96 t h e n e w-y ork historical society Constitution Island Messrs. W. L. Calver, R. P. Bolton, W. S. Thomas and A. J. Wall of the Field Exploration Committee of the Society visited Constitution Island on August 9th at the invitation of Mrs. Charles E. Tracy of the Martelers' Rock Association to meet certain officers from West Point, who are interested in marking and preserving the Revolutionary defences erected on Constitution Island. Mr. Calver conducted the party around the historic sites and suggested various clearings and improvements to preserve what is left of the old forts on the Island. The reproduction of Stuart's portrait of Egbert Benson published in this number is one of the finest paintings by Gilbert C. Stuart known, and forms part of the Society's extensive collection of American portraits. Egbert Benson, who was the first president of The New-York Historical Society, 1805-1815, sat for this portrait in 1807. Mr. John Hill Morgan is making a study of the American portraits owned by the Society and will deliver a lecture on this, subject in April, 1920. Correction In our last issue we reproduced the print "Distinguished Americans at a Meeting of The New York Historical Society" with the further caption "held in the Chapel of the New York University, 1854." This should have read published in 1854 as the studies for the portraits were made prior to 1852. NECROLOGY George W. Betts, a life member since 1857 died June 17, 1919 in the 78th year of his age, at Englewood, N. J. Benno Loewy, a member since 1894, died August 19, 1919 in the 65th year of his age.