Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to wit; Ymmmx BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the {SEAL. twenty-first day of August, in the forty Xmmm seventh year of the Independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1822, James Maxwell, of the said District, hath deposited in this office the Title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as Proprietor in the words following, to wit:

"Franklin's Letters to his Kinsfolk, written during the years 1818, '19 and '20, from Edinburgh, London, the Highlands of Scotland, and Ireland.

Come ruccende il gusto il mutar esca,

Così mi par che la mia istoria, quanto
Or qua, or là più variata sia,

Meno a chi l'udira noiosa fia. ARIOSTO.

J'ai vu les mœurs de mon temps, et j'ai publiè ces Let tres, que n'ai-je vécu dans un siècle où je dusse les jeter au feu.-J. J. ROUSSEAU.-In two volumes."

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, intituled, "An Act for the Encourage. ment of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned." And also to the Act, entitled, " An Act supplementary to an An Act, entitled, "An Act for the Encourage. ment of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies during the times therein mentioned," and extending the Benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other Prints"

D. CALDWELL, Clerk of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

PREFACE.

THE Author does not mean by a preface to make unmeaning apologies for intruding his thoughts on the public, which should always be treated with truth and candour, but never wheedled with compliments or soothed with

excuses.

For the purpose of recalling to mind the scenes which he witnessed during his travels, and renewing the impressions which time gradually steals from the memory, he carefully transcribed the letters he had written home during his absence; in performing this task, he has found it necessary both to retrench and to amplify-by which, however, the ease of the epistolary style has not, he presumes, materially suffered.

The necessity of supplying the public with light and unelaborate reading, is felt by every one-and no works have this tendency more than accounts of foreign countries from real observation. They furnish new facts, spread

general information, dissipate prejudices, and conduct the fireside traveller through long and laborious journeys, without removing his feet from his andirons, or disturbing him from his arm-chair! He is carried into every scene described in the book before him, and the whole face of the country is made, as it were, visible to his imagination. To be sure, the public is already supplied with a copious catalogue of entertaining travellers; but the changes which frequently occur on the political horizon, require investigation from successive observers, -besides, every person does not view manners, politics and institutions through the same medium, and it is only by the collision of various opinions, that the light of truth can be elicited.

The Author has spoken with freedom on the various subjects he has treated, but always with perfect sincerity, and he believes with strict impartiality. He has exposed vice and error, without regard to the high rank or sacred name which shielded them; he hopes, however, that he has not portrayed them with a sombre and malignant pencil. He has lifted up the curtains of satire with a cautious hand, and has let in the blaze of ridicule on those who were sinning on the downy couch of indolence and sensuality.

a The grave reader may find fault with the a sportive and playful strain in which some of fethe letters are written. In order to save himself the trouble of inventing an appropriate answer to this objection, the Author will quote a passage from Cowper, not inapplicable to the it present case. " I am cheerful upon paper © sometimes, when I am absolutely the most dejected of all creatures. Desirous to gain something myself by my own letters, unprofitable I as they may and must be to my friends, I keep melancholy out of them as much as I can, that I may, if possible, by assuming a less gloomy air, deceive myself, and by feigning with a continuance, improve the fiction into reality."

The form of Letters has been chosen, to prevent any expectation of that formality of me#thod, which is required in treatises on history, politics or philosophy. There is a certain charm in epistolary writing, felt by every reader who has an inclination for the easier and more gentle exercises of the understanding; and it was not thought worth while to sacrifice this advantage to greater order, or more perspicuous arrangement./

It is presumed that the beautiful quotations selected as mottoes to the several Letters, will give pleasure to the lovers of poetry and fine