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II 



A POSTSCRIPT. 



The discovery of the North American territories is generally be- 

 lieved to have been due to Europeans of the Latin race, but the fact 

 is, those of Scandinavian extraction were the real discoverers. 



Briefly summarised, we may observe that, following the incidental 

 narrations of Icelandic and Norwegian records, it is undeniable that 

 from their shores quitted the earliest voyagers to North America. 



Crantz, in his History of Greenland, says : — • 



" 'Tis probable those Indians al present about Newfoundland, who ai-e so different 

 in their shape and manner of living from the other Americans, may be descended from 

 some Icelanders," &c. 



Further research, in regard to the discovery of Newfoundland by 

 Jean Cabot in 1497, proves that his expedition was promoted on 

 behalf of the English Monarch, Henry VII., and, therefore, clearly 

 demonstrates that England's claim of possession of Newfoundland 

 has been anterior to that of all other nations. In support of this 

 ancient right we are confirmed by the following authorities : — 



Rees' Encyclopedia, published in 1819, says: — 



"John Cabot, encouraged in this attempt (discovery of unknown lands) by the 

 discoveries of Columbus, who returned from his expedition in 1493, obtained in 1495 

 letters patent from King Henry VII. , empowering him and his three sons to discover, 

 conquer, and settle lands then unknown ; in recompense of which they were to be in- 

 vested with many privileges. 



" The King, however, reserved to himself one-fifth part of the neat profits, and 

 instructed them to return from their voyage into the port of Bristol. Accordingly, in 

 the following year, he prepared for two expeditions, and obtained the King's permis- 

 sion to take up six ships of 200 tons burden and under,' in any harbours of the realm, 

 and to engage a sufRcient number of mariners. His Majesty was at the expense 

 of fitting one ship at Bristol, and the merchants of that city and of London added three 

 or four small vessels, freighted with suitable commodities. 



" With this fleet, John Cabot, and his son Sebastian, set sail in the spring of 1497, and 

 pursued their course till the 24th June, when they discovered the land of " Baccalos," 

 (Terra de Baccaleus, or Cod-Land), so called from the fish which they found in great 

 abundance on its coast, but now known by the name of Newfoundland. 



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