HISTORY, &c.

CHAPTER I.

Origin of the English and French Claims to North America-First attempt at settlement by French Protestants-Destroyed by the Spaniards-Sir Humphry Gilbert and Sir Walter Raleigh attempt a settlement-Grant to South and North Virginia Companies-French grant to De Monts-First settlement of Virginia, Plymouth, and the other English Colonies-Extent of their grants-North Virginia first called New England in 1614-Grant of New England to the Plymouth Company-New York settled by the Dutch-French discoveries under de la Salle.

THE claim of Great Britain to North America, was founded on the discoveries made by John Cabot and his sons, under a commission from King Henry VII. Cabot was a native of Venice, and with his sons, had settled in England, then a place of resort for foreign merchants.

The extensive commercial intercourse between the ports of Italy and the East Indies, by the way of the Red Sea and the Persian gulf, had, at an early period, been the means of extending geographical knowledge, as well as nautical skill, among the Italians, much beyond that possessed by their more western neighbors. It led them also, to form more correct ideas of the true figure of the earth, than was then entertained by the rest of Europe. This will account for the singular fact, that the first discoverer of the new world, as well as those, who immediately after, explored different parts of it, were natives of Italy. Columbus, Americus Vesputius, Cabot and Verazzano, were all natives of the commercial cities of that country. Cabot was of opinion that a new way to India might be found, by sailing northwest. To effect this, as well as to make further discoveries in the new world, he and his three sons, Sebastian, Lewis, and Sanctius, obVOL. I.

3

tained a commission from Henry, dated March 5th, 1496. By this commission, which is the oldest American state paper of England, they had authority and leave to sail to all parts, countries, and seas of the east, of the west, and of the north, and upon their own proper cost and charges, to seek out and discover countries of the heathen and infidels, unknown to all christians; there to set up the king's banner; to occupy and possess, as his vassals and lieutenants, the countries they should find, on condition of paying him one fifth of all the gains obtained by them.*

Under this commission, John Cabot and his son Sebastian, sailed from England in May, 1497; and in June came in sight of land, supposed to be a part of what was afterwards called Newfoundland. From hence they sailed along the coast north and south, but to what extent seems to be uncertain. Some writers have supposed that they went north as far as latitude 67° and south to the cape of Florida. They returned without attempting a settlement, but took possession of the country in behalf of the crown of England.

The English neglected to take advantage of these discoveries, for nearly a century. In the mean time, the Court of France sent several vessels at different times, to make discoveries in the same quarter. Under the direction of Francis I. an enterprising and ambitious prince, John Verazzano, a Florentine, sailed along the American coast, from latitude 50° to 28°, and examined Florida, with some degree of accuracy.‡

A few years afterwards, the celebrated Jaques Cartier, made several voyages along the northern coast, sailed up the river St. Lawrence as far as Montreal, and took possession of the country in the name of the king of France. The discoveries made by these men in the service of France, laid the foundation of the French claim in North America. The first attempt at a settlement in that part of America, now the United States, was made by a number of French protestants. During the civil wars,

* Chalmers' Annals, p. 7. Entick's History of British Empire in America, p. 4. † See vol. 1, Holmes' Annals, p. 18. Chalmers' Annals, p. 612.

in France, between the Catholics and Huguenots, the famous admiral Coligny, projected a plan for settling a colony of his protestant countrymen in America. In 1562, with the permission of Charles IX. he sent two ships, with a number of colonists, under the command of John Ribault, to that part of America, then called Florida. Ribault having returned to France, the settlers were reduced to great distress for want of provisions, and they put to sea in a vessel, they had built with great difficulty, and were taken up by an English ship so entirely destitute, that they had devoured one of their crew, who had voluntarily offered himself a victim, to save the rest.

A new colony was sent out in 1564, with a view to relieve the first, under Laudoniere.

This settlement was made as is supposed, on a river since called Albemarle, and at a place claimed by the Spaniards. The Spanish Court, enraged at this intrusion on their lands, by heretics, gave orders to Pedro Menandez, commander of a Spanish fleet, to drive the Huguenots out of Florida. On his arrival, he, in a most inhuman manner, massacred most of the French settlers. To secure the country for Spain, he built three forts, and left them garrisoned by Spanish soldiers. The French Court paid no regard to this atrocious act of the Spanish government. A distinguished individual, however, by the name of Gourges, a native of Gascony, and a soldier of fortune, fitted out an expedition at his own expense, and without any orders from his government, sailed for Florida. By a bold assault, he took the forts, and revenged the murder of his countrymen, by hanging most of the Spanish garrison. He afterwards demolished the forts and returned to France. This act was disavowed by the French Court; and neither the French or Spaniards ever after attempted a settlement at that place.

The first attempt made by the English to settle any part of America, was about the year 1583. In 1578, Queen Elizabeth granted letters patent to Sir Humphry Gilbert "for planting and inhabiting of her people in America." Under this patent, in 1583, Sir Humphry sailed for America, with two ships and three barks, with about two hundred and sixty men.

He entered the bay of St. John's in Newfoundland, and took possession of the country two hundred leagues round, in the name of the crown of England. He afterwards sailed further south; but being in want of provisions, he and his company were compelled to return. On his way back, the vessel in which Sir Humphry sailed, foundered in a storm, and all on board perished.

The second attempt was made by the celebrated Sir Walter Raleigh, in consequence of a patent granted him by the Queen, in March, 1584, "for the discovering and planting of new lands and countries." By this patent Queen Elizabeth granted to him and his heirs and assigns, such lands as he should discover, not actually possessed by any christian prince, or inhabited by a christian people; with authority to establish government and laws over those, who should inhabit those lands and countries, within the distance of two hundred leagues.

Under this grant, the southern coast was explored and called by the name of Virginia, and several attempts made to effect a settlement, but unfortunately, without success. No one can read the account of these early and unfortunate attempts to settle our country, without deeply lamenting the fate of those brave adventurers who were engaged in them.

The first colony left there in 1585, after suffering incredible hardships, were carried back to England, by Sir Francis Drake, who, fortunately, was directed to stop at this settlement on his return from his voyage to the Pacific. The second company, consisting of about fifty could never afterwards be found. They, no doubt, perished by famine or by the hands of savages. Not yet discouraged, a third colony, consisting of more than one hundred, were left to continue a settlement. By some unpardonable neglect, or untoward circumstances, three years elapsed, before any relief reached the spot, where they were left. Those who were sent with the promised relief, arrived too late. Not one of the whole number was to be found, nor were they ever afterwards heard of.* These disastrous and distressing events, for a time, discouraged farther attempts, on the part of the British, to commence settle

Stith's History of Virginia, p. 24.

ments in the new world. The discoveries, however, made afterwards, by Bartholomew Gosnold, who in 1602 sailed along the coast of North Virginia, as it was then called; the favorable accounts given by him of the country, and the profitable traffic which he carried on with the natives, again excited a spirit of adventure and colonization among the merchants and others, in London, and in different parts of England.

In 1606, on the application of a number of gentlemen, King James divided that part of North America, lying between the 34th and 45th degree of latitude, into two nearly equal parts. The south part, called the first colony, he granted to Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Somers, Richard Hackluyt, Edward Maria Wingfield, and their associates, called the London Company, and authorized them to make a settlement, at any place between the 34th and 41st degree of latitude, vesting them with the right of property in the land, extending fifty miles each way, from their place of habitation, reaching one hundred miles into the country. By the same patent, he granted, to Thomas Hanham, Raleigh Gilbert, William Parker, George Popham, and others, principally inhabitants of Plymouth, Bristol, and the eastern parts of England, the country, between the 38th and 45th degree of latitude, called the northern colony, vesting them, also, with the right of property in lands, to the same extent, as in the southern colony: neither company, however, were to form settlements within one hundred miles of the other. Under the grant to the southern company, the first permanent English settlements commenced, in North America. The king of England was, no doubt, induced to make these extensive grants, in consequence of a grant, made three years before, of the greatest part of the same country, by the French monarch. In November, 1603, Henry IV. of France, granted to Sieur de Monts, American territory, under the name of Acadia, extending from the 40th to the 46th degree of latitude, constituting him lieutenant general of the same, with power to colonize and govern it, and to subdue and christianize the natives. De Monts, the next year, began a settlement, in the northern part, since known by the name of Nova Scotia, at a place, called Port Royal.