America
Historical, Statistic, and Descriptive

A three-volume study of North American life published in 1841 by one of nineteenth-century Britain's leading travel writers.

James Silk Buckingham (Author)

9781108032537, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 2 June 2011

634 pages, 29 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 3.6 cm, 0.8 kg

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.

1. Stay in the city of Buffalo
2. Visit to the settlement of the Seneca Indians
3. First settlement of Rochester
4. Geological peculiarities of Rochester
5. Journey from Rochester to Canandaigua
6. Journey from Canandaigua to Auburn
7. Journey to Syracuse
8. Journey from Syracuse to Utica
9. Visit to Glen's Falls
10. Description of the White Mountains
11. Stay at Boston
12. Influence of institutions on character
13. Provision made for education
14. Description of the State of Massachusetts
15. Description of the city
16. Public schools
17. Periodical literature of Boston
18. Proportions of churches to each sect
19. Benevolent societies
20. The municipal government of the city of Boston
21. Commerce and manufactures
22. Environs of Boston
23. Visit to the Massachusetts State prison
24. State elections
25. Population of Boston and its suburbs
26. Last Sunday passed in Boston
27. Journey from Boston to Providence
28. Description of the city of Providence
29. Municipal government
30. Last visits made in Providence
31. Departure from Providence
32. Plan and appearance of the town
33. Anniversary of the Landing of the Pilgrims
34. History of the foundation of Plymouth colony
35. Disadvantageous position of the town
Index.

Subject Areas: History of the Americas [HBJK]