their respective reports. Such an investigation on any country would be laborious; I need not say how much the labor is increased by the extent of our republic, the differences in the origin and early government of its component parts, and the multiplicity of topics, which require to be discussed and arranged. Much error had become incorporated with American History. Many of the early writers in Europe were only careful to explain the physical qualities of the country; and the political institutions of dependent colonies were not thought worthy of exact inquiry. The early history was often written with a carelessness, which seized on rumors and vague recollections as sufficient authority for an assertion, which satisfied prejudice by wanton perversions, and which, where materials were not at hand, substituted the inferences of the writer for authenticated facts. These early books have ever since been cited as authorities, and the errors, sometimes repeated even by considerate writers whose distrust was not excited, have almost acquired a prescriptive right to a place in the annals of America. This state of things has increased the difficulty of my undertaking, and, I believe also, its utility; and I cannot regret the labor, which has enabled me to present, under a somewhat new aspect, the early love of liberty in Virginia; the causes and nature of its loyalty; its commercial freedom; the colonial policy of Cromwell; the independent spirit of Maryland; the early institutions of Rhode-Island; and the stern independence of the New-England Puritans. On these and other points, on which I have differed from received accounts, I appeal with confidence to the judgment of those, who are critically acquainted with the sources of our early history. I have dwelt at considerable length on this first period, because it contains the germ of our Institutions. The maturity of the nation is but a continuation of its youth. The spirit of the colonies demanded freedom from the beginning. It was in this period, that Virginia first asserted the doctrine of popular sovereignty; that the people of Maryland constituted their own government; that New-Plymouth, Connecticut, New Haven, New-Hampshire, Maine, rested their legislation on the popular will, that Massachusetts declared itself a perfect commonwealth. In the progress of the work I have been most liberally aided by the directors of our chief public libraries; especially the library at Cambridge, on American history the richest in the world, has been opened to me as freely as if it had been my own. The arrangement of the materials has been not the least difficult part of my labor. A few topics have been anticipated; a few, reserved for an opportunity, where they can be more successfully grouped with other incidents. To give unity to the account of New-Belgium, I reserve the subject for the next volume. For the work which I have undertaken, will necessarily extend to four or perhaps five volumes. I aim at being concise; but also at giving a full picture of the progress of American Institutions. The first volume is now published separately, and for a double motive. The work has already occasioned long preparation, and its completion will require further years of exertion; I have been unwilling to travel so long a journey alone; and desire, as I proceed, to correct my own judgment by the criticisms of candor. I have thought that the public would recognize the sincerity of my inquiries, and that in those states, where the materials of history have as yet been less carefully collected, and less critically compared, I should make for myself friends, disposed to assist in placing within my reach the sources of information, which are essential to success. BOSTON, JUNE 16, 1834. CONTENTS. EARLY VOYAGES. FRENCH SETTLEMENTS. Icelandic Voyages, p. 4-Columbus, 6-First Voyage of the Cabots, 8-Sebastian Cabot, 11-Portuguese Voyage, 15-French Voyages, 16-Verrazzani, 17-Cartier, 21-Roberval, 25-De la Roche, 28-Cham- Spanish love of Maratime Adventure, p. 34-Ponce de Leon, 36-Die- go Miruelo. Fernandez, 39-Grijalva. Garay, 40-De Ayllon, 41-Cortes. Gomez, 43-Pamphilo de Narvaez, 44-Ferdinand de Soto, 47-Soto sails for Florida, 49-Enters Georgia, 52—Alabama, 54—Mississippi, 57-Discovery of the Mississippi River, 58-Soto enters Arkansas and Missouri, 59-Condition of the Native Tribes, 61-Death and Burial of Soto, 63-Spaniards on the Red River, 64—They leave the United States, 65-Missionaries in Florida, 66-Florida Abandoned, 67-Coligny plans a Settlement, 68-Huguenots in South-Carolina, 69-Coligny's Second Col- ony, 71-Attacked by the Spaniards, 74-St. Augustine, the oldest town in the United States-Massacre of the French, 79-Avenged by de Gourgues, ENGLAND TAKES POSSESSION OF THE UNITED STATES. Voyages in the reign of Henry VIII. p. 85-Rut, 86-Hore, 87-Parlia- ment legislates on America, 88-Voyage in search of a Northeast Passage, 89-Frobisher's Three Voyages, 92-Drake in the Oregon Territory, 98-Fisheries, 99-Sir Humphrey Gilbert, 100-His First Voyage, 101-Gilbert and Walter Raleigh, 102-Gilbert perishes at sea, 104—Ra- leigh's Patent, 104-Voyage of Amidas and Barlow, 105-Raleigh sends a Colony to North-Carolina, 108-Native Inhabitants, 111-Ill success of the Colony, 113-Its Return, 116-Grenville, 117-City of Raleigh, 118-New Colony in North-Carolina, 119-Virginia Dare, 120—Raleigh's Assigns, 122-The Roanoke Colony is lost, 123-Character of Raleigh, 123-Gosnold, 127—Pring, 129-Weymouth, 130—Character of the Early Condition of England favors Colonization, p. 134-The First Charter, 136-King James legislates for Virginia, 139—Colonists embark, 140—Ar- rive in Virginia, 141-Jamestown, 142-Distress of the Colony, 143-Ener- gy of Smith, 144-Smith a Captive, 145-Saved by Pocahontas, 147-Smith explores the Chesapeake, 149-Smith's Administration, 150-Second Charter, 152-Lord De La Ware, 153-Character of Smith, 155-The Starving Time, 156-Arrival of Lord De La Ware, 157-Dale introduces Martial Law, 159-Sir Thomas Gates, 160-Third Charter, 162-Po- cahontas and Rolfe, 163-Attack on the French, 164-Dale's Admin- istration-Tenure of Lands, 166-Tobacco, 168-Argall, 169-Yeard- ley-First Colonial Assembly, 170-Virginia acquires Civil Freedom, 173. SLAVERY.-DISSOLUTION OF THE LONDON COMPANY. Origin of Negro Slavery, p. 177-Negroes in Portugal and Spain, 178-Native Americans enslaved, 179-Negro Slavery in the West-Indies, 182--Opinions, 184--England and the Slave Trade, 186-New-England and the Slave Trade, 187-Servants, 188-Slavery in Virginia, 189—Wyatt's Administration, 190-The Aborigines, 192-A Massacre and a War, 195-King James contends with the London Company, 199-Commis- sioners in Virginia, 203–Spirit of the Virginians, 204-Dissolution of the RESTRICTIONS ON COLONIAL COMMERCE. Charles I. p. 209-Virginia retains its Liberties, 210-Death of Yeard- |