A universal history of the United States...

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El n8

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Preface

In collecting materials for this work, the autlior has, as may be seen from the copiousness of his table of contents, studied brevity of style. This, from the multiplicity of subjects contained in the volume, he deemed essentially necessary. Another important design of the author has been to exhibit, in a strong point of light, those principles of political and religious freedom, to secure which many of our ancestors sacrificed their homes, their fortunes, and even their hves.

We cannot but admire the courage, perseverance, and virtues of our progenitors, when we contemplate the obstacles surmounted by them, the hardships endured, and the unshrinking firmness of purpose Avhich turned a wilderness into fruitful fields, established a government of equal laws, and provided an asylum for the oppressed of all nations.

Having learned, at least to some extent, to appreciate the value of those blessings which have descended to the posterity of the pilgrims, the author would now contribute his mite for the benefit of the present and fului e generations.

This Avork is designed for a family and school book ; and is also intended as a substitute for those more voluminous works, that find tkeir way to the few only whose resources are sufficient to procure them. The size of the type on which this volume is printed, has enabled

4 PREFACE.

the publisher to present to his readers more matter than was originally intended for the work ; and to give in a duodecimo form, the quantity of reading commonly found in an octavo volume. Although presented to the pubhc in a condensed form, it will be found to contain the most important events in the general history of this country.

The comparative population, wealth, resources, and progressive improvement in the states and territories, have been particularly noticed, and will be found a source of useful information to those who may design to change their present places of abode.

One entire chapter of this work is devoted to a view of the western states and territories, giving a description of the face of the country, the soil and productions, situation and extent, rivers, increase of population, settlements, «fcc. This is designed by the author to convey a useful table of information to all of his readers, but is inserted more particukirly for the benefit of those who intend to emigrate.

C. B. T.

Introduction

Birth, Education, and early Life of Columbus. His discovery of America, and discoveries by Cabot, HudsoUy and others.

Christopher Columbus, or Columbo, as the name is written in Italian, was born in the city of Genoa, about the year 1435, of poor but reputable and meritorious parentage. He was the son of Donienico Colombo, a wool comber, and Susanna Fontanarossa, his wife ; and his ancestors seem to have followed the same trade for several generations in Genoa. Attempts have been made to prove him of illustrious descent, and several noble houses have laid claim to him since his name has become so renowned as to confer rather than receive distinction. It is possible some of them may be in the right, for the feuds in Italy in those ages had broken down and scattered many of the noblest families, and while some branches remained in the lordly heritage of castles and domains, others were confounded with the humblest population of the cities. The fact, however, is not material to his fame ; and it is a higher proof of merit to be the object of contention among various noble families, than to be able to substantiate the most illustrious lineage. His son Fernando had a true feeling on the subject. " I am of opinion," says he, " that I should derive less dignity from any nobility of ancestry, than from being the son of such a father."

Columbus was the oldest of four children ; having two brothers, Bartholomew and Giacomo, or, as his name is translated into Spanish, Diego, and one sister, of whom nothing is known, excepting that she was married to a person in obscure life, called Giacomo Bavarello. A3

While very young, Columbus was taught reading, writing, grammar, and arithmetic, and made sc^me proficiency in drawing. He soon evinced a strong passion for geographical knowledge, and an irresistible inclination for the sea ; and in after life, when he looked back upon his career with a solemn and superstitious feeling, he regarded this early determination of his mind as an impulse from the deity, guiding him to the studies, and inspiring him with the inclinations, proper to fit him for the high decrees he was destined to accomplish. His father, seeing the bent of his mind, endeavoured to give him an education suitable for maritime life. He sent him, therefore, to the university of Pavia, where he was instructed in geometry, geography, astronomy, and navigation ; he acquired also a familiar knowledge of the Latin tongue, which at that time was the medium of instruction, and the language of the schools. He remained but a short time at Pavia, barely sufficient to give him the rudiments of the necessary sciences ; the thorough acquaintance with them which he displayed in after life, must have been the result of diligent self-schooling, and of casual hours of study, amidst the cares and vicissitudes of a rug ged and wandering life. He was one of those men of strong natural genius, who appeal to form themselves . who, from having to contend at their very outset with privations and impediments, acquire an intrepidity in bra- \ ing, and a facility in vanquishing difiiculties. Such men learn to effect great purposes with small means, supplying the deficiency of the latter by the resources of their own energy and invention. This is one of the remarkable features in the history of Columbus. In every undertaking, the scantiness and apparent insufficiency of his means enhance the grandeur of his achievements.

Shortly after leaving the university, he entered into nautical life, and, according to his own account, began to navigate at fourteen years of age. A complete obscurity rests upon this part of his history. It is supposed he made his first voyages with one Colombo, a hardy captain of the seas, who had risen to some distinction by his bravery, and who was a distant connexion family. ^

•

The seafaring life in those days was peculiarly full of hazard and enterpi'isc. Even a commercial expedition resembled a warlike cruise, and the maritime merchant had often to fight his way from port to port. Piracy was almost legalized. The frequent feuds between the Italian states ; the cruisings of the Catalonians ; the armadas fitted out by noblemen, who were petty sovereigns in their own domains ; the roving ships and squadrons of private adventurers ; and the holy wars waged with the Mahometan powers, rendered the narrow seas to which navigation was principally confined, scenes of the most hardy encounters and trying reverses. Such was the rugged school in which Columbus was reared, and such the rugged teacher that first broke him in to naval discipline.

There is an interval of several years, during which Ave have but one or two shadowy traces of Columbus, who is supposed to have been principally engaged in the Mediterranean, and up the Levant, sometimes in voyages of commerce, sometimes in warlike contests between the Italian states, sometimes in pious and predatory expeditions against the infidels, during which time he was often under the perilous command of his old fighting relation, the veteran Colombo.

Columbus arrived at Lisbon about the year 1470. He v.-as at that time in the full vigour of manhood, and of an engaging presence ; and here it may not be improper to draw liis portrait, according to the minute descriptions given of him by his contemporaries. He was tall, well formed, and m.uscular, and of an elevated and dignified demeanour. His visage was long, and neither full nor meagre ; his complexion fair and freckled, and inclined to ruddy ; his nose aquiline, his cheek bones were rather high, his eyes light gray, and apt to enkindle ; his whole countenance had an air of authority. His hair, in his youthful days, was of a light colour, but care and trouble soon turned it gray, and at thirty years of age it was quite white. He was moderate and simple in diet and uppanj, eloquent in discourse, engaging and affable with strangers, and of an amiableness and suavity in domestic life, that strongly attached his household to his person.

His temper was naturally irritable ; but he subdued it by the magnanimity of his spirit, comporting himself with a courteous and gentle gravity, and never indulging in any intemperance of language. Throughout his life, he was noted for a strict attention to the offices of religion. The Sabbath was to him a day of sacred rest, on which he would never sail from a port, unless in a case of extreme necessity.

While at Lisbon, he became acquainted with a lady of rank, named Dona Felipa, who resided in the convent. The acquaintance soon ripened into attachment, and ended in marriage.

When Columbus had once formed his theory, it became fixed in his mind, with singular firmness. He set it down as a fundamental principle, that the earth was a ten-aqueous globe, which might be travelled round from east to west, and that men stood foot to foot when on opposite points.

This great man, when about forty years of age, formed the idea of reaching the East Indies by sailing westwai-d. His fortune being small, and the attempt requiring effectual patronage, he laid his plan before the senate of Genoa, desirous that his native country should profit if he was successful ; the scheme, however, appearing chimerical, was rejected. He then repaired to the court of Portugal ; and although the Portuguese were at that time distinguished for their commercial spirit, and John II. who then reigned, was a discerning and enterprising prii 'e, vet the prejudices of the great men in his court, to whoiii the matter was referred, caused Columbus finally to fail in his attempt there also. He next applied to Ferdinand and Isabella, king and queen of Arragon and Castile, and at the same time sent his brother Bartholomew (who followed the same profession, and who was well qualified to fill the immediate place under such a leader) to England, to lay the proposals before Henvy VII. which likewise, very fortunately for the future well being of the country, met with no success. Many were the years which Christopher Columbus spent in ineffectual attendance at the Castilian court ; the impoverished state into which the finances of the united kingdom were reduced by the war with Grenada, repressed every disposition to attem])t great designs. But the war being at length terminated, the powerful mind of Isabella broke through all obstructions ; she declared herself the patroness of Columbus, while her husband, Ferdinand, declining to partake as an adventurer, in the voyage, only gave it the sanction of his name. Thus did the superior genius of woman effect the discovery of one half of the globe !

The ships sent out on this important search were only three in number, two of them very small, with ninety men, victualled for a year's voyage. Although the expense of the expedition had long remained the sole obstacle to this undertaking, yet, when every thing was provided, the cost did not amount to more than sixteen thousand five hundred dollars, for which purpose the queen disposed of her jewels to raise the amount.

Columbus set sail from the port of Palos in the province of Andalusia, August 3d, 1492: He proceeded to the Canary Islands, and thence directed his course due west, in the latitude of about 28 N. In this course he continued for two months, without falling in with any land, which caused such a spirit of discontent and mutiny to arise, as the superior address and management of the commander became unequal to suppress, although for those qualities he was eminently distinguished. He was at length reduced to the necessity of entering into a solemn engagement, to abandon the enterprise and return home, if land was not discovered in three days. P obably he would not have been able to retain his men so long from acts of violence and outrage, in pursuing so untried and dreary a course, had they not been sensible that their safety in returning home, depended very much on his skill as a navigator, in conducting the vessel.

About midnight of the llth of October, 1492, the cry wn.s, land, land, which proved to be one of the Bahama islands, which Columbus named San Salvadore ; it was only three deg. .30 min. lat. to the south of the island of Gomora, one of the Canaries, whence he took his departure. This navigator was still so confident in the opinion ■', had formed before he undertook the voyage, that he believed himself then to be on an island which was situated adjacent to the Indies. Proceeding towards the S. he saw three other islands which he named St. Mary, Ferdinand, and Isabella. At length he arrived at a very large island, and as he had taken seven of the natives of San Salvadore on board, he learned from them that its name was called Cuba, but he gave it the name of Juanna. He next proceeded to an island which he had called Espailola, in honour of the kingdom by which he was employed, and it still bears the name of Hispaniola.

Here he built a fort, and formed a small settlement ; he then returned home, having on board some of the native? whom he had taken from the different islands, on the pas sage. He was overtaken by a storm which had nearl) proved fatal. During the storm, Columbus hastily enclosed in a cake of wax, a short account of his voyage and discovery, which he hoped, should he perish, might fall into the hands of some navigator, or be cast ashore, and thus the knowledge of his discovery be preserved to the world. But the storm abated, and he arrived safe in Spain, March 15th, 1493, having been seven months and eleven days on this most important voyage.

On his arrival, letters patent were issued by the king and queen, confirming to Columbus and to his heirs, all the privileges contained in an agreement which had been enacted before his departure.

Not only the Spaniards, but the other nations of Europe, seem to have adopted the opinion of Columbus, in considering the countries Avhich he had discovered as a part of India ; whence Ferdinand and Isabella gave them the name " Indies" in the ratification of their former agree ment with Columbus ; even after the error was detected, the name was retained, under the appellation of " West Indies." Nothing could possibly tend more effectually to rouse every active principle of human nature, than the discoveries which Columbus had made ; no time was lost or expense spared, in preparing a fleet of ships, with which this great man should revisit the countries he had made known.

Seventeen ships were made ready in six months, and fifteen hundred persons embarked on board of them, among whom were many noble families, who had filled honourable stations. Ferdinand, now desirous of securing the benefits of these discoveries, applied to the Pope to be invested with a right in their newly discovered country, as well as to all future discoveries in that direction ; but as it was necessary that there should be some favour of religion in the business, he founded his plea on a desire of converting the savage natives to the Romish faith, which plan had its desired eflect.

Columbus sailed from the port of Cadiz, on the 25th of September, 1493. When he arrived at Espaiiola, he had the affliction to find that all the Spaniards whom he had left there, amounting to thirty-six in number, had been put to death by the natives in revenge for the insults and outrage Avhich ihey had -committed. After tracing out the plan of a town in a large plain near a spacious bay, and giving it the name of Isabella, in honour of his patroness, the queen of Castile, and appointed his brother to preside as deputy governor in his absence, Columbus, on the 24th of April, 1494, sailed with one ship and two small barks, to make further discoveries in the seas. In this voyage he was employed five months, and fell in with many small islands on the coast of Cuba, but none of any importance except the island of .Jamaica. «

Soon after his return to Hispaniola, he resolved to make war with the Indians, who amounted to 100 'X)0 men ; they having experienced every lawless act of violence from their invaders, were rendered extremely inveterate, and thirsting for revenge, a disposition wliich appears to have been foreign to their natures. Ha^. ing collected his whole force, he attacked them by niij^ht, while they were assembled on a wide plain, and obtaine<i a most decisive victory, without the loss of a single nmn on his part. The effect of cannon and fire arms, the nnisc of which was appalling, employed against a nume oas body of Indians, closely drawn together, was in the highest degree destructive. Columbus had brought over with him a small body of cavalry.

The Indians, who had never before seen such a cveat'.ire, imagined the Spanish horses to be rational beings, and that each, with its rider, formed but one animal ; tliey were astonished at their speed, and considered their impetuosity and strength as irresistible. Numbers were slain, and many made prisoners, who were immediately consigned to slavery.

At the departure of Columbus from Spain, he was ap pointed governor of the new world ; but by false repre sentations of his enemies, the king was persuaded to appoint another in his place. The king also gave orders that Columbus should be seized and sent to Spain ; this was executed, and the heroic'Columbus> returned to Spain in irons. He was set at liberty by the king on his arrival, but never recovered his authority. After his return from his fourth voyage, finding Isabella, his patroness, dead, he sunk btneath his misfortunes, and died May 20th, 1506, in the seventieth year of his age.

In 1497, John Cabot and his son commenced a voyage of discovery, and on the24thof June discovered the island of Newfoundland, which they gave the name of Prima Vesta. Leaving this, they fell in with a small island, which they called St. Johns. The French attempted no discoveries until 1524. In 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh, under commission of Queen Elizabeth, arrived in America, entered Pamplico Sound, now in North Carolina, and sailed thence to Roanoke ; of this country he took possession, and on his return to England gave so splendid a descripion of it, that Queen Elizabeth bestowed upon it the lame of Virginia, in allusion to her being unmarried.

In 1602, Bartholomew Gosnold discovered some part of New-England. He first touched on its eastern coast, in about 43 degrees of north latitude ; he made some discoveries of the adjacent ports, and gave them the name of Cape Cod, and Martha's Vineyard.

In 1603, the French made some small discoveries, and began to settle at Port Royal, on the Bay of Funda.

In 1608, Henry Hudson discovered Long Island ; he also discovered and gave name to Hudson River, which retains this name to the present time. *

Note. — The birth, parentage, and the early education of Colambus, has been extracted from that valuable work which has recently appeared from the able pen of Washington Irving.

OF THE

UNITED STATES,

FART FIRST.

Chapter II

Prom the settltment of Jamestoxon to the embarkation of the Plymouth Company.

The discovery of America by Columbus, gave a new 'mpulse to that bold spirit of adventure which characterized the hardy age in which he lived. Although several men of rank and fortune were concerned in the companies which had been formed in England for colonising America, their funds appear to have been very limited, and their first eftbrts were extremely feeble. The first expedition for the southern colony consisted of one vessel of 100 tons, and two barks, with 105 men, destined to remain in the country. The command of this small fleet was given to Captain Newport, who sailed from the Thames the 19th of December, 1606. At the time his instructions were given, three packages, sealed with the seal of the council, were delivered, one to Captain Newport, one to Captain Bartholomew Gosnald, and the third to Captain John Ratclifl'e, containing the names of the council for the colony.

They were directed nbt to open these packages within 24 hours after their arrival on the coast of Virginia, and the names of his majesty's council were then to be proclaimed. The council were then to proceed in the choice of a president, who should have two votes. To this singular and unaccountable concealment, have been in a great degree attributed the dissensions which distracted the colo- "i-t^ on their passage, and which afterwards considerably . . i oded the progress of their infant settlement. Newport, 2 whose place of destination was Roanoke, took the circuitous route by the West India islands, and had a long passage of four months. The reckoning had been out for three days, without perceiving land ; and serious propositions were made for returning to England ; when they were overtaken by a storm, which fortunately drove them to the mouth of the Chesapeake.

On the 26th of April, 1607, they discerned Cape Henry, and soon after Cape Charles. Impatient to land, a party of about 30 men went on shore at Cape Henry, but they were immediately attacked by the natives, who considered them as enemies, and in the skirmish which ensued, several were wounded on both sides. The first employment of the colonists, was to explore the adjacent country, with the appearance of which they were greatly delighted, and to select a spot on which their settlement should be made. They proceeded up a large, beautiful river, called by the natives Powhattan, and to which they gave the name of James ; on a peninsula, on the north side of which they immediately agreed to make the first establishment of their colony.

This place, as well as the river, they named after their king, and called it -Jamestown ; there they debarked on the 13th of May, and Ihe sealed packets being opened, Mr. Wingfield was, by the council, elected their president ; but under frivolous and unjustifiable pretexts, they excluded Smith from taking his seat among them — John Smith, whose courage and talents seem to have excited their envy, and who on the passage, had been imprisoned on the improbable and unsupportable charge of intending to murder the council, usurp the government, and make himself king of Virginia.

The colonists soon found themselves embroiled with the Indians, who attacked them suddenly, while at work , but were frightened by the fire from the ship, and in a short time, a temporary accommodation Avith them was effected. Although Newport was named of the council, he was ordered to return with the vessel to England, and the time of his departure approached. The accusers of Smith, affecting a degree of humanity which they did not feel, proposed that he should return with Newport, instead of being prosecuted in Virginia ; but witli the pride of con ficious innocence, he demanded his trial, and being h*h uoiirably acquitted, took his seat in the council. About 'he 15th of June, Newport sailed for England, leaving behind him one bark, and about 100 persons, the only Eng lish then on the continent of America.

Thus, about one hundred and ten years after this conti nent had been discovered by Cabot, and 22 years after a colony had been conducted to Roanoke by Sir Richard Grenville, the English possessions in America, designed soon to become a mighty empire, were limited to a peninsula of a few thousand acres of land, held by a small body of men, who with difficulty maintained themselves against the paltry tribes which surrounded them, and looked in a great measure to the other side of the Atlantic for the bread on which they v/ere to subsist. The stock of provisions for the colony had been very improvidentially laid in ; it was entirely inadequate to their wants, and in addition to this original error, it had sustained great damage in the holds of their vessels, during their long passage.

On the departure of Newport, (during whose stay they managed to partake of the superfluity of sailors,) they were i-educed to the necessity of subsisting on the distributions from the public stores. These were, at the same time, scanty and unwholesome. They did not amount to more per man than a pint of Avorm eaten wheat, and barley boiled in a common kettle. This wretched food in creased the malignity of the diseases generated by a hot, and, at that time, (the country being entirely uncleared and undrained,) a damp climate, among men exposed, from their situation, to all its rigours. Before the month of September, 50 of the company, and among them Bartholomew Gosnald, who had originated the expedition, and so much contributed towards its being carried on, were buried.

This scene of distress was heightened by internal dissension. The president was charged with having embezzled the best stores of the colony, and of feasting at his private table with beef and bread, then deemed luxuries of the highest order, while famine and death devoured his 'ellow adventurers. No crime, in the public opinion, could have been more atrocious. In addition to this, he was detected in an attempt to escape from them and their calamities, in the bark which had been left by NeAvport The general indignation could no longer be restrained He was deposed, and RatclilTe chosen to succeed hitu Misfortune is not unfrequently the parent of moderation and reflection, and this state of misery produced a systent of conduct toAvards the neighbouring Indians, which, for the moment, disarmed their resentment, and induced them to bring in such supplies as the country at that season afforded, and thereby preserved the remnant of the colony. It produced another effect, not less important. Their sense of imminent and common danger, called forth and compelled submission to those talents which were fitted to the exigence, and best calculated to extricate them from the difficulties by which they were surrounded.

Captain Smith, who had been imprisoned and expelled from the council by the envy of those who felt and hated his superiority, and who, after evincing his innocence, had with difficulty been admitted to the station assigned, preserved his health unimpaired, his spirits unbroken, and his judgment unclouded, amidst this general misery and dejection. In him, by common consent, all actual authority was placed, and he, by his OAvn example, soon gave energy and efficiency to others in the execution of his commands.

He immediately erected, at Janrxestown, such rude fortifications as were necessary to resist the sudden attack of the savages, and, with great labour, in which he always took tlie lead, completed the construction of such dwellings as could shelter the people from the weather ; contributed to restore and preserve their health, while his accommodation gave place to all others. In the season of gathering corn, which, with the Indians, is the season of plenty, putting himself at the head of small parties, he penetrated into the country, and, by presents and caresses to those that were well disposed, and attacking with open force, and defeating those who were hostile, he obtained for his countrymen the most abundant supplies. Wh'^-^ thus actively and usefully employed abroad, he was n^ . permitted to withdraw his attention from the domesiic concerns of the colony. However unfit men may be f Ji

Sbttlement of Jamestown, in Virginia. The first permanent English settlement in North America, commenced by 105 persons, 13th of May, 1607. Seepage 13.

LANuiNii OP THE PiLGKiMs at Plymouth, Dec. 22d, 1620. The first settlement in the New-England States, commenced by John Carver, and about twenty others from Plymouth, England. Page 28.

command, there are few examples of their descending willingly from exalted stations once filled by them, and it is not wonderful that the late president saw with displeasure another placed ubove him.

As unworthy minds most readily devise unworthy means, he sought, by intriguing with the factious, and fomenting their discontents, to regain his lost authority; and when their attempts Avere disconcerted, plans were laid, first by Winglield and Kendal, and afterwards by the president himself, in conjunction with Martin, the only remaining member of the council, except Smith, to escape in the bark, and thus abandon the country. The vigilance oi Smith detected all these machinations, and his vigour de feated them. The hope was now indulged of preserving the colony in quiet and plenty, until supplies could be received from England, with the ships which were expected m tlie spring. This hope was, in a considerable degree, defeated, by an event which "threatened, at first, the most disastrous consequences.

In an attempt to explore the head of Chickahominy river, Smith was discovered, and attacked by a numerous body of Indians, and, in endeavouring to make his escape, after a most gallant defence, his attention being directed to the enemy, whom he still fought in retreating, he sunk up to his neck in a swamp, and was obliged to surrender. Still retaining his presence of mind, he showed them a mariner's compass, at which, especially at the playing of the needle, and the impossibility of touching it, although tliey saw it so distinctly, they were greatly astonished ; and he amused them with so many surprising stories of its qualities, as to inspire them with a degree of veneration, which prevented their executing their first design of killing him on the spot. They conducted him in triumph through several towns to the palace of Powhatan, the most potent king in the country.