It is clear that the manuscript of the book published at London in 1775 was revised after 1769-70. Events are narrated in the History which occurred in the period 1770-74.
Elias Boudinot, one time president of the Continental Congress and author of A Star in the West, in that work states:
“The writer of these sheets has made great use of Mr. Adair’s history of the Indians, which renders it necessary that something should be further said of him. Sometime about the year 1774, or 1775, Mr. Adair came to Elizabeth-Town, where the writer then lived, with his manuscript, and applied to Mr. [Wm.] Livingston, afterwards governor of the state of New-Jersey, a correct scholar, well known for his literary abilities and knowledge of the belle-lettres, requesting him (Livingston) to correct his manuscript for him. He brought ample recommendations, and gave a good account of himself.
“Our political troubles then increasing, Mr. Adair, who was on his way to Great-Britain, was advised not to risk being detained from his voyage, till the work could be critically examined, but to get off as soon as possible. He accordingly took passage in the first vessel that was bound to England.
“As soon as the war was over, the writer sent to London and obtained a copy of the work. After reading it with care, he strictly examined a gentleman, then a member with him in Congress, of excellent character, who had acted as our Indian agent to the southward, during the war, (without letting him know the design) and from him found all the leading facts mentioned herein, fully confirmed, by his own personal knowledge.”
The book upon its appearance in London in the early part of 1775 (doubtless after revision there by one competent to the task) was reviewed quite generally in the leading British periodicals—favorably in every instance but one. The Scots Magazine of June, 1775, carried a brief and unflattering review. The London Magazine of May, 1775, said that the book had long been needed, and that Adair was well qualified to be the historian of the American Indians. “His remarks on the different subjects he has discussed are sensible; and we think the work calculated to convey information, entertainment and solid instruction to the public in general.” This Magazine had in previous issues published two long extracts from the book, doubtless with the consent of the author.
Adair’s work has been cited widely as basic authority by the best ethnologists and historians of America. A few of very numerous favorable comments must suffice.
In Winsor’s Narrative and Critical History of America, V, 68: “A work of great value, showing the relations of the English traders to the Indians, and is of much importance to the student of Indian customs.”
Field’s Indian Bibliography, 3, gives a fair judgment, which, too, expresses the near-consensus of those capable of passing judgment: “Although it cannot be claimed for this author that he ranks first in priority of time, his name is first on our alphabetical register of a great number of writers whose imagination has been struck by the astonishing coincidences of many particulars of the customs and religious rites of some of the American Nations with those of the Jews. The relations of an intelligent observer (as this Indian trader seems to have been), for so long a period as forty years, of the peculiarities of the Southern Indians among whom he resided for that period, is not without great value; although we should have reason to hold it in still greater esteem had the author cherished no favorite dogma to establish, or detested any which he wished destroyed.”
McCrady, the South Carolina historian, speaks most favorably of Adair and his book. The comments of Logan in his History of Upper South Carolina, as one who lived in the region where Adair resided for a time, and of which he wrote, are peculiarly interesting, and of weight in any fair assize of the book: