2?8 



My mind is solemnly impressed with llie importance of the object, 

 my heart, 1 trust, " is inditing of a good matter,'" and I hope to be 

 excused for bringing in so many auxiliaries. 



I have often been struck with the simple language, good sense, 

 and piety, in a dedication to Sir Francis Walsingham, secretary 

 to queen Elizabeth, by Richard Hakluyt, the celebrated author of 

 the early voyages and discoveries of the English nation, imprinted 

 in the year 1599- It appears to be in some degree so connected 

 with the general purport of these volumes, and particularly with 

 the contents of this concluding chapter, that I shall transcribe a 

 part of that excellent letter, because I trust I have been actuated 

 by the same spirit; and shall be truly happy if I may, in one in- 

 stance especially, contribute in the smallest degree to the fulfil- 

 ment of his pious and almost prophetical wishes for the accom- 

 plishment of an event which he so ardently desired to behold in 

 the reign of his peerless mistress. Although not permitted to take 

 place at that memorable period, it is, I trust, reserved for the liberal 

 and enlightened epoch of the nineteenth century. 



" Right honourable, I do remember that being a youth, and 

 one of her majesty's scholars at Westminster, that fruitful nursery, 

 it was my hap to visit the chamber of Mr. Richard Hakluyt, my 

 counsin; a gentleman of the Middle Temple, Avell known unto you, 

 at a time when I found lying upon his board certain books of cos- 

 mography, with an universal map. He seeing me somewhat curious 

 in the view thereof, began to instruct my ignorance, by shewing me 

 the division of the earth into three parts, after the old account, 

 and then, according to the latter, and better distribution, into 

 more. He pointed with his wand to all the known seas, gulfs, 



