PREFACE. THE papers of the Rev. Manasseh Cutler, LL.D., have recently fallen into the hands of the family of his eldest son, Judge Ephraim Cutler, of Marietta, Ohio, who was himself one of the early pioneers, having moved there in 1795 from his New England home. While the labor of preparing these papers for publication has been performed from an affectionate regard for the memory of their ancestor, it is also hoped that they may prove a valuable contribution to the early history of the North-west. The plan of the volume may be stated as follows: 1. After a brief introduction, a sketch of his early life, together with extracts from a daily journal kept by himself, beginning in 1765 and running down to 1787, at which time he entered on the "Ohio business." 2. In order to arrive at a proper understanding of the value and character of the negotiations he carried through with the Congress of 1787, and as explanatory of the results of his labors, a brief examination and review of the situation of public affairs as connected with the North-west Territory is presented; also the steps taken to organize the Ohio Company, consisting of the plan of Colonel Timothy Pickering for the organization of a new state westward of the Ohio;" the petition of the officers, with their names; the correspondence of General Putnam with General Washington; the "Information" published by General Putnam and General Tupper; the organization of the Ohio Company, with Dr. Cutler's appointment as their agent. .6 3. Dr. Cutler's private journal, kept from the day he started from his home, as the agent of the Ohio Company to visit New York, embracing his visit to Philadelphia, until his re turn. 4. A journal of his second visit to New York to pay the first moiety on the land purchase, and to close the contract with the Board of Treasury. 5. A brief review of the personal influence exerted by Dr. Cutler in the formation of the Governmental Ordinance of July 13, 1787. 6. A variety of correspondence between Dr. Cutler and Winthrop Sargent, General Putnam and others, relating to the establishment of the Colony at Marietta and Ohio Company affairs. 7. A journal of a visit to Marietta undertaken in July, 1788. 8. A history of the Scioto Purchase, prepared by E. C. Dawes from papers and documents not hitherto published. 9. Dr. Cutler's correspondence while member of Congress from 1801 to 1805. 10. Portions of his literary and scientific correspondence. 11. Estimates of his character by personal acquaintances. MARIETTA, OHIO, September 3, 1887. |