The history of New York from its earliest settlement to the present time

Front matter

[Ej j li^vi iK ~S inl a -^ "iT 4^ Irl iJ i£ S

THE

BY

Preface

The history of New York, the wealthiest and, from its happy geographical position, the most important of all the confederated States, has hitherto been but imperfectly known even to its own citizens. This defective knowledge cannot be said to have originated from any want of interest on the subject, but rather from the diflSculty of obtaining the requisite information within a moderate compass, and in a connected form ; the narrative of events being scattered through numerous volumes, all of which are in their nature fragmentary.

To supply this want — to place before the general reader a clear, succinct, and impartial history of the State, from its earliest settlement to the present day, is the object of this volume,

8 PREFACE.

which will not be found a mere compilation, but a work originally treated, and elaborated with care and impartiality. Brief as it is, it yet contains every event of marked historical importance ; nothing being omitted but those obtrusive speculations, and dry legislative details, which, in a work intended for popular use, are neither valuable nor interestincr.

Chapter I

Columbus — Voyages of the Cabots — John and Sebastian Cabot discover the Continent of North America — Voyage of Sebastian Cabot — His exploration of the coast — Newfoundland fisheries — Patent from James I. to the Virginia Companies — Settlement of Jamestown — Voyage of Verrazzani, under the auspices of James I. — Sails from Madeira — Reaches America — Lands in North Carolina — Friendliness of the savages — Their humanity — A child kidnapped — Arrival of Verrazzani at Sandy Hook — His description — Conference with the natives — Bay of New York — Ilarbour of Newport — Description of the natives — Exploration inland — Departure for Europe — Claims of France — Cartier and Roberval — First permanent French settlement — Quebec founded by Champkiin— The Five Nations — Policy of Champlain — Joins a war-party of Hurons and Algonquins — Discovery of Lake Champlain — Defeat of the Iroquois — The consequence Page 19

CHAPTER IL

Voyage of Henry Hudson — Attempts to reach Nova Zembla — Is impeded by ice — Ranges the North American coast southwai'd — Reaches Penobscot — Trades with the natives — Attacks an<l plunders them — Rounds Cape Cod — Is blown off the Capes of Virginia — Returns north— Discovers Delaware Bay— Enters Sandy Hook — Death of Colman — Discovers the Great North or Hudson River — Explores it — The Palisades— West Point— The Catskills— Traffic with the natives — Their hospitality — The exploration continued — Hudson arrives in the vicinity of Albany — Is visited by numbers of the Indians — Singular expedient to test their friendliness — Scene of intoxication — The Iroquois tradition concerning it — Return of Hudson— An Indian killed — Ambush near Harlem River — Skirmish with the Manhattans — Departure 29

CHAPTER IIL Hudson returns to Europe — Reaches Dartmouth — Communicates with his employers — Sails on a new voyage of discovery— Enters Hudson's Bay^Reachcs its southern limit — Seaxches for an outlet — Is frozen in — Scarcity of his provieions — Mutinous condition of his crew — He sails for the mouth of the bay — Mutiny — Abandonment of Hudson and his companions — Signal retribution — The Dutch traffic with the Inclians — Captain Argall — New explorations — Blok coasts Long Island — Discovers the Housatonic and Connecticut Rivers — Returns with Christiaanse to Manhattan — Fortified posts erected at Manhattan and Albany — May examines the Delaware Bay — Alliance with the Iroquois Page 43

CHAPTER IV.

The English Puritans in Holland — First project of a settlement— Agents sent to England to treat with the Virginia Company — Embarkation at Delfthaven — The Mayflower — Accidents to the Speedwell — Arrival off Cape Cod — Ply. mouth settled — Dutch West India Company incorporated — Forts built on the Hudson and the Delaware— Arrival of Governor Minuits — The first colonists of NewNetherland — Increase of the fur trade — Commercial relations with New Plymouth — Embassy of De Razier — Dutch scheme of colonization— Provision concerning Patroons — Swanandael purchased — Pavonia — Rensselaerwyck — Colony of De Vries near Cape Henlopen — Its massacre by the savages — Return of De Vries — The colony re-established — Removal of jNIinuits — Administration of A^'^outer Van Twiller — Trading-post established on the Connecticut — Emigration to New England — Settlements on the Connecticut — Difficulties with ' the Patroons — The manors of Pavonia and Swanandael revert to the company— Removal of Van TwiUer — William Kieft appointed governor 52

CHAPTER V.

Difficulties of Governor Kieft — Delaware settled by the Swedes — Arrival of Minuits — Fort built on Christiana Creek — Action of Dutch West India Company — Occupation of Long Island by the Puritans — Fort Nassau reoccupied — Indian disturbances — A retaliatory murder — Kieft demands the fugitive — Preparations for war — Failure of the first expedition against the Raritans — Trouble with the Hackensacks — Two Hollanders murdered — Indemnity offered and refused — Massacre of the Raritans nnd Hackensaeks — Confederation of the river tribes — Indian war — Deplorable condition of the Dutch — Long Island and Manhattan devastated — Unpopularity of Kieft — Attempt upon his life — Negotiations for peace — Speech of an Indian chief — Renewal of the war — Expeditions of Underbill — Destruction of Indians at Tappan and on Long Island — Interposition of the Mohawks— Treaty of peace 67

CHAPTER VI.

Close of the Indian war — Unpopularity of Kieft — His recall and shipwrecli — (lovernor Stuyvesant — Condition of New Netherland — Boaverswyck— New Amsterdam— Negotiations with New England — Provisional treaty — War between England and Holland — Prudent policy of Massachusetts — The Dutch solicit assistance from the Narragansetts — Reply of one of their chiefs — Swedish settlements on the Delaware — FortCassimer erected — Contentions with the Swedes— Capture of Fort Cassimer — Reduction of the Swedish province by Stuyvesant — Flourishing condition of New Netherland — Internal dissensions — Arbitrary rule of Stuyvesant — Claims of Maryland — Sale of Delaware to the city of Amsterdam — Political privileges granted by Stuyvesant — Patent of Charles II. to the Duke of York — English force sent to take possession of New Netherland — Surrender of the province Page 78

CHAPTER VII.

New Netherland becomes New York — Colonel Nichols governor— Meeting on Long Island — Incorporation of the city of New York — Arbitrary system of government established— Lovelace appointed governor — War with the Dutch — New York reconquered — Administration of Colve — Retrocession of New York — Government of Andros — Difficulties with Connecticut — Spirited conduct of the Puritans — Disaffection of the people — A representative government demanded — Reply of the Duke of York — Description of the province — Its prosperity — City of New York, its population and public buildings — Character of the people — Andros recalled— Dongan appointed governor — Concession of political privileges — Indian affairs — Convention at Albany — Designs of the French — Instructions of the Duke of Yo^k — Conduct of Dongan — Invasion of the Five Nations by tlie French — Peace solicited — Speech of De la Barre — Reply of Gan-angula 90

CHAPTER VIIL

Canadian affairs — Denonville supersedes De la Barre — Prepares for war — Marches against the Iroquois — Is attacked — Retires into Canada — Fate of the French garrison at Niagara— Retaliation of the Iroquois — Negotiations for peace — Reply of Governor Dongan — Speech of Garrangula — Council at Montreal — Stratagem of the Dinondadie Indians — Renewal of hostilities — Dreadful massacre of the French

' — Affairs of New York — Disaffection in England — Landing of William, Prince of Orange — Flight of James — Revolution in the provinces — Dongan recalled — Agitation in New

12 CONTEXTS.

York — The fort seized by Leisler — "William and Mary proclaimed— Leisler governor — Count Frontenac appointed governor of Canada — Negotiates with the Five Nations — War between England and France — Burning of Schenectady— Difficulties in New York Paye 105

CHAPTER IX.

Invasion of Canada resolve^^pon — Failure of the expedition — Arrival of Ingoldsby at New York — The fort blockaded — Arrival of Governor Sloughter — Arrest of Leisler and his council — Leisler and Milbourne tried and sentenced to death — Their execution — Appeal to the king by the son of Leisler — Report of the commissioners — Appeal to parliament— Reversal of the sentence against Leisler and Milbourne — Death of Sloughter — Fletcher appointed governor — His character — Frontenac invades the country of the Five Nations — His march from Montreal — Falls upon the Mohawk villages — Returns to Canada — Activity of Schuyler— Of Fletcher — His popularity with the Indians — Convention at Albany — Conduct of Fletcher toward the pro- Tineial assembly — Resistance of the latter — Activity of Frontenac — Invades the Onondagas — Torture of an aged chief — Meagre results of the expedition 118

CHAPTER X.

Arrival of Bellamont — Ordered to suppress piracy on the coast — Fletcher discountenanced— Exultation of the popular party — Captain Kidd commissioned to apprehend the pirates — Turns pirate himself — Appears in Boston — Is arrested and sent to England for trial — Commotion in England— Address of Bellamont to the assembly — His popularity — Engages in a controversy with Frontenac — French treaty with the Indians— Law passed by the assembly against Roman Catholic priests — Death of Bellamont — Nanfan lieutenant-governor — Appointment of Cornbury — His character — Attaches himself to the Royalists — Is granted a donation — Second intercolonial war — Money appropriated for fortifj'- ing the Narrows — Embezzled by Cornbury — Difficulties with the assembly — Distrust of Cornbury — His profligate career — Petitions for his recall — Arrival of Lord Lovelace — Cornbury arrested for debt — His return to England 130

CHAPTER XL Lovelace demands of the assembly a permanent revenue — An annual grant substituted — Death of Lovelace — Administration of Ingoldsby — Abortive attempt to invade Canada — Discontent of New York — -Address to Queen Anne — Colonel Schuyler repairs to England, accompanied by five Mohawk chiefs — Reception of the latter in London — Their interview with the Queen — Governor Hunter arrives at New York — The assembly refractory — Expedition against Canada — Its shameful failure — Activity of De Vaudreuil — The provincial troops disbanded — Indignation of England and the colonies— Charges brought against St. John and Harcourt^- Controversy between Hunter and the assembly in relation to a permanent revenue — The point carried by the governor — Gloomy condition of the province — Negro insurrection — Peace of Utrecht — Permanent revenue granted — Hunter's popularity — His return to England Page 140

CHAPTER XII.

Arrival of Governor Burnet — His character — Old assembly continued — SaIo\)f Indian goods to the French prohibited — Mercantile opposition — Petition to the king — Reply of Golden and Alexander — Activity of the French — Indian policy of Burnet — Fort Oswego built — Administrative diflBculties — Alienation of Schuyler, Philips, and Delancey — New assembly demanded by the people — Removal of Burnet to the government of Massachusetts — Montgomery appointed governor — Harmonizes with the assembly — Meets the Indians in convention at Albanj' — Fort Oswego threatened — Burnet's Indian policy repudiated — Boundary fixed between New York and Connecticut — Seizure of Crown Point by the French — Cosby succeeds Montgomery — Ingratiates himself with the assembly — A free school established — Violent and arbitrary conduct of Cosb}' — Political quarrels — Imprisonment of Zonger, printer of the Weekly Journal — His trial — Defended by Hamilton, of Philadelphia — Liberty of the press vindicated — Illegal career of Cosby — His sudden death — Bitter party feuds — Clarke appointed lieutenant-governor 155

CHAPTER XIII.

Character of Lieutenant-governor Clarke — His policy — Conduct of the provincial party — Their reply to his opening address — Extraordinary issue of paper money — Disfranchisement of the Jews — Snare laid for the popular leaders — Its success — Permanent revenue refused — Negro plot in New York — Terror of the citizens — Evidence of Mary Burton— The conspiracy doubted — Judicial murder of Ury — Arrival of Governor Clinton — His quarrel with Chief Justice Delancey — Difficulties with the assembly — ^Yar between England and France — Activity of the French — Capture of Louisburg — Settlements around Saratoga ravaged — Invasion of Canada projected — Assembling of the provincial levies — Boston menaced by a French fleet — Subsidence of the alarm — Political feuds in New York — The village of

Saratoga burned — Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle 167

CHAPTER XIV.

Trenty with the Six Nations — Shirley's conspiracy — Action of Clinton — His violent disputes with the assembly — Demands a permanent revenue — Their able reply — Clinton appeals to the English government — Movements of Shirley and Belcher — Walpole's bill to strengthen the king's prerogative— Colonial protests — Its defeat in parliament — Cautious policy of New York — Dismissal of Colden — Clinton's letters to the Board of Trade — Taxation by parliament suggested — Encroachments of the French — Exploration of the Ohio valley — Attempt to restrict the limits of Acadia — Patent of the Ohio company — Trading house built at Brownsville — Indian council at Albany — Duquesne descends into the valley of the Ohio — Alarm of the western Indians — Instructions from England — Sir Danvers Osborne appointed governor of New York — His character, conduct, and death Pag^ 178

CHAPTER XV.

Lieutenant-Governor Delancey — Royal instructions — Course of the assembly — George AVashington — Movements of the French — First skirmish — Death of Jumonville — Surrender of Fort Necessity — Congress at Albany — Franklin's plan of union — Rejected by the colonies — Disaffection in New York — Establishment of a college — Liberal grants by the assembly for the defence of the frontiers — General Braddock appointed commander-in-chief — Congress of governors at Alexandria — Plan of campaign — Success in Nova Scotia — Rout of Braddock's army — His death — Crown Point expedition— Fort Edward buQt — Approach of Dieskau — Skirmish with the provincials — Battle of Lake George — Rout of the French — Capture of Dieskau — Honours awarded to .Johnson by parliament — Neglect of Lyman — Inactivity of Johnson — Fort William Henry built — Niagara expedition — Reverses and disappointments of Shirley— Sickness of troops — Fort Oswego built T90

CHAPTER XVL

Sir Charles Hardy appointed governor of New York — His popularity — Congress of governors — Expeditions agreed upon against Crown Point, Forts Niagara and Duquesne — Surprise of Ticonderoga proposed by Shirley — Rejected by New York — Action of the assembly — Taxation for revenue resorted to — War formally declared against France — Obnoxious acts passed in England — Arrival of Abercrombie — Assembling of the troops — Arrival of Loudoun — Activity of Montcalm — Oswego attacked — Death of Mercer — Capitulation of Forts Ontario and Oswego — Loudoun abandons offensive operations — Quarrels with the citizens of New York — Campaign of 1767 — Futile expedition to Louisburg — Siege of Fort William Henry — Spirited defence of Monroe— Surrender of the garrison — Indian outrag(?s — -Conduct of Webli — Of Loudoun — Campaign of 1758 — Energetic course of Pitt — Louisburg captured — Abcrcrombie repulsed before Ticonderoga — Fort Frontenac surprised and captured by Bradstreet — Forbes marches against Fort Duquesne — Its abandonment by the French Page 204

CHAPTER XVIL

Campaign of 1759 — Plan of conquest — Prideaux marches against Fort Niagara — Invests it — Is killed — Attempts of the French to raise the siege — Their defeat — Capitulation of the garrison — March of Amherst — Ticonderoga and Crown Point deserted — AYolfe sails for Quebec — Takes possession of the Isle of Orleans — Quebec — Its situation and defences — Defended by Montcalm — His encamjiment — Attempt to fire the British fleet frustrated — Occupation of Point Levi — Wolfe encamps on the east bank of the Montmorenci — Battle of Montmorenci — The Enjclish repulsed — Murray ordered up the St. Lawrence — The Heights of Abraham— Plan of attack — Daring movement of Wolfe — Its success— Incredulity of Montcalm— Preparations for battle — The English victorious — Death of Wolfe — Montcalm mortally wounded — Capitulation of Quebec — De Levi attempts to recapture it — Capture of Montreal — Final conquest of Canada 221

CHAPTER XVIIL Retention of Canada determined upon — Spain joins France against England — Treaty of Fontainebleau — Death of Delancey — Administration of Colden — Monckton appointed governor — Ordered to Martinique — Independence of the Judiciary struck at — Alarm of New York — Difficulties between New York and New Hampshire — Financial embarrassment of England — Action of the ministry — Stamp-tax passed — Its reception in New York — Colden burned in effigy — Stamp-tax repealed — Townsend's scheme of taxation— Action of the colonies — Pusillanimous conduct of the New York Assembly — Alexander McDougal —His imprisonment and popularity — Rapid increase of New York in population and wealth — Dunmore appointed governor — Removed to Virginia — Transfers the government to Tryon — Regulators in North Carolina — Their defeat — Disturbances respecting the New Hampshire grants — Resistance to state authority — Tea sent to America — Proceedings of the colonies — Congress at Philadelphia — Battle of Lexington 237

CHAPTER XIX.

Effect of the battle of Lexington — Doubtful position of New York — Ticonderoga and Crown Point seized — Descent of Arnold upon St. John's — War formally declared — Acts of the Provincial Congress — Opposition of the loyalists — Washington appointed commander-in-chief of the American forces — Other appointments — Battle of Bunker Hill — Congress determines upon an effectual blockade of Boston — ■ Washington assumes the chief command — Return of Governor Tryon to New York — State of political parties — Seizure of military stores at Turtle Bay — Removal of guns from the Battery at New York — Unpopularity of Tryon — ' He takes refuge on board the Asia man-of-war — Invasion of Canada — Surrender of Forts Chambly and St. John — Capitulation of Montreal- — Montgomery forms a junction with Arnold — Assault of Quebec — Death of Montgomery — Evacu.ation of Canada — Disturbances in New York — Rivington's Gazette — Lee ordered to assist in defending the city — Disaffection of the Johnsons — Joseph Brant — Declaration of Independence Pa<je 252

CHAPTER XX.

Evacuation of Boston — Washington at New York — His embarrassments— Discovery of a plot to seize his person — Approach of General Howe — The British encamp on Staten Island — Arrival of Admiral Lord Howe with reinforcements — American defences at Brooklyn— Landing of the British on Long Island — Battle of Long Island, and defeat of Putnam— Washington encamps at Harlem — Howe takes possession of Yorli Island — Disgraceful flight of the American militia — New York evacu.ated — Skii-mish at Harlem — Serious conflagration in the city — Military and naval operations of the British — The Americans encamp at White Plains — Defeat of McDougal — Capture of Fort Washington — Abandonment of Fort Lee— Retreat of Washington through the Jerseys — Crosses the Delaware at Trenton — Situation of the northern army — Crown Point evacuated — Advance of Carleton — Battle on Lake Champlain 262

CHAPTER XXL New York Congress — State government established — Campaign of 1777 — Howe's movements — Battle of Brandj-wine — Of Germantown — Burgoyne's invasion — His successful advance — Takes possession of Ticonderoga — Retreat of St. Clair — Evacuation of Skenesborough — Of Fort Anne- Weakness of the northern army under Schuyler — Fort Edward abandoned — Schuyler crosses the Hudson — Advance of Burgoyne — Fort Schuyler besieged by St. Leger — Bloody skirmish with Herkimer — Death of Herkimer — Arnold advances to the relief of Fort Schuyler — Success of his stratagem— St. Leger deserted by the Indians — Breaks up the eiege — Battle of Bennington — Defeat of Baum and Breyman — Schuyler superseded by Gates — Condition of Burgoyne — Crosses the Hudson — First battle of Behmus's Heights — Second battle of Behmus's Heights — Retreat of Burgoyne to Saratoga — Provisions captured on the Hudson — British council of war — Surrender of Burgoyne Page 276

CHAPTER XXII.

Clinton's diversion in favour of Burgoyne — First meeting of the State legislature at Kingston — France and the United States — Effects of Burgoyne's surrender — Conciliatory propositions from Lord North — Treaty of alliance between France and the United Colonies — Howe abandons Philadelphia, and retreats to New York — Arrival of a French fleet — D'Estaing offers to co-operate in the reduction of Newport — Puts out to sea — Americans retire from before Newport^ — War on the frontiers — Massacre at Wyoming — American expedition against Unadilla — Indian incursion into Cherry Valley — Campaign of 1779 — Predatory incursions by the enemy — Capture of Stony Point by the British — Recapture by Wayne — Sullivan's expedition against the Indians — Exploration and destruction of the Indian villages in the Genesee Valley — Campaign of 1781 — South Carolina overrun bj' the enemy — Defeat of Gates — Arrival of Koehambeau at Rhode Island — Treason of Benedict Arnold — Execution of Andre — Virginia ravaged by Arnold and Phillips — Operations of Cornwallis — Battle of the Cowpens— Battle of Guilford Courthouse — Greene recrosses the Dan — Cornwallis enters Virginia — Takes post at Yorktown — Siege of Yorktown — Capitulation 289

CHAPTER XXIII.

A national convention called — Influence of New York — Action of the state in regard to the import duties — Meeting of the national convention — Adoption of the Federal Constitution— Action of the Anti-Federalist party in New York — Popularity of Clinton— Fierce party feuds — Jay elected governor — Reception of his treaty with Great Britain — Hamilton insulted — Re-election of Jay — Foreign relations of the United States — Alien and Sedition laws — Clinton elected governor — -Aaron Burr — His quarrel with Hamilton — Death of Hamilton — Proscription of Burr — His western journeys — His arrest, trial, and acquittal — Subsequent life — Increasing foreign difficulties — British orders in council — Berlin and Milan decrees — American Embargo Act — Col- 2* lision between the frigate President and British sloop-of-war Little Belt — AVar declared — 111 success of the American forces at the north — Important naval victories — Americans defeated at the River Raisin — Capture of York, Upper Canada— Forts George and Edward abandoned by the British — Defeat of Boerstler — Victory at Sackett's Harbour — Perry's victory on Lake Erie — Naval successes and disasters — • Battle of the Thames — Defeat of the Creeks by Jackson — Battles of Chippewa and Bridgewater — Capture of the Capitol— Death of Ross — Battle of Plattsburg — McDonough's victory on Lake Champlain — Battle of New Orleans — Peace declared Page 305

CHAPTER XXrV.

Political aspirations of De Witt Clinton — The Tammany Society — Its origin — Opposed to Clinton — Tompkins elected governor — Chosen vice-president — Clinton governor — Construction of the Erie Canal authorized — Decline of the old Federal party — Origin of the "BucktaOs" — Clinton re-elected governor — Van Buren chosen United States Senator — Revision of the state constitution — Principal amendments adopted — Yates elected governor — Division of the Democratic party— Organization of the "People's party" — Removal of Clinton as canal commissioner — Re-elected governor — Subversion of the old political parties — Abduction of Morgan— Masons and Anti-Masons — New organizations — Formation of the Whig and Jackson parties — Death of Governor Clinton^Van Buren elected governor— Rise and decline of the " Workingman's party" — Throop elected governor — • Marcy chosen—" Equal rights" party organized — How designated by the AVhigs — Merged into the Democratic party — Marcy re-elected governor — Financial embarrassments — Increasing strength of the Whigs — Seward elected governor — Party fluctuations — Bouck elected governor — Election of AVright — Anti-Rent disturbances — Their origin— Progress of the disaffection — Tumults in Delaware county — Murder of the sheriff — Military called out — Arrest and imprisonment of the rioters — Breach in the Democratic partj' — "Hunkers" and "Barnburners" — Revision of the constitution— Young elected governor — Election of Fish — Conclusion 323

HISTORY OF m^Y YORK.

CHAPTER I.

Columbus — Voyages of the Cabots — John and Sebastian Cabot discover the Continent of North America — Voyage of Sebastian Cabot — His exploration of the coast — Newfoundland fisheries — Patent from James I. to the Virginia Companies — Settlement of Jamestown — Voyage of Verrazzani, under the auspices of James I. — Sails from Madeira — Reaches America— Lands in North Carolina — Friendliness of the savages — Their humanity — A child kidnapped — Arrival of Verrazzani at Sandy Hook — His description — Conference with the natives — Bay of New York — Harbour of Newport — Description of the natives — Exploration inland — Departure for Europe — Claims of France — Cartier and Roberval — First permanent French settlement — Quebec founded by Champlain — The Five Nations — Policy of Champlain — Joins a •war-party of Hurons and Algomjuins — Discovery of Lake Champlain — Defeat of the Iroquois — The consequence.

Five years after the discovery of the Bahamas by Christopher Colunibus, John Cabot, a native of Venice, and an expert navigator, then residing at Bristol, in England, was authorized, by letters patent from Henry the Seventh, to take five English ships, in any haven or havens of the realm, to explore the seas east, west, or north, in search of any countries hitherto unknown to Christians, and to plant the English banner on any part of the land thus newly found.

Under this license, John Cabot, accompanied by his son Sebastian, subsequently celebrated as a daring mariner, left Bristol in the early part of May, 1497, and on the 24th of June, first came in sight of the continent of North America.

On reaching the coast, which is supposed to have been that of Labrador, they found it rocky and sterile, abounding with the white polar bear, and with deer far larger than any they had ever seen before. After satisfying themselves that this cheerless region was inhabited only by savages clothed in the skins of beasts, and armed with the primitive weapons of bows and clubs, the Cabots returned to England with the tidings of their success.

The following year a second expedition was fitted out, the command of which was given to Sebastian Cabot. Being furnished with several small vessels, freighted with such articles of merchandise as were thought best suited for purposes of traffic with an uncivilized people, he again embarked for the newly-discovered land, and after a voyage of several weeks, approached the continent in the latitude of fifty-eight degrees.

Proceeding north, he penetrated that portion of the arctic region since known as Hudson's Bay ; when, finding his further progress seriously obstructed by masses of floating ice, he yielded to the loudly-expressed fears of his men, and shaping his course southward, sailed along the shore until

1606.] EARLY COLONIZATION. 21

he reached the southern limit of Maryland. After having thus ranged the coast through thirty degrees of latitude, his provisions growing short, he sailed for England. It was from these two voyages of John and Sebastian Cabot, that Great Britain acquired the title to nearly the whole continent of North America.

For upward of a century, however, no advantage was derived from the discoveries thus made, beyond the establishment of fisheries off the coast of Newfoundland. The first successful attempt at colonization was made in 1606, when James the First, disregarding all previous patents, granted to two rival associations of adventurers, embodied under the respective titles of the London and Plymouth Companies, permission to settle plantations on any part of the North American continent lying between the thirtyfourth and forty-fifth degree of north latitude.

The settlement of the London, or South Virginia colony, was to be made at any point between Cape Fear and Long Island, while that of the Plymouth, or North Virginia colony, was restricted to the region embraced between Delaware Bay and Halifax.

The following year, three small vessels, bearing one hundred and five colonists, sent out to Virginia by the London Company, entered the Chesapeake Bay, and after exploring the James lliver, selected a small peninsula, thirty-two miles from its mouth, where, on the 13th of May, 1607, they laid the foundation of Jamestown. No settlement was made by the Plymouth Company until thirteen years afterward.

Profiting by the discoveries of Cabot, French mariners, from the ports of Brittany and Normandy, sailed early to the coast of Newfoundland, where they shared with the English in the lucrative fisheries of that region.