A

NARRATIVE

OF

VOYAGES

AND

COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES,

BY

RICHARD JACLEVELAND.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

SECOND EDITION.

CAMBRIDGE:

PUBLISHED BY JOHN OWEN.

1843.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1842, by

RICHARD J. CLEVELAND,

in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

CAMBRIDGE:

METCALF, KEITH, AND NICHOLS,

PRINTERS TO THE UNIVERSITY,

© 9-15-43 BBR

Dir. Emery. Hunley 7-28·43 48400

PREFACE.

THE character of the citizens of New England for enterprise and industry is very generally acknowledged. Being, for the most part, obliged to seek their own fortunes, they are early accustomed to the endurance of privations, and to those industrious and frugal habits, which lead to competence and wealth. In the pursuit of that independence of which all are more or less desirous, there have been instances of daring enterprise, of persevering determination, of disregard of fatigue and suffering, which are very remarkable; but which pass unobserved from their frequency, no less than from the unobtrusive habits of the actor.

A simple account of such enterprises, drawn from journals and letters written at the time the events therein related occurred, is here given to the public.

More than forty-five years have elapsed since the first of the voyages here narrated was undertaken; and more than twenty since the completion of the last. It is apparent that they possess but in a small degree, the power to interest, that would have been excited, had they been published at the period of