PREFACE. XVU 



their compofition. If I have merely put proper words in projiier 

 places, I feek for no further embellithments, content with the hum- 

 ble praife, if it ihali be allowed me, of having given the comprelfed 

 commercial fubftance of many thoufands of books official papers, 

 and accounts, and having collecfiied a great thefaurus oi. folid matei'ials^^ 

 out of which a mare fkilful architect may, with comparati-^e eafe, 

 erecl a very magnificent edifice. Tlie laboiir and attention beftow- 

 ed in colleding and arranging thefe materials may. perhaps, jufiify 

 me in hoping that they may be referred to and confidently quoted 

 by fucceeding writers, and be thought not unworthy the attention of 

 the merchant, the philofopher, or the legiflator, who may defire to 

 pofTefs more authentic and comprehenfive information of the ravol- 

 iitions of commerce, and particularly of the vaft increafe of the 

 Britifh commerce in the very important period of the prefent reign, 

 than has ever been prefented to the Public with aily degree of fuU- 

 nefs. And I think, I may juftly claim for niy work the honourable 

 diCiindlion of being, not the melancholy record of human crimes and 

 calamities, as moii other historical works are, but the animating re^ 

 gijler of human indiijiry and ingenuity. That the work is not fo per- 

 fect as I wifhed, I am very ready to acknowlege. But, if no man 

 fhall undertake any work, till he infallibly obtains the means of ren- 

 dering it perfedl, very few indeed will be undertaken. Such as it 

 is, I now fubmit it, with a refpedful folicitude, to the candour of 

 the impartial Public. 



It may perhaps not be improper, in order to obviate any misconception, which might 

 possibly proceed from an erroneous advertisement printed on the covir ol' a maya. irse, to 

 declare tliat I have had no associate or assistant in this woriv, unless the late Mr. An ^r- 

 son may be considered as such. It is, indeed, a most exliaordinary circumstance, i' at a 

 work, which has cost me the labour of many years to render it a :eposifory ot arfhi itic 

 facts, should, in sonic dejjree, be ubheied into the world with sucli a v>ide abcaalion Iroia 

 Teracity. 



