James notes that while there are “several histories of this continent” that can offer a broad sense of America and American life, they do not go into enough detail to show “the genius of the people, their various customs” (84) and other details. As a small remedy to this, he offers a study of “some small unnoticed corner” and chooses “the island of Nantucket,” where “so many difficulties have been overcome […] and where every natural obstacle has been removed by a vigorous industry” (85).

James believes that if the island were the property of “some ancient monarchy, it would only have been occupied by a few wretched fishermen […] oppressed by poverty” (86). However, as part of America, it has always been “a scene of uninterrupted harmony” (85), without “political nor religious broils, […] disputes with the natives, [or] any other contentions” (85-86). This peace is thanks to the “mildness and humanity” (86) of the government and the sober industry of the inhabitants.

The island itself “has nothing deserving of notice but its inhabitants” (87) and “seems to have been inhabited merely to prove what mankind can do when happily governed!” (84).