Spaniards in Florida

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. This volume, relating to the history and antiquities of the oldest settlement in the United States, has grown out of a lecture delivered by the author, and which he was desired to embody in a more permanent form.<br><br>The large amount of interesting material in my possession has made my work rather one of laborious condensation than expansion.<br><br>I have endeavored to preserve as fully as possible the style and quaintness of the old writers from whom I have drawn, rather than to transform or embellish the narrative with the supposed graces of modern diction: and, as much of the work consisted in translations from foreign idioms, this peculiarly un-English style, if I may so call it will he more noticeably observed. I have mainly sought to give it a permanent value, as founded on the most reliable ancient authorities, and thus, to the extent of the ground which it covers, to make it a valuable addition to the history of our country.<br><br>In that portion of the work devoted to the destruction of the Huguenot colony and the forces of Ribault, I have in the main followed the Spanish accounts, desiring to divest the narrative of all suspicion of prejudice or unfairness: Bureau, the principal authority, as is well known, professing the same faith as Menendez, and studiously endeavoring, throughout his work, to exalt the character of the Adelantado.<br><br>I am under great obligations to my friend Buckingham Smith. Esq., for repeated favors in the course of its preparation.