566 MISCELLANEOUS 



The settlements continue almost continuously along the southern 

 shore, as far as Fortune Bay, and at most of the harbours there are 

 places of worship. The settlement at St. George's Bay is perhaps 

 more agricultural than any other on the island. 



EXTRACTS FROM " BRITISH AMERICA," BY M'GREGOR, PUB. 1832. 



NEWFOUNDLAND. 



*****# 



CHAPTER II. Sketch of its History. 



Newfoundland, although occupying no distinguished place in the 

 history of the New World, has, notwithstanding, at least for two 

 centuries and a half after its discovery by Cabot in 1479, been of 

 more mighty importance to Great Britain than any other colony; 

 and it is doubtful if the British empire could have risen to its great 

 and superior rank among the nations of the earth, if any other power 

 had held the possession of Newfoundland, its fishery having ever 

 since its commencement furnished our navy with a great proportion 

 of its hardy and brave sailors. 



France made a claim to Newfoundland, under pretence of priority 

 of discovery; alleging that the fishermen of Biscay frequented the 

 banks even before the first voyage of Columbus, and that Verazani 

 afterwards discovered it sooner than England. These pretensions, 

 however, could not constitute a right in France, as Cabot, by the 

 most undoubted authority, discovered and landed on the coast several 

 years before, and took possession of this island, which he named 

 Baccalaos, and on the island of St. John's (now Prince Edward 

 Island) : from the latter he carried away three natives to England. 

 He also discovered the continent of Norembegua, the ancient name 

 of all that part of America situated between the Gulf of St. Lawrence 

 and Virginia. 6 



The first attempt made by the English to form a settlement in 

 Newfoundland, was in the latter part of the reign of Henry VIII., 

 at the recommendation of Messrs Elliot and Thorn, who traded there 

 with leave from the crown ; and to such advantage, that an expedi- 

 tion was made, at the expense of a Mr. Hare, a merchant of eminence, 

 and his friends, for the purpose of planting Newfoundland. 



From their ignorance of the nature of the country they failed 

 in their attempt, and were reduced to great wretchedness through 

 famine and fatigue. From this period until 1579, all thoughts of 

 prosecuting the discovery and settlement of Newfoundland were 

 relinquished, although we had then fifteen ships engaged in its fish- 

 eries. About this time, Captain Whitburn, who was employed by a 

 merchant of Southampton, in a ship of three hundred tons, put into 

 Trinity Bay, where he was so successful, that, with a full cargo of 

 fish, &c., he cleared the expenses of the voyage. He says, " we saw 

 in 1610 a mermaid in St. John's harbour^" and in 1612, " we saw 

 Easton the arch-pirate, with ten sail of good vessels, well furnished 

 and very rich ; " " many pirates frequented the coast at this time." 



The name by which the natives called cod-fish, which were so abundant as 

 to induce Cabot to give this name to the country. 



M 7 ido Hackluyt's Voyages. De Thou. Herrara. Hist. Gen. Amer. Raynal. 



