[ 47'* 1 



P RE FACE. 



TH E following journal having been placed in my hands 

 for perufal, I conceived it to be fo interefting for the im- 

 provement of Geography, that I defired permiffion to tranflate and 

 publiih it. 



I was principally induced to take this trouble, becaufe I iup- 

 pofed, that the Spaniards, from their moft peculiar jealoufy with 

 regard to their American dominions*, would never permit that 

 navigators of other countries (particularly the Englifh) mould 

 know the excellent ports of the Weftern part of America in 

 high Northern Latitudes, which are here laid down with fuch ac- 

 curacy and precifion, together with the abundant fupply of mails, 

 fire wood, and water which may be procured in moil: of them. 



a That molt able Hiftorian Dr. Robertfon, after having mentioned, 

 that raoft of the American papers are depolited in the Archivo of 

 Simanca, near Valladolid, thus proceeds : 



" The profpedt of fuch a treafure excited my moft ardent curiofity ; 

 " but the prolpett of it only is all that I have enjoyed. Spain, with 

 " an excefs of caution, hath unifofmly thrown a veil over her tranf- 

 " actions in America : from ftrangers they are concealed with peculiar 

 " folicitude." Preface to the Hiftory of America, p. ix. 



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It 



