PREFACE. " ~ ix

amined and compared, before introducing their sub- stance into this work.

The materials of the historical sketches I have taken from various old records, particularly those of Massachusetts Bay, relative to the early settlement of our colonies; from Hakluyt; the Lew Merca- foria ; Anderson on Commerce ; Lescarbot, Charle- voix; Raynal ; La Hontan; Pepperal’s Journal ; Journal of the Jesuits; and various manuscript re- cords and letters, which I collected in America.

To many gentlemen of high standing in the colo-

nies, I have gratefully to acknowledge the obliga- tions I owe them, not only for personal civilities,

but for the excellent information which they have afforded me. For a great portion of the facts I re— quired, in drawing up statements relative to the trade of the colonies, I am indebted to the Chamber of Commerce of Halifax, the best repository of com— mercial information in America ; and the benefits of which were extended to me by the courtesy of the

gentlemen who form its members having resolved,

at a general meeting, when I was last at Halifax, “ that the books in which their transactions were re-

gistered should be sent me, with liberty to make such extracts as I thought proper.”

In whatever I have read on emigration, there ap—

peared to me either a prejudice or an interested bias 2 .