r imperfect, must be useful, as
giving the _first_ general outline of the Province, and interesting to
every person who possesses a feeling for his own fireside."

The other book, "Notitia of New-Brunswick," comprises 136 pages, and
was printed in 1838. In the advertisement at the beginning, the author
states that "circumstances have compelled him to relinquish in part his
original plan, and to contract the scope of the publication, since the
times do not warrant any great outlay on works of this description."

The two books are really pamphlets in yellow paper covers, and are now
so rare as to be much sought for by collectors of "Canadiana." Both
books are written under the _nom de plume_ of "An Inhabitant," and the
motto that follows is the same in each, namely:--

"Whatever concerns my country, interests me; I follow nature, with
truth my guide."

Before proceeding to consider the personality of our first historian
and to speak further of his writings, it will be of interest to speak
of his antecedents. His father, Lewis Fisher, served in the war of the
American Revolution, on the side of the crown, in the New Jersey
Volunteers, a brigade commanded by Brigadier General Cortlandt Skinner,
the last Royal Attorney-General of New Jersey. The corps was sometimes
known as "Skinner's Greens." It was numerically the largest
organization of British Americans in Howe's army. Officers and men were
mostly natives of New Jersey, New-York and Pennsylvania. One of the
original six battalions was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Abraham Van
Buskirk and it contained a large Dutch element. Among the officers were
Major Van Cortlandt, Captains William Van Allen, Peter Ruttan, Samuel
Ryerson, Jacob Van Buskirk and Waldron Blaan; Lieutenants Martin
Ryerson, John Van Norden, John Heslop, John Simonson and Joost (or
Justus) Earle; Ensigns Colin McVean, Xenophon Jouett, Malcolm Wilmot,
William Sorrell and Frederick Handroff.

Among the men in the ranks--many of whom came to New Brunswick and
settled near Fredericton--we find such names as VanHorne, Vanderbeck,
Ackerman, Fisher, Burkstaff, Swim, Ridner, VanWoert, Woolley, etc. By
the settlement of so many men of this corps in New-Brunswick, the same
thrifty "Knickerbocker" element that figured in the development of
New-York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania was planted in this province.

Lewis Fisher joined the New Jersey Volunteers on December 7, 1776. He
was taken prisoner a few weeks late