FIRST DISCOVERERS OF AMERICA. 165 



is founded upon Cabot's discoveries. These discoveries of 

 Cabot induced the King of Portugal to send an expedition 

 of discovery to America. The command was given to 

 GASPAR CORTEREAL, from the Azores. This was in 1500. 

 Cortereal explored the coast of Labrador. From a second 

 voyage, which he made in 1501, he never returned. 



In 1508, a mariner of Dieppe, Aubert, sailed to Newfound- 

 land and brought home with him a native of thai country, 

 who was presented at the Court of France. 



In 1524, John Verrazani was sent to America by 

 Francois 1er. He reached the shores of North Carolina, and 

 coasted north to the latitude of fifty degrees, exploring on 

 his way the harbours of New YORK and NEWPORT. THERE- 

 FORE HE MUST BE CONSIDERED AS THE FIRST DISCOVERER 

 OF THAT PART OF AMERICA. 



In 1534, Jacques Cartier, or Quartier, explored the 

 coast of Newfoundland. In 1535, he entered the gulf of 

 St. Lawrence, and he may be considered as the DISCOVERER 

 OF CANADA ; but the first that made an effective settlement 

 in that country was SAMUEL CHAMPLAIN. 



The settlement of Nova Scotia was made by Mr. DE 

 MONTS, who founded Port Royal. The first expedition to 

 Florida was made by PONCE DE LEON, in 15 12. He was 

 appointed by the Emperor, Governor of that country. 



After him, Perez DE ORTUBIA, VASQUEZ DE AYLLON, 

 Pamphilo de Narvaez, Alvaro Nunez, Ferdinand de 

 SOTO, and Tristran DE Luna, also visited Florida. They 

 fought many battles with the Indians, and sustained con- 

 siderable losses, resulting in the abandonment of the country 

 for a considerable period, during which the French made 

 repeated attempts to form settlements on the western coast. 

 Ribault built the fort of Carolina on the site of Port Royal, 

 and found the Indians peaceful and ready to help him. Under 

 the reign of the Spanish KiNC, Philipp IL, Pedro Malendez 

 de Avila was sent to dispute the possession of Florida to the 

 French. He commanded a fleet of eleven vessels and 2600 

 men. He sailed from Cadix the 29th of June, 1565, and 

 succeeded in recapturing Florida. 



The Spaniards were then the only occupants of American 

 soil, but the English had not abandoned their claim, founded 

 on the discovery of Cabot. 



In the reign of HENRY VIII. , Mr. Robert Thome, a 

 Bristol merchant, left the Thames on the 20th of May, 1527, 

 but nothing came out of that expedition. 



