To the Reader. 



having been at a vaft Expence to fupport his. Grand- 

 fon upon the Throne of Spain, thought this a pro- 

 per Opportunity of getting a full Information of the 

 lea ft known Parts of the Spanijh Weft- Indies, be- 

 fore the French, as well as all other Nations^ (hould 

 be excluded thofe Seas by a Peace. For this .end, 

 he pitch'd upon our Author, an experienced En- 

 gineer and Mathematician in his Service, whom 

 he knew to be every way qualify 'd to make Hydro- 

 graphical Obfervations for the life of Mariners, 

 and for the Correction of the Charts ; and alfo to 

 take exa6l Plans of the moft confiderable Ports 

 and Fortrefles along the Coafts whither he was 

 going ; to direct to their beft Anchorages, and to 

 point out their refpedHve Dangers ; ( things which 

 might hereafter be of great Ufe to the French, if 

 a War fhould happen to break out again between 

 the two Nations) And this Gentleman he fent at 

 his own Charge on board a Merchant-Ship, in 

 the Year 1 7 1 a, to pafs as a Trader only, the bet- 

 ter to infinuate himfelf with the Spanijh Governors, 

 and to have all Opportunities of learning their 

 Strength, and whatever elfe he went to be in* 

 form'd of. And we find in his Dedication of this 

 Work to the Regent of France, that he had fo well 

 executed the late King's Defign, that upon his 

 Return that Great Prince made Monfieur Frezier 

 explain to him the Plans he had drawn, and fig- 

 nify d his Approbation of them both by gracious 

 Expreflions, and by a generous Reward. But 



his 



