PREFACE. THESE Notes were made upon the spot, during a Tour on the Continent in the years 1816, 1817, and 1818. At the time, the Author had not the most distant view of publication; but, after his return to this country, he derived both amusement and alleviation in reviewing and correcting them during his slow recovery from a severe indisposition; and they have been a short time since published in a literary miscellany at Liverpool, called the Kaleidoscope. The recent discussion, and still pending question of the Corn Laws, the Author is induced to believe, may make a wider circulation useful. He presumes not to give an opinion on so momentous a subject as the free importation of foreign grain; but having visited the chief corn countries of Europe, and his attention having, for certain reasons, which it is unnecessary to give, been particularly directed to the foreign corn-trade, he has collected some facts, which he ventures to state, leaving it to others to apply them to that most important question. To elegance of style the Author makes no pretensions. All the merit he claims is, that of stating facts in plain language, and of recording with accuracy what came under his own observation. He only aims at being useful; an object which may perhaps compensate for many defects in the performance, but which certainly was his sole motive for submitting these imperfect Notes to the indulgence of the public. Lydiate, near Liverpool, 1826. NOTES OF A VOYAGE, &c. On Saturday, the 31st of August, I went on board the Annette, Captain Pancke, lying in the river Mersey, and bound for Danzig, with a cargo of rock salt; but, owing to bad weather and contrary winds, we were not able to leave Liverpool until the 4th of September, when we set sail with a moderate breeze. September the 7th. We passed through the Mull of Cantire, and could plainly distinguish the coasts both of Ireland and Scotland; the dif ferent objects on the shore being observed through a telescope, had much the effect of a moving panorama. The weather soon afterwards became rough, and we were driven off the island of Rathlin, and near that of Innisterhul, both on the north coast of Ireland; the latter is provided with a light-house. The wind continuing contrary, we were B |