now to have any intercourse with either sex, and especially with the ladies, a previous introduction is necessary, and even after that, in place of the frolicksome, kind-humored attentions then received, all is tinctured with distance and reserve. This change may have been inevitable, and in truth absolutely necessary, by reason of their change of circumstances, and situation with reference to the travelling world, yet it is nevertheless much to be regretted.

Several pages are devoted to an account of the Indian tribes which lived in the immediate vicinity of New York, and of their customs. To us, who have never thought of an Indian but as being hundreds of miles distant, it may seem strange that in connection with the city of New York so much should be said about these savage nations. But New York was then the great mart of the Indian fur trade. What St. Louis on the Mississippi now is, New York city then was. And the main supply of provisions in the market of our city was at that period derived from the Aborigines; who furnished it "with Venison and Fowl in the Winter, and Fish in the Summer."

And what adds peculiarly to the value of this work, is that it gives us a more full and correct account of the customs and habits of these Indian tribes which have been for very many years utterly extinct, than is to be found in any other publication.

Daniel Denton, the author of this work, was one of the first settlers of the town of Jamaica, in Queens County on Long Island, and was a magistrate in that town. He was the eldest son of the Rev. Richard Denton, the first minister of Hempstead, on this Island, and came with his father from Stamford in the year 1644; he seems to have been a considerable landholder in the country he describes, and directly after the taking of New York from the Dutch by Nicolls, and in the same year 1664, we find him still a resident of Jamaica, and engaged in the purchase of a large tract of land from the Indians in New Jersey. Smith in his history of New Jersey,

(which is also a very rare item in the Bibliotheca Americana, states, that, "it was in 1664 that John Bailey, Daniel Denton, and Luke Watson, of Jamaica, on Long Island, purchased of certain Indian Chiefs, inhabitants of Staten Island, a tract or tracts of land, on part of which the town of Elizabeth now stands."-(Smith's history of New Jersey, 8vo. Burlington, N. J. 1765, page 62.)

Denton it appears soon after sold his share in the purchase to Capt. John Baker of New York, and John Ogden of Northampton, and it is believed went to England, some three or four years after. In the month of March, 1665, he, together with Thomas Benedict, represented Jamaica in the General Assembly of Deputies held at Hempstead, in pursuance of the requisition of Governor Nicolls, and by which assembly was formed the first code of laws for the English Colony of New York, known as the "Duke's Laws." At the same Assembly the Deputies adopted an Address to his Royal Highness, James, Duke of York; in which among other things it is stated,-" We do publickly and unanimously declare our cheerful submission to all such laws, statutes, and ordinances, which are or shall be made by virtue of authority from your royal highness, your heirs and successors forever."

The people of Long Island considered the language of this address too servile for freemen; and were exasperated against the makers of it to such a degree, that the Court of Assizes, in order to save the deputies from abuse, if not from personal violence, thought it expedient, at their meeting in October 1666, to declare, that, "whosoever hereafter shall any wayes detract or speake against any of the deputies signing the address to his Royal highness, at the general meeting at Hempstead, they shall bee presented to the next Court of Sessions, and if the justices shall see cause, they shall from thence bee bound over to the Assizes, there to answer for the slander upon plaint or information."

The deputies subsequently to the address made to the

Duke of York, made one to the people, bearing date the 21st June, 1667; in which they set forth their reasons for agreeing to the code styled the "Duke's Laws," and also in explanation of their address to his Royal Highness-in which they state. "Some malicious men have aspersed us as betrayers to their liberties and privileges, in subscribing to an address to his Royal Highness, full of duty and gratitude, whereby his Royal Highness may be encouraged the more to take us and the welfare of our posterity into his most princely care and consideration."

"Neither can any clause in that address bear any other natural sense and construction than our obedience and submission to his Majesty's letters patent, according to our duty and allegiance."

"However, that our neighbours and fellow subjects may be undeceived of the false aspersions thrown upon upon us and the impostures of men disaffected to government manifested, lest they should further prevail upon the weakness of others; we the then deputies and subscribers of the said address, conceive ourselves obliged to publish this narrative and remonstrance of the several passages and steps conducting to the present government under which we now live, and we desire that a record hereof may be kept in each town, that future ages may not be seasoned with the sour malice of such unreasonable and groundless aspersions."(Furman's Notes on Brooklyn, page 107. Wood's Long Island, 1828, page 175.)

This volume forms the first of a series of rare and valuable works on American history, which the publisher designs giving to the public from time to time, as convenience may dictate. The selection will be made, as in this instance, from those very rare early publications which cannot be obtained either in this country or in Europe, except by very few, and at great cost. In doing this he feels that he has a claim upon all the lovers of the history of their country for assistance in his undertaking.

Brief Description

OF

NEW YORK:

Formerly Called

New Netherlands.

With the Places thereunto Adjoyning.

Together with the

Manner of its Scituation, Fertility of the Soyle, Healthfulness of the Climate, and the Commodities thence produced.

ALSO

Some Directions and Advice to such as shall go thither: An Account of what Commodities they shall take with them; The Profit and Pleasure that may accrue to them thereby.

LIKEWISE

A Brief RELATION of the Customs of the Indians

there.

BY DANIEL DENTON.

LONDON.

Printed for John Hancock, at the first Shop in Popes-Head-Alley in Cornhil, at the three Bibles, and William Bradley at the three Bibles.