14 EXPLANATORY INTBODTTCTION. 



C. Young, and Professor Oldham, themselves accomplished 

 artists, to be highly creditable to his abilities, and unequal- 

 led by any known lithographer in this country : and his 

 labours having been thus successful, his talents and industry 

 will, the Editor feels assured, soon lead, as they deserve to 

 lead, to the attainment of the independence which he so well 

 merits. The Editor begs to render his acknowledgments 

 to the above gentlemen, for their kindness in permitting 

 him to enhance the value of the preceding testimony in favor 

 of Mr. Frazer, by the addition of their names. 



The thanks of the Editor are also justly due to Mr. H. 

 M. Smith, of the Surveyor General's Department, for his 

 unremitting attentions ; and for the pains he has bestowed 

 and the able assistance he has given, as well as for the inter- 

 est he has taken in superintending the lithographic execu- 

 tion of the drawings. 



A preface, however essential to a thorough understanding 

 of the work it precedes, is seldom read, probably not by one 

 in twenty of those who have an interest even in a full com- 

 prehension of the latter. Adverting to this, the Editor has 

 forced his, as it were, upon the notice of the reader, by con- 

 stituting it the leading portal to what lies beyond it. If 

 he has erred, he pleads as his excuse, the earnest desire of 

 extending a great blessing, by a conviction of its existence ; 

 and of inducing an acceptance of it, in the assurance of a 

 fulfilment of what it promises. 



