The slaveholder abroad

Front matter

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THE

Slaveholder Abeoad;

Preface

The author of the following letters wishes it to be distinctly apprehended by the reader, that, as regards the personality of Dr. Jones and his servant, or their personal adventures and experience, as related in the following pages, he does not desire it to be understood or believed that he sets up any pretensions to the accuracy of narrative. He acknowledges that he has used these only as a stock upon which to engraft some fruit-bearing facts; and that he has assumed to himself a license in these particulars, in order that he might render the statements of fact which he has made, more attractive to general readers.

Let it be understood, then, once for all, that it is no part of the author's design that any credit should be given to the class of circumstances specified, as influencing the conclusions which he is anxious to have derived from the matter contained in these letters ; and that (with one exception, which will be presently mentioned) the only statements which may be thought to affect the character of individuals, or of the British people, that he 1 * ( V )

Vi PREFACE.

would have received as credible evidence, are siicli as lie has taken from some report made by authority, which, for the purposes he has in view, must be regarded as reliable : viz., an English book, periodical, or newspaper. The statements as to salaries, pensions, etc., of English officials, in the last letter but one, must be referred to as an exception. But these are facts which are so notorious, and which may be so easily verified by reference to the items of the English Civil List, that it was deemed unnecessary to be more particular. I will add that the author has indeed endeavored to give his authority for all the material facts stated (excepting those which have been referred to), both in the body of the work and in the Appendix.