Tour of the American Lakes, and among the Indians of the North-West Territory, in 1830: disclosing the character and prospects of the Indian race

London: Frederick Westley and A.H. Davis, 1833. First edition, 8vo, 2 volumes, pp. xxxii, 316; vii, [1], 387; slightly later half calf over marbled boards, red morocco labels on spines; rebacked, with old spines laid down; good and sound. Colton (1789-1857), who gave up his ministry because of the failure of his voice, went to England in 1831 as a correspondent for the New York Observer. Unlike his earlier religious works, which are of little value, "his descriptive narratives of travel are of much real value" (see DAB). Field, 345: "Mr. Colton seems to have been imbued with the laudable design of affording such information regarding the Indians he visited, as would not only excite the interest of his readers in his narration of incident, but would arouse the sympathy of the humane to their wretched condition. Almost the entire work is devoted to the relation of Indian affairs. More than half of the first volume is occupied with personal observations of Aboriginal life, and statements made to him regarding it. The second volume is entirely filled with a collection of facts relating to their origin, wars, treaties, treatment by the governments of Great Britain and the United States, and the result of missions among them." Howes C619; Sabin 14783.