here, would doubtless occupy the attention of such a writer for a year. Within a few months, this work has been begun and completed. Notwithstanding this remarkable celerity, it will be evident that little or nothing, which should have a place in its pages, has been omitted. It will also be evident throughout that the writer of the general history, as well as the gentlemen who collected the biographical notices, have realized the simple fact of undeserved praise being undisguised satire. In some instances, this realization may have led to too brief references to many men, an account of whose lives might occupy many pages.

The plan of this work is specially adapted to a great record book. All things pertaining in general to the State are dealt with in the State history, and form, as it were, an introduction to the county history. The latter is carried down from the first Otchipwe invasion to the present time, treating fully and impartially every subject of general interest to the people. So with the cities and the villages-they have been very liberally sketched; while each township has just sufficient notice given it to render its history a most valuable record for the future.

We have been ably assisted in the work by the members of the county press. The written sketches of Judge James B. Eldredge, Edgar Weeks, John E. Day, Rev. H. N. Bissell, Dr. Hollister, were all requisitioned and yielded up a mine of historical information.

The reminiscences of early settlement were selected from the writings of members of the pioneer society, while the numerous anecdotes were written from facts obtained from the old settlers.

To the county officers our most sincere thanks are offered-first, for placing their well-kept records at our disposal; second, for the material aid rendered in searching old record books, and lastly, for the genial courtesy which marked their intercourse with us on all occasions.

To Chauncey G. Cady, George H. Cannon and John E. Day, members of the Historical Committee of the Pioneer Society, we desire to extend our thanks for the deep interest which they have taken in the work, as well as recognition of their faithful labors on the Committee of Revision and Correction.

The gentlemen engaged in the biographical department of the work were H. O. Brown, in Bruce and Washington; W. M. Bucklin, at Romeo; E. B. Belden, in Ray; F. A. Stitt, in Sterling; Thomas Mitchell, in Harrison and Erin; William Dicer, in Shelby; Jesse Cloud, in Utica; George T. Mason, at Mt. Clemens City; S. A. Stinson, in Chesterfield; John E. Day, Secretary of the Pioneer Society, compiled the general and biographical history of Armada and Richmond Townships; Horatio N. Richards, of Lenox, and Calv. n Davis, of Macomb.

The support extended to the history was not so general as it should be; yet we feel satisfied that the quality of our subscribers compensates in a great measure for the loss in number, by rendering our book so excellent in its biographical features. While the work deals with the county generally, it has, from a historical standpoint, been written expressly for those who supported it. The very few among the intelligent classes who did not order a book cannot now obtain a copy from us. To all we have given a history, which we be

lieve is perfect in detail, and from the patrons of the work we ask only a careful perusal of the various chapters before their criticism.

CHICAGO, July, 1882.

M. A. LEESON.