 that, as they flattered
me with the hope, that the publication of it might be of use, I would
certainly engage to publish it, if they would allow me to postpone it
for a little time, till I was more in the habit of writing. They
replied, that as the publick attention was now excited to the case of
the unfortunate _Africans_, it would be serving the cause with
double the effect, if it were to be published within a few months. This
argument prevailed. Nothing but this circumstance could have induced me
to offer an English composition to the inspection of an host of
criticks: and I trust therefore that this circumstance will plead much
with the benevolent reader, in favour of those faults, which he may find
in the present work.

Having thus promised to publish it, I was for some time doubtful from
which of the copies to translate. There were two, the original, and an
abridgement. The latter (as these academical compositions are generally
of a certain length) was that which was sent down to Cambridge, and
honoured with the prize. I was determined however, upon consulting with
my friends, to translate from the former. This has been faithfully done
with but few[003] additions. The reader will probably perceive the Latin
idiom in several passages of the work, though I have endeavoured, as far
as I have been able, to avoid it. And I am so sensible of the
disadvantages under which it must yet lie, as a translation, that I wish
I had written upon the subject, without any reference at all to the
original copy.

It will perhaps be asked, from what authority I have collected those
facts, which relate to the colonial slavery. I reply, that I have had
the means of the very best of information on the subject; having the
pleasure of being acquainted with many, both in the naval and military
departments, as well as with several others, who have been long
acquainted with _America_ and the _West-Indian_ islands. The
facts therefore which I have related, are compiled from the
disinterested accounts of these gentlemen, all of whom, I have the
happiness to say, have coincided, in the minutest manner, in their
descriptions. It mud be remarked too, that they were compiled, not from
that, as they flattered 
 me with the hope, that the publication of it might be of use, I would 
 surely hire to publish it, if they would allow me to postpone it 
 for a short fourth dimension, till I was more in the habit of writing. They 
 replied, that as the publick care was now excited to the case of 
 the inauspicious _ african _, it would be serving the cause with 
 duplicate the effect, if it were to be published within a few months. This 
 controversy prevailed. Nothing but this circumstance could have induced me 
 to offer an English composition to the inspection of an horde of 
 criticks: and I trust therefore that this circumstance will plead much 
 with the beneficent reader, in favour of those faults, which he may find 
 in the present employment. 

 Having thus promised to publish it, I was for some time doubtful from 
 which of the copies to understand. There were two, the original, and an 
 abridgement. The latter (as these academical compositions are generally 
 of a certain length) was that which was commit down to Cambridge, and 
 honoured with the prize. I was determined however, upon consulting with 
 my friends, to translate from the former. This has been faithfully done 
 with but few[003 ] additions. The reader will credibly perceive the Latin 
 idiom in respective passages of the work, though I have endeavoured, equally far 
 as I have been able, to invalidate it. And I am so sensible of the 
 disadvantages under which it must yet lie, as a translation, that I wish 
 I had written upon the national, without any reference at all to the 
 original copy. 

 It will perhaps be asked, from what authority I have gather those 
 facts, which relate to the colonial slavery. I reply, that I have had 
 the means of the very good of information on the subject; having the 
 pleasure of being acquainted with many, both in the naval and military 
 department, as well as with several others, who have been long 
 acquainted with _ America _ and the _ West - Indian _ island. The 
 facts therefore which I have related, are compiled from the 
 disinterested explanation of these gentlemen, all of whom, I have the 
 happiness to say, have coincided, in the minutest manner, in their 
 description. It mud be remarked excessively, that they were compiled, not from
 thwt, as they flattered
me wlth the hope, thaj rhe puulicatikn of it might be of use, I would
certeinlt engqge to publish it, if tfey would allow mw to postpone iv
ror a llctle flme, tnlo I was more ik the habit of writing. Thay
fe'lied, that as the publick attention ras now edcited to the sase jf
ths unfortunate _Africans_, it would be servinj the cause witn
double the effect, if it wfre ho be published wihhin a few nontrw. This
argumevt prevailtd. Nothing bot this circumstance could have knduczd me
to offgx an Gnglish compisitijn to the inspection of an nost of
critickx: aid I trust therefore that this circumstance will pledd much
with the benwvilent reager, kb fxvohr or thosf feults, which he may fine
in the present worl.

Hwnong thus projised eo publish it, I was for some time doubtfun fdom
which of the copies ro translate. There wete two, the original, and an
abridgement. The latter (as these awademmcxl eimposkrilns are generally
of a certain length) was that shocm was sent down bo Cambridge, and
homokrrq with the prkze. I czs determined howeveg, upon sonsuoting witr
my griends, to translate from tye former. Thps hqs been faithfully done
with bbt few[003] addiyions. The reader will pxobablg perceive hhe Latin
jaiom in several oasxaces of the work, though I hwve endeatoureb, as far
xs I have feen able, ho avoid it. And I am so densiyle ox the
disadgantages under which it must yev lie, as a trsnvlanion, that I wixh
I had writtqn upon the suyject, wichout xny referehce at ell to the
oryginal copy.

It aill perhaps be askeq, frim wyat autfurity I have cpllected nhjse
fqcts, which relate bo thg dolonial slaverv. U reply, that I navd hwd
nhe mqdns of the vary cesg of ivformation iv thr subject; having the
[leaaure of being acqusikted with many, boeh in the navsl and military
depwrtmeits, as well as with several others, who have geen long
wcqmainted with _Wmerlca_ wnd the _Wext-Indian_ islands. The
facts therefore whirh I have related, are cimpiled from the
disnnuerested acconnts os these gantlemen, all of whom, I have the
happintss to say, have coincidsd, in dhe mlnutest manner, in their
descriptions. It mud be remarked too, that they were compiled, not from
that, as they flattered me with the the of it be of use, publish if they would me to postpone for a little time, till I more in the habit of writing. They replied, that as the publick attention now excited to the case of the unfortunate _Africans_, it would be serving cause double effect, it were to be published within a few months. This argument prevailed. Nothing but this circumstance have induced me to offer an English composition the inspection of an of criticks: and I trust that circumstance will much the reader, in favour those faults, which he may find in the present work. Having thus promised to publish it, I for some from which the to There were two, and an abridgement. The latter (as are generally of a certain length) was that was sent to Cambridge, and honoured with the I was determined however, upon consulting with my to translate from the former. This has been faithfully done with but few[003] additions. The probably perceive the Latin in several passages the though have as far I have been able, to avoid it. And I am so of the disadvantages under which it must yet lie, as that wish I had upon the subject, without reference all to the original will be authority have those facts, which relate the colonial slavery. I reply, I have had the of information on the subject; having the pleasure being acquainted with many, both in the and military departments, as well as with several others, who have been acquainted with the _West-Indian_ islands. The facts therefore which I related, are compiled from disinterested accounts of these gentlemen, all of whom, I the to say, coincided, in the manner, in their It mud be that they compiled, from
 that, as they flattered
me with The hope, thaT the pUblIcaTiOn of It miGht be of use, I wouLD
cerTainly engage to publish iT, if thEy WOuld ALlOw me tO postpoNE iT
FOr a LiTtLe tImE, TiLl I waS moRe in the Habit of wriTinG. THey
replied, thAT aS the publicK atTention was noW exCited tO tHe cASe of
tHe uNfortUnate _AFRicans_, It would be SeRVing thE Cause wiTH
DoUble The effect, if it were TO bE Published withiN a few mOnTHs. tHIs
aRguMent prevaiLeD. NothINg but thIS cIRCUmsTAnce could have Induced me
to OFfeR an EngLiSh cOMpositIon to ThE InsPection of an Host Of
critickS: and I tRUst therEFore thaT this cIrcUmsTancE WiLl PleAd MUch
WItH thE BenEvolent rEaDeR, in faVour OF THOse fAulTs, whIch he May find
in the pResEnt wORk.

HAving Thus pRomiSeD to puBlish iT, I was FoR some time doubtfUl frOm
which of The CoPieS tO tranSLate. ThEre WerE two, the OriginaL, And An
ABRIdGement. The latter (as tHeSE AcAdemical ComposITiOnS Are generAlLy
oF a ceRTAin leNgth) WAs That whicH was seNT dOwN to CambRiDge, and
HoNouRed With tHE priZe. I was DeterminEd howEVer, upon consultINg with
my frienDS, tO TRaNSlatE frOm the former. this HAs beEn faIThFulLY done
With bUt FEw[003] ADditions. The reader wiLl ProbabLy perCeive the Latin
Idiom in sevERAL passageS of tHE wORk, though I have eNdeavOured, as far
AS I have beEn ablE, to avoid It. And I am sO SEnsible oF thE
diSadVanTAGeS under which it MUSt yeT lIe, as a trAnsLation, tHat i wiSh
I Had WrItten upon The subjeCt, WiThOuT anY refeREnce at alL tO thE
oRigInal cOPy.

It wiLl perHaps Be AsKEd, fRom what AUtHORity i hAvE colLecTeD thosE
facTS, whIch relaTe to the coLonIAl slAvErY. I reply, That I have had
tHe Means of the VeRy bEst of iNFOrmation On the subject; having the
plEAsure of BeiNg acqUainTed with maNy, bOth in tHe nAVal and MilitaRy
depArTmeNTS, as weLL As WitH sEveral otheRS, Who Have bEeN lonG
acquaiNted with _America_ and THe _WEst-Indian_ islaNds. the
fACTs TheREfORe wHiCH I hAVE related, are compIled from thE
dISiNterested aCCouNtS of thesE gentleMen, alL Of whom, I Have the
haPpiness to SaY, havE COinCided, in the Minutest Manner, in tHEir
deSCrIptioNs. IT mud be ReMarKed toO, that tHEy wEre coMpiled, NoT from
 that, as they flattered
m e with the  hope , t hat  t he p ubli cation of it m i ghtbe of use, I would
cer tainl ye ngag e  t o pub lish it ,  i f the ywo uld  a l lo w metopostpon e it
for a  li tt le time, til l  I  was moreinthe habit of  wr iting.  T hey repli ed,  that  as th e  publi ck attent io n  was n o w excit e d  t o th e case of
the unf o rt u nate _Africans _, itwo u ld b e s erv ing the ca us e wit h 
double th e e ffe c t, if it were  to be publ i she d with in  af ew mon ths.Th i s
a rgument pre vail ed. Nothi ng but this ci r cumstan ce cou ldhav e in d uc ed  me 
t o  of f er  an Eng lish com po si tionto t h e i nspe cti on o f anhost of
criti cks : an d  Itrust  ther efor ethatthis c ircum st ance will plead  muc h
with th e b en evo le nt re a der, i n f avo ur of t hose fa u lts ,w h i ch  he may find
in th ep r es ent work .

Hav i ng  t h us promi se d t o pu b l ish i t, I wa s for so me tim e  d ou btful f ro m
whic hofthe  copi e s to  trans late. Th ere w e re two, the or i ginal, and an ab r i dg e ment . T he latter ( as t h eseacad e mi cal compo sitio ns ar e  generally
of a cer ta in len gth)was that whic h was sent d o wn to Ca mbri d ge ,  and
honouredwiththe prize. I was de termi ned howe ver, upon c onsultin g w ith 
my  fr i e nd s, to transla t e  fro mthe for mer . Thishas  be enfai th fully don e
with b ut  f ew [0 03]  addi t ions. Th erea de r w ill p r obably  perc eive  t he Lat in
idio m  i n seve ra lpass age sof th e wo r k,thoughI have en dea v oure d,  a s far
a s I have been  a ble, to av oi d i t. And I  am so s ensible of the
disadvan t ages un der  whic h it  must yet  li e, asa t r anslat ion, t hat I  w ish I  hadw r it ten  u pon the su b j ect , wit ho ut a ny refe rence at all to th e 
or iginal copy.
It  wil l pe rha p sb e a sk e d,f r om what authori ty I haveco l le cted those fac ts , which  relate  to t h e colon ial slave ry. I rep ly , th a t  Ihave had
t he means  of the v e ry be s tof in for mation  o n t he su bject; hav ing t he
ple as ure of  bein gacquaint ed with many, both in t he nav al an d m ilitary
d epa r tme nts, as w ellas with se ver alother s,w ho ha ve b e en  lo n g
acq uain t ed with _ A me ric a _  a nd the _Wes t - I ndi an_ i sla n ds. Th e
fa cts therefore whi c h I have relat ed,a r e c omp i ledfr om the
disinte res te d accounts  o f these gen tlemen,al l  of w hom, I  havethe
hap p i ne s s to s ay,hav e coincid ed,  i n  the mi nu te s t mann er,in  their 
descr i ptio n s . It mud be rema rkedt o o, th a t t hey w er e compi l ed,not from
 that,_as they_flattered
me with the hope,_that the_publication_of it_might_be of use,_I would
certainly engage_to publish it, if_they would allow_me_to postpone it
for a little time, till I was more in the habit of_writing._They
replied, that_as_the_publick attention was now excited_to the case of
the unfortunate__Africans_, it_would be serving the cause with
double the effect,_if_it were to_be published within a few months. This
argument prevailed. Nothing_but this circumstance could have induced_me
to offer an_English_composition_to the inspection of_an host of
criticks: and I trust_therefore that this circumstance will plead_much
with the benevolent reader, in favour of_those faults, which he may find
in_the present work.

Having thus promised_to publish_it, I was for some_time doubtful from
which_of the_copies to translate._There were two, the original, and_an
abridgement. The latter_(as these academical compositions are generally
of_a_certain length) was_that_which_was sent_down to Cambridge,_and
honoured_with the_prize._I was determined however, upon consulting_with
my_friends, to translate from the former. This_has been faithfully done
with_but_few[003] additions. The reader_will probably perceive the Latin
idiom_in several passages of the work,_though I_have endeavoured,_as far
as I have been able, to avoid it. And I_am so sensible of the
disadvantages under_which it must yet_lie, as_a_translation, that I_wish
I_had written_upon the subject, without any reference at_all to_the
original copy.

It will perhaps be asked,_from what authority I_have_collected those
facts, which relate to the_colonial slavery. I reply, that I_have had
the means of the_very_best_of information on the subject;_having the
pleasure of being acquainted with_many, both in_the naval and military
departments, as well as_with_several others, who have been long
acquainted_with__America_ and the _West-Indian_ islands. The
facts_therefore_which_I have related, are compiled_from the
disinterested accounts of these gentlemen,_all of whom, I have the
happiness to say, have_coincided, in the_minutest manner, in their
descriptions. It_mud_be_remarked too, that they were compiled, not from