Twenty years around the world

Eng d by W. G. Jackman, New York, from a Drawing by E. Saintin
JOHN GUY VASSAR.
NEW YORK: RUDD & CARLETON, 130 GRAND STREET. M DCCC LXI.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-one, by JOHN GUY VASSAR In the Clerk’s office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.
R. CRAIGHEAD, Printer, Stereotyper, and Electrotyper, Caxton Building, 81, 83, and 85 Centre Street .
TO MATTHEW VASSAR, ESQ., FOUNDER OF THE VASSAR FEMALE COLLEGE, AT POUGHKEEPSIE, WHOSE FRIENDSHIP AND COUNSEL HAVE BEEN AMONG THE CHIEF PLEASURES OF MY LIFE, These Letters ARE AFFECTIONATELY AND RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.
Early in life the author of these letters suffered from ill-health, and necessity obliged him to seek more genial climes in order to escape the rigors of our northern winters. Duty towards his only brother and a beloved uncle induced him to sketch his travels, and keep them advised of his movements. His letters passing into the hands of kind friends, for perusal, led to further inquiries; and demands for publication in a weekly paper in his native city, were the result.
He has always hesitated to come before the Public, although constantly solicited and urged by his friends to do so, as a duty he owed to society; at length, through constant importuning, and to avoid the clamors of those he loves and esteems, he has concluded to accede to their wishes. This book is the result.
Travelling becomes a passion with some, and in this instance, a decided one. Necessity at first, with improvement in health, and finding himself better on the move than when quiet, sight-seeing and obtaining general information became more and more desirable.
After having seen every State and Capital in his own country, his desire was to visit every Capital in Europe. After having seen the antiquities and works of art of Italy, Greece, and Turkey, his ambition led him to see the older objects of Egypt and Asia Minor. Then came the desire to visit the Celestial Empire, and the East Indian world.