XX INTRODUCTION. 



satisfied, will give a faithful representation of the countries and islands, during the 

 period of our visit. 



I received every facility for obtaining information from our consuls, as well as 

 from missionaries and American residents abroad. Some of them furnished me 

 with interesting documents, connected with the past and present state of the coun- 

 tries where they reside, and procured from the different governments many valu- 

 able official papers. Indeed, the facilities met with have evinced a desire in all to 

 further the undertaking with which I was charged. 



To the Governor of New South Wales, Sir George Gipps, my acknowledgments 

 are particularly due, for his generous liberality in ordering me to be furnished by 

 the Colonial Secretary, E. Deas Thompson, Esq., with all the documents published, 

 not only at the time of our visit, but since. The latter have been kindly forwarded 

 by our consul, J. H. Williams, Esq., to whom the Expedition is also greatly in- 

 debted. From all these documents I have been enabled to draw much valuable 

 information, which I hope will be interesting to the general reader, as well as use- 

 ful to our interests abroad. 



The reader who shall look to this Narrative for my version of the developements 

 which were elicited by the proceedings of the courts-martial, will be disappointed, 

 as I shall make no allusions that I can possibly avoid, to any of the subjects of a 

 personal character that came before those tribunals, that occurred after the return 

 of the Expedition ; nor will the following Narrative embrace any personal matters 

 or difficulties that may have taken place with the officers, for the reason that I do 

 not regard such details as relevant or interesting to the general reader. The at- 

 tempts to throw impediments in my way were unsuccessful ; and I fully believe, 

 that from whatever motive they may have arisen, those who caused them are now 

 desirous that they should be forgotten. My countrymen will see that my duties 

 were sufficiently arduous, without having other difficulties to contend with ; and 

 I have the gratification of feeling that those duties have been performed, and the 

 results fairly obtained. 



The performance of these duties is the best refutation that can be given to the 

 many misstatements that have been circulated to the prejudice of the Expedition, 

 but which, I trust, will now be set at rest. I have never had any personal feel- 

 ing in the matter, except that which naturally arises from the wish to overcome all 

 impediments, of whatever nature they might be. I can, therefore, have no desire 

 but to give the true version of every circumstance of a public nature that may 

 concern the Expedition ; and I hope that I shall be able to do it with impartiality 



