TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHRISTIAN OBSERVER.
In the course of the year 1820, and the spring of 1821, I made an extensive tour through Upper and Lower Canada and the United States of America, traversing the latter through Maine and Louisiana, through Alabama, and back again through the States of Mississippi and Tennessee.
Although I had no intention of remaining in the country, the subject of emigration had become so interesting before I left England, that it was natural that in a journey of nearly 8000 miles in the New World, about 1800 of which I performed on horseback, that subject should engage much of my attention.
I was by no means qualified, either by previous habits or information, to avail myself fully of the valuable opportunities of observation which I enjoyed; but I made a few general remarks on the subject, in my correspondence with my brother; and having found, on my arrival at home, that he had preserved my letters, it has occurred to me, that, superficial as my knowledge was on many parts of the subject, I might possibly add something to the general stock of information on a question so peculiarly interesting at a time in which so many persons have been under the painful necessity of deciding on the eligibility of expatriating themselves, in order to find in the new world a freedom from those cares under which they were sinking in the old.
If on perusing the letters I send you-which are copied, I believe, without any alteration, except where there are personal allusions-it should be compatible with your plans to insert them in the Christian Observer, they are quite at your service.
At a future time I may, perhaps, trouble you with some remarks on the religion and morals of the United States, if I persuade myself they will be of any interest.
Although I most decidedly prefer my own country, I feel that very great injustice has been done to America by most of our travellers and journalists; and I was gratified to perceive, that the Christian Observer, in the true spirit which becomes its character, was the first to endeavour to establish a more correct, as well as a more candid and liberal appreciation of that interesting and powerful, though in some respects, rival nation.