PREFACE.

THE present volume completes the printing of the series of documents, as authorized by the several enactments of the legislature, to the year 1790. Some other papers (discovered after the period to which they refer had been printed in the preceding volumes,) will be found in an Appendix; among these is the correspondence of Gen. Brodhead, from 1779 to near the close of 1780, as contained in his original letter book in the Surveyor General's office; some few of these letters were printed in former volumes and are of course now excluded. They relate to an important period in the history of the western portion of our State, and will be found interesting as well as useful.

The notes of forts, which have, in their preparation, occupied much time, and occasioned delay in the appearance of this volume, will, (imperfect as they are,) it is believed, be useful, and form a partial response to inquiries frequently made, while the work was in progress, as to their locality and condition. The Editor has in these respects been disappointed, in not receiving promised information from persons in the neighborhood of the forts; and which they would oblige him still by furnishing; as well as by the correction of errors which may be discovered, as they may be hereafter used. To several persons, however, he is under obligations for the assistance afforded him. Lithographs of several of the forts accompany the notes. The Constitutions of 1776 and 1790, have been printed from the original documents in the Secretary's office.

The general Index authorized by the law of 1855, embracing the whole twenty-eight volumes of Records and Archives,