the fide, earlier than now appears; and also his not having given every European letter the immediate resemblance of being written to him by a correfpondent. He flatters himself, that he has in fome measure compenfated for these and other defects, by the general contents of every letter in each volume prefixed to the fame; by a copious index to the whole at the end of the last; and by a collection of maps and plans, about which neither care, nor expence, has been fpared to render them valuable.

Struck with the importance of the scenes that were opening upon the world, in the beginning of 1776, he formed an early defign of compiling their hiftory, which he made known to the late commander in chief of the American army; and meeting with the defired encouragement from him, he applied himself to the procuring of the best materials, whether oral, written, or printed. Oral communications were minuted down while fresh in the memory; the written were directed immediately to himself in many instances, in others only imparted: the productions of the European press could not be received with any regularity or certainty during the war, but were improved as they could be obtained.

The United States, in congrefs affembled, favored him with an inspection of fuch of their records as could with propriety be fubmitted to the perufal

9

perufal of a private person; and he was indulged by the late generals Washington, Gates, Greene, Lincoln, and Otho Williams, with a liberal examination of their papers, both of a public and more private nature.

He had the opportunity of acquainting him-, self with the records of the first fettlers in New England; and examined those of the Maffachufett's-bay, from their formation as a company to the close of the war, contained in near thirty folio manuscript volumes.

The

Doctor Ramfay's history of the war in Carolina, was communicated to him while in manuscript; and liberty was granted to make full use of it: the present opportunity is embraced for acknowledging the benefit received from it, and for returning grateful thanks to the Doctor. Americans remarked, that Dodfley's Annual Regifter contained the beft foreign printed fummary account of their affairs: but it was not poffible for writers on this fide the Atlantic to avoid mistakes. That Register and other publications have been of fervice to the compiler of the prefent work, who has frequently quoted from them, without varying the language, except for method and concifeness. He gathered from every fource of intelligence in his power, while at the place of his refidence near Bofton; and fince his return to his native country in

1786, has improved the advantage arifing from it.

The accounts here given of American affairs, are so different in feveral refpects from what have been the conceptions of many on each fide the Atlantic, that it was neceflary to infert a variety of letters, papers and anecdotes, to authenticate the narrative. The publication of thefe, it is prefumed, will obtain credit for fuch parts as could not with propriety be fupported by the introduction of fimilar proofs.

To write a history worthy the approbation of his friends, and (as far as his powers extended) of the prefent age, and of pofterity; and to convince mankind, that TRUTH was his care, his fearch, and what his foul was engaged in, have been the great objects of

London, Oct. 28, 1788.

THE AUTHOR.

The MAPS and PLANS are to be placed as follows. Plate 1. The United States of America, facing the title of Vol. I.

2. Boston and its environs,

3. New York Ifland and parts adjacent,

4. The Jerfeys, &c. &c.

5. New Hampshire, Vermont, &c.
6. The Carolinas with part of Georgia,
7. Charlestown, with Sir Peter Parker's
attack on Fort Moultrie,

8. The part of Virginia, which was the
feat of action,

9. York Town and Gloucefter Point, as
befieged by the allied army,

the title of Vol. II. P. 310, Vol. II. P. 524, Vol. II. P. 584. Vol. II. the title of Vol. III.

P. 358, Vol. III,

P. 116, Vol. IV.

P. 196, Vol. IV.

IS Excellency John Adams efq; the late American Plenipo, tentiary.

Mr. Stephen Abbott, Ipfwich, Suffolk.

Mr. Sergeant Adair, Recorder of London.

Mifs Adair.

Mr. Jofeph Adams.

Mr. Jofeph Ainsley.

Mr. Alderfon, Norwich.

Mr. Thomas Allen, Blackmore, Effex.

Mr. Henry Allnutt, High Wycomb, Bucks.

The Rev. John Andrews, Marden, Kent.

The Rev. Mordecai Andrews, Coggeshall, Effex.

The Antiquaries of Scotland.

The Rev. E. Armstrong, Bath.

Arthur Atherley efq; Southampton.

Mr. Thomas Atkinfon, Huddersfield, Yorkshire.
Mr. John Audley, Cambridge.

B.

Earl of Briftol.

Gill Badeley, efq; Bath.

Samuel Badeley efq; Walpole, Suffolk, two copies.

The Rev. Ifaac Backus, Middleburgh, Maffachusetts Bay.

The Rev. John Bailey, Clavering, Effex.

Mr. John Banister, Bristol.

The Rev. Jofeph Barber.
Mr. James Barley, Bristol.
Robert Barlow efq;

VOL. I.

Mr.

Mr. John Barnard, Norwich.

Mr. John Barnard.

Mr. Francis Barnet, Fyfield, Effex.

Mr. Edward Barron.

Mr. Edward Barrow, Norwich.

Mrs. Bayne, Hampstead.
John Beard efq;

Mr. Jofeph Beldam, Royfton.
Mr. Jofeph Beldam, jun. ditto.
Okey Belfour efq;

The Rev. Thomas Belfham, Daventry.
William Belfham efq; Bedford.

Mr. Thomas Bennett.

The Rev. William Bennet, Iflington.
Mrs. Bernard.

Mr. Peter Bernard, Southampton.

Meffrs. John and Chriftopher Berry, Norwich.
The Rev. Mr. Beynon, Great Yarmouth.
The Rev. Thomas Bingham, Ongar, Effex.
William Blake efq;

Mr. Bezaliel Blomfield, Nayland, Suffolk.
Mr. William Boaden.

Bocking Book Society.

Mr. John Boddy.

Mr. William Boofey, Bocking,

Mr. John Bowman.

Mr. Thomas Bradley.

Daniel Braithwaite efq;

The Rev. William Brice, Leeds,

Edward Bridgen efq;

Richard Bright efq; Bristol.

Brittol Education Society.

The Rev. Jofeph Brookfbank, Islington.

Mr. Giles Brown, Stobrough, near Wareham,
Mr. Richard Browne.

Robert Brown efq;

Mr. Nathaniel Bucke, Ipfwich,

Mr. George Buckton.

Bungay Book Society.

Mr. Jofeph Burch.

Bury Book Society.

Mr. John Bufwell.
Mr. William Butler.

Mr. Thomas, Button, Nayland.
Mr. Jeremiah Byles, Ipfwich.
Mr. William Byles.