―332―For the Literary Magazine.
volney's travels in america.
To the Editor, &c.
I SEND you a translation of the
most material passages in Volney's pre-
face to his Travels in America, which
have just appeared at Paris. A work
of this nature is of great importance to
our national reputation abroad; it must
therefore be universally interesting to
know in what colours we have been
drawn by one, whose portrait, whatever
be its absurdities and blemishes, will un-
doubtedly be more multiplied, farther
diffused, and generally credited than
the work of any other painter. I shall
make no comment on any of its lines or
shades, but leave your impartial readers
to view the scene, uninterrupted and
unbiassed. Yours,