fourth magnitude in the New World, but far surpassing the largest in the old.

The honour, however, of first discovering the continent, must, without diminishing the merit of Columbus, be given to John Cabot and his son Sebastian. They were Venetians by birth, but, soon after the result of the first voyage of Columbus was known, were sent by the king of England on an expedition of discovery, in the same di rection. In June, 1497, they arrived at the island of Newfoundland, in North America, and, proceeding westward, soon after reached the continent. It being their object also to find a direct passage to the East Indies, they first sailed northwardly in search of it as far as the 57th degree of latitude; then, returning, cruised along the coast of East Florida; and thence sailed to England without having made any settlement. Upon the discoveries made in this voyage, the English founded their claim to the eastern portion of North America.

In 1499, Alonzo de Ojeda, a companion of Columbus in his first expedition, sailing under the patronage of several Portuguese merchants, discovered the continent at Paria, in the fifth degree of north latitude. Americus Vespucius, a Florentine gentleman who accompanied him, published, on his return, an account of the voyage, and a description of the country which they had visited and from him it derives the name it bears.

In 1504, several adventurous navigators, from different parts of France, came, in small vessels, to fish on the banks of Newfoundland. In 1524, John Verrazzano, a Florentine, in the employment

of the king of France, sailed along the coast of America, from Florida to the 50th degree of north latitude. He is supposed to have entered the harbour of New York. He made, the next year, another voyage, from which he never returned, nor is it known by what disaster he perished,

During the next forty years, frequent voyages were made to the coast of North America. Of some, the object was fishing; of others, trade with the natives. In 1540, the French made an attempt to plant a colony in Canada, which was unsuccessful.

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The religious wars which afflicted France in the sixteenth century, induced that illustrious statesman, Jasper Coligni, the head of the Protestant sect, to project, in 1502, a settlement in America, to which his brethren might retire from the persecution of the Catholics. Fitting out two ships, he sent them thither under the command of John Ribaut, who landed at a place supposed to be within the limits of South Carolina, built a fort, left a part of his men, and returned to France.

The men who were left, soon after mutinied, killed their commander, built and equipped a vessel and put to sea. Having been out several weeks and consumed all their provisions, one of their number, who consented to be made a victim to save his comrades, was killed and eaten. A few days afterwards, they were taken up by an English vessel and carried to England.

This was the first attempt to plant a colony within the limits of the United States; and it is

worthy of remark, that to secure an asylum from religious persecution was the object in view. Coligni afterwards sent a party to Florida, who were treacherously massacred by the Spaniards.

In 1583, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, having received from queen Elizabeth a grant of such "remote, heathen, and barbarous lands" as he might discover and occupy, fitted out a squadron of five ships, and sailed for America. On arriving before St. John, in Newfoundland, he found thirty-six vessels fishing in the harbour. He landed and took possession of the country in the name of his sovereign. On his return to England, he suffered shipwreck and perished.

The next year, Sir Walter Raleigh, distinguished in the history of England as a gallant knight and as the favourite of the queen, obtained a renewal of the patent granted to Sir Humphrey, who was his half brother, and despatched to America two ships commanded by Captains Amidas and Barlow. They first landed on an island in the inlet to Pamplico sound, then proceeded to the isle of Roanoke at the mouth of Albemarle sound, in North Carolina, and at both places were treated with great respect by the natives.

Having freighted their ships with furs, sassafras, and cedar, they returned to England, where they published marvellous accounts of the beauty of the country, the fertility of the soil, the mildness of the climate, and the innocence of the natives. The queen was so charmed with the description, that as a memorial that the country

had been discovered during the reign of a virgin queen, she called it Virginia.

The next year, Raleigh sent from England a fleet of seven vessels, commanded by Sir Richard Grenville, and carrying upwards of one hundred persons, destined to begin a settlement. They were left under Ralph Lane, on Roanoke island. The success of the Spaniards in finding gold in South America, led these adventurers to employ their time in a fruitless search for it here. In 1586, they were visited by Sir Francis Drake, who, at their request, conveyed them back to England. Lane carrying home a quantity of tobacco, the Indian custom of smoking it was adopted by Raleigh, a man of gaiety and fashion, and introduced

at court.

Soon after Drake departed, Grenville again arrived with provisions for the settlement. Finding it abandoned, he left fifteen men to keep possession of the country. In 1587, three other ships were sent to the same place, but the men who had been left could not be found, having probably been murdered by the savages. After remaining a few weeks on the coast, the ships returned to England, leaving one hundred and seventeen men on the islands. War then existing between England and Spain, two years elapsed before the coast was again visited. In that period the whole number perished; but in what manner has never been ascertained. Thus ended the exertions of Raleigh to plant a colony in America.

These successive misfortunes withdrew for several years the attention of the English from distant

regions. In 1602, Bartholomew Gosnold made a voyage to America. Instead of taking the circuitous, but usual route, by the West India islands, he steered directly west from England, shortening the voyage at least one third, and arrived, in May, on the coast of Massachusetts. He discovered a head land, and taking a great quantity of cod fish near it, called it Cape Cod. Proceeding southwardly, he passed Gay Head, entered Buzzard's bay, and upon an island within it erected a small fort, the ruins of which were visible so late as 1797. After trading a while with the Indians he returned home.

The report made by Gosnold revived the spirit of adventure. In 1603 and 1605, two voyages were made in the same direction, and Penobscot bay, Massachusetts bay and the rivers between them were discovered. The accounts given by the last navigators confirmed the report of Gosnold, and led to a more extensive scheme of colonization than had yet been attempted.

Of this scheme Mr. Richard Hakluyt was the most active promoter. By his persuasion an association of gentlemen, in different parts of the kingdom, was formed for the purpose of sending colonies to America. Upon their application to king James, he, by letters patent, dated in 1606, divided the country of Virginia, then considered as extending from the southern boundary of North Carolina to the northern boundary of Maine, into two districts, and constituted two companies for planting colonies within them.

The Southern district he granted to Sir Thomas Gates and his associates, chiefly resident in London,