GENERAL PREFACE 



TO THE 



THREE PARTS. 



i. Throughout the whole of this work it is my 

 intention to numher the paragraphs, from one to the 

 end of each Part. This renders the business of 

 reference more easy than it can be rendered by any 

 mode in my power to tind out ; and, easy reference 

 saves a great deal of paper and print, and also, 

 which ought to be more valuable, a great deal of 

 time, of which an industrious man has never any to 

 spare. To desire the reader to look at paragraph 

 such a number of such a part, will frequently, as he 

 will find, save him both money and labour ; for 

 without this power of reference, the paragraph, or 

 the substance of it, would demand being repeated 

 in the place, where the reference would be point- 

 ed out to him. 



2. Amongst all the publications, which I have 

 yet seen on the subject of the United States, as a 

 countr}^ to live in, and especially to farm in, I have 

 never yet observed one that conveyed to English- 

 men any thing like a correct notion of the matter. 

 Some writers of Travels in these States have jolted 

 along in the stages from place to place, have loung- 

 ed away their time with the idle part of their own 

 countrymen, and, taking every thing ditlerent from 

 what they left at home for the effect of ignorance, 

 and every thing .not servile to be the effect of in- 

 solence, have described the country as unfit for a 

 civilized being to reside in. Others, coaling with 



