Page:Memoir upon the negotiations between Spain and the United States of America which led to the treaty of 1819.djvu/15

 PREFACE BY THE TRANSLATOR.

The Memoir of Don Luis De Onis, on the subject of his negotiation with the government of the United States, was put into my hands, by a much esteemed friend, who had received it from the author himself, on the 27th of June; and before I had read a line of its contents, it was suggested to me, that a translation would be acceptable to the American publick, among whom some partial notices of it had already excited considerable interest and curiosity. Having consented to undertake the task, it became important both to the Printer and myself, that the utmost expedition should be used in its execution, lest we might be anticipated in the book market, and thus lose the fruits of our respective labours. Thus excited to activity by the spur of interest, a race forthwith commenced between us, which after an obstinate contest of nineteen days, was decided to be, what the jockies call a dead heat; for though, to continue the metaphor, I came out first, the Printer alleges, in bar to my claim of victory, that I had a form, the start of him; and further, that it was morally impossible he could reach the goal before me.

It will hardly be expected, that a translation so hurried, can be free from errours: there must necessarily be many, both of style and typography. But I am aware, that precipitation can never be a sufficient excuse to the publick, for the faults of an author, or translator, who comes voluntarily before them: they would have a