g the affinity of these islanders
to others in that quarter of the world. It is now universally agreed
among the learned, that language affords the surest test of the
affinities of nations; and it is greatly to be desired that more
attention should be bestowed upon this subject by the intelligent
navigators of the United States, and especially by the scientific young
men of our navy, who, under the permission of the government, would have
the most ample means of augmenting the stores of general science, while
at the same time they would confer honor upon their country.

The editor forbears to add any thing further in relation to the contents
of this little volume. But he cannot dismiss the work without again
expressing the high sense of gratitude felt by the two seamen in
question, to the benevolent individuals of their own country, and
others, who have relieved their sufferings; and this he subjoins in an
extract from a note on that subject by H. Holden:--

"In addition to the gentlemen mentioned in the Narrative, we are
under great obligations to Mr. Stephen Oliphant and his son, and
their clerk, of New York, who were residents at Canton when we
arrived there. Mr. Oliphant kindly furnished us with a room, food,
and other necessaries, and gave us our passage from Canton to New
York in his ship called the Morrison, commanded by captain
Lavender, from whom also we experienced every attention.

"The respected American missionary at Canton, Mr. Edwin Stevens,
rendered us many friendly services; and from the English physician,
who was formerly in the East India Company's service there, but
whose name I do not recollect, we received every attention and
medical aid that could have been bestowed on his nearest friends.

"We are also much indebted to Mr. Bradford and Mr. Robert E.
Apthorp, both of Boston, for their many acts of kindness. To the
latter gentleman, then a resident at Canton, I cannot sufficiently
express my obligations; he interested himself much in obtaining
money, clothing, and other necessaries for us, to make our
situation comfortable during our stay in Canton and on our passage
home.

"To the many friends whom we have found since our return to our own
country we can never be sufficiently grateful. Among these I cannot
omit to mention Mr. J. N. Reynolds, author of the interesting
Account of t