PREFACE, 
xi 
directed to African discovery, that he ac- 
tually made overtures to the Association for 
being employed as one of their missionaries. 
All the energies of his mind were, therefore, 
put forth upon this subject ; and having 
taken Raynal for his model, he hoped, with 
the pride of conscious genius, not to fall 
much short of his standard. The work, 
when published, was found to correspond to 
the efforts of genius and industry with which 
it had been composed. It soon obtained a 
wide circulation, not only in this country^ 
but over the Continent. It was translated 
into German,* and is enumerated by Eich- 
horn among the most valuable materials for 
the African part of his learned work, entitled, 
" History of the Three last Centuries.'" 
M. de la Richarderie also repeatedly no- 
tices it with praise in his valuable work, the 
" Bibliotheque des Voyages.'' 
This work having now become scarce, a 
new edition has for some time been con- 
* Historische und philosopliische Skizze der Ent- 
deckungen et Niederlassungen der Europaer in Nord 
und West Africa, um ende der achtzehnten Jahrhun- 
derts. Aus dem Engl, von S. St. Bremen, 8vo, 1802, 
