Thomas's Massachusetts spy, or, Worcester gazette. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1811-1821, 1821-04-04
MISCELLANY.
~1IZIZIz,z,4~
LTTERARY.

XXI u 0SdAI.
There is no way in which our coun-
try, and the character of its inhabitants,
have been more misrepressnted and
slandered, than through the medium OF
books, made by foreigners who have
visited the United States, and publish
ed, as the fruits of their journies and
observations. what they call sravels.-
The consequences of these publications
has been, thar even among the most
respectable and liberal people of other
countries, particularly Of Great Britain,
our country and character have been
greatly misunderstood, and we think
greatly moderated. 1t is not long since
one Of our fellog-citizens, who was in
England, heard one OF their most dis
tinguishcd men, who even enter,ains
feelings of friendship for the Uaited
States, speak of Fearon's paltry book,
as a work which contained the most inn
portant information concerning this
country of any he had met with.
The late Doctor Dwight, President
of Yale College, with prime regard
to the exposure and correction of these
foreign Misrepresentation and false
hoods, prepared for publication his own
observations, made on "a succession OF
iournies, which he undertook through
the State Of New-York and the New
England States. His death prevented
the publication from appearing at the
time it was intended. His family have,
however, issued proposals for the exc
culion OF his design, from which, as
conveying general idea OF the work,
we make the following extract
6 More than twenty years have elaps-
ed. since the late Rev. DR.. Dwight
commenced a series of Journies; in
which he visited almost the whole of
New-England, Exclusive Of the un-
settled parts of Name and the East
ern, Southern and Western sections of
New-York. As his journies were con-
tinued, his acquaintance was very gen
orally extended; his sources of infor-
nation multiplied; and his qualifca-
tions for preparing the present work,
were rendered more adequate. In the
course of his observations, he became
possessed of many facts of great inter-
est and importance to the community,
which no one bad previously collected,
and which he had reason to believe
would be lost to the publick without
his Intervention. As the face of socie-
ty is continually and necessarily chang
ing, and in the United States with more
than in any other portion of
the world-he deemed it important that
this information should be speedily d.
gested and prepared for publication
An additional motive was furnished by
the treatment which this country has
received in several works appearing
on the eastern side Of the Atlantick.--
A number of foreigners, who have tray
eiled through various sections of the
United States, after acquiring limited
and incorrect intelligence concerning
us, have returned to publish their own
views of the country-views, on which
but little reliance can be placed by their
readers. inmany instances, their state
ments are at variance with truth and
In many Others they are but partially
correct. To remove the impressions
produced by tfese writer's to exhibit
those regions which he describes in
their true character; and to furnish the
publick wish a authentick and unques-
tionable account ON subject of such
Importance; an account on which our
own country and others may rely, was
a prominent object on the part Of the
author The objects thus specified he
has accomplished and it may be said
without hesitation, that every class Of
society may derive pleasure and in
struction from the result. The travels
are Dot statistical or geographical
work they present not the toe often
dry details Of the one, or the general