PREFACE.

THE importance of North and South AMERICA, as indicated by their extent and situation on the map of the World, must strike every eye; but their physical and moral resources have only been recently explored. The disasters, however, of that jealous and excluding government, which, in the southern hemisphere dreaded the approach of a trader, and closed up all correspondence with so vast a portion of the globe, have now opened a field of various and almost unbounded observation.

From the days of Columbus, until the recent period of its emancipation, an impenetrable cloud rested on the history and transactions of South America; and if, in the presence of those who held it in subjection, a question was agitated, respecting its condition-the curtain of mystery, accompanied with the silence of death, was instantly drawn over this portion of the globe.

When, however, this veil was lately burst asunder by the revolutionary tempest which visited its shores, nothing but an extended mass of physical and moral stagnation was presented to the eye of astonished Europe. Its resources had been unexplored, its capabilities had been unimproved, and the riches of

its soil had been unappropriated.

To these, the sagacity of commerce, and the energies of industry, were instantly applied; and in the volume before us we see the mighty engines just put in motion, and perceive the commencement of their operation; but ages must elapse before the grand result will be fully developed.

Through these changes, the intercourse with South America, so much contended for as advantageous to this country, will now be greatly augmented; and the happy influence of knowledge, it is hoped, will speedily break that chain of bigotry, by which it has been so long disgraced.

The mighty efforts now in operation, to improve the possessions of Great Britain in North America, together with the enlargement of territory and increase of power of the United States, particularly towards the great river Mississippi and the Pacific Ocean, are also among the most momentous events of the present day. Of these, the accounts communicated by travellers who have visited these distant regions, will be found to have received in this Work that due share of attention, which cannot fail to render the historical details at once luminous and deeply interesting.

AUTHORITIES

CONSULTED FOR THIS WORK.

AMERICA.

THE Personal Narrative of M. de Humboldt's Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of the New Continent; during the years 1799-1804. Translated by Helen Maria Williams, under the immediate inspection of the Author. Two vols. 8vo. London, 1815.

Travels in the Interior of America, in 1809, 1810, and 1811; including a Description of Upper Louisiana, together with the States of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee, with the Illinois and Western Territories; containing Remarks and Observations, useful to Persons emigrating to those Countries. By John Bradbury. London, 1817.

Researches containing the Institutions and Monuments of the ancient Inhabitants of America; with Descriptions and Views of some of the most striking Scenery in the Cordilleras. By Alexander de Humboldt. Two vols. 8vo. London, 1815.

The Personal Narrative of M. de Humboldt's Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of the New Continent. Vols. 3 and 4.

Travels to the Source of the Missouri River, and across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean, performed by Order of the United States in the Years, 1804, 1805, 1806. By Captains Lewis and Clarke. Published from the Official Report. 1814.

A Voyage round the World, from 1806 to 1812, in which Japan, Kamschatka, the Aleutian Islands, and the Sandwich Islands, were visited; with an Account of the present State of the Sandwich Islands, &c. By Archibald Campbell. London, 1818.

Travels through Canada and the United States of America, including a Description of Newfoundland, the Magdalen Islands, Quebec, Montreal, New York, &c., their Manners, curious Customs, Anecdotes, Commerce of Canada, Climates, the Lakes, Imports and Exports, Duties, Tonnage, &c., from 1806 to 1811: State of Society of Canada, South Carolina, Boston, Charlestown, Savanna; their Literature, Natural History, &c. By John Lambert, Esq.-The Second Edition, corrected and much improved. Svo.

don.

Lon

Travels in Canada, and the United States of America, in 1816 and 1817. By F. Hall, Esq. late Military Secretary to General Wilson, Governor in Canada. 8vo. London, 1818.

A Narrative of a Journey of Five Thousand Miles through the Eastern and Western States of America, contained in Eight Reports, addressed to the Thirty-nine English Families by whom the Author was deputed, in June, 1817, to ascertain whether any, and what part, of the United States would be suitable for their Residence. With Remarks on Mr. Birkbeck's "Notes" and "Letters." By Henry Bradshaw Fearon. 8vo. Third Edition. London, 1818.

A Year's Residence in the United States. By William Cobbett, London, 1818.

Notes on a Journey in America from the coast of Virginia to the Territory of Illinois. By Morris Birkbeck, Author of Notes on a Tour in France. The fourth Edition. London, 1818.

Letters from Illinois. Second Edition. London, 1818.

Journal of Travels in the United States of North America, and in Lower Canada, performed in the year 1817, &c. To which are added a Description of Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, and a Variety of other useful Information. By John Palmer. London, 1818.

Travels in the Interior of Brazil; particularly in the Gold and Diamond Districts of that Country, including a Voyage to the Rio de la Plata. By John Mawe. London, 1812.

Travels in Brazil, from Pernambuco to Seara; also a Voyage to Maranham; the whole exhibiting a Picture of the State of Society during a Residence of six Years in that Country. By Henry Koster. London, 1816.

Spanish America; or, a Descriptive, Historical, and Geographical Account of the Dominions of Spain, in the Western Hemisphere, Continental and Insular; illustrated by a Map of Spanish South America, and the West India Islands; a Map of Spanish North America, and an Engraving, representing the comparative Altitudes of the Mountains in those Regions. By R. H. Bonnycastle, Captain in the Corps of Royal Engineers. Two vols. 8vo.

A Voyage to South America, performed by Order of the American Government. By H. M. Brackenridge, one of the Commisioners. Two vols. 8vo. London, 1820.

Waller's Voyage in the West Indies, &c. London, 1820.