fome progrefs. That, together with the hiftory of Portuguese America, and of the fettlements made by the feveral nations of Europe in the Weft India islands, will complete my plan. THE three volumes which I now publish, contain an account of the difcovery of the New World, and of the progrefs of the Spanifh arms and colonies there. This is not only the moft fplendid portion of the American ftory, but fo much detached, as, by itself, to form a perfect whole, remarkable for the unity of the fubject. As the principles and maxims of the Spaniards in planting colonies, which have been adopted in fome measure by every nation, are unfolded in this part of my work; it will ferve as a proper introduction to the hiftory of all the European establishments in America, and convey fuch information concerning this important article of policy, as may be deemed no less interesting than curious. IN defcribing the atchievements and inftitutions of the Spaniards in the New World, I have departed in many inftances from the accounts of preceding hiftorians, and have often often related facts which feem to have been unknown to them. It is a duty I owe the Public, to mention the fources from which I have derived fuch intelligence, as juftifies me either in placing transactions in a new light, or in forming any new opinion with respect to their causes and effects. This duty I perform with greater fatisfaction, as it will afford an opportunity of expreffing my gratitude to thofe benefactors, who have honoured me with their countenance and aid in my refearches. As it was from Spain that I had to expect the most important information, with regard to this part of my work, I confidered it as a very fortunate circumftance for me, when Lord Grantham, to whom I had the honour of being perfonally known, and with whose liberality of fentiment, and difpofition to oblige, I was well acquainted, was appointed ambaffador to the court of Madrid. Upon applying to him, I met with fuch a reception as fatisfied me that his endeavours would be employed in the most proper manner, in order to obtain the gratification of my wishes ; and I am perfectly fenfible, that what progrefs I have made in my inquiries among the Spaniards, A 4 Spaniards, ought to be afcribed chiefly to their knowing how much his Lordship interefted himself in my fuccefs. BUT did I owe nothing more to Lord Grantham, than the advantages which I have derived from his attention in engaging Mr. Waddilove, the chaplain of his embaffy, to take the conduct of my literary inquiries in Spain, the obligations I lie under to him would be very great. During five years, that gentleman has carried on researches for my behoof, with fuch activity, perfeverance, and knowledge of the subject, to which his attention was turned, as have filled me with no lefs aftonishment than fatisfaction. He procured for me the greater part of the Spanifh books, which I have confulted; and as many of them were printed early in the fixteenth century, and are become extremely rare, the collecting of these was such an occupation, as, alone, required much time and affiduity. To, his friendly attention I am indebted for copies of feveral valuable manufcripts, containing facts and details which I might have fearched for in vain, in works that have been made public. Encouraged by the inviting good-will with which Mr. Wad dilove dilove conferred his favours, I tranfmitted to him a fet of queries, with respect both to the customs and policy of the native Americans, and the nature of feveral inftitutions in the Spanish settlements, framed in fuch a manner, that a Spaniard might answer them, without disclosing any thing that was improper to be communicated to a foreigner. He translated these into Spanish, and obtained from various perfons who had refided in most of the Spanish colonies, fuch replies as have afforded me much inftruction. NOTWITHSTANDING thofe peculiar advantages with which my inquiries were carried on in Spain, it is with regret I am obliged to add, that their fuccefs must be afcribed to the beneficence of individuals, not to any communication by public authority. By a fingular arrangement of Philip II. the records of the Spanish monarchy are depofited in the Archivo of Simancas, near Valladolid, at the diftance of a hundred and twenty miles from the feat of government, and the fupreme courts of juftice. The papers relative to America, and chiefly to that early period of its hiftory, towards which my attention was directed, are fo numerous, that they alone, according to one account, fill the largest apartment in the Archivo ; and according to another, they compofe eight hundred and seventy-three large bundles. Confcious of poffeffing, in fome degree, the industry which belongs to an hiftorian, the profpect of fuch a treasure excited my moft ardent curiofity. But the prospect of it, is all that I have enjoyed. Spain, with an excefs of caution, has uniformly thrown a veil over her tranfactions in America. From ftrangers they are concealed with peculiar folicitude. Even to her own fubjects the Archivo of Simancas is not opened without a particular order from the crown; and after obtaining that, papers cannot be copied, without paying fees of office fo exorbitant, that the expence exceeds what it would be proper to beftow, when the gratification of literary curiofity is the only object. It is to be hoped, that the Spaniards will at last difcover this system of concealment to be no lefs impolitic than illiberal. From what I have experienced in the course of my inquiries, I am fatisfied, that upon a more minute fcrutiny into their early operations in the New World, however reprehenfible the actions of individuals may appear, the con duct |