Travels in the United States of America
Commencing in the Year 1793, and Ending in 1797.
With The Author's Journals of his Two Voyages Across the Atlantic.
William Priest
PREFACE.
*TRAVELS IN AMERICA.*
JOURNAL.
THE INDIAN STUDENT; or, FORCE OF NATURE.
LINES OCCASIONED BY A VISIT TO AN OLD INDIAN BURYING-GROUND.
To Mr. - - - - ,
PREFACE.
An elegant writer observes that a preface may be dispensed with in any work, if the author (either from
his humility of justice) think that his style be calculated only to put his readers to sleep. Though I do not
think the publication of the following sheets will materially affect the price of opium, I cannot
intrude this volume on the public without informing them, what all my friends will vouch for the truth of,
viz. - that on my return from America, in 1797, I wrote the work in its present form for their
perusal; and, that conscious of my want of talent as a writer, I resisted all their entreaties for its
publication, till within these three months.
The public, I presume, will not be wholly disappointed; the extracts I have made from
Jefferson, Belknap, and other american writers, are worthy their attention: I have no
other merit than having placed them in a tolerable point of view.
"The God of Truth, and all who know me, will bear testimony that, from my whole soul, I despise deceit,
as I do all silly claims to superior wisdom, and infallibility, which so many writers, by a thousand
artifices, endeavour to make their readers imagine they possess."
CONTENTS.
Introduction
JOURNAL - Gravesend - why so called - Deal - Falmouth - Pendennis castle - a gale - a hymn - the
gulph weed - sun set at sea - dolphins and flying fish - first account of the yellow fever - arrival in the
Delaware - on shore in the Jerseys - Woodbury - melancholy visit to Philadelphia - arrival at Annapolis
ANNAPOLIS - why so called - extract from the charter - situation - loss of the trade - accounted for -
Annapolitans partial to theatrical amusements - produce of Maryland - tobacco - wheat - new species of
manure
JOURNEY TO THE CAPITAL - filial affection of the negroes - fried squirrels and coffee - Baltimore -
the mighty Susquana - intrepidity of a slave - how rewarded - Wilmington - Brandywine - grist mills -
the battle - Chester - arrival at Philadelphia
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