the high cliff above the town and river, the permanence of the French settlements on the St. Lawrence was no longer doubtful. Champlain became governor of New France, and died in 1635. To him, more than to any other man, the success of the French colonies in North America must be attributed. RECAPITULATION. The French reach America.-Verrazzani makes a voyage.-Explores the country as far north as Newfoundland.-Cartier is sent to America.-Reaches Newfoundland and enters the St. Lawrence.-Returns to Europe.-Sails on a second expedition.-Ascends the St. Lawrence.-His crew are attacked with scurvy. He passes the winter at Quebec.-Returns to France.-Roberval plans a colony.-Cartier joined to the undertaking.-Prisons of France furnish emigrants.-Expedition reaches the St. Lawrence.-The leaders quarrel.-Cartier goes back to France.-The colony returns.-Roberval sails with another fleet.Is lost at sea.-Ribault conducts a band of Huguenots to Port Royal.-Builds Fort Carolina.-The settlement is abandoned.-The enterprise renewed by Laudounière.-A Huguenot colony is established on the St. John's.--But destroyed by Melendez.-De Gourges takes vengeance on the Spaniards.-La Roche is commissioned to colonize America.-French prisons again opened.A settlement is made on Sable Island.-The company carried to France.-De Monts made viceroy.-Departs with a colony.-Reaches the Bay of Fundy.Port Royal founded by Poutrincourt.-De Monts on the St. Croix.-The country named Acadia.-Champlain receives a commission.-Sails with a colony to the St. Lawrence.-Goes against the Iroquois.-Returns and founds Quebec. ΟΝ CHAPTER VI. ENGLISH DISCOVERIES AND SETTLEMENTS. the 5th of May, 1496, Henry VII., king of England, commissioned JOHN CABOT of Venice to make discoveries in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, to carry the English flag, and to take possession of all countries which he might discover. Cabot was a brave, adventurous man who had been a sailor from his boyhood, and was now a wealthy merchant of Bristol. Five ships were fitted out, and every thing made ready for the voyage. In April, 1497, the fleet left Bristol; and on the morning of the 24th of June, the gloomy, shore of Labrador was seen. This was the real discovery of the American continent Fourteen months elapsed before Columbus reached the coast of Guiana, and more than two years before Vespucci saw the main land of South America. 2. Cabot explored the coast of the country for several hundred miles. He supposed that the land was a part of the dominions of the Cham of Tartary; but finding no inhabitants, he went on shore, according to the terms of his commission, planted the flag of England, and took possession in the name of the English king. No man forgets his native land; by the side of the flag of his adopted country Cabot set up the banner of the republic of Venice-emblem of another flag which should one day float from sea to sea. 3. As soon as he had satisfied himself of the extent of the country, Cabot sailed for England. On the homeward voyage he twice saw the coast of Newfoundland, but made no landing. After an absence of three months, he reached Bristol, and was greeted with enthusiasm. The town had holiday, and the people were wild about the great discovery. The king gave him money; new ships were fitted out, and a new commission was signed in February of 1498. But after the date of this patent the name of John Cabot disappears from history. Where the rest of his life was passed and the circumstances of his death are unknown. 4. Sebastian, son of John Cabot, inherited his father's genius. He had already been to the New World on the first voyage, and now he took up his father's work with all the fervor of youth. The very fleet which had been equipped for John Cabot was entrusted to Sebastian. The object had in view was the foolish project of discovering a north-west passage to the Indies. 5. The voyage was made in the spring of 1498. Far to the north the icebergs compelled Sebastian to change his course. It was July, and the sun scarcely set at midnight. Seals were seen, and the ships plowed through such shoals of codfish as had never before been heard of. Labrador was again discovered. New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Maine were next explored. The whole coast of New England and of the Middle States was now, for the first time since the days of the Norsemen, traced by Europeans. Nor did |