LETTER I. 



Introduction, 



©0 Hon. Thomas H. Perkins, John Parker, Hon. John Davis, Samuel Appleton, 

 Hon. Benjamin W. Crowningshield, Ebenezer Francis, Hon. Nathaniel Bow- 

 ditch, Henry Codman, Abbott Lawrence, Hon. Francis C. Gray, Amos Law- 

 rence, Dr. John C. Warren, Lucius M. Sargent, Hon. Stephen White, Dr. 

 William Ingalls, John Parker, Jr., Dr. Benjamin D. Greene, Dr. John Ware, 

 David Sears, Dr. Edward Warren, Epes S. Dixwell, Dr. Jerome V. C. Smith, 

 Gustavus Tuckerman, Dr. Winslow Lewis, Jr., Demming Jarves, Dr. Josiah 

 F. Flagg, Marcus Whiting, Dr. Martin Gay, Israel Thorndike, George W. 

 Pratt, Thomas C. Smith, William W. Stone, Charles H. Parker, George W. 

 Bond, Hon. John Lowell, Salem East India Marine Society, Charles G. Page, 

 Dr. William T. Harris, Dr. Paul Swift, William Cooper, Dr. John C. Jay. 



emen : 



As it was the request of several of the individuals 

 under whose auspices I have had the honor to act, that I 

 should draw up a popular account of the principal occur- 

 rences of my late voyage, 1 have availed myself of the 

 favor of bringing it before the public under the protection 

 of all your names. I have preferred uniting them in a 

 t^ connected series, by making a faithful abstract of my 

 gS Journal, which was invariably written on the spot, at the 

 S2 close of each day, taking advantage to introduce such re- 

 q.^ marks or observations as might be illustrative or entertain- 

 ^-^ ing. I am sensible that many imperfections will be found, 

 both as regards style and arrangement ; but as they claim 

 Q~ no great degree of merit, it is hoped that they will escape 

 <^ the severity of unsought, though, perhaps, deserved criti- 

 cism. 



