PREFACE.

The manuscript from which the following translation has been made, came into my hands a few years since in Holland. In what manner it had been preserved up to that time, could not be ascertained. It was in the possession of Mr. Frederick Müller, bookseller at Amsterdam, when I procured it; but, the probability is, it was taken in charge by some member of the community, at the time of the dispersion of the Labadists from Wiewerd, and had been handed down, from one person to another, afterwards, until its character and value failing to be appreciated, it became at last the mere waif he found it. The text appears to be a carefully transcribed copy, plainly written in a different handwriting from that upon the drawings or views which accompany it, and which, as the marks upon them show, are the original sketches made upon the spot.

The journal thus fortuitously recovered is a plain story, told in simple language, of a voyage across the Atlantic nearly two hundred years ago, and of

journeys to many of the American settlements at that time. It was written under the influence of peculiar religious views and national attachments, which are sought to be explained in the introduction, and for which the reader will know how to make the proper allowances. My task has been to render it into English as faithfully as possible, without suppressing any remark however personal or trivial it might seem. The names of persons and places have been retained in the orthography of the writer, although it is very often different in regard to the same word. The italic letter has been used by the printer in order to denote when it is the same as in the original. The French phrases are also the same as in the journal.

It is proper to remark that a portion of the manuscript still remains untranslated. It is a fragment of a general account of the Indians, and occurs after the hiatus mentioned on page 361. It has been omitted because it does not purport to give the observations of the journalist himself, but is a mere compilation for the most part from printed sources, of descriptions of the manners and customs of the race, presenting little or nothing new. What the writer saw and experienced in regard to them is given in the journal; and is all that is of any value or interest, from its showing the actual condition and

notions of the Indians, as modified by their contact and intercourse with the Europeans for little more than half a century. With the exception of this imperfect summary of Indian customs and two of the views elsewhere mentioned the manuscript is given entire.

In preparing the notes and introduction, I have received much aid in regard to the documentary evidence at Albany and Annapolis from Dr. E. B. O'Callaghan, of the former city, and Mr. George L. Davis, of Baltimore, and also valuable suggestions from the former in other respects. The rectified drawings of the views of New York, are by Mr. J. Carson Brevoort, who has also kindly furnished notes to the original illustrations.

BROOKLYN, February 1, 1867.

H. C. M.