PREFACE.

THE narrative and observations now pre sented to the public, were the fruits of a voyage undertaken solely with commercial views. They were written without any expectation of their be ing copied, and without the remotest thought of publication. But falling accidentally under the notice of the Editor, he was pleased with perusing them, and believed that, if printed, they would also be agreeable to many others. He accordingly communicated this idea to the writer, who, after considering the subject, with a proper degree of modesty, consented to the proposal.

If the reader should derive amusement or instruction from this work, he will naturally wish to know something respecting the author. He is the second son of the late Doctor Abraham Sutcliff, who practised, with much skill and reputation, as a physician, in Sheffield, and who died there about twelve years since. At Sheffield, the author, who

was born and educated in the religious Society of Friends, served his apprenticeship; and afterwards settled there in business as a merchant. In this line he continued for several years, and dealt extensively with transatlantic connexions; which, after some time, rendered it expedient for him to make two voyages to America, for the settlement of his affairs. The latter voyage and the travels. subsequent to it, comprise the transactions which are now offered to the public.

In the year 1806, the author returned to England, and continued there till the year 1811; when he conceived that a residence in America, might prove more advantageous to him. He accordingly, with his wife and one daughter, the only, surviving child of a very numerous family, embarked for New-York, in the sixth month last, with the view of settling in that country.

Whilst the author was in America, he hadfrequent intervals of leisure, which the nature of his mercantile concerns rendered unavoidable. Of some of these opportunities he availed himself, to visit his connexions and friends in various parts of the country; having also the view of gratifying his

curiosity, and enlarging the sphere of his information. Being a man of observation, of a strong memory and benevolent disposition, and having formed an extensive acquaintance with respectable persons in America, by whom he was treated with kindness and attention; he seems to have been qualified to render an account of his travels both pleasing and interesting. The Editor therefore ventures to presume, that many of the remarks and occurrences contained in this little volume, will prove useful as well as amusing to juvenile readers; and that they will not be destitute of information to persons of mature years. The narrative appears to be judicious, and is given with great simplicity; and the Editor has not the least doubt of its strict veracity. The anecdotes rise naturally from the subject, and are generally of a curious, novel, and instructive nature. They are numerous, and form a peculiar and striking feature of the work. On the whole, the Editor persuades himself, that these travels will not be unacceptable to the generality of readers.

9th Month, 1811,

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE chasms which sometimes appear in the dates of these Travels, arise from a wish to avoid the repetition of engagements, or of circumstances similar to what have been already described; or from the re- spective periods, not furnishing any thing sufficiently interesting to meet the public eye.

The Prints which accompany the work, are taken from sketches drawn by the author himself, when on › his travels. As they were not executed in time for a description of them to be incorporated in the body of› the work, it seems proper here to offer the following.

EXPLANATION of the PLATES:

PLATE I.-FRONTISPIECE.

A Farm-House in the Genessee Country.

The stumps that remain of trees which have been girdled. This operation consists in taking off 2 or 3 inches of the bark all round the trees; in consequence of which they die and are blown down by the wind, leav- -ing stumps remaining below the girdled part of the tree.

b. A Worm Fence. This construction, likethe opera-tion just described, is a proof of the little value of