—————
BY
GEORGE R. FAIRBANKS,
VICE PRESIDENT FLORIDA HISTORICAL SOCIETY: HONORARY MEMBER NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY:
LECTURER ON AMERICAN HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH.
—————
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.
COLUMBUS DREW.1868.
| Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by |
| COLUMBUS DREW, |
| In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern |
| District of New York. |
RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED
TO
BUCKINGHAM SMITH, ESQ.,
U. S. SECRETARY OF LEGATION AT MADRID,
TO WHOSE EFFORTS IN THE
DISCOVERY AND PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF THE
SPANISH DOMINION IN AMERICA,
A GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
IS DUE FROM
AMERICAN SCHOLARS.
THIS volume, relating to the history and antiquities of the oldestsettlement in the United States, has grown out of a lecture deliveredby the author, and which he was desired to embody in a more permanentform.
The large amount of interesting material in my possession, has mademy work rather one of laborious condensation than expansion.
I have endeavored to preserve as fully as possible, the style andquaintness of the old writers from whom I have drawn, rather than totransform or embellish the narrative with the supposed graces of moderndiction; and, as much of the work consisted in translations fromforeign idioms, this peculiarly un-English style, if I may so call it,will be more noticeably observed. I have mainly sought to give it apermanent value, as founded on the most reliable ancient authorities;and thus, to the extent of the ground which it covers, to make it avaluable addition to the history of our country.
In that portion of the work devoted to the destruction of the Huguenotcolony and the forces of Ribault, I have in the main followedthe Spanish accounts, desiring to divest the narrative of all suspicionof prejudice or unfairness; Barcia, the principal authority, as is wellknown, professing the same faith as Menendez, and studiously endeavoringthroughout his work, to exalt the character of the Adelantado.
I am under great obligations to my friend, BUCKINGHAM SMITH,ESQ., for repeated favors in the course of its preparation.
THE interest evinced in the publication of the first edition of thisvolume, in 1858, under the title of History and Antiquities ofSt. Augustine, has induced the author to prepare a second editionfor the press, under the present title, as being more exactly descriptiveof that portion of the