PREFACE 



TO THE 



THIRD EDITION. 



THE two former Editions of these Travels 

 were published, one immediately after the 

 other, at a moment, when events of the 

 greatest magnitude, and importance to this country, 

 were depending; and when the minds of men were 

 extremely agitated and alarmed for the fate of the 

 British Empire. A rupture between Great Britain 

 and her American Colonies was seriously appre- 

 hended: and as men foresaw, or at least fancied they 

 foresaw, very calamitous consequences arising from 

 so disastrous an event, it was generally wished that 

 the evil might, if possible, be prevented; and a recon- 

 ciliation happily effected, before matters were carried 

 to extremity. The Author, flattered by his friends, 

 and perhaps a little also by vanity, presumed to hope, 

 that the publication of his tour through the Middle 

 Settlements in North America might, in some de- 

 gree, conduce to this desirable end: and as the meas- 



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