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brightened by some rays of morning light that promised a better and brighter day to come. We refer here, more particularly, to the Passage over the Mountains in 1714; the introduction of the posts in 1718; (or more properly perhaps twenty years afterwards ;) the completion of the College of William and Mary, in 1729; and the establishment of the Virginia Gazette, in 1736; which was indeed the acquisition of a new organ for the diffusion of light in the land: and we must not forget, (what even a foreign historian has remembered to record,) that it was in this "inglorious interval," (as he terms it,) that a race of patriots, statesmen, orators and heroes-with Washington himself at the head of them—was born, and partly trained for the service of the commonwealth and country at the proper time.

We will only add, that with the materials which we have already in hand for the illustration of this period, and with the whole range of our subject besides, we flatter ourselves that our present volume will not be the least valuable of the series, and we shall even hope that it may prove the most agreeable.

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The Fourth Annual Meeting of the Virginia Historical Society was held in the Hall of the House of Delegates, on Thursday evening, the 12th ult., in the presence of a large and most respectable company-the Governor of the Commonwealth, members of the General Assembly, and many others, including a brilliant corona of ladies, attending to grace the scene. The Hon. John Y. Mason, one of the Vice Presidents of the Society, (in the absence of the President,) presided, and, on taking the chair, read an appropriate and interesting Address in his own happy manner, and with pleasing effect. After this, Conway Robinson, Esq., the Chairman of the Executive Committee, read the Annual Report of the Committee, shewing the past progress and present state of the Society, and glancing at some of the views of the Committee for the future-very gratifying to all present; and the Secretary, Mr. Maxwell, added a brief statement of the books, manuscripts, and other donations received during the past year. Mr. M. also announced, in proper terms, that Mr. Thomas Sully, the well-known artist, formerly of this city, but more recently of Philadelphia, had very handsomely offered and

engaged to paint a copy of his own celebrated portrait of Patrick Henry, (now in the possession of John Henry, Esq. of Red-Hill, Charlotte,) as a complimentary contribution to the generous cause in which the Society is engaged;— and added that the portrait of such a man, by such an artist, would of course be received with the most grateful acknowledgments of the Society, and justly prized as the most precious ornament of their historic hall. This announcement was greeted with a lively demonstration of satisfaction and applause.

Mr. M. also announced the names of the Honorary Members of the Society, elected during the past year.

After these introductory proceedings, Wm. H. Macfarland, Esq., read an able and interesting Discourse on the Life, Character, and Public Services of the late Benjamin Watkins Leigh, an Honorary Member of the Society; in which he bore his own personal testimony to the rare and eminent worth and merit of that distinguished citizen, whom he justly characterized as a profound jurist, an able advocate, a disinterested and incorruptible statesman; and, to crown all, a cordial believer in Christianity, and a zealous supporter of the Episcopal Church. Mr. M.'s treatment of his subject was highly proper and judicious throughout, and his delineations of the character of the deceased, more particularly, were marked by clear justice and nice discrimination. They touched of course responsive feelings; and it was evident indeed that they were not only fully approved, but warmly sanctioned by all who heard them.

Mr. Speed, of Lynchburg, moved a resolution thanking Mr. M. for his able and interesting discourse, and requesting him to furnish the Executive Committee with a copy of it, to be preserved in the archives, and published under their direction; which was unanimously adopted; and the Society adjourned.

We may add, with confidence, that the whole proceedings of the evening have left the most agreeable impressions on the minds of all present, and such as cannot but greatly strengthen the Society in the approbation and favor of the public.

THE REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

The members of the Society must have been gratified in observing that the "Virginia Historical Register," conduc-. ted by our Secretary, has, since our last annual meeting, contributed to diffuse useful and interesting information relating to the history of our State before and during the Revolution. This journal is read with increased satisfaction, and deserves the support of every Virginian. The service rendered to the public by it, rightly estimated, must, we think, far exceed the value of all the pecuniary contributions which have been made to establish and support it. As we said in our report of December, 1848, 66 we think its value will be increased when it can be so enlarged as to enable the publisher to embrace in it full and accurate information as to the most important events happening about the period of its publication. as well as in relation to occurrences of past times; and such enlargement may reasonably be expected if the patronage of this journal shall be equal to its merits."

He who supposes that we are merely chroniclers of the past, without regard to the present, has a very imperfect idea of the aim and objects of this Society. While commemorating the deeds of our forefathers, we would yet preserve knowledge of the present, for the benefit of those who are to come after us. Thus viewed, the Historical Society of Virginia will have objects to accomplish so long as Virginia lasts.

Nor are those objects undeserving the support of any one who is identified with this State in feeling or in interest. We wish to see Virginia advance in whatever will entitle her to a higher rank amongst any people who lay claim to civilization. The materials for history are of most benefit when they serve to make the present more illustri

ous than the past, and the future improve still more upon

the present.

The extent to which this Society can be of use, must essentially depend upon the amount of its pecuniary means. It has now thirty-six life members, who have paid $50 each, of which $1,600 has been, and the rest will soon be, invested as a permanent fund in certificates of debt of the State of Virginia. This permanent fund we hope to see soon enlarged to $2,000, by obtaining additional life members.

Upon the interest of this fund, and what is paid by others than life members, we have to rely to pay the annual expenses. Enough has not been raised in this way to justify the publication, hitherto, of a second volume of the "Early Voyages to America."

The manuscript embracing an account of all the voyages to and along the Atlantic coast of North America, from 1573 to 1606, is, however, so far prepared, that we feel justified in stating that this volume will be published so soon as we are furnished with sufficient funds; and this, we have reason to hope, may be during the present winter.

In the message of the Governor of the State to the last Legislature, he bore strong testimony to the usefulness of this Society, and declared that Virginia owed it to herself to give it legislative countenance and assistance. This opinion was concurred in by the committee to whom the subject was referred. The bill reported for giving such assistance, there is reason to believe, would have passed last winter, except for the adjournment of the Legislature before it was reached. This measure, or some other not less conducive to the welfare of the Society, it is hoped will, during the present session of the Legislature, meet its approbation.

At the last annual meeting of the Society, there was referred to the Executive Committee a letter from Hugh B.

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