vi PREFACE. 



And if it be true, what the philosophic Latin 

 poet Lucretius touches so beautifully, 



Suave mari magno, turbantibus oequora ventis, 

 E terra, magnum alterius spectare laborem 



It is a view of delight to stand or walk upon the 

 shore side, and to see a ship tossed upon the sea ; 

 or to be in a fortified tower, and to see two bat- 

 tles join upon a plain ; or it is sweet, from a 

 post of safety, to review the labors of other men 

 beyond the seas if there be truth in this, the 

 writer may hope his book will not be barren of 

 interest to many, who, having never experi- 

 enced the reality of the life which is here de- 

 lineated, may now behold it safely from afar off. 

 Hoping also that there are moral hints and 

 lessons herewith interwoven, that will catch 

 the eye and touch the heart of the casual read- 

 er, like sober threads of green in tapestry of 

 gold, this book is honestly commended to the 

 purchase and perusal of all classes, by the 



AUTHOR. 



