DEDICATION. SIR, THE History of Virginia, by a sort of national right, claims you as its guardian and patron. Born in this state, and conversant, from your earliest youth, with the records of her laws and government, to whose improvement and preservation, you have devoted considerable time and attention, you know better than any other man, the arduous nature of the present work. ANIMATED by a laudable zeal for the honor of your country, you early published your observations and reflections on her laws, climate, &c. taking occasion, at the same time, to repel the rash charges of certain philosophers, against her physical and moral productions. Your work is not an history: It may not improperly be considered an interesting epitome of politics, history, and science; wherein you have contrived to enliven a subject, whose title promised little interesting, with much curious and elegant research, together with a rich variety of new matter, placed in a new and proper light. To this work, sir, I acknowledge myself much indebted; and I have endeavored to regulate myself by its advice....keeping clear of the tedious, although correct, circumstantiality of Stith; and, (I hope) the hasty and obscure brevity of Beverley. To the people of America, who feel and acknowledge the practical blessings of liberty under your administration, litthe apology is necessary for my choice of a patron: I hate |