viii ‘ PREFACE.

In order to give a general, historical, and descrip- tive view of British America, I have briefly noticed the early settlement, advancement, and the causes that led to the independence, of the old colonies ; and also the constitution, policy, military and naval force, and the public institutions of the United States. I have, at the same tixne, endeavoured to exhibit impartially the general characteristics of society in that extraor- dinary Republic; in which, although there may be much to condemn, there is assuredly much more to admire: particularly among those who, from their education, superior abilities, and wealth, naturally give a tone to public manners, and, at the same time, openly or silently govern the people.

If, in my reflections on the advantages which American negotiators have obtained from the Bri- tish government, either in respect to commercial privileges, or the boundaries of territory, my remarks appeartoo severe, they must be attributed to the neces- sity of showing the impolicy of yielding them, unne- cessarily, commercial privileges to the prejudice of British trade, and a greater extent of territory than they have any right to.

The descriptive parts of the work are principally from personal observation ; or, when I was prevented from visiting any of the places that I have described, I have had recourse to the best resident authorities ;

Whose statements and accounts I have carefully ex-