[ 6 3 
diligence. What can be more pleasing- and instructive than the testima* 
ny of eye witnesses, relative to objects of the most interesting- nature* 
which we are precluded from visiting- ourselves, or than the remarks 
of intelligent persons on what chances to come under their notice dur¬ 
ing- their peregrinations through distant countries ? In the early ages of 
society, travelling from one nation to another, was almost the only- 
means of acquiring superior knowledge, 
Multorumque hominum urbes, et mores cognovit, 
a wise man and a great traveller were regarded as synonymous, and 
treated with equal respect. When in the form of narrative, this spe¬ 
cies of composition has all the attractions of romance, combined with 
the usefulness of truth. 1 have always perused the book of travels with 
peculiar delight, no matter how aukward its style, or humble the ad¬ 
venturer. In this kind of writing, the fidelity of truth is far to be pre¬ 
ferred. to the mere artifice or elegance of diction.* It may be said to be 
a species of composition free alike to the illiterate and the learned, re¬ 
quiring no peculiar and appropriate style ; demanding neither the dig¬ 
nified march of history, the brilliancy of works* of the imagination, nor 
the precision and regularity of those which are purely scientific, yet, 
admitting with propriety something of them all. Men of the most com¬ 
mon acquirements are not excluded, or thought presumptuous in at¬ 
tempting it, for it may be the fortune of such only, to have witnessed 
facts of the highest interest, or to have passed through countries not 
likely to be visited by the learned. Hence the various modes adopted 
.by tiyivellers, from the regular and sj'stematic essay, down to the sim¬ 
ple'diary or journal. 
Before the reader decides upon this work, he must recollect, that 
travels through countries little known, must necessarily be of a differ¬ 
ent cast from those in countries highly cultivated, and already describ¬ 
ed by innumerable writers. Instead of amusing incident, descriptions 
of manners and customs, characters of distinguished persons, political 
and moral refleciio ;,s, historical reminescencp, and a multitude of other 
topics, the traveller has only to describe the face of nature, in its prim¬ 
itive state, the character of a few wandering savages, or the situation 
of settlements yet in their infancy. He that would aspire to the high¬ 
est order of travellers for having traversed such a country, ought to be 
* The travels of a Frenchman are bedizened with conceits of the 
fancy, those of an Englishman loadc-d with sluggish prejudice. I must 
declare (perhaps the result of partiality) that such American travels 
as I have perused, have always struck me as more impartial, and coi^ 
taming a more perfect stamp of authenticity than eith&r. 
