PROGRESS OF DISCOVERY

ON THE

NORTHERN COASTS OF AMERICA.

CHAPTER I.

Discovery of North America-Early Voyages of the Portuguese, French, and Spaniards.

First Discovery of North America by John Cabot-Voyages of Sebastian Cabot-Of the Cortereals-Discovery of Labrador-French Discoveries-Voyages of Verazzano-Of Jacques Cartier-Discovery of Canada-Spanish Voyages of Discovery-Cortes-Ulloa-Alarchon -Viscaino.

WHEN we peruse the lives of such men as De Gama and Columbus, and consider the complicated difficulties overcome by these early navigators, their imperfect means, and the dark and defective state of their knowledge, it is difficult to repress astonishment at the success which attended their exertions, and the magnitude and splendour of their discoveries. In reflecting, indeed, upon so great a theme as the revelation of a new world, it becomes us to raise our minds from the region of second causes to the awful contemplation of that Almighty Being, who confounds the calculations of man by bringing stupendous results out of the feeblest human preparations; and it is one of the finest features in the character of Columbus, that he invariably

A

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COLUMBUS.

[1493. acted under the conviction of being selected by God for the task which he at length accomplished; but the admiration with which we regard this great man-and that belongs, though in an inferior degree, to many of his contemporaries in the field of discovery—is enhanced rather than diminished by this union of simple and primitive faith with ardent genius and undaunted resolution.

A former volume* has been devoted to the description of the daring efforts which have been made to explore the Polar Seas; and we now proceed to direct our attention to another, and a no less interesting and important chapter in the history of human enterprise-the discovery of North America, and the progress of maritime adventure on the more northern coasts of this vast continent. Without detracting in any degree from the fame of Columbus, it may be mentioned as a remarkable circumstance, that although the admiral landed in Hispaniola as early as the 4th of February 1493, he did not ascertain the existence of the continent of South America till the 30th of May 1498; whilst there is certain evidence that, almost a year before, an English vessel had reached the shores of North America. As much obscurity hangs over the circumstances of this early voyage, and as I have arrived at a conclusion completely at variance with that adopted by a late acute writer, it will be necessary to dwell with some minuteness on the history of this great event.

*Discovery and Adventure in the Polar Seas and Regions, by Sir John Leslie, &c. London, 1853.

The author of the Memoir of Sebastian Cabot, pp. 50, 51, an anonymous work (London, 1831), which contains much ingenious criticism and valuable research. It is, however, unhappily confused in its arrangement, and written throughout in a tone of asperity which, in the discussion of a subject of remote biography, is unpleasant and uncalled for. The author has been unjustly severe in his animadversions on the labours of Hakluyt, of whom a brief Vindication will be found at the end of this volume.

1494.]

JOHN CABOT AND HENRY VII.

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The attention paid to navigation by the commercial states of Italy, and especially by the republics of Genoa and Venice, is familiar to all acquainted with the history of Europe during the fifteenth century. Italian merchants and agents of opulent commercial houses were found settled in every European state; and the impetus communicated to the human mind by the discoveries of the Portuguese and the Spaniards rendered the sciences of cosmography and navigation the most popular subjects of instruction which were taught in the schools. A devotion to them became fashionable among the noble and ardent youths, who associated with them all that was romantic and delightful; they were considered as the certain guides to daring and successful maritime adventure, and the handmaids to wealth and fame. It was about this momentous period, in the year 1494, that we find a Venetian, named John Cabot, or Gabota, residing in the opulent city of Bristol. At what precise time he settled in England is not now discoverable; we only know that he left Italy for the purpose of devoting himself to the mercantile profession. He was one of those enthusiastic spirits upon whom the career of Columbus made a deep impression; and about a year after the return of the great Genoese from his first voyage, the merchant of Bristol appears to have embraced the idea that new lands might be discovered in the north-west, and a passage in all probability attained by this course to India.* Animated by such a project, Cabot addressed himself to Henry VII., and found immediate encouragement from that monarch, who, though of a cold and cautious disposition, was seldom slow to listen to any proposal which promised an increase of wealth to his exchequer. On the 5th of March 1495, the king granted his royal commission

Tiraboschi, Storia della Letter. Ital., vol. vi. b. i. cap. vi. ? 24.

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JOHN CABOT'S PROJECT.

[1495. to John Cabot, citizen of Venice, and his sons, Louis, Sebastian, and Sanchez, committing to him and them, and to their heirs and deputies, full authority to sail to all countries and seas of the East, West, and North, under the banner of England, with five ships of whatever burden and strength in mariners they might choose to employ. The equipment of this squadron was cautiously stipulated to be made "at their own proper costs and charges;" and its object stated to be the discovery of the isles, regions, and provinces of the Heathen and Infidels, which hitherto had been unknown to all the nations of Christendom, in whatever part of the globe they might be placed. By the same deed the Cabots were empowered to set up the banners and ensigns of England in the newly discovered countries; to subdue and possess them as lieutenants of the king; and to enjoy the privilege of exclusive trade;—the wary monarch, however, annexing to these privileges the condition, that he was to receive the fifth part of the capital gain upon every voyage, and binding their ships to return to the port of Bristol. *

Two important facts are ascertained by this authentic document. It proves that John Cabot, a citizen of Venice, was the principal author of, and adventurer in, the project; and that no voyage with a similar object had been undertaken prior to the 5th of March 1495.

The expedition, however, did not sail till the spring of 1497, more than a twelvemonth subsequent to the date of the original commission. What occasioned this delay it is now difficult to determine; but, as the fleet was to be equipped at the sole expense of the adventurers, it is not improbable that Cabot had required the interval to raise the necessary capital. It is much to be regretted that in no

*I have nearly followed the words of this important document, which is still preserved. Rymer, Fœdera Angliæ, vol. xii. p. 595.