Ivi INTRODUCTION. 
seven years of age, in consequence of her clothes taking 
fire, after lingering several days in excruciating agony. 
During his long imprisoment in France, Mr. Tuckey 
suffered considerably from tedious and harassing illness, 
aggravated by the cruel reflection, that the prime of his 
life was rapidly passing away, without the possibility of 
any exertion of his talents being employed for the benefit 
of himself, or his growing family. In the intervals of sick- 
ness, besides the education of his children, which was to 
him a source of pleasure and constant employment, his 
chief amusements were reading and composition, Severe 
as his fate was, he possessed a mind of too vigorous and 
active a turn to allow his spirits to sink under his unmerited 
misfortunes ; the painful moments of his long imprisonment 
found some relief, in the laborious compilation and com- 
position of a professional work, “ undertaken to pass away 
the tedious hours of a hopeless captivity, alike destructive 
of present happiness, and future prospects.” This work 
was published in England, shortly after his return, in four 
octavo volumes, under the title of ‘* Maritime Geography, 
and Statistics.” It takes a comprehensive view of the va- 
rious phenomena of the ocean, the description of coasts 
and islands, and of the seas that wash them ; the remark- 
able headlands, harbours, and port towns; the several 
rivers that reach the sea, and the nature and extent of 
their inland navigations that communicate with the coasts. 
The information thus collected is drawn from the latest 
and best authorities ; to which ts added his own * local 
and professional knowledge, acquired in the navigation of 
the seas that wash the four quarters of the globe.” A brief 
view is also taken of the history and state of the foreign 
