present time, and which of the three styles of his work have chiefly been selected for importation to this country? ART STUDENT BALTIMORE, Md., Aug. 5, 1884

WILL some of your correspondents tell me if any of Sir Joshua Reynolds's family came to this country in its early settlement, and if so, where did they settle? A. H.

ANNISQUAM, Mass., Aug. 10, 1884

IN the March number of "The Griswold Family of Connecticut," by Prof. Salisbury, the dates are given of the visits of Gen. Washington and Gen. La Fayette to Lyme, Connecticut. "The night of the 9th of April, 1776, Gen. Washington slept at the house of Mr. John McCurdy as he traveled from Boston to New York after taking command

of the American army." Can any one tell what officers and other gentlemen were with him?

It is added that "on the 27th of July, 1778, the young Gen. La Fayette marched through Lyme with his troops, and staid at the house of Mr. McCurdy on

the green, while they rested in a field

nearly opposite." A note adds an extract "from the Diary kept at New Haven by President Stiles," in which he says: "1778 July 26. Lord's Day... the Marquis de la Fayette aet. 22, and Col. Varnum with Col. Sherburn and Col. Fleury visited me... At 4 P. M. the whole corps began their march.... They proceed by 2 roads. Gen. Varnum and Col. Philips via Middletown, Hartford, &c.; Gen. Glover's (in which the Marquis) via seaside."

Can any one tell what other officers and how many troops accompanied Gen. La Fayette on this march? D. G.

NINE PARTNERS [xii. 89, 182]-The patent for the Great Nine Partners' tract of land in Dutchess County was given May 28, 1697, to Caleb Heathcote, Augustine Graham, James Emott, Henry Filkin, David Jamison, Henry Ten Eyck, John Aretson, William Creed, and Jarvis Marshall. This tract was bounded west by Hudson river, south and west by lands of Myndert Harmense & Co., southerly and easterly by the Connecticut line. See Vol. 7 of Pat. p. 80, in office of Sec. of State, Albany.

April 10, 1706, the tract of the Little Nine Partners was given by patent to Sampson Broughton, Rip Van Dam, Thomas Wenham, Roger Mompesson,

Peter Fauconnier, Augustine Graham, Richard Sackett and Robert Lurting. It was also on the Connecticut line in the north-east part of Dutchess County. Dutchess County was formed in 1683, and the above two tracts were simply portions of the county.

GEO. R. HOWELL NEW YORK STATE LIBRARY, ALBANY, July 28, 1884

AMERICAN KNIGHTHOOD (xii. 89)— Penobscot is referred to Ushu Parsons' Life of Sir Wm. Pepperell, and to the Historical Magazine, Vols. I. and II., Series I., for answers to his query.

H. E. H.

ROUSSEAU IN PHILADELPHIA-To the Editor of the MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN HISTORY: I beg leave to thank you for the excellent article in your publication [xii. 46] on the comparatively slight influence of French politicians on American revolutionary politics. Concerning the position taken, I will add the following illustrations: 1. Burke's speeches on America and his tract on the Popery Laws (in which he maintained that no laws which are not declaratory of national sense can be operative) were circulated largely through the colonies. In these documents he advanced distinctively Whig doctrines, and vindicated the right of revolution, basing it, however, not on doctrinaire philosophy, but on the political traditions and instincts of the English people. There was not a colonial assembly in which Burke was not thanked. There was not a colony in which a county or a town was not named after him. The ante-revolutionary documents on both sides appealed to him, and on the popular side, quoted his words. "Throughout America," says Mr. Garland, the biographer of John Randolph, "his name was venerated and beloved;" and by thinkers so distinct as Jefferson and John Randolph he was adopted as a leader in political philosophy. Of the French doctrinaire philosophers nothing like this can be said. Jefferson over and over again deplores their speculativeness and their want of authority in practical politics. Of translations from these writers there are no republications. So far from their names being perpetuated in our gazetteers of places, these names were unknown except to a very few, and regarded as authoritative by none. In no English political document is the

2.

right of revolution more boldly and uncompromisingly vindicated than in Lord Somers' "Judgment of Whole Kingdoms and Nations, concerning the rights, powers and prerogatives of kings." I have before me a reprint of this document issued by John Dunlap, in Philadelphia, in 1773; and there are traces of its circulation and adoption throughout the colonies. Over and over again was it appealed to in controversy with English tories; over and over again was it declared to be the authority on which the revolutionary statesmen, placed their claims. The impression produced by this wide dissemination of Lord Somers' tract is illustrated by the towns and villages which were at that time named after him. Of Rousseau, whose influence it is now declared was so decisive in revolutionary politics, we find no trace either in revolutionary literature or revolutionary memorials.

FRANCIS WHARTON
NARRAGANSETT PIER, R. I.,
August 1, 1884 S

HOW DID GENERAL HERKIMER SPELL HIS NAME?-In a scrap cut from a newspaper several years ago-most probably in 1877, the Centennial year of the Battle of Oriskany-and credited to the MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN HISTORY, I read the following: "But four autographs of Gen. Nicholas Herkimer, the hero of the Oriskany battle, in 1777, are known to be in existence. One of these is owned by M. M. Jones, of Utica; one by the Hon. Samuel Earl, of Herkimer; a third by a gentleman in Buffalo; and a fourth by the Oneida Historical Society at Utica." To those four should be added another (in my collection) making five at least of

the General's autographs known to be in existence. It is a document only, bearing his signature, dated in 1765, which I received from the late Rev. Dr. Sprague as far back as 1840 or 1841, and which has been in my possession ever since. And as those years ante-date, no doubt, the formation of all the collections above mentioned, and most probably the birth of the collectors themselves (the Historical Society included) it will be evident that mine is not one of the four thus referred to, but another and entirely different specimen.

In the very interesting paper by S. W. D. North, "The Story of a Monument," [xii. 97] he gives a copy with translation (a very necessary adjunct) of the autograph of Gen. Herkimer, belonging to the Oneida Historical Society-undoubtedly the most. important and valuable paper bearing his name which is known to exist; both as being, very probably, one of the latest, and also, as I judge from its character, entirely written by him, and if so, as a "Holograph" in all probability unique. This order to Coi. Bellinger bears the signature "NICOLAS HERCHHEIMER," and Mr. North says: "It is certain that in all his autographs preserved he spelled it uniformly." With this statement I will also ask permission to join issue, since in the document now before me he uses an entirely different spelling-" NICOLAS HERCHMER." In verification of this statement, I subjoin a copy of so much of the document as appears to me worth publishing, (accompanied by a tracing of the signature from the original). Its heading reads: An Accompt of Forrage Purchased by NICHOLAS HARCKARMAR For His Majesty's Service for the year 1765." Then follows a list of "Persons'

64

Names," with a detailed statement of the quantity, description, and price of such article purchased, with the aggregate amount carried out on a line with each individual's name. Omitting the figures which show the "number of Schipples of corn, oats and peas," "Number of Loads of Hay," and the prices of each, "per Schipple," or "pr Load," I subjoin only the list of "Persons' names" as being of interest not only to their living descendants, but also to all antiquarian and philological tastes, who are curious in noting the transformation of names, by new modes of spelling, or by translation from one language to another, of which changes Mr. North has given some curious examples in his article. names, as here given and spelled, are:

The

Nicholas Wol Eher.

Andrice Clepsadle.

Joseph Myers.

Christophel Fox.

George Wence.

It will be observed that in the heading of this paper-"An Accompt of Forrage purchased," etc.-the name of General Herkimer is written "HARCKARMAR," a mode of spelling it entirely different from either of his two signatures quoted as above. This, however, does not affect the point at issue :-How Herkimer himself spelled his own name?

The "Accompt" appears to have been made out for Herkimer by the Quarter master's Clerk or Deputy. The entire document, receipt and all (with the exception of Herkimer's signature), is in the same handwriting-an excellent specimen of the round, plain, mercantile hand in universal use in the London counting-houses of a century or more The writer no doubt ago. the gave name "HARCKARMER," as he had heard it usually pronounced and was in the habit of spelling it; and for the Orthography of the" Persons' names" (presumably dictated to him by Herkimer himself) he, in like manner, "went by his ear."

In this connection, the following characteristic letter of the brave Col. MARINUS WILLETT-Copied from the Original in my collection and believed to be unpublished-written only nine days before the Oriskany fight, to notify the inhabitants of the German Flats of the expected attack on Fort Schuyler, will

be found of interest.

Sir.

"Fort Schuyler, July 28th, 1777.

We have received accounts which may be relied on that Sir John Johnson has sent orders to Colonel Butler to send a

(Addressed)

Your Humble Servt, Marinus Willett."

"Mr. Frederick Elmore,

Member of the Committee

at the German Flats."

It is a pity so spirited and patriotic a letter should not have reached its destination. Such, however, appears the fact, from the following indorsement: "These two letters were retaken from the Enemy in a Sortie out of Fort Schuyler, August 6th, 1777." (Aug. 6th was the date of the Battle of Oriskany, at which Gen. Herkimer fell, mortally. wounded.) This indorsement bears no signature, but sufficiently resembles the handwriting in the body of the letter to warrant the inference that it was made by Col. Willett himself, when (as is probable) he filed it and its companion away, to be carefully preserved as interesting relics of the "Siege of Fort Schuyler." L. J. CIST CINCINNATI, Ohio, Aug. 5, 1884

LAL.

A NOVEL. By WILLIAM A. HAMMOND. 12m0, pp. 466. New York City, 1884: D. Appleton & Co.

In whatever light Dr. Hammond's novel may be considered it is sure to be read. The story possesses a certain charm, not easily defined. We may say the plot is not intricate or startling, the characters quite beyond our personal acquaintance, and the incidents and situations, however effective, so unexpected and swiftly moving as to bewilder rather than soothe the senses. But we read on, page after page, chapter after chapter, nevertheless. We recognize a certain fire beneath the surface, a certain subtle force which carries us forward from the beginning to the end. We are dropped down in an early stage of our journey among horse-thieves and murderers in a frontier mining settlement. A Polish scholar is the redeeming feature of the scene, who buys a neglected ranch, and goes to housekeeping under a leaky roof in the most primitive manner. He is nearly hanged by a Vigilance Committee the first night after his arrival; is intruded upon in his chosen solitude without relief or intermission; has a fight with a ruffian, and thinking he has killed him, runs toward the nearest town for aid and justice, and meeting a doctor on the way, falls headlong into polite society instead. Here we encounter a beautiful and interesting young lady, the companion of her father in every scientific scheme, and on a par with him in all mental acquirements. Dr. Hammond has thus provided himself with the opportunity of presenting to a large audience his views on the fitness of woman for profound studies. "Brains should govern the world, not muscle," he says through his philanthropic Hellbender doctor; and "knowledge not only does not debase the mind of woman, but it dignifies, and exalts and refines it with each truth that enters its portals." This may be heresy, but the reader can decide that question better than the reviewer. Lal, the heroine of the novel, serves as an illustrative example of the indestructibility of inherited excellence of character, even under the most untoward circumstances. Without education, bred in the home of a degraded outlaw, and in a community of outlaws, so to speak, we find her in every trying situation true to the noble instincts of her higher but uncultivated nature. We are thus by no means surprised when we discover that she is not the daughter of her reputed parents at all, but was stolen by them in infancy from a refined family. The conduct of all these strangely assorted people is handled with consummate and artistic skill, and harmonizes so perfectly with their characters, and with the author's evidently well-studied and thoroughly organized plan, that we have in this work of fiction a picture of frontier life not easily

effaced from the reader's mind. The whole story is unique and original, and it is told gracefully, forcibly, and dramatically.

YEAR-BOOK

South Carolina.

NUAL REVIEW.

1883. City of Charleston, MAYOR COURTENAY'S AN8vo, pp. 580. News and Courier Book Presses. Charleston, S. C. The frontispiece of this handsome year-book is an elaborate map, 27 x 27, showing the Old Town and early farms on the west bank of the Ashley; the present site of the city of Charleston up to near the Clement's Ferry Road, with all lines of fortifications and historic points. The work is something more and better than a mere yearly report of the general affairs and public institutions of a flourishing city; it touches many points of great historic importance. Mayor Courtenay seems to have happily interposed to protect the records of the past from destruction, for which the people of Charleston-one of the most interesting cities on the Atlantic coast ―owe him a debt of gratitude. His cultured example is worthy of imitation by the executive officers of many another American city. This Year-Book contains a carefully edited account of the Centennial of Incorporation, of August, 1883, together with the able and eloquent centennial address of the Mayor on that occasion, amplified and revised for publication in permanent form. It is notably a mine of authentic information concerning the foundation, rise, and progress of the City of Charleston. Much may be found in it that has never before been accessible to the general student of American History. Its illustrations are pertinent, of which is a copy of the autographs of the forty-eight signers of the Association of 1774; the Great Seal of the Second Lords Proprietors of Carolina, to which are attached their autographs in fac-simile; a copy of an old map giving the British account of the battle of Fort Sullivan; a copy of the autographs of the seventy early members of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce; fac-similes of relics, bills of lading of the last century; and views of the Old Forts. It is a work of exceptional value for all public and private libraries.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY: Its Political History and Influence. By J. HARRIS PATTON, M.A. 16m0, pp. 345. New York City, 1884: Fords, Howard & Hulbert.

The character of this work is indicated by its title. The author is well known to the reading public through his "History of the American People;" and for the preparation of a sketch showing the nature and tendencies of a political