rights of the Netherlands, the unity of the history of Britain will in vain be sought for among its ruling princes, of whom all were insignificant; or in its great families in an age when the aristocracy was absolutely supreme, and yet when little is to be told about its chiefs but their factious altercations for the lead. The unity resides in the struggle for lordship over the commerce of the world. Every question, dynastic or ministerial, was drawn into this mighty ocean stream, where, in the great naval race, the flag of England was ever foremost. In these struggles Africa and Asia were the scenes of wonderful deeds; but every effort, every contention, every war pointed to the rivalry of the powers of Europe in North America. The climax of this period for England is marked by the double victory of the elder Pitt, as minister, through Wolf on the Plains of Abraham, and, though he had ceased to be minister, as still the animating soul of the English army and fleet which made the conquest of Havana. In the epochs that next followed, no one disputes that the paramount interest in the history of the world rests. on the colonies held by Britain in North America. In this last revision, as in the first composition, it is the fixed purpose to secure perfect accuracy in the relation of facts, even to their details and their coloring, and to keep truth clear from the clouds, however brilliant, of conjecture and tradition. No well-founded criticism that has been seen, whether made here or abroad, with a good will or a bad one, has been neglected. The next aim is lucidity in the ordering of the narrative, so that the reader may follow the changes of public affairs in their connection, and with every page be carried forward in the story. There is no end to the difficulty in choosing language which will awaken in the reader the very same thought that was in the mind of the writer. In the form of expression, many revisions are hardly enough to assure strict correctness and propriety. Repetitions and redundancies have been removed; greater precision has been sought for; the fitter word that offered itself accepted; and, without the surrender of the right of history to pronounce its opinion, care has been taken never unduly to forestall the judgment of the reader, but to leave events as they sweep onward to speak their own condemnation or praise. WASHINGTON, D. C., October, 1882. CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. EARLY VOYAGES. FRENCH SETTLEMENTS IN AMERICA. Columbus, taught by Aristotle, discovers the New World Sebastian Cabot and Vasco da Gama sail west and east James Cartier discovers and ascends the St. Lawrence. Cartier at Quebec. Voyage of Roberval PAGE 7 THE SPANIARDS HOLD FLORIDA. Florida for a time abandoned. Discovery of the Chesapeake Coligny's second attempt. Laudonnière Extent of the Spanish dominions round the Gulf of Mexico |