PREFACE. 
afford. To obviate therefore thefe Difficulties, a Way muft be found to reduce the Bulk of fuch a 
Collection within reafonable Bounds 5 and, at the fame time, due Care muft be taken to preferve the 
Subftance and Spirit, when the fuperfluous and unneceflary Parts of their Relations are thrown 
out of the way. 
If this could be done, and a fufficient Number of the beft Writers thus collected, and fitted for 
general UTc, drawn into a Body in a natural and eafy Order, fothat what they deliver fhouid follow 
in fuch a regular Progreffion as that every Relation might appear in its proper Place, adding new 
Light to what went before, and preparing us for what ought to come after ; I think there is nothing 
hard in apprehending, that a Work, thus digefted, would anfwer the great End propofed, and 
produce a Syftem of this Sort of Literature as regular and ufeful, and, at the fame time, as pleafant 
and entertaining, as could be expected. 
This great Library of Voyages and Travels, as it was originally contrived, came pretty near 
the Method which I have laid down 5 but then, as it was publifhed in Two Volumes, it was compiled 
likewife in Two Parts, fo that the Scheme is actually repeated, and, like Dictionaries improved 
at different times, there is a kind of double Alphabet, which renders each of the Volumes a diftind 
Work from the other. This might be, and, I dare fay, was neceffary, under the Circumftances 
in which that Work was compofed; but this Inconveniency is now avoided. As thisColledion 
is intended for a complete Body of Voyages and Travels, the Two Volumes have been reduced 
into their natural Order, and all the Parts fo difpofed, as to bring them into their proper Places. 
It was, befides, highly requifite to revife them, both with regard to Matter and Style 5 and 
therefore they have not only been compared with the feveral larger Works, from which they 
were originally taken, all Omiffions fupplied, and Errors correded, but the Proprietors having- 
been at great Expence in procuring fuch Helps as either were not, or could not be had, when the 
firft Edition was publifhed, this is fo far augmented and improved, as to become, in fome meafure 
a new Work. 
The Reader will here meet with a complete Syftem of Relations, drawn up by Eye-witneffes 
of what they deliver, with a proper Account of the Credit due to each; the particular Merit of 
his Accounts, their Deficiencies, and the Means by which they have been fupplied from others. 
He will likewife fee how fucceeding Times have improved the Difcoveries of paft A<*es$ how the 
Spirit of Induftry, in fearching after ufeful Truths, and extending Commerce, has fled from Place to 
Place, and now adorned one Nation, and then another. He will perceive, that what was judged 
abfurd and impracticable in one Age, has neverthelefs been attempted and perfected in the next ; 
and he will likewife fee, that fome great and noble Undertakings, which were long ago propofed’ 
and in Part fulfilled, ha\e fince fallen back into Obfcurity j from whence, however, they may 
very probably be drawn, by the Virtue and Spirit either of the prefent Generation, or of Pofterity. 
He will find whatever relates to ufeful Points clearly explained, and lufficiently infilled upon; and, 
at the fame time, find enough preferved of the Fortunes and Adventures of particular Perfons* to 
fatisfy his Curiofity, without carrying him too far out of the great Road after Matters of lefs 
Confequence. 
By thefe means, it is hoped, that this Library will appear agreeable to his Expedition, and 
capable of anfwering every End he could have wiftfd ; but that it may do this the more effedually, 
and that he may never be at a Lofs about its Application, it may be proper, befides the common 
Helps of Tables and Indices, to give a ffiort Defcription of the Manner in which its feveral Parts 
are ranged, fo as that he may have Rccourfe immediately to whatever he wants, and know 
where to bring in whatever Improvements his own future Reading and Experience may furniffi. 
Befides, by recolleding what has been already laid down, and comparing it with what we are 
now going to propofe, he may form a proper Judgment of the Nature and Value of this Library, 
and of the Pleafure and Profit that may be reaped from it, fo as to be under no Doubt as to its 
Worth, or how far it comes up to what we have promifed for it. All this, I fay, he fees at one 
View, and is enabled to make as ready a Lie of upwards of Six hundred Volumes , the Subftance 
ot which are included in thefe Two, as if he was only at the Pains of finding out and taking 
down the Author he deftred to confuR 
The 
