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This series includes accounts of historical events and movements by eye-witnesses and contemporaries, as well as landmark studies that assembled significant source materials or developed new historiographical methods. The works range from the writings of early U.S. presidents to journals of poor European settlers, from travellers' descriptions of bustling cities and vast landscapes to critiques of racial inequality and descriptions of Native American culture under threat of annihilation. The commercial, political and social aspirations and rivalries of the 'new world' are reflected in these fascinating eighteenth- and nineteenth-century publications.

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163 results in Cambridge Library Collection - North American History

Page 6 of 9

The Slave States of America
  • Volume 2
  • James Silk Buckingham
  • Published online:
    05 November 2011
    Print publication:
    14 July 2011
    First published in:
    1842
  • The Cornish-born traveller and writer James Silk Buckingham (1786–1855) campaigned energetically for social reform while a Member of Parliament during the 1830s. He later spent four years in the United States, and in 1839 travelled across the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, and Alabama to observe at first hand the inhumane treatment of slaves in a system that showed 'reckless indifference to human life'. Originally published in 1842, and dedicated to Prince Albert, this two-volume work documents Buckingham's findings and argues that the USA should follow Britain's example in abolishing slavery. Within the framework of a travel narrative recording climate, geography, flora and fauna, Buckingham describes the use of slaves in industries as diverse as gold mining, cotton manufacturing, railways, canals, and agriculture. He highlights the social and political issues surrounding free labour, and relations between the slaves and their employers. Volume 2 focuses mainly on Georgia and Virginia.

A Visit to the United States in 1841
  • Joseph Sturge
  • Published online:
    06 December 2010
    Print publication:
    24 September 2009
    First published in:
    1842
  • Joseph Sturge (1793–1859) was an English Quaker who was influential in campaigning for the abolition of slavery in the British empire and founded the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society in 1839. Having visited the West Indies in 1834, he travelled to the United States in 1841 to examine the slavery question there firsthand, and to lend his support to the American abolition movement by sharing his experiences of how success was achieved elsewhere. His account of his visit, and of the feelings and opinions of the American campaigners he met, is the subject of this 1842 book, which he hoped would encourage activists around the world and promote understanding among them.

Notes on the United States of North America during a Phrenological Visit in 1838–39–40
  • Volume 2
  • George Combe
  • Published online:
    05 August 2011
    Print publication:
    21 October 2010
    First published in:
    1841
  • George Combe (1788–1858) rose from humble origins to tour widely in Europe and the United States, lecturing on phrenology, the popular Victorian belief that character traits were determined by the configuration of the skull. He founded Britain's first Phrenological Society in 1820 in Edinburgh, and was considered the foremost phrenologist of the nineteenth century. These volumes, first published in 1841, contain Combe's account of a phrenological lecture tour he undertook in the United States between 1838 and 1840. In the form of a journal, Combe describes the social and political institutions of the United States, and provides vivid descriptions of American society and customs. He also provides accounts of phrenological practice and the lectures he presented. These volumes provide a wealth of information on nineteenth-century society in America, and invaluable details concerning the practice of phrenology. Volume 2 covers his stay in Philadelphia and Maine.

Notes on the United States of North America during a Phrenological Visit in 1838–39–40
  • Volume 1
  • George Combe
  • Published online:
    07 September 2011
    Print publication:
    21 October 2010
    First published in:
    1841
  • George Combe (1788–1858) rose from humble origins to tour widely in Europe and the United States, lecturing on phrenology, the popular Victorian belief that character traits were determined by the configuration of the skull. He founded Britain's first Phrenological Society in 1820 in Edinburgh, and was considered the foremost phrenologist of the nineteenth century. These volumes, first published in 1841, contain Combe's account of a phrenological lecture tour he undertook in the United States between 1838 and 1840. In the form of a journal, Combe describes the social and political institutions of the United States, and provides vivid descriptions of American society and customs. He also provides accounts of phrenological practice and the lectures he presented. These volumes provide a wealth of information on nineteenth-century society in America, and invaluable details concerning the practice of phrenology. Volume 1 covers his stay in New York and New England.

America
  • Historical, Statistic, and Descriptive
  • Volume 3
  • James Silk Buckingham
  • Published online:
    05 March 2012
    Print publication:
    02 June 2011
    First published in:
    1841
  • James Silk Buckingham (1786–1855) was a writer who travelled extensively throughout the world and published accounts of his adventures in places such as India, Persia, Egypt, and Palestine. In addition, he was a supporter of political reform and served as the first MP for Sheffield, from 1832 to 1837. On retiring from Parliament, he left for North America, where he spent nearly four years, saying, 'I had a strong desire to add to the knowledge … acquired of the Old World, by examining for myself the most favoured portion of the New'. He recounts part of his time in America - during which he visited every state in the Union except Florida and Arkansas, as well as some of the provinces of Canada - in this three-volume work, published in 1841. Volume 3 sees the final part of Buckingham's expedition through upstate New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

Notes on the United States of North America during a Phrenological Visit in 1838–39–40
  • Volume 3
  • George Combe
  • Published online:
    07 September 2011
    Print publication:
    21 October 2010
    First published in:
    1841
  • George Combe (1788–1858) rose from humble origins to tour widely in Europe and the United States, lecturing on phrenology, the popular Victorian belief that character traits were determined by the configuration of the skull. He founded Britain's first Phrenological Society in 1820 in Edinburgh, and was considered the foremost phrenologist of the nineteenth century. These volumes, first published in 1841, contain Combe's account of a phrenological lecture tour he undertook in the United States between 1838 and 1840. In the form of a journal, Combe describes the social and political institutions of the United States, and provides vivid descriptions of American society and customs. He also provides accounts of phrenological practice and the lectures he presented. These volumes provide a wealth of information on nineteenth-century society in America, and invaluable details concerning the practice of phrenology. Volume 3 concludes his account, and discusses 'American civilization'.

Letters of John Adams Addressed to his Wife
  • Volume 2
  • John Adams
  • Edited by Charles Francis Adams
  • Published online:
    05 November 2011
    Print publication:
    22 September 2011
    First published in:
    1841
  • American statesman John Adams (1735–1826) was a key player in the early days of the American Revolution, and the second President of the United States (1797–1801). He was involved in drafting the 1776 Declaration of Independence, and as a Congress representative in Europe negotiated peace with Great Britain. First published in 1841, this two-volume book brings together the letters Adams wrote to his wife Abigail between 1774 and 1801. Spanning twenty-five years crucial to the creation and development of the United States as a nation, these letters reveal Adams' reactions to world events and his political views, as well as his daily life and concern for his family. Edited by Adams' grandson, the letters were largely left in their original form, in order to preserve the vitality and character of Adams' style. Volume 2 covers the later years of Adams' political career, from 1777 to 1801.

America
  • Historical, Statistic, and Descriptive
  • Volume 1
  • James Silk Buckingham
  • Published online:
    05 March 2012
    Print publication:
    02 June 2011
    First published in:
    1841
  • James Silk Buckingham (1786–1855) was a writer who travelled extensively throughout the world and published accounts of his adventures in places such as India, Persia, Egypt, and Palestine. In addition, he was a supporter of political reform and served as the first MP for Sheffield, from 1832 to 1837. On retiring from Parliament, he left for North America, where he spent nearly four years, saying, 'I had a strong desire to add to the knowledge … acquired of the Old World, by examining for myself the most favoured portion of the New'. He recounts part of his time in America - during which he visited every state in the Union except Florida and Arkansas, as well as some of the provinces of Canada - in this three-volume work, published in 1841. Volume 1 focuses on his time in New York, Washington, DC, and Baltimore.

America
  • Historical, Statistic, and Descriptive
  • Volume 2
  • James Silk Buckingham
  • Published online:
    07 September 2011
    Print publication:
    02 June 2011
    First published in:
    1841
  • James Silk Buckingham (1786–1855) was a writer who travelled extensively throughout the world and published accounts of his adventures in places such as India, Persia, Egypt, and Palestine. In addition, he was a supporter of political reform and served as the first MP for Sheffield, from 1832 to 1837. On retiring from Parliament, he left for North America, where he spent nearly four years, saying, 'I had a strong desire to add to the knowledge … acquired of the Old World, by examining for myself the most favoured portion of the New'. He recounts part of his time in America - during which he visited every state in the Union except Florida and Arkansas, as well as some of the provinces of Canada - in this three-volume work, published in 1841. Volume 2 follows his travels through Pennsylvania, Delaware, and upstate New York before he heads to Niagara Falls.

Letters and Notes on the Manners, Customs, and Condition of the North American Indians
  • Volume 2
  • George Catlin
  • Published online:
    05 November 2011
    Print publication:
    22 September 2011
    First published in:
    1841
  • Although he is best known for his paintings of Native Americans, George Catlin (1796–1872) also wrote books about his experiences among the indigenous peoples of the United States. During the 1830s he travelled widely in the western frontier regions with the aim of documenting the vanishing cultures of the Indians, and managed to meet 48 groups. This was a critical time for Native Americans, as US government policies were forcing many tribes off their ancestral land and onto reservations west of the Mississippi River. Catlin's two-volume work, published in 1841, is a compilation of his letters and field notes, and includes over 300 drawings of people, artefacts and animals. Catlin, following the Romantic tradition, expresses admiration for the 'honest and honourable' Indians, and disgust at 'civilised man' having made them 'victims to whiskey, the small-pox and the bayonet'. Volume 2 focuses on tribes in Arkansas, Texas and Florida.

Letters and Notes on the Manners, Customs, and Condition of the North American Indians
  • Volume 1
  • George Catlin
  • Published online:
    05 March 2012
    Print publication:
    22 September 2011
    First published in:
    1841
  • Although he is best known for his paintings of Native Americans, George Catlin (1796–1872) also wrote books about his experiences among the indigenous peoples of the United States. During the 1830s he travelled widely in the western frontier regions with the aim of documenting the vanishing cultures of the Indians, and managed to meet 48 groups. This was a critical time for Native Americans, as US government policies were forcing many tribes off their ancestral land and onto reservations west of the Mississippi River. Catlin's two-volume work, published in 1841, is a compilation of his letters and field notes, and includes over 300 line drawings of people, artefacts and animals. He expresses disgust at the Europeans' treatment of the 'honest and honourable' Indians, who have 'fallen victims to whiskey, the small-pox and the bayonet'. Volume 1 focuses on the Crow, Blackfeet and Mandan peoples in the Great Plains.

Letters of John Adams Addressed to his Wife
  • Volume 1
  • John Adams
  • Edited by Charles Francis Adams
  • Published online:
    05 November 2011
    Print publication:
    22 September 2011
    First published in:
    1841
  • American statesman John Adams (1735–1826) was a key player in the early days of the American Revolution, and the second President of the United States (1797–1801). He was involved in drafting the 1776 Declaration of Independence, and as a Congress representative in Europe negotiated peace with Great Britain. First published in 1841, this two-volume book brings together the letters Adams wrote to his wife Abigail between 1774 and 1801. Spanning twenty-five years crucial to the creation and development of the United States as a nation, these letters reveal Adams' reactions to world events and his political views, as well as his daily life and concern for his family. Edited by Adams' grandson, the letters were largely left in their original form, in order to preserve the vitality and character of Adams' style. Volume 1 covers the early years of Adams' political career, from 1774 to 1777.

American Scenery
  • Or, Land, Lake, and River Illustrations of Transatlantic Nature
  • Volume 1
  • Nathaniel Parker Willis
  • Published online:
    05 August 2011
    Print publication:
    20 July 2009
    First published in:
    1840
  • Nathaniel Parker Willis (1806–67) came from a publishing family and began his writing career with contributions to magazines. He also wrote poetry and plays but is best remembered as a travel writer. In this two-volume work of 1840, his contribution (described on the title page as 'the literary department') was to provide a narrative for prints from the engravings of William Henry Bartlett (1809–54), the famous British landscape artist, who followed already established tourist routes in the United States to make his drawings. Each of Bartlett's 119 engravings is accompanied by a short essay by Willis, who states in the preface that it is his intention to bring to the reader at home 'at small cost' the sensations of travel which 'those whose lot is domestic and retired' would never be in a position to experience for themselves. This extremely popular work remained in print for thirty years.

American Scenery
  • Or, Land, Lake, and River Illustrations of Transatlantic Nature
  • Volume 2
  • Nathaniel Parker Willis
  • Published online:
    05 June 2015
    Print publication:
    20 July 2009
    First published in:
    1840
  • Nathaniel Parker Willis (1806–67) came from a publishing family and began his writing career with contributions to magazines. He also wrote poetry and plays but is best remembered as a travel writer. In this two-volume work of 1840, his contribution (described on the title page as 'the literary department') was to provide a narrative for prints from the engravings of William Henry Bartlett (1809–54), the famous British landscape artist, who followed already established tourist routes in the United States to make his drawings. Each of Bartlett's 119 engravings is accompanied by a short essay by Willis, who states in the preface that it is his intention to bring to the reader at home 'at small cost' the sensations of travel which 'those whose lot is domestic and retired' would never be in a position to experience for themselves. The extremely popular work remained in print for thirty years.

A Diary in America
  • With Remarks on its Institutions
  • Volume 5
  • Frederick Marryat
  • Published online:
    05 March 2012
    Print publication:
    02 June 2011
    First published in:
    1839
  • Captain Frederick Marryat (1792–1848) was a distinguished naval officer, today best remembered as a novelist (particularly of stories for children), often drawing on his own experiences. He also edited a radical journal, and wrote non-fiction, including an attack on press-gangs, which damaged his career. He spent 1837 and 1838 travelling in North America, publishing his impressions in this unstructured six-volume 'diary' in 1839. He states that the number of contradictory and often trivial accounts of American life being published made him want to see the New World for himself. He found it impossible to make generalisations, given the size of the country and the different origins of new arrivals, and did not believe America would become a nation for many years. Volume 5 discusses the role of women in American society, American patriotism, and the constitution and government.

A Diary in America
  • With Remarks on its Institutions
  • Volume 3
  • Frederick Marryat
  • Published online:
    07 September 2011
    Print publication:
    02 June 2011
    First published in:
    1839
  • Captain Frederick Marryat (1792–1848) was a distinguished naval officer, today best remembered as a novelist (particularly of stories for children), often drawing on his own experiences. He also edited a radical journal, and wrote non-fiction, including an attack on press-gangs, which damaged his career. He spent 1837 and 1838 travelling in North America, publishing his impressions in this unstructured six-volume 'diary' in 1839. He states that the number of contradictory and often trivial accounts of American life being published made him want to see the New World for himself. He found it impossible to make generalisations, given the size of the country and the different origins of new arrivals, and did not believe America would become a nation for many years. Volume 3 contains 'remarks' on topics including the American navy, the institution of slavery, and the place of religion in American society.

A Diary in America
  • With Remarks on its Institutions
  • Volume 4
  • Frederick Marryat
  • Published online:
    05 August 2011
    Print publication:
    02 June 2011
    First published in:
    1839
  • Captain Frederick Marryat (1792–1848) was a distinguished naval officer, today best remembered as a novelist (particularly of stories for children), often drawing on his own experiences. He also edited a radical journal, and wrote non-fiction, including an attack on press-gangs, which damaged his career. He spent 1837 and 1838 travelling in North America, publishing his impressions in this unstructured six-volume 'diary' in 1839. He states that the number of contradictory and often trivial accounts of American life being published made him want to see the New World for himself. He found it impossible to make generalisations, given the size of the country and the different origins of new arrivals, and did not believe America would become a nation for many years. Volume 4 discusses immigration, and American authors and journalists.

A Diary in America
  • With Remarks on its Institutions
  • Volume 2
  • Frederick Marryat
  • Published online:
    05 August 2011
    Print publication:
    02 June 2011
    First published in:
    1839
  • Captain Frederick Marryat (1792–1848) was a distinguished naval officer, today best remembered as a novelist (particularly of stories for children), often drawing on his own experiences. He also edited a radical journal, and wrote non-fiction, including an attack on press-gangs, which damaged his career. He spent 1837 and 1838 travelling in North America, publishing his impressions in this unstructured six-volume 'diary' in 1839. He states that the number of contradictory and often trivial accounts of American life being published made him want to see the New World for himself. He found it impossible to make generalisations, given the size of the country and the different origins of new arrivals, and did not believe America would become a nation for many years. Volume 2 covers such topics as language, the prison system and the army.

A Diary in America
  • With Remarks on its Institutions
  • Volume 6
  • Frederick Marryat
  • Published online:
    07 September 2011
    Print publication:
    02 June 2011
    First published in:
    1839
  • Captain Frederick Marryat (1792–1848) was a distinguished naval officer, today best remembered as a novelist (particularly of stories for children), often drawing on his own experiences. He also edited a radical journal, and wrote non-fiction, including an attack on press-gangs, which damaged his career. He spent 1837 and 1838 travelling in North America, publishing his impressions in this unstructured six-volume 'diary' in 1839. He states that the number of contradictory and often trivial accounts of American life being published made him want to see the New World for himself. He found it impossible to make generalisations, given the size of the country and the different origins of new arrivals, and did not believe America would become a nation for many years. Volume 6 includes remarks on Canada and on Native Americans.

A Diary in America
  • With Remarks on its Institutions
  • Volume 1
  • Frederick Marryat
  • Published online:
    05 May 2013
    Print publication:
    15 September 2011
    First published in:
    1839
  • Captain Frederick Marryat (1792–1848) was a distinguished naval officer, today best remembered as a novelist (particularly of stories for children), often drawing on his own experiences. He also edited a radical journal, and wrote non-fiction, including an attack on press-gangs, which damaged his career. He spent 1837 and 1838 travelling in North America, publishing his impressions in this unstructured six-volume 'diary' in 1839. He states that the number of contradictory and often trivial accounts of American life being published made him want to see the New World for himself. He found it impossible to make generalisations, given the size of the country and the different origins of new arrivals, and did not believe America would become a nation for many years. Volume 1 includes an introductory essay, a description of the Atlantic crossing, and travel on the eastern seaboard.

Page 6 of 9