his labours. His inestimable collection of books and manuscripts he bequeathed to the Church and Society in Boston, of which he was pastor. Many of the books, from an inscription within, appear to be given "To the New-England Library;" others, "To the South Church and Society in Boston." It seems to have been his purpose to establish a distinct library under the first of these titles; all the books, however, were ultimately given to the Old South Church and Society, in whose care they have remained ever since Mr. Prince's death. The historical part of the collection was eminently entitled to the name of "The New England Library." What printed books and tracts it contained, we learn from two catalogues; the one entitled "New English Books and Tracts collected by Thomas Prince of Boston, N. E.;" the other, "New English Tracts belonging to Thomas Prince of Boston." Both catalogues are in Mr. Prince's hand writing: and they are, in every respect, worthy of that diligent and exact historian and antiquary. The titles of the books are arranged, according to their sizes, in chronological order, with the place where and the time when printed; and, it is believed, they furnish a more full and accurate account of the publications, in Europe and America, relating to New England, than has ever appeared. These catalogues were found, some years since, at the house of the late Moses Gill, Esq. in Princeton, by the Secretary of the Historical Society; and, at his instance, they have been presented by Moses Gill, Esq. a nephew of the late lieutenant governour Gill, to the Historical Society. The books and manuscripts, collected by Mr. Prince, were placed by his direction in an apartment in the steeple of the Old South Church in Boston. This church was used by the British troops for a riding school in the revolutionary war, and many of the books and manuscripts were destroyed, or scattered and lost. It was from the reliques, which escaped this depredation, that the very valuable selection was made for the use of the Historical Society. No considerable use appears to have been made of the collection since Mr. Prince's death. Individual members of the Historical Society had occasional access to it during the ministry of the late Rev. Dr Eckley, whose obliging attentions are gratefully remembered. Since the settlement of his successor, the same indulgence has been kindly given, whenever requested; and the proposal for the deposit uniformly favoured. A motion to make application for this privilege was made to the Historical Society, at a meeting, 22 December, 1813; when it was voted, "That Rev. Abiel Holmes, D. D. Aaron Dexter, M. D. and Alden Bradford, Esq. be a committee to apply to the Trustees of the New England Library, for the deposit of the same in the Society's room; and, if they shall consent, to agree to the conditions of the deposit, give a receipt for the books, and, in general, to act for this Society on the subject." The committee, in exccuting their commission, stated to the Proprietors of the New England Library, "That many of the books in said Library, on account of the subjects on which they treat, and the style in which they are written, are not adapted to engage the perusal, nor even the attention, of but few readers, and yet, if open to the examination of those, who have leisure and inclination for historical researches, may throw great light on the early history of our country; that the Massachusetts Historical Society was founded for the purpose of preserving books, manuscripts and records, containing historical facts, biographical anecdotes, and other things, conducing to mark the genius, delineate the manners, and trace the progress of society in the United States; that this Society was incorporated by the Legislature of the Commonwealth in 1794, and has since been presented with a spacious, safe, and convenient apartment for the deposit of its books and manuscripts, and for the meetings of the Society, in the Crescent at Franklin place, in the town of Boston; that a large and valuable collection of books and manuscripts, illustrative of the aboriginal, natural, civil, and ecclesiastical history of the country has been made, principally by donation, and deposited in the said apartment; that the Society, in 1792, commenced a publication of Historical Collections, which has already extended to the 12th volume; that, beside giving original matter, this publication, by multiplying copies of rare and valuable records, has effectually secured them from those various accidents, which might otherwise obliterate or destroy them; that, were the Society permitted to have access to the New England Library, their future volumes might be enriched by the materials to be derived from it, and the choicest historical portions of said Library be thus preserved; and that the great and original design of the Founder would be thus respected and accomplished, to the perpetual honour of his memory, and to the great benefit of the community." To this statement the committee subjoined a respectful request and proposal, "That a selection might be made, from the said Library, of such books as are peculiarly adapted to the purposes of the Historical Society, to be deposited in the Society's room, on such conditions, and under such regulations, as shall be satisfactory to the Trustees or Proprietors of said Library; that, should this request be complied with, the books shall be placed in separate cases, and be always kept distinct from those of the Historical Society; and that all persons, who, by the will of the founder, have a right to the use of said Library, shall still have a right to the use of it, under such regulations as shall be mutually agreed on." The complete success of this application appears in the following record: "At a meeting of the Old South Church and Society, "held in their meeting house on the first day of Decem"ber, A. D. 1814,-Voted, that our beloved Pastor, the "Rev. Joshua Huntington, with such a committee as the "Old South Church and Society may appoint, make a "selection of such historical Tracts, Manuscripts, and "Treatises, relating to the History of our country, from "the New England Library belonging to the Old South "Church and Society, now under his care, as they may "think proper, and for the benefit of said Church and "Society, and the Publick; and the same, when so se 66 66 66 66 "lected, to list, index, or number, on two separate lists, 66 "I. Said Tracts, Manuscripts, and Treatises, shall always be kept by said Historical Society safely, in apartments by themselves, in their room in Boston, and a fair record of the disposition and situation of the same "so kept by said Historical Society, that the said Old "South Church and Society may always know where, "and in what situation, the same are, and may always "have access to said record. And over the place, where "the said Tracts, Manuscripts, and Treatises are or shall "be kept, the said Historical Society shall always keep "inscribed, in fair legible letters, the following Inscrip"tion: THE DONATION OF THE REV. MR. PRINCE "TO THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH AND SOCIETY. "II. The Pastor, or Pastors of the Old South Church "and Society shall, at all times hereafter, have a right, " and liberty, to inspect or use, or take away for inspec"tion or use, any of said Tracts, Manuscripts, or Trea"tises, leaving a receipt for the same with said Historical 'Society, to return the same, after the purpose for which "the same were taken away has been answered. "any member of the said Old South Church and Society "shall have like right and liberty, under like conditions, 66 And 66 "and for like purposes, producing to said Historical Society a written order therefor, signed by the Pastor or "Pastors of the said Old South Church and Society. "III. The Old South Church and Society shall, at 66 any time hereafter, have a right to receive and take "back from said Historical Society said Tracts, Manu"scripts, and Treatises, whenever by their vote, at any "meeting of said Church and Society, they shall so vote "and determine." The committee proceeded, in consultation with the pastor of the Old South Church and Society, to designate such books and tracts, as were thought to be most conducive to the design of the deposit; and, in conclusion, were presented by the pastor and the committee of said Church and Society, with a list of such as they were willing to have deposited. The selection comprises 261 bound volumes, many of which pertain to the early history of New England; also a large number of MSS. of great value, among which is the inestimable MS. Journal of Governour Winthrop, from 1644 to 1649, hitherto unpublished; and many pamphlets, illustrative of every period of our history. Winthrop's Journal, a particular account of which was given in a former volume, was found well preserved; the most valuable of the other MSS. the committee arranged in chronological order, and procured to be bound in boards, so as effectually to secure their preservation. Many detached parcels of these MSS. had the name I. Mather, written on them by Mr. Prince; these, making collectively seven folio volumes, are lettered on the back MATHER. Other parcels had the name Hinckley, written by the same hand,-a collection, probably, of Governour Hinckley of Plymouth; these, making three folio volumes, are lettered HINCKLEY. The whole, thus bound, together with the Winthrop MS. and a volume relating to the Narraganset lands. compose 12 folio volumes of MSS. In this Collection are contained many original letters of the principal magistrates and ministers, from the first settlement of Massachusetts to the revolution of William and Mary; some, |