Bancroft Library 



THE following pages comprise, in substance, the 

 private notes of a pious and observant American 

 clergyman, whilst embarked, on account of his health, 

 on a whaling voyage to the South Seas and Pacific 

 Ocean. Whilst the original work was in progress, 

 a copy came into the hands of the present publishers, 

 who, considering the matter of it to be novel and 

 interesting, as well as calculated for conveying use- 

 ful moral impressions, applied to the Editor in re- 

 spect to his approval of it, with a view to his super- 

 intendence of an edition for the British public. 



Finding, on undertaking this task which the 

 sound and excellent character and lively spirit of the 

 work inclined him to do that revision and altera- 

 tion would be necessary to adapt it for the class of 

 readers designed; application was made to the 

 Author (the Rev. Henry T. Cheever) for the requi- 

 site permission, which was so fully and frankly 

 conceded, as to leave the discretion and taste of the 

 Editor quite unfettered. 



Of this kind confidence he has freely availed 

 himself wherever he has deemed alteration or cor- 



