PREFACE.

ELABORATE histories of the United States have been ably written; compends, or school histories, and well adapted to the place they are designed to fill, are numerous. Between these compends and the works extending to six or more volumes, there is room, as well as necessity, for a history that shall be sufficiently elaborate to trace the direct influences that have had a power in moulding the character of the nation and its institutions, moral and political-a volume that should present as fully as is consistent with this design, those events which are interesting in themselves, or characteristic of the times and people. Such a volume the author of this work has endeavored to supply. It is hoped the general reader will find in it a succinct as well as a comprehensive view of the subject, which of itself is worthy the study, especially of our own countrymen.

While the author has availed himself of original authorities, he takes pleasure in acknowledging his obligations, among others, to the following works: Histories of the United States, by Bancroft, Hildreth, and Tucker; Irving's Life of Washington; C. W. Elliott's History of New England; Broadhead's History of New York; Benton's Thirty Years' View; Abridgment of Debates in Congress, by the same author; Duyckinck's Cyclopædia of American Literature; Dr. Hawks' Contributions to the Ecclesiastical History of the United States; Dr. Robert Baird's Religion in America.

NEW YORK, September, 1859.

His Discoveries, 4

CONTENTS.

name America, 6.

CHAPTER I.

COLUMBUS.

Misfortunes, 5. Death, 5. Amerigo Vespucci and the

CHAPTER II

ABORIGINES.

CHAPTER III

SPANISH DISCOVERIES AND CONQUESTS.

South Sea, 11. First Voyage round the World, 11.

Florida, Discovery and Attempt to Settle, 12.

Conquest of Mexico and Peru, 14.

CHAPTER IV.

ENGLISH AND FRENCH DISCOVERIES.

John Cabot discovers the American Continent, 16. His son, Sebastian, 16.
Voyages of Verrazzani, 17. Voyages of Cartier, 18. Attempts at Set-

tlement, 20.

CHAPTER V.

Ponce de Leon, 12.
Vasquez de Ayllon, 13.

DE SOTO AND THE MISSISSIPPI.

Lands at Tampa Bay, 23. On the Mississippi, 25. Death of De Soto, 26.

CHAPTER VI.

THE REFORMATION AND ITS EFFECTS.

CHAPTER VII.

THE HUGUENOTS IN THE SOUTH.

Their Settlement destroyed, 30, 31. The Colony of St. Augustine, 32. De
Gourges, 34. Settlements in New France 35. Champlain, and his

Success, 36.

CHAPTER VIII.

ENGLISH ENTERPRISE.

Sir Humphrey Gilbert, 38.

The Fisheries-St. John's, Newfoundland, 39.

Sir Walter Raleigh, 39. Exploring Expedition-Virginia, 40. Fail

ures to colonize, 41. Contest with Spain, 42. Death of Sir Walter, 43

CHAPTER IX.

THE SETTLEMENT OF VIRGINIA.

London and Plymouth Companies, 46. King James' Laws, 46. The Voy.

age and Arrival-Jamestown, 47. John Smith; his energy, 47. His

Captivity, 49. Misery of the Colonists, 50. New Emigrants, 51.

Lord Delaware, 52. Sir Thomas Gates, 53. Pocahontas; her Cap-

ture and Marriage, 54. George Yeardley, 55. First Legislative As-

sembly, 56.

CHAPTER X.

COLONIZATION OF NEW ENGLAND.

First Voyage to, 57. Explorations of John Smith, 58. The Church of

England, 59. The Puritans, 60. Congregation of John Robinson, 61.

Pilgrims in Holland, 62. Arrangements to emigrate, 63. The Voyage,

65. Their prominent Men, 66. A Constitution adopted, 67. Landing

at Plymouth, 68. Sufferings-Indians, 69. Weston's Men, 71. Thanks-

giving, 72. Democratic Government, 73.

CHAPTER XI.

COLONY OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY.

A Company organized; Settlement of Salem, 75. The Charter transferred,

76. Boston and Vicinity settled, 77. Roger Williams; his Banish-

ment; he founds Providence, 78. Discussions renewed-Anne Hutchin-

son; Settlement of Rhode Island, 80. The Dutch at Hartford; Dis-

putes with, 81. Migrations to the Connecticut; Hooker and Haynes,

82. Pequod War, 84. Rev. John Davenport; Settlement of New

Haven, 88. Sir Ferdinand Gorges; New Hampshire, 89. The United

Colonies, 90. Educated Men; Harvard College, Printing Press, Com-

mon Schools, 91. Quakers; Persecution of, 92. Eliot the Apostle-

the Mayhews, 93. Progress, 94.

CHAPTER XII.

VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND.

Slavery-Massacre by the Indians, 96. Lord Baltimore, 99. Settlement of

Maryland, 100. Clayborne's Rebellion, 101. Toleration-Berkeley

Governor of Virginia, Intolerance, 102. State of Society, 103. Aris-

tocratic Assembly, 104. War with the Susquehannas-Nathaniel

Bacon, 105. Disturbances, Obnoxious Assembly dissolved, 106. James-

town burned; Death of Bacon, 107. Tyranny of Berkeley; Aristo-

cratic Assembly; its Illiberal Acts, 108. Deplorable State of the

Colony, 109. College of William and Mary, 110. Troubles in Mary

land, 111.