Ivi INTRODUCTION. 



seven years of age, in consequence of her clothes taking- 

 fire, after Ungering 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 is 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 



