This collection of primary source materials illuminates the rich and complex history of New York during the colonial period. The documents range from personal letters and diaries to official government records, and they offer insights into the social, political, and economic forces that shaped the state. The volume is edited by three distinguished historians and is an invaluable resource for researchers and students of American colonial history. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.