Everything worthy of observation : the 1826 New York State travel journal of Alexander Stewart Scott /
In the pre-dawn of August 2, 1826, Alexander Stewart Scott stepped aboard the steamboat Chambly in Quebec City, Canada. He was beginning a journey that not only took him across New York State, but that ultimately changed his view of America and her people. A keen observer, the twenty-one-year-old me...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Albany :
Excelsior Edition, an imprint of State University of New York Press,
[2019]
|
| Series: | Excelsior editions.
|
| Subjects: |
| Summary: | In the pre-dawn of August 2, 1826, Alexander Stewart Scott stepped aboard the steamboat Chambly in Quebec City, Canada. He was beginning a journey that not only took him across New York State, but that ultimately changed his view of America and her people. A keen observer, the twenty-one-year-old meticulously recorded his travel experiences, observations about the people he encountered, impressions of things he saw and reactions to events he witnessed. This first-hand account immerses the reader in the world of early-nineteenth-century life in both New York and Lower Canada. Whether enduring the choking dust raised by a stage coach, the frustration and delays caused by bad roads or the wonders and occasional dangers of packet boat travel on the newly completed Erie Canal, all are vividly brought to life by Scott's pen. Uniquely, Scott's journal also offers an unusual blend of travel and domestic insights. With close family members living both in St. John's, Quebec, Canada and Palmyra, New York, his travels were supplemented by long stays in these communities, offering readers comparative glimpses into the daily lives and activities in both countries. Gregarious, funny and inquisitive, Alexander Stewart Scott missed nothing of what he thought worthy of observation. |
|---|---|
| Physical Description: | xiv, 183 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| ISBN: | 9781438475158 1438475152 9781438475165 1438475160 |