Page:Archæologia Americana—volume 2, 1836.djvu/597

 CHRISTOPHER C. BALDWIN. 561 hundred pages each. Its chief design was, to collect materials for history, by the publication of local histories, biographies, ancient documents, records, &ic. ; but it also contained much original and selected miscellany, of an amusing and instructive character. In it, was published a brief history of this County, and very valuable histories of a considerable number of towns, as well as many documents of public interest. The volumes are justly viewed as a valuable addition to the stock of histori- cal information ; and the public are greatly indebted to the learned editors, for the ability displayed in them, and for the example of giving the history of town corporations, which has been since extensively followed, and promises to afford the most accurate materials for a general history of the Common- wealth. This work, thus valuable and ably conducted, was, nevertheless, less popular than many fugitive, worthless publi- cations of the day, and failed to obtain patronage sufficient to justify its continuance, and was, therefore, to the regret of all who appreciated its merits, discontinued. By this connexion with the press, Mr. Baldwin's relish for his favorite pursuits was stimulated ; and, instead of being dis- couraged by a lack of like taste in the public, he continued to pursue his inquiries, with a zeal that never tired, and a patience that was never exhausted. He performed occasional journeys, sometimes even on foot, to visit aboriginal antiquities and natural curiosities ; and assiduous- ly collected all kinds of books, publications, and papers, which fell in his way, eagerly treasuring up whatever had the remotest tendency to illustrate the history of America. He was early made a member of the American Antiquarian Society, and distinguished himself for his zeal in promoting its interests. Isaiah Thomas, Esq., the founder of this institution, was an inhabitant of Worcester, and, perhaps, the most distinguished printer of his time on this continent. Though public-spirited and hospitable, his remarkable enterprise secured to him a large fortune for a country gentleman. With a disinterested benevo- lence, seldom surpassed, in his lifetime he laid deep and firm the foundations of this Society, by erecting, at his own charge, a building for its use, costing over ten thousand dollars, and col- lecting, chiefly at his own expense, a library of about nine thousand volumes, all which, at his decease, he bequeathed to the Society, and also a fund sufficient to support a librarian in VOL. II. 71