Booth's new pictorial United States

Front matter

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BOOTH'S NEW PICTORIAL UNITED STATES.

Contents

Chap. I. The Discovery. — The Northmen. — Columbus. — Vespucci. — The Cabots. — Ponce de Leon. — Verrazani. — Gomez, — Cartier. — De Soto. — R ibault. — Frobisher.— Drake.— Gilbert , . . Page 7

II. Settlement of America. — Raleigh. — Gosnold. — Gil-

bert. — Weymouth. — Settlement of Virginia. — Smith. — Harvey. — Berkeley. — Bacon's Rebellion. — Culpeper. — Old French War. — Washington 15

Chapter I. The Discovery

The Northmen. — Columbus. — Vespucci. — The Cabots. — Ponce de Leon. — Verrazani. — Gomez. — Cartier. — De Soto. — Ribault. — Frobisher. — Drake. — Gilbert.

It has been believed by many that America was not unknown to the ancients ; and from certain passages in the works of some of the writers of antiquity, as well as from the coincidences in the languages and customs of the nations of the old and new continent, plausible reasons have been advanced in favour of this theory. Whatever knowledge, however, the inhabitants of Europe possessed of America, no traces of it existed at the period of the revival of letters; and it was generally

COLUMBUS.

Bupposed that the Canaries, or Fortunate Islands, formed the western boundary of their world.

Towards the end of the tenth or the beginning- of the eleventh century, the northern coast of America was discovered by the Northmen, who attempted to colonize it; but the colonists, being neglected by the mother country, were soon either exterminated by the hostilities of the savages by whom they were surrounded, or driven to preserve their lives by amalgamating with them.

For the knowledge of this great continent now possessed by the civilized world, we are, however, indebted to the genius and enterprise of Christoval Colon, a native of Genoa, better known to us by the name of Christopher Columbus*. From a lono- and close application to the study of Geography, this great man had obtained a knowledge of the true figure of the earth, far beyond what was common to the age in which he lived. Another continent, he believed, necessarily, existed to complete the balance of the terraqueous globe; but he erroneously conceived it to be connected with that of India, or a continuation of the same continent. This error arose from the construction of the maps of that period, w^hich represented the oriental countries of Asia as stretching vastly farther to the east than actual observation has proved them to extend. Having fully satisfied himself of the theoretical truth of his system, his adventurous spirit made him eager to verify it by experiment. For this purpose he applied to the senate of Genoa, developing his views, and representing the advantages which would accrue to the republic from the possession of a new route to the great source of opulence. The Genoese, however, treated the idea as absurd and chimerical, and rejected the proposal v»'ith contempt. Although disappointed in this first attempt, Columbus was not discouraged. He made application to the court of Portugal, which had, in that age, greatly distinguished

* His real name was Colomb, but he latinized it into Columbus, aud after his adoption by Spain, changed it according to the language of that country to Colon.

COLUMBUS. 9

itself by favouring the spirit of discovery along the African coast. Here he met with an additional mortification, from an attempt to anticipate him in the enterprise, which, however, proved abortive at an early period. Disgusted with the treachery designed against him, he would not listen to the entreaties of the king of Portugal ; but through his brother Bartholomew, he applied to Henry VII., of England, for support in his project. The voyage of Bartholomew was long, and the cautious prudence of the king great, so that he could not make known his favourable disposition to Columbus until the . discovery was effected, and another snatched the wreath of glory which might have immortalized him.

As a last resource, Columbus now presented his scheme to the court of Spain. After eight years of anxious solicitation and contemptuous neglect, he at last obtained a gleam of royal favour on his bold and original project. The interest of Queen Isabella, who generously pledged her own jewels, that she might aid him, procured' him three small vessels, with which he set sail from the port of Palos, in Andalusia, on the- 3d of August, 1492. He steered directly for the Canaries, whence, afler having refitted as well as he could, his crazy and ill-appointed flotilla, he again sailed on the 6th of September, keeping a due westerly course over an unknown ocean. Several days passed without a sight of land, and the anxieties of the sailors arising from this circumstance, were heightened by the variations of the compass, then first perceived. An open mutiny took place, which required alt the courage and address of the great navigator to quell it. • They pursued their course; but when thirty days had elapsed, without any indication of an approach to land, both officers and men joined in a second revolt.

Columbus was forced partially to give way to their remonstrances. He consented to return, if, after proceeding three days longer, nothing appeared to confirm his expectations. With these assurances they again proceeded, and, about midnight, on the 11th of October, Columbus, who was standing on the poop, discovered a

COLUMBUS.

Landing of Columbus.

light ahead. Morning displayed the joyful sight of land ; and the sailors were now as ardent in their expressions of repentance and admiration, as they had before been insolent and ungovernable. The Island of St. Salvador, one of the Bahamas, was the first part of America where they had landed. From the rude poverty of the inhabitants, Columbus soon perceived that he waa still at a distance from the shores of India. The island of Cuba was next discovered, and although no gold waa found, the natives pointed to the east, where, in an island which they called Hayti, this metal was said to abound. Columbus proceeded in that direction, and discovered Hayti on the 6th of December. Here he found some specimens of gold ; and leaving some men to form a colony, he returned to Spain.

On his arrival, he immediately proceeded to court, where he was received with admiration and respect. The glory and benefit which promised to result from the discovery, rendered the government eager to forward his

CABOT. 11

design. A fleet of seventeen sail was prepared ; and Columbus, who was now appointed viceroy of all the countries he Should discover, departed on his second voyage, accompanied by many persons of rank and distinction. During the progress of this voyage, he discovered the islands of Dominica, Mari.egalante, Guadaloupe, Montserrat, Antigua, Porto Rico, and Jamaica.

The success of this great man, did not fail to excite envy and intrigue against him, at the court of Spair An officer w^as sent to act as a spy over his actions ; an ■ Columbus soon found it necessary to return to Europe, > for the purpose of defeating the machinations of his enemies. He afterwards made several voyages to the New World, and touched at the continent at the mouth of the river Orinoco, in South America ; not, however, before the continent had been discovered by an English navigator.

Amerigo Vespucci, a Florentine, a man of science and genius, who had sailed with Columbus, visited the continent in 1499, but made very little addition to the former discoveries. He, however, published on his return, the first description of the new countries that had appeared, and the injustice of mankind has given his name to the whole continent, an honour to which Columbus was so much- more justly entitled.

The fame which Columbus had gained by his discoveries, spread through Europe, and inspired many with a similar spirit of enterprise. As early as the year 1495, John Cabot, a Venetian, obtained from Henry VII., of England, a commission for himself and his three sons, " to navigate all parts of the ocean, for the purpose of discovering islands, countries, regions, or provinces, either of Gentiles or Infidels whrich have been hitherto unknown to all Christian people ; with power to set up his standard and to take possession of the same as vassals of the crown of England." Such were the terms of this grant, which rivalled the bulls of the papal see, in the extent of the power and authority it professed to confer. In pursuance of this commission, John Cabot sailed from England in 1496, carrying with him his three

CABOT.

sons. His voyage was intended for the discovery of a north-west passage to China, but terminated by 'his falling in with the north side of the coast of Labrador, which he traced northerly as far as the 67th degree of latitude. In the succeeding year, he made a second voyage, on board a ship furnished by Henry VII., and accompanied by four small barks provided by the merchants of Bristol. Of this voyage, Sebastian, his second son, had the direction.

Cabot discovering the Continent.

On the 24th of June, 1497, he discovered a large island, to which he gave the name of Prima Vista, or the First Seen. It is now called Newfoundland. He then changed his course, steering to the north ; but meeting with land in that direction, and finding no appearance of a passage to India, of which he was in search, he tacked about, and stood to the south, following the coast as far as Florida. In 1502, he again visited Newfoundland, and on his return carried several of the natives of the island home to England, where they were exhibited to Henry.

PONCE DE LEON — FERDINAND DE SOTO. 13

Eleven years afterwards, Ponce de Leon, a Spaniard, sailed from Puerto Rico northwardly, and discovered the continent in 30^ 8' north latitude. He landed on Easter day, whence, according to some, Florida derives its name ; but, according to others, it was so called from the verdure and bloom, with which, at that season the country was covered. For many years, the name was applied to tne whole of the continent.

Several years now elapsed without any further progress being made in the discovery of North America. The French, who had not displayed the same spirit of enterprise as their neighbours, entered the lists in 1524. In that year Francis L, sent John Verrazani, a Florentine, to America, for the purpose of making discoveries. He traversed and explored the coast from latitude 28 degrees to 50 degrees north ; but in a second voyage, some time after, was unfortunately lost. In 1525, Stephen Gomez, the first Spaniard who came upon the North American coast, with a view to discovery, sailed from Groyn, in Spain, to Cuba and Florida, thence northward to Cape Razo, in 46 degrees north latitude, in search of a northern passage to the East Indies.

In the spring of 1534, a fleet was fitted out at St. Haloes, in France, by direction of Francis I., with the design of attempting discoveries. The command of the fleet was given to James Cartier. He arrived at Newfoundland, in May of the same year. Thence he sailed northwardly, and on the day of the festival of St. Lawrence, he found himself in the midst of a wide gulf, which he named the St. Lawrence. He gave the same name to the river which empties into it. In this voyage he sailed as far north as latitude 51 degrees, expecting in vain to find a passage to China. In the following year he sailed up the river St. Lawrence as far as the falls. He called the country New France ; built a fort, in which he spent the winter, and returned the following spring to France. »

On the 12th day of May, 1.539, Ferdinand de Soto, with nine hundred men, besides sailors, sailed from Cuba, having for his object, the conquest of Florida. 2

14 CARTIER — RIBAULT — GILBERT.

On the 30th of May, he arrived at Spirito Santo, from whence he travelled into the interior, and died on the banks of the Mississippi. Cartier, in the next year, made a third voyage to Canada, built a fort, and began a settlement in 1541 or 1542, which he called Charlebourg, twelve miles above Port St. Croix. He soon afterwards broke up the settlement and sailed for Newfoundland. In 1542, Francis La Roche v/as sent to Canada, by the French king-, with two hundred men, women, and children, but returned with his colony the next spring. In 1550, a number of adventurers sailed for Canada, but were not afterwards heard of No other attempt appears to have been made to settle Canada diuring this century.

In 1562, a French squadron, under the command of John Ribault, arrived on the coast of Florida, and discovered a river, which is supposed to be the St. Mary's. As he coasted northward, he discovered several other rivers, one of which he named Port Royal. The attempts to find a north-eastern passage to India having failed, the English sent out, in 1576, Captain Frobisher, to find a north-western passage. The first land which he made was a cape, which he named Queen Elizabeth's Foreland. In coasting northerly, he discovered the straits which bear his name. The two following years, he made a second and third voyage, which produced no material discovery. In the same year. Sir Francis Drake, being on a cruise against the Spaniards in the Pacific ocean, landed on the continent of North America, northward of California, took possession of a harbour, and called the surrounding country New Albion. Three years afterwards, Sir Humphrey Gilbert obtained a patent from Queen Elizabeth for lands not yet possessed by any Christian prince, provided he would take possession within six years. In 1583, he sailed to Newfoundland, and took formal possession of the continent of North America, in the name of the crown of England. In pursuing his discoveries, he lost one of his ships on the shoals of Sable, and on his return home, a storm overtook him, in which he was unfortunately lost.

Settlement at Roanoke.

Chapter II

Raleigh. — Gosnold. — Gilbert. — Weymouth. — Settlement of Virginia. — Smith. — Harvey. — Berkely. — Bacon's Rebellion. — Culpeper. — Old French War. — Washington.

In 1584, a patent was granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Walter Raleigh, by the authority of which, he sent out a colony the next year. They arrived on the coast, and anchored a few leagues from Roanoke Island. Here they landed, and took posssession of the country on behalf of Queen Elizabeth, calling it, in honour of her, Virginia. This colony returned to England in 1586, with Sir Francis Drake. Another attempt was

16 GOSNOLD GILBERT — WEYMOUTH.

made in the year last mentioned, to establish a colony in Virginia, but with similar ill success. A third attempt, made in 1587, also failed : the colonists perished miserably ; having- either died of famine, or been massacred by the Indians.

In 1602, Bartholomew Gosnold, with thirty-two persons, made a voyage to North Virginia, as it was then called, and discovered and named Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Elizabeth Islands. Attempts were made to form a settlement in the vicinity, but without success ; and it is believed that, at the beginning of the seventeenth century, there w^asnotone European family settled on all the vast extent of coast, from Greenland to Florida.

In 1608, Bartholomew Gilbert, in a voyage to south Virginia, in search of the colony, which was left there in 1597, landed near Chesapeake Bay, where, in a skirmish with the Indians, he was slain. In the same year, the king of France granted by patent to M. de Mons, all the country from the 40th to the 46th degree of north latitude, under the name of Acadia.

In 1605, George's Islands and Pentecost harbour, were discovered by Captain Weymouth, who soon afterwards entered a large river, now supposed to be the Kennebeck or Penobscot. In 1606, James I. divided Virginia into two colonies, the northern and southern, which were granted to different companies. One of these companies was called the Plymouth Company, and to them was entrusted the settlement of New England. The other was called the London Company. This latter company, in December, 1606, sent out three ships from London, with one hundred and five persons, to effect a settlement in the country, granted to them by a patent by James I. After a tedious and circuitous passage, they entered Chesapeake Bay, in April, 1607.

On a peninsula, a little distance up James River, they began their settlement, calling the place Jamestown ; both the river and town being named after James I. The colony soon began to experience some of the hardships incidental to new settlers. Their provisions be-

SMITH.

Smith showing the Compass.

gan to fail ; and mismanagement, added to famine, brought the colony to the brink of ruin. To the great exertions and talents of Captain John Smith, one of the most distinguished persons connected with the early history of this country, the colony is indebted for its preservation. His resolute and persevering spirit prevailed on the adventurers not to abandon the settlement, while his activity and courage provided the means of continuance. An incident, which occurred during this period, has lent to his history the attractions of romance. While on an exploring journey in search of provisions, he was taken prisoner by a large party of Indians, who determined to put him to death. His captors, however, w^ere diverted from their purpose by his showing them a pocket compass, and explaining its properties. He was conducted to the king Powhatan, who after a short detention condemned him to death. His head was placed upon a stone, and the savages were 2*

18 LORD DELAWARE.

about to beat out his brains with clubs, when Pocahontas, the daughter of the principal chief, Powhatan, after in vain imploring mercy for him, rushed forward, and resting her head upon that of the captive, and clasping his body with her arms, appeared determined to share his fate. Powhatan relented, and soon afterwards permitted Smith to return home. Two years afterwards, when the Indians had plotted the destruction of the whole colony, Pocahontas, faithful to the attachments she had formed, disclosed the plan to the English ; and the Indians, finding them on their guard, abandoned the project.

Such was the distress of the colony, in 1610, that the survivors had actually embarked on their return to England, when Lord Delaware, who had been appointed governor the preceding year, under a new charter, arrived with a supply of provisions, and one hundred and fifty men. Under this governor and his successor, the afiairs of the infant settlement were administered with so mucli prudence and vigor, that it soon began to acquire solidity and strength. Useful industry succeeded to their previous habits of indolence ; and, aided by a fertile soil, they were enabled to raise large stocks of provisions. In 1619, the first legislature was convened, eleven townships or boroughs, sending representatives, counties not then being laid off; from which circumstance the lower house was first called the house of burgesses, which name it retained until the revolution. About this period upwards of twelve hundred additional emigrants arrived, among whom were one hundred and fifty young women, who were sold to the planters for wives, at one hundred and fifty pounds of tobacco each. In 1620, were introduced the first negro slaves. They were imported in a Dutch vessel, and were soon followed by many others.

In 1622, a dreadful massacre of the settlers took place. They were surprised by the Indians, who destroyed three hundred and forty-seven persons. Fortunately, a friendly Indian gave previous notice to the inhabitants of Jamestown, in time to put them on their guard, other-

HARVEY BERKELEY. 19

wise the whole settlement, probably, would have been destroyed. To the distress occasioned by this horrible act, succeeded a famine, which was, however, alleviated by the arrival of provisions from England. A reinforcement of settlers, arriving at the same time, a general war was levied against the savages ; and, in a short time, most of the neighbouring tribes were exterminated.

On the 15th of July, 1624, James I. suspended the powers of the London company by proclamation, resumed the charter, and issued a special commission for the government of the colony. All legislative and executive powers were vested in these commissioners, from whose arbitrary regulations, the colony suffered severely. So oppressive was the government of Sir John Harvey, appointed in 1629, that the people seized and sent him to England, a prisoner. He was succeeded by Sir William Berkeley, who called an assembly of the burgesses, and governed the province with mildness and prudence.

At the commencement of the civil war in England, when the contest was so violent between the king and the parliament, as to bring Charles I. to the scaffold, the Virginians adhered to the cause of the monarch ; and, refusing to acknowledge the authority of the commonwealth, a formidable armament was sent over by the parliament, in 1651, to reduce them to subjection. Unable to offer any effectual resistance, the Virginians were compelled to submit, but did not lay down their arms, until they had secured their most essential rights, by a solemn convention, entered into between the commissioners of the parliament, and the governor, council, and burgesses of Virginia. The principal stipulations were, for the enjoyment of the ancient limits of the colony, as granted by the charters of the former kings ; for a fice trade ; an exemption from taxation ; the exclusion of military force without the consent of the Grand Assembly; and the privilege of using the book of common prayer for one year, omitting those parts which relate to kingship. During the existence of the commonwealth

20 BERKELEY.

of England, the governors of Virginia were all elected by the assembly. In 1658, a severe conflict arose between the governor and council and the house of burgesses. Tlie former having ordered a dissolution of the assembly, they peremptorily refused to be dissolved, and displaced the governor and all the council, but afterwards elected the same governor. On the death of Cromwell in 1653, his son Richard was acknowledged as his successor. But, lie resigning in 1658, and it being uncertain what kind of government might be adopted m England, the assembly of Virginia, in March, 1660, declared, that, " there being in England no resident, absolute, and general confessed power," did expressly take the powers of government into their own hands, " until such a command and commission came out of England, as shall by the assembly be adjudged lawful." They then elected Sir William Berkeley, governor, with injunctions that he should govern according to the ancient laws of England and the established laws of the colony; directed that all writs be issued in the name of the Grand Assembly ; and made it the duty of the governor to call an assembly once in two years, or oftener, if necessary ; gave him the liberty of making choice of a secretary, and council of state, with the approbation of the assembly ; restrained him from dissolving the assembly, without the consent of the majority of the house ; ail laws, inconsistent with the government then established, were repealed ; and penalties imposed for speaking or acting in derogation of it. The religion of the Church of England was also declared to be the established religion of the colony ; all ministers were ordered to conform, or were not permitted to " teach or preach publicly or privately ;" and the governor and council were authorized to compel non conformists to leave the colony with all convenient speed.

The effects of the navigation act, and other measures of a similar nature, adopted about this time, were severely felt by the trade of Virginia. In addition to this cause of discontent, the landed proprietors were alarmed by the conduct of the king in granting to his courtiers large

BACON — BERKELEY LORD CULPEPER. 21

tracts of land, the titles to which had been regularly vested in others. From these causes rose an insurrection memorable in the history of Virginia, and known by the name of Bacon's Rebellion.

Colonel Nathaniel Bacon, an eloquent and ambitious man, put himself at the head of the people who had assembled, with the ostensible object of engaging in hostilities against the Indians. An injudicious step on the part of the assembly, then sitting, in advising the governor to issue a proclamation of rebellion against him, determined their purpose. They marched to Jamestown, and, after dispersing the assembly. Bacon called a convention, and assumed the reigns of government. A civil war now ensued with all its horrors. Jamestown was burnt by Bacon's followers, and many parts of the colony were given up to pillage. At length, after several months of bloodshed and confusion, Bacon suddenly died. The loss of this man proved the ruin of his party. The people returned to their homes, and the authority of Berkeley was re-established. It was long, however, before the prosperity of Virginia was restored. Husbandry had been neglected, and licentious habits introduced, which many years of order did not eradicate. Soon after these events, Berkeley returned to England, and was succeeded by Lord Culpeper, who brought with him several bills, drawn up by the ministry in England, to which he required the assent of the legislature, on pain of being treated as rebels. The object of these acts, which were ratified, was the increase of his official emoluments ; and the effect was the oppression and impoverishment of the people. During the reign of Charles II., and his successor James, Virginia suffered in common with her sister colonies, from the endeavours of the Stuarts, to extend their despotic system across the Atlantic, and rejoiced in the change of government which drove them from the throne. In 1683, during the administration of Lord Culpeper, printing was prohibited in Virginia.

For a considerable period after the revolution of 1688, Virginia enjoyed great internal tranquillity, and experi-

WASHINGTON.

enced nojthing to interrupt her growth. In the year 1732, she gave birth to the most illustrious of her sons, the great statesman and patriot, who was destined afterwards to achieve the independence of all the colonies. During the wars between France and England, prior to 1754, her local situation exempted her from hostilities. From 1754 to 1758, when the French began to put into operation their schemes for uniting Canada and Louisiana, the frontiers of Virginia were harassed by incursions of French and Indian parties, to repel which, a regiment was raised, in which Washington first distinguished himself. On the conclusion of peace, when the British attempted to raise a revenue within the colonies, the statesmen of Virginia were among the first to raise the voice of opposition. The eloquence and talents of her orators contributed greatly to excite public feeling on this occasion. The services and sufierings of Virginia, in the war of the revolution, were probably as great as those of any other state ; and in Virginia, the last important measure of the war took place, in the surrender of Cornwall is.

John Smith.

Settlement of Q,uebcc.

Chapter III

Settlem€7it of Quebec. — Hudson. — Settlement of New York. — Argall. — Van TiviUer. — Kieft. — Stuyvesant. — NichoUs. — Lovelace. — Andros. — Leisler. — Sloughter. — Massacre at Schenectady. — French War.

In 1608, M. de Champlain sailed up the St. Lawrence, and settled Quebec. In 1608 or 1609, Henry Hudson, a native of England, but at that time in the service of the Dutch East India Company, discovered and sailed up the noble river which still bears his name. The earliest effectual settlement in this state was made by the Dutch, in 1613, on the island of Manhattan, now called, New York. Their jurisdiction, however, was soon interrupted ; for, in 1614, Captain Argall, returning to Virginia from Nova Scotia, visited the Hudson, when the Dutch, being unable to offer resistance, submitted to the

24 KIEFT — STUYVESANT — ^NICHOLLS.

English government. TPie next year, a number of ships arrived from Holland, and restored the Dutch authority. The settlers began to fortify themselves on the island, which is now covered by the city of New York, and extended their possessions in a few years to the Delaware and Connecticut rivers. In 1621, the States General made a grant of the country, by the name of New Netherlands, to the West India Company. The first governor under the company, was Wouter Van Twiller, who arrived at Fort Amsterdam, as New York was then called, in 1629. William Kieft, the second governor, was engaged in frequent disputes with the neighbouring colonies. He protested, without success, against what he considered the encroachments of the English in Connecticut, and on Long Island ; and, in 1640, broke up their settlements at Oyster Bay by force.

Peter Stuy vesant was the third and last governor of the New Netherlands. His administration was, like that of his predecessor, a period of contest, both of words and weapons. The people of New England on the east, and the Marylanders and Swedes to the south and west, kept him constantly employed either in negotiation or warlike enterprises. An agreement was, however, made respecting boundaries, with the people of Connecticut ; and the Swedes on the Delaware were compelled to submit to his authority ; but the entire Dutch government in North America, soon afterwards passed away.

In 1664, Charles II., of England, urged by the representations of the neighbouring English colonies, granted to his brother, the duke of York, a patent for a large tract of country, including New York and New Jersey, and provided him with the means of obtaining possession of it. A considerable force, under the command of Colonel Nicholls, arrived in the harbour of New York, in August, 1664, and summoned the province to surrender to the British crown, offering the inhabitants protection in their persons and estates. Governor Stuyvesant, an old and brave soldier, determined to make all the defence of which the place was capable, and, aware of the pacific disposition of the inhabitants, refused them a sight of the