John Treat Irving, Jr. (1812-1906), brother of American writer Washington Irving, studied law at Columbia College, graduating in 1821, but although admitted to the bar he devoted his time chiefly to literary pursuits. In 1833 he accompanied Henry Leavitt Ellsworth (1791-1858), a commissioner to Indian tribes on the western frontier, on an expedition to Fort Leavenworth and on his return published this two-volume collection of sketches giving an account of encounters with the Pawnees and other tribes. Volume 1 of 2, reprinted from the John Murray edition of 1835.