Travels in the Interior of North America Part 25

Fordham was an especially well-qualified observer of the Middle West because of the numerous journeys he undertook, on land-hunting trips for new emigrants, in the service of Mr. Birkbeck. These journeys led him into Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky; and he never omits the opportunity to make frank and pointed comment on society, manners, and morals, as well as careful observations of the face of the country and of industrial conditions. The style is quite unaffected and has much natural charm and sprightliness; and the fact that he wrote anonymously made him much more free in his comments on contemporary society than would otherwise have been possible.

=LOCAL AND PIONEER HISTORY=

These journeys also gave him unexampled opportunities for contact with the pioneers of Middle West, and his journal is consequently rich in _personalia_ of early settlers, remarks on contemporary history and politics, state of trade, agriculture, prices, and information on local history not obtainable elsewhere. He also visited the larger cities and gives very interesting accounts of Pittsburg and Cincinnati, accompanied by original sketches and plans. In Kentucky he had the opportunity to study slavery; and although at first prejudiced against this inst.i.tution he finally reached the conclusion that the slave states offered better chances of successful settlement than the free states.

=VALUE FOR READERS AND STUDENTS=

The publication of Fordham's _Narrative _with introduction, extensive annotations, and index by professor Frederic A. Ogg, one of the best authorities on the history of the Mississippi Valley, will make accessible to historical students much new and important material, besides giving the general reader a book of vital and absorbing interest.

Printed direct from type on d.i.c.kinson's deckle-edged paper, and ill.u.s.trated with original sketches and plans, in one volume, 8vo, about 180 pages, cloth, uncut.

Price $3.00 net.

The Arthur H. Clark Company _PUBLISHERS_ CLEVELAND, OHIO

"_AN AUTHORITY OF THE HIGHEST IMPORTANCE_"--Winsor

THE PRESENT STATE OF THE EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS ON THE MISSISIPPI;

WITH A GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THAT RIVER.

ILl.u.s.tRATED BY PLANS AND DRAUGHTS.

By Captain PHILIP PITTMAN.

LONDON.

Printed for J. NOURSE, Bookseller to His MAJESTY.

MDCCLXX

_Edited with Introduction, Notes, and Index, by_ FRANK HEYWOOD HODDER PROFESSOR OF AMERICAN HISTORY, UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

This exceedingly rare work was issued in London, in 1770, and has been so much in demand by historical students and collectors of Americana that even imperfect copies of the original are now almost impossible to obtain at any price. Our text is from a perfect copy of the original with all the folding maps and plans carefully reproduced.

*Only two copies have been offered for sale during the past five years; one copy sold at $95.00, and the other is now offered by a reliable firm of booksellers at $105.00.

PITTMAN'S MISSISSIPPI SETTLEMENTS

_A valuable source work_

Pittman's _Mississippi Settlements_ contains much valuable original material for the study of the French and Spanish Settlements of old Louisiana, West Florida, and the Illinois country. The author, Captain Philip Pittman, was a British military engineer, and gives an accurate general view of the Mississippi Settlements just after the English came into possession of the eastern half of the valley by the Peace of 1763. His account, written from personal observation, is rich in allusions to the political, social, and military readjustments resulting from this change of possession. "A comprehensive account of the Illinois country and its inhabitants, with sketches in detail of the several French posts and villages situated therein, as personally viewed by him in 1766-67.... It contains, in a compact form, much useful and reliable information (nowhere else to be found) concerning the Mississippi Valley and its people at that transition period."--WALLACE: _Illinois and Louisiana under French Rule_.

_The earliest English account_

Dr. William F. Poole in Winsor's _Narrative and Critical History of America_ says: "It is the earliest English account of those settlements, and, as an authority in early western history, is of the highest importance. He [Pittman] was a military engineer, and for five years was employed in surveying the Mississippi River and exploring the western country. The excellent plans which accompany the work, artistically engraved on copper, add greatly to its value."

_Annotation by Professor Hodder_

An introduction, notes, and index have been supplied by Professor Frank Heywood Hodder, who has made a special study of American historical geography. The value of the reprint is thus enhanced by annotation embodying the results of the latest researches in this field of American history.

The edition is limited to 500 copies, each numbered. It is handsomely printed in large Caslon type on d.i.c.kinson's deckle-edged paper. With folding maps and plans. Large 8vo, cloth, uncut, gilt top.

Price $3.00 net.

_THE ARTHUR H. CLARK COMPANY_ _PUBLISHERS_ CLEVELAND, OHIO

"We cannot thoroughly understand our own history, local or National, without some knowledge of these routes of trade and war."--_The Outlook._

The Historic Highways of America

by ARCHER BUTLER HULBERT

A series of monographs on the History of America as portrayed in the evolution of its highways of War, Commerce, and Social Expansion.

Comprising the following volumes:

I--Paths of the Mound-Building Indians and Great Game Animals.

II--Indian Thoroughfares.

III--Washington's Road: The First Chapter of the Old French War.

IV--Braddock's Road.

V--The Old Glade (Forbes's) Road.

VI--Boone's Wilderness Road.

VII--Portage Paths: The Keys of the Continent.

VIII--Military Roads of the Mississippi Basin.

IX--Waterways of Westward Expansion.

X--The c.u.mberland Road.

XI, XII--Pioneer Roads of America, two volumes.

XIII, XIV--The Great American Ca.n.a.ls, two volumes.