ADVERTISEMENT. THE original plan of my father, the late Dr. Robertson, with respect to the History of America, comprehended not only an account of the discovery of that country, and of the conquest and colonies of the Spaniards, but embraced also the history of the British and Portuguese establishments in the New World, and of the settlements made by the several nations of Europe in the West-India islands. It was his intention not to have published any part of the work until the whole was completed. In the preface to his History of America, he has stated the reasons which induced him to depart from that resolution, and to publish the two volumes which contain an account of the discovery of the New World, and of the progress of the Spanish arms and colonies in that quarter of the globe. He says, "he had made some progress in the History of British America;" and he announces his intention to return to that part of his Work, as soon as the ferment which at that time prevailed in the British colonies in America should subside, and regular government be re-established. Various causes concurred in preventing him from fulfiling his intention. During the course of a tedious illness, which he early foresaw would have a fatal termination, Dr. Robertson at different times destroyed many of his papers. But after his death, I found that part of the History of British America which he had wrote many years before, and which is now offered to the public. It is written with his own hand, as all his works were: it is as carefully corrected as any part of his Manuscripts which I have ever seen; and he had thought it worthy of being preserved, as it escaped the flames to which so many other papers had been committed. I read it with the utmost attention; but, before I came to any resolution about the publication, I put the MS. into the hands of some of those friends whom my father used to consult on such occasions, as it would have been rashness and presumption in me to have trusted to my own partial decision. It was perused by some other persons also, in whose taste and judgement I have the greatest confidence: by all of them I was encouraged to offer it to the public, as a fragment curious and interesting in itself, and not inferior to any of my father's works. 192 When I determined to follow that advice, it was a circumstance of great weight with me, that as I never could think myself at liberty to destroy those papers which my father had thought worthy of being preserved, and as I could not know into whose hands they might hereafter fall, I considered it as certain that they would be published at some future period, when they might meet with an Editor who, not being actuated by the same sacred regard for the reputation of the Author which I feel, might make alterations and additions, and obtrude the whole on the public as a genuine and authentic work. The MS. is now published, such as it was left by the Author; nor have I presumed to make any addition, alteration, or correction whatever. WM. ROBERTSON. QUEEN-STREET, EDINBURGH, BOOK IX. 1. Spirit of Adventure awakened in England by Columbus's discoveries. § II. Checked by unskilfulness in navigation. § III. Expedition from Bristol under the command of Cabot. § IV. Cabot discovers Newfoundland, and sails along the coast of Virginia. § V. Henry does not profit by Cabot's discovery. § VI. Nor his immediate successors. § VII. Expedition to South America, under the command of Sebastian Cabot. § VIII. Unsuccessful attempts to discover a north-west passage to the Indies. IX. Sir Hugh Willoughby sails in search of a north-east passage. X. Willoughby perishes. One of his ships winters at Archangel-The captain visits Moscow. § XI. Trade opened with Russia. § XII. Communication with India by land. § XIII. Expedition to the coast of Africa. § XIV. Reign of Elizabeth auspicious to discovery. § XV. Frobisher makes three attempts to discover the north-west passage.-Sir Francis Drake sails round the world. § XVI. Enthusiasm of discovery. § XVII. First projects of a colony in North America. § XVIII. Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth. § XIX. First expedition sails. § XX. The plan resumed by Ralegh.-Discovery of Virginia. § XXI. Colony established in Virginia by Sir Richard Greenville. XXII. In danger of perishing by fa mine; returns to England. XXIII. Knowledge of the country acquired by this expedition-Use of tobacco introduced into England, XXIV. Ralegh's second attempt to settle a colony in Virginia-Colony perishes by famine. SXXV. Ralegh abandons the design of settling a colony in Virginia. § XXVI. Circumstances in Elizabeth's reign unfavourable to colonization. § XXVII. Reign of James favourable to the establishment of colonies. § XXVIII. Direct course from England to North America first attempted by Gosnold. § XXIX. Consequences of Gosnold's voyage. XXX. Hakluyt improves the commercial and naval skill of that age. § XXXI. James divides the coast of North America into two parts-And grants charters to two companies-Tenor of these charters. § XXXII. Defects of these charters. XXXIII. Colonies of Virginia and New England, § XXXIV. Advantages of tracing the history of these colonies in their infant state, § XXXV. Newport sails for Virginia.➡ Discovers the Chesapeake-Sails up James-river-Founds James-town-Bad administration--Colony annoyed by the Indians-Suffers from scarcity, and the unhealthiness of the climate-Smith called to the command, restores the prosperity of the colony-He is taken prisoner by the Indians. § XXXVI. On his return, he finds the colonies almost ruined--Seasonable succours from England-Colonists deceived by the appearances of gold. § XXXVII. Smith undertakes a survey of the country--A new charter granted. XXXVIII. Lord Delaware appointed governor-Gates and Summers appointed to command till the arrival of Lord Delaware-Their ship stranded on the coast of Bermudas. § XXXIX. Anarchy in the colony-The colony reduced by fa mine. § XL. Gates and Summers arrive from Bermudas-Find the colony in the utmost distress. § XLI. Are about to return to England when Lord Delaware arrives-Wise administration of Lord Delaware-His health obliges him to return to England. § XLII. Sir Thomas Dale appointed governorMartial law established. § XLIII. New charter issued to the colony; new privileges conferred. § XLIV. Cultivation of the lands promoted-Treaty with the natives--Rolfe marries the daughter of an Indian Chief § XLV. Land in Virginia first becomes property-Advantages. XLVI. Culture of tobacco introduced-Bad consequences arising from it-Young women mi. grate from England to Virginia-Negroes first introduced. § XLVII. First general assembly of representatives-New constitution given to the colony. XLVIII. Industry increased-Direct trade of the colony with HollandGives offence to James. § XLIX. The colony neglects the precautions necessary for its defence against the Indians-General massacre of the English planned by the Indians--Executed on most of the settlements. § L. Bloody war with the Indians. § LI. Company at home divided by factions. §LUI. James institutes an inquiry into their conduct--Company required to sur? render its charter. § LIII. Company refuses. § LIV. Trial in the King's Bench, and dissolution of the company. LV. Defects in the first constitution of the colonies. § LVI. Weakness of the colony. LVII. Temporary council appointed for the government of Virginia. LVIII. Accession of Charles I. His arbitrary government of the colony-Grants and monopoly of tobacco. §LIX. Colonists seize on Harvey their governor, and send him prisoner to England--He is released by the king, and reinstated in his govern ment-Sir W. Berkeley appointed governor. § LX. His mild and wise administration-New privileges granted by Charles-Motives that appear to have influenced the king. § LXI. Virginia flourishes under the new government. § LXII. Remains attached to the royal cause. § LXIII. Parliament makes war on Virginia-Virginians forced to acknowledge the commonwealth. § LXIV. Restraints on the trade of the colony. LXV. The colonists dis. satisfied with these restraints-Are the first to acknowledge Charles If. LXVI. Their loyalty ill rewarded--Navigation act. § LXVII. Effects of the act. LXVIII. Čolonists remonstrate against the act-Colony attacked by the Indians-Discontents produced by the grants of land by the crown. LXIX. An insurrection in Virginia, headed by N. Bacon. LXX. Bacon forces Sir W. Berkeley and the council to fly. LXXI. Sir W. Berkeley applies for succour to England. § LXXII. Death of Bacon terminates the rebellion. LXXIII. An assembly called; its moderation. § LXXIV. State of the colony till the Revolution in 1688. § I. THE dominions of Great Britain in America are next in extent to those of Spain. Its acquisitions there are a recompense due to those enterprising talents which prompted the English to enter ear. ly on the career of discovery, and to pursue it with persevering ardour. England was the second nation that ventured to visit the New World. The account of Columbus's successful voyage filled all Europe with astonishment and admiration. But in England it did something more; it excited a vehement desire of emulating the glory of Spain, and of aiming to obtain some share of those advantages which were expected in this new field opened to national activity. The attention of the English court had been turned towards the discovery of unknown countries, by its negotiation with Bartholomew Columbus. Henry VII. having listened to his propositions with a more favourable ear than could have been expected from a cautious distrustful prince, averse by habit as well as by temper to new and hazardous projects, he was more easily induced to approve of a voyage for discovery, proposed by some of his own subjects, soon after the return of Christopher Columbus. • § II. But though the English had spirit to form the scheme, they had not, at that period, attained to such skill in navigation as qualified them for carrying it into execution. From the inconsiderable ambition of its monarchs, the nation had long wasted its genius and activity in pernicious and ineffectual efforts to conquer France. When this ill directed ardour began to abate, the fatal contest between the houses of York and Lancaster turned the arms of one half of the kingdom against the other, and exhausted the vigour of both. During the course of two centuries, while industry and commerce were making gradual progress, both in the south and north of Europe, the English continued so blind to the advantages of their own situation, that they hardly began to bend their thoughts towards those objects and pursuits, to which they are indebted for their present opulence and power. While the trading vessels of Italy, Spain, and Portugal, as well as those of the Hans-towns, visited the most remote ports in Europe, and carried on an active intercourse with its various nations, |