to think how much he might have done for our history, and has yet neglected.
Similar remarks might apply to Gookin,[1] and Hubbard,[2] and to Morton,[3] to Eliot,[4] and Williams,[5] whose works have been, either by members of this Society, or by the Society itself, reproduced to the public; and it was not until the time of Hutchinson,[6] that a history at all worthy of the subject appeared before the world.
Previously, however, to the accomplishment of any portion of this labor, the Rev. Mr. Prince,[7] had, with indefatigable zeal, and at no inconsiderable expense, collected a mass of documents in reference to the country, both in printed works and mss. Early in life he had conceived the idea which he labored to embody in his "New England Library." Of this valuable collection, which suffered
- ↑ Gookin's "Historical Collections of the Indians in New England," rich as they are in details, yet leave much to inquire for. Happily, another work of his has, at length, after lying long in England, been published in the Transactions of a sister society here.
- ↑ See Savage's Winthrop, I. 296, 7.
- ↑ The remarks, however, may not be thought applicable to the edition of Morton with which we are now favored from a discriminating, industrious, and learned editor, who has so greatly enriched it with his notes. Judge Davis's edition of the "Memorial" was published in 8vo. 1826.
- ↑ Few particulars, comparatively, of a historical kind, are gleaned from the productions of this eminently pious, devoted and successful missionary and pastor. Like the primitive Christians, his effort was rather "to live, than to record, great things."
- ↑ The remark just made in reference to "the apostle Eliot" may apply to Roger Williams, several of whose letters, autograph mss. were contained in a volume of the Trumbull collection belonging to the Historical Society, which perished in conflagration of November 10, 1825. He has found, however, able biographers in late the Rev. Dr. Bentley and Rev. Prof. Knowles.
- ↑ In the highly valuable notes with which Mr. Savage has accompanied his edition of Gov. Winthrop's History, will be found an appreciation of Hutchinson's merits as an accurate, laborious, and well-informed historian. Two volumes of his History of Massachusetts, with an Appendix of important documents, had been printed before his departure for England. Within a few year, the concluding volume has been published there. It seems desirable, that an American edition of the whole, with additional notes, should appear. It is believed, that a proposition of this nature was not long since made to our eminent jurist, Judge Story, whose engagements have not allowed him to give the project attention. Could it engage, as successfully as did the History of Winthrop, the learned labor of the diligent antiquary who so happily edited that work, the writer doubts not that the public and himself would have no cause for regret. Much and steady light, in addition even to minot and Bradford's Histories, will, we may anticipate, be thrown on the stirring period of Hutchinson's life, when we shall possess the long expected, entire collection of the works of the elder President Adams, preparing, as is undertood, by his distinguished son.
- ↑ Mr. Prince's historical work, the New England Chronology, with the additional numbers designed for a second volume, has been faithfully edited by a member of the Historical Society, the Hon. N. Hale, 8vo. 1826. But for most of what may be important in relation to Mr. Prince, the writer must gratify himself by referring to the excellent "History of the Old South Church," by his late beloved Christian brother, the lamented Dr. Wisner.
