THREESCORE YEARS: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY, CONTAINING INCIDENTS OF VOYAGES AND TRAVELS, INCLUDING SIX YEARS IN A MAN-OF-WAR DETAILS OF THE WAR BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE ALGERINE GOVERNMENT, BOMBARDMENT OF ALGIERS BY LORD EXMOUTH, AND ITS SUBJUGATION BY THE FRENCH. ALSO, I TWO YEARS IN CALIFORNIA, A VISIT TO THE CRIMEA DURING THE BOMBARDMENT AND CAPTURE OF SEBASTOPOL, JOURNEY THROUGH ASIA MINOR, SYRIA, PALESTINE AND EGYPT. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. BY SAMUEL F. HOLBROOK. BOSTON: JAMES FRENCH AND COMPANY, 78 WASHINGTON STREET. 1857. p Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by MARY JANE, AND ELIZA ANN H0LBR0OK, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
I PRESS OP 8. CHISM, IRANELIN PRINTING HOUSE, BObTC*. TO THE READER. It was my intention at the commencement, to have included all within the limits of five hundred pages. In order to do this, I found it would he necessary to contract the narrative, so much as to injure it; although I did not intend to dwell upon the description or localities of countries, and much other matter that would more properly belong to a history, than an autobiography. Have accordingly concluded to issue another edition or volume, which will contain much of an amusing and entertaining character, besides the showing up of certain personages which have been omitted for want of room. In the preface, I have apologized for the style, and begged the reader to excuse the blunders.
As I have now become somewhat initiated into the complicated modus operandi of following up the various functionaries required in getting up a book, the next edition will show whether I have improved by my bought experience. Respectfully, The Author. ' PREFACE. I am aware that a preface is seldom read, unless it is very brief. I wish however to say a few words to the reader before he commences reading the narrative, which is, that I have used my own style, endeavoring to write, just as I should talk, if telling a story. In some cases, I have suppressed names, as the parties are now living, and probably would not like to see themselves in print. It is possible that I may in some instances have been mistaken in dates, but this I do r « conceive to be of much importance so long as the subject is correct.
And not to crowd too much matter in this volume, I have avoided descriptions of countries, as much as could be done without abruptness, excepting only where it appeared to be indispensable. I have quoted much, relative to Mr. Fulton, which appeared to me to belong to the narrative, and which I think will interest the reader. 1 have also made other quotations, which appeared to me to be applicable to the place where they are inserted. Chapter 15, consists entirely of matters relative to the capture of the U. S. frigate, Essex; as I consider it to have been the most sanguinary battle that occurred during the late war with England. At the commencement of the chapter, I have given my reasons for its insertion, which may be a sufficient apology for the digression.
The bombardment of Algiers, by Lord Exmouth, is also a subject which must interest the world, and though obliged to condense it, the subject has not suffered by the contraction. It is indispensable that a book writer should be well acquainted with the language in which he writes, — also his subject. The responsibility, or success of this volume, I throw upon those of my friends who have urged me to write it, as the following extract will show. 11 1 don't know of anything that would give me more pleasure, than to read the narrative of your life. Mr. J d observed to me after you left Washington, that if you would give him your manuscript, he would publish it immediately.