SIR, DEDICATION. 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, little apology is necessary for my choice of a patron: I hate 345584 the word I have been compelled to adopt, owing to the poverty of language; for although in use, anterior to the existence of the feudal system, it conveys a feudal spirit and signification. You will take it in its manliest and most liberal sense, as a phrase of sentiment, bespeaking merely attachment and respect. To attempt an apology to you, for the liberty I have taken, would, I hope, be equally impertinent...I inscribe it to you, because I conceive you to be the first and most useful citizen in the republic: And, whatever be the value of my work, I mean you a compliment and a favor. SHOULD any motives of vanity be ascribed to me, in placing my name with yours; perhaps, I am not insensible to the pleasure of appearing in company with a man, whose singular good fortune it has been, to govern a great and enlightened people, by the mild agency of laws; and who has always found more satisfaction in abridging his authority, than other rulers have in aggrandizing themselves, at the expence of the liberty and happiness of their country. Your fellow Citizen, THOMAS JEFFERSON, President of the United States. 7. BURK. PREFACE. SEVERAL circumstances contribute to render the History of Virginia an object of interest and curiosity. In this part of the American continent, the first permanent establishment was formed by the British; and it is here, we must look for those ancient documents and materials, whose discovery will throw light on the history of the other states. By her population and geographical position, as well as the public spirit and intelligence of her citizens, she stands conspicuous in the confederacy, which her valor hath erected, in common with that of her sister states; and which her spirit and constancy have since improved and supported. THESE peculiarities would be sufficient to interest an American: But by how namy endearing motives is she connected with the world at large; as the elder branch of a confederacy, which threw down the gauntlet to kings; as the asylum of oppressed humanity; the faithful guardian and depositary of public spirit; as abounding in intelligence and virtue. A correct History of Virginia, would be the history of North America itself, a portion of the globe, which, enjoying the invaluable privilege of self-government, promises to eclipse the glory of Rome and Athens. THE materials for a correct history are diminishing every day-The war hath already made a melancholy chasm in our public records. History, to which we might look to supply this loss, is often silent. STITH, as far as he goes, is indeed a faithful guide; but his |