DELAWARE COUNTY. 3 tliem of their titles and tlieir power. One of the great bene- fits of history to our own Government is by studiously com- paring other modes of rule with our own ; the defects of both become more visible, and we are enabled thereby to profit by all former times. The history of the world is divided into three great divi- sions; Ancient History, from the creation of the world to the Christian era, the Advent of Christ ; the History of the Mid- dle Ages, extending to the discovery of America by Colum- bus, in 1492 ; and Modern History, which comes down to and embraces the present time. The history of the United States and of the whole Western hemisphere, is embraced within the sphere of modern history. With regard to the subject, history is either general, where a whole nation is treated of, or particu- lar, where a sub-division of the same government is assumed as the basis of a history. Thus, the history of the United States would be general, while that of the State of New York would be particular ; and as such, would contain much matter relating to her alone, of the utmost interest and importance ; which in the general history, would be put down as improper and out of place. To say that the legislature of the State of New York in 1855, passed the Maine law, with the attendant circumstances of its execution, would, I venture to say, be as much out of place in the general history, as one of the Black Foot Indians of Kansas territory would be in the halls of Congress at Washington. The territory then which we have chosen as the basis of this history, characterizes it as one of the particular hind ; and while at the commencement we exhort those into whose hands it may fall, who are perhaps better informed than ourselves, not to be too particular in their criticisms, we shall at the same time strive to iQ particularly correct in all our assertions, nor leave any stone unturned, that will add any thing of inte- rest to those who may read its contents.
