EUROPEAN EXPEDITIONS IN NORTH AMERICA. 167 



In 1605, the EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON and LORD 

 ARUNDEL equipped a ship and sent her to New England, 

 under the command of Captain George Weymouth. He 

 explored the coast from the Penobscot to the Hudson. Not 

 far from the mouth of the latter river, he entered a good 

 harbour, which was called Pentecost Harbour. He then 

 returned to England. 



The colonization of North America by the English com 

 menced in the beginning of the seventeenth century, under 

 the reign of JAM ES I. Hakluyt, Sir Ferdinand Gorges, Sir 

 John Popham, and Captain John Smith, were all, and at the 

 same time, directing their efforts to the same object. They 

 united together, inviting others to join them in petitioning the 

 King for a patent to raise a Company for the settlement of 

 colonies in Virginia. 



This petition was favourably received, and on the loth 

 of April, 1606, letters patent were issued, granting them all 

 the territories in America lying on the sea coast between the 

 34th and 45th degrees of latitude. The patentees were 

 divided into two companies, the southern comprising Londoners, 

 and the northern composed of adventurers from Plymouth 

 and Bristol. 



The London Company fitted three small vessels, under 

 the command of Captain C. Newport, who sailed on the igth 

 of December, 1606. The squadron, after four months voyage, 

 was driven into Chesapeake Bay. Here he discovered and 

 named Cape Henry. After coasting about for some time, 

 they entered a river, called by the natives Powhatan. They 

 made a settlement there, which they called Jamestown, in 

 honour of their King. This town is the oldest English settle 

 ment in America. 



Captain Smith, one of the adventurers, a member of the 

 Council of Administration, and whose name will ever be 

 associated with the establishment of civilized society in 

 America, descended from a respectable family of Lincolnshire, 

 and was wealthy. Entering upon the direction of affairs 

 he fortified Jamestown. Supplies being cut off from England, 

 and the savages refusing to supply them with more, he put 

 himself at the head of a company of his people and advanced 

 into the country. By his affability to the well disposed 

 tribes, and by repelling vigorously the others, he obtained 

 abundant supplies for the colony. But in the midst of his 

 success he was made prisoner, and would have been executed 

 by the Indians if it had not been for Pocahontas, the King s 



