PREFACE. IN presenting this volume to the public we do not suppose that we are adding to the number of "Books which are books;" we have not entertained a doubt but what we shall have the old trick of Diluvian NOAH memory played upon us-that our little "Dove-of-a volume" will come back to us from its disappointed errand. "Then why do you send it out on this mission?" For pretty much the same reason that Noah did the dove-on an errand of discovery. We expect, if it reaches a certain terra incognita-a land unknown to us-nothing short of fame. If not, we are consigned to the dusty immortality of the shelves. The author may write, but it is the people that make the book. But between him and the people lurks the critic-cat, ever ready to pounce upon, and devour whatever passes from the one to the other. Should this volume succeed in reaching its destination, to its recipients we have a word to say: First, we propose to let these pages go for what they are worth; we certainly would prefer not to say another word about them; would give more to be in your presence incognito, when you had finished reading this volume, and hear the praise or censure, that you would give without reading a preface, in which the author has explained a way for you to praise him. Because if you praised at all, it would be from merit found. prelude. Yet the nature of the work calls for a few words in The book is what it purports to be, "Jottings of a Year's Sojourn in the South '—our first impressions of the country and its people, given in a style more or less sketchy. A large share of the work was first presented to the public, in a series of sketches and jottings, through the columns of the Battle Creek (Michigan) Journal; and at the close of their publication in that paper, we were urged by many friends to put them in the more durable form of a book. Hence, having yielded to their solicitations and our own vanity, the reader is in possession not only of such a volume as the original sketches would have formed, but one of twice the size. Our intention has been to give him a pleasant volume filled with the pleasant memories of a pleasant land. In regard to praising the South-which we have a most inalienable right to do, when and wherever we think she deserves it—we have certainly written with perfect disregard to political prejudice, as if Slavery did not exist in our Southern Border. We are not like IAGO "Nothing, if not critical." But we have given our impressions, if glowingly at times, we trust truthfully. There is a poetic period in our early life, and a most happy one it is, too. And there are poetic hours in one's after life-moods full of nature, into which one often falls, and in which the truths of a scene impress one with their full charm. If there are any scenes in these Jottings that are thought to be drawn coleur de rose, we would say that they have been taken on the spot, in moods we have described, when we received their impressions coleur de nature; and besides they were new scenes to us, and written during the full glow of first conceptions. Moreover, many of the subjects and scenes we have noticed, will sustain some considerable glow of enthusiasm. For the reminiscences we do not claim completeness of portraitmerely give them as reminiscences, and only claim for them the merit of their being valuable from the fact that they are what the people remembered of their distinguished men; and they take their tone and color from the manner in which we have heard them spoken of. We are indebted for much that is valuable in these reminiscences, to Hon. H. BARKSDALE, of Oak Valley, Banks of the Yazoo. To the Messrs. WHITE and SMITH, of the Review and Herald office, we are also much indebted for many acts of kindness during our connection with their office, and to the lady of the latter for many timely hints in revising and correcting this work, as it passed through the press. A. DE PUY VAN BUREN. Farm-Home, Battle Creek, October 30th, 1859. ONE WORD. There are some typographical errors in this work, which have escaped our attention in reading proof, such as "whining machinery," for whirring machinery, "vulgars," for and the vulgus, "physiological reading," for physiognomical reading, "Cote," for Cato, and others which we trust will sufficiently explain themselves. CONTENTS. SATARTIA ON THE BANKS OF THE YAzoo, A Southern town with its Inn-Plantation scenes-Day-dream of life realized-My first meal with a planter, and first ac- PAGE. |