CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTORY

As we are about to introduce our readers to scenes with
which the European is little familiarised, some few
cursory remarks, illustrative of the general features of
the country into which we have shifted our labours, may
not be deemed misplaced at the opening of this volume.

Without entering into minute geographical detail, it may
be necessary merely to point out the outline of such
portions of the vast continent of America as still
acknowledge allegiance to the English crown, in order
that the reader, understanding the localities, may enter
with deeper interest into the incidents of a tale connected
with a ground hitherto untouched by the wand of the modern
novelist.

All who have ever taken the trouble to inform themselves
of the features of a country so little interesting to
the majority of Englishmen in their individual character
must be aware,--and for the information of those who are
not, we state,--that that portion of the northern continent
of America which is known as the United States is divided
from the Canadas by a continuous chain of lakes and
rivers, commencing at the ocean into which they empty
themselves, and extending in a north-western direction