TOPOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL, RELATING PRINCIPALLY TO NEW-HAMPSHIRE. EDITED BY J. FARMER AND J. B. MOORE. VOL. I. "TRADITION IS BUT A METEOR, WHICH, IF IT ONCE FALLS, CAN NEVER BE REKINDLED." CONCORD: PUBLISHED BY HILL & MOORE, 1822. PREFACE. UNDER the title which is prefixed to the following pages, it is proposed, should encouragement be given, to publish a series of numbers or volumes, which shall embrace, 1. HISTORICAL SKETCHES of Indian wars, battles and exploits; of the adventures and sufferings of the captives: 2. TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTIONS of towns and places in New-Hampshire, with their history, civil and ecclesiastical : 3. BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS and ANECDOTES of eminent and remarkable persons in New-Hampshire, or who have had connection with its settlement and history: 4. Statistical Tables; Tables of Births, Diseases and Deaths: 5. Meteorological Observations, and facts relating to cli mate: And such other interesting matter as may come to hand. The utility of individual efforts, as well as of associations, for the purpose of collecting and preserving what remains of the antiquities and curiosities of a country, cannot be questioned. Mankind generally are interested in the feelings and pursuits, the history and moral state of man in different ages. Hence arises a fondness for even those details, which alone, may be unworthy of regard, but which in the aggregate form the most valuable sources from which to learn the exact condition of a people. And perhaps there is no higher mental pleasure than that produced in "tracing the footsteps of past existence, in walking over the ground cultivated by former generations, in reviewing the records of their deeds, and in examining the monuments of their industry, wisdom and piety." We are thus instructed in the powers of human. genius, and made acquainted with all the variety of character elicited in public trials or private sufferings. |