ADVERTISEMENT. THE following pages, besides the journal of an Embassy from the Government of the United States to the courts of Muscat, Siam, and Cochin-China, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837, embrace sketches in Zanzibar, Arabia, Hindoostan, Ceylon, Java, Siam, Cochin-China, China, the Bonin Islands, the Sandwich Islands, the Californias, Mexico, &c. The voyage round the world was performed on board of the U. S. Ship Peacock, commanded by C. K. Stribling, Esq., accompanied by the U. S. Schooner Enterprise, Lieutenant Commanding A. S. Campbell; both vessels being under the command of Commodore Edmund P. Kennedy. Since this volume was put to press, a posthumous work, drawn up from the journals and letters of Mr. Roberts, written during the years 1832-3-4, has been published, in which may be found a history of the first negotiations with the courts of Cochin-China, Siam, and Muscat. Both works refer occasionally to the same subjects, but they are distinct, and in no way similar. Though the volume by Mr. Roberts possesses great interest, it will be found that the present one, in relation to the embassy is much more complete, and it is hoped the reader will find it not less amusing. Philadelphia, February, 1838. VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. INTRODUCTION. VOYAGES of circumnavigation have been so frequent of late, this being the fourth within seven years by American vessels of war, that neither novelty nor originality of matter or manner can be looked for in this work, though few ships have pursued the varied and extensive track of the Peacock. I, therefore, only promise the reader news of the several remote countries visited in relation to their manners, political state, commerce and religion, upon which topics the best sources of information have been carefully consulted. Let me caution the reader against expecting much in the way of light description and graceful anecdote; "No vamos à bodas sino à rodear el mundo," said Sancho, when he bade Mari Fernandez to prepare every thing for setting out in search of adventures. I will say with simple Sancho, "We are not bound on a party of pleasure, but around the world," and though we may not expect in these days to encounter giants and dragons, we may happen upon many pleasant adventures. Therefore, Reader, be gentle and generous, and bear in mind Sancho's remark; and when you encounter a dry statistical chapter, think it is one of the hardships of voyaging with us, and sustain yourself to the toil of reading it through, cheered with a hope of something pleasant thereafter, and the reflection, it will be for your good; and I will venture to assert, you will rise from the perusal improved in your knowledge, and, what is more important to me, without a disposition to blame the author for the little he has contributed to your amusement. That the volume contains no pleasant stories to divert, nor "strange tales of strange endurance" to move, is not his fault; for had events transpired during the cruise, fitting for such chronicle, he would have been delighted to record them. The volume may be charged with over-minuteness; but "There is nothing," says Dr. Johnson, "too little for so little a creature as man. It is by studying little things, we attain the great art of having as little misery and as much happiness as possible." Critics may find other points in the work to condemn; but we trust, some among our readers will derive amusement, if not instruction, from the following pages, written generally on the spot described, to bring into view of the home-staying, what, probably, they would have observed for themselves, had they been with the writer. The success of the work must depend upon the public; the author has endeavoured to deserve it. He has written for no theory, nor sect, nor party; but has aimed at truth, and hopes in hitting his mark, he has inflicted no wound on the pride or feelings of any of his readers. As far as the nature of his task admitted, he has avoided egotism" The time, place, persons, and all circumstances apologize for me; and why may I not be idle with others? Speak my mind freely? If you deny me this liberty, upon these presumptions I will take it." In presenting to the public a history of the embassy to Muscat and Siam, it may be proper to state, what were the opportunities enjoyed by the author for obtaining the necessary information. Mr. Roberts frequently expressed a wish that I would write the history of our cruise, and in order to enable me better to perform the undertaking, gave me free access to all documents in relation to the embassy, and on every occasion expressed his views and opinions on the several subjects which fell under our notice. Besides, he took great pains to assist me in procuring statistical information, which, owing to his official station, he was often able to obtain, when to others, perhaps, it might have been denied. To him I feel indebted, and with his many friends regret his loss to the country. In the early part of his life, Edmund Roberts, of Portsmouth, N. H., had visited several of the countries which lie to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope, and from information then and subsequently obtained, he inferred that those sections of the world offered a wide field to American enterprise and profit. But he was convinced, that voyages from the United States around the Cape of Good Hope, must continue to be limited to a few countries, and uncertain in their results, until treaties of amity and commerce should be formed between the government of the United States and several |