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Union. Whatever was valuable in the works of my predecessors I have incorporated in these pages; and, whatever of interest could be gleaned, from sources both old and new, I have spared neither time, thought nor labor to gather for the illustration and adornment of my subject. Yet, looking over the pages of this now completed volume, I can see, as only an author can, its deficiencies and regret that it comes so far short of my ideal of what such a history should be.

There remains, then, but the pleasant duty of acknowledging my obligations to those friends who have aided me in my self-imposed task. To John G. Shea, LL.D., of New York City, for kindness of which his modesty would forbid mention, but without which this history might never have seen the light; to Mr. J. Carson Brevoort, of Brooklyn, for his numerous and delicately rendered services, in the way of encouragement, of valuable suggestion and contribution, by pen and pencil; to Hon. Teunis G. Bergen, of Bay Ridge, L.I., whose aid always so freely given is indispensable to any one who undertakes to write Kings County history; to Dr. E. B. O’Callaghan, the accomplished custodian of our State archives at Albany, for the inestimable favors he has conferred by the translation of such original documents as I needed in my work, and to many others, whose names are elsewhere particularly mentioned, I return my sincere thanks. From all, indeed, to whom I have applied, either for materials or facilities of research, I have received the most uniform and flattering courtesy. The illustrations to this volume, which have been selected with a view to preserve the fast-fading remembrance of the characteristic scenes and historic places of “Old Brooklyn,” were all carefully drawn (during the summer of 1867), under my personal supervision, from the originals (where such yet exist), or from wellauthenticated sketches. Their fidelity cannot be questioned, and they reflect great credit upon the artist, Mr. Thomas Hogan, a resident of this city, whose graceful pencil has gained new power from his deep interest in what has been to him, as to myself, “a labor of love.”

HENRY R. STILES, M.D.
BROOKLYN, N. Y., July 1st, 1867.