Historical Account of Discoveries and Travels in North America (Volume 1); Including the United States, Canada, the Shores of the Polar Sea, and the Voyages in Search of a Northwest Passage with Observations on Emigration (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1829 Excerpt: ... than the English government had yet been aware of. It appeared now too great to be the object of one grant, or the adventure of one company. While Southern Virginia, therefore, was assigned to a London association, the northern part was bestowed upon the Plymouth Company, formed by merchants of Bristol, and of other towns in the West of England. Although that part of the kingdom could not boast the wealth and extensive resources which have so long centered in the British metropolis, there were not wanting capital and enterprise sufficient to fit out expeditions on a considerable scale. The first colony was sent by Sir John Popham, chief justice, Sir Ferdinando Gorges, governor of Plymouth, and " diverse other worshipful knights and merchants of the west." These great personages, however, produced nothing but a little bark of 55 tons, on board of which they put twenty-nine Englishmen, and two savages who had been brought from that quarter. Challons, it does not appear why, took the old route by the Canaries and the West Indies. While near the coast of Hispaniola they were overtaken by thick and tempestuous fogs, on the clearing up of which they found themselves in the midst of a fleet of eight Spanish vessels. The Spaniards immediately fired and called on them to stop; then rushed on board with drawn swords. "We in peace stood ready to entertain them in peace," but they instantly began beating the whole crew, and wounding several, among whom was one of the poor Indians, who vainly cried out, "It is King James's ship, it is King James's ship " The vessel was immediately taken possession of, and the crew divided among the different ships, which separated in various directions. The captain and pilot were brought to Seville and thrown into prison; but they gaine...