tended by ministers from Long Island, Brooklyn, and New York city. The Rev. Mr. Carhart, the present pastor, read a brief history of the struggle of early Methodists on Long Island. Newtown Methodists claim Middle Village as the home of Methodism on Long Island. In 1768, the first Methodist services ever held on Long Island, were conducted in that village by Captain Thomas Webb, in the residence of James Harper, grandfather of the Harpers of the publishing firm. It is said Harper Brothers were born in this house. In 1875 the first Methodist church was built in Juniper avenue and Newtown road. In 1835 the present structure was erected. The church society was organized under the law in 1837, and shortly afterward the trustees received from Joseph Harper and wife a quit-claim deed on the property. In the same year the trustees received from Joseph Harper $300 without interest. The old church was removed and sold, but the graveyard still remains unmolested. In 1839 a small church was built in Newtown proper, and another one in Maspeth. One pastor presided over the three churches.

A QUAINT and curious book is on exhibition at Barkhamsted, Conn. Sixty years ago, Jehial Case, in chopping down a tree found the book encased in the wood. With much difficulty he chipped off its covering and found it to be a well preserved copy of "A collection of some principal rules and maxims of the common laws of England, with their latitude and extent, by Sir Francis Bacon, the Solicitor General to the late renowned Queen Elizabeth and Lord Chancellor of England. London: printed by the assignors of John Moore, Esq., 1630. Borrowed by Secretary Kimberly, August, 1708." The book is now in the possession of Mr. Case's children, and is not for sale.

THE October meeting of the Oneida Historical Society, at Utica, was presided over

by Hon. C. W. Hutchinson, first vice-president. A communication was received from Hon. Ellis H. Roberts, Assistant United States Treasurer, at New York, and president of the society, in which he spoke highly of the work of the society and his interest therein, but asked that another might be chosen to fill the office of president. He added: 'During the past eighteen months, duties elsewhere have deprived me of the pleasure of attendance at the meetings, and continued absence from the city will prolong that deprivation. With a deep sense of the honor of the position, and cordial thanks to the society, I will ask to pass over the office at the close of the year to a successor who will have more ability and leisure to perform its task, but can not have more zeal or higher purpose in behalf of the organization." The communication was received and filed, as the date of the annual election had not arrived.

THE Committee appointed to see that the Steuben monument was protected from vandals, reported that there had been little damage done, and added: "In view of the fact that twenty years have passed, and so little injury has been done, all the members of the committee which have been consulted-save Mr. Schreiber, who believes an iron fence eight feet high desirable-agree in recommending that notices specifying the penalty of the law be duly painted and posted at the entrance to the grove, and in two or three conspicuous places near the monument." Mr. Ballou also reported that no intentional vandalism seemed to have been committed. The Trenton limestone, of which the monument is built, yields easily to the weather, and he accounted for the defacement by that fact. The signs will be erected.

COLONEL WILLIAM L. STONE, of New Jersey, delivered the address of the evening on "The Colonial Newspaper Press of Boston and New York." After a brief introduction

of his subject, he gave an accurate historical review of the early days of the colonial press, and the publication of the Boston News Letter, the first newspaper of America, in April, 1704. This paper was printed as a half sheet of paper like a large size of foolscap. It was continued for fifteen years, weekly, without a rival on the continent, and continually languishing for want of support. In 1719, the editor made a great effort to enlarge his publication, and stated in his prospectus that he found it to be imposssible with a weekly half sheet to carry on all the public oecurrences of Europe, with those of the American colonies and the West Indies. He was then thirteen months behind the news, and to obviate the difficulty, he resolved to publish every other week a full sheet of foolscap. He afterwards announced, as the advantage of this enlargement, that in eight months he was able to bring down the foreign news to within five months of the date of his publication. The growth of the newspaper in Boston was then described at length, down to the time of the Revolution, with brief mention of the editors of those early days. The publication of the first New York paper, the Gazette, in 1725, and the New York newspapers and their editors were presented with several anecdotes, which brought out the characters of the institution and the times distinctly.

ONE paragraph from Colonel Stone's ad

dress will bear quotation at some length: "From the establishment of the independence of the country until the present day, there has been no attempt to fetter the press by censors, or by law; while the old English law of libel, which prevailed until the beginning of the present century, has been so modified as to allow the truth in all cases to be given in evidence. For the attainment of this great end, the country is indebted, more than to all other men, to the early and bosom friend of the late Dr. Nott-to the talent and

eloquence of one whose memory, though more than eighty years dead, is as fresh and green as the turf upon his tomb. Need I name the man, who like many others commenced his brilliant career in a country store -the man who was first in the breach at Yorktown-whose eloquence secured the adoption of that glorious constitution which his wisdom assisted to frame-whose genius called our national system of finance into existence, and upon whose eloquent lips courts and juries and senates hung; need I?—but I will not pursue the picture. The shade of Hamilton has already risen before you. The public press of no other country equals that of the United States, either on the score of its moral or its intellectual power, or for the exertion of that manly independence of thought and action which ought ever to characterize the press of a free people."

[The list of Capt. Willing's Company, which subsequently entered the Virginia service in Clark's expedition to the Illinois, was found among some Revolutionary pay rolls in the archives of Pennsylvania. It would appear that from the 10th of January, 1778, to the 3d of June, 1779, this company were in the service of the continent, although paid by the State of Pennsylvania. In Claiborne's "History of Mississippi" are some references to Capt. Willing which do not place him in a very enviable light. What is known of the services of this company in the Revolutionary war?]

PAY ABSTRACT of a Company of Marines, commanded by Capt. James Willing, of the United American States, commencing the 10th January, 1778, and ending the 3d June, 1779, inclusive.

First Lieutenant: Robert George, Jan. 10, 1778.

Second Lieutenants: Richard Harrison, Feb. 12, 1778; George Girty, Feb. 6, 1778deserted May 4, 1778.

Carpenter: John Hodgson, Jan. 1o, 1778 -died Aug. 30, 1778.

Coxswain: Solon.on Burny, Jan. 10, 1778 -deserted 26th.

Sergeants: Thomas Beard, Jan. 10, 1778; John Marny, Jan. 10, 1778—discharged April 20; Edward Matthews, Jan. 16, 1778.

Corporals: Nathaniel Downs, Jan. 10, 1778; Thomas Love, Jan. 10, 1778-taken prisoner April 12, 1778.

Gunner: **William Paston, Jan. 10, 1778. Gunner's Mate: Ephraim Carey, Jan. 10, 1778-died Aug. 10, 1778.

Privates: John Ash, Jan. 10, 1778; Samuel

Fury, Jan 10, 1778—died 3d August; John Walker, Jan. 10, 1778; **Daniel Whitaker, Jan. 10, 1778; Philip Hupp, Jan. 10, 1778; Henry Hantz, Jan. 10, 1778; Mark Foley, Jan. 10, 1778; Henry Hawk, Jan. 10, 1778died 31st October; John Kilpatrick, Jan. 10, 1778-died Sept. 1; Nathaniel Kennison, Jan. 10, 1778-taken prisoner April 12, 1778; Richard Murray, Jan. 10, 1778-deserted Aug. 15; Levin Spriggs, Jan. 10, 1778-discharged March 10; James Taylor, Jan. 10, 1778; John Henwood, Jan. 10, 1778-died October 3; Lazarus Ryan, Jan. 10, 1778; William White, Jan. 10, 1778; Richard Roddy, Jan. 10, 1778-deserted Aug. 15; Lawrence Keenan, Jan. 10, 1778; Jacob Wheat, Jan. 10, 1778; *Solomon Walker, Jan. 10, 1778; Nicholas Walker, Jan. 10, 1778; John Burroughs, Jan. 10, 1778; William Johnston, Jan. 10, 1778; Patrick Doyle, Jan. 10, 1778-died March 28; Jacob Oadham, Jan. 10, 1778; William Dove, Jan. 10, 1778; David Wallace, March 1, 1778; William Brown, April 1, 1778; John Stampley, Feb. 16, 1778-deserted 28th May; Henry Repard, Feb. 16, 1778; John Bryan, Feb. 28th, 1778; Valentine Bolsinger, Feb. 28, 1778; Andrew Canon, June 4, 1778; Thomas McDonald, March 10, 1778; John Riely, Feb. 28, 1778; Thomas Mitchell, Feb. 16, 1778; Joseph Anderson, March 1, 1778; **James McDonald, March 16, 1778; §George McNight, Feb. 16, 1778; Cornelius Cornoble, June 4, 1778- de

* In 1782, marked "killed." In 1782, marked "deserted." In 1782, marked "hung." **In 1782, marked "dead." § In 1782, marked "sick."

serted 20th Sept., 1778; Henry Sholes, June 4, 1778-deserted 20th Sept., 1778; John Hinman, June 4, 1778-deserted 20th September, 1778; John Seeder, June 1, 1778; Peter Collins, Feb. 16, 1778; John Roberts, May 8, 1778; John Mann, April 1, 1778-died August; Sufret Gion, March 9, 1778; John Bush, Aug. 17, 1778; Gideon Thomas, April 1, 1778-died May 17th; Nicholas Smith, Feb. 9, 1778-died March 23d; Charles Suffroy, Sept. 4, 1778; Adam Lainhart, Feb. 9, 1778; John Ceasar, Aug. 12, 1778.

I do hereby certify, that I received the above-named men and officers from Capt. James Willing, with orders to proceed to the Illinois and Fort Pitt, which men are dis

"TRANSACTIONS OF THE KANSAS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Embracing the Fifth and Sixth Biennial Reports, 1886-1888. Together with Copies of Official Papers During a Portion of the Administration of Gov. Wilson Shannon, 1856, and the Executive Minutes of Gov. John W. Geary, during his Administration, beginning Sept. 9, 1856, and Ending March 10, 1857." Compiled by F. G. Adams, Secretary. Vol. IV. Topeka.

This fourth volume of the Transactions of the Kansas State Historical Society is a solid book of 819 pages. It includes the Fifth and Sixth Biennial Reports of the Society, before issued in pamphlet form, and shows the business of the Society and its accessions during a period of four years (1886-1889), thus containing a permanent record of the work of the Society for that period. It also contains the addresses delivered before the Society at the annual meetings, from 1886 to 1890. Besides, half of the volume is occupied with the

official correspondence pertaining to the office of Governor of Kansas Territory during the latter part of Gov. Shannon's administration in 1856, and of Gov. Geary's administration from September 9, 1856, to March 10, 1857, including the official executive minutes kept by Gov. Geary. These documents relate to a considerable portion of the most stirring period of Kansas Territorial history. They have been carefully and industriously gathered by Secretary Adams from Congressional documents published about that period. These documents have hitherto lain hidden from the general public, and much of what they contain will be found to be new to students of Kansas history. The book has an alphabetical index of sixty pages, pointing to every subject and almost every name contained in it; also a chronological index to the contents of the public documents. As a book of historical reference, it is one of great value, and reflects credit on the Society and its efficient and industrious Secretary.

"THE ANTIQUITIES OF THE STATE OF OHIO: Full and Accurate Descriptions of the Works of the Mound-Builders; Defensive and Sacred Inclosures, Mounds, Cemeteries and Tombs, and their Contents, Implements, Ornaments, Sculptures, etc." By Henry A. Shepherd. Published by Robert Clarke & Co., Cincinnati. ($2.)

Messrs. Robert Clarke & Co. are doing the world at large a great service in the various archæological studies that are issuing from their press. "The Antiquities of Tennessee," 'Fort Ancient," "The Mound-Builders," and others in the same direction that might be mentioned, are followed by this later work upon the antiquities of Ohio. The extensive and elaborate remains of the mound-builders in Ohio early engaged the attention of American and foreign archæologists. In 1820 the American Antiquarian Society issued as their first volume Caleb Atwater's "Antiquities of Ohio and the West," and later, in 1848, the Smithsonian Institute issued as the first volume of its Contributions to Knowledge" the fine quarto volume on the "Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley," by Messrs. Squier and Davis. These works treat largely of the pre-historic remains of Ohio; but since their time more extensive explorations have been made, resulting in many new discoveries. More accurate surveys have also been made of the principal works. The author, in the present work, has endeavored to embody in it the results of all these recent discoveries, including extensive original surveys and explorations. He has critically digested much of the floating information that has been diffused through scores of works on American antiquities, reports of scientific societies, local histories, periodicals, etc., and thus presents in compact form an amount of archæological information which cannot readily be obtained elsewhere. The illustrations have been especially prepared for this work, some from authentic designs already

published, and others from original plans and drawings.

"EUROPEAN DAYS AND WAYS." By Alfred E. Lee, late Consul-General, U. S. A. Published by the J. B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia.

Gen. Lee made excellent use of his time. while representing our government on the other side of the sea. Not only did he fulfill his official duties ably, but he has taught us much in the newspapers and magazines, and now, in this handsome book, of the things that lie in the old countries that were the object of his careful studies and observations. In "European Days and Ways" we have a record of his journeyings, impressions, and a wide range of fact that he has collected by personal investigation and inquiry. We are carried across the sea into Frankfort, a "winsome city" (as he names it), told of Grant's visit there in his famous voyage around the world, and presented with an historical and philosophic view of William I. as King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany. Then come various studies of German social, family and educational life; a glimpse at various things in quaint old Holland; views among the Austrian Alps, a tramp through Tyrol; the Splugen, the Lakes and St, Gothard; over the Furca to Meiringen; the Hasli-Scheideck, the Faulhorn and the Schynige Platte; a run through Sicily; around the Sorrento Peninsula; Pompeii and Vesuvius; from Mayence to Madrid; Toledo and Cordova; through Andalusia; and the whole quest in search of new and strange things, ending in a scholarly and critical estimate of Bartolome Esteban Murillo. The illustrations that are scattered profusely through the work are of a high order of merit and aid the reader materially -among them being various views of the Niederwald Monument, the Rhone Glacier, the Konigssee, Dannecker's "Ariadne," "Prince Bismarck in 1877," a Moorish interior, a modern Moorish type, etc.