Having thus far pursued this abstracted account of the life of W. Penn, I fhall, in the next place, after having previously given a brief preliminary description of the first rife of the British colonies, in America, and more especially of West New Jersey, in which he was fo much concerned, attend him in the settlement and colonization of his province of Pennsylvania.

INTRODUCTION.

INTRODUCTION.

PART THE SECOND.

CONTAINING,

A fhort preliminary sketch of the first colonization of continental America by the English;-Of the Dutch and Swedish fettlements, pretenfions and proceedings, on Hudfon's or North river, and on the bay and river of Delaware;—But more particularly, of the rife, government, and early tranfactions of the colony of West New Jersey, previous to thofe of Pennsylvania.

THE firft European discovery of fome of the in

1492.

of America

&c.

fular parts of America, in the year 1492, by Chrif- Discovery topher Columbus, and the fuccefs of his fubfequent by Columvoyages, as well as thofe of Americus Vefpucius, bus, and by between the years 1496 and 1499, to that conti- Americus, nent, both in the fervice of Spain, are now fo well known as here to need no repetition; and, for the fame reason, it is unneceffary to specify, in this place, how, or why, this newly discovered part of the world was called America, from the name of the latter of these perfons; whose last voyage, in the employment of Portugal, gave that part of South America now called Brafil, to that kingdom; as the prior discoveries of Columbus and himself had added, befides the islands, immenfe tract of ter

1497. British dif

&:.

ritory to Spain, both in the northern and fouthern latitudes of continental America; according to that univerfally acknowledged law of nations, which affigns all waste and uncultivated countries to the prince, who is at the charge of the first discovery of them.*

I fhall only, therefore, in this place, previously coveries, by mention, that, in the year 1497, John and Sebafthe Cabots, tian Cabot, father and fon, in the fervice of king Henry the feventh of England, by the best accounts, are generally acknowledged to have been the first Europeans, who difcovered that part of north America, where the English colonies were afterwards fettled, along the Atlantic fhore, including Newfoundland, from 60, or 68 degrees north, to fo far fouth, as the ifle of Cuba, or the latitude of Florida.t

All

*See Juftinian, Grotius, &c. on this fubject. Columbus is faid to be buried in the cathedral of Seville, in Spain, with this infcription on his tomb.

"Columbus has given a nerv world

To the kingdoms of Caftile and Leon."

Herrera, the great Spanish hiftorian of America, exprefsly affirms, "That neither on the continent, nor ifles of the Weft Indies (the name the Spaniards ufually give to all America) were there either filk, wine, sugar, olives, wheat, barley or pulse; all which (adds Herrera) and many other things have been transported thither from Spain." Their own fole original productions were tobacco, indigo, cocheneal, cotton, ginger, cocoa, piemento, fundry useful drugs and woods for dying, furniture, phyfic," &c. ANDERSON's hiftorical deduction of commerce, &c.

"The main end of the above attempt of the Cabots, from England, was faid by the writers of, or near, thefe times, to have been to discover a north-weft paffage to the Indies, or fpice iflands, or, to Cathaia; as they then termed a country, fince known to be China; whither fome travellers had gone over by land, in the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Calot having failed fo far north as 67 degrees, the land which he first faw, was the country between the mouth of the river of Canada and Hudfon's ftrait; and which he, therefore, named Prima vifia; (i. e. first difcovered) which name it foon loft; and next got the name of Corterialis, from a Portagueze; who, from Libon, fell in with that coaft, anno 1500, calling alfo the north part of it Eftotiland. After the French had fettled in Canada, they freely called the country New France. Laftly, the English difcoveries, on the north parts of that country, deep into the bay of Hudfon, called it New Britain; though the Portugueze, in some of their maps, called it Terra di Labrador: its only produce hitherto being peltry, furs and feathers."

ANDERSON, &c.

All this extent of territory, or, leaft, from 34 The ancient to 45 degrees of north latitude, including all that Virginia. tract of land, which is fituated between the extreme bounds of New England and Carolina, north and fouth, was, in the reign of queen Elizabeth, named Virginia; which was then deemed to comprehend all the habitable part of the British continental territories in America. Which name is faid to have been given it, either by the queen herself, or by Sir Walter Raleigh; who, in the year 1584, obtained a patent from the queen, for making a fettlement in America. This was accordingly attempted, at different times; though at first unfuccefsfully, in that part of the continent, which ftill retains the name of Virginia.*

1584.

Virginia

In the year 1606, the whole extent of this ter 1606. ritory was divided into two parts, or colonies, by divided into a charter obtained of king James, for two compa- two colo nies. The first was called the South Virginia com- nies. pany, comprehending the now named provinces of Maryland, Virginia and Carolina; or all the country which is fituated between 34 and 41 degrees of N. latitude, which includes part of Pennfylvania. Thefe

"In the year 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh formed his fcheme with a number of gentlemen and merchants, for making a fettlement in America; for which purpofe queen Elizabeth, on lady day, this year, grants him, &c. a charter for the poffeffing of fuch remote heathen lands, not then inhabited by Chriftians, as they fhould discover in x years; of which they thereby had the property granted to them for ever, referving to the crown the fifth part of all the gold and filver ore found therein, with power to seize, to their proper ufe, all fhips, with their merchandize, that shall without leave, plant within two hundred miles of this intended fettlement; excepting however, the queen's subjects and allies, fishing at Newfoundland," &c. " Grants free denization to the planters and their pofterity refiding there.". '-" Powers are alfo granted to the patentees, for making Bye-laws there, not repugnant to thofe of England."-Amidas and Barlow, with two veffels, were accordingly fent the fame year."They arrived at a part of what is now called Virginia; which name, either the queen herself, or Sir Walter Raleigh, gave that country; where making fome infignificant trade with the natives, they returned home." "N. B. In this, and fome other patents of thefe times, there was no diftinct place, longitude nor latitude, fixed or limited, for fuch plantation, although, undoubtedly, North America was the country intended."

Anderson, &c.

Planting of

Thefe were called the London adventurers. The fecond company were called the Plymouth adventurers; who were empowered to plant and inhabit fo far as to 45 degrees of N. latitude, in which compass was included what is now called Pennfylvania, in part, New Jersey, New York and New England.

The first, or London company, which most proVirginia perly ought to be called the Virginia company, did, in this fame year 1606, or the next following, effect a fettlement near the mouth of Powhatan, now called James's river, within Chesapeak bay, which they named James town; which name it still retains. This is faid to have been the first English colony, on the continent of America, which took root, and has continued permanent to our days; all former attempts having proved abortive.

1620.

From this time, till the year 1620, the planting Planting of of New-England, or the northern divifion, appears N. England &c. not to have been fuccesfully undertaken; though there had been feveral voyages made during this interval, but mostly in a trading way, to that part of the continent.* But in the year 1620, the first permanent plantation, or, which remains fuch to this time, appears to have been made in that country; to which king Charles the first, then prince of Wales, is faid to have given the name of NewEngland: "For which purpofe (fays governor Hutchinfon, in his hiftory of Malachusetts bay) a new patent was granted, bearing date, November third 1620, incorporating the adventurers to

the

"It is evident, from the charter, that the original defign of it was to constitute a corporation in England, like that of the Eaft Indies, and other great companies, with powers to fettle plantations within the limits of the territory, under fuch forms of government and magiftracy as should be fit and neceffary."

Hutchinfon's biflory of Maffacbuffetts Bay.

+"Captain John Smith, having surveyed the inland country, and prefented a map of it to Charles, prince of Wales, the prince gave the country the name of New England."

Anderfon, &e.