shall have occafion to acknowledge how muchI have been indebted to many other gentlemenof that country.

From the valuable Collection of Voyages madeby Alexander Dalrymple , Efq; with whofe atten-tion to the Hiftory of Navigation and Difcoverythe Public is well acquainted , I have receivedfome very rare books, particularly two largevolumes of Memorials, partly manufcript, andpartly in print, which were prefented to thecourt of Spain during the reigns of Philip III. and Philip IV . From thefe I have learned manycurious particulars with refpect to the interiorftate of the Spanish colonies, and the variousfchemes formed for their improvement. As thisCollection of Memorials formerly belonged tothe Colbert Library, I have quoted them bythat title.

All thofe books and manufcripts I have con-fulted with that attention which the refpeCt duefrom an Author to the Public required; and byminute references to them, I have endeavouredto authenticate whatever I relate. The longerI reHed on the nature of hiftorical compofition,the more I am convinced that this fcrupulousaccuracy is neceflary. The hiftorian who recordsthe events of his own time, is credited in