I BEG Your favourable Acceptance of this short Account of the ancient and prefent State of the Province of New-York. IT is not presented for Your Lordship's Information. All the World knows, that the Affairs of the British Colonies, have been, for feveral Years past, under Your principal Direction; and the Wifdom of the Measures pursued for their Prosperity. and Defence, are indifputable Arguments of Your Acquaintance with their Condition. NOR am I induced to infcribe these Pages to Your Lordship, by Intereft, the common Motive to Addresses of this Kind.-Being therefore uninfluenced by the Principle, I fhall not follow the Example of Dedicators; but fupprefs thofe Sentiments concerning Your Lordship, which would, nevertheless, give Offence only to Yourself, and to those who envy Your Talents and Your Virtues, and are Enemies to their Effects, Your Reputation and Your Power. My Lord, Your ardent Attention to the American Plantations, and affiduous Labours for their Protection |