ican literature to be seen in the possession of any individual in the country.

The want of such a library had been sensibly felt by him in making his compilation, and the inconvenience had been overcome by personal sacrifices, which few other individuals could make. He therefore justly deemed its importance to the literary interests of society to be inestimable. If once scattered, he observed, it could never be gathered again. These considerations led him to propose the incorporation of an association for collecting and preserving the materials of history, natural and civil, in every form, in which they present themselves, and he offered to endow the Institution by a donation of his collection. The proposition was approved by a number of the friends of American literature, and the American Antiquarian Society was incorporated in 1812. The legislature of Massachusetts alone could give legal existence to a corporation of this kind; but it was considered and designed by its founder to be an institution national in its character, whose members should be elected from every quarter of the country, and whose advantages should be common to every State in the Union. Nothing less than this would answer his liberal views of public utility. At the first meeting of the Society, Mr. Thomas was unanimously elected its President, and continued to hold the office by annual election till the time of his death. The interest he manifested in its early success suffered no diminution in its subsequent progress. Every year, he made liberal donations of books and rare curiosities, obtained both as presents to him from their possessors, and by purchases, at an amount not in considerable. The first volume of its Transactions was published wholly at his expense. In 1820, he erected the spacious edifice, now occupied by the Society, fitted it with convenient rooms for the accommodation of the library and cabinet, and gave it for the exclusive use of the Institution. The library now contains about twelve thousand volumes, embracing nu

merous annual files of American newspapers, bound in regular series. Nearly all the papers printed before the revolution are to be found among them. The residue of the library includes history, theology, and general literature. One room is appropriated for a cabinet of curiosities, illustrating the manners of the fathers, as well as the aborigines of North America. The Institution enumerates a long list of benefactors, from whom have been received many valuable donations of books and other articles; but for whatever of character, energy, and living principle it possesses, it is indebted to the untiring generosity of its founder. In his last will, he has provided for its exigencies to an extent unequalled in the history of any similar society in this country. Benevolence was a prominent trait in the character of Mr. Thomas, and several other institutions shared largely in his bounty, under the provisions of his will. The community, in which he resided, will long cherish his memory as a public benefactor. To almost all the objects of public enterprise and philanthropy, which mark our age, he was a generous contributor, and without discrimination of party or sect. The unfortunate children of want around him, in the gloom of sickness and distress, will remember him as a neverfailing friend; for to them his charities were abundant and seasonable. He died at his residence in Worcester, April 4th, 1831, at the advanced age of eighty-two years.

Neither the ordinary pursuits of business, nor the regular studies of a man of science, furnish much variety of incident. The life of Mr. Thomas was useful to his country, both for the services he rendered it, and for the example he exhibited, so full of encouragement to young men, of successful industry in acquiring knowledge, and of well-directed labor in gaining property, of invincible resolution in overcoming difficulties, and of discriminating liberality in applying his acquisitions to the wants of individuals and of society. In his social intercourse, he was affable, obliging, and friendly. Young men, just entering into active life, and engaging in the untried and perplexing

mazes of business, seldom looked to him in vain for advice, for patronage, or assistance. His own experience of the embarrassments and hardships, which beset the path of unskilled adventurers in the world of business, enlisted his sympathies in their trials, and secured his timely aid of their own endeavours to obtain importance and respectability. Yet it cannot be said he had no enemies, for no man perhaps, is without them; but it may well be doubted whether he was ever heard to speak of such with disrespect or unkindness. To overcome evil with good, seemed to be a ruling principle of his conduct. In this respect, his example cannot be too much commended. If strictly regarded, it would relieve society of much of the calumny and bitterness, which disturb its peace, and poison the fountains of social life.

I.

A

SYNOPSIS

OF THE INDIAN TRIBES

WITHIN THE

UNITED STATES EAST OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS,

AND

IN THE BRITISH AND RUSSIAN POSSESSIONS

IN

NORTH AMERICA.

BY THE HON. ALBERT GALLATIN.