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A

SUMMARY VIEW

OF

AMERICA:

COMPRISING A

DESCRIPTION OF THE FACE OF THE COUNTRY, AND OF
SEVERAL OF THE PRINCIPAL CITIES;

AND

REMARKS

ON THE SOCIAL, MORAL AND POLITICAL CHARACTER OF

THE PEOPLE:

BEING THE RESULT OF

OBSERVATIONS AND ENQUIRIES

DURING

A JOURNEY IN THE UNITED STATES.

BY AN ENGLISHMAN.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, IN THE STRAND; AND

W. BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH.

1824.

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PREFACE.

So many books respecting America have of late years been given to the public, that it seems incumbent on me to state the motives, which induce me to offer this volume to their notice. Soon after I landed at New York, I began to make memorandums of those things which attracted my attention either by their novelty or importance, and continued to do so during my stay in the country. On looking over them, I thought that I could compile a volume of a nature likely to be generally interesting; an opinion in which I was confirmed, by an examination of the works of preceding travellers. For though a tolerably correct estimate of America may be

formed by comparing the different accounts, there is no one, so far as my information extends, which gives under general heads those particulars that are the most interesting to common readers. To supply this deficiency has been my object. The reader therefore is not to expect to find in this book, profound disquisitions on statistics or politics. I have rather endeavoured to give a popular sketch of a variety of subjects, hoping that all may find something to please, while few will have reason to complain of being tired. Much of the information will I doubt not be novel to most, as it is on subjects but little adverted to by the writers who have preceded

me.

As I have ventured to draw general conclusions, it is needful for me to state, that my travels though extensive, were confined to the following States: Massachusetts, Rhode

Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. Perhaps if I had gone further west and south, I might have arrived at some conclusions different to those which I have now formed; but as my engagements were of a kind offering me considerable leisure, of which I endeavoured to make good use, I trust that few errors of consequence will be found. My range was certainly sufficiently wide for the formation of correct opinions, as it enabled me to see the difference between the old and newly settled parts, and between those where slavery prevails and where it is abolished. It was in 1823, and part of the preceding year, that my journey was made.

Some apology seems necessary for the occasional repetitions of particular facts and opinions. It will I think be found that they seldom or never occur except in illus

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