4 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Though England was first to discover the North Continent of the New World, she failed to lay claim to any part of it further than by name, so that the enterprising Francis, King of France, being anxious to participate in the benefits accruing through the discoveries of those new regions as Spain had done, engaged a navigator of Florence, named John Verrazani, to explore the new country which had excited alike his hope and his curiosity, and possess each tract or territory as dependencies of the Crown of France. In 1523, or twenty-five years subsequent to Sebas- tian Cabot’s discoveries, Verrazani approached the coast of America and ranged along its shores from the thirty-fourth degree to the fiftieth degree north latitude,—-a distance of seven hundred leagues—and, in obedience with his Royal instructions, laid claim to all, which henceforth was to be known by the appellation of New France.

As shown by the above explanation, the explorations by England and France—though accomplished at different periods —appear to have been preformed on the same line of coast; each nation, therefore, considered her claim to have been exclusively just, due solely to the spirit of their own enterprising adventurers—hence the controversy, the strife, the gallantry and bloodshed, but which, after years of bitter hostility, has now happily wholly passed away.

The King of France still cherishing the desire to make further discoveries in the New World, employed a bold and skillful mariner of his own country, named Jacques Cartier, placing under his command two small vessels and one hundred and twenty men. Cartier set sail from Brittany on the 20th April, 1534.

Arriving safe at Newfoundland, Cartier refitted his little squadron. Sailing westward therefrom he entered a large Gulf on St. Lawrence day, to which he, Cartier, bestowed the name of that celebrated martyr, which to this day is known as “ Gulf of St. Lawrence.” Cartier rested for a few days at the Mag- dalen Islands, then continuing his westward course therefrom he sighted the Mainland—as was supposed—at the south entrance of Miramichi Bay. Here he was charmed with the beauties of the country; he admired the forest, consisting of pine, ash, willow, birch, maple, and many other kinds of useful wood. The ground, too, which was free from the growth of trees, was covered with wild flowers and berries in great variety,