An Englishman's Travels in America His Observations of Life and Manners in the Free and Slave States

by John Benwell

It was his almost unremitting practice during the four years he resided on the North American continent to keep a record of what he considered of interest around him; not with a view to publishing the matter thus collected for this was far from his thoughts at the time but through a long contracted habit of dotting down transpiring events for the future amusement combined perhaps with instruction of himself and friends.

Genres: History, Travel, Classics, Nonfiction

123 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖊 My review: I began reading the Project Gutenberg version first, and since it did not have the publication date, more research led me to the Library of Congress digital version of the original, which proved this was published in 1857. That information helped me continue forward.

I found this work to be a curiously over-dramatization of the supposed antebellum travels of a certain John Benwell throughout the United States, specifically through New England (Wall Street, New Jersey, Buffalo, Detroit, Cleveland, et al) and as far west as Missouri, and throughout the Deep South, specifically Florida and Georgia.

I was surprised and a bit miffed at the obviously grave error that was published regarding the date that the United States declared independence from Great Britain:

. . . we descried with great pleasure looming indistinctly in the distance, the shores of Sandy Hook, a desolate-looking island, near the coast of New Jersey, about seven miles south of Long Island Sound. This the captain informed me was formerly a peninsula, but the isthmus was broken through by the sea in 1767, the year after the declaration of American independence . . .

Unsure of why this grave error was printed, I looked at all three of my digital versions of this book. All three have the same error. Either the author and publisher were ignorant of the 1776 date, or it is a typographical error, with the 7 and 6 being transposed, which is most likely possible, however, in reading that 1767 is “the year after the declaration was made, that would place the year at 1766. No; something is amiss here, and that is part of the reason I take this book with a large grain of salt.

I assert that the writing style of this author is long-winded (some of the longest sentences I have ever read are in this book), and he wrote with great gushing and overdramatization that would put a nineteenth century stage actor to shame.

This “Benwell” writes that

Late in the fall of the year 18—, I embarked on board the ship Cosmo, bound from the port of Bristol to that of New York. The season was unpropitious, the lingering effects of the autumnal equinox rendering it more than probable that the passage would be tempestuous.

When he arrived in Kentucky, he observes a Kentuckian, “who was dressed in a suit of grey home-spun cloth, and wore on his head a fantastical cap, formed of a racoon-skin, beautifully striped, the ears projecting just above his forehead on each side . . .”

Then, of an event, which is quite astounding, Benwell writes,

Daniel Webster, en route to Washington, whither he was called by Congressional duties. I pressed forward to shake hands with this great expounder of American laws, as he is called by the citizens, who seemed, by the way, on the occasion I refer to, to regard him as a sort of divinity. I could not, however, succeed in getting near enough to accomplish my object, although I strove hard for it. It was quite amusing to see the anxiety shown by some of those present to effect the same purpose. The senator kept shaking hands with all around, repeating over and over again, "Glad to see you, citizens, glad to see you." Amongst others, a gentlemanly-dressed negro with a gold-headed cane pressed forward and held out his hand. There was, however, no chance for him in the throng, for he was rudely pushed back, and I heard several angry exclamations of disapprobation from the crowd, at the liberty he had taken, one individual in particular crying out, "Kick that nigger off, what has he to do here." These exclamations caught the ear of the negro gentleman, and he shrunk back in an instant, as if electrified. Mr. Webster was a yeoman-like looking person, of rather a muscular-build, and at one time of life was, no doubt, as I have heard, possessed of great physical powers . . .

Whew; talk about going ga-ga over a celebrity! I admit that I snickered at the gushing admitted by Benwell over breathing in the same air as Webster.

While in Charleston, Benwell writes that

The general appearance of the majority of the coloured people in the streets of Charleston denoted abject fear and timidity, some of them as I passed looking with servile dread at me (as they did at almost every one who happened to pass), so that I could read in many of their looks a suspicion of interference, which, commiserating their condition as I did, was quite distressing . . .

It is a fact that sometimes, many times, an observer will transfer his own bias into his surroundings. I believe that is what happened here, in this passage, and throughout the entire book.

Benwell describes an encounter with a black man, when he (Benwell) asked him for assistance:

. . . he appeared much frightened at the intrusion, but stated he did not know, but his mas'r did, at the same time pointing to the plantation-house, situate the greater part of a mile distant; being averse to going there, for fear of impudent interrogation, I offered him money to go with me to the point where I had left my companions, and show us the way to the next house; he did not even know what it was I offered him, and in apparent amazement inquired what that was for; I explained, buy tobacco, buy whiskey; he appeared totally ignorant of its use, and I have no doubt he had never had money in his possession, or learned its use . . .”

I do not make the same judgement call that Benwell does on why the man did not know what to use the money for. I assert that the man would not have an opportunity to use the money for himself, nor perhaps he needed nothing and had no use for the money. You see, it could go any which way, and without Benwell actually asking the man why not use the money, we have no idea the reason.

Benwell writes about the American military:

I found that the army and navy, in America, are chiefly manned by English, Dutch and Irish, not a few Poles being in the ranks of the former: these are impelled, through lack of employment, and the additional inducement of a tolerably liberal pay, to join the service. The Americans themselves are too sensible of the inconveniences attending public services, as well as too acute, to follow such occupations in time of peace, though when danger has threatened, they have always shown themselves at the instant service of the State, and as citizen soldiers are not, perhaps, to be equalled in any other country.

I have a great suspicion of the true purpose of this publication, given the year it was published (1857), where it was published (London), the blatant biases, and the overplayed “encounters.”

🔥 The dénouement is overdramatized, but yet understandable in putting forth this publication to a sympathetic public: “After my wanderings in the slave-stricken regions of the south, and my escapes in Florida, the sight of the hospitable shores of my native country did more, I think, to renovate my injured health, than all the drastics [sic] of the most eminent physicians in the world; certain it is, that, from this time, I gradually recovered, and, by the blessing of the Great Giver of all good, have been fully restored to that greatest of sublunary benefits—vigorous health; a consummation I at one time almost despaired of.”

🔻 I believe that An Englishman's Travels in America is quite possibly an abolitionist propaganda publication, which was quite popular at the time, in the forms of fictionalized stories, edited and fallacious photographs, speeches, and the like.

I gave this book the full five stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟because it is well-presented in whipping up public awareness and sympathies (Bravo!), but I have great suspicions about much of it veracity. Who was this “John Benwell” anyway? I could not find anything as of this review.

◼️ Fun fact: Readers, whether they are reading for research, education, or leisure, should read primary sources in keeping with the importance of caveat lector.

⭐️ Media form: Library of Congress .
🟢 Media form: Project Gutenberg .
🟣 Media form: Kindle version.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, horrifying travel journal by John Benwell, an author who felt a need to travel to the US in the mid 1850s to observe the country as it was divided into free and slave states. What he witnessed across the US is terrible. Negros in free states being treated rudely and referred to in harsh language, given the worst places to live and worst jobs to have. Traveling down the Mississippi River he gradually observes the increase in black labor and slavery until he hits Louisiana and New Orleans. There he sees the worst slavery conditions he will witness and it horrifies him. A range of men beaten and whipped, Hangings easily carried out and special experts in punishing the most stubborn slaves to bring as close to death as possible to teach them a lesson. In Florida, he witnesses the mistreatment of animals as well as blacks. Also a brutal state. Georgia lives in fear of their population running to the Everglades and people are on constant vigilance. The Carolina's create strange rules such as black men greeting every white man they see and cutting old the hand of a black man if he ever raises it in anger. Benwell was horrified at what he saw and felt it was the worst slavery he had ever seen. He often heard Southerners brag about their rights but when blacks were mentioned the speaker was shouted down or drowned out or threatened. Benwell saw there was no way this slavery could go on forever but wondered what would happen if blacks became the majority throughout the South. what would the white man do? He also mentioned Indians of Buffalo and Florida and attempts to exterminate them for land. He felt this was another terrible situation in which white Americans had little concern or feeling.

[Tamara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick read

I found the book to be quite repetitive and not as interesting as I expected it to be. It was actually pretty dull. It was thankfully a quick read and that was good.

[Kathi Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty interesting read and the author makes some valid points about America lauding itself as a free country and still have slaves who are largely treated very badly. He did make some comments about Mormons and their expulsion from the US. He was misinformed on some issues and I kind of think he was misinformed a couple of other times, but he seems to have been a kind person and very gentlemanly. He had a lot of sympathy for the American Indians, even though he was frightened of them.

[Clayton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really interesting account of the several years a young Englishmen spent traveling through the USA in the mid-1800's just before the Civil War. As someone who lives in mainland China currently, I found it quite remarkable, while reading descriptions of American culture in those times, how often I said to myself, "just like (present day) China!".

[Richard G Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A first hand account of troubling time.

Powerful and moving transcript of a time and places in america's history that we must never forget. There is pain and a struggle to understand throughout.