By WILLIAM ROBERTSON, D.D. PRINCIPAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH, AND MEMBER OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF THE EIGHTH EDITION, CONTAINING THE HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, TO THE YEAR 1688; IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: Printed by A. Strahan, Printers-Street, FOR T. CADELL JUN. AND W. DAVIES, STRAND, 1800. PREFACE. IN fulfilling the engagement which I had come under to the Public with refpect to the Hiftory of America, it was my intention not to have published any part of the work until the whole was completed. The prefent ftate of the British colonies has induced me to alter that refolution. While they are engaged in civil war with Great Britain, inquiries and fpeculations concerning their ancient forms of policy and laws, which exift no longer, cannot be interesting. The attention and expectation of mankind are now turned towards their future condition. In whatever manner this unhappy conteft may terminate, a new order of things must arife in North America, and its affairs will affume another aspect. I wait, with the folicitude of a good citizen, until the ferment fubfide, and regular government be re-established, and then I fhall return to this part of my work, in which I had made fome progrefs. That, together with the hiftory of Portuguese America, and of the fettlements made by the fee veral nations of Europe in the West India islands, will complete my plan. The three volumes which I now publish, con tain an account of the discovery of the New World, and of the progress of the Spanish arms and colonies there. This is not only the most fplendid portion of the American story, but so 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 related facts which feem to have been unknown to them. It is a duty I owe the Public to mention the sources 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 caufes and effects. This duty I perform with greater fatisfaction, as it will afford an opportunity of expreffing my gratitude to those be nefactors, who have honoured me with their countenance and aid in refearches. my As it was from Spain that I had to expect the moft 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 per fonally known, and with whose liberality of sentiment, and difpofition to oblige, 1 was well ac quainted, was appointed ambaffador to the court. of Madrid. Upon applying to him, I met with fuch a reception as fatisfied me that his endea vours would be employed in the moft proper manner, in order to obtain the gratification of my wishes; and I am perfectly fenfible, that what |