THE reader is not here to expect a large and useless detail of the transactions of late years, in that part of the world, where ever since my infancy, it has been my misfortune to have lived. Was it in my power, indeed, to set off with pompous diction, and embellish with artificial descriptions, what has so ingrossed the attention of Europe, as well as the scenes of action for some years past, perhaps I might; but my poor pen, being wholly unfit for such a task, and never otherwise employed than just for my own affairs and amusement, while I had the pleasure of living tranquil and undisturbed, I must beg leave to desist from such an attempt; and, if such is expected from me, claim the indulgence of that pardon which is never refused to those incapacitated of performing what may be desired of them. And, as a plain, impartial, and succinct narrative of my own life and various vicissitudes of fortune, is all I shall aim at, I shall herein confine myself to plain simple truth, and, in [t]he dictates resulting from an honest heart, give the reader no other entertainment than what shall be matter of fact; and of such things as have actually happened to me, or come to my own knowledge, in the sphere of life, in which it has been my lot to be placed. Not, but I hope may be allowed, now and then, to carry on my narrative from the informations I have received of such things as relate to my design, though they have not been done or transacted in my presence.