Having learned by personal observation in America the answers to many of the questions which he, as a man of education, had asked himself in Norway, he took advantage of the confinement following the freezing of his feet during a long exploring tour in Illinois, to write a little book of some forty pages, to which he gave the title (in translation): "A true Account of America, for the Instruction and Use of the Peasants and Common people, written by a Norwegian who arrived there in the Month of June, 1837."[64] The manuscript of this first of many guidebooks for Norwegian emigrants was taken back to Norway by Ansten Nattestad and printed in Christiania in 1838.[65] It plays so large a part in a great movement, that a detailed analysis is worth presenting. [64] Sandfærdig Beretning om Amerika til Veiledning og Hjælp for Bonde og Menigmand, skrevet af en Norsk som kom der i Juni Maaned, 1837. [65] _Billed Magazin_, I, 94. The preface, bearing the author's signature and the date, "Illinois, February 13, 1838," is translated as follows: "Dear Countrymen,--Peasants and Artisans! I have now been in America eight months, and in that time I have had an opportunity of finding out much in regard to which I in vain sought information before I left Norway. I then felt how disagreeable it is for those who wish to emigrate to America to be in want of a reliable and tolerably complete account of the country. I also learned how great is the ignorance of the people, and what false and ridiculous reports were accepted as the full truth. In this little book it has, therefore, been my aim to answer every question which I asked myself, and to clear up every point in regard to which I observed that people were ignorant, and to disprove false reports which have come to my ears, partly before I left Norway, and partly after my arrival here."[66] [66] Anderson, _Norwegian Immigration_, 207-208. In making this and the following translations, Mr. Anderson used the copy of Rynning's book belonging to the Rev. B. J. Muus, the only copy known to be in America. This copy is now in the library of the University of Illinois. The body of the book is made up of thirteen chapters devoted to these questions and their answers: 1-3. The location of America, the distance from Norway, the nature of the country, and the reason why so many people go there. 4. "Is it not to be feared that the land will soon be overpopulated? Is it true that the government there is going to prohibit immigration?" 5-6. What part of the land is settled by Norwegians, and how is it reached? What is the price of land, of cattle, of the necessaries of life? How high are wages? 7. "What kind of religion is there in America? Is there any sort of order and government, or can every man do what he pleases?"