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Early Western Travels 1748-1846 Volume X
Early Western Travels 1748-1846 Volume X
Early Western Travels 1748-1846 A Series of Annotated Reprints of some of the best and rarest contemporary volumes of travel, descriptive of the Aborigines and Social and Economic Conditions in the Middle and Far West, during the Period of Early American Settlement. Edited with Notes, Introductions, Index, etc., by Reuben Gold Thwaites, LL.D. Editor of "The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents," "Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition," "Hennepin's New Discovery," etc. Volume X Hul
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PREFACE TO VOLUME X
PREFACE TO VOLUME X
During the second decade of the nineteenth century, a colony of English emigrants was established in southeastern Illinois, at a place in Edwards County known afterwards as English Prairie. Interesting in itself as being a typical experiment in transplantation and in assimilation to frontier conditions, this settlement has attracted unusual attention because of the war of pamphlets it evoked, and the political prominence of some of its detractors. Agricultural emigration was, at that period, a s
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{259} DEDICATION To TIMOTHY BROWN, Esq. OF PECKHAM LODGE, SURREY
{259} DEDICATION To TIMOTHY BROWN, Esq. OF PECKHAM LODGE, SURREY
North Hempstead, Long Island, 10th Dec. 1818. MY DEAR SIR, The little volume here presented to the public, consists, as you will perceive, for the greater and most valuable part, of travelling notes made by our friend Hulme , whom I had the honour to introduce to you in 1816, and with whom you were so much pleased. His activity, which nothing can benumb; his zeal against the twin monster, tyranny and priestcraft, which nothing can cool; and his desire to assist in providing a place of retreat fo
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{261} PREFACE
{261} PREFACE
In giving an account of the United States of America, it would not have been proper to omit saying something of the Western Countries , the Newest of the New Worlds, to which so many thousands and hundreds of thousands are flocking, and towards which the writings of Mr. Birkbeck have, of late, drawn the pointed attention of all those Englishmen, who, having something left to be robbed of, and wishing to preserve it, are looking towards America as a place of refuge from the Boroughmongers and the
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{263} INTRODUCTION TO THE JOURNAL
{263} INTRODUCTION TO THE JOURNAL
Philadelphia, 30th Sept. 1818. It seems necessary, by way of Introduction to the following Journal , to say some little matter respecting the author of it, and also respecting his motives for wishing it to be published. As to the first, I am an Englishman by birth and parentage; and am of the county of Lancaster. I was bred and brought up at farming work, and became an apprentice to the business of Bleacher , at the age of 14 years. My own industry made me a master-bleacher, in which state I liv
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Flower's Letters from Lexington (June 25, 1819) and the Illinois (August 16, 1819)
Flower's Letters from Lexington (June 25, 1819) and the Illinois (August 16, 1819)
Reprint of the original edition: London, 1819 LETTERS FROM LEXINGTON and the ILLINOIS , CONTAINING A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN THE LATTER TERRITORY , AND A REFUTATION OF THE MISREPRESENTATIONS OF MR. COBBETT. London: Printed by C. Teulon , 67, High Street, Whitechapel , FOR J. RIDGWAY, PICCADILLY 1819. [ Price One Shilling. ]...
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PREFACE
PREFACE
Various have been the reports respecting the Illinois Settlement, as they relate to the health of the climate, and the state of agriculture. The following Letters contain a simple narration of facts, the result of real observation, and an accurate survey; and will appear time enough to counteract the evil impression of false information by persons who have not been on the spot, or who appear to be interested in writing down the settlement. As to the various reports about the state of health, the
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LETTER I
LETTER I
Lexington, June 25, 1819. MY DEAR FRIEND, It is natural you should have made those enquiries of me which you did in your last, and which it shall be my business to answer in their respective order. 1st.—How I like America in general, and Lexington in particular? 2nd.—Whether I have been disgusted with the American character and habits, as many have been? or whether I dare invite others to follow the course I have taken? but above all, how I, whose notions of liberty run so high, can endure to re
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LETTER II
LETTER II
Illinois, near Albion, Aug. 16. MY DEAR FRIEND, After many interruptions I removed from Lexington to this place, at which we arrived on the 2nd of July, spending in our way a week at Harmony , that wonder of the west. You have heard this settlement mentioned, and it is worth visiting to see, and observe the effect of united industry, regulated by sound wisdom and discretion: here perfect equality prevails, and there are no servants; but plenty of persons who serve. Every man has his station appo
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Flower's Letters from the Illinois—January 18, 1820-May 7, 1821
Flower's Letters from the Illinois—January 18, 1820-May 7, 1821
Reprint of the original edition: London, 1822 LETTERS FROM THE ILLINOIS , 1820. 1821. CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH SETTLEMENT AT ALBION AND ITS VICINITY, AND A REFUTATION OF VARIOUS MISREPRESENTATIONS, THOSE MORE PARTICULARLY OF MR. COBBETT. By RICHARD FLOWER. WITH A LETTER FROM M. BIRKBECK; AND A PREFACE AND NOTES BY BENJAMIN FLOWER. Thou shall bless the Lord thy God for the GOOD LAND which he hath given thee:—beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God . Thou shalt not bear false witn
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PUBLISHED BY THE SAME AUTHOR Price One Shilling
PUBLISHED BY THE SAME AUTHOR Price One Shilling
Letters from Lexington and the Illinois, 1819; containing a Brief Account of the English Settlement in the latter territory, and a Refutation of the misrepresentations of Mr. Cobbett....
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PREFACE55
PREFACE55
Two of the following letters have before appeared in a respectable periodical publication, in which the editor has impartially inserted the communications of writers of different opinions, on the subject of emigration; 56 but as they may be said to be a continuation of former letters, and connected with those now for the first time published, I have thought proper to insert them. Readers who are desirous of forming just opinions on this subject, are requested to bear in remembrance the precise s
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LETTER I
LETTER I
Albion, Illinois, Jan. 18 , 1820. Dear Sir , My whole family, I think enjoy, since we have been here, much better health than in England, and we have enjoyed the fine Indian summer, which has lasted full two months, of most charming temperature, the thermometer varying from 70 to 75. We had only two wet days in November, and one sudden change to 35 degrees; the weather in December was equally fine till Christmas-day, when we had frost and snow much as in England, and since that time some very co
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LETTER II
LETTER II
Park House, Albion, June 20, 1820. I have not written many letters to my friends in England, because I was determined not to state any thing on presumption, or of mere opinion, but only matters of fact, which must stand uncontradicted, and bear the test of examination. I proceed to state to you the circumstances which we are now in; and you will my dear Sir, feel satisfaction at my being able to give you the pleasing account, that, after nearly a twelvemonth's residence, there is no foundation f
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LETTER III
LETTER III
March 26, 1821. As to the settlement in general, I consider it most prosperous, making, comparing it with many new ones, the most rapid strides to comfort and prosperity: our little town, now the capital of the English Settlement 60 has a store which supplies us with luxuries. A market with abundance of meat, poultry, and vegetables, so that persons with very limited incomes might live here in comfort. A person with 100 per Annum would be in affluence, which you will say is owing to the cheapnes
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LETTER IV
LETTER IV
Park House, Albion, Aug. 20, 1821. Dear Sir , Some of my letters, written in 1819, appeared through the medium of the press; and some of the English Reviewers, after a candid criticism, observed, that they should be glad to hear from me at some future period. Several other persons also have expressed a strong desire to have an account of our present situation and future prospects. In compliance therefore, with their wishes, I most cheerfully resume my pen, with the assurance that what I have wri
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[Note A, page 139.]
[Note A, page 139.]
The following Remarks respecting the want of water, and the account of the English settlement at the Illinois, are taken from a most entertaining, interesting, and elegant work, lately published, and of which a second edition is in the press. I here insert them, as they tend to confirm the correctness of the accounts published by Mr. Birkbeck and my brother, and contain some excellent advice to emigrants, "You have expressed in your late letters, some curiosity regarding the condition of the Eng
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[Note B, page 145.]
[Note B, page 145.]
The address of the worthy female, one of the Society of Friends to my brother, respecting the "infidel wicked settlement at the Illinois," proceeded from that principle of fear for the interests of christianity, which an enlightened christian, by which I mean one who understands the principles, imbibes the spirit, and follows the example of the primitive christians, need not indulge. To all sincere christians who may have indulged similar fears, may be applied what the Psalmist remarks of certai
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{68} [Note C, page 147.]
{68} [Note C, page 147.]
Mr. Cobbett's former calumnies respecting the English settlements in the Illinois were amply refuted by Mr. Birkbeck and my brother, in two pamphlets, published in 1819, and to neither of which, although he has alluded to a private letter, since written by the former, and inserted in a provincial paper, has he dared to reply. He has however, had the effrontery in a late Register , ( July , 7th, 1821,) not only to repeat those calumnies, but to invent others still more atrocious; and as the parti
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Woods's Two Years' Residence in the Settlement on the English Prairie—June 25, 1820-July 3, 1821
Woods's Two Years' Residence in the Settlement on the English Prairie—June 25, 1820-July 3, 1821
Reprint of the original edition: London, 1822 TWO YEARS' RESIDENCE IN THE SETTLEMENT ON THE ENGLISH PRAIRIE , IN THE ILLINOIS COUNTRY, UNITED STATES. WITH AN ACCOUNT OF ITS ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS, AGRICULTURE, &c. &c., A DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCIPAL TOWNS , VILLAGES , &c. &c. WITH THE HABITS AND CUSTOMS OF THE BACK-WOODSMEN. By JOHN WOODS. LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1822. MAP of the ALLOTMENTS MAP OF ILLIN
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Wambro, English Prairie, Illinois State, North America.
Wambro, English Prairie, Illinois State, North America.
June 5th, 1820. As I was much pressed to write to many of my friends in England, to give them my opinion of emigrating to America, and as I promised to write to several, to give them my sentiments of America, and of my situation here; I will now endeavour to give them the best description in my power of our voyage and journey to this place, and how I am now situated, and of my future prospects. As to the propriety of any person's leaving England, I must decline giving any advice on the subject.
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Extracts of a Journal, kept from April 29th to September 25th, 1819
Extracts of a Journal, kept from April 29th to September 25th, 1819
We left Killinghurst about noon, on April 29, and arrived at Portsmouth in the evening. Our party consisted of nine persons, including Mr. C. and a female servant. 30th. Our luggage, in a waggon, arrived at Portsmouth at noon, and we got a permit from the Custom-House, and embarked it on board a vessel for East Cowes, in the Isle of Wight, where it arrived in the evening, but too late to enter it at the Custom-House. We slept at East Cowes. May 1st. Entered our luggage at the Custom-House, and w
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{290} "269. James Monroe, President of the United States of America,
{290} "269. James Monroe, President of the United States of America,
"To whom these presents shall come, greeting. "Know ye, that John Woods, assignee of Hugh Collins, of White county, Illinois, having deposited, at the general land office, a certificate of the register of the land office at Shawneetown; whereby it appears, that full payment has been made, for the south-east quarter of section nineteen; in township, two south; of range, ten east; containing 160 acres of the lands directed to be sold at Shawneetown, by the acts of Congress relative to the disposal
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THE END
THE END
Important Historical Publications OF The Arthur H. Clark Company Full descriptive circulars will be mailed on application "We cannot thoroughly understand our own history, local or National, without some knowledge of these routes of trade and war."— The Outlook....
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The Historic Highways of America by Archer Butler Hulbert.
The Historic Highways of America by Archer Butler Hulbert.
A series of monographs on the History of America as portrayed in the evolution of its highways of War, Commerce, and Social Expansion. Comprising the following volumes: Sixteen volumes, crown 8vo, cloth, uncut, gilt tops. A LIMITED EDITION only printed direct from type, and the type distributed. Each volume handsomely printed in large type on Dickinson's hand-made paper, and illustrated with maps, plates, and facsimiles. Published a volume each two months, beginning September, 1902. Price , volu
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The Philippine Islands 1493-1898
The Philippine Islands 1493-1898
Being the history of the Philippines from their discovery to the present time Explorations by early Navigators, descriptions of the Islands and their Peoples, their History, and records of the Catholic Missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial, and religious conditions of those Islands from their earliest relations with European Nations to the end of the nineteenth century. Translated, and edited and annotated by E. H. Blair and J.
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