FRENCH DISCOVERIES. 25 P'D. I they called Prima Vista. Steering northward, they PT.I 1498 bot dis The French also em 4. Sebastian Cabot sailed a second time,-reached Sebas Labrador in latitude 58°, thence turning southerly, he tian Ca became the discoverer of the coast of the United States; covers along which he proceeded, as far as to the southern our com latitude of Maryland. 5. The French King, Francis I., in 1524, sent out John Verrazani, a native of Florence, who reached the continent in the latitude of Wilmington, North Carolina. Italian His crew looked with wonder upon the wild costume of the natives, made of the skins of animals, and set off by necklaces of coral and garlands of feathers. As they sailed northward along the coast, they thought the country very inviting, it being covered with green trees, among which were many fragrant flowers. disover er. 1524 ni in N 6. At a fine harbor, supposed to be that of Newport in Rhode Island, Verrazani remained fifteen days, and there found "the goodliest people he had seen.' "From Verraza thence he followed the north-eastern shore of New England, finding the inhabitants jealous and hostile. From Nova Scotia, he returned to France, and wrote a narrative of his voyage, which is still existing. England Cartier 7. James Cartier was the discoverer to whom the French trace the extensive empire which they possess- 1534 ed in North America. Cartier, after a prosperous voy- James age of twenty days, made Cape Bonavista, the most makes easterly point of Newfoundland. Sailing around the great dis north-eastern extremity of the island, he encountered severe weather and icy seas. Then stretching to the south-west, he discovered, on St. Lawrence's day, the noble gulf which bears the name of that saint. 3. At what place?-4. Who discovered the coast of the United States? and how far?-5. What Italian did the king of France send out? Where did he reach our shore? What account did he give of the natives? 6. What Indians do you suppose he encountered at Newport? 7. Who was the greatest discoverer employed by the French? During Car. ier's first voyage, what great discoveries did he make? coveries 26 PT. 1 P'D. I. BAD ACTIONS, FROM BAD MEN 8. In 1535, he sailed on a second voyage, entered the gulf of St. Lawrence, proceeded up the river, to CH. 11. which he gave the same name, and anchored at an island, which, abounding in grapes, he named Bacchus 1535. Isle, now the Isle of Orleans. He continued his voyage to the Island of Hochelega, to which he gave the Cartier's name of Mont Real. After a severe winter he returnvoyage. ed in the spring with dreary accounts of the country. second He, however, named it New France, and it was also called Canada, but at what time, or whether from any significancy in the word, is not known. New 9. France now possessed a country in the New France. World, through which, flowed a river, more majestic than any in Europe. Francis De La Roque, lord of Roberval, in Picardy, obtained from the king full auHis third thority to rule, as viceroy, the vast territory around the der Rob- bay and river of St. Lawrence. Cartier was necessary erval. to him, and received the title of chief pilot and captain made un May, general of the enterprise. The prisons were throw▸ open, and with their inmates, Cartier sailed. 10. He built a fort near the site of Quebec, and there 1541. spent a winter, in which he had occasion to hang one Cartier of his disorderly company, and put several in irons, Quebec. In the spring he took them back to France, just as Ro founds Admiral berval arrived with supplies and fresh emigrants. By him, however, nothing permanent was effected; and after a year, he abandoned his viceroyalty. 11. Coligni, the distinguished high admiral of France 1562. was the friend of the Huguenots, a name given to Coligui the French Protestants. These were objects of such sends out hatred and fear to the monarchs, that they were plot Ribuult ting their destruction, and when a project was formed by the admiral to plant with them a colony in America, it found ready favor. He therefore sent out, under the command of John Ribault, distinguished as a brave 8. Give an account of his second voyage? What can you say of the name of the country? 9. Under whose authority did he make this third voyage? What kind of people were brought over as colonists ? 10. Did any good result take place? What can you say of Roberval?-11. Who was Coligni? Whose friend was he? What project did he contrive? Wnom did he send as leader of the colony? and pious protestant, two ships loaded with conscien- PT. L. tious Huguenots, many of whom were of the best families in France. P'D. I. Hebuilds lina in S. 12. They approached land in the delightful clime of St. Augustine; and, on the first of May, discovered the St. Ft. CaroJohn, which they called the river of May. Sailing Carolina, along the coast north-easterly, they fixed on Port Royal 1564 entrance. There they built a fort, and called it Carolina, a name which is preserved in that of two of our states. Ribault left there a colony, and returned to France. it. 13. The commander of the fort provoked a mutiny, Colonists and was slain. The colonists longed for home. They abandons put to sea without suitable provisions, and being found in a famishing state by a British vessel, they were carried to England. Ft. Caro built. 14. The persevering Coligni soon after sent out another colony under the worthy Laudonniere. Upon the 1566. banks of the river of May, with psalms of thanksgiving, "lina in they made their dwelling place, and erected another fort, Florida called also Carolina. The next year Ribault arrived with vessels containing emigrants and supplies; and taking the command, the colony seemed happily planted CHAPTER III. Spanish Discoveries, Adventures, and Cruelties.--St. Augustine. Leon 1. JOHN Ponce De Leon, a Spanish soldier, who had Ponce de once voyaged with Columbus, had received an impres- seeks the sion, common in those times, that there existed in the fountain New World a fountain, whose waters had power to 12. What country did they first reach? Where did they build a fort, and what name give it 7-13. What happened after Ribault had departed? 14. By whom did Coligni send out another colony? Where did they build a fort, and what name give it? Who came and for what purpose? CHAPTER III.-1. Who was John Ponce de Leon? What inJuced him to come to the New World? of life. 28 P'D. I. BETTER TURN BACK, THAN GO ON WRONG. PT.I. arrest disease, and give immortal youth; and he set forth to seek it. On Easter Sunday, called by the CH. III. Spaniards Pascua Florida, and a little north of the 1512. latitude of St. Augustine, he discovered what he deemed, from the blossoms of the forest trees, a land of flowers. The fountain of life was not there; but Ponce took possession of the country in the name of the Spanish king, and called it Florida. Disco vers Florida. 2. The part of South Carolina, in the vicinity of the Combahee river, was soon after visited by a Spaniard, named Vasquez De Ayllon. The country was named Chicora, and the river, the Jordan. De Ayllon invited the natives to visit his ships, and when they stood in crowds upon his deck, he hoisted sail and carried them off. Thus, torn from their families, they were, as slaves. condemned to ceaseless toil. De Ayllon afterwards ness of attempted to conquer the country; but the hostility de of the natives could not be overcome, and numbers of Ayllon. Spaniards perished in the fruitless attempt. 1520. Wicked Vasquez cessful 1528. 3. By another unsuccessful effort, under the advenUnsuc- turer Narvaez, to conquer Florida and the adjoining attempt country, an army of three hundred Spaniards wasted Taez. away, till but four or five returned. of Nar nand de 4. They however insisted that Florida was the richFerdi- est country in the world; and Ferdinand De Soto, Soto. already famous as the companion of Pizarro, the cruel conqueror of Peru, obtained a commission from Charles V. to conquer the country. He sailed, with a considerable force, to Cuba, of which he had been made Lands in governor; and there adding to his army, he landed in Florida. 1539, at Espirito Santo, in Florida, with six hundred soldiers; an army greater, and better supplied, than that, with which Cortez conquered Mexico. 1539 5. He expected to find mines and utensils of gold; 1. What country did he discover? Observe the dates, and tell which discovered Florida first, the French just mentioned, or this Spaniard? Tell the dates in each case. - 2. Give an account of the expedition of Vasquez de Ayllon. What do you think of his conduct?-3. What can you say of Narvaez? What expedition did Ferdinand de Soto undertake? Give an account of his preparations-his numbers-his place of landing in America.-3. His objects. - 4. HORRIBLE BIGOTRY OF THE TIMES. 29 ject to and being from time to time deluded by the natives, he p”T. I. pursued these illusions, which ever fled as he approach- P'D. I. ed. He went north, crossed the Alleghany mountains, CH. I. then marched southerly to Mobile, where he fought a His obbloody battle with the people of a walled city. At Pensacola he met ships from Cuba, with supplies for bis exhausted army; and too proud to be wise, he ontinued to pursue a shadow, rather than retrace a false step. find gold. 1541 the Mis 6. The hope of the precious metals still lured him on, and he now bent his course to the north-west, and in latitude 34° he discovered the Mississippi. He con- April 25 tinued west until he reached the Wachita, when, be- He dis coming dispirited, he turned his course; descending that covers stream to its junction with the Red river. Thence he sissippi. went down its current; and where the Red mingles its waters with the Mississippi, he died. His body was May 21. 1542 inclosed in a hollow oak, and committed to the broad stream. The officer who succeeded him in command, conducted the poor remains of the army, down the Mississippi. He dies Meien from Spain. . When the news reached Spain, that Florida had been colonized by French Huguenots, the cruel mo- dez sent narch, Philip II., gave to Pedro Melendez de Aviles a commission, to take possession of that country, and to destroy the heretics. Five hundred persons accompanied Melendez, who were men with families, soldiers, mechanics and priests. Coming upon the coast south of the French settlement, he discovered the harbor of Sept. 8, St. Augustine on the day of that saint, and here he laid 1565 the foundation of the city of ST. AUGUSTINE, the oldest founde by more than forty years, of any within the limits of St. Au our republic. 8. The French had received from Melendez the terrible notice, that he had come to destroy every person 5. His route and return to the coast ?-6. His second route and great discovery? Where did he die? How was his body lisposed of? What became of his army?-7. What king sent to destroy the French colony? Whom did he send? What description of persons, and how many accompanied him? What is there remarkable about the city which he founded? — 8. What notice did he give the French? He gustine. |