USA > Delaware > Narratives of early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707 > Part 1
USA > New Jersey > Narratives of early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707 > Part 1
USA > Pennsylvania > Narratives of early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707 > Part 1
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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA LIBRARY X000515383
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1
1
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ORIGINAL NARRATIVES OF EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY
REPRODUCED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
GENERAL EDITOR, J. FRANKLIN JAMESON, PH. D., LL.D. DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH IN THE CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON
NARRATIVES OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA WEST NEW JERSEY AND DELAWARE 1630-1707
ORIGINAL NARRATIVES OF EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY
NARRATIVES OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA WEST NEW JERSEY AND DELAWARE
1630-1707
EDITED BY ALBERT COOK MYERS
WITH MAPS AND A FACSIMILE
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS NEW YORK
!
.
F 106 .M98 1912
COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY CHAPI ES SCRIBNER'S SONS
1
Printed in the United States of America
1
S
NOTE
THE first of the illustrations in this volume is a facsimile of a por- tion of an excellent map entitled "Novi Belgii Novæque Angliæe nec- non Pennsylvania et Partis Virginia Tabula," by N. J. Visscher, a prominent Dutch map engraver of the middle of the seventeenth century. The whole map embraces, as the title implies, all those parts of New England, the Middle States, and Maryland which at that time had been settled by white men or had become known, more or less accurately, through their explorations. The whole map measures twenty-two by nineteen inches. The part which has been selected for reproduction in this volume covers the regions especially involved in the narratives printed therein. The map is chosen as representing the state of things at the time when Swedish occupation of the Delaware River region gave way to Dutch. Its date cannot be later than June 28, 1656, since a copy of it accom- panied a report of that date from the directors of the Dutch West India Company to the States General of the United Netherlands. On the other hand it can hardly have been finished before February, 1655, since in that month the directors of the West India Company authorized the publication of the first edition of Adriaen van der Donck's Beschrijvinge van Niew Nederlant, which has no map, while the second edition, published in 1656, has a map copied partly from Visscher's. I am informed by Mr. Wilberforce Eames of the New York Public Library, to whom I am indebted for much infor- mation respecting the map, that, though the map was formerly re- puted exceedingly rare, there are probably now in this country a dozen or twenty copies of it in this form. Twenty-eight years later Visscher's son published a reissue of the map from a plate retouched with the addition of Philadelphia and other places and names be- longing to subsequent history.
The second illustration in the volume is a reproduction of Thomas Holme's " Portraiture of the City of Philadelphia." Thomas Holme
vi
NOTE
(1624-1695), a captain in Cromwell's army, and afterward a Quaker living in Ireland,1 was in April, 1682, appointed by Penn surveyor- general of Pennsylvania, and sailed immediately for that province. As one of the three "Commissioners for Settling the Colony," he laid out the city of Philadelphia in the autumn of that year. He also drew up this map or plan of the city, which was printed in Lon- don in 1683 as part of the Letter to the Committee of the Free Society of Traders. It will be seen (page 224) that the title of the pamphlet refers to it, in the words, "with a Portraiture or Plat-form thereof [i. e., of Philadelphia], wherein the Purchasers Lots are distinguished by certain numbers inserted, directing to a Catalogue of the said Purchasors Names." The catalogue is not reproduced in this vol- ume, but the explanation of the city's plan will be found in its place, near the map. The original map measures 11} x 172 inches; our reproduction is reduced about two-fifths in each dimension.
The plan here presented did not in all details remain permanently in effect. From the Delaware River to Eleventh Street, indeed- counting the Delaware water-front, or Front Street, as the first- it is substantially the plan of the corresponding area of the present city. But as early as 1684, all the streets west of the eleventh were moved eastward, and the street marked Broad Street on the "Por- traiture," and still so called, became the fourteenth instead of the twelfth; while the street next east of the Schuylkill water-front re- mained, and still remains, Twenty-Second Street.
J. F. J.
1 A fuller account of his life may be seen on p. 242, note 1; a letter from him on p. 292.
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CONTENTS
NARRATIVES OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA, WEST NEW JERSEY, AND DELAWARE
EDITED BY ALBERT COOK MYERS
PAGE
FROM THE "KORTE HISTORIAEL ENDE JOURNAELS AENTEYCKENINGE," BY DAVID PIETERSZ. DE VRIES, 1630-1633, 1644 (1655) .
INTRODUCTION
De Vries becomes a Patroon of New Netherland .
7
The Patroons send the Swanendael Colony to South Bay
8
De Vries's Voyage to America, 1632
9
In the West Indies
10
Arrives in South Bay
15
Indian Story of Ill-fated Swanendael
16
Peace with the Indians there; Whaling
17
De Vries sgils up South River for Corn
18
Sees Deserted Fort Nassau .
18
Beaver Trading with the River Indians
19
Return to Swanendael for more Goods
21
Sails up the River a Second Time-
21
Meets the Inland Minquas Indians at Fort Nassau
23
Report of Minquas Victories over River Indians .
24
Description of the River and Bay
25
Sails for Virginia
26
De Vries's Second Voyage to South Bay, 1644
26
27
Sails up the River a Third Time; Swedish Fort Nya Elfsborg Fort Nya Göteborg; Hospitality of Governor Printz Sails to Virginia
28
. 29
RELATION OF CAPTAIN THOMAS YONG, 1634. 31
INTRODUCTION
33
Yong's Quest for Northwest Passage; to Delaware River
37
Defeated River Indians in Hiding from Minquas
38
The Minquas come aboard with Presents of Green Corn
.
39
They promise Beaver Trade .
40
Yong takes Possession of the Country for the English .
41
1
3
.
viii
CONTENTS
PAGE
Makes Peace with the River Indians
40
Promises them Aid against the Minquas
. 41
Trades with the River Indians for Beaver 43 · Arrives within Nine Miles of the Falls of Delaware . 44
Asserts his English Claim against the Dutch from Manhattan 44
His Lieutenant explores the New Jersey Coast · 46
The Indians describe the Sources of the Delaware 47 ·
Description of the River; Animals and Plants 47
The Dutch appear a Second Time .
· 49
FROM THE "ACCOUNT OF THE SWEDISH CHURCHES IN NEW SWEDEN," BY - REVEREND ISRAEL ACRELIUS, 1759 . . 51
INTRODUCTION
The Dutch in North America
.
57
William Usselinx's Proposition for a Swedish Trading Company
58
Confirmed by King Gustavus Adolphus
58
Peter Minuit's Renewal of the Project; Support from Oxenstierna Minuit brings Swedish Colony to the Delaware ·
·
59
The First Swedish Settlement at Fort Christina, 1638 ·
61
The Dutch Protest against the Swedish Colony ·
· 62
Peter Hollender Ridder, the Second Governor of New Sweden
64
Johan Printz, Third Governor of New Sweden, arrives, 1643
65
Further Protests of the Dutch
66
They build Fort Casimir, 1651
67
Its Rival Swedish Fort Nya Elfsborg .
67
Other Swedish Forts and Settlements .
68
Relations of the Swedes with the Indians
69
Their Land Dealings with the Indians
72
Indian Customs
73
Governor Printz's High Hand with the Dutch
74
Dutch and Swedes eject New Englanders from the Delaware
76
Weakness of the Dutch on the Delaware
77
Finances of the Swedish Colony .
78
Governor Printz leaves the Colony 78
Early Swedish Ministers; Madam Papegoya and Tinicum . 80
AFFIDAVIT OF FOUR MEN FROM THE " KEY OF CALMAR," 1638 83
INTRODUCTION
85
The Four Men
86
Their Arrival with Minuit in the Minquas Kill 87
·
How Five Indian Sachems ceded Land to the Swedes 87
The Country called New Sweden; Fort Christina built ·
88
V REPORT OF GOVERNOR JOHAN PRINTZ, 1644 · INTRODUCTION
·
91
Goods for the Indian Trade ·
93
· 95 Cargo of Beaver Skins and Tobacco sent to Sweden 96
The Virginia Tobacco Trade
. 97
.
60
.
53
.
CONTENTS
ix
State of the People of New Sweden ·
98
·
·
/The Colony's Crops
.
99
Description of the Settlements
99
Relations with the Dutch and Puritans
100
Misadventures of Sir Edward Plowden in Virginia 101
Depredations of the Indians in Manhattan, Virginia, and Maryland 102
Distrust of River Indians; Uncertain Peace with them 103
Beaver Trade with the Minquas, not with River Indians 104
Boat Building
105
Printz desires Assistant for Latin Correspondence with Neighboring Governments 106
Desires Instructions as to Free and Criminal Settlers .
106
Desires Provision for Entertainment of Guests of Consequence . 107
Cattle brought from Manhattan . 107
108
Suggests Swedish Privateering on the Spanish Main
110
110
Register of Deaths
·
115
-
REPORT OF GOVERNOR JOHAN PRINTZ, 1647
117
INTRODUCTION
Returns Cargo of Tobacco
.
120
Improvements; Possibilities of Country
·
120
The People; Fort Nya Göteborg burnt; Church built there . 121
122
123
Cattle; Barge built; Needs of the Colony Indians at Peace
124
Renewal of Previous Recommendations
.
126
Another Appeal for Recall .
·
128
Johan Papegoya sent Home to report . 129
REPORT OF GOVERNOR JOHAN RISING, 1654
131
INTRODUCTION
Colony recovering from Mutiny and Illness; Provisions needed . 133
Desires full Judicial Authority; Colonists' Complaint of Ex-Governor Printz
. 137
Great Advantages of the River; Andreas Hudde's Map of it 138 Commercial Possibilities Plans for Fostering Agriculture . . 139 Advocates Trading Passage from Elk River to Christina Kill . 140
Mill Sites in Christina Kill; Advises Occupation of Hoere Kill Suggests other Industries, and a Supply of Artisans 141
140
Town Lots surveyed at Christina; Trinity's Twenty Houses
142
Trade Conditions; Cargo needed for Minquas 143
Sloop in New England for Supplies . 145
Excise Duties
.
146
Military Affairs
.
Full Records of Colony's Property kept
. 146 . 147
.
Desires Recall
VList of the Inhabitants of New Sweden
119
First Grist Mill; Journey to Minquas Land, 230 Miles Dutch Obstruction of the Indian Trade
.
125
136
PAGE
X
CONTENTS
PAGE
VLand Titles; need for Closer Supervision
.
148
·
Population, 370 Souls .
·
149
Church Affairs ·
. 150
REPORT OF GOVERNOR JOHAN RISING, 1655 153
INTRODUCTION
155
Hopes for Relief; Necessitous Conditions; Threatening Lenape 156
Maryland ruining Minquas Trade
.
157
Menaces of Dutch and English
158
Elk River Land purchased from Minquas
159
Abortive Industrial Plans; Long Delays will be Fatal
160
Shipping and Commercial Possibilities
161
Supplies of Last Year from New Haven
162
Cleared Land doubled and planted with Corn
163
1
House-building at Christina; Forts there and at Trinity strengthened . 164
RELATION OF THE SURRENDER OF NEW SWEDEN, BY GOVERNOR JOHAN CLASON RISING, 1655 . 167
INTRODUCTION
169
Governor Stuyvesant with Dutch Fleet descends upon New Sweden 170
Recaptures Fort Casimir
171
Siege of Fort Christina
173
Pillage of the Swedish Settlements
.
174
Surrender of Fort Christina and New Sweden
176
THE EPISTLE OF PENN, LAWRIE AND LUCAS, RESPECTING WEST JERSEY, 1676 177
INTRODUCTION
179
Description of West Jersey disclaimed and corrected
.
182
Kand Title of West Jersey; Penn, Lawrie, and Lucas, Trustees
.
183
Quakers receive First Offer of Lands
.
184
Settlers cautioned not to make heedless Removals
.
185
THE PRESENT STATE OF THE COLONY OF WEST-JERSEY, 1681 .
187
//
INTRODUCTION
.
·
189
Flourishing Towns and Farms; Abundant and Varied Products
.
191
Industries and Trades; Soil and Climate
192
Laws made by Proprietors and Freemen; Religious Freedom
192
Method of Land Sales; Information for Emigrants
193
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE PROVINCE OF PENNSYLVANIA, BY WILLIAM PENN, 1681 . INTRODUCTION
.
197
.
199
202
Colonies of the Ancients
Benefits from Colonies
203
True Causes for Decrease of Population
204
Colonies a Market for the Mother Country
206
Pennsylvania and its Advantages .
207
The Constitutions; Conditions as to Purchasers, Renters, Servants
208
CONTENTS
xi
PAGE
Desirable Kinds of Colonists
.
209
Equipment; the Voyage; First Work .
210
. 211
215
LETTER FROM WILLIAM PENN TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE FREE SOCIETY OF TRADERS, 1683
. 217
INTRODUCTION
· . 219
Description of the Province of Pennsylvania
. 225
Animals and Plants
228
The Indians
. 230
The Dutch and Swedes
237
Topography, Population, Government
238
Philadelphia; Situation and Improvements
239
The Free Society of Traders
. 240
A Short Advertisement of the City of Philadelphia
242
LETTER OF THOMAS PASCHALL, 1683
245
INTRODUCTION
Healthful Country
Extent and Character of Settlements
251
The Swedes and Finns; Products and Prices
252
Markets; the Land
. 254
A FURTHER ACCOUNT OF THE PROVINCE OF PENNSYLVANIA, BY WILLIAM PENN, 1685 .
·
255
INTRODUCTION
·
·
. 257
Progress of the Province; Extent and Variety of Population
259
Philadelphia and its Improvements
. 260
Country Settlements; Townships
. 263
Products of the Earth; Soil, Crops, Fruits, the Vine
264
Products of the Water; Whales, Varieties of Fish 265
Prices, Grain Crops, Stock, Dairying, Brewing
266
ROBERT TURNER'S LETTER, 1685
.
268
Orchards, Crops, Fruits
268
Philadelphia's Advancement; First Brick House, 1684;
Other Building Operations
269
Whaling and Fisheries
.
.
272
Germantown's Linen Manufactures
272
Prospective Staples of Trade
273
How Adventurers may best invest
.
273
Indians; the Government; the Voyage
. 276
LETTERS OF DOCTOR NICHOLAS MORE, AND OTHERS, 1686
.
279
INTRODUCTION . . 281 Pennsylvania's Rich Crops and Provisions; Prices; Exports . 285
Vineyards; Wine
. 287
11
Abstract of Penn's Charter for Pennsylvania Penn desires Settlers not to come inconsiderately
.
247
250
-
Plants and Animals; Indians
253
CONTENTS
PAGE
Letters of James Harrison and Penn's Gardener; Penn's Flourishing
Plantation
290
·
·
289
Of Robert Turner; Crops, Prices, Building .
.
Of David Lloyd; Ships and Passengers arriving; Penn's Vineyard 291
Of Thomas Holme; Purchase of Indian Lands
292
Of James Claypoole; Whale Fishery
292
A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF PENNSILVANIA, BY RICHARD FRAME, 1692 295
INTRODUCTION
297
Wild and Domestic Animals
300
Crops; Plants; Fruits
301
Metals; Timber .
302
Inhabitants; Indians
·
302
1
Felling the Primitive Forest; Houses
303
Towns and Townships; Germantown and its Linen and Paper 304
AN HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT OF PENSILVANIA AND OF WEST-NEW-JERSEY, BY GABRIEL THOMAS, 1698 · 307
INTRODUCTION
309
Dedication to William Penn
313
Preface
314
Pennsylvania; Bounds; Indians; Dutch, Swedes, Finns 315
English Conquest; Penn's Grant 316
Philadelphia; Houses, Streets, Fairs, Markets; Other Towns 317
Climate; Agriculture; Streams; Metals; Coal 318
Fowl, Fish, Wild Animals, Fruits, Herbs 321
Counties; Varieties of Grain, Harvests, Stock, Bees 323
Land; Exports and Imports 324
Cheap Lands for Sale in City and Country . 325
Artisans and Tradesmen; High Wages 326
Little need for Lawyers and Physicians 328
Cheap Food and Clothing; Causes for High Wages 328 Philadelphia; Wharves, Shipping, Stairs; Germantown Manufactures 329
Country-seats of the Gentry 332
Gardens; No Old Maids; Thomas's First Arrival · 332
The Indians; Their Language exemplified . . 333
Religions; George Keith and his Schism
334
AN HISTORICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROVINCE AND COUNTRY OF WEST-NEW-JERSEY, 1698
.
338
The Epistle · Preface to the Reader . · 339
338
West New Jersey; Bounds; Indians; an Indian Dialogue · 340
The Dutch; First English Settlements; Salem 344
Burlington; Market, Wharves, Houses; Country-seats 345
Gloucester
·
347
Religions; Climate; Products, Vegetable and Animal · 347
Timber; Rivers .
349
CONTENTS
zili
Thomas's Purpose in Writing
·
·
351
CIRCUMSTANTIAL GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF PENNSYLVANIA, BY
FRANCIS DANIEL PASTORIUS, 1700
.
.
353
INTRODUCTION
·
To the Gentle Reader
.
·
360
Preface; Pastorius's Autobiography; Divisions of the Globe
.
361
The Fourth Division, America; Columbus, Vespucius
365 368
Penn's Charter
. 371
His Method and Terms for the Sale of Land
.
374
Pastorius buys Land for the German Company
375
375
His Report to the Company
377
Penn's Laws and Province
379
His First Arrival .
Rising Towns; Germantown; Pastorius's Settlement
380
Indian Trade; Currency
382
Exports; the Vine; Weaving
383
Indians
383
Religione
387
The German Company; Pastorius's Voyage to Pennsylvania, 1683 388 PASTORIUS'S "POSITIVE INFORMATION FROM PENNSYLVANIA,"
1684
His Voyage in Detail; Crefelders
392
392
Meets William Penn; Penn's Character
.
396
The Land; Poor Farming of the Swedes; Immigration; Products
397
Towns; Frankford; Germantown .
399
Earlier German Inhabitants; the Indians; the German Com- pany's Lands . 400
Pastorius's Philadelphia House and its Inscription 404
The Company's Germantown Tract; Its Needs in the Province Penn's Popularity; Indian Withdrawal Inland; Caution . 409
406
Pastorius's Letter on Leaving the Old World, 1683 411
His Letter to Doctor Jacob Schutz of Frankfort, 1685 . 412
To his Father, 1691 413
Becomes First Mayor and Judge and draws up Laws of Germantown 414 Further News from Germantown, 1693; Penn's Loss of Pennsylvania Pastorius's Plea in Verse for Political Harmony ·
. 418
The Indians Pastorius's Marriage 421
419
His Latin Verse to Tobias Schumberg 422
His Letter of 1694; Quietism; Answers about the Indians . . 424
Letter from Germantown, 1695; Restoration of William Penn 427
Letter from Germantown, 1697; Hope for French Peace 429
Surviving Members of the German Company 430
Letter of Pastorius's Children to their Grandfather in Germany, 1697 431 Pastorius to his Father, 1697; French Seizure of Letters 432
PAGE
Special Commodities of the Counties ·
351
.
355
Pennsylvania; the Swedes; William Penn and his Grant
416
xiv
CONTENTS
PAGE
To the Rector at Windsheim, Germany; Indians; Indian Dialogue . To his Father, 1698; Penn's Government; Special Germantown
433
Government .
· 435
Occupations of the Germantown People .
436
Indian Government 437
Religious Worship in Germantown; Pastorius's Religious Views . . 438
History and Present Status of the German Company . 440
William Penn's Accessibility 442
Latin Letter of Pastorius's Father to William Penn, 1698 443
Penn's Response in Latin, 1699 . . 444 Still Further Information from Pennsylvania, 1699 445
Another Letter from Pastorius's Children to their Grandfather, 1699 . 447
LETTER OF JOHN JONES, 1725 . 449
INTRODUCTION 451
Migration of Thomas John Evans, Welshman, to Pennsylvania, 1681 455
He finds a Temporary Home with the Swedes 456
Arrival of Edward Jones and Other Welsh, 1682 456
Evans's Settlement in Radnor, the Welsh Tract .
458
INDEX
. 461
.
.
MAPS AND FACSIMILE REPRODUCTION
PAGE
PART OF N. J. VISSCHER'S MAP OF NEW NETHERLAND, NEW ENGLAND, AND PART OF VIRGINIA, ABOUT 1655. From a copy in the New York Public Library · 170
THOMAS HOLME'S "PORTRAITURE OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA," 1683. From a copy of Penn's "Letter to the Committee of the Free Society of Traders" in the New York Public Library .
. 242
TITLE-PAGE OF PASTORIUS'S "UMSTANDIGE GEOGRAPHISCHE BESCHREI- BUNG," 1700. From an original in the New York Public Library . 300
.
.
FROM THE "KORTE HISTORIAEL ENDE JOUR- NAELS AENTEYCKENINGE," BY DAVID PIETERSZ. DE VRIES, 1630-1633, 1643 (1655)
1
1
INTRODUCTION
THE scene of action of the collection of narratives assem- bled in this volume is Delaware Bay and River, that broad waterway which lies central to what is not only the domain of three great commonwealths but in a deeply significant his- torical sense the keystone region of the American Nation. Of the twenty pieces selected, covering a period of three- quarters of a century, this first narrative, as well as the succeeding one by Captain Yong, brings clearly to view the low-lying forest shores of the great estuary in its primitive simplicity of the red man's day, untouched as yet, save for two abandoned sites, by the oncoming, all-transforming com- plexities of the white man's civilization. Explorers, traders, and adventurers, in the main under the auspices of the enter- prising Dutch, had made more or less brief visits to the ter- ritory, and the Dutch laid claim to it as a part of New Netherland. An economic incentive, the lure of the enriching beaver trade with the Minquas Indians of the Susquehanna and Allegheny River valleys, a traffic which was readily tapped from the Delaware, was the prime cause, in general, for this earlier interest, and, later, for settlement prior to the Dutch conquest. Very soon the expanding Swedish and English nations were to seek locations on the river and at intervals to come into effective competition with the Dutch for this profitable trade.
The following extracts are translated from a quaint little Dutch book, a small black-letter quarto of [8+] 192 pages, published at Alkmaar, Holland, in 1655. It bears this some- what lengthy title, so characteristic of books of that age:
3
-
4
NARRATIVES OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA
Korte Historiael, ende Journaels Aenteyckeninge van verscheyden Voyagiens in de vier deelen des Wereldts-Ronde, als Europa, Africa, Asia, ende Amerika gedaen, Door D. David Pietersz. de Vries, Artillerij-Meester vande Ed: M: Heeren Gecommitteerde Raden van Staten van West-Vrieslandt ende 't Noordenquartier. Waer in verhaelt werd wat Batailjes hy te Water gedaen heeft: Yder Landtschap zijn Gedierte, Gevogelt, wat soorte van Vissen, ende wat wilde Menschen naer 't leven geconterfaeyt, ende van de Bosschen ende Ravieren met haer Vruchten. t' Hoorn. Voor David Pietersz. de Vries, Artillerij-Meester van 't Noorder- quartier. Tot Alckmaer, by Symon Cornelisz. Brekegeest, Anno 1655.
This title, as turned into English by the general editor in his sketch of the work and its author, in Narratives of New Netherland (1909), pages 183-185, reads: "Short Historical and Journal-Notes of various Voyages performed in the Four Quarters of the Globe, viz., Europe, Africa, Asia, and America, by David Pieterszoon de Vries, Artillery-Master to the Noble and Mighty Lords the Council of West Friesland and the North- ern Quarter [of the Province of Holland], wherein is set forth what Battles he delivered on the Water, Each Country, its Animals, its Birds, its Kinds of Fishes, and its Wild Men counterfeited to the Life, and its Woods and Rivers with their Products."
The illustrations, which seem to be etchings on copper, comprise an interesting portrait of the author and eighteen other plates, twelve of which depict American scenes but are for the most part appropriated from the earlier work of Champlain.
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