d JPREFACEo 



in A proper light, particular accounts of each part 

 of the federal union seem to be necessary ; and 

 would answer o^^her valuable purposes. An able 

 historian, the Reverend Dr. Belknap, has obli- 

 ged the world with the history of New, Hamp- 

 shire. The following treatise is designed to 

 describe the operations of nature and society, iri 

 the adjacent state of Vermont. This is the 

 youngest of the states, an inland country, and 

 now rapidly changing from a vast tract of un- 

 cultivated wilderness, to numerous and exten- 

 sive settlements. In this stage of society, in- 

 dustry and economy seem to produce the great- 

 est effects, in the shortest periods of time. 



The manner in Avhich the work has been ex- 

 ecuted, I am apprehensive will require much 

 candour in the reader. In the variety of sub- 

 jects which have come under contemplation, I 

 cannot flatter myself, that I have been free from 

 errors and mistakes : And the reason why sev- 

 eral of the subjects are so imperfectly consider- 

 ed, was because I had not the ability or infor- 

 mation to state them otherwise. 



The American war considered with respect 

 to its causes, operations, or effects, presents to 

 our vievv some of the most important events^ 

 •which have taken place in modern times : But 

 neither of these particulars can be comprehend- 

 ed in the history oi any particular state. To 

 give such an imperfect view of this subject as 

 could be properly contained in the history of 

 Vermont, did not appear eligible. No further 

 accounts therefore of the war, are inserted, than 

 what appeared necessary to explain the subject, 

 which I had more particularly in view. 



