Francis W. Rawle, Clearfield County. Joseph J. Lewis, Chester County. CIRCULAR. Philadelphia, June 21, 1825. SIR-A number of persons, feeling an interest in the collection and preservation of whatever may conduce to the knowledge of the History of Pennsylvania, have formed a society under the title of "The Historical Society of Pennsylvania." Their objects are to trace all the circumstances of its early settlement-its successful progress and its present state;-to collect all the documents and written or printed evidence, and all the traditionary information that may still be attainable, and, after having thus acquired possession of sufficient materials, it will be the office of one or more committees, to select what may be deemed generally interesting and instructive, to methodise and arrange it, and to lay it in a proper form before the public. It is obvious that the more copious these collections are, the greater will be the means of a judicious and satisfactory selection, and it is therefore the ardent hope of the Society, that persons in possession of documents of the nature described in the following list, will feel a common, it may be said a patriotic interest, in contributing to the general purpose, by favouring the Society, either as donations or loans, with any works of the following description, viz. Original letters, books, journals or narratives of the early settlers of Pennsylvania, or of any distinguished persons among us in later times. Narratives relative to the Indians; wars or treaties with them; and the general intercourse between them and Europeans, or among the Indians themselves. Vocabularies or other indications of their language. Accounts of missionaries, public messengers and travellers among them. Any facts or reasoning that may throw light on the doubtful question of the origin of the North American Indians. Copies of records, and proceedings of any public bodies, of a political, religious, literary, or other character, that have at any time existed among us. Accounts of universities, colleges, academies, and schools, their origin aud progress. Topographical descriptions of cities, towns, boroughs, counties, or townships. Accounts of the population, births, longevity, deaths, endemial or local diseases-facts relative to climate, meteorological remarks, general employment or peculiar customs of each district. Biographical notices of any eminent persons, or of any persons in respect to whom remarkable events may have happened. As it is the intention of the Society to form an am ple library and cabinet, it will gratefully receive all donations of books, pamphlets, or manuscripts, on any subject or of any date; medals, coins, or any other article deriving value from historical or biographical affinities: Indian idols, ornaments, arms, or utensils, &c. . The name of the donor will be noted in the library or the cabinet, and in the journals. Be pleased to address your communications to JoSEPH HOPKINSON, Corresponding Secretary, or GERARD RALSTON, Curator of the Society. By order, WILLIAM RAWLE, President. JOSEPH HOPKINSON, Secretary. |