Ch.IX. south AMERICA. 401 



force J for in 15S3, Humphry Girber an Engliflimaa 

 fettled there ; though he was afterwards obliged to 

 evacuate it, and fail for England in the following 

 year; but did not reach ir, perilliing in a ftorm. 



In the year 1622, the Englilli again returned to 

 fettle in this ifland, under the conducl: of Mr. George 

 Calvert, who^ with more forefight than his prede- 

 ceffor, brought with him all kinds of feeds, grain, 

 and pulfe, and immediately fet his followers to 

 work in clearing. thofe parts which feemed beft adapted 

 to culture; and accordingly the produce of his feeds 

 contributed greatly to the comfortable fubfiftence of 

 thefe new adventurers, befides affording a ftock for 

 the enfuing years. 



The French had for a long time been in pof~ 

 fefTion of Placentia, and with it of the principal pare 

 of this ifland, but without any moleftation to the fet- 

 tlements of the Englidi on the eaflern coafts of it ; 

 and the velfels of both nations quietly fi(hed together. 

 The Englifh, however, long entertained a defire of 

 making themfelvcs mailers of Placentia, as the only 

 fortified town in the ifland, as alio of the whole fouth- 

 ern part held by the French. They had tried force 

 and negociations to compafs their ends ; but all their 

 endeavours ended in difappointment, till the peace 

 of Utrecht, concluded betwixt that nation and Lewis 

 XIV. of France ; when they took advantage of the 

 low ftate to which tha^ monarch was reduced, and 

 infilled on the entire and abfolute cefilon of New- 

 foundland ; and ever lince that time' no other nation 

 has fettled there ; though with a referve of the right 

 of cod-fifhing both to the French and Spaniards ; to 

 the former by articles nine, ten and twelve of that 

 cefTion ; and to the Spaniards by the 15th article of 

 the fame treaty. 



The country of this ifland is very unequal, and 

 covered with hills and mountains ; and thefe at a 

 diftance appear much higher than thofc near the fea, 



Vol, II. D d They 



