinking, or of those of your way of thinking's being brought into power, I should not think so much of your stay. But as you have had by this time pretty strong proofs that neither can be reasonably expected, and that you are looked upon with an evil eye in that country, and are in no small danger of being brought into trouble for your political conduct, you had certainly better return while you are

* Not his own Mother.

able to bear the fatigues of the voyage, to a country where the people revere you, and are inclined to pay a deference to your opinions. I wonder none of them, as you say, requested your attendance at the late Congress, for I heard from all quarters that your return was ardently wished for at that time, and I have since heard it lamented by many that you were not at that meeting, as they imagined had you been there you would have framed some plan for an accommodation of our differences that would have met with the approbation of a majority of the delegates, tho' it would not have coincided with the deep designs of those who influenced that majority. However mad you may think the measures of the Ministry are, yet I trust you have candour enough to acknowledge that we are no ways behind hand with them in [exhibitions?] of madness on this side of the water. However it is a disagreeable subject, and I'll drop it.

I shall do what lies in my power to have Mr. Wilmot's account paid. The Assembly are to meet on the 11th of next month.

I wrote a long letter to you lately and enclosed it to Secry Pownall by the packet, which I hope will get safe to hand. In that I told you that I was anxious to have Temple bred to the law, and wished to have him sent for a year or two to the New York College. I hope to see you and him in the Spring, and that you will spend some time with me at Amboy, where I am now-happily settled in a very good house and shall always have an apartment at your service.

I shall do our kinsman Folger all the service in my power. Mr. Westley, I expect, will call on me soon on his return from Schenectady, when I shall pay your draft in his favour.

I have but just heard of this vessel's departure, and have it not in my power to add more than that I am ever

Hond Sir, your dutiful Son,

WM FRANKLIN.

DONATIONS

ANNOUNCED JANUARY 18TH, 1849.

From Hon. James G. King.-Will and Testament of the late Robert R. Randall, Esq.; and By-Laws of the Sailors' Snug Harbor. From Joseph Henry, L.L. D.—First Report of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution to the Board of Regents, &c.