The Recommendation these Travels have been favour'd with from
yourself and other good Judges, as a History admirably adapted
both to the Entertainment and Instruction of the Reader; and your
Commands upon me to translate it, lay me under the strongest
Inducement to claim your Patronage.
And I humbly conceive that your Retirement from that AGENCY,
during which you perform'd so many National Services in
cultivating a mutual good Understanding and Commerce between
_Old_ and _New England_, as justly gain'd you the Love and
Applause of those who truly understand the Interests of both
People, gives you the more Leisure to receive a Dedication.
It must be own'd that bright Accomplishments, acquired and
improv'd in _European_, as well as _American_ Universities; The
Elegance of your Taste, both in Men and Books; The Politeness of
your Conversation; Your Esteem for the Sciences, which are so
delicately interwoven in the following Narrative; Your Knowledge
in the _Belles Lettres_; Your long Acquaintance with the _Beau
Monde_; And, what is equal to all, Your generous Disposition to
do Good to Mankind;, are Qualities which would have continued you
very useful and ornamental in a Public Station.
Yet I take Leave to congratulate you on your Preference of a
private Life; since not only an innate Principle of Honour, but
an easy Fortune, set you above the Temptation of soliciting
Employments, and subjecting yourself to Dependencies which often
prove Snares to the best of Men, by causing them to deviate from
the sacred Paths of Truth and Justice. This probably was the
Reason you lately declin'd acting as an _Inspector_ of a GREAT
COMPANY'S Affairs, an Office of no little Trust and Confidence,
and to which you was unanimously elected by the _General Court_.
I heartily wish you Health and long Life for the Pleasure and
Profit of all your Friends, and especially of,