things have been collected and read, to which, otherwise, the compiler would have paid no attention. Great pains have been taken to ascertain facts, and to write an impartial and well authenticated history: how far he hath succeeded in his work, must be left to the opinion of the public. It was the intention of the writer to have given an account of the cities in the state, their latitude and longitude, their trade, manufactures, &c.; of the state prison; of the fisheries; of the exports and imports; of the militia, train of artillery, fortifications, &c.: but finding that the volume would not admit of it, he has omitted the account which he designed.
Notwithstanding all the pains which have been taken, it will not be strange if, in such a variety of facts and dates, there should be some mistakes. There may have been some in the great number of historical communications made to the author, and it is not improbable that he has made some himself, though, he hopes, none very material.
He has had assistance from gentlemen in the several parts of the state, in making collections of the history of their particular towns. To them, and to all others who have given him assistance, he presents his grateful acknowledgments.
It will be observed that the ecclesiastical part of the history is kept by itself, in distinct chapters, and comprises about a third part of the history. It would make a volume by itself, and might be printed separately without any derangement of the narration.