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 , relative to the early settlement of our colonies ; from Hakluyt; the Lex Merca- toria ; 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 . 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 ; 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