258 Introduction to the Journal: 



am in fear oi no spies, no false witnesses, no blood-money 

 men. Here no fines, irons, or gallowses await me, let 

 me think or say what 1 will about the government. Here 

 I have to pay no people to be ready to shoot at me, or 

 run me through the body, or chop me down. Here 

 no vile Priest can rob me and mock me in the same 

 breath. 



464. In the year 1816 my travelling in America was 

 confined to the Atlantic States. 1 there saw enough to 

 determine the question of emigration or no emigration. 

 But, a spot to settle on myself was another matter ; 

 for, though I do not know, that I shall meddle with any 

 sort of trade, or occupation, in the view of getting mo- 

 ney, I ought to look about me, and to consider soberly 

 as to a spot to settle on with so large a family. It 

 was right, therefore, for me to see the Western Coun- 

 tries. I have done this ; and the particulars, which 

 I thought worthy my notice, I noted down in a Journal. 

 This Journal I now submit to the public. My chief 

 motive in the publication is to endeavour to convey 

 usefid mformatinn, and pspprially tO those DersnnSi 

 who may be disposed to follow my example, and to 

 withdraw their families and fortunes from beneath the 

 hoofs of the tyrants of England. - 



465. i have not the vanity to suppose myself emi' 

 nently qualified for any thing beyond my own profes- 

 sion ; but I have been an attentive observer ; I have 

 raised a considerable fortune by my own industry and 

 economy ; I have, all my life long, studied the matters 

 connected with agriculture, trade, and manufactures. 

 I had a desire to acquire an accurate knowledge of the 

 Western Countries, and Avhat I did acquire I have en- 

 deavoured to communicate to others. It was not my 

 object to give flowery descriptions. I leave that to 

 poets and painters. Neither have I attempted any ge- 

 neral estimate of the means or manner of living, or 

 getting money, in the West. But, 1 have contented 

 myself with merely noting do^vn the facts that struck 

 me ; and from those facts the reader must draw his con- 

 clusions. 



466. In one respect I am a proper person to give 

 an account of the Western Countries. 1 have no lands 



