Travels in Canada and the United States, in 1816 and 1817
1819 · London
by Hall, Francis
8vo rebound with marble boards and leather spine 421 pp. Some minor foxing, mostly on title page and map, but otherwise a very nice clean copy. Howes (H-62) refers to this work as being an “unflattering description of American life and character.” Others have seen it as clever, objective and humorous (Sabin 29769). Hall was a lieutenant in the British army during the War of 1812, and he did have some positive things to say about what he saw. He actually met Jefferson, and was very much impressed by him. He talks about slavery in his book, and gives the reader a feel for some of the logic used by Americans to justify this institution. “Negro slaves are often better off than the poor classes of many European countries.” He also goes into some detail about the trial and execution of a slave who was accused of poisoning a sailor. The work also contains a folding map that illustrates The Niagara Frontier. (Inventory #: 100241)