WITH THE PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF THE AUTHOR, DURING A TOUR THROUGH A PART OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. BY JAMES DIXON, D.D. SECOND EDITION. LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR: SOLD BY JOHN MASON, 66, PATERNOSTER-ROW; AND BY JAMES PEART, BIRMINGHAM. MDCCCXLIX. ADVERTISEMENT. THIS volume has been prepared for publication under the influence of one only sentiment; namely, a desire to make the Methodist body in England acquainted with the state and progress of their system of religion in the United States. The author is not conscious to himself of any peculiar bias in his opinions; his aim being simply to state facts as they presented themselves to his attention, and leave his readers to draw their own inferences. Not being a political agent, he has not felt himself called upon to enter-except incidentally-into questions of civil government. His general impression is, however, that the Americans possess a larger amount of social prosperity than any other people upon earth. But the vexed question of republicanism lies beyond his purpose; and he begs to inform his reader beforehand, that whatever he may meet with is not to be construed into an expression of opinion for or against this or any other form of government, but simply as historical. One thing, however, bearing on this subject may not be deemed out of place: it is, that the author's impressions of the true greatness of his own country were never so strong as during his visit to the States. America is the offspring of England. England has been reproduced in America. The character of the parent is seen in the athletic growth of the son. The blood, the religion, the ideas, the opinions, and, in substance, the institutions, of England exist in the United States. On this soil the Anglo-Saxon race is asserting its supremacy on a gigantic scale, and with a rare energy and vigour. It is a singular |