iv PREFACE. 



the present and future of America. Having bad extensive 

 opportunities of observation in Great Britain, India, China, 

 and the United States, he has been led to discuss the great 

 i in crests of free and slave labor, as they present themselves 

 to his experience and his convictions ; and without arrogating 

 to be right, to the exclusion of others, he defers to the future 

 the correctness of his judgment. 



While the author does not wish to introduce the reader to 

 the following pages with an affected apology, he feels called 

 upon to say that should the work be found not to abide the 

 test of literary criticism, he desires it to be understood that 

 it is not offered to the public with such a purpose. Having 

 for fourteen years spent his time in India and China, the 

 acquisition and constant use of Hindostanee or Urdu, the 

 Bengalee and Tartar, French and Italian languages, and the 

 consequent disuse of his mother tongue, have served to pre- 

 vent him from executing the work, as a literary effort, in a 

 style worthy the magnitude of the interests involved. Yet, 

 trusting that the suggestions and facts presented will be 

 regarded as of more value than mere literary finish, he trusts 

 that they will be attentively considered. 



The proceeds of the sale of this work will be used in in- 

 troducing the proposed staples into this country. 



The author returns his grateful acknowledgments to the 

 numerous subscribers for this work who have so cordially 

 entered into the objects it is designed to promote ; and, with- 

 out invidiousness, he may especially mention the names of 

 the following distinguished gentlemen : J. F. O'Hear, Esq., 

 Secretary South Carolina Agricultural Society ; James Rose, 

 I 'resident R. R. Bank, Charleston ; Hon. John Schnierle, 

 , Charleston ; Henry Ravenel, Esq., Charleston ; Hon. 

 William Aikin, Charleston ; R. R. Cuyler, Esq., President 

 1 1 1 1 . Bank, Savannah ; His Excellency Baron Von Jerrott, 

 Prussian Minister, Washington ; Dr. Daniel Lee, Patent 

 Office, Washington ; Messrs. Tierman & Pringle, Charleston ; 

 Edmond Molyneux, Esq., British Consul, Savannah ; Messrs. 

 Lobeck & Schepler, New- York. 



NEW- YORK, December 1, 1851. 



