TO THE READER.

THE Reader who condescends to peruse the following pages, is respectfully requested not to anticipate that in such compilation he will find the classic elegance of a distinguished education, or the finished explanation of refined philosophy; but he may rest assured, the title of the Travels, or narrative truth shall be the POLE-STAR of such statements; and though numerous have been the publications on the same subject, yet unawed by precedent, and the Author an unlettered Adventurer, the observations fearlessly contained shall defy contradiction.-I am not meandering towards MoUNT PARNASSUs, but have traversed COLUMBIA'S REGION; and if my remarks, rude and simple as they may appear, serve as a preventive or beacon, in the cause of emigration, I solemnly declare my motive will be obtained, and highest ambition fully gratified.

C. H. WILSON.

THE

Wanderer in America,

&c.

CHAP. I.

Emigration is a wholesome drain on a redundant population BURKE.

IT is a subject of much, and indeed serious regret, that English writers, and would-be-considered American travellers, have been found so base, either from mercenary motives, or a decided and determined enmity to their native soil, that thousands of British subjects have become sacrifices on the altar of such cupidity.

The most recent Authors of Travels in North Ame rica, since the works of the Duke de la Rouchefoucault, and Mr. Weld, are Messrs. Hall, Birkbeck, Fearon, Palmer, Bradbury, and Cobbett.

A 2.

The writings of Mr. Hall are correct, and often elegant, but not connected with advice or opinion relative to emigration.

Mr. Birkbeck.--The tragic anxiety of this gentleman to decoy to the Illinois Territory every devoted lunatic who on his arrival was found furnished with money, and possessing a head unfurnished with brains, cannot be sufficiently execrated; and I am bold enough to painfully assert, in melancholy remembrance of the many broken-hearted sorrows I have witnessed, that I know no criminal in vice's catalogue who merits suspension more than this unblushing yea and nay adventurer.

Mr. Fearon writes like an Englishman, with truth and caution.

Mr. Palmer's observations are chiefly mere garbled extracts from Mr. Bradbury. As his own Tour was extremely limited, his information therefore cannot be of any public utility; but his publication might have been less objectionable, because of less injury to society, if his borrowed ideas had possessed generally an ingredient called veracity.

Mr. Cobbett is such a weathercock and unchaste politician---to-day kneeling at the shrine of Monarchy, and

to-morrow at that of Republicanism--that it appears doubtful whether he means what he writes, or a premeditated hoax upon the public; but I am happy in thus offering my willing testimony, that he never encouraged emigration as a general specific, for the promulgation of his sentiments on that subject where confined to Long Island; and I am inclined to believe his enmity to Mr. Birkbeck's specious villainy saved the lives and property of many individuals.

Inoculated with the mania of transportation, and, I confess, infatuated with the plausible imposition of delinquent writers, and having a family, which according to the destructive doctrine of such writings, I had the chance of making for a present and future provision, by the application of ordinary industry, inclined me to favor the change and at this unlucky period my feelings were unhappily and unfortunately wounded by the unmerited and unwarrantable neglect of those who, according to the laws of nature and humanity, and the accepted etiquette of society, I had a right to claim as friends, not to painfully recognize as enemies, this regret gave a decision to the contemplated departure; but the public, I humbly entreat, will allow me to aver, that no political motives had any share, directly or indirectly, with the transfer.

Arrived at Liverpool, a town at once the seat of elegance, opulence, commerce, refinement, industry, and

enterprize, and where I had, in happier days beguiled many a social hour, my first enquiry was a ship destined for New York, and I soon found accommodations on board the American ship Magnet, burthen 350 tons, and a finer sea boat never kissed the Atlantic wave. Having ten days for preparation, all was in readiness for the voyage, and we assembled on board, passengers to the number of sixty-three, men, women, and children, and immediately left our dock birth, and proceeded with a light' breeze from the N. E. to sea; and I soon found knavery in the collection of our migrating companions.

A boat from the Cheshire side of the River Mersey augmented our number by the addition of a respectable, locking man, who it appeared was the parent of half a dozen then on board, some of them grown-up young men but they were so transformed by the trumpery addition of ear-rings and other external appendages of Yankee costume, that every vestige of Cambridgeshire rusticity had vanished; and I am afraid nay am confident, a breach in the moral principles of the father had suggested this harlequinade, to avoid an unpleasant visitation from Messrs. Doe & Roe, at the suit of a much-injured wife and that departure from right gave an unlimited latitude of wrong to the rude manners of this amiable family.

We soon cleared the Rock, and about 4 P. M. our pilot left us; the following morning we descryed the Tus