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an Island in the middle of a large river, where he was afterwards joineđ by de Ments. Resolving to winter on the Island, they built huts and a fort, near the upper end of the Island, and named the river St. Croix, which by the Indians was called Schoodick. During their stay on the Island, the adventurers often landed on the adjacent shores to traffic with the Indians in furs, and to procure fresh water. In one of these excursions, some misunderstanding with the Indians produced hostilities and a skirmish ensued, in which several of the French were killed. They were now compelled to sink a well on the Island, as their only resource; but the water proving bad, many sickened and died. Early in the spring, de Ments and Champlain abandoned the Island, and returned to Port Royal, leaving their fort and buildings standing.

The river Schoodic, or St. Croix, is the present boundary between the United States and the British province of New Brunswick, as settled by commissioners from both nations, in 1798. For sometime subsequent to the treaty of 1783, it was a question between the two governments, whether this, or the Magaguadavich, a river further east, was the true St. Croix mentioned in the treaty. The commissioners, who met at St. Andrews at the mouth of the river, to settle the question-one of whom was president Webber, of Harvard College, were furnished with an account of de Ments' voyage, in which was found a description of the Island on which he and Champlain wintered, with a particular notice of the neighboring country. This description was found to correspond very accurately with the appearance of an Island, about two miles above St. Andrews; and the commissioners were induced to land on it for the purpose of making a critical examination. On digging away the earth at the upper end, they discovered axes and other iron implements and the foundation of de Ments' fort, then overgrown with large trees. This evidence, with the description of the neighboring bays-course and source of the river, and other corresponding circumstances, coinciding so exactly with appearances, satisfied the commissioners, beyond a doubt, that the Island was the same described in de Ments' voyage; and that the Schoodic was the true St. Croix, first discovered by Champlain, in 1604. The Indians now residing on the right bank of the river, not far from the Island, still retain a traditional account of the incident relating to the French adventurers, while they occupied the Island. Francis Joseph, their very intelligent chief, stated to Brown, Esq. of St. Andrews, but a few years since, many particulars related in de Ments' voyage; and added, that "the water of the well on the Island, was poison, and killed the French people."*

On his return to Port Royal, de Ments built houses at the mouth of the river L'Equille, and after his sick people had recovered, sailed to the westward, along the American coast, by Penobscot, Kennebeck, Casco, Saco, and reached Cape Cod; thence he returned to Port Royal, where he found M. Dupont, with a ship from France, on board of which were supplies and a reinforcement of forty men. Leaving the place in September, 1605, under Champlain and Dupont, to continue the settlements, he sailed on further discoveries, and at length returned to France, This year an English ship, under George Weymouth, ranged the Ameri

*Mr. Brown's relation to the author at St. Andrews in 1805.

can coast from about latitude forty one, to Penobscot, and sailed up the river about forty miles, trafficking with the natives. On his return, he carried five of the Indians to England.

The various attempts of the English to plant colonies in the north part of America, previous to this time, with the exception of that at Newfoundland, had proved abortive; and this seems to have been, but a motly mixture of fishermen, who flocked there for the purpose of enriching themselves, on the bounties of the neighboring seas, rather than on the lands. But the period was now approaching when efforts were to be made with better success. In 1606, king James, viewing the grant made to sir Water Raleigh as void, by patent, dated April tenth, divided that portion of country, stretching from the 34th to the 45th degree of north latitude, into two districts-the southern, called the first colony, was granted to the London company-the northern, called the second colony, to the Plymouth company. Both were authorised to settle any part of their respective grants, as they might choose; and they were vested with the right of property in the lands, comprehended within given limits.

The same year Henry Challons, with a ship of fifty tons, was sent by the Plymouth company to make further discoveries in North America, and to essay a settlement. Soon after, Thomas Hanam sailed with another ship, for the same country, and for similar purposes; but neither succeeded in planting a settlement.

In 1607, three ships from England, under the command of Christopher Newport, arrived in Chesapeake bay, and took possession of a peninsula on the north side of Powhatan river, since called James river, about forty miles from its mouth, and planted Jamestown-the first permanent habitation in North America. The emigrants accompanying Newport, amounted to one hundred, several of whom were named to be of the council, and authorized to choose from among themselves, a president for one year, who, with the council were to govern the colony; Edward Wingfield was accordingly elected president.

The Indians in the neighboring country, were numerous, and at first, evinced a disposition to be at peace with the English; but this disposition was of short continuance, and hostilities on their part became frequent. The adventurers suffered much, but by resolution and perseverance, they surmounted all difficulties, and established their settlement.

This year, 1607, another attempt was made by the English, to settle a plantation in North Virginia. Two ships were sent out by sir John Popham, lord chief justice of England, and others, under George Popham, and Ralph Gilbert, with one hundred landmen. Sailing from Plymouth in May, they fell in with the island of Monahegan, in August, and soon after landed on an island, since called Parker's island at the mouth of Sagadahock, or Kennebec river, where they built a store house and a fortification they named fort George. In December, the ships sailed for England, leaving a colony of forty persons under Popham, as president, and Gilbert as admiral. The succeeding winter proved extremely cold, their store house was accidentally distroyed by fire, their president died, and the settlers suffered severely. Early next spring, lord chief justice Popham fitted out two ships with supplies for the colony; but being sometime detained by contrary wind, his lordship's death was announced before

they could put to sea; the ships however sailed, and arrived at Sagadahock. In consequence of the loss of their principal patrons, and their other sufferings during the winter, the adventurers were discouraged, and the whole returned to England in 1608, under the impression that the country was too cold to admit of English inhabitants.

This abandonment of the country, induced the French to believe that the English would not again attempt a settlement on the coast; and they soon extended their plantations westerly into various places claimed by the English. In 1808, de Ments fitted out three ships under Champlain, to make new settlements in Acadie, and on the river St. Lawrence in Canada. Having examined several places, Champlain sailed up the St. Lawrence, and selected a spot at the mouth of the little river St. Charles, where he erected barracks-cleared the ground, and began cultivation, and adopted for the place, the Indian name Quebec. Here he the winter with his people, and suffered much from the severity of the climate. The next summer, he explored the river Sorrel-discovered lakes Champlain, and St. Sacrament, now called lake George ;-had a skirmish with the Iroquois Indians, and took many scalps; in the fall of the year he returned to France.

spent

No attempts had been made by the Dutch, to colonize new countries in the west, prior to this period. Stimulated, however, by the enterprises of the other maritime nations, they now determined to acquire a title to the new countries, by right of discovery. In 1609, Henry Hudson, an Englishman, in their service, sailed from the Texel, with a design of penetrating to the East Indies, by stretching to the west. Meeting with the continent of America, he ranged along the coast, as far southerly as Chesapeake bay; returning to the northward, he entered the bay between Long Island and the main land-discovered, and sailed up a large river, called by the natives, Manhattan, to which he gave his own name, nearly to the present city of Albany, and after trafficking with the natives, and examining the shores of the river, returned to England. The next year the Dutch sent ships to the same river to open a trade with the natives of the country, and gave it the name of New Netherlands. Four years after a patent was granted to sundry merchants, for an exclusive trade on the Hudson by the states general, and a fort was built on the west side of the river, near Albany.

The French settlers in Acadie, though within the limits claimed by the English, had been permitted to enjoy the land they occupied, without interruption, and they flattered themselves that they had acquired a possession which would not be disputed. In 1613, Madame de Guercheville, a pious French lady, zealous for the conversion of the natives, having obtained from de Ments, a surrender of his patent, and a charter of Nova Scotia, from the king of France, sent out a ship, conveying two Jesuits, as missionaries. Saussaye, who commanded the expedition, after touching at Port Royal, and some other places, proceeded to Mount Desert, where the two Jesuits fixed their settlement, which they called St. Saviour, and set up the cross. About this time captain Samuel-Argal of Virginia, arrived off the island, for the purpose of fishing. Learning that the French had a settlement on the island, he immediately attacked

* Smith places the discovery in 1608.-Hist. New York.

it; the French made little resistance, one of the Jesuits was killed and most of the other people taken and carried to Virginia. The governor of that colony, now determined to sweep the French from the lands in Acadie, within the English limits. Three vessels, carrying fourteen guns and sixty soldiers, were put under the command of captain Argal, with orders to raze all the French posts and settlements, to the 46th degree of north latitude. Argal accordingly sailed, and arriving at Mount Desert, broke down the cross erected by the Jesuits, and took possession of St. Saviour, in the name of the king of England. He then proceeded to St. Croix, and having broken up several other plantations, sailed for the Dutch settlement, at Hudson's river, and compelled the governor to submit himself and colony to the English nation. Having without much resistance effected the principal objects of his expedition, Argal returned to Virginia.

In 1614, a new governor arrived from Holland, with a reinforcement of men-built a fort at Manhattan, where the city of New York is now situated, and asserted the right of the Dutch to the country; from which time it was held by them many years without interruption.

The same year, several gentlemen in England fitted out two vessels, with forty five men and boys, for North Virginia, under Capt. John Smith, who had been noted for his extraordinary exploits in the southern colony, and other parts of the world. Smith arrived at the island of Monahegon about the last of April; built seven boats, in one of which, he, with eight men, surveyed the coast from Penobscot to Cape Cod, traded largely with the natives in beaver and other furs, and returned to England richly laden. From his survey, he delineated a map of the the coast, and presented it to the king, who gave the country the name of New England.

When Smith sailed from New England, he left one of his ships to complete her lading, under Thomas Hunt, who committed a most perfidious act, long remembered by the natives; and which rendered them hostile to future adventurers. Under pretence of trade, Hunt enticed twenty four of them on board his ship, confined them under hatches, and carried them to Malaga, where he sold them to the Spaniards for slaves. One of these was Squanto, who afterwards got to England and thence returned to his native country, and notwithstanding his cruel treatment, afforded much aid to the future settlers of Plymouth.

Not long after this perfidious transaction, an English ship under Capt. Hobson, arrived at the isle of Capawick, one of the Elizabeth cluster, on the coast of New England, for the purpose of establishing a plantation, and opening a trade with the natives. Two of Hunt's kidnapped Indians accompanied Hobson to the coast, one of whom soon after died on board the ship, the other, named Epenow, indignant at the conduct of Hunt, resolved to revenge himself on the English. Some of his old friends visited Epenow, who was detained on board, and contrived with him, a plan for his liberation. Twenty canoes, at the appointed time, approached the ship under pretext of trading; when they were sufficiently near Epenow leaped overboard, and instantly a shower of arrows poured from the canoes into the ship; the Indians then pushed on, and, in spite of Hobson's musketry, drew Epenow from the water, and carried him safe to shore. Several of the Indians were killed; the master

of the vessel and some others were wounded. Finding the Indians thus hostile, Hobson soon after sailed for England.

Several other attempts were soon after made to open a trade with the natives, and to occupy stations on the coast of New England; bnt owing to their hostility, they all proved abortive. Ships however, still resorted to the coast, for the purpose of taking fish, and in this business they were generally very successful. At Newfoundland, prior to 1615, several thousand people from England, France and Portugal, had established themselves, and a regular government had been formed in 1610, under a patent granted to the earl of Northampton and forty associates, extending from 46 to 52 degrees north latitude. John Guy soon after sailed from England with thirty nine persons, and began a settlement for the proprietors at Conception bay. From this period the colony increased, and was the grand rendezvous of numerous vessels, which resorted to the coast for fishing.

In 1619, Thomas Dermer arrived on the coast of New England, loaded a ship with furs and fish at Monahgean and dispatched it for Europe. Proceeding afterwards in a small bark to the southward, he first discovered the sound between Long Island and the coast of Connecticut, and the dangerous passage since called Hell-gate. Speaking of this passage he 66 says, "We found a most dangerous catwract amongst small rockie Ilans, occasioned by two unequal tydes, the one ebbing and flowing two hours before the other." Probably the "catwract" and sound were previously known to the Dutch at Manhattan. Dermer the next year visited Martha's Vineyard, where he was suddenly attacked by Epenow, at the head of a party of Indians, and received fourteen wounds; soon after he sailed to Virginia, where he died. While on the coast Dermer redeemed from the Indians, two Frenchmen, the remainder of a crew, cast away on cape Cod in 1616--the others had been put to death.

The country to the southward, bordering on New Netherlands, had been visited by a Swedish merchant, who gave it a favorable representation. A number of gentlemen of that nation, with several Finns, through the recommendation of the king of Sweden associated for the settlement of a colony in that part of the country. In 1627, a company of these people landed at cape Henlopen, and sometime after, bought of the natives, the lands extending from that cape, to the falls of Delaware, of which they took peaceable possession. In 1630, they built a fort at Hoarkill within the capes; but this was burnt down in 1645. From this time they claimed the country until they were extirpated by the Dutch in 1655.

In 1681, Pennsylvania was granted by Charles II. to William Penn, who commenced settlements the same year, and the next year the foundation of Philadelphia was laid.

Besides the voyages that have been mentioned, several others were made to North America by the maritime nations of Europe; but as they were generally for the purpose of discovery in the regions about Hudson's bay, or for private emolument, unconnected with the settlement of New England, they are omitted; that of the Pilgrims from England in 1620, will be given in connection with the first permanent settlement at Plymouth.