History of the city of New York : its origin, rise, and progress /

Front matter

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SEYMOUR DURST

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Preface

It has been my intention to collect under one view the almost countless authorities from which I have derived aid. But the extreme difficulty of assigning a proper measure to such catalogue, and the absolute want of space for its insertion, deprive me of the coveted pleasure. It would be useful to the student ; and yet it would give a totally inader quate notion of the vast extent of the field in which I have been gleaning. Some of the choicest links in my chain have been found in the most out-of-the-way places — among seared and yellow letters written by actors in the great events narrated, in old sermons, records of trials, wills, genealogical manuscripts, documents, and pamphlets ; while concerning certain matters tinged with ambiguity and uncertainty, I have discovered extraordinary and unique sources of authentic information outside of the city and State.

To the various New York families who have constantly and courteously given me access to private-libraries and valuable family manuscripts — more precious than diamonds ; to the historians and scholars who have kindly and uniformly extended assistance whenever I have sought information ; to the learned and courteous librarians of the Congressional Library at Washington, the Library of the Department of State, the Library of Yale College in New Haven, and of the New York Society, the Astor, the Mercantile, and the Historical Libraries of our own city, I cannot express too warmly my grateful acknowledgments. The extensive historical knowledge of Mr. William Kelby of the Library of the New York Historical Society deserves special mention ; and his prompt, untiring, and priceless services in making investigations and in suggesting new and various sources of information, courteously rendered on all desired occasions, through a period covering fourteen years, command my cordial recognition.

In closing my second volume I can reiterate with emphasis the sentiment expressed in the final paragraph of my former and more general preface _in the full confidence that this contribution to the intelligence of the people of one of the most interesting cities in the world will be generously appreciated.

MARTHA J. LAMB

New York City, December, 15, 1880.