effort has been made to reduce the size and price as far as practicable, not only by a partial abridgment of the contents, but by adopting a different form and a closer page. Care has been taken in these amendments, to preserve the chain of the narrative unbroken, and to reject nothing of primary interest. No innovations have been made upon the spirit of the work and the character of the sketches, which were originally designed for all classes of readers, and to which the author endeavoured to give as popular a cast and as much variety as possible. For the information of those who have not seen the first edition, it may be proper to state that the materials of these Letters were collected during a tour of nearly two years. A full diary was kept without interruption, from the day of embarkation at Sandy Hook, on the 8th of June, 1825, till the author's return thither, on the 6th of May, 1827. It was his invariable practice to bear about with him a pocket memorandum, and to note at the moment whatever attracted attention. Many of his scrawls in crayon convey a tolerable idea, to what degree the ship or boat was tossing upon the waves, or what was the roughness of the road, over which the coach was hurrying, at the time the entries were made. The substance of these memoranda was at the first pause, transcribed into a diary, in a more legible form; and from the latter, the sketches were drawn, with such references to books, for the correction of facts and dates, as time and opportunity enabled him to make. An explanatory remark may be necessary, with respect to the persons of the narrative. The author was accom panied throughout his tour by an estimable friend, whose `pursuit of health and information abroad proved to be in vain, since a premature death soon after his return blighted the hopes of his friends, and the promise of his future distinction and usefulness. To his society was often added that of other American tourists; and in most instances, the disagreeable necessity of using an odious pronoun was avoided, except in cases requiring individuality of opinion. For the rest, the work is left to speak for itself. After the deliberation and correction of a second edition, no prefatory remarks can extenuate its defects or add to its merits. It would be mere affectation to pretend, that its fate is a matter of indifference, and that this edition, like the first, goes forth to the world, without a due share of all those little hopes and anxieties, which alternately cheer and sadden the seclusion of the closet. New-York, March, 1829. CONTENTS OF VOLUME 1. Page. 13 LETTER II.-Arrival on the coast of Ireland-Kinsale-Ride to Cork-Sketch of the city-Excursion to the cove of Cork-Ce- LETTER III.-Route to Killarney-Aspect of the country- LETTER IV.-Route from Limerick to Dublin-City of Dub- lin-Passage from Dublin to Liverpool. LETTER V.-Arrival at Liverpool-Aspect of the Town- Docks-Exchange-Town Hall-Athenæum-Botanic Garden- LETTER VI.—-Ride to Chester-Sketch of the city-Church- LETTER VII.-Ride from Chester to Manchester-Northwitch LETTER X.-London-St. Paul's-The Thames-Bridges- LETTER XI.-London, in continuation-Bank of England- LETTER XIII.-Departure from Cambridge-Huntingdon- Birth-Place of Cromwell-Stamford-Burleigh House-Leicester LETTER XVIII.-Lakes of Cumberland-Windermere-Co- niston-Rydal Water-Visit to the Cottage of a distinguished Poet -Excursion to Langdale-Grasmere. LETTER XIX.-English Lakes continued-Thirlmere-Vale of Keswick--Derwent Water-Bassenthwaite--Borrowdale-- Wast Water Furness Abbey-Ennerdale-Lowes Water--Crum- mock--Buttermere-Excursion to the top of Skiddaw—Visit to LETTER XXI.-Ride from Carlisle to Newcastle-upon-Tyne -Roman Wall-Description of Newcastle-Birth place of Aken- side-Gatesend-Castle-Collieries-Excursion to Shields. LETTER XXII.-Entrance into Scotland-Route from Ber- wick to Edinburgh+Dunbar Castle-Dalkeith-Porto Bello-Arri- val at Edinburgh-Calton Hill-Salisbury Crag-Arthur's Seat- Professor of Humanity-Literary Breakfast-Nelson's Monument LETTER XXIII.-Edinburgh Castle-Reminiscences of Al- lan Ramsay and Robert Burns-Professor of Natural History- National Prison-Cemeteries-University-Library-Botanic Gar- den--Market--Gray Friars Church-Libraries of the Advocates and |