
In this vivid eighteenth‑century travelogue, the author journeys through the burgeoning settlements of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New England, offering a lively snapshot of colonial life. He contrasts the abundant, uncultivated lands that invite young families with the low taxes and freedoms that make the New World feel like a personal kingdom. Through striking anecdotes about multigenerational families, readers glimpse the extraordinary population growth that set these colonies apart from Europe.
The narrative also turns its eye to the region’s remarkable flora and fauna, from swarms of cicada‑like locusts that fill the May air to beetles that ravage pea fields. Detailed observations are accompanied by period maps and illustrative plates, bringing the landscape’s bugs, birds and crops to life. As a blend of social commentary and natural history, the work paints a richly textured picture of early American society for listeners seeking both history and adventure.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (405K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
Warrington / London: William Eyres, 1770, pubdate 1771.
Credits
Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/ for Project Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2023-11-12
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1716–1779
A student of Carl Linnaeus, this Swedish-Finnish naturalist became one of the 18th century’s great travel observers when he crossed the Atlantic to study the plants, farming, and daily life of North America. His journals blend science, curiosity, and vivid detail from a world in motion.
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