The Epistle Dedicatory
To the Right HonourableANTHONYLordAshley,BaronAshleyofWimborn St. Giles,Chancellor of his Majesties Exchequer,Under-Treasurer ofEngland,One of the Lords Commissioners of his MajestiesTreasury, one of the Lords of hismost Honourable Privie Council,and one of the Lords ProprietorsofCAROLINA.
My Lord,
From this discourse it is clear that the long looked-for discovery of theIndianSea does nearly approach; andCarolina, out of her happy experience of your Lordships success in great undertakings, presumes that the accomplishment of this glorious Designe is reserved for her. In order to which, theApalatæanMountains (though like the prodigious Wall that dividesChinaandTartary, they denyVirginiapassage into the West Continent) stoop to your Lordships Dominions, and lay open a Prospect into unlimited Empires; Empires that will hereafter be ambitious of subjection to that noble Government which by your Lordships deep wisdom and providence first projected, is now established inCarolina; for it will appear that she flourishes more by the influence of that, than the advantages she derives from her Climate and Soyl, which yet do render her the Beauty and Envy of North-America. That all her glories should be seen in this Draught, is not reasonably to be expected, since the fate to my Author but once, and then too with a side-face; and therefore I must own it was never by him designed for the Press, but published by me, out of no other ambition than that of manifesting to the world, that I am
My Lord,
Your Lordships most humble and obedient Servant,
William Talbot.