der." The Indians opened the casks; and being unacquainted A. D. 1608. with the peculiar properties of their contents, carelessly scattered the kernels, which, taking fire, blew to pieces the most of what was in the fort, and "destroyed several of the Indians" themselves. Struck half dead by the report, and the disasters witnessed, they supposed the Great Spirit was angry with them for doing harm to the strangers; and made immediate proposals for a restoration of mutual friendship.———— -Another tale, which comes to us in the form of a memoir*, is also worthy to be told : -Being collected at the fort to traffic, the Indians, it is said, were requested to draw a small mounted cannon by the dragropes. They laid hold, and when in an attitude most exposed, it was discharged, giving them all a frightful shock, and actually killing and wounding some of them. Whether these stories have any connection, or foundation in truth, we cannot at this distance of time ascertain with certainty: and we might especially wish the latter one for the credit of the colonists to be a fable; yet both were believed to be true, by the ancient and well-informed inhabitants on Sagadahock river. It is, moreover, certain, that their store-house took fire in mid-winter, and was, with a great part of their provisions, reduced to ashes. As soon as the ships returned to England, Lord Popham persuaded his associates of the Plymouth Council, to provide another immediate outfit and send them back without delay. But, while waiting for a wind, the mariners of one ship heard of his Lord PopLordship's sudden death; and the master of the other, before he ham and J. sailed, was informed that Sir John, the brother of Raleigh Gilbert, was likewise dead;-and thus became the bearers of these melancholy tidings to the plantation. Deaths of Gilbert. Return of Besides these deaths, happened that of George Popham, President of the colony, who had also lately deceased; and who was the emigrants and succeeded in that office by Gilbert, the official admiral. Being his end of the colony. brother's heir, he believed the estate required his immediate attention; and therefore he concluded to return home. The resolution at this crisis, and the deaths of the two Pophams and Gilbert, three principal patrons of the enterprize, together with some additional disappointments, proved fatal to the colony. The cli * Supplement to King Philip's wars, A. D, 1675-p. 75. VOL. I. 14 A. D. 1608. mate was cold; the wilderness appeared to them impervious; the land wholly unyielding to the toils and arts of cultivation; and probably the Indians had become again unfriendly. Nay, one account represents, that in consequence of the resentments of the natives, occasioned by the gun powder plot, or some ill treatment; the emigrants were induced to re-embark, for the sake of their own safety, and durst not return. Having resolved to quit the country, whatever the cause might have been, they all entered, with their effects, on board the returning ships, that brought them, and cheerfully departed; taking with them, as the only fruits of their winter's enterprize, several kinds of fur, a small vessel built by them, and some native products of the place.--To Gorges and others, the promoters and patrons of this colony, the return of the planters was altogether unexpected and extremely unwelcome. In vindication of their conduct, they framed excuses with what ingenuity they possessed; and though they had lost only one of their number by natural death,* they told very unfavourable stories of the country, its climate, soil, and healthfulness; representing it to be an intolerably cold and sterile region "not inhabitable (they said) by our English nation."† This colony, the first ever attempted to be established by the English in North-Virginia, was planned and begun with the courage, zeal and beneficence which do not fear to encounter difficulties, or hazard expense. Its projectors and friends believed a colonial establishment, well organized and prosperous, would be the common resort and asylum of all adventurers to this country; and the means of promoting and spreading other settlements to a wide extent. But its untimely end, some further deaths, and additional discouragements, gave a deadly check to the spirit of colonization for several years. Yet Sir Francis Popham, son of the late "baronet," sent a ship annually into these waters, for several years; in anticipation of benefits from the fishery and fur trade, and, possibly, from his father's advancements; till over * Prince's Ann. p. 23.-Though "they ascribed it to a prevailing sick ness, occasioned by the severity of the winter."-1 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. p. 252. † Prince's Ann p. 25. But of plantations we have no more speeches."-Smith's Hist. p. 18, 19, 24. come by discouragements and losses, he was obliged at last to A. D. 1608. give up the pursuit.* Some adventurers may have met with better success; for it is confidently asserted, that the coasts were never afterwards, for any considerable length of time, entirely deserted by Europeans, until the country became settled. * Hubbard's N. E. 37.-He says, the French were here soon after Popham's party left the place.'-Gorges' Hist. 19,-5 Purchas, 1828.— Prince's Ann, 25. A. D. 1606. Acadia. CHAPTER II. The settlement of Port-Royal abandoned by the French-ResumedMount Desert visited by them-It is the abode of two jesuitsGorges sends Vines to Saco-South-Virginia—Newfoundland— Argal's, Somers' and Harlow's visits-Natives carried to England-The French settle Mount Desert-Argal removes themHe takes Port-Royal-Capt. John Smith-His character-His voyage to Sagadahock-His Map and History of New-England -Hawkins' voyage-War and pestilence among the eastern natives-Vines at Saco-Smith, Admiral of New-England-Rocroft's and Dermer's voyages-Settlement of New-Plymouth. THE infant colony at Port-Royal, in the winter of 1605—6, after its affairs were committed, by de Monts to Dupont, was plentifully supplied with corn and venison by the Mickmak Indians; and carried on with them quite a profitable fur trade. To encourage them, de Monts and Poutrincourt returned, in July, (1606) with fresh supplies. The former then took Dupont with him and sailed again for France, committing to Poutrincourt the management of the colony, and the survey of the country. The latter proceeded as far as Cape Cod; where he had a skirmish with the savages, in which they killed two of his men and wounded others. From this circumstance he conceived a most unfavourable opinion of their dispositions; and in retaliating their wrongs he committed wrong himself, by seizing five of them, who came to trade with him, and then cruelly putting them to death. Returning, he and his companions passed the ensuing time at Port-Royal, in a social and festive manner; till intelligence was received, by an early arrival in the spring, (1607,) of a transaction which proved fatal to the colony. This was an official report, that the Hollanders, piloted by a treacherous Frenchman, had obtruded themselves into the Canada fur trade; that the king had revoked the exclusive right, a privilege previously given to de Monts, by which he was entitled for ten years, to that kind of traffic in Acadia and the Gulf of St. Law * See A. D. 1603, ante. rence; and that even the vessel which brought the news, was A. D. 1608. forbidden to purchase any furs or skins; being allowed only a fishery about Canseau-in the waters between the peninsula and Cape Breton. Poutrincourt was so much disheartened by these and some other discouragements, that he with his party left PortRoyal, Aug. 11th, and returned to France. The king, to recompense de Monts, gave him, the next year, De Monts quits the a patent of the fur trade for twelve months in the St. Lawrence, province. without restriction; merely upon his agreement to settle a colony in that region. He now quitted all connexion with Acadia, and, procuring three ships and several families, furnished them with supplies and gave the whole in charge to Samuel Champlain, who had been his companion and agent in Acadia. In the execution of his trust, Champlain selected the site, early in July of this year, and laid the foundations of Quebec;*-and after this period we hear no more of de Monts. Poutrincourt, wishing to revive his plantation at Port-Royal, Poutrinprocured the king's confirmation of the grant, upon condition of Port-Royal. his endeavours to convert the natives to the Catholic faith. In view of both purposes, this adventurer, his son Biencourt and two jesuits, Biard and Massè, with several families, intending to become settlers, embarked for America. While on the passage, a severe controversy arose between him and the Ecclesiastics; in which he boldly told them," it was his part to rule them on earth, and theirs only to guide him to heaven." He tarried a short time at Port-Royal; and returning to France left his son in command. Disdaining to be under the control of these priests, who were merely invited by his father to reside in the plantation, Biencourt threatened them with corporeal punishment, in return for their spiritual anathemas. In such a state of society, the three could hardly continue together until the spring. At an early day, therefore, the jesuits bade him farewell and proceeded westward to Mount Desert.† * Quebec was the Indian name.—1 Holmes' A. Ann. p. 163.—1 Charleroiz N. F. 121.-5 Purchas, 1640-1.-L'Escarbot's Account. "Monts Desart"-so named by Champlain.-1 Holmes' A. Ann. 178, and Note.-Here were taken various kinds of fish and game; and on the mar. gin of the sound grew abundance of cranberries-500 bushels in a year.[Mount Desert was incorporated into a town by that name Feb. 17. 1789, divided, and Eden incorporated, Feb. 23, 1796.]" Mount Desart."- Belk Biog 52, |