TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA, IN THE YEARS 1827 AND 1828. BY CAPTAIN BASIL HALL, ROYAL NAVY. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. SECOND EDITION. EDINBURGH: PRINTED FOR CADELL AND CO., EDINBURGH; AND SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL, LONDON. MDCCCXXX. LIBRARY UNIVERSIZ Y 3 CALIFORNIA PREFACE. THE chief object I had in view in visiting America was to see things with my own eyes, in order to ascertain, by personal inspection, how far the sentiments prevalent in England with respect to that country were correct or otherwise. To avoid all undue influence, I considered it best to defer reading the works of preceding travellers, until I should have formed my own opinions on the subject; but I found so much pleasure during the journey, from the freshness of original and unbiassed observation, that on my return I resolved to persevere in this self-denial somewhat longer, that my narrative also might be derived, as far as possible, from those local sources of information which had fallen within the reach of my own inquiries. The habits of an active professional life having put it out of my power to study in the closet many of the subjects discussed in these volumes, I have endeavoured, in touching them, to supply the want of reading, by availing myself of a pretty extensive acquaintance with the actual workings of numerous other political and moral experiments, which chance has thrown in my way in different quarters of the globe. What might have been the effect of combining the experience of others, with the result of my own researches, I cannot pretend to say. On the present occasion, I have merely endeavoured to describe things as I saw them, and to add such reflections as were suggested on the spot, or have since arisen in my mind. As considerable misconception appears to prevail in England respecting the financial |