THE DISCOVERIES OF CARTIER.

In the spring of 1534, a fleet was fitted out in France, under the direction of the French king, with the design to make further discoveries in America. The command of the fleet was given to James Cartier, who arrived at Newfoundland in May. Thence he sailed northerly, and on the day of the festival of St. Lawrence, he found himself in the midst of a broad river, or gulf, which he named St. Lawrence. In this voyage he sailed as far north as latitude 50°, expecting in vain to find a passage to China. The next year he sailed up the River St. Lawrence to a great and swift fall. He called the country New France, built a fort in which he spent the winter, and returned the following spring to France. This was the first attempt of the French to make a settlement in America.

THE EXPEDITION OF DE SOTO.

In 1539, the Spaniards made an attempt at conquest within the present limits of the United States. In this year Fernando de Soto, governor of Cuba, sailed from Havana with nine vessels and nine. hundred men besides sailors, two hundred and thirteen horses and a herd of swine, and landed at Espirito Santo, in Florida. He expected to find mines and plenty of gold, but was most miserably disappointed. He encountered much opposition from the natives, and was often deluded by them. He went north, crossed the Alleghany mountains, and went into the Chickesaw country, where he spent a winter. He then crossed the Mississippi. After wandering about exposed to many hardships, famine, and opposition of the natives, he died near the mouth of Red River. The remains of his force passed down the Mississippi and made the best of their way to Panuco in Mexico, where they arrived in September, 1543. "In this extraordinary expedition of more than four years duration in the wilderness, among hostile savages, more than half the men perished."

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THE HUGUENOTS ATTEMPT TO COLONIZE CAROLINA.

In 1562, during the civil war between the Protestant and Catholic parties in France, Admiral Coligny formed a project for carrying a colony of Protestants to America, where they might enjoy religious freedom. Having obtained permission of the French king, who was desirous of getting rid of his Huguenots or Protestant subjects, he fitted out two ships under the command of John Ribault, who landed

at a place supposed to be within the limits of South Carolina, built a fort, garrisoned it with twenty men, and returned to France. The company left by Ribault, mutinied soon after he left, and killed their captain for his severity. Reduced at length, they, by extraordinary efforts, built and rigged out a vessel, and "embarking their artillery, their forge, and other munitions of war, and as mill as they could gather," put to sea. When they had been out several weeks, their provisions being exhausted, they were obliged to kill and eat one of their number, who offered himself as a victim to appease their hunger. A few days afterward they were taken up by an English vessel, and carried to England.

SETTLEMENT OF ST. AUGUSTINE BY SPANIARDS.

In 1564, Laudoniere, another Frenchman, carried a colony to the River of May, in Florida, where, in honor of Charles the French king, he erected a fortification, which he called Fort Caroline. In 1565, Ribault, who was sent to supersede Laudoniere, arrived in Florida. with seven vessels-took all the best of the men at Fort Caroline for an expedition against the Spaniards, and left Laudoniere in charge of the fort without adequate means of defense. At this time Melendez, in the service of Philip II, of Spain, was on his way to Florida with a fleet and army, for the purpose of driving out the Huguenots from Florida, and to settle it with good Catholics. Arriving in Florida, he massacred Ribault and all the company, excepting Laudoniere and a few others who escaped to France. Melendez now built three forts on the river of May, and strongly garrisoned them with Spanish soldiers. He also proceeded to the south, and discovered the harbor of St. Augustine, and laid the foundations of the city of that name, the oldest by more than forty years of any within the limits of the United States, east of the Mississippi river.

In 1568, Chevalier Gourgues, of Gascony, in France, hearing of the massacre of his countrymen in Florida, determined to avenge their death. He, accordingly, at his own expense, fitted out three frigates with one hundred and fifty soldiers and volunteers, and eighty chosen. mariners and sailed to Florida. Although the Spaniards were four hundred in number in the three forts on the River of May, Gourgues succeeded in destroying the fortifications, and in killing most of the Spaniards. Not being in a situation to keep possession, the French returned to France.

FIRST ATTEMPT OF THE ENGLISH TO FOUND A COLONY IN AMERICA.

The first attempt at colonization in America, by the English, was made by Sir Humphrey Gilbert, in 1579, under the patronage of Queen Elizabeth. After he had put to sea on his first voyage, he was obliged to return. In the second, he reached St. Johns in Newfoundland, where he took possession of the country for his sovereign, by raising a pillar inscribed with the British arms. He also took measures to secure to the English the fisheries on the banks which have since proved so valuable. From thence he sailed south-westerly to the latitude of the mouth of the Kennebec. There the largest of his three vessels struck, and all her crew perished. Gilbert then set his face toward England, personally, in the smallest of his remaining vessels, a barge of only ten tuns; for he ever generously refused to put any man to a peril he was himself unwilling to share. The passage was stormy, but his noble and pious mind undoubtedly found comfort in the reflection he uttered to his companions in a time of danger. "We are as near heaven at sea as on land." During the night the lights of his little bark suddenly vanished, and he was heard of no more.

THE ENGLISH ATTEMPT TO FOUND A COLONY IN CAROLINA.

In 1584, Queen Elizabeth by patent granted to Sir Walter Raleigh authority to discover, occupy and govern "remote, heathen, and barbarous countries" not previously possessed by any Christian prince or people. Under this commission, two ships commanded by Amidas and Barlow sailed for America, where they arrived in July, 1584. They landed at Roanoke, took possession of the country for the crown of England, and in honor of the virgin queen, named it Virginia. On their return they gave such a flattering account of their discoveries, that Sir Richard Grenville was sent the next year to begin a settlement.

The adventurers under Grenville, to the number of one hundred and seven, fixed their residence on the island of Roanoke, on the coast of what is now North Carolina, where they were left in charge of Mr. Lane. These persons rambled into the country, without due caution, or provoked the Indians by their lawless conduct, so that many were cut off by them; while others perished from want. The survivors were taken to England by Sir Francis Drake, after his successful expedition against the Spaniards.

Within a fortnight after the first colony had left Roanoke, Sir Richard Grenville arrived with provisions and an additional number of settlers. Not finding the former colony, he left fifteen of his crew to retain possession of the island, and returned to England. In 1587, Sir Walter Raleigh equipped three vessels, and sent another company of one hundred and fifty adventurers to Virginia. He constituted John White governor, who, remaining about one month, returned to England to solicit supplies for the colony. Before he departed, his daughter, Mrs. Dare, gave birth to a female infant, the first child of English parents born in America. The infant was baptized by the name of Virginia. Owing to the war with Spain, no supplies were sent to the colony for three years. In 1590, when Governor White returned, no Englishmen were to be found, and it was evident that they had perished through want, or had been killed by the savages. The last adventurers, therefore, returned, and all further attempts to establish a colony in Virginia were postponed.

VOYAGE OF GOSNOLD TO THE NEW ENGLAND COAST.

The successive misfortunes withdrew for several years the attention of the English from this distant country. In 1602, Bartholomew Gosnold made a voyage to America. Instead of taking the circuitous but usual route by the West India Islands, he steered directly west from England, shortening the voyage about one third, and arrived in May on the coast of Massachusetts. Taking a large number of codfish, near a cape which extended far into the sea, he gave to it the name of Cape Cod. Proceeding southerly, he passed Gay Head, entered Buzzard's Bay, and upon an island he erected a small fort; then, after trading with the Indians, he returned home.

FORMATION OF THE LONDON AND PLYMOUTH COMPANIES.

The report of this voyage revived the spirit of adventure. In 1603, and 1605, two voyages were made-Penobscot and Massachusetts, and the rivers between them were discovered. An extensive scheme of colonization was adopted, of which Mr. Richard Hakluyt was the most active promoter. An association was formed for the purpose of sending colonies to America. Upon application to King James, he, by letters patent, in 1606, divided the country of Virginia, extending from South Carolina to the northern boundary of Maine, into two districts, and constituted two companies for planting colonies within them.

The southern district, called South Virginia, was granted to Sir Thomas Gates and his associates, mostly residents of London, and, therefore, styled the LONDON COMPANY. The northern section, called North Virginia, was granted to Thomas Hanham and his associates, who were styled the PLYMOUTH COMPANY. The members of these companies were principally merchants, whose objects were the extension. of commerce and the discovery of the precious metals.

SETTLEMENT OF JAMESTOWN BY THE ENGLISH.

By a second charter, in 1609, King James incorporated the London Company with full powers of government in America. A council was appointed resident in England, with powers to appoint the governor and other officers of the Virginia Company. Under the first patent the London Company sent Capt. Newport to Virginia, who arrived there in April, 1607. Entering Chesapeake Bay, he gave name to Cape Henry, sailed into James River, and began a plantation, called Jamestown, in which he left one hundred and four persons, and returned to England. The next year he carried one hundred and twenty persons to join the colony, with supplies of provisions.

In 1609, Sir George Somers and Sir Thomas Gates, with a number of ships and five hundred adventurers, consisting of men, women and children, sailed for Virginia. On their voyage they were overtaken by a storm, by which one of their ships was cast on one of the uninhabited islands of Bermuda: the passengers and crew remained there for several months. With such materials as they had saved from their ship, they built a small pinnace, and then sailed for Virginia. Finding the colony reduced by sickness and want, they resolved to abandon the country, and actually sailed for England. But the next day, meeting with Lord Delaware with fresh supplies, they all returned and prosecuted the planting of the colony. In 1611, Sir Thomas Dale arrived with three hundred additional settlers, and the colony was firmly. established.

THE DUTCH FOUND THE COLONY OF NEW NETHERLANDS.

In 1607, Henry Hudson, an Englishman, in the Dutch service, sailed in quest of a North-west Passage, and penetrated as far north as to the 80th degree of latitude. From him were named the strait and bay at the north of Labrador. He made a second voyage the next year, and sailed along the coast southward, and discovered the river which