MILITARY AND CIVIL. 3

before in search of a passage to India. Undismayed and with- out misgiving, mid’st dangers and icebergs on he swept with a free sail towards the ice-locked ocean of the north. Though it was midsummer, large fields of icie became so abundant, and mutiny on board his ships so threatening, that in order to disperse any further murmuring he reluctantly turned the bows of his ships towards the south, scrutinizing the shores in search of an opening through to India. Having reached the coast of Florida, he, Sabastian, took his departure therefrom and arrived in England during August, after an absence of a few months.

Of others who had turned their eyes to the New World, none perhaps were more animated by the desire to make discoveries than Jasper de Cortereal. Elated with success in having a subject of his to discover the passage round the Cape of Good Hope—which opened a sea-way to India—the Portuguese mon- arch readily appointed de Cortereal commander of an enterprise for which this ardent and resolute mariner had applied. Accordingly in the summer of 1500, de Cortereal reached the shores of the strange country, and ranged its coast for the distance of six or seven hundred miles, carefully observing the country and its dusky inhabitants. de Cortereal then entered a large gulf in the hope of finding a passage to India, which Cabot had been unable to do. Here he admired the brilliant freshness and verdure of the tall stately trees and density of the forest, which promised to become an object of gainful com- merce. But the most remarkable event was the capture of fifty-seven natives, whom he carried to Europe, where they were sold as slaves.

Being thus encouraged by the success of his first venture in human blood, de Cortereal set out in the following year with two ships for timber and slaves, but the fetters he had forged for his fellow man were never destined to confine the free born natives of America. That shore he had polluted he was never more to behold. In 1502 his brother Michael sailed in search 9f him, but he too passed away, and no intimation of the fate of either ever reached the shores of Europe—M'story of Amdz'a.

To the foregoing synopsis it remains to be added that Sebastian Cabot was made Grand Pilot of England. Subsequently, during the reign of Edward the Sixth, he was granted a large pension as a reward for his fidelity.——Emy£lapedia Britannia.