Page:Archæologia Americana—volume 2, 1836.djvu/573

 INTRODUCTORY NOTE, EY THE PUBLISHING COMMITTEE. The following paper, together with the medal which it describes, was transmitted to the Society by the late Ds Witt Clinton, of New York, as a token of the interest with which he regarded the objects of the association, and of his own willingness to aid in promoting them. Amidst the laborious duties of a life of uncommon activity, Governor Clin- ton found time for the prosecution of extensive inquiries into the history of the country; and this paper is a proof of the readiness with which he undertook the elucidation of any portion of its annals, although the matter in question might be of subordinate practical importance at the present day. The medal remains in the cabinet of the Society, as it was received, in a mutilated condition ; and it would be impossible to give a satis- factory account of the inscription without the aid of Mr. At water's translation, contained in the letter of Governor Clinton, which must have been made when it was in a more perfect state. Not more than one half of it has been spared, the margin on the left of the inscription bear- ing the marks of a chisel, by which it appears to have been cut ofF in an irregular manner. The remaining letters are sufficiently legible ; nor is there reason to suppose that any word has been obliterated from the existing portion of the plate. Since the communication of Governor Clinton was made to the Society, a documentreferringtothe same matter has been brought to light by Mr. Sparks, and noticed in his edition of the " Writings of Washington." * This is the Journal of Mr. William Trent, who was sent by Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, to treat with the Indians on the Ohio, in 1753. Trent reports his having been informed by an Indian, that " the French say they took possession of all the lands on the other side of the Alle- gany Hill for the King of France, three years ago, by sinking ii-on plates at the mouth of several of the creeks, and putting up tin plates on vol. ii. 68
 * Vol. II. p. 430, note.