ried a Miss Sinclair, of New York, in the year 1706, and by her had the son Daniel who, I had erroneously supposed, was thought to be the owner of Greycourt. But no matter which Daniel in fact purchased Greycourt, the point of my query was the origin of the name. E. M. R. would seem to assume that a Crommelin(e) named it. If this as sumption is founded on fact, it destroys the legend given by the historian, Mr. Eager, that it came from a gray coat of

SULKY LITTLE RHODY [xii. 567] The note under this head speaks rather harshly we think, and it therefore may interest the readers of the Magazine to know why she was so "sulky" about approving the Constitution. From its settlement in 1636, the State of Rhode Island was, until 1728, in a bitter contention for existence with Connecticut. From 1636 until the present year 1884, a similar war has been going on between Rhode Island and Massachusetts-not a simple boundary dispute, but a struggle on the part of "Sulky Little Rhody" for the breath of life itself. You will see by reading both the Connecticut and Massachusetts charters, that they can be so construed as to include Rhode Island, and so as to be taken in by both these adjoining colonies. This contest passed on from one generation to another, and was a struggle of the severest kind. When the Revolution came "Little Rhody" had her part; she had in her capital city a powerful force of British soldiers, who stayed there nearly four years, and who succeeded in de

stroying many fine buildings, laid the island desolate, and sapped the lifeblood of her people. So well did the British do their work that it is a historical fact, that for thirty years not a solitary building of any kind was put up in this city (Newport). She received. chastisements enough to make her "suiky." She went into the Revolution for freedom, and certainly history shows. that no State did better service in that grand struggle for Independence. Coming out of this struggle, it is true victorious, with the rest of her sister colonies, yet like them sadly crippled in resources and with heavy losses in property and life, she found, that instead of having the freedom she expected, she was to meet danger (as she viewed it) from an unforeseen quarter. That is, if she joined the Union, or rather gave in her adherence to the Constitution, the larger States would take it into their heads to annex her to either one of the adjoining States, and this she had labored all her lifetime to avert. So it can be safely said that no State fought

more desperately, or more persistently, or stood out more sulky" for her rights than "Little Rhody." When it was plainly made known to her that she should have her existence as a State protected, that she should have an equal voice in the Upper House or Senate with each of the large States, and that most of her twenty-one proposed amendments to the Constitution were there in spirit and intent, she yielded, and came in last, and so by her vote made the Constitution unanimously accepted by all of the original thirteen States. The compact has been carried out to the very letter. No pen can point out wherein she has ever faltered in her duty. She has marched as grandly to the step of the Union as the noble old Empire State; and certainly no one of the States is more generally beloved by all than is "Little Rhody," and no one is more often kindly mentioned by citizens of

other States.

She is "sulky" but she is spirited, and certainly none of her sons need to blush for any deed of hers. We close by saying long live "Sulky Little Rhody." JAS. N. ARNOLD

PUBLICATIONS OF THE CONTINENTAL

CONGRESS [xii. 569]-A copy of the publication referred to by "Collector" is in the library of the New York Historical Society. It is an octavo of one hundred and twenty-two pages, entitled, "Observations on the American Revolution. Published according to a Resolution of Congress, by their Committee. For the consideration of those who are desirous

W. K.

"THE OLD ROGER MORRIS PLACE [xii. 563]-It was to this historical residence that the foot-note was intended to refer, and not to the "Beekman House, Turtle Bay."

W. H.

SCHOONER [xii. 474]-Schoon is a Dutch word, meaning handsome, whence the name perhaps, but certainly not from the Scotch or the American. Small vessels with two masts were called by the French goelette, and foreign ones. schooner, or skunard. Scherer, Recherches, etc., Paris, 1777, mentions three skunards as building at Arkangel. The translator of Pernetty's Journal of Bougainvitte's voyage to the Falkland Islands, London, 1771, finds a schooner at Montevideo. Webster, 1828, derives it from the German, on the faith of a Mar. Dict., as also Crabb, 1823. This ques

tion has been asked and answered before in the Am. Hist. Mag., vols. iii. and vi., 1859 and 1862. Such a vessel called a schooner at Albany, in 1723, not long before a Dutch colony, Mag. vol. vi. p. 221, is enough to kill the New England story, which comes out every few years. In Baltimore, an English colony, they were called clippers, and they were built in the Bermudas and the West Indies. No marine dictionary in Dutch, previous to 1720, is known.

BROOKLYN, N. Y.

B.

NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY-An interesting paper was read at the Society's stated meeting, Nov. 4, by Dr. George H. Moore, entitled, "A Summary Vindication of the Laws and Liberties of Massachusetts Concerning Attainders," in which he gave the results of some recent investigations of this subject, especially in its bearing upon the legal proceedings in the Salem witchcraft cases, a topic lately discussed by the Massachusetts Historical Society and the American Antiquarian Society. A copy was requested for publication by the Society.

On the 18th, the Society celebrated the eightieth anniversary of its founding, when the address on "Puritanism in New York in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries," was delivered by Prof. Charles A. Briggs, D. D., of the Union Theological Seminary. This able summary by Dr. Briggs of our ecclesiastical history during the colonial period is printed in another part of this number of the Magazine.

At the stated meeting, Dec. 2, Ernest H. Crosby, Fletcher H. Bangs and O. Perry Dexter were elected resident members. The paper of the evening was furnished by Rev. Ashbel G. Vermilye, D.D. on "The Early New York Post Office and Ebenezer Hazard, Postmaster and Postmaster-General," a valuable monograph, exhibiting thorough and careful research, and adorned by the lecturer's characteristic grace of composition and charm of expression. The interesting facts concerning the establishment, early operation and progress of our postal sys

tem were given in detail, and the great services of Franklin and Hazard in connection therewith justly brought to the notice and appreciation of those who enjoy this great branch of the public service in its perfection to-day. The post-boy of the past and the railway of the present were contrasted, and the dissemination throughout the country by the former of the stirring news of the battle at Lexington was graphically described. Availing himself of the ample historical material gathered in his research, the lecturer impressed on the minds of his audience a faithful and charming picture of the manners and habits of our colonial and Revolutionary ancestors.

THE CHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY held its annual meeting Nov. 18, 1884, Hon. E. B. Washburne in the chair. Judge Skinner, in behalf of the committee to prepare memorial notice of the late E. C. Larned, an annual member of the Society, asked for a postponement of the paper till the next meeting of the Society, which was granted. The librarian, Albert D. Hager, in behalf of and for Mrs. William Hickling, presented the Society a painted portrait of her late husband, who, at the time of his decease, was vice-president of the Society. The librarian reported the accession of 198 books since the meeting of the Society in October last. These added to former accessions make a total of 9,315 volumes, and 30,856 pamphlets and unbound books in the library.

The following officers were elected

president, James E. English; Treasurer, Robert Peck; Secretary, Thomas R. Trowbridge, jr.; Curator, George Sherman; Directors, Rev. E. E. Beardsley, Thomas R. Trowbridge, jr., Henry Bronson, M. D., E. H. Leffingwell, M.D., John W. Barber, Charles R. Ingersoll, Frank E. Hotchkiss, Charles H. Townsend, F. B. Dexter, Johnson T. Platt, E. H. Bishop, M.D., George Petrie, Henry L. Hotchkiss, James M. Hoppin, D.D., Eli Whitney, Charles Dickerman, Charles Peterson, Joseph B. Sargent, Charles L. English, T. Attwater Barnes, James G. English, Rev. E. E. Atwater, Ruel P. Cowles, Caleb B. Bowers.

HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION OF NEBRASKA STATE UNI

VERSITY—This organization held its first regular meeting at the chancellor's office in Lincoln, on Saturday evening November 15, 1884. Its special object is the study of local history, and the collection of documents and information pertaining to Western history in all lines. Its projectors are university professors and post-graduate students. Chancellor I. J. Manatt said that a university was not for the mere communication of knowledge, but for the extension of its limits and the opening up of new fields. "In "In a State like this," he continued, "where history is just making, a rare opportunity is offered for preserving it in accurate and attractive form. The State Historical Society has done some good in this direction, and for the future the headquarters of that society are likely to be at the University. Here scholarly methods and systematic persistent work would be brought to bear, and much greater results reasonably expected."

Professor Howard said the field offered by the two studies, history and political science, was a large one, embracing all that pertains to institutional law and to government, its social, political and financial aspects. History includes not only the history of nations and peoples, but the history of art, of science, and of language. Instructor H. W. Caldwell gave several felicitous illustrations of the admirable methods of work in a similar society at Johns Hopkins University, and of its advantages.

THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY-Its meetings of November 18 and December 2. On the first occasion Professor Franklin B. Dexter of Vale College read an exceptionally interesting paper on the "Diary of the Rev. Ezra Stiles, D.D." who was for many years minister of a church in Newport, and afterward President of Yale College.

On the second occasion Professor William William Mathews read a paper on “William Wirt," who began life in humble circumstances, and climbed, rather than flew, to heights of honor. The speaker, after giving an interesting account of the career and character of the eminent advocate, said: "He began his life with a lofty idea, and kept that before his eyes all through. He won the highest honors in the profession. He. became a polished writer, and won by his books, orations and addresses literary laurels worthy of his profession. He was conscientious in the discharge of his duties, severe as a critic, patient in labor, warm in his affections, faithful in his friendships, powerful as an advocate, and a sincere Christian. He left an example worthy of emulation."