Book Description

Excerpt from An Account of the First Discovery, and Natural History of Florida: With a Particular Detail of the Several Expeditions and Descents Made on That Coast The Geography of Florida being but imperfectly known to the generality of this nation, and, as it is now in our possession, a more perfect knowledge thereof would be of the greatest service to such shipping as may be sent to that part; the Publisher presumes to offer to the public the following account of it. He has been encouraged thereto by many of his friends, who have been pleased to favour him with several helps for that purpose. For this reason, he imagines that the reader will find this geographical description of that extensive sea-coast, determined to a much nearer degree of accuracy than any yet extant, as he has collected and digested it, with great care and labour, from a considerable number of original Spanish and French charts, found on board several different vessels (which were made prizes) belonging to those nations, and which were communicated to him by the gentlemen in whose possession they were. He was also assisted by several curious remarks made by gentlemen who navigated in that part of the world. He has been more particularly induced to publish it now, since whatsoever can assist the navigation of that coast must be of the greatest utility at this juncture, when the settling of that country is under the consideration of the government, and many vessels fitting out for that part. If he has in any part succeeded, he shall esteem himself happy, and his labour well employed; but, if otherwise, he hopes, this performance my incite some other person, who may have better helps and greater abilities, to rectify the errors, and render such a desirable piece of service, more perfect, to his country. He moreover flatters himself that this work, though it may, in some particulars, be defective, yet will be of the greatest use, till more accurate surveys can be made; and, in the mean time, in some measure, assist those gentlemen, who may be employed by the government for that purpose. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.