Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to wit: mmmy BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the SEAL. twenty-first day of August, in the fortyImmm 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, Cosi mi par che la mia istoria, quanto Meno a chi l'udira noiosa fia. ARIOSTO. J'ai vu les mœurs de mon temps, et j'ai publiè ces Lettres; 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. |