THE

UNITED STATES

OF

AMERICA;

THEIR HISTORY FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD;

THEIR INDUSTRY, COMMERCE, BANKING TRANSACTIONS, AND
NATIONAL WORKS; THEIR INSTITUTIONS AND CHARACTER,
POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND LITERARY;

WITH

A SURVEY OF THE TERRITORY, AND REMARKS ON THE PROSPECTS
AND PLANS OF EMIGRANTS.

OLIVER & BOYD, TWEEDDALE COURT;
AND SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO., LONDON.

MDCCCXLIV.

1

0-4343-1×4

Printed by Oliver & Boyd,

Tweeddale Court, High Street, Edinburgh.

PREFACE.

E178 186 V. I

THE UNITED STATES, next to our own country, form the most interesting portion of the world to the British people. Besides the ties of a common origin and language, the most substantial interests of the two nations are intimately twined together, and a close and constant intercourse is maintained between them. The peculiar institutions of the transatlantic republic-social, political, and religious-are viewed by thinking observers as sources whence valuable lessons may be derived on questions of government and national economy; while its gigantic progress and the vast natural capacities of its territory open a prospect to which there is scarcely any limit.

To satisfy the interest attached to this subject in the public mind, there appeared room for a work, comprising, within a moderate compass, a complete and connected view of the origin, history, and successive revolutions of the United States; their industry and commerce; their political, social, and intellectual condition. Such an undertaking seemed altogether suited to the EDINBURGH CABINET LIBRARY, and likely

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