sprung with the agility and fury of tigers from the thickets, or who came along silently in their birch canoes during night.

The governor of Louisburg pretended, as formerly, that he had no control over them, and that the premiums for English prisoners were given from motives of humanity, to prevent the horrible tortures which the savages would inflict upon them, or their excruciating death by the murderous scalping-knife.

Major Lawrence, who was despatched with a small detachment to Chignecto, found that the inhabitants, on learning that he was approaching, had burnt their houses and joined La Corne; and, after an unsatisfactory interview with this officer, he returned to Halifax. A force of one thousand men was sent, in consequence, to Chignecto, under Major Lawrence. He effected a landing with some difficulty and sharp skirmishing, and the loss of several men. The French and Indians saved themselves by escaping across the river and joining La Corne. He then built a fort, which served to overawe the French, and to check the incursions of the Indians.

Major Lawrence succeeded to the administration of the government in 1754, and soon after an expedition from New England, under the command of Colonel Monkton, proceeded to Chignecto, where it was joined by four ships-of-war and a detachment of regular troops. After bombarding and taking a block-house and battery, Fort Beau Sejour, which mounted twenty-six pieces of artillery, was stormed, and the garrison made prisoners and sent to Louisburg. The fort on Bay Vert was then invested and taken. In both great stores of ammunition and provisions were found. To secure the peace of the province, and to deprive the Acadians from assisting the French or encouraging the Indians, it was determined by Governor Lawrence to remove them from Nova Scotia, unless they subscribed to the oath of allegiance. The Acadians were, therefore, without any intimation as to the object of calling them together, commanded to appear before Colonel Fessenden, at Grand Pre; and in consequence of this summons, about four hundred men assembled. They were then shut up in the church, which was now turned into a garrison, where they were told that they were immediately to be removed from the province, and distributed among the other colonies, and that their lands and cattle were forfeited to the crown. This order was rigidly executed. Many of these people fled to the woods and joined the Indians; others found their way to Canada and the island of St. John. The villages were laid waste, and their houses burnt to ashes. The whole of the settlements at Chignecto and Minas were destroyed.

When Mr. Pitt was appointed premier, that sagacions statesman soon discovered that if Great Britain did not humble France, by conquering Cape Breton and Canada, the power of England would be abridged by the loss of her trade and the ruin of the American colonies. He, therefore, without delay, adopted measures for effecting this object. A most powerful fleet was equipped, which sailed immediately for Halifax. This fleet, consisting of one hundred and fifty-two ships, commanded by Admiral Boscawen, and having on board an army of eleven thousand troops, under General Amherst, arrived at Halifax in April, 1758, and were joined by the provincial troops. On the 28th of May, this powerful armament, consisting of one hundred and fifty-seven ships and sixteen thousand troops, sailed from Halifax. The conquest of Louisburg, which is related in another part of this history, with the surrender of St. John's Island, established the prosperity of Nova Scotia; and this was further secured by the capture of Quebec by Wolfe, and the final conquest of Canada. By the treaty of Paris, in 1763, France relinquished all claim to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Cape Breton and St. John's Island, and from that time these countries have formed a part of the British empire in America.

The island of St. John's, now called Prince Edward's, was separated from the jurisdiction of Nova Scotia, in 1767. New Brunswick and Cape Breton were formed into separate governments, in 1781. Cape Breton was subsequently re-annexed to Nova Scotia. The settlements of the British on HUDSON'S BAY, were begun nearly two centuries ago. A French voyager, Grosseliez, on landing at Nelson's River, about the year 1660, found there a number of New England settlers from Boston; but of this colony little more is known. In 1668, a settlement was made at Fort Charles, under the patronage of Prince Rupert, and the next year the Hudson's Bay Company was incorporated. This company exists to the present day, and holds the same sort of monopoly in that region that was formerly exercised in Asia by the British East India Company. The rest of the world are in a great measure excluded from the territories of the Hudson's Bay Company. From time to time, settlements have been established at various other places within the jurisdiction of the company; but the history of their government consists of nothing but the narratives of hunting excursions and bargains with the natives, and the adventures of travellers who have endeavored to penetrate into the interior, or coast along the shores of these barren and inhospitable regions. Hearne, an enterprising traveller, discovered the Coppermine River in 1770, and following the stream down to

its mouth, discovered the Arctic Ocean. Mackenzie penetrated to Slave Lake, in 1789.

The progress of northern discovery languished during the wars of Europe; but, in 1818, the British government despatched sev eral expeditions by sea and land, which have determined nearly the whole outline of the northern coast, from Hudson's Bay to Behring's Straits. Captain Ross, in 1818, and Captain Parry, in 1819, sailed on their first voyages to the north. The North Georgian Islands, about the seventy-fifth degree of latitude, appear to have been the limits of their approach toward the pole. Both these commanders made repeated voyages, and wintered in a high northern latitude. The scientific observations made by them are highly interesting; but the northwest passage to Asia has not yet been effected. The travels of Lieutenant Franklin and Captain Back have also added much to our knowledge of the geography of these regions, although no discovery of any commercial value appears to have been the result. They have ascertained that the Arctic Ocean bounds the continent of America on the north, and that the country along its shores, and wherever they penetrated into the interior, is a frozen desert, or scantily peopled by roaming Indian tribes, in the lowest state of savage life.

RUSSIAN AMERICA owes its sovereignty under the Muscovite power, to the discoveries of Behring and Tchirikow, who, in 1728, first saw the straits which separate America and Asia. The Russian voyagers subsequently extended their discoveries. southwardly along the American coast towards Nootka Sound, and at a late period, made a few establishments for hunting and trade with the Indians on the coast. The limits of the Russian territory in America are bounded on the south by the parallel of fifty-four degrees forty minutes north latitude; but the sovereignty is little more than a name. A single settlement at Sitka, on the continent, and two others at Kodiak and Illuluk, on the island of Oonalashka, engaged in the fur trade with the Indians, comprise all the actual Russian possessions in America.

GREENLAND is sometimes considered as belonging rather to America than to Europe. More than ten centuries ago, it was visited by the Danes and Norwegians, who established themselves in the country, the Danes on the west coast, and the Norwegians on the east. About the year 1400, the Norwegian colony, then comprising one hundred and ninety villages, was shut up by the ice, and nothing was heard of it afterwards. The western colony still exists, and comprises about twenty settlements, subject to the crown of Denmark.

UNITED STATES

CHAPTER XXXII

Discovery of Florida by Ponce de Leon.-The Fountain of Youth.-Expedition of Pamphilo de Narvaez.-Hurricane.-Narvaez undertakes the conquest of the country.-Capture of Apalachen.-Difficulties encountered by the Spaniards.They construct boats to return to their fleet.-Voyage along the shore.-Their adventures and sufferings.-Humanity of the natives.-Terrible fate of the exploring party.-Proceedings of Alvaro de Nunez.-He sets out on a journey to Mexico and the South Sea.-Adventures on the route.-He crosses the Mississippi.-Sufferings of Alvaro and his companions.-They arrive at Mexico.

PONCE DE LEON, one of the companions of Columbus on his second voyage, was the discoverer of Florida. He was appointed governor of Porto Rico, but after exercising this authority a short time, he was displaced; yet he had a mind too active and ardent to remain at rest. A new object attracted his attention and absorbed his whole soul. He was assured by a number of Indians, that in some part of the Bahama islands there was a fountain called Bimini, of such wonderful virtue, that the man who bathed in its

waters, whatever his age, was restored at once to the full bloom and vigor of youth. This marvellous tale inflamed the eager curiosity of the Spanish chieftain. He spent many months in sailing along these coasts, landing at every point, and plunging into every pool of water, always hoping to rise in a state of blissful renovation. The consequence of such long and incessant agitation, under a burning sky, was that, instead of the brilliant rejuvenescence which he so vainly hoped to obtain, he brought upon himself all the infirmities of a premature old age. Instead of a second youth, he arrived at a second childhood, and never displayed the same vigor, either of body or mind, as before he entered upon his delusive search.

It is seldom, however, that extraordinary efforts of human activity fail of leading to some important consequences. While Ponce was beating about restlessly from shore to shore, in search of the mysterious fountain, he came in view of a more extensive range of land than any he had yet seen. It was covered with magnificent forests, intermingled with flowering shrubs, which presented an enchanting aspect. This discovery was made on Easter Sunday, 1512; from which circumstance, or the flowery appearance of the country, the name of Florida was bestowed upon it. In navigating along the shore, the ships were violently agitated by the currents from the Gulf Stream, which rushes with concentrated force through the Bahama channels, and from which, the southern cape received the name of Corrientes. The Spaniards still continued to give the name of island to all newlydiscovered land. In vain did the natives assure them that Florida formed part of a vast continent, of which they even named various nations and provinces. Some years elapsed before the Spaniards could learn to view Florida as a part of the American continent. When at last they did so, they hesitated not to claim as Florida, and as belonging to Spain, the whole of North America.

Ponce de Leon, having at length renounced his unfortunate search after the Fountain of Youth, determined to make the most of his real discovery. He repaired to Spain, and obtained from the king authority to lead an expedition into Florida, with the title of Adelantado, which included the powers of governor and commander-in-chief. Finding Porto Rico disturbed by an insurrection of the Caribs, he was obliged to take the field against them; but being unequal to his former exertions, he made an unfortunate campaign, and lost much of his former reputation. At length, he contrived to equip an expedition for Florida; but his constitution, exhausted by visionary hopes and fruitless efforts,